Thinking About Getting a Shiba Inu - Opinions?

Lilmitsuko · September 2013

Hello there!

So as the title says, I'm considering getting myself a Shiba Inu. I live in Japan in a 5-bedroom, 2-story house in the countryside. I work M-TH from 8:00 to 5:00, and then Fridays I work 8:00 to 2:00. Weekends I am at home, though sometimes I will go into the "city" nearby (about 30 minutes away) to shop for things I need around the house. I don't have a car (don't need one with the public transportation), and dogs can't be taken on trains unless they are crated. I don't travel very much (save the occasional holiday or 3-day weekend), but I know that when I do, I will either have someone watch my dog, or will take him/her to a "dog hotel"/babysitting service.

As of right now, I don't know if my landlord would be okay with me getting a dog (of course I will ask him), but in the off-chance he says yes, I just wanted to get some advice on whether people think it's reasonable to get one at the moment. I am on a 3~4 year contract at my current job, and after my contract is over, I plan to return to America, California, with my pup should I get one. I wouldn't want to get a puppy, per se (5 months old or so) because I know I am not home long enough to be with the dog when it's just a puppy. I figure a somewhat older dog would better (maybe a year or so?) fit my schedule.

I have been reading up on Shiba Inu for a long while now, getting to know the breed and what I would be dealing with should I get one. I understand they need to be leashed at all times and require serious training from the get-go. I also understand they tend to be aloof and that they will listen to you when they feel like it, not when you want them to.

There is a park in my town near my house I can take my dog to, and I am willing to and capable of walking him/her every day. There's a lot of wildlife around my area (parks, forest-like areas, nature all around, etc.) that would keep him occupied during our walks, and there are quiet areas we can explore together (if he/she prefers to not really be around other people/dogs). I have researched where veterinarians are located in my area, and the closest one to my house is in that city 30 minutes away (by train). From the station, it would be a few minutes walk to the actual location; they are open every day until 6:30 PM, save Sunday.

Given my current schedule/circumstances/etc., do you think it's reasonable for me to get myself a Shiba Inu? Some opinions are much appreciated! Thanks! :]

P.S. (I'm 25 years old, and I'm a female. Not sure if that will influence your comments, but I just thought I'd mention it).

Saki · September 2013

Hi Lilmitsuko, you are well informed of what you will get into and your schedule is not different than most people. So if your landlord is ok with it, I would tell you : You GO girl! Myself have a full time job, did research on the breed and got a Shiba Inu puppy 5 years ago and that's the best thing that happen in my life. Saki is everything to me and I love her so much. So if you feel ready for it, why not? Especially, you're making a smart decision of getting an older dog knowing your actual condition.

Keep us informed if your landlord is ok with you having a dog .... and it's not any kind of dog

shibamistress · September 2013

Especially if you want an older dog, it seems reasonable! A puppy probably isn't a good choice, but a young adult Shiba might be a good option. I don't know if there are any rescue organizations in your area, but that would really be good. Trying to find a good breeder in Japan to get a puppy from would be trickier, and getting a dog from a pet store is absolutely a horrible idea, so finding an adult Shiba would be better.

If you aren't already a member of the Shiba forum, you should join there as well for more shiba specific information, and also there are threads on what to look for when looking for a dog. While a lot of it is aimed at North america, it would still be very useful for you to be up to date on warning signs when getting a dog, and what to expect from your Shiba.

Myabee09 · September 2013

Go on ahead and get one! I was single with a chihuahua and a cat when i got my Shiba. She was an adult when i got her and we all love her to pieces!!! You'll do great with a Shiba!

Kira_Inu · September 2013

I agree with everyone else, as long as you find a Shiba that is already crate-trained, you will be fine! Our puppy is 11 weeks old and we HAVE to make sure that one of us comes home during our lunch break so she can go potty, she is still too young to go an entire 8 hours without a potty break.

I think any Shiba at least 8 months or older AND already potty-trained will fit into your lifestyle. Most dog owners have full-time jobs, they just have to make special accommodations for the first 6 months until the dog gets accustomed to your specific routine.

Good luck and welcome!

ThreeFish231118 · September 2013

A shiba under 2 years old would not be an ideal option for you especially if you are renting. They are very mischevious and energetic. When left alone for long periods time become very destructive as means for self amusement. Our shiba peeled wall paper off the walls, tore up carpeting (which we didn't mind, it was from previous owners and we were going to remove anyways), chewed a whole in hardwood floor, ripped open countless pillows and comforters, chewed furniture, chewed countless shoes, books, anything she could get. She did all this while we were home with her too...just those few seconds to use the washroom or throw a load of clothes in the washer. After turning 2 she magically calmed down and the chewing magically disappeared. Now she is our little princess. She loves to sit with us when we watch t.v. and is such a snuggler. She is a great companion, wonderful guardian of our 3 year old son and recently became an older sister when we acquired a second dog earlier this year (Japanese Akita). She's always been good with other dogs, a chaser of cats but accepting, and good with people and children. She does have a high prey drive...she's caught her share of birds, bunnies, and possums. Again mostly when she was younger but she still goes after things now and again. She is left uncrated for long periods of time while we are at work and is just fine, she is going to be 5 years old this month. We never left her uncrated when she was under 2 years old for obvious reason.

Based on my experience with a shiba puppy I would suggest a shiba over 2 years old for you for right now especially.given your situation.

T_Dog · September 2013

Also remember shiba inu like their akita counter parts are not dog park dogs. Shiba's usually don't like strange dogs. I had to stop bringing my shiba to the park shortly after a year old. Just like my JA. If you keep your shiba lots of chew toys and a dog friendly room he won't be able to tear much up. A shiba can be quit dangerous and capable of ripping another dogs nose open. Shiba's are an agressive breed jusy like a pit bull or akita or a chow. Or the charpai all were at one time bred to fight. They need little reason to become aggressive. This should weigh heavy in you decision making process. That being said I have three dog all male one JA one AA and one shiba. The shiba is the oldest and has been able to hold pack leader or alfa position for quit sometime. It was not easy to introduce new puppies to the pack. But a Shiba is a great dog to own. Great at home. Great on walks. Great with dogs that they grow up with or spend lots of time with. My shiba know ovet twenty tricks and plays fetch. Very high energy though. Needs to be walked or he will run laps in your house. The shiba can be hard ti train if you don't start young. So if you get an older shiba. If it don't fetch or come when called or sit on command it likley never will. But youtube has tons of video of shibas doing tricks. Very smart and very toy and foods motivated. You will enjoy a shiba. Just don't expect to be able to go to a dog park.

cdenney · September 2013

The shiba was never bred to fight and is Not an aggressive dog. The shiba is independent dog that prefers to be with their person and not have rude dogs all up in their face, who does?.My shiba is reactive, shes badly bred has a whole alter life before i got her she doesnt like other dogs in her face and will snark. Shes cool with my kai and is happy with dogs that are polite. She will lay down the law with those that are uppitty and then thats it she moves on she has a nap to take. Agression implies the need to out right attack every dog they see, being reactive implies they will be selective of their doggie friends based on traits we will and wont be able to discern depending on what your dog is like. You can take a shiba to a dog park, I know several that do and do doggie day care, but they were raised with constant positive socialization. What you out into this dog is what you will get out of it.

violet_in_seville · September 2013

@cdenney - there are well bred shibas with a good temperament foundation and constant positive socialization that do become less tolerant when they hit two or three. There are several on the shiba forum where that is the case. It's always a bit unexpected and most owners I've seen do end up consulting a behaviorist. But you are right, it is certainly not all shibas. Some can enjoy a dog park their entire lives, and some can't.

@lilmitsuko - an older shiba sounds like s/he could be a very good fit. You'll have a decent idea of what activities your shiba may enjoy when you get them as an adult. Mine personally really like hiking and exploration so your area sounds good. Quick question though: I know taxis are incredibly expensive in much of Japan. If you happen to have an emergency, will you have the funds to be able to rush your shiba to the vet? In emergencies 30 min. is a long time.

Sorry to ask something personal. The question is really rhetorical, but I figured it was something to think about. Also, are you sharing the house or living solo? If the former there are a lot more considerations. Also are you comfortable with doing the grooming by yourself or is there a place nearby where they might help you with bathes and nail trimming? I like to keep my dogs' nails shorter than daily multi-mile walks on concrete will keep them. My younger dog I can groom solo, but I need help with my older dog.

shibamistress · September 2013

Also remember shiba inu like their akita counter parts are not dog park dogs. Shiba's usually don't like strange dogs. I had to stop bringing my shiba to the park shortly after a year old. Just like my JA. If you keep your shiba lots of chew toys and a dog friendly room he won't be able to tear much up. A shiba can be quit dangerous and capable of ripping another dogs nose open. Shiba's are an agressive breed jusy like a pit bull or akita or a chow. Or the charpai all were at one time bred to fight. They need little reason to become aggressive. This should weigh heavy in you decision making process. That being said I have three dog all male one JA one AA and one shiba. The shiba is the oldest and has been able to hold pack leader or alfa position for quit sometime. It was not easy to introduce new puppies to the pack. But a Shiba is a great dog to own. Great at home. Great on walks. Great with dogs that they grow up with or spend lots of time with. My shiba know ovet twenty tricks and plays fetch. Very high energy though. Needs to be walked or he will run laps in your house. The shiba can be hard ti train if you don't start young. So if you get an older shiba. If it don't fetch or come when called or sit on command it likley never will. But youtube has tons of video of shibas doing tricks. Very smart and very toy and foods motivated. You will enjoy a shiba. Just don't expect to be able to go to a dog park.

I don't know about the sharpei, but Shibas were certainly NOT bred to fight, and while Akitas were used as fighting dogs on occasion, they were hunting dogs first, as were Shibas. Chows were also not bred to fight.

And the alpha/dominance stuff has been disproved and is not a particularly useful way of looking at dog interactions.

All dogs, at any age can learn. Actually, I found my Shibas much easier to train as they got older and actually had something of an attention span. Both of them, as older dogs (6+) were quick to learn. That said, I find Shibas less biddable than Akitas, and certainly less than Kai Ken, because Shibas very much have a "what's in it for me" attitude, and sometimes that treat you're offering is just not as interesting as other things. And yes, I find them to be snarky with other dogs. But if you're not looking at a multidog family right now, I don't see any reason to not get a Shiba.

cdenney · September 2013

@violet_in_seville Understandable, I wouldn't take my Shiba to a dog park, i would take her to a controlled meet and greet, I just wanted to make sure the representation of the breed didn't make them sound like aggressive anti social maniacs. I dont mean to imply that dogs that cant do dog parks are badly bred or under socialized but i believe their probability of being able to handle that environment goes up as much as their genetics and personality allow.

shibamistress · September 2013

@violet_in_seville Understandable, I wouldn't take my Shiba to a dog park, i would take her to a controlled meet and greet, I just wanted to make sure the representation of the breed didn't make them sound like aggressive anti social maniacs. I dont mean to imply that dogs that cant do dog parks are badly bred or under socialized but i believe their probability of being able to handle that environment goes up as much as their genetics and personality allow.

Well, my male Shiba comes from the top Shiba stud in the US (a Japanese import), and he also has excellent lines on his dam's side. I couldn't take him to a dog park when he was 8 weeks old. He's always been reactive. Always. Some of the early imports were, apparently, a lot sharper than the US pet market will support these days, and although Toby's father has produced lots of nice soft tempered puppies apparently, there are also ones, like Toby, who are very sharp.

Frankly, I think MOST Shibas are not dog park material, not by the time they are mature, anyway. Lots of people seem to have no problems when they are young, but they will change as they mature. And some, like Toby, regardless of breeding and socialization, never tolerated other dogs at all. I suspect getting a dog in Japan will probably mean a sharper Shiba than a Shiba bred in the US, as it sounds to me like the Japanese breeders are willing to tolerate a level of sharpness in the breed that is not so popular in the US.

(But it sounds like the dog park thing is a nonissue anyway? Sounds like Lilmitsuko has plans for a dog who may not tolerate other dogs well, too).

PoetikDragon · September 2013

I don't think any dog is a dog park dog, because I think dog parks are terrible. It only takes one bad owner for a bad experience to happen, and it frankly doesn't matter how good the dogs are. Just my .02.

timkim · September 2013

everydog has their agreesive part. like other animal. it's the matter of how you will teach them to not show it to random ppl or dogs.
I actually prefer my dogs to be little bit alert.
as long as my dogs are good with family(including my other dogs) and friends/kids.
I'm still asian and might have different mind set with other Americans but that is my personal thought.
Keeping Akita as Akita. not labadorrr.

T_Dog · September 2013

It may be quite hard to prove weather or not shibas were used to fight or not. I recall in dog man the book that they refured to three differant sizes for fighting. I will take your word for it if you say they were not breed to fight. Really cuz I don't want to search for links. One google seach could be the list of band breads. Bred to fight or not the baned dogs are dog agressive dogs. I doubt u will find a shiba on the band list. A simple google search would tell you about the other breeds and weather they was bred to fight. The shiba is nicknamed the mini akita. And even through they act exactly like my Ja and my Aa example the shiba five hundred is just a mini version of the akita 500 just that the akita needs a yard and the shiba can do it in the house. All three fight easy and for little reason. All three are aloof and all three act like cats in many ways. All three will challenge and test authority. Call it dominance or snarky. Or just mean call it they dont start it but they finish it. Call it I dont play well with others or call it fear biting or you can even say they are respectful and expect to be respected, they dont take not shyt or what ever but what ever it is...... my shiba is 3 years old. If a prospective buyer needs to know only one thing about a shiba akita or ja my first choice is to tell them. The biggest reason these dogs wind up in shelters and walking the green mile to the exicution room is because. Ppl don't know that they are buying a dog aggressive dog. Imho... my use of the word alfa in previous statement was by the definition. Alfa meaning in control. Meaning he has the strongest presence. If thats not one of the definitions of alfa. I apologize. Also meaning if there is one bone and MY three dogs in a room. my shiba winds up with the bone in his possession and unchallenged. The only time my shiba's alfa acts and possitioning don't work out for him is if he hurts my Ja during one of his "corrections". Then my Ja deals correction if I do not stop it first. If you don't agree I am ok with it. Infact plz look into and google all my claims. Cuz I may be wrong after all it is just the opinion of a guy that owns a certain few dogs. I am not a professional. I can just give an accurate account of my observations. Infact I am off to surf the net and see what dogs 101 I'd saying about shibas.. cheers.

T_Dog · September 2013

http://m.youtube.com/?reload=2&rdm=uvy29tb#/watch?v=tLWcMrDTny8&desktop_uri=/watch?v=tLWcMrDTny8

The odate inu produced three breeds tosa, akita and shiba two of the three I can find evidence that they were used for fighting. I have found nothing on line about shibas fighting. Interesting though that the other two breeds were used to fight. Also interesting that this does kinda point to the shiba being bred very really very simular to the akita and tosa so puts perspective on the nick name miniature akita.
http://www.nihonken.org/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/7236/nihon/p1

Lilmitsuko · September 2013

First of all, thank you to everyone who has taken the time to write something on this thread. I really appreciate it (and sorry for not being around)!

@violet_in_seville: Quick question though: I know taxis are incredibly expensive in much of Japan. If you happen to have an emergency, will you have the funds to be able to rush your shiba to the vet? In emergencies 30 min. is a long time.

Sorry to ask something personal. The question is really rhetorical, but I figured it was something to think about. Also, are you sharing the house or living solo? If the former there are a lot more considerations. Also are you comfortable with doing the grooming by yourself or is there a place nearby where they might help you with bathes and nail trimming? I like to keep my dogs' nails shorter than daily multi-mile walks on concrete will keep them. My younger dog I can groom solo, but I need help with my older dog.

You brought up some very good questions. Most hospitals (and veterinarians) close during the day somewhat earlier (in my opinion: 6:30 PM/5:00 PM), and hospitals are closed on the weekends (same with the veterinarians, though they are open for awhile on Saturday). I have asked what people do if something happens in the middle of the night (like they break their foot, etc.) and people seem to think you just deal with it until the hospital opens (of course, I am in the countryside, so things may be different in the city). That being said, I'm looking to see if there are any vets within my town. I'm also looking into what people do with their pets when there is an emergency (and if the vets are closed). There is a closer veterinarian in a neighboring city that requires a car to get to, and I wouldn't mind paying for a taxi to go there if something were to happen. It's definitely closer than the city nearby, and would cost about $25~$30 to get there if I used a taxi.

I do live alone in the house. My boyfriend visits on the weekend, or I go visit him at his place, but other than that, it's just me. I don't mind doing the grooming on my own (and I can always ask my boyfriend to help out when he's over as well, when it comes to baths/nail trimming/etc.).

There is no real dog park in my town (where owners come together and hang out with their dogs in a single setting, though we do have parks). I understand socialization is key when it comes to Shiba Inu and meeting other people/dogs, but also that even with socialization, the dog just might not enjoy being around other dogs/some people/etc. If that's the case, there are plenty of other areas I can take my dog to for some outside-alone time.

I just need to get the A-OK from my landlord, and then I can really look into all my options. It's not knowing whether I'm allowed to have a pet or not that's killing me. lol

GrayJJ · September 2013

I think taking the time to read all the information will help you feel prepared for all the challenges and Shiba personality-as you will encounter many surprises! All the shibas I have met are very different. They are great companions; but not always cuddly, so have realistic expectations.

On the same note, I had Grayson at four months, living on my own, etc. Honestly, I think if you are dedicated and know it will be hard work and are ready to wake up early, walk, socialize, then you will adjust okay. Knowing you have support when you need it (boyfriend, friends/family) a backup plan in case you ever work late/go on vacation, planning ahead, will also help.
I say go for it!!! It's definitely worth it

Good luck with your landlord...

Lilmitsuko · September 2013

Just a quick update! I finally gathered up the courage to ask my landlord if I could get a dog. I wrote him a letter and he called me to tell me...

I can! Come December, I will have myself my very first Shiba-Inu.

Now comes the process of puppy-proofing my home, buying things I'll need/she'll need, and looking for a dog. ^^-

cdenney · September 2013

I know you are getting your pup in Japan but what kensha is she coming from?

Lilmitsuko · September 2013

I know you are getting your pup in Japan but what kensha is she coming from?

When you say "kensha," I assume you mean the kennel/doghouse? I haven't looked into where I will get my dog yet (I'm focusing now on preparing for the dog before I get it), but I have a friend who knows breeders and can help me search around for a dog. :]

I live in Tottori-ken, the least populous prefecture in all of Japan woo (but the best, too haha). Do you have any suggestions regarding where to start looking?

cdenney · September 2013

@thewalrus might know!

Thinking About Getting a Shiba Inu - Opinions?

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