SHIBATYPES

Before we got Nikko and Kuma we spent a lot of time researching the breed.    We consistently found similar descriptions:

• Cat-like dogs that scream
• Untrainable, stubborn Houdinis that will not come when called
• Independent, aloof, and unaffectionate
• Snarky 
• Clean with heavy seasonal shedding
• Prone to anxiety issues
• Not for first time dog owners!

Now that we have two, we have definitely found ourselves saying 'That's so Shiba!' more than a few times.   

Let's dig in to how Nikko and Kuma stack up to the stereotypes...

We have spent a small fortune training our shibas so we are going to be the last people to say that they can't be trained.  They have taken Puppy Star, Basic Obedience, Advanced Obedience, Community Canine, Agility, Advanced Agility, More Agility, Wilderness Tracking, Urban Tracking and Search and Rescue classes.   They are absolutely trainable... it just takes time, patience and determination.  

I will also add that training has made a huge difference in our dogs' confidence, improved how they adjust to changes, and helped them become more social.  

Anyone who believe that shibas can't be trained may be setting themself up for failure.  If you expect a dog to be difficult to train, you may not put in the same amount of effort  or not recognize progress.  

Neither Nikko or Kuma have the shiba scream.  I don't doubt that it exists in other dogs (I have seen the proof on youtube), but I am curious to know how common it is.  Ours are both really quiet.  Nikko will occasionally bark when someone comes to the door or a dog walks by the house, but it isn't the blood curdling scream we have read about.  Kuma is the most quiet dog I have ever known.  He barked at a dog once in school and we both got really excited about his 'first words'.   He has barked a couple times since then, but it is extremely rare.  

Nikko and Kuma can definitely be stubborn.  They know what they like and what they don't like, and they aren't afraid to challenge your opinion of what they should do.  

Kuma stays outside by himself all the time.  There are times he just will not come in.  He won't come in for treats, meals, or toys.  He may stay out for several hours or most of the day.  It is probably the most clear 'Shiba No'  that we have had to deal with.   Fortunately we have a fenced yard with a locked gate, at least one of us works from home every day.  If staying outside makes him happy it isn't really a problem.  Choose your battles wisely.   

I guess this comes from other stereotypes, like them being clean, independent and difficult to train.  

Nikko and Kuma both have some catlike hunting behaviors -- they like to hunt moles and play with them like cats.   They also have catlike agility -- like they jump up and twist in the air and always land on their feet.  

I kinda understand this description, but they are just as much doglike.  

This is our biggest fear, but so far they have not escaped or tried to escape.  We have a  fence they can see through, and they do spend a lot of time watching the neighbors or looking at the cornfield across the road, but they seem happy to stay inside the yard as long as they can keep an eye on things.  

I'm not sure what is supposed to be 'normal' for a dog on the independence scale.  Our lab was not independent.  He followed me all over the house, would only play if we were throwing a ball for him, and panicked if we left him alone for more than an hour.  Our dingo likes to hunt on her own, but only wants to be outside if we are outside and mostly stays in the room we are in.  I would consider both of them to be a little clingy.

The shibas don't really seem to care if we are with them or not as long as we don't mess with their schedule.  We wake up around 6 A..M. and spend about an hour outside drinking coffee while they play.  They play on their own.  They nap upstairs in 'their room' (our room) during the day while we are working.  We finish work at around 5 P.M. and they are usually sitting at the top of the stairs waiting to go outside for happy hour.  

I'm not sure if they care when we leave the house (which actually doesn't happen that often because we both work from home and covid is out there).  When we come home they are always sitting on the steps staring at the front door.  I don't know if they just run out of their room and take that position when they hear us coming, or if they are anxious and worried the whole time we are gone.  

adjective  Not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant

adjective  Not full of affection; not tender or loving

Our shibas are affectionate, just in different ways.    They most definitely are not affectionate with strangers or with people they don't see every day.   We see my parents about once a week so they definitely know them, but are very reserved.  We go to dog school every week and see the same people, and they are still very suspicious.  

But they are affectionate with us.  Kuma likes an occasional snug.  Nikko loves to get his neck and butt scratched.  They come to us when they are scared (like when our redneck neighbors shoot guns or fireworks).  

Definitely Nikko.  The first year we had him we thought we needed to put him on a diet because he was looking a little chubby, and then spring came and we realized it was all fluff.   The furry came off in clumps, and it just kept coming until he looked naked.  His skin is actually spotted and he reminds us of a little piglet in the summer.  Doesn't matter how much we vacuum in the warmer months, there is constantly furballs floating around.  I DREAM of getting a Roomba to follow him around, but I don't think Roomba could get over the thresholds in our old house.  

Kuma, not really.  He doesn't seem to get as fluffy in the winter or lose as much in the summer.  

TBD

TBD

TBD