The Shiba Inu is a dog breed of hunting dog from Japan. This small-to-medium breed is the smallest of the six original and distinct spitz breeds native to Japan. The Shiba Inu dog breed was bred to flush birds and small game and infrequently hunt wild boar.
Shibas are recognised for their spirited personality, small straight ears, and cat-like quickness. Today they serve principally as companion dogs in Japan and the United States.
The Shiba Inu was incipiently bred for hunting, a small, intelligent, and energetic dog that copes very well with mountainous regions and hiking trails. It resembles related and is frequently mistaken for different Japanese dog breeds such as the Akita Inu or Hokkaido.
Still, the Shiba Inu is a distinctive breed with a different bloodline, temperament, and smaller size than additional Japanese dog breeds.
The Shiba Inu is an ancient Japanese breed, a little but well-muscled dog once employed as a hunter. Today, the spirited, good-natured Shiba is the most popular companion dog in Japan. The adaptable Shiba is at home in town or country.
Contents Overview
History of Shiba Inu
The American Kennel Club determines the appearance of Shiba Inus in Asia back to 300 BC, and they continue the most famous dog breed in Japan. Humans have long accepted them for hunting and flushing games, but today they’re essentially pets.
Though regarded as one of the oldest dog breeds, Shiba Inus have the hyper-modern perfection of being the face of a meme and various cryptocurrencies. They would appear to be the Internet’s beloved dogs.
The Shibas maintained a solid undercoat, a dense guard-hair layer, and were small and red. The Shibas tended to have thick, prick ears and controlled a sickle rather than the traditional curled tail exposed on most modern Shibas.
The San’in Shibas were larger than most modern shibas and managed to be black, without the common tan and white accents found on modern black-and-tan shibas.
When the study of Japanese dogs was formalized in the beginning and mid-20th century, these three strains were combined into one overall breed, the Shiba Inu. The first Japanese breed standard for the Shiba, the Nippo Standard, was published in 1934.
In December 1936, the Shiba Inu was identified as a Natural Monument of Japan through the Cultural Properties Act, largely due to the purposes of Nippo, the Association for the Preservation of the Japanese Dog.
Shiba Inu personality
The well-bred Shiba Inu is good-natured, intelligent, and strong. He is strong-willed and confident and frequently has thoughts about things. He is faithful and affectionate with his family, though he manages to be distrustful of strangers.
The Shiba Inu doesn’t distribute thoroughly. Instead, he leads to guard, seldom aggressively, his food, toys, or territory.
And he doesn’t always get along with other dogs, especially if he’s intact. But, on the other hand, he won’t hesitate to chase small animals that he considers prey.
Similar to every dog, the Shiba Inu requires early socialization presentation to numerous diverse people, sights, sounds, and experiences when they’re young.
In addition, socialization supports to assure that your Shiba puppy grows up to be a well-rounded dog.
Size and appearance of shiba inu
How big is a Shiba?
The Shiba Inu is an exceptional breed that learns promptly. However, whether he prefers to do what you require is another matter.
First-time dog partners or timid owners may be disappointed by the challenge of training this dog. The Shiba Inu can be aggressive with another dog, and he will chase small animals he perceives as prey.
The Shiba Inu is a pleasant companion, though his strong-willed personality can be too much for some people. Others are charmed by his pluck and loyalty, which is why supporters assume that maintaining a Shiba doesn’t just own a dog; it’s a way of life. The Shiba Inu manages to be possessive about his toys, food, and turf.
For starters, males stand up to 16.5 inches tall and weigh about 23 pounds. Females are smaller, standing throughout 13.5 inches tall and weighing 17 pounds. A male Shiba will have a wider face, while the female has softer facial features.
Appearance of shiba inu
The Shiba Inu is double-coated, with the outer coat being potent and straight and the undercoat soft and thick. Fur is short and even on the fox-like face, ears, and legs. Guard hairs stand off the body and are around 4 to 5 cm long at the withers.
Tail hair is somewhat longer and stands open in a brush. Their tails are a defining characteristic and present them as standing apart from different dog breeds. In addition, their tails support to preserve them from the harsh winter weather.
Shiba’s frame is compact with well-developed muscles. Shiba Inus curl up and utilise their tails to shield their face and nose to preserve their delicate regions from the cold when they sleep. “Urajiro” is a different Japanese term representing the white indicating; all Shibas have on their chest, cheeks, belly, inner ears, and legs. Their eyes are an extremely dark brown that matches their fearless personalities.
Shiba inu Health & Problems
The Shiba is pretty healthy, but genetic obstacles that have been seen involve hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, and eye problems. Allergies are also an obstacle in the breed, including inhalant allergies, distinguished as atopy, that typically causes itching.
So if you see indications of itching, redness, or hair loss, head to the vet right away. However, by two years of age, Shiba Inus may be deemed fully free from joint problems if none have been observed since the outline is fully developed at this age.
This breed is recognized for dramatics and may talk, scream, or throw a bit of a temper tantrum if things don’t go their way. However, all jokes aside, a responsible partner must be involved in inhibiting specific health concerns for their Shiba.
Obesity and dental disease are big prospects for Shibas, so proper nutrition and dental hygiene are required. According to the National Shiba Club of America, their generative difficulties involve hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, and allergies.
Shiba Lifespan
Shibas are considered the oldest and smallest of Japan’s dogs. The Shiba Inu is an excellent hunting dog, and the ancestors of the breed were the hardiest survivors of Japan’s mountainous precincts. They were utilized for hunting large game, but they are currently employed on smaller animals.
Their average life expectancy is from 11 to 16 years. Exercise, particularly regular walks, is favored for this breed to exist a long and healthy life. The oldest known Shiba, Pusuke, died at age 26 in early 2011. Pusuke was the oldest dog alive and lived three years less than the world record for the longest living dog.
How to take care of shiba inu
Exercise requirements
Shiba Inu require a moderate amount of exercise. If you are habitual to other bulldogs, you should understand that the Conti is more vigorous and requires more exercise than most different shiba inu varieties.
Endeavor for at least 30 minutes to an hour each day. They want two longer walks per week. To stay healthy and comfortable, they hold some playtime or training sessions.
They are honestly relaxed and dormant indoor dogs, which presents them as good suitors for apartment existence. You can catch your shiba inu on longer walks because they can drive for hours without exhausting.
A Visit to the Vet
It is an important and valuable way to taking care of your the shiba inu Dog. Like all dog breeds, This breed needs to go to the vet once per year for a checkup.
Generally, a complete physical examination of a particular dog is needed at least once a year. It involves getting your dog’s temperature, checking heart, lungs, weighing, stomach, eyes, teeth, ears, skin, and coat.
Vaccinating your pet has long been regarded as one of the most straightforward approaches to assist him to live a long, healthy life. Puppies are typically vaccinated at 8 and 10 weeks; your young Bowie should then be given a booster 12 months after their first vaccination because it’s beneficial to take care of any pets.
Grooming & Bruising
These dogs are very clean, so grooming essentials will suitably be minimal. However, they generally hate being wet or bathed; thus, it is essential to get them accustomed when they are young.
A Shiba Inu’s coat is coarse, short to medium length, with the outer coat being 2.5 to 3.2 cm long, and is naturally waterproof, so there is little requirement for frequent bathing. They also have a thick undercoat that can defend them from temperatures well below freezing.
However, shedding, also recognized as blowing coat, can be a nuisance. Shedding is heaviest during the seasonal change, especially during the summer season, but regular brushing can temper this problem.
It is recommended that partners never shave or cut the coat of a Shiba Inu, as the coat is required to preserve them from both cold and hot temperatures.
The rest is basic care. First, trim the nails as required, normally every week or two. Next, brush teeth frequently with a vet-approved pet toothpaste for good overall health and fresh breath.
Finally, check the ears weekly for dirt, redness, or a bad odor indicating an infection. If the ears look dirty, wipe them out with a cotton ball dampened with a gentle, pH-balanced ear cleaner suggested by your veterinarian.
Providing a high-quality dog food
Each dog is individual and, therefore, will need a particular diet. Since the shiba inu Cross is inclined to hip and elbow dysplasia, provide him food enriched with fish oil, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
It is necessary to evade over feeding your dog as it can only exasperate health obstacles such as elbow and hip dysplasia. Your most essential purpose should be to provide your pet companion properly.
The shiba inu a big dog, so going for the best big breed dry dog food may be the correct choice. If, upon all benefits, your dog turned out small, search for one of the greatest dry dog food for small dogs and see if they like it!
Here we list out some of the best good dog food for Mino Shiba.
Best dog food for shiba inu 2021
- Orijen Original Formula Dry Dog Food.
- Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Fish.
- Merrick Grain Free Dry Dog Food.
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free.
- Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food (Small Bites)
Avoid unhealthy and digestive system-damaging foods similar to soy, wheat, and corns.
Remember that some of the smallest breeds have the most refined taste. Even though your Doberman Pinscher Siberian Husky combo is big, we’re sure your puppy won’t mind taking a bite of these best dry dog food brands for Pugs!
How to train Mino Shiba
Shiba Inus will only respond to activities that present sense to them and are very strong-willed and stubborn. They will fight back if feeling intimidated and will not back down once they have their mindset on something. However, it required to continuously transition from on-leash to off-leash.
If your Shiba Inu is still a puppy, then they should soak up all data. This indicates training could take just a couple of weeks.
Understanding your Shiba’s personality will provide you the upper hand in training this difficult breed. Because of his independence, the Shiba Inu is not the easiest breed to train.
However, socialization is how puppies or adult dogs learn to be friendly and get along with other dogs and people. Therefore, training should begin early to teach the Shiba Inu proper canine manners.
Some breeds are more challenging to train than others, and the Shiba Inu is considered one of the most delicate breeds to train.
Shiba Inus will only respond to activities that make sense to them and are very strong-willed and stubborn. As your puppy learns the obedience commands, you can alternate between giving a treat and simply giving a vocal phrase.
Potty Training
It’s a fantastic time when you buy a new puppy in your home, but a new puppy also comes with many challenges. The first and most significant challenge that you may face is that of potty training.
If your dog decides to go with an indoor potty, so placement is essential. Find a space in your home where messes won’t interfere with your life.
Potty training your Mino Shiba puppy can take a lot of time, patience, and attention, but luckily, one tool can make a huge difference: a potty training pad.
Some dog experts recommend that you begin house training your puppy when they are between 12 weeks and 16 weeks old. At that time, they have ample control of their bladder and bowel movements to learn to hold them.
Crate Training
If you’re planning on crate training, your puppy should be placed to bed every night in its crate. However, you may require thinking of the best place for that crate at the beginning.
Correctly done crate training is also a highly effective management technique that dog owners can be a lifesaver.
Using a crate is essential to keep your dog from getting into a riot when you can’t supervise them directly.
Crate training is suitable for hunting dogs because it keeps them comfortable during hunts and on the road.
Socialization
The Mino Shiba inu puppy might produce aggressive behaviors and severe anxiety if you do not enforce the early socialization. In the method of early socialization, you will present the puppy to different objects, people, and areas as advanced as possible.
There are two stages of this process. The first one initiates as early as 2 and 1/2 weeks. From this period of time up to four weeks of age, the buyers will hold the dog in a listed amount of time.
The second stage of socialization begins from four weeks of age to 16 weeks of age. You will let the dog become familiar with neighboring formations and smells.
This training activity aims to form the puppy into a fearless and incredible adult dog. The dog will appear at ease with interacting with people and different dogs, providing to their potential in becoming therapy dogs, service dogs, or herders.
How much do Mino Shiba cost?
Show dog puppies cost considerably more because they develop from a remarkably good family and commonly have full AKC certification.
Other factors that influence Shiba Inu’s price to incorporate the sex of the puppy and the coat colors. The red Shiba Inu puppies cost the most, while the cream Shiba Inu puppies cost the least.
Before they became the subject of numerous memes, Shiba Inus were priced at no more than $1,000, but now you can expect a Shiba Inu puppy to cost in the price range of between $1,400 and $3,500. On average, a limited certification Shiba Inu puppy will set you back between $1,400 and $2,200.
Shiba inu breeders
Good breeders will welcome your questions about temperament, health clearances, and what the dogs are like to live with and come right back at you with questions of their own about what you’re looking for in a dog and what kind of life you can provide for him.
A good breeder can tell you about the breed’s history, explain why one puppy is considered pet quality while another is not, and discuss what health problems affect the breed and the steps she takes to avoid those problems. A breeder should want to be a resource for you throughout your dog’s life.
Avoid breeders who only seem interested in how quickly they can unload a puppy on you and whether your credit card will go through. Also, breeders who offer puppies at one price “with papers” and at a lower price “without papers” are unethical.
Advantage and disadvantages of Shiba inu
Pros of Mino Shiba
- Good family dog: As long as they are properly trained and socialized, Shiba Inus can be a good hunting dog.
- Attractive: A Shiba Inu is an attractive-looking dog with a mix of sesame, black, white, red, and tan colors in its coat.
- Playful: Shiba Inus are active dogs who enjoy playing with their family members.
Cons of Mino Shiba
- They are Stubborn dog.
- Heavy shedders: Shiba Inus can shed a lot of hair during their shedding seasons. You’ll need to stay on top of brushing them regularly to prevent hair from getting left all over your home.
- Vocal: Shiba Inus may bark more than other dog breeds.