Crate training
House training
Other dogs
Cats (if raised together)
Escape artists?
Fit well with a family?
Thanks!
Shiba’s are very indepent, somewhat aloof dogs. They are almost cat-like. Wonderful dogs but their personality is quite unique. They like their family but don’t care for strangers. Everyone will want to pet your dog thanks to Shiba internet meme. They are difficult to train. NOT a beginner dog.
http://shibashake.com/dog/shiba-inu-personality-good-bad-traits
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Right, I’ve looked them up and read quite a bit but was hoping to get input from people who actually own the breed and their first hand experience. Thanks!
Neighbour has one up the road - takes it to work in her flower shop. Quite a laid back dog, not high energy type. Aloof, does not do much, least of all follow instructions or come when called. Even to owners does not show much affection … nice enough, but not in the adorable, love it, want one category.
[QUOTE=FatCatFarm;8208258]
Right, I’ve looked them up and read quite a bit but was hoping to get input from people who actually own the breed and their first hand experience. Thanks![/QUOTE]
What qualities are you hoping for in a dog?
I’ve met one - it didn’t pay any attention to me. 
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My neighbors also had one. She really attached herself to the husband and was a wonderful dog for him. She kind of ignored the wife, and she wasn’t much of a dog person anyway so when he passed away their son took the dog.
That dog struck me as a one person dog, and a little bit aloof. I actually like that temperament in a dog. Had the wife been more of a dog person, it is possible that she could have bonded with her too. Her husband took a real interest in her and I think that was why she only bonded to him.
ETA: I don’t think they’re particularly likely to have a perfect recall, at least without hours and hours of work.
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friend of mine has two; again, aloof, not friendly. the bitch even growls at my friend. but she loves them (both her own, and the breed in general.)
We have one, I have to say they are not for everyone. He can be aggresive and has bitten people and he is a neutered male that was well socialized. Its just how they are and its been really hard if not impossible to correct. He is of course the cutest thing ever and because of that out on walks people are always wanting to pet him and give him attention which as you know is not the best thing for an animal that bits. He’s just so cute people can not help themselves. He does not listen well and never comes when called. They are a very difficult breed and unlike any kind of dog I have ever had. They actually scream when made to do something they don’t want to do - such as getting their nails trimmed. I am sure there are some good ones out there but I could never suggest them to anyone.
I know one nice one out of 20 or so. That owner is a highly experienced dog owner who trained and socialized the heck out of that dog. Took nothing for granted, didn’t skip any steps, etc. Still a very catlike dog, and not overtly affectionate even with her.
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And to answer your questions above:
Crate training — No way they hate to be restrained in anyway
House training - they are great they hate to be dirty and will at all costs avoid going in the house
Other dogs - Depends on the other dog but they tend to be the leader so make sure the other dog is submissive
Cats -we have two and he would run after them and still tries to start things with them when they walk through rooms and its been 4 going 5 years
Escaping - Well if they get out, good luck catching them, they have no recall
Fits in with family? - would not recomend this breed with children!
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Thanks! Those are the things I wanted to know. Very helpful.
[QUOTE=ablibby;8208333]
And to answer your questions above:
Crate training — No way they hate to be restrained in anyway
House training - they are great they hate to be dirty and will at all costs avoid going in the house
Other dogs - Depends on the other dog but they tend to be the leader so make sure the other dog is submissive
Cats -we have two and he would run after them and still tries to start things with them when they walk through rooms and its been 4 going 5 years
Escaping - Well if they get out, good luck catching them, they have no recall
Fits in with family? - would not recomend this breed with children![/QUOTE]
This covers it well. General trainability is not high. I have been bringing a few dogs up the levels in agility alongside a Shiba Inu. His owner has had the breed before and even he’d tell you his is often a pill. This is a dog with buckets of training from a handler who has been at the top with his Aussie. The Shiba Inu still has an iffy recall and can’t be near other dogs. We give him a wide berth. Not a dog for a novice. Not a dog even for most experienced handlers.
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oh, and one more issue my friend has with her dogs: when they go on vacation, she has a hell of a time finding someone who can watch the dogs at home. she’s got two neighbors who are very dog-experienced, but if they’re both out of town at the same time, then my friend basically can’t get anyone to dog-sit. she’s out of town at the moment, with one friend watching the dogs; he’s having to walk the shibas, then go home and get his doxie to walk because the shibas won’t tolerate being walked with any other dogs.
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…and not one dissenting voice here. 
I wondered. I had chows for decades, and they sound very much alike. I remember when I was showing chows, a fellow handler told me, “You can’t trust anything that carries its tail over its back.” As a general rule, I’ve found that to be true.
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OMG, my DD was an exchange for 8 weeks with a Japanese family and their Shiba tried to eat her on a daily basis. I believe that was how she described it, it hated her and she had to sneak into the house or it wouldn’t shut up for hours, and it lived out in the covered patio area, not in the actual house.
You want totally cute? Get a Schipperke.
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You should PM a poster named “ohandthesmokes”
She has 2 of them - they are adorable!
I’ve only seen pictures though, so I have no idea what they are like.
I think the poster LexinVa has one too.
I live near a Shiba Inu breeder who is known as a puppy mill breeder. I’m sure she sells lots of puppies from her website’s adorable puppy pictures, but her dogs, from what I’ve heard, are caged and not socialized at all.
Such a shame, since these seem like difficult dogs to begin with, and unknowing buyers are getting this breeder’s dogs and they aren’t being raised correctly.
They sure are cute though.
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I had one, she’s still with my mom 15 years in (birthday today actually).
Very aloof. Less friendly than my cats, so saying “cat-like” isn’t fair or nice to my cats.
She likes to run. She’s very smart, learned a whackload of tricks by hand signal but would never acknowledge a recall (and I have no doubt she knew). We had an invisible fence, and she learned to just run fast enough for a short shock, do a victory lap around the neighbours lawn, and return home around the front of the house (invisible fence was out back).
Was fine with our cats. Enjoyed rollerblading since she got to run, otherwise couldn’t give a hoot about us unless we had cheese or popcorn. Took 2 years to house break so we would crate her (which she was fine with), until I was left home with her and would be away x. I didn’t crate her all weekend and resigned myself to cleaning her messes rather than confine her if I was away all day and tada little miss Shiba decided to whine when it was time to go out.
Very intelligent, rather aloof, and not dog like in almost any way. She hated walks if not on the end of rollerblades going fast…
All that said, I liked her of course
If you’re into the look of a Shiba, you might consider a Finnish Spitz. Pretty uncommon, but I’ve been around two and they are an easier dog than Shibas. More people-oriented, not particularly needy, medium exercise sorts.
