Shiba Inu
Puppy
Fully Grown
Shiba Inus are brave, confident small-sized dogs that have a good dose of willpower. They are attached and affectionate towards their owners, but certainly like to push boundaries and need a handler with strong leadership skills. Their willpower and stubbornness make them hard to train and even when trained, they will always keep this bit of independence.
This breed has a strong prey drive that is hard to control and off-lead time needs to be well managed. They are best suited for a household with no other animals. Living with other animals is not advised, as Shiba Inus will likely see them as rivals or prey.
They need plenty of outdoor adventures, and to run off some steam. Inside the house they are more relaxed, and you will mostly find them lounging on their bed and hardly hear any barking.
As puppies, Shiba Inus are the cutest thing you have ever seen - they look like a cross between a baby fox and a bear cub. You will fall in love with their playfulness and endless inquisitiveness, which they will keep most until old age.
Shiba Inus can be quite reserved towards strangers and other dogs even when well socialised as a puppy. They don’t need strangers or other dogs in their lives to be happy.
| Weight: | 8-11 kg |
| Health risk: | Medium |
| Life expectancy: | 12-15 years |
| Coat: | Short |
| Grooming intensity: | Medium |
| Monthly cost (food): | low |
| Trainability: | Low |
| Activity level: | Medium |
There are many sources to get your Shiba Inu from. Considering the number of homeless dogs without a future, we strongly encourage you to consider rescuing a dog. Your local shelter or rescue organisation can be a helpful place to start, or try contacting your local or national breed club or a reputable breeder and asking if they have pets available for rehoming. Many rescue organisations have active Facebook pages, which can also be a good place to enquire.
Here are some links that could be useful for finding a Shiba Inu to adopt:
To help your rescued Shiba Inu to settle into your home, our Rescue Dog Guide gives you tips and advice on bringing your rescue dog home.
If you decide you’d prefer to get your Shiba Inu from a breeder, the following guides will help you to find a responsible breeder:
The following organisations will be able to help you find breeders in your state in Australia. They will also be able to connect you with your local breed clubs, which are always a great source of information in regards to finding good breeders and rescue organisations.
