When to buy a Shiba?
If you want a dog that is:
- Cute and adorable from birth
- Cat like with it's grooming habits requiring few baths
- Independent and aloof
- Quiet, Most shibas don't bark much
- Alert, Bold and Confident
- Extremely smart
- Very curious about everything around him
- Lively and high spirited
- Small sized, athletic, strong with a "BIG DOG" personality
Then the shiba might be for you.....
Now, if you DON'T want a dog that:
- Can not be let off leash unless in a secure fenced area
- Is cunning, manipulative, strong willed and dominant
- Does not like to be held, restrained or cuddled
- Can be aggressive to other animals
- Can be possessive of his food and toys
- Has the tendency to bolt through open doors
- Has the ability to climb fences or dig under them
- Is double coated and sheds large amounts twice a year
- Is a breed that is not always tolerant of young children
- Can emit a piercing "Shiba Scream" when unhappy or afraid
- Needs constant socialization with animals, people, sights and sounds
Then the shiba is NOT the right dog for you.
Ten commandments for a responsible pet owner
- My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years. Any separation from you will be very painful.
- Give me time to understand what you want of me.
- Place your trust in me, it is crucial for my well-being.
- Don't be angry with me for too long, and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment. I have only YOU.
- Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I understand your voice when it's speaking to me.
- Be aware that however you treat me, I'll never forget it.
- Before you hit me, remember that I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand, but I choose not to.
- Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I've been out in the sun too long, and my heart may be getting old and weak.
- Take care of me when I get old. You, too, will grow old.
- Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say, "I can't bear to watch it", or, "Let it happen in my absence." Everything is easier for me if you are there. Remember, I Love You!
You would make a great owner for a Shiba if you
- enjoy running, walking, hiking and crawling through brambles while yelling your dog's name at the top of your lungs
- picture the ideal mate as someone who greets you effusively when you get home from work, asks you about your day and then walks away and falls asleep on the couch
- like cats with curly tails and screams that can shatter glass
- have a fenced yard that could safely contain the inmates of a maximum-security prison
- have a high tolerance for humiliation, because at one point of your life or another, your Shiba will contrive to make you look like the world's biggest idiot
