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When it comes to choosing your first pet, there is nothing better than a dog. After all, they are man’s best friend for a reason!
There are hundreds of different pedigree breeds to choose from, and it can often be quite difficult to choose which is the best option for you.
When looking at the larger breeds, it is difficult to deny that Shiba Inu’s are a popular breed. They have great personalities, and are fantastic dogs to own.
However, if you have never owned a dog before, they may not be the best breed to begin with. In this article, we will be chatting you through the characteristics of Shiba Inus, their temperament, and what they are like to own.
Contents
Shiba Inu Background
Shiba Inus are an ancient Japanese breed of dog. They remain one of the most popular types of dog in Japan, and are popular across the world. This breed was first introduced into America only around 60 years ago.
Shiba Inus have a fox-like appearance and typically red, or red sesame in color. However, they are black and tan dogs within this breed too.
They are a medium breed that are muscular and strong. The average Shiba weighs around 17 pounds, and stands up to 16.5 inches in height.
Shiba Inu’s Characteristics
Shiba Inus are a type of dog with a large and strong personality. This is why they are not often seen as the best breed of dog for new owners.
While they can be trained, they are naturally quite a stubborn dog, which some owners may struggle with.
They are spirited in their personality, and while they are an active breed, they are also affectionate, friendly and loving too. Given their stubbornness, they are not the easiest breed to train.
Are Shiba Inus Easy To Train?
No, a Shiba Inu is not the easiest breed of dog to train. They are notorious for being quite a stubborn and strong-willed breed. Given this, many owners struggle with the training process if their Shiba chooses not to respond.
Shibas would benefit from training that tackles areas in which they tend to be stubborn, and often this requires an owner that has previous experience training dogs.
While a new owner can choose to train a Shiba Inu, we would recommend that they carry out much research to ensure that they know the best types of training techniques.
In addition to this, training stubborn Shibas does require a lot of patience.
If you are a new owner looking into purchasing a Shiba, you need to take this into consideration. You will need to put many hours into training the dog, and need to be aware that the process may not be easy.
We would also recommend seeking help from a professional trainer if the training is proving difficult.
Are Shiba Inus really that difficult?
Yes, and no. When it comes to dog breeds it is important to note that no two dogs are the same. While you may have one Shiba that is particularly difficult to train, another may be easier.
All dogs that are the same breed will have slightly different temperaments. In addition to this, how difficult the dog is will relate back to the owner too.
If you have experience with stubborn dogs like Shibas, then you will find them a lot easier to handle in comparison to someone with no experience.
It is also important to note that a dog will become far more well behaved when it has been trained correctly. If you allow your Shiba to take control, it will be more difficult to handle.
When trained correctly, Shibas are a fantastic dog to own. They are loving, playful, loyal and fun. While they do struggle to share and can guard their food and toys, you can train them to help prevent this.
Is a Shiba Inu the right dog for me?
When choosing a first dog, it is important to select a breed that you are happy and confident with. Not only this, but you also need to be the correct fit for the dog.
As Shibas are quite energetic, you will need to ensure you have the time to take them on long daily walks.
In addition to this, you will need to ensure that you have the time and confidence it takes to correctly train this breed. They do require patience, but are such a rewarding dog to have.
However, if you own small animals such as birds, cats or hamsters, they may not be the best option due to their chasing and prey driven instincts.
Summary
To conclude, if you are looking for an easy dog to train, a Shiba Inu may not be the best breed for you. They are better suited to an owner or a family that has experience with strong willed dogs.
However, this does not mean that new owners cannot have a Shiba Inu. If you are set on purchasing this breed, you will want to ensure that you can put the time and effort it takes into training the breed correctly.
You will need to have patience, and the ability to handle the dog.
We would always recommend carrying out much research to ensure that you know everything there is to know about the Shiba Inu breed.
In addition to this, when you have a Shiba Inu puppy you should always consider professional training classes.
These classes will allow you to learn how to train your dog using the best techniques, and it will help to improve your overall confidence with the breed.
While these may be strong willed and stubborn dogs at times, they are a rewarding breed to own too. They are full of personality, and they do make fantastic family pets.
Although they may not always be recommended as a first pet in the same way that a Labrador is, this does not mean you cannot own one as a new dog owner.
