Shiba Inu

I love him to death. Though I will admit I am glad I did research before getting him. He's very, very, VERY independent. He learns very quickly and sometimes without you realizing it (He learned shake and decided to show me at a random moment). He prefers people to dogs and dogs to children. An absolute drama queen and extremely food motivated. Also one of the best alarm systems ever (he lets me know when the delivery guy shows up). He really only listens to people he likes too. Regardless of how much of a butt he can be hes still a very good boy.

My shiba housetrained himself and only had a few accidents the first couple of months after brining him home at 7 weeks. He is smart and picks up tricks fast but will only do some when he feels like it/makes sense to him. He does not like to be held, get wet, cuddle, or when we touch his paws. We trained him early on to have his tail pulled on and he doesn't seem to mind it anymore. As a first time dog owner that was advised not to have a shiba as my first dog, I can say it's totally doable with patience and time. Crate training is an absolute must and don't be alarmed at the shiba scream (typically when cutting nails or when getting a bath).

I love him to death! It does concern me though how he is not friendly towards small kids or males.. He tends to just always hide away and sleep all day. When people are over and they try to go near him he will bark. (He will not bite though). I believe he was abused by his breeder and his/her children. He also will never EVER let you go near him with a leash in hand or a harness; which, leads me more to the conclusion of him being abused and possibly with the leash/harness. He is absolutely loving to my mom, fiancé and I. From the moment I got him, he has been my little protector. Every night he wasn’t some bully rubs and then will cuddle my feet and patrol the house.

Layla is the best dog I will probably ever own. I had black labs, Pomeranians, and a few other breed in my life. I am only 20 years old but Layla has by far been my best dog. She definitely is most attached to my dad. But she is so smart, and feels like having another human around. She is very good at knowing when I am sick or sad. She receives so much attention from friends and neighbors. She is extremely friendly and loving to the people she knows and trusts. But she is a dog that truly is a pack dog! She is so sweet to the people she knows, but is very timid and on guard about strangers. VERY quite breed. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!

We have 3 females , they are loyal , fun , snugly and a bit snarky

The Shiba Inu that I had the pleasure of walking was one of the more subdued dogs that I have walked during my time with Wag. She was very easy to get into her harness and hardly ever pulled on the leash. She did get excited around nice patches of grass and was very fond of rolling around in the grass. She was not one to smile very much in pictures, but was a great dog with a very sweet disposition. She played very well with other dogs and didn’t pay much attention to other humans that we passed by, or even other animals, such as squirrels, that passed by, and I never heard her bark once. All in all this was a very calm dog breed in my opinion.

The following reflection is based off my time with the second Shiba Inu I have worked with professionally. This one in particular was roughly the same age as the first one I met, quite a youngster. The main difference was in overall demeanor. As opposed to the first Shiba I met, who was extremely anxious and incredulous of all interactions, this female Shiba I now have in mind was extremely comfortable and social. She had no problem trusting me outright, which is something that took a lot of effort with the other Shiba. The female Shiba understood commands like Sit, Go, her own name and overall, she seemed very skilled at interpreting my body language. These methods of communication can take some time to set in a dog's mindset, but overall, a Shiba Inu seemed naturally inclined to make the most out of a human connection. This is especially remarkable for having been noticed so consistently at such a young age. Likewise, many dogs tend to obsess over stains and the remnants of garbage. From my experience, this is not the case with Shibas. Their famous sense for consideration shows through, and they comprehensively sniff out all areas of interest, like all good dogs, but they tend to be less prone to fixation or an abandonment of respect for the social cues of their walkers. These are qualities of the breed that did not show through given the tension experienced by her male counterpart I have been referencing. Shiba Inus are famously playful, poised, and sincere animals. They are fun-loving but reserved. This young female understood the shifts of the surrounding traffic, and when pedestrians making their way began to crowd in around us, she was looking all around rapidly, to understand any possible courses of action. Here is where the understood companionship between a fresh face, the walker, and the dog, this Shiba, really stood out. She had a better understanding of city life than the male mentioned above. I believed she was very wise for her young age, and this showed through the consistent sense of maturity with which she carried herself. Some dogs need to have commands repeated or voices neutrally asserted over the din of city life: this is not necessarily the case with Shiba Inus. She clearly respected her environment and her circumstances, which included me (someone she just met). I was very appreciative of and I deeply respected the trust she showed me. She showed a great deal of reservation that served as a welcome balance to the very obvious joy she felt being an uninhibited puppy in the city.

I have worked with two Shibas professionally, and both of them of course shared some commonalities, but overall their dispositions differed greatly. This reflection relates to the first Shiba, a highly anxious and young pup. Shiba's are both famously docile and playful. They are truly gentle and poised at all times and this showed through in a noticeable extreme with this first Shiba I have in mind. He would not enter the elevator and his owner, who he clearly loved intensely, had to join us briefly in the elevator just to get the little pup in and on his way. Once downstairs he was incredibly reluctant to use the revolving door, our only means of exit. I really felt for him, especially when we got outside. He stuck to his usual route like a normal dog, but after doing his business he relinquished any signs of comfort. We walked one block during our whole half hour appointment, which I don't mind because I prefer it when the dogs dictate certain things; their comfort is my top priority. I sat next to him on a street corner and kept close. By the end of our appointment I could tell he trusted me enough to accept some of my verbal commands, but overall his anxiety and paranoia were intense and constant. I think this is the sense of certainty the breed is famous for operating in conjunction with his very young age and his dedicated city lifestyle. Shiba's like to be sure of themselves and I was for the most part a total stranger, which I totally understand. Their sense for caution is to be admired and was merely heightened by his youth and preference for the company of his missing owner. As they age, they grow in independence and confidence like the intelligent dogs they are.

I walked a Shiba Inu puppy named Piper Rose several times. She is very friendly and playful. Piper Rose listens very well to commands such as “sit” or “stay”. Piper Rose has a lot of energy and gets very excited around new people. On our walks she will try to chase small animals such as squirrels or cats. Piper Rose does not bark. You need to be firm and confident with Piper Rose or she will pull the leash and take you for a walk. I run with her sometimes because she has so much energy. Piper Rose likes to run and sometimes we race each other. When Piper Rose is calm enough I can pet her, and she loves the attention. When I take Piper Rose for walks she usually has so much energy that she cannot sit still for more than a second.

She was a good little dog. She was stand off-ish at first. The owner had to put her leash and harness on. She was fine after that. She pulled the whole walk and picked up random things with her mouth. She played with a tennis ball she found and got stubborn about leaving it behind when we continued our walk- she would drop it and then take a few steps and put the breaks on and want to go back for it. She also seemed fairly "sight motivated" the more a passing by dog or animal like a bird would move she really seemed to be agitated by it and wanted to chase it. She was a nice dog a lot of quirks.

My experience with Shiba Inus has been great! The ones I walk have had a calm energy to them. They get very excited to greet you and do jump a little, but once they settle they are excellent walkers! They listened to commands very well and didn’t pull the leash much at all. Both dogs I walked had to stop and sniff just about everything in sight, but I didn’t have to worry much about them eating anything they weren’t supposed to. During our walks, they don’t easily trigger by other dogs, people, or vehicles. The one will even lay down when she sees another dog until they pass. Overall, I love spending time with these sweet little dogs and would love to have one of my own someday!

The Shiba Inu that I walked was very particular about smells--if a walker had walked any previous dogs or had pets at home, he became rather difficult to get the leash on and convince to go anywhere. We were scheduled to walk for an hour, so we did have time for this challenge, but the beginning of the walk left me worried about whether we would be capable of making any distance at all. Typically I attempt to play games: tricks & treats, but, because Sophie wasn't interested in treats, this didn't get us far. Eventually she did move upon her own accord. We were instructed to head to the nearby dog park and let her run around. This clearly had been a common course of action: she led us directly there. She was fantastic with all the other dogs and happily spent her time running in very fast circles around the space and playing keep-away with the other dogs. When it was finally time for us to start heading back trouble ensued. No matter the technique I attempted, catching her to get her leash back on was nearly impossible. After calling the owner I was told that even he needed to, "Urge her over using a stick then sort of pounce on her while you attach the leash." I knew it was going to be difficult. I spent nearly a half hour trying to urge her over with a stick, sitting very still, attempting to use treats and other toys, convincing others to help, trying to play with other dogs to get her to come over, and anything else I could think up to no avail. Finally the park had completely cleared out barring one single dog companion. The other owner and I collaborated to get her dog into the pre-play-pen and romp together in there. The fun intrigued her finally and, within the enclosed space I was finally able to leash her up and take her back home. I urged the owner to either warn future walkers about her tendency or to suggest that they not bring her to the dog park anymore. As much fun as she had romping around and as good a companion she is with other dogs, her complacency toward her human companion makes it a very challenging situation. Sophie is a beautiful dog and a great walker, but most certainly a free spirit as well.

I love Shiba Inus they are soooooo cute and loveable. The Shiba Inu I walked was very friendly and energetic. It loved to play around and have fun. I think they need a lot of exercise to keep them healthy. Shiba Inus are very, very smart pups. People love Shiba Inus because they look a bit like a fox and Shiba Inus will get a lot of attention on the street, they are a people lover. When walking past other dogs she was very friendly the other dogs did not seem to bother her at all. I think that Shiba Inus like all the attention ,they like getting petted and they are so soft. Overall this bread would make a great companion to have.

Shias can be a little stand off-ish, but will warm up quickly. They are a little skittish around other dogs, but tend to work well with other humans. Not violent by any means, but just a little nervous.

I was really excited to walk a Shiba Inu, but having done it I won't do it again unless I know the dog and owner. They're very strong willed, tend to be cold towards new people and incredibly smart, so it can be a challenge to take care of them without an existing relationship. I've mostly found them at least okay on leashes, as long as they want to walk in the first place and you can figure out where they want to go. I find they like to follow paths they approve of or come up with themselves, so if you can figure out what they want they become more agreeable.

I love Shiba Inus! This Shiba Inu was particularly friendly and energetic. I have heard that Shiba Inus are fiercely loyal and sometimes are not that friendly to people other than their family, but this Shiba Inu was very sweet. I think they need a lot of exercise and engagement. Shiba Inus are very, very smart. People love Shiba Inus (they look a bit like foxes) and Shiba Inus will get a lot of attention on the street. I did not come in contact with any other dogs on the walk, so I do not know how this Shiba Inu behaves around other dogs. I think that Shiba Inus like being busy/having something to keep them occupied. They are great problem solvers and seem to enjoy a challenge.

The shiba inu that I walked was a puppy, so he was full of energy and liked to run a lot. He liked to sniff pretty everything and anything, but he had a bad habit of trying to eat almost everything off the ground. Very fun walk though because I would run with him, and he was very playful!

The Shibas I have walked have been almost cat-like. They’re not incredibly outgoing and needy for attention but we’re very interested in exploring and going on walks and little outdoor adventures.

The Shiba Inus I have encountered have all been very intelligent and independent. They can come off as aloof, especially to strangers. In my experience they have been very focused on the walk and not really too interested in being pet or human affection in general. On walks they can be quite focused on their surrounding and sniffing out the area. They can also be a little territorial with other dogs. They’re super cute and people always want to pet them, but a lot of times they aren’t too interested.

I have walked three of these dogs. One of them was so aggressive that it wouldn't even let me put on his leash without trying to bite my hand, I had to end up cancelling the walk. Completely different experience with the other two that I walked. They were very friendly to me and other people and dogs. Calm and don't seem to have a lot of excess energy they need to burn off.

Shiba Inus are smart, loyal, and love to hunt and go after animals. They will bolt after a squirrel or bird so be careful with them. Shibas can be protective so approach them carefully. Shibas are very smart and easy to train.

My Shiba Inu is my best friend. She is super loyal to me and she defiantly fits the discription of a Shiba Inu. Everyone thinks she’s so pretty and thinks she is a fox

I have had the pleasure of walking many Shiba Inus during my time as a Wag dog walker. You can not help but smile when you see a Shiba Inu - they are the cutest little fox faced dogs! They are adorable and very appealing to the eye. Another interesting thing about the Shiba Inu breed is the fact that they're virtually silent dogs! I have never heard a Shiba bark .. ever! I think this is what makes them perfect city apartment dogs. They're generally very easy to walk. They like to go outside on leisurely walks but don't require particularly intense exercise. They are pretty happy doing their own thing and quietly appreciating their surroundings. They are not the most "people-oriented" dogs and often won't beg for human attention. They are pretty self sufficient and are happy being on their own and having you a few feet away. I would say this breed is the most cat-like of the dog breeds.

It was an enjoyable walk/run. He had a lot of pent-up energy so he expelled it by jumping and running. He looked like an adorable fox. He enjoyed sniffing a lot too.

I walked a Shiba Inu in pouring rain and while dainty the dog didn’t care one bit he was soaking wet. He had playful energy and a 30 minute walk wasn’t suitable for his energy but he still listened going in his crate

These dogs were beautiful with lots of thick fur. These two dogs were very different in other ways, though. One was a senior and very large. She walked quite slow. The other was a puppy and wanted to walk fast. It would have been more beneficial for both to walk separately. I could have walked the puppy faster and jogged a bit. I could have walked slower for the older one so she could take her time. They were both friendly and liked to walk. What they both liked the best was to stop and smell. They wanted to see who was in their neighborhood and leave their mark to show they were there. They were so soft and furry I just wanted to cuddle them! Too bad that's not part of the normal walking activities!

Shibas are so cute, energetic, and quirky. However they are a little difficult to train and a little bit "headstrong"! This one was absolutely stubborn, but also very eager and sweet, which made up for it. Shibas also groom themselves and are content being little couch potatoes.

My shiba lived to be 14 years old. He was a great companion. He was obedient and trainable. He enjoyed playing with kids and was very calm around them. When he was younger he was full of energy and loved to run. I was able to trust him off leash in his middle years but not in the beginning or end. He shed a lot but had a beautiful healthy full coat.

She was a little standoffish at first, barking a lot and refusing to accept a treat. However the walk itself was fun and she seemed to enjoy sniffing and briskly walking. We met a few people en route and she sniffed at them hesitantly but did not really want to be pet. She did accept some belly rubs after the walk and seemed to be warming up much more.

In addition to walking a Shiba Inu, I also have owned Shibas in the past. The particular Shiba that I walked for Wag was a great dog. Very calm and very obedient. A great walking partner.

I had two Shiba Inu and each had a different personality. One of them didn't like long walks and the other didn't mind. The same dog would bark at other dogs and children. It's not too social because it didn't like another dog at the park. It seemed tense most of the time while the other dog was chill

This particular Shiba Inu was very independent. He's friendly, but didn't seem to care what I was doing. He did pee in the hallway (probably out of excitement). He enjoyed sniffing around at the park and to my surprise, would jump up on the benches. When we got back, he enjoyed playing with his ball.

I just love Shibas. They are the absolute sweetest but usually want nothing to do with you. They’re the ‘cats’ of dogs. They want to be left alone, until they don’t. If they want love they’ll let you know. They love to walk. They’re very inquisitive. I’m yet to meet one that really wants to run or move quick. For the most part they just want to mosey and sniff.

One of the smartest and energetic dogs out there! One I walked was very alert and knew exactly what route to take. He was itching to run and get out his energy! But these dogs love to hut so I always make sure they aren't sniffing around bushes or trees too long :).

This shiba inu was willful and confident, as the breed tends to be, but a quick study and easy to walk overall. She was quiet and seemed a little lost in thought, suddenly snapping to attention at odd things, as if she had just realized where she was. A quirky breed, too willful for good recall so they need to be on leash at all times.

My best friend and he makes every day a little brighter.

My Shiba basically house trained himself there was barely any effort there. He gets in a playfull mood but can also be very calm. He is very loving and great woth other dogs and kids. Everyone that meets him loves him. Grooming is minimal just brush every so often. He doesnt like the leasg but he's getting better with it.