Shiba Inu Training Profile

Weight: 17 to 23 pounds

Height: 15 to 17 inches

Lifespan: 13 to 16 years

Shiba Inu Temperament and History

The Shiba Inu originated in Japan, but it quickly gained popularity in the United States — especially in cities, due to their size — when it was introduced in the mid-20th century.

The breed dates back to 300 B.C. in Japan; they were originally bred to accompany hunters in the wild and in the mountains, they were capable of taking down animals as large as wild boars.

These highly coveted dogs were declared a precious natural product in 1936 to signify their importance in Japanese culture. During World War II, the breed tragically nearly went extinct. US servicemen brought the breed to the US in 1954, and Americans have since fallen in love with the breed.

Although they still make great hunting dogs, the Shiba Inu is primarily a companion dog today.

They are also loving, kind and spirited. They adore their owners and love spending time with them. However, because they also tend to be reserved and aloof, socialization is recommended if they’re going to be regularly interacting with children or meeting new adults or other animals.

Shibas love being active; they’re very energetic dogs and often enjoy being taken on long walks. While these dogs don’t always require daily exercise, they do need to be kept entertained in order to prevent them from developing bad behaviors and separation anxiety.

Shiba Inu Training Tips

Shiba Inus are not typically aggressive, but there are exceptions — especially considering their active nature. And, even after extensive obedience training, it is dangerous to let them off their leash, unless they’re contained to an area they can’t escape.

These dogs are driven by curiosity, and their inquisitiveness may cause them to stubbornly run away. They’ll often attempt to chase other animals or they’ll leave their owners in order to investigate something that’s caught their attention if they’re allowed off their leash.

It also can be helpful to train Shibas to spend at least some time in their crate or some other type of confinement every day in order to help them understand the concept of boundaries.

In terms of training styles, Shibas respond best to positive reinforcement methods. They love their owners and want to please them, which helps them tune out distractions and focus on what their owners ask of them while training.