What is the temperament of your Nihon Ken?
I have two Shiba's, one that is about nine years old and one Three month old pup. Keonu the older of the two was a head strong, stubborn pup that when he didn't get his way would challenged my authority. He would have outburst like a Tasmanian Devil and leap at me with his hole punchers ready to inflict damage to my hand. He only got me about three times. One of his problems was guarding bones,toys,food, and water. He would attack our other dog or anyone who got near his prize. That behavior was unacceptable to me. After he bit me I started hand feed him everything shared my rib bones with him never allowing him control of the bone until he felt no threat form me. If he growled at me or the other dog I took what ever he was guarding away. If he would try to steal the other dogs food I would pick him up and feed her both his and hers to her. Needless to say after a week he started respecting her food and me who was in control of his meals. He was not the most friendly dog at the dog park but he would stop growling when I would correct him with an authoritative voice. Most of the time he was a great dog when he was not trying to gain dominance over the household. After being attacked twice at the dog park by pit bulls I decided the dog park was not for him. He was a target for bigger aggressive dogs. The forward ears and up turned tail states I am the Alfa her. He did manage to make a two year old rotweiler submit to him. He became the best most loyal dog that I ever had, and I have had a lot of dog. He has enriched our lives and we have been blessed in having him.
We added another Shiba bitch pup about two months ago. He hated her and wanted her to go away. He growled every time he saw her and had that intense stare, forward ears, and stiff stance like he wanted to strike her like prey. I has taken about a month and a half to get him to accept her. Now they play and correct the out of control hyperactive puppy. The pup (Haku) has twice as much energy as he did when he was a pup. She puppy bites everyone. I have not figured out how to stop this biting hand problem yet. She just as stubborn as he was but without guarding issues. She is the smartest dog I have ever had. She was house broken in 5 mins, learns very quickly and anticipates like a human. while playing chase she turned it into hind and go seek. She hind behind the trashcans while I was chasing her around the house and pounced on me from behind. I didn't see that one coming. She was only two months old at the time. She love playing fetch and tag. She has been a stubborn ball of joy.
Back to the Question. (I know every dog is different but it seems some are less stubborn, and this may be a stupid question.)
How are The temperaments of the other Japanese Breeds. I really like and have enjoyed what I have read on this forum about all the dogs. If I were to add another ken to the pack what would I expect from your breed?
Thanks Bill
We added another Shiba bitch pup about two months ago. He hated her and wanted her to go away. He growled every time he saw her and had that intense stare, forward ears, and stiff stance like he wanted to strike her like prey. I has taken about a month and a half to get him to accept her. Now they play and correct the out of control hyperactive puppy. The pup (Haku) has twice as much energy as he did when he was a pup. She puppy bites everyone. I have not figured out how to stop this biting hand problem yet. She just as stubborn as he was but without guarding issues. She is the smartest dog I have ever had. She was house broken in 5 mins, learns very quickly and anticipates like a human. while playing chase she turned it into hind and go seek. She hind behind the trashcans while I was chasing her around the house and pounced on me from behind. I didn't see that one coming. She was only two months old at the time. She love playing fetch and tag. She has been a stubborn ball of joy.
Back to the Question. (I know every dog is different but it seems some are less stubborn, and this may be a stupid question.)
How are The temperaments of the other Japanese Breeds. I really like and have enjoyed what I have read on this forum about all the dogs. If I were to add another ken to the pack what would I expect from your breed?
Thanks Bill
Comments
I'm sorry to hear about your negative experiences. I have very, very, very little experience with resource guarding, but I think you've handled it well. Like your shiba, my akita has been attacked twice by pit bulls, so I feel you.
I don't submit to the dominance/alpha theories at all, as I see them as largely debunked via modern science, so I think that if you do some more research on positive reinforcement and dog psychology/behavior, I think you'll have a better understanding of how to handle your shiba and relationship with him too. This forum has a plethora of threads that will help you out, as well as members
here is a good starter thread
http://www.nihonken.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/comment/117944/#Comment_117944
That's why most breeds are just a shadow of what they once used to be.
Taki, my Shiba, is a very sweet girl. She's never been aggressive, never resource guarded (food or toys) and is very quiet and calm. She doesn't act very Shiba, haha. She likes to sniff strangers, but will dip away if they try to pet her (she's curious, but reserved). She also gets a little anxious sometimes, mostly when she is on a lead indoors (like when we go to the vet or into any pet store). She has a more submissive-type personality and is VERY emotional. Always very happy when I come home (I love the flat ears, squinty eyes and tail flutters ^^), and sometimes she likes to curl up right into my neck or armpit at night. She's also very smart - most of the time I feel like we are communicating telepathically 0_o... I am very in tune with how she's feeling (necessary because of her sometimes-anxiety), but I also know that no matter how I try to mask how I'M feeling, I cannot hide the truth from her; ESPECIALLY if I'm frustrated over anything
I've learned so much in just 1 year of having her. I feel like my patience is limitless now, I also feel like I'm a much kinder and understanding person (I wasn't mean or anything before xD, I just feel that now I really know what it means to be calm and firm yet still kind and gentle). Sakura, my JA, is only 2.5 months old and shares a few similarities to Taki, but is also very different. Taki loves her and plays very rough... and also wants to play with her A LOT. Too much for Sakura's taste sometimes. If I hold Sakura, Taki will keep coming, but if I hold Taki, Sakura will walk away. I don't see Sakura being a very submissive dog, she's full of SPUNK! Spunk I will need to keep an eye on >_>... she guards toys a little, but has shown no guarding when it comes to treats, water, or food. She'll go take bones right out of Taki's mouth and Taki will do the same to her. They play musical bones and keep switching with each other, lol. The odd thing is Sakura wont guard toys when they play inside, and she seems to be less possessive that she was even a few days ago. She's a VERY smart girl, but potty training has been pretty rough. I'm sure Taki learned much faster >_>...
I guess I will have to update on Sakura once she's had a chance to meet new people and dogs - tomorrow I will have only had her for a week
So basically, I think that generalities of temperament are a breed thing, seeing as man has manipulated natural selection to create dogs with certain personality attributes that will benifit man himself... but on an individual level, each dog has their own personality. (ie: akitas were bred not to like water. ....think about it, in japan, a wet dog equals a frozen dead dog... buuuuut I apparently have an akita who likes water, found out yesterday at the lake, hehe)
I disagree that temperament is not a breed thing. I think it is a balance between the two--yes, all individual dogs are different, but their are some similarities across a breed. It's pretty clear to see, to me, when you observe many different members of a breed. I've noted some things like GSDs seem to have a similar play style (and a need to be close to their owners in ways I personally find annoying), etc. I also don't think all breeds are shadows of themselves, though some are (GSDs for example). But I'm pretty happy that AAs and Shibas are being bred to be a little less sharp in temperament, myself, because the very sharp and reactive dogs are very difficult to live with (I have a particularly sharp "old school" type Shiba).
I have three different NK breeds, American Akita, Shiba Inu, and Kai Ken. They all tend to independence and, while not necessarily stubborn, certainly they are determined. They tend to be reactive to other dogs. My Akita is probably the most biddable and interested in doing what I want. He is also a pretty big resource guarder, though (which may be an individual thing). He is a good watch dog, but pretty mellow overall, though he has become less tolerant of other dogs as he matured.
The Shibas are by far the most difficult and "sharp" in temperament (though one has so many health issues it's hard to make a judgement based on her). They are quarrelsome, and resource guard too. they were the hardest to train as young dogs, though are also very very smart, and once they calmed down, they have turned into quick learners, but very much only when they choose to do something. I think the Shibas are the most difficult of the Japanese breeds I have had experience with. They do not tolerate other dogs well at all.
The Kai Ken is pretty easy to train, but super determined to do his own thing. He's a little mountain goat too and is always climbing. He, like many Kai Ken, gets along ok with other dogs and is a little peacemaker between the more snarky dogs. I'm still learning about Kai Ken, but it is clear much of his behavior is similar to other Kai Ken.
Goro (Kai) is super outgoing. I didn't expect a Kai be as friendly as he is. When we take him to the dog park he runs around hanging out with random people pretending to be their dog lol. If he sees someone while on a walk that he has seen before on the street, he will act like he's known them forever. There's this one lady that sits on a bench every night to smoke and every night we walk by on our way back home and say "hi". Goro freaks out when he see her. Wagging his tail, whining, jumping... he goes all out. He doesn't know the lady, but he likes her lol. So much for being aloof with strangers! He's VERY willing to please and obey... (for food!) As well as disobey. It's very obvious when he's disobeying on purpose. He stares at us when he's doing something he's not suppose to! To get attention, to get us to play, or just because he feels like it. Goro sometimes seems more human than dog... it's kind of weird. He has a very complex personality. I've never witnessed something like that before having my NK.
ChoCho, on the other hand, is more shy when it comes to stranger. She's really reserved and calm. She's an observer. She STARES at people, especially visitors. She will stand 5 feet away from them and stare. It's a bit unsettling, but people seem to think it's cool and intense at the same time. It's like she's trying to figure them out. Kind of like how a wolf stares you down. She's super tolerant of us scratching, petting, and grooming her. She sighs when she's impatient or annoyed... lol it's pretty funny. I didn't think dogs sighed out of frustration. She's also VERY stubborn! Oh gosh! She's so hard head sometimes. When she doesn't want to return home after a walk she leans against the leash and tries to brace herself on anything she can claw! Walls, tree root, stair rail, sidewalk, bush... It's like a kid not wanting to go to the doctor! We usually have to carry her up the 3 flights of stairs. When we first got her she would memorize all the routes home and when she saw we were going back she would plant her bum on the sidewalk and not move... This would happen half a mile away from the house! BUT She's also super obedient. I can tell her to leave something alone once and not have to worry about her getting into it again. She's such a good girl. She's also very good with nervous or other shy dogs. I've seen old/shy/cranky dogs in my family warm up to her and only her within hours.
I've had dogs my whole life, but nothing compares with the last 8 months. I've never had dogs with such complex personalities. I'm surprised continuously at how smart and independent they are. LOVE THEM!
You know, whenever I hear people describe their shibas on these forums I always wonder if I really had the same breed as them. I don't seem to share much of the same experiences as other shiba owners. Are Japanese shibas really that different from US ones?
I think I just got lucky knowing good dogs. Even now, I think I can count with one hand the number of nasty dogs I personally know.
Like, for example, the Fila Brasileiro's "ojeriza"... or a Lab's mouthiness, or a herding dog's energy level, or GSD's obnoxious barking, or a Shiba's "scream"...
In fact, this is called behavior Conformation. Just as physical Conformation plays a role in the dog's that make up each breed, as does behavior Conformation. It very much plays a role in the temperament characteristics of each individual in a specific breed.
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Gryphon, female American Akita, 5 years old. Gryphon likes to dance, prance in place, wag her head, and stamp you with her tongue (not really the same as licking). She is eager to please but not very focused. She is of average intelligence, which sometimes makes her seem on the low end compared to my others. She takes her treats to a far away corner (or outside if possible) before eating them. She absolutely loves people, every person she has ever met. She doesn't hold still to be pet but is happy just to be nearby doing her little prance/dance. She doesn't like small dogs and when she was younger might curl her lip at another dog over food, but has mellowed dramatically. She doesn't start fights and as long as she wasn't the one attacked, doesn't join in either. She is the matron of my pack and the calm center everyone gravitates around.
Gojira, female Japanese Akita, 2 years old. Gojira is extremely affectionate and intense. She wants to press her body into your legs or climb up onto your chest to be pet, and will joyfully (and lightly) put her mouth around on a beloved person's hand or arm. I can stop her or give her permission to jump on me with a look or a hand sign. However if she gets too excited she may redirect onto another dog and start a fight. She can be possessive over food with the other dogs but not people. She is wary of strangers, usually very aloof; some people do make her bark but not often. She greatly dislikes elementary age children and will bark and yodel at them behind the fence and shy away from them while on a leash. She uses her mouth a lot in play. She is tolerant of the dogs she knows and is often their favorite chew toy. She is very, very stubborn and pretty smart.
Ghidora, male Japanese Akita, almost 2 years old. Ghidora is very mellow and laid back. He is the exact opposite of Gojira's intensity. He never gets involved in fights. He does however rumble under his breath at strange dogs he doesn't know. His stomach is a bottomless pit and he loves rope toys, but everything he has he is happy to share with his family. The most expressive he gets is a couple short wags of his tail. He likes every person he has ever met, but is not a social butterfly. He is super quiet almost never barks but when he does its important. He plays hard with the other dogs and sleeps hard too. He isn't very affectionate, but his presence is calm and supportive. He plays a lot dumber than he actually is unless there is a meal involved; pretending he's just a goofy dumb boy is his form of stubbornness. He is often a goofball and the most playful of my dogs.
Mosura, female Japanese Akita, 1.5 years old. Mosura is as demanding as Gojira when it comes to attention, but not mouthy and has much better awareness of her own body, making her less likely to accidently claw you. She likes to chew on my husband's pants pockets when he comes home from work. She likes to chase the other dogs. She will occasionally hump one of the other dogs' heads especially when she's coming in to season. She is terrified of strangers in her home or yard, and can take days for the association between a stranger an an object (chair, soda can, etc) they interacted with to fade. She isn't particularly bothered by children and doesn't mind being approached by people in public on a leash, so long as they don't reach over her head or act very domineering. She is brilliantly smart, super focused on me for direction, eager to please, and food motivated.
Bijozakura, female Japanese Akita, 5 years old. Bijo has all of the best traits of Gryphon and Ghidora. She is extremely calm, loves people, and is very tolerant. Like Ghidora she isn't very affectionate, but will stand still to be pet and loved on unlike Gryphon. She has accepted everything we've thrown at her with grace and aplomb. She is very protective of her puppies, but that is perfectly understandable (she barely knew us!), and within a week was much better about letting us handle them. I don't know how she is with other dogs, since we decided to hold off on introductions until after the puppies are in their new homes. She does bark and growl at them when she hears them in the hallway or sees them beyond her ex-pen, but again it could just be protectiveness over her pups. I love how sedate and sweet she is, although I do wish she had some of Gojira's or Mosura's enthusiasm for affection.
so in following, I'll describe Toki, male, intact, Japanese Akita, 1 year old. He is the least affection being I have ever come across. I've had cats that want more attention than him. He has never asked for attention, but has gladly accepted it in the past. Usually, however, it is either him tolerating affection or indifference. All he needs is to be in the same room as me or my boyfriend, though, occasionally he likes to be in a room by himself. He is a dog who needs his "me time". Things, like toys, don't really keep his attention for more than 5 minutes unless it is chicken, cheese or another dog he is very good friends with. Therefore, he is very food motivated if the food is good, and combined with his intelligence, he learns fast with the right motivation. Toki doesn't like children; they move weird, they're loud, they're eye level. Toki expects respect from other dogs AND people alike, otherwise you'll get an earful of barks. He is very protective of me. Around people who he adores, (he either adores or dislikes), he is a very goofy, silly, wriggly little butt, full of wags and kisses, but the excitement usually dies down after the initial greeting. Also, he is badass.
This is what she does to most kids:
(In this instance, the cable guy was over. Ever since I moved into a house she barks/yodels at EVERY strange person who comes to the door.)
Shibas aren't all that bad. Unfortunately, most that people here seem to meet aren't all that well bred or from good beginnings it sounds like. My most difficult dog is a Shiba from crappy breeding, but my best pet is also a Shiba, however from an excellent show breeder. There are only a handful of people in the world I would consider buying a Shiba from. It really depends on what work has gone into the dogs in terms of breeding and socializing. That is true for any breed.
environment.” “Simply put, the term "temperament" is similar to the word "personality."
You gave the example of the Ojeriza Fila............if all Fila's had the Ojeriza temperament, you wouldn't see them in dogshows, because the judge (or anyone who understands the breed) wouldn't dare to touch the dog. The barking of a GSD, I don't call that temperament, even really scared and unstable dogs bark all the time.
Akita's name has kind of evolved to Korra now, because the comfortable way for me to pronounce "Sakura" is with emphasis on the "ku" which I know isn't the right way to say it
But since your girl is white and already rather polar bear dog like, maybe Naga?
For Kais I would generalize some of their breed characteristics as such: Aloof, (@Hinata23) this doesn't mean that they don't like people but that they interact with strangers with a certain degree of aloofness. Mine will not jump on a stranger and smell their crotch like other dogs do. It just means that they approach and engage with a certain level of calmness and well aloofness until they get to know someone. High prey drive, all of mine will go after prey running after a squirrel or bunny. They love to hunt. Avoid conflict with other dogs, even my sharp little Mei avoids fighting other dogs. I've seen a Lab go after her and she turned away running back to me. Strong Fight or Flight, mostly flight in mine. There are many more breed characteristics both those are just a few to make a point. None of these have anything to do with their individual personalities.
Koda (male) is super laid back. He's calm, cool, and collected. I've never had any major issues with him. He's just Koda aka The Prince. He carries himself with pride and dignity. He also has at times, ie fireworks etc, fear issues. He hates loud noises. Koda is very outgoing in the sense that you can take him to a park and he will play with any dog and say hello to any person. I can take him anywhere and know he's ok.
Mei (female) is crazy and fun. She is extremely loyal to the family and has her best times cuddling up on the couch with you. She's a super love bug. I've never met a dog so physically affectionate. Mei also has her insecurities. She needs affection from us for her self-esteem. She's a hunter, and often breaks out of the yard to run the hills. She's our wild child that will always be part feral at times. Mei gets nervous at dog parks and tends to shut down.
Mika (female, puppy) is a little Monster. She's the one who shows off her cuteness to get everyone to pay attention to her. She's a busy body who has to know exactly what's going on at all times and can't be left to get bored because she's smart as a whip and can get into anything. She's very affectionate towards Koda, but not as much to us humans unless it's the morning time. She's a dog's dog and loves to be with her Kais. She's very outgoing and will play with even big 100 pd. dogs if given the chance. She fears nothing.
To me there's a huge difference in breed characteristics and personality, and breed characteristics can help a potential puppy buyer and owner understand the needs of their dog.