Is a Shiba Inu the Right Dog for Me?
June 23, 2018
No one can fault you for falling in love with the Shiba Inu. They are a beautiful dog with a husky, foxy appeal. Fluffy as a cat, the perfect size dog for the city and wonderfully affectionate, the Shiba makes an ideal companion dog.
Already the most popular dog in its birthplace of Japan where its considered a national emblem, the Shiba is quickly becoming a favourite in cities like Toronto. But is a Shiba perfect for everybody? The short answer is, not necessarily. There are a few caveats you should know before settling down with a Shiba Inu.
The Shibas are often mistaken for mini-huskies, but they’re actually from the Spitz family. Originally bred for hunting wild boar, birds and even bears, this hunting instinct runs strong in the Shiba and can make them aloof and difficult to train.
Being prey driven, they will chase after anything that moves and are prone to take off on you if they’re not on leash. They can be restless and hyper if their senses are triggered. For example, it’s not unusual for Shibas to run from window to window, yipping and yodeling at everything that moves.
Some people call the Shiba Inu antisocial and aggressive, but it’s more a case of being fiercely independent like a cat and reactive by nature. Their idea of personal space is much wider than most dogs and they have no problem expressing it, sometimes with the ferocity of Cujo.
The Shiba is fastidious about their hygiene and don’t require a lot of bathing, but like most breeds with a thick coat, they need regular grooming. Despite their diminutive size, when the Shiba moults his coat, there will be enough hair to make four or five more Shiba Inus – guaranteed! This is not a hypoallergenic, no-shed dog. But they are an excellent source of hair for felting crafts, should you be so inclined!
As far as health problems, all that hair comes with the price of skin allergies and hot spots, especially in the summer. The Shiba also has a very high chance of developing seizures and heart murmurs. While these might not impair their quality of life when they’re young, they most certainly mean medication and health problems later in life.
Though the Shiba Inu is difficult to train and hard to socialize, they make beautiful pets. They love to play and cuddle their humans, and are fiercely loyal. As soon as they give you a Shiba smile, you’ll fall in love.