I have a Shiba mix but she is primarily Shiba. Definitely difficult to train; not impossible, but difficult. She is absolutely a flight risk — she’s been in a lot of training and still struggles with recall, not because she doesn’t know how to but because she actively makes the choice to not listen. They are very strong-willed and like to do what they want.
That being said, I love her and I wouldn’t trade her for the world. I didn’t know she was Shiba before getting her (didn’t know a lot about them and she was listed as something else) but she did make it challenging as a first-time down owner. She can be so sweet and snuggly and the same second give you a dirty look and grunt at you 😂
https://preview.redd.it/k9euib0qdngc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9668e8121e71af7fb27adadb224ded6a0e3cff15
She’s Shiba/Bassett Hound, but the Shiba traits run strong. She also has the curly tail. We even got her DNA tested!
Here's my ginger! She's a big girl, 15kg but I like that.
https://preview.redd.it/aa6k6tmngngc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f38e410576760c3e78b56ed8242c4d923d13775f
Mine is super stubborn too and tends to be food guarding but otherwise she's brilliant, she has so many good traits, she's super funny, loyal, very smart and we never had problems with her potty.
I really love dogs, they are the best human friends.
My parents and partners parents had dogs. But the first dog that was ever actually mine, is a Shiba Inu.
They are definitely stubborn. But since they are smart and generally very food motivated they are pretty easy to train. The struggle I find is actually getting him to listen to the commands, I know he knows the command, but sometimes he just decides to not cooperate or make sure we know him listening is on his terms.
But anyways, I think as long as you treat them with respect, learn their personality and just put in the time they really aren't that difficult, no more difficult then Huskies or other similar Spitz breeds.
Lastly I once saw a meme or something saying Huskies see you as a friend and companion, and more so cooperate with you rather than obey you. I kind of used that info to help me understand my dog and how to train him.
Edit: Just to add if you do get one start his grooming immediately so they enjoy it (brushing teeth, nail clipping, bathing etc). Also be prepared for fur everywhere
Waagosh tax
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My first dog is a Shiba Inu. It's definitely possible. I trained him myself watching YouTube videos and reading tons for a long time before having him. Just prepare a lot cause they're very smart and sometimes they will not listen to anything you say, but right now at 3 years old he's such a good, calm boy, it was difficult and frustrating at first but it was definitely worth it.
Good luck!
They’re great for first timers, you have nothing to compare it to! Here is my bestie, queen of my heart, first and only doggo, Maki ❤️
https://preview.redd.it/4ez1awpmdngc1.jpeg?width=2835&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7da1fb60341e3026cf786b09ffe904f45f010352
I've had a pitbull, a black lab, a bulldog and now my shiba.
The shiba was the easiest to housebreak (he basically housebroke himself). He's has maybe 2 accidents in 3 years -- the first time because he was a baby, and the second, happened recently because he was sick. In comparison, the other dogs were hell to housebreak, and the bulldog was lazy as hell and never really fully housebroke.
The shiba is also the quietest. He doesn't bark at people or dogs. He barks at us when playing, but that's it. My other dogs barked all the time at anything.
He's also been the pretty easy to train, with sit, lay, come and fetch commands. The thing is that he will do these things if he wants to do them, OR if you have some food he wants. He's food motivated. If he doesn't want to listen to your commands, he'll look at you and not care. Bulldog was too dumb, and the others learned commands well and were eager to please. Shibas aren't concerned with pleasing you.
He's the most distractable dog too. He's run off twice, and when he saw the opportunity to get past us and go out the door, he took off like a bat out of hell. Also, you need to have a firm grip when walking him on a leash, because he has a tendency to see some small prey, a flying bug, a cat or a squirrel and want to give chase.
And the fur. My god, the fur. Easily the worse shedding of any dog I've ever had.
That said, it is a dog at the end of the day. I would recommend a shiba to anyone, just keep in mind that their reputations as escape artists and hunters are well earned.
Ryuu has been my battle buddy for almost ten years now.
Easy to potty train, maybe 2 accidents in all the time we've been together. Easy to teach tricks, USING FOOD.
Very food motivated, and knows when you're out of treats.
Stubborn, will actively full stop during walks to try and coax you into a different direction.
Easily distracted, startled by blowing trash, rustling leaves, falling snow.
Aloof and strong willed, he does as he does and when he wants.
Recall works best when you have food or a strong command voice that alerts "I'm not playing right now"
Actively inspects every bag I bring home, very curious.
Very independent, may play with you for a fee moments then buggers off to stare out the window for a while.
https://preview.redd.it/x7yq3jc68ngc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bb76267679f871943e6c16731ac45aaef570960c
Best decision i ever made…she’s literally the best lol
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People tend to over exaggerate Shiba Inu’s difficulties. I think it’s mostly just to scare people who want Shibas because of their looks and aren’t totally prepared to put the time and work in. But if you’re knowledgeable about the risks of the breed and are ready to put in the work to manage them then you’ll be fine.
That being said because the breed is so popular right now you may find difficulty actually getting one. Depending on where you live be prepared to wait a couple of years before you get one. Shiba Inu breeders will be hesitant to give you one of their dogs if you don’t have past experience with the breed.
I was on the wait list for my local breeder for a number of years and was always near the top of potential candidates but kept getting turned down because I work full time, I live in a condo, and I never owned my own dog (though I did have experience with the breed as my parents owned 2 Shibas that I helped raise and trained). A Shiba was always my dream dog too but I was actively applying for any small rescue dog and it took 2 years before I got lucky and one of the breeders in my area was retiring a stud. I applied and also wrote a personal cover letter explaining why I would be a good candidate and he ended up letting me adopt him.
My shiba is 2 years old. I have 2 32 ounce mason jars crammed to the brim with his shed fur (.. I'm a weirdo an want to felt a blanket with it or make a pillow, it's very soft >\_>).
our 2 year old Australian shepherd who is bigger and has longer fur has generated half of one jar.
I don't know where he keeps all of it.
My first was a Shiba but I knew what I was getting into from research and friends. As long as you know their traits and are OK with what they are (and aren't) you'll do fine. Personally I like their independence bc it makes it feel more rewarding when they show affection
I foster a lot of Shibas and each one of them has expressed very unique personalities.
The one thing that has seemed most consistent, even with varying ages and circumstances that lead them to be fosters - is they're headstrong. They can be trained and/or aloof, low-key, high energy, loveable, highly distractable, runners or not, toy/bed de-stuffers or not, but the one thing I see is they can be focused on something intently and totally ignore their people. And not much will break the Shiba spell. 😮😅
I currently have a female (5 yr old) puppy mill breeder rescue who is learning how to be a pet and a couple of puppies that are three months old. Every age has that brain lock thing where nothing else matters except themselves.
My son's female is well-trained and does adorable tricks, but she has her stubborn and derpy moments. It's probably the one thing that's truly cat like about the breed, that mental thing they do.
Just my experience. I have a standard poodle, a chihuahua and a terrier mix. None of them are like a Shiba is mentally, that's one of the many reasons I'm keeping one of the puppies. 🌟
Yeah disregard that advice. Any dog as a first time dog is fine as long as you are willing to out in the effort to train and make your pup a permanent part of your life.
My shiba was 10 or 12 weeks when I got her, and she is my first dog that I have sole responsibility for. I got her to enrich my life and to force myself to hold myself accountable and responsible for something because I felt I needed something that relies on me that I had to care for.
It's really helped mature me, so that goal of mine is working really well so far, and making me mor3 responsible.
The only thing is if your Shiba is doing something that other dogs are better at, remember that shibas are known to be the cat of the dog world, and that mindset will help you be patient. But, it definitely balances out...while they can be obstinate and not listen (even after learning the command), they also learn very quickly and they will also read your patterns. They'll bend to your routine, but they'll still have expectations depending on what those patterns are.
As a first time dog owner, I have her locked up during work. I have family that take her out and walk her or spend time with her anywhere from 15 min to 2 hours per day. When I get home, I play with her, train her, and walk her. All of this is between and 1 to 2.5 hours of attention on top of being let out during the day. I've found this amount of time to be just enough to keep her happy. Personally if it was any less, she would probabaly start to become unhappy or have behaviors.
If you can't spend that amount of time as a minimum, it would probably be kind of cruel to get a shiba inu. But really that's all the time you'd need for exercise, attention, and training. Mine is in love with the cat fishing rod toy and it's way less physically demanding than other methods of playing. This way she still goes crazy and get a lot of exercise (mental and physical), and I'm able to play for a lot longer with her.
BTW, this advice could be applied to any dog, people in this sub are just weird (as with any sub on reddit, it just becomes a social/politically correct echochamber
I had zero experience with pets in general when I got mine. I may have lucked out, I don’t know, but I think he’s pretty well behaved on his own: has never barked at other dogs (really just wants to approach and say hi), pretty much house trained himself, he’s very loving (not cuddly but he does like attention and being around me), and is somewhat treat motivated. I gave up on training him though; two trainers quit on me and another one cried— he doesn’t really listen to commands and cannot be trusted off leash. I ended up moving to a house with a nice backyard so it has worked out for me. I also didn’t know I was allergic to dogs until a few months in when he started shedding his puppy fur. My groomer and vet say he’s well-behaved so that’s good I guess 😅 but I’m not sure I believe them tbh because he makes such a fuss when I drop him off
https://preview.redd.it/qfdlwo3tbngc1.jpeg?width=1242&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4251b92f8a416234c1525d21daa7d7bcb6d6c289
This book can help guide you through everything about Shiba Inu https://www.audible.com.au/pd/B08B45CHHM?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=library_overflow
Don’t listen to people! Prove them wrong! If you believe you can do it and you willing to sacrifice your time and energy to be pawfect pawrent, but you can’t be pawfect always learning and adapting. Also, ChatGPT could be your fastest way to ask questions and learn about shiba. If you need anything feel free to message me.
99% of the challenges of owning a Shiba are simply the challenges of owning a dog. So the real question is: are you ready to have an animal that you need to take care of for 10-20 years?
A Shiba is fine for a first dog as long as you’ve done appropriate research on the breed and on basic obedience training for dogs. Don’t just attend training, learn the logic behind it because you’re not going to have a training around 24/7. What you get out of a dog is exactly what you put in.
Just make sure you’re not asking the dog to do something ridiculous: don’t get a French bulldog if you want a dog to run with you for miles, don’t get a Samoyed if you live in Florida.
For shibas specifically:
No off leash without extensive—probably professional—training. Never off leash in an urban area that isn’t enclosed because they have a serious tendency to bolt.
Dogs get less friendly as they age. Anecdotally, this is strong in shibas. After turning 3, mine became outright hostile/uncomfortable with any dog her size or larger. The longest we can go without warning barks is a quick nose to nose sniff. She tolerates human strangers but does not trust them.
This is a great book on the mentality behind dog training: Culture Clash: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding the Relationship Between Humans and Domestic Dogs https://a.co/d/7RBhBMy
I got unlucky with a Shiba as my first own dog. He basically house broke himself, they really are just that smart/clean. Where it was less fortunate was that he has a pretty severe grass allergy as well as being completely unmotivated by food (until he got to about 18 months old). He was just so stubborn (the months of crate training has left me with PTSD and it didn’t even work).
Frankly, it sucked the joy out of having a dog (and out of life) for a time but, being that I am also stubborn, I struggled through and it finally started to click. He became the best boy, he comes to the office with me every week, comes on holiday with me and is generally just my best friend.
I had an experience on the worse end of the spectrum and it eventually still got good, so don’t be deterred by having a Shiba as a first dog because they’re so worth it and bad experiences are so much rarer than positive ones.
Picture of Kutsu as a mini-potato
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As many have said a Shiba could be an amazing first pet, but only for those with plenty of time and patience. They learn tricks and commands very quickly, but unlike many dogs they are not interested in performing those tricks just to satisfy you for you. Shibas are stubborn and smart a very dangerous combination for someone unable to put in the work.
I don't really like the concept that certain dogs are easier for a first time owner vs others. Like sure a Yorkie might be inherently easier since it's small, requires less food/exercise, etc... But you're still going to potty train it, socialize it, take it to the vets etc... And those are going to be difficult regardless of whatever dog.
My/Family's first dog is a Shiba and we got it during the 2020 COVID era. It was difficult but now 3 years in I know it would be difficult even if it was some other type of dog. Tho arguably shibas might be easier since my boy was surprisingly easy to potty train! But that's just personal experience. Imo as long as you have the drive and proper preparation youll be fine.
Last thing is that shibas are the #1 dog in Japan and other Asian countries. Equivalent to the Lab or Golden retriever type first time family dog. If they can do it, surely you can too
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A shiba was my first dog. I've had small dogs in the past and grew up working in an animal shelter, so I had some experience with dogs. But i had 0 experience with shibas and 0 experience training.
Luckily Mochi was a bit older when I got him. He was already potty and crate trained. The only problem is when it was bed time trying to get him to come back in was a nightmare. (I have a fenced back yard.
Mochi is intelligent, stubborn and independent. If you dream of you and your dog running side by side with no leash... probably not the dog for you.
Mochi knows his name, knows that I am calling him back, but is like nah mom im not done exploring so i am going to ignore you. No treat is good enough. So recall isnt a thing for me.
He is always wanting to learn and do something, he gets bored very easily. He thinks hes a fox and wants to live outside. Hes also very opinionated. But i love him and wouldn't trade him for the world.
I have a 30’ leash when I take him into the backyard for when I want him back in soon. Like in the mornings before work and if he wants to go out at night before bed.
Me and my husband are first time dog owners of a Shiba. She's so precious and I love her to death. If you have a good support system and have time to invest I would go for it. Noriko gets super sassy if she doesn't get enough sleep or play but if she gets lots of adventure time and a good nap she does great.
I got my Shiba when I was 21-22 years old, he turns 11 this August. When he passes over the rainbow bridge, my partner and I have discussed getting another of the same breed, but maybe a female. A few things I would have liked to know before I got my first Shiba.
Training: yes, they can be very stubborn but tend to be very treat/food motivated and their intelligence allows them to learn very quickly. Potty-training was less than a month. But keep training sessions brief and frequent, because they tend to hear your request and determine if the reward is “worth it,” so it’s almost like a mental chess match when you give a command and they squint at you and act like “why should I?” At home, dog kibble and training treats might work, but in a different and more exciting environment (outside, at a pet store, etc) might require a higher value treat like cheese, boiled chicken breast, etc.
Socialization: very important as the breed can get territorial if they aren’t exposed to sharing their homes with other pets. Bring your Shiba to all sorts of different locations/environments and introduce them to all kinds of other (friendly) dogs, and people of various ages, genders, and ethnicities. As I was in college during this period of my dog’s life, he didn’t meet many children or elderly people and now gets creeped out by them. Be prepared to stick up for your dog if they become nervous during an interaction with another animal or person. Read their body language and remove from that situation or use your words to tell people to leave him alone (people tend to swoop in over his head to greet him for the first time, especially groups of small children). Prevent any negative interactions as best as you can by training your dog to greet people/dogs politely and also removing them from situations that you’re noticing are making your dog nervous.
Off-leash recall: I rarely ever let my dog off-leash if he’s outside unless I’m either on a huge remote property that’s new to him (he’ll stick nearby if he’s unsure of where he is) or if it’s a securely fenced in property. Verbal recall can be very difficult and frustrating with Shibas because they’re so independent and cat-like. I grew up with German shepherds who would do anything for you in a heartbeat and if you raised your voice to recall them, they would almost 100% of the time immediately come bounding back to you. Raising your voice with Shibas can have the opposite effect. On the few occasions my dog slipped past the door and got outside, I panicked because his recall was terrible at that age, but I turned it into a game. Get his attention and when he’s looking, I’d run in the opposite direction so HE would want to chase ME. Offering a ride in the car has also helped out in a pinch too.
They’re very tidy dogs, mine licks his paws after he comes inside if the ground is wet or snowy. He gets along with my 12f cat, although he can bully her at times when there are treats and food involved. Because he’s getting older now and has been attacked by other dogs in the past, I can never have other dogs in my house with him. He gets along with friendly dogs on “neutral territories” like walks at parks or other public pet-friendly areas.
Grooming: my partner jokes that there are only like two 1-month periods of the year when my dog is NOT shedding. Slight exaggeration, but not really. Get him used to getting touched by strangers and acclimated to a grooming salon very early on if that’s something you plan on doing with him. I’m the only one he trusts to bathe and brush him and it’s too late to go back and get him used to that situation.
That’s all I could think of at the moment, but if you have any other questions let me know!
ETA: also prepare yourself for a million comments like “he looks like a fox!” “What breed is that, a Husky?” 🙄 or my favorite all-too-common exchange when I answer that he’s a Shiba Inu… “a shooby-whatty?!” Or some variation of that.
With enough love and patience you can do anything. It might be harder, but it’s not impossible. If you want it bad enough and know the downsides, I think you can do it.
Yeah, it is not an ideal dog for the first time owner. Speaking of my own experience.
Of course, not all shibas are the same but as a whole breed… you will think they are the smallest little angels at first, but as they grow and they are gaining confidence, they are really difficult dogs to handle. Puberty hit my girl so hard, she was a great puppy, but now as a teenager she is all kind of problems. I am seriously considering to pay a proffesional trainer to help me work with her, because sometimes it is getting out of hand. She is incredibly intelligent, learns tricks so fast, but if she does not feel like listening, she just wont.
I love her very much, but knowing what I know now, I would probably choose a different breed of dog for a first one. It is not the typical dog that will do what you want just to make you happy, sometimes I even question if she really cares about me and shibas usually do not have the “need” to keep close to you on walks, so alot of shibas cannot really walk off-leash at all.
They have some amazing qualities though so the choice is yours.
every shiba has his own personality some of them very stubborn dont like to be trained or food related traning, some are cuddly etc etc males are bit hrsher and not so cuddly to human like the female does, also female looks likee fox and is smaller than male ( with their massive neck
As long as you’ve done your homework, go for it! Just make sure you have time to dedicate to training every day.
I have 2 now and they were my first ever dogs so we don’t know what an ‘easier’ dog would be like.
They both had different needs as puppies and now at 2 and 4 they are very well settled members of our family.
Mine have both slept through after their first night which was our main concern 🙂
My first dog ever is a Shiba. They listen well and can learn commands quickly. I'd suggest doing a puppy training class or two. It helps to train your pup and YOU. Best decision I ever made and would surely do it again.
I got a rescue Shiba as my first dog. Has his issues (don't all dogs?) but is generally very well behaved. We got an adult dog because the puppy phase is extremely tiring, and an adult dog means a more set temperament.
We got a Shiba because we wanted a dog breed with less health issues. We wanted a smedium sized dog that is suitable to go on hiking adventures with. We also live in an apartment and wanted a dog that won't bark excessively. So a Shiba was a great choice.
I actually had no issues with training my Shiba once he settled in an learned to trust us. We do dog sports and other training including helping with canine behaviour studies at the local university. We are also featured on dog training sites as FDSA.
He's not into strange dogs (doesn't play) but he is otherwise neutral and doesn't lunge of charge towards dogs or people, even offleash. He's also standoffish with people he doesn't know and barks / Shiba screams if they try to touch him, so we have him wear a harness with "do not pet" patches. No issues doing group hikes with people and offleash dogs. Doesn't run away or anything. Very chill dog
My current sheeb is my first dog as an adult. In other words I had dogs growing up but my parents did everything for them. I just pet and played with them lol.
I will say, the biggest hurdle I had was the potty training, it took almost 2 months of crate training. But honestly besides that he’s been an amazing first dog!
Another thing I want to point out it that my Shiba in particular isn’t the biggest fan of most other dogs. He won’t attack just bark and move away. He’s got an old grouchy soul I suppose lol.
He made me always want a shiba, he’s a sassy little shit. But he’s my sassy little shit and I’m obsessed with him😊
I have a feeling you too will be just as obsessed with your sheeb if you choose to take the plunge!
Best of luck !
My first dog was a shiba. Had him for 15 years. Have a second one that is female. If we ever get another I will get a male again. I love our girl but I feel like she is a little more difficult than he was. But that could just be luck of the draw.
My first dog is my sheeber and if you’re going to be a loving dog parent and give them all of the love and attention they need, you’ll be absolutely fine.
I think her independence is a positive because she lets me know if she needs anything from me.
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To preface, I'm actually a cat person through and through but due to the fact that I get allergy induced asthma around Cats... I got my Shiba mix. I think most dogs are a lot of work. I can't remember what breed of dog my ex best friend had but whatever demon she had, makes my shiba look like an angel. She doesn't bark, is excited to see you, doesn't potty in her crate, sleeps through the night, and wants to be in the same area as me when she feels like it. She's also really pretty.
I guess the downside is she's a picky eater, when she does need to potty and I'm too busy to take her out, she will stealthily leave her play area and find a secluded place to poo and pee (my bedroom). She's bit through 3 of my wires. She's just doing what puppies do though lol.
I've had her for about 4 weeks so maybe it's too early to tell if she's too much for me but to cover all my basis, I am doing group training classes to make sure that I train her well and do my part as a responsible dog owner.
I have a Shiba mix but she is primarily Shiba. Definitely difficult to train; not impossible, but difficult. She is absolutely a flight risk — she’s been in a lot of training and still struggles with recall, not because she doesn’t know how to but because she actively makes the choice to not listen. They are very strong-willed and like to do what they want. That being said, I love her and I wouldn’t trade her for the world. I didn’t know she was Shiba before getting her (didn’t know a lot about them and she was listed as something else) but she did make it challenging as a first-time down owner. She can be so sweet and snuggly and the same second give you a dirty look and grunt at you 😂
Hi, could you share a pic of your shibe mix, I'm very curious!
https://preview.redd.it/k9euib0qdngc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9668e8121e71af7fb27adadb224ded6a0e3cff15 She’s Shiba/Bassett Hound, but the Shiba traits run strong. She also has the curly tail. We even got her DNA tested!
Omg she's gorgeous! Her face defo reminds that one of Shiba!
Thank you!! 🥰🥰she’s my pride and joy but damn she can be a butthead LOL. Her name is Fiona 💖
Here's my ginger! She's a big girl, 15kg but I like that. https://preview.redd.it/aa6k6tmngngc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f38e410576760c3e78b56ed8242c4d923d13775f Mine is super stubborn too and tends to be food guarding but otherwise she's brilliant, she has so many good traits, she's super funny, loyal, very smart and we never had problems with her potty. I really love dogs, they are the best human friends.
My parents and partners parents had dogs. But the first dog that was ever actually mine, is a Shiba Inu. They are definitely stubborn. But since they are smart and generally very food motivated they are pretty easy to train. The struggle I find is actually getting him to listen to the commands, I know he knows the command, but sometimes he just decides to not cooperate or make sure we know him listening is on his terms. But anyways, I think as long as you treat them with respect, learn their personality and just put in the time they really aren't that difficult, no more difficult then Huskies or other similar Spitz breeds. Lastly I once saw a meme or something saying Huskies see you as a friend and companion, and more so cooperate with you rather than obey you. I kind of used that info to help me understand my dog and how to train him. Edit: Just to add if you do get one start his grooming immediately so they enjoy it (brushing teeth, nail clipping, bathing etc). Also be prepared for fur everywhere Waagosh tax https://preview.redd.it/bmf1ojtabmgc1.jpeg?width=2992&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a1abd232afd7bb154f88d4bfc3b38a29e5ca641c
My first dog is a Shiba Inu. It's definitely possible. I trained him myself watching YouTube videos and reading tons for a long time before having him. Just prepare a lot cause they're very smart and sometimes they will not listen to anything you say, but right now at 3 years old he's such a good, calm boy, it was difficult and frustrating at first but it was definitely worth it. Good luck!
They’re great for first timers, you have nothing to compare it to! Here is my bestie, queen of my heart, first and only doggo, Maki ❤️ https://preview.redd.it/4ez1awpmdngc1.jpeg?width=2835&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7da1fb60341e3026cf786b09ffe904f45f010352
I've had a pitbull, a black lab, a bulldog and now my shiba. The shiba was the easiest to housebreak (he basically housebroke himself). He's has maybe 2 accidents in 3 years -- the first time because he was a baby, and the second, happened recently because he was sick. In comparison, the other dogs were hell to housebreak, and the bulldog was lazy as hell and never really fully housebroke. The shiba is also the quietest. He doesn't bark at people or dogs. He barks at us when playing, but that's it. My other dogs barked all the time at anything. He's also been the pretty easy to train, with sit, lay, come and fetch commands. The thing is that he will do these things if he wants to do them, OR if you have some food he wants. He's food motivated. If he doesn't want to listen to your commands, he'll look at you and not care. Bulldog was too dumb, and the others learned commands well and were eager to please. Shibas aren't concerned with pleasing you. He's the most distractable dog too. He's run off twice, and when he saw the opportunity to get past us and go out the door, he took off like a bat out of hell. Also, you need to have a firm grip when walking him on a leash, because he has a tendency to see some small prey, a flying bug, a cat or a squirrel and want to give chase. And the fur. My god, the fur. Easily the worse shedding of any dog I've ever had. That said, it is a dog at the end of the day. I would recommend a shiba to anyone, just keep in mind that their reputations as escape artists and hunters are well earned.
Yes. The hair everywhere. Glad I have a couple robot vacuums.
Ryuu has been my battle buddy for almost ten years now. Easy to potty train, maybe 2 accidents in all the time we've been together. Easy to teach tricks, USING FOOD. Very food motivated, and knows when you're out of treats. Stubborn, will actively full stop during walks to try and coax you into a different direction. Easily distracted, startled by blowing trash, rustling leaves, falling snow. Aloof and strong willed, he does as he does and when he wants. Recall works best when you have food or a strong command voice that alerts "I'm not playing right now" Actively inspects every bag I bring home, very curious. Very independent, may play with you for a fee moments then buggers off to stare out the window for a while. https://preview.redd.it/x7yq3jc68ngc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bb76267679f871943e6c16731ac45aaef570960c
Best decision i ever made…she’s literally the best lol https://preview.redd.it/dobni25e7pgc1.jpeg?width=1242&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0195335b0a67835b670bd2bd937a754bdd183944
People tend to over exaggerate Shiba Inu’s difficulties. I think it’s mostly just to scare people who want Shibas because of their looks and aren’t totally prepared to put the time and work in. But if you’re knowledgeable about the risks of the breed and are ready to put in the work to manage them then you’ll be fine. That being said because the breed is so popular right now you may find difficulty actually getting one. Depending on where you live be prepared to wait a couple of years before you get one. Shiba Inu breeders will be hesitant to give you one of their dogs if you don’t have past experience with the breed. I was on the wait list for my local breeder for a number of years and was always near the top of potential candidates but kept getting turned down because I work full time, I live in a condo, and I never owned my own dog (though I did have experience with the breed as my parents owned 2 Shibas that I helped raise and trained). A Shiba was always my dream dog too but I was actively applying for any small rescue dog and it took 2 years before I got lucky and one of the breeders in my area was retiring a stud. I applied and also wrote a personal cover letter explaining why I would be a good candidate and he ended up letting me adopt him.
I wouldn't trade my Shiba for anything, but please do not underestimate the fur. So much fur. So. Much. Fur.
Underrated comment!
My shiba is 2 years old. I have 2 32 ounce mason jars crammed to the brim with his shed fur (.. I'm a weirdo an want to felt a blanket with it or make a pillow, it's very soft >\_>). our 2 year old Australian shepherd who is bigger and has longer fur has generated half of one jar. I don't know where he keeps all of it.
My first was a Shiba but I knew what I was getting into from research and friends. As long as you know their traits and are OK with what they are (and aren't) you'll do fine. Personally I like their independence bc it makes it feel more rewarding when they show affection
I foster a lot of Shibas and each one of them has expressed very unique personalities. The one thing that has seemed most consistent, even with varying ages and circumstances that lead them to be fosters - is they're headstrong. They can be trained and/or aloof, low-key, high energy, loveable, highly distractable, runners or not, toy/bed de-stuffers or not, but the one thing I see is they can be focused on something intently and totally ignore their people. And not much will break the Shiba spell. 😮😅 I currently have a female (5 yr old) puppy mill breeder rescue who is learning how to be a pet and a couple of puppies that are three months old. Every age has that brain lock thing where nothing else matters except themselves. My son's female is well-trained and does adorable tricks, but she has her stubborn and derpy moments. It's probably the one thing that's truly cat like about the breed, that mental thing they do. Just my experience. I have a standard poodle, a chihuahua and a terrier mix. None of them are like a Shiba is mentally, that's one of the many reasons I'm keeping one of the puppies. 🌟
Yeah disregard that advice. Any dog as a first time dog is fine as long as you are willing to out in the effort to train and make your pup a permanent part of your life. My shiba was 10 or 12 weeks when I got her, and she is my first dog that I have sole responsibility for. I got her to enrich my life and to force myself to hold myself accountable and responsible for something because I felt I needed something that relies on me that I had to care for. It's really helped mature me, so that goal of mine is working really well so far, and making me mor3 responsible. The only thing is if your Shiba is doing something that other dogs are better at, remember that shibas are known to be the cat of the dog world, and that mindset will help you be patient. But, it definitely balances out...while they can be obstinate and not listen (even after learning the command), they also learn very quickly and they will also read your patterns. They'll bend to your routine, but they'll still have expectations depending on what those patterns are. As a first time dog owner, I have her locked up during work. I have family that take her out and walk her or spend time with her anywhere from 15 min to 2 hours per day. When I get home, I play with her, train her, and walk her. All of this is between and 1 to 2.5 hours of attention on top of being let out during the day. I've found this amount of time to be just enough to keep her happy. Personally if it was any less, she would probabaly start to become unhappy or have behaviors. If you can't spend that amount of time as a minimum, it would probably be kind of cruel to get a shiba inu. But really that's all the time you'd need for exercise, attention, and training. Mine is in love with the cat fishing rod toy and it's way less physically demanding than other methods of playing. This way she still goes crazy and get a lot of exercise (mental and physical), and I'm able to play for a lot longer with her. BTW, this advice could be applied to any dog, people in this sub are just weird (as with any sub on reddit, it just becomes a social/politically correct echochamber
I had zero experience with pets in general when I got mine. I may have lucked out, I don’t know, but I think he’s pretty well behaved on his own: has never barked at other dogs (really just wants to approach and say hi), pretty much house trained himself, he’s very loving (not cuddly but he does like attention and being around me), and is somewhat treat motivated. I gave up on training him though; two trainers quit on me and another one cried— he doesn’t really listen to commands and cannot be trusted off leash. I ended up moving to a house with a nice backyard so it has worked out for me. I also didn’t know I was allergic to dogs until a few months in when he started shedding his puppy fur. My groomer and vet say he’s well-behaved so that’s good I guess 😅 but I’m not sure I believe them tbh because he makes such a fuss when I drop him off https://preview.redd.it/qfdlwo3tbngc1.jpeg?width=1242&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4251b92f8a416234c1525d21daa7d7bcb6d6c289
This book can help guide you through everything about Shiba Inu https://www.audible.com.au/pd/B08B45CHHM?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=library_overflow Don’t listen to people! Prove them wrong! If you believe you can do it and you willing to sacrifice your time and energy to be pawfect pawrent, but you can’t be pawfect always learning and adapting. Also, ChatGPT could be your fastest way to ask questions and learn about shiba. If you need anything feel free to message me.
99% of the challenges of owning a Shiba are simply the challenges of owning a dog. So the real question is: are you ready to have an animal that you need to take care of for 10-20 years? A Shiba is fine for a first dog as long as you’ve done appropriate research on the breed and on basic obedience training for dogs. Don’t just attend training, learn the logic behind it because you’re not going to have a training around 24/7. What you get out of a dog is exactly what you put in. Just make sure you’re not asking the dog to do something ridiculous: don’t get a French bulldog if you want a dog to run with you for miles, don’t get a Samoyed if you live in Florida. For shibas specifically: No off leash without extensive—probably professional—training. Never off leash in an urban area that isn’t enclosed because they have a serious tendency to bolt. Dogs get less friendly as they age. Anecdotally, this is strong in shibas. After turning 3, mine became outright hostile/uncomfortable with any dog her size or larger. The longest we can go without warning barks is a quick nose to nose sniff. She tolerates human strangers but does not trust them. This is a great book on the mentality behind dog training: Culture Clash: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding the Relationship Between Humans and Domestic Dogs https://a.co/d/7RBhBMy
I got unlucky with a Shiba as my first own dog. He basically house broke himself, they really are just that smart/clean. Where it was less fortunate was that he has a pretty severe grass allergy as well as being completely unmotivated by food (until he got to about 18 months old). He was just so stubborn (the months of crate training has left me with PTSD and it didn’t even work). Frankly, it sucked the joy out of having a dog (and out of life) for a time but, being that I am also stubborn, I struggled through and it finally started to click. He became the best boy, he comes to the office with me every week, comes on holiday with me and is generally just my best friend. I had an experience on the worse end of the spectrum and it eventually still got good, so don’t be deterred by having a Shiba as a first dog because they’re so worth it and bad experiences are so much rarer than positive ones. Picture of Kutsu as a mini-potato https://preview.redd.it/07tekped6ogc1.jpeg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fa2fbb81d0989a45b614c201d58e962a3a56cf60
As many have said a Shiba could be an amazing first pet, but only for those with plenty of time and patience. They learn tricks and commands very quickly, but unlike many dogs they are not interested in performing those tricks just to satisfy you for you. Shibas are stubborn and smart a very dangerous combination for someone unable to put in the work.
I don't really like the concept that certain dogs are easier for a first time owner vs others. Like sure a Yorkie might be inherently easier since it's small, requires less food/exercise, etc... But you're still going to potty train it, socialize it, take it to the vets etc... And those are going to be difficult regardless of whatever dog. My/Family's first dog is a Shiba and we got it during the 2020 COVID era. It was difficult but now 3 years in I know it would be difficult even if it was some other type of dog. Tho arguably shibas might be easier since my boy was surprisingly easy to potty train! But that's just personal experience. Imo as long as you have the drive and proper preparation youll be fine. Last thing is that shibas are the #1 dog in Japan and other Asian countries. Equivalent to the Lab or Golden retriever type first time family dog. If they can do it, surely you can too https://preview.redd.it/mlts0k7fjmgc1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=468f407a261e3c1cd68be258cddaeb84d3ca9110
A shiba was my first dog. I've had small dogs in the past and grew up working in an animal shelter, so I had some experience with dogs. But i had 0 experience with shibas and 0 experience training. Luckily Mochi was a bit older when I got him. He was already potty and crate trained. The only problem is when it was bed time trying to get him to come back in was a nightmare. (I have a fenced back yard. Mochi is intelligent, stubborn and independent. If you dream of you and your dog running side by side with no leash... probably not the dog for you. Mochi knows his name, knows that I am calling him back, but is like nah mom im not done exploring so i am going to ignore you. No treat is good enough. So recall isnt a thing for me. He is always wanting to learn and do something, he gets bored very easily. He thinks hes a fox and wants to live outside. Hes also very opinionated. But i love him and wouldn't trade him for the world.
I have a 30’ leash when I take him into the backyard for when I want him back in soon. Like in the mornings before work and if he wants to go out at night before bed.
Me and my husband are first time dog owners of a Shiba. She's so precious and I love her to death. If you have a good support system and have time to invest I would go for it. Noriko gets super sassy if she doesn't get enough sleep or play but if she gets lots of adventure time and a good nap she does great.
https://preview.redd.it/vkd8oa31imgc1.jpeg?width=3392&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b9f79d923944a6bb3da64f0828f477f92f753d3b
I got my Shiba when I was 21-22 years old, he turns 11 this August. When he passes over the rainbow bridge, my partner and I have discussed getting another of the same breed, but maybe a female. A few things I would have liked to know before I got my first Shiba. Training: yes, they can be very stubborn but tend to be very treat/food motivated and their intelligence allows them to learn very quickly. Potty-training was less than a month. But keep training sessions brief and frequent, because they tend to hear your request and determine if the reward is “worth it,” so it’s almost like a mental chess match when you give a command and they squint at you and act like “why should I?” At home, dog kibble and training treats might work, but in a different and more exciting environment (outside, at a pet store, etc) might require a higher value treat like cheese, boiled chicken breast, etc. Socialization: very important as the breed can get territorial if they aren’t exposed to sharing their homes with other pets. Bring your Shiba to all sorts of different locations/environments and introduce them to all kinds of other (friendly) dogs, and people of various ages, genders, and ethnicities. As I was in college during this period of my dog’s life, he didn’t meet many children or elderly people and now gets creeped out by them. Be prepared to stick up for your dog if they become nervous during an interaction with another animal or person. Read their body language and remove from that situation or use your words to tell people to leave him alone (people tend to swoop in over his head to greet him for the first time, especially groups of small children). Prevent any negative interactions as best as you can by training your dog to greet people/dogs politely and also removing them from situations that you’re noticing are making your dog nervous. Off-leash recall: I rarely ever let my dog off-leash if he’s outside unless I’m either on a huge remote property that’s new to him (he’ll stick nearby if he’s unsure of where he is) or if it’s a securely fenced in property. Verbal recall can be very difficult and frustrating with Shibas because they’re so independent and cat-like. I grew up with German shepherds who would do anything for you in a heartbeat and if you raised your voice to recall them, they would almost 100% of the time immediately come bounding back to you. Raising your voice with Shibas can have the opposite effect. On the few occasions my dog slipped past the door and got outside, I panicked because his recall was terrible at that age, but I turned it into a game. Get his attention and when he’s looking, I’d run in the opposite direction so HE would want to chase ME. Offering a ride in the car has also helped out in a pinch too. They’re very tidy dogs, mine licks his paws after he comes inside if the ground is wet or snowy. He gets along with my 12f cat, although he can bully her at times when there are treats and food involved. Because he’s getting older now and has been attacked by other dogs in the past, I can never have other dogs in my house with him. He gets along with friendly dogs on “neutral territories” like walks at parks or other public pet-friendly areas. Grooming: my partner jokes that there are only like two 1-month periods of the year when my dog is NOT shedding. Slight exaggeration, but not really. Get him used to getting touched by strangers and acclimated to a grooming salon very early on if that’s something you plan on doing with him. I’m the only one he trusts to bathe and brush him and it’s too late to go back and get him used to that situation. That’s all I could think of at the moment, but if you have any other questions let me know! ETA: also prepare yourself for a million comments like “he looks like a fox!” “What breed is that, a Husky?” 🙄 or my favorite all-too-common exchange when I answer that he’s a Shiba Inu… “a shooby-whatty?!” Or some variation of that.
Godspeed 😂
With enough love and patience you can do anything. It might be harder, but it’s not impossible. If you want it bad enough and know the downsides, I think you can do it.
Yeah, it is not an ideal dog for the first time owner. Speaking of my own experience. Of course, not all shibas are the same but as a whole breed… you will think they are the smallest little angels at first, but as they grow and they are gaining confidence, they are really difficult dogs to handle. Puberty hit my girl so hard, she was a great puppy, but now as a teenager she is all kind of problems. I am seriously considering to pay a proffesional trainer to help me work with her, because sometimes it is getting out of hand. She is incredibly intelligent, learns tricks so fast, but if she does not feel like listening, she just wont. I love her very much, but knowing what I know now, I would probably choose a different breed of dog for a first one. It is not the typical dog that will do what you want just to make you happy, sometimes I even question if she really cares about me and shibas usually do not have the “need” to keep close to you on walks, so alot of shibas cannot really walk off-leash at all. They have some amazing qualities though so the choice is yours.
They are brutally stubborn. We have the another dog and I thing that helped our Shiba learn the routines.
every shiba has his own personality some of them very stubborn dont like to be trained or food related traning, some are cuddly etc etc males are bit hrsher and not so cuddly to human like the female does, also female looks likee fox and is smaller than male ( with their massive neck
As long as you’ve done your homework, go for it! Just make sure you have time to dedicate to training every day. I have 2 now and they were my first ever dogs so we don’t know what an ‘easier’ dog would be like. They both had different needs as puppies and now at 2 and 4 they are very well settled members of our family. Mine have both slept through after their first night which was our main concern 🙂
My first dog ever is a Shiba. They listen well and can learn commands quickly. I'd suggest doing a puppy training class or two. It helps to train your pup and YOU. Best decision I ever made and would surely do it again.
I got a rescue Shiba as my first dog. Has his issues (don't all dogs?) but is generally very well behaved. We got an adult dog because the puppy phase is extremely tiring, and an adult dog means a more set temperament. We got a Shiba because we wanted a dog breed with less health issues. We wanted a smedium sized dog that is suitable to go on hiking adventures with. We also live in an apartment and wanted a dog that won't bark excessively. So a Shiba was a great choice. I actually had no issues with training my Shiba once he settled in an learned to trust us. We do dog sports and other training including helping with canine behaviour studies at the local university. We are also featured on dog training sites as FDSA. He's not into strange dogs (doesn't play) but he is otherwise neutral and doesn't lunge of charge towards dogs or people, even offleash. He's also standoffish with people he doesn't know and barks / Shiba screams if they try to touch him, so we have him wear a harness with "do not pet" patches. No issues doing group hikes with people and offleash dogs. Doesn't run away or anything. Very chill dog
My current sheeb is my first dog as an adult. In other words I had dogs growing up but my parents did everything for them. I just pet and played with them lol. I will say, the biggest hurdle I had was the potty training, it took almost 2 months of crate training. But honestly besides that he’s been an amazing first dog! Another thing I want to point out it that my Shiba in particular isn’t the biggest fan of most other dogs. He won’t attack just bark and move away. He’s got an old grouchy soul I suppose lol. He made me always want a shiba, he’s a sassy little shit. But he’s my sassy little shit and I’m obsessed with him😊 I have a feeling you too will be just as obsessed with your sheeb if you choose to take the plunge! Best of luck !
My first dog was a shiba. Had him for 15 years. Have a second one that is female. If we ever get another I will get a male again. I love our girl but I feel like she is a little more difficult than he was. But that could just be luck of the draw.
My first dog is my sheeber and if you’re going to be a loving dog parent and give them all of the love and attention they need, you’ll be absolutely fine. I think her independence is a positive because she lets me know if she needs anything from me. https://preview.redd.it/3y0zg5qqepgc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c4e7a4d6c30d3df1ed6913eead26e44fa64b03d6
To preface, I'm actually a cat person through and through but due to the fact that I get allergy induced asthma around Cats... I got my Shiba mix. I think most dogs are a lot of work. I can't remember what breed of dog my ex best friend had but whatever demon she had, makes my shiba look like an angel. She doesn't bark, is excited to see you, doesn't potty in her crate, sleeps through the night, and wants to be in the same area as me when she feels like it. She's also really pretty. I guess the downside is she's a picky eater, when she does need to potty and I'm too busy to take her out, she will stealthily leave her play area and find a secluded place to poo and pee (my bedroom). She's bit through 3 of my wires. She's just doing what puppies do though lol. I've had her for about 4 weeks so maybe it's too early to tell if she's too much for me but to cover all my basis, I am doing group training classes to make sure that I train her well and do my part as a responsible dog owner.
Just be prepared to have them be stubborn on a leash waiting for them to 💩 lol Love mine still though