The Shiba Inus is an extremely cute dog breed. A well trained Shiba can be a great dog, but are Shiba Inus good for first time dog owners? First time owners may find owning a Shiba challenging.
Shiba Inus were originally bred to hunt large and small game. They have a spirited personality, and high agility. Shibas are very popular in Japan. They are also gaining popularity in the US .
First time dog owners may feel frustrated with the challenge of training a Shiba Inu. Even though Shiba Inus are small in size – they need enough space to run around. The ideal space for a Shiba Inu is a home with a fenced yard. Another problem with Shiba Inus is that that they are not very good with other pets. Shiba Inus were bred to hunt small small prey. A Shiba Inu may consider other pets or smaller dogs as prey.
Are Shiba Inus Good as a First Dog
Although Shibas are cute, agile and smart dogs, they can be pretty challenging to train. If you are considering getting a Shiba as a first-time dog owner – it is doable. You will need to consider a few things about their personality before getting a Shiba.
Shiba Inu Temperament and Personality
Shiba Inus main personality trait are that they are alert and bold. Owners describe Shiba Inu’s personality as confident, free-thinking and stubborn. Shiabs often have their own thoughts about how things should be. Owners also describe their personality as very cat-like.
They don’t like being forced to do anything. People who are experienced in training Shepherds or Retrievers often surprised when training a Shiba. They find that Shiba Inus are quite a bit more difficult than Shepherds or retrievers.
The Shiba Inu is an affectionate dog and can be suspicious toward strangers. Shiba Inu’s can be very possessive. This can manifest as aggressiveness. When it comes to food, toys or territory the Shiba can be very defensive. Shiba Inus don’t tend to get along with other dogs, or small animals such as cats or smaller dogs. So, if you already have a small pet, the Shiba Inu may not be the ideal choice.
Overall, Shibas can be affectionate, but they do not aim to please. As a first-time owner if you’re looking for a dog that will be easy to train; it is better to look for something like a Labrador Retriever or a golden retriever. It takes patience to motivate a dog like a Shiba Inu. They are extremely smart and like deciding for themselves if they want to do something or not. Because of these traits Shibas are not usually referred to as loyal dogs.
Shiba Inu Challenges
Challenge #1: Does not Respond to Calls Well
Training a Shiba is not like training any other dog. For example if your training in Labrador retriever – you can call your dog and he will come to you. But, with a Shiba I can only come to you if he feels like it. The Shiba Inus will likely consider “what’s in it for me” before coming to you.
Shiba Inus are very smart dogs. So they do understand what you are saying when you’re trying to train them. But whether they want to listen to what you are saying is another matter altogether. They are known to be stubborn and they stick to what they want.
Challenge #2: Does not Like Strangers
A well socialized Shiba Inu will be better with other people or other pets. The key is early socialization. If a Shiba Inu is exposed to sights and sounds and people when they’re young, they will be more comfortable around other people, as adults. Consider taking your Shiba Inu puppy to parks, and stores that allow dogs. Or simply take your puppy to meet friends and Neighbors.
Challenge #3: Shiba Inus don’t like Being Restrained
Shiba Inus are known for not liking leashes or wearing a collar. Leash training is very important for a Shiba but it takes a lot of time and patience. For this reason, Shiba Inu owners recommend obedience classes for Shiba Inu puppies.
If you get a Shiba Inu – consider crate training. Once the Shiba feels secure in the crate – it maybe easier to leash train.
Challenge #4: Requires More Patience when Training
To solidify desired behavior a lot more patience is needed for training a Shiba Inu. Getting them to respond to your commands, takes a lot of patience. That trick is to get that Shiba Inu motivated enough to listen to what you’re trying to train him on. This can be very discouraging and difficult for a first time dog owner to handle.
Some Shiba Inus are motivated by food rewards. So, if you have a Shiba Inu, try out training with food rewards.
Challenge #5: Shiba Inus can be Very Possessive
Another main problem with Shiba Inus is that they tend to be very possessive about toys, food and turf.
Challenge #6: Shiba Inus Chase Smaller Pets
The Shiba Inu’s has a strong hunting drive. This makes him likely to chase small animals like cats are squirrels.
Good Traits of the Shiba Inu
A well socialized Shiba Inu makes a good family dog. But training and proper socialization when young is critical. Early socialization will make sure that the Shiba Inu will be a good dog for you. The Shiba Inu gets along well with children that treat him kindly.
How to get a Shiba Inu that Will Behave Well
If you’re considering getting a Shiba Inu puppy it is critical to find a reputable breeder.
A good breeder asks the potential owner questions – often times they will ask you just as many questions as you are asking. They also articulate why the bred that particular litter. Good breeders are also typically associated with the dog rescue in some way. Their dogs are usually social and show calm behavior around people.
If their dogs show snappish Behavior, then it’s probably a red sign. You don’t want to get a puppy from that breeder.
Good breeders are typically registered and have references from vets or previous buyers.
If you notice that the breeder does not have any dogs in the house, It may be best to avoid that breeder. A good breeder also won’t send puppy to a home until they are at least 8 weeks old.
It’s important to meet the adults of the breed before you get a Shiba Inu puppy. When you’re considering getting a poppy try to meet one of the parents of the Puppy.
Are Shiba Inus Good For First Time Owners? – Final Thoughts
So, are Shiba Inus good for first time owners? A Shiba Inu can be a good dog for a first time owner if they are well trained and well socialized. But, owning a Shiba Inu is not as easy as owning a Labrador Retriever or Golden Retriever.
Shiba Inus make good family dogs if you can put in the time and patience. If trained right, they can be smart and affectionate companion for a first time dog owner.