Temperament

Is a Shiba Inu right for you?

Most of what gets returned in this breed comes from people who fell for the face and never read a word about the temperament. Here is the version we give people on the phone.

A Shiba is not a golden retriever in a fox suit. If you want a dog that lives to please you, this is the wrong breed, and we will tell you so before you send a deposit.

Shibas are an ancient Japanese breed, originally used to hunt in mountainous terrain, largely alone. Almost everything difficult about living with one traces back to that. They were bred to make decisions without a person, and they are extremely good at it.

Six things people wish they had known

1. Recall is not reliable

Prey drive is high and the selective hearing is real. A Shiba that gets out of a gate is not running away from you; it is following something more interesting than you. Assume this dog stays leashed or behind a secure fence for its entire life, and be pleasantly surprised if yours is an exception. Most are not.

2. The scream

A dramatic, human-sounding shriek, deployed at the vet, in the bath, during nail trims, and occasionally at nothing identifiable. It is normal, it is not distress, and it is genuinely loud. Search for it before you commit; it surprises people.

3. Affection is on their terms

Cat-like is the word everyone reaches for and it is accurate. Aloof with strangers, deeply attached to their own people, and not interested in being held simply because you feel like holding them. If you want a dog that leans on you all evening, look at another breed.

4. They blow coat twice a year

For two or three weeks each spring and autumn, undercoat comes out in clouds. Not shedding. Clouds. A good undercoat rake and some patience. The rest of the year they are remarkably clean and close to odourless.

5. Escape artistry

Gaps, unlatched gates and open doors are opportunities, evaluated quickly. Six-foot fencing, gates that latch on their own, and a microchip that is actually registered in your name.

6. Same-sex tension

Two Shibas of the same sex in one household can be a long-term project. Any decent breeder will want to talk through your current pets before matching a puppy to you.

Who this breed does suit

Having said all that, the people it works for tend to love it more than almost any other breed. A Shiba suits you if:

• You want a clean, quiet, low-odour dog that is content on its own during a work day.
• You find an independent animal interesting rather than insulting.
• You are willing to keep a dog leashed for fifteen years without resenting it.
• You would rather earn affection than be given it automatically.
• You have a sense of humour about being outwitted by something that weighs 25 pounds.

Are they good with children?

It depends far more on the individual dog and the household than on the breed. Shibas are not naturally tolerant of rough handling, and they will remove themselves rather than complain, which means a child who follows a retreating dog is the actual risk.

A Shiba raised around children from the start, in a house where the dog is allowed to walk away and children are taught to let it, generally does well. Our own dam lives with a small child and has never once been aggressive with anyone. That is her, though, not a guarantee about the breed.

First-time dog owner?

Sometimes it works. It depends far more on how much reading you have done than on your résumé. A first-time owner who genuinely understands what a Shiba is will do better than an experienced owner who wants a compliant dog and is expecting this one to comply.

If you have read this whole page and still want one, that is a better signal than any amount of prior dog experience.

Common questions

Are Shiba Inus good for first-time dog owners?

Sometimes, and it depends much more on preparation than on experience. A first-time owner who has read about the breed's independence, unreliable recall and aloofness will usually do better than an experienced owner expecting an eager-to-please dog. The breed is not forgiving of mismatched expectations.

Why do Shiba Inus scream?

The Shiba scream is a dramatic, human-sounding shriek used when the dog is startled, restrained or annoyed, commonly at the vet or during nail trims and baths. It is a normal breed vocalisation rather than a sign of pain or distress, but it is loud and it surprises people who have not heard it before.

Do Shiba Inus shed a lot?

Yes, in bursts. Shibas blow their undercoat twice a year, in spring and autumn, and for two or three weeks the volume is extraordinary. Between those periods they shed moderately and are unusually clean and close to odourless for a double-coated breed.

Can a Shiba Inu be let off leash?

Generally no. Shibas have a high prey drive and unreliable recall, and this is one of the most consistent pieces of advice from owners and breed clubs alike. Assume the dog stays leashed or behind a secure fence for its whole life. Some individuals are more reliable than others, but it is not something to plan around.

Are Shiba Inus good with kids?

It depends on the individual dog and the household more than the breed. Shibas dislike rough handling and tend to remove themselves rather than complain, so the real risk is a child following a dog that is trying to leave. Raised around children from the start, in a home where the dog can walk away, they often do very well.