Get to know

Shiba Inu

Written by
Caroline Coile, Ph.D.,
 author of 34 dog books.
Veterinarian reviewed
 by Nate Ritter, DVM.
Written by
Caroline Coile, Ph.D.,
 author of 34 dog books, including the top-selling Barron's Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds.

Veterinarian reviewed

| | | | |
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Sunny Terrace Shibas

Prepare to be amazed—although not always in the way you want. A Shiba Inu (Shiba for short) is ready to make your life interesting, and at times, frustrating.

This clever breed loves to show off how much smarter they are (or thinks they are) than you, and never fails to come up with innovative ways to foil your best plans to outsmart them. But they’re so cute you can’t help but laugh about it…
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At a glance

Moderate Energy

Energy level

3/5

Low Maintenance

Grooming

3/5

Medium

Size

Bold, mischievous

Temperament

13-16 years

Lifespan

Moderate Trainability

Training

2/5

Medium Vocality

Barking

3/5

At a glance

  • Energy level

    Moderate Energy

  • Grooming

    Low Maintenance

  • Size

    Medium

  • Temperament

    Bold, mischievous

  • Lifespan

    13-16 years

  • Training

    Moderate Trainability

  • Barking

    Medium Vocality

Why people love the breed

People who love Shibas don’t just sort of love them; they are fanatical about them. Shibas elicit an all-or-nothing admiration and devotion because they’re not the easiest breed to live with—but they make it worthwhile.
Shibas are masters of mischief. For people who want to spend their days with their faithful dog at their feet, a Shiba climbing the furniture, walking on the countertops, and getting stuck under the house (all in the space of an hour) may just be too much. But for people who appreciate a good laugh at their dog’s innovations and resourcefulness, there’s nothing like a Shiba. There’s a reason Shibas are popular on social media. They do funny things. Even when they’re just sitting around, they seem to come up with funny faces, as if they know they’re stars. Living with a Shiba requires patience and a sense of humor, but the payoff is entertainment and admiration. From a practical viewpoint, Shibas are a handy size, fairly easy to groom (they can shed a lot periodically), and once mature and sufficiently exercised and entertained for the day, can actually be well-mannered house dogs that make great companions for people of all ages.

Appearance

The Shiba is built along typical spitz lines, with a fairly compact body, pricked ears, curled tail, and stand-off coat.
The Shiba Inu is slightly longer than tall, with a powerful body and straight, level topline. The face is fox-like. The tail is naturally curled over its back. Its face has somewhat triangular eyes, and small, triangular ears that tilt forward slightly. The expression is bold, spirited, and good natured. Their gait is light, agile, and quick, with effortless strides. The coat is made up of a thick, soft undercoat for insulation, and a longer straight outercoat for protection from water and snow. Colors include red, sesame, or black & tan. They may have much lighter shading on their undersides.

Grooming

The thick coat requires regular brushing but no professional attention. It can shed heavily at times.
The coat needs brushing with a pin brush, slicker brush, or long-toothed metal comb one to two times weekly. It’s very important that the brush or comb reach all the way to the skin. Brush the coat in layers to ensure that the skin shows through at each layer. Otherwise the thick undercoat can mat next to the skin. Shibas shed heavily twice a year. During that time you may have to brush and comb every day. Otherwise shedding is moderate. The overcoat tends to repel dirt so Shibas keep very clean. Occasional bathing will help loosen shedding hair, and make your Shiba look, smell, and feel its best. Trim the toenails as needed, brush the teeth daily, and check the ears weekly for debris
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Sakura Blossom Shibas

Breed temperament and characteristics

Combine a mischievous nature with a high IQ, and you’ve got a Shiba Inu—a dog who is sure they are smarter than you. And knows they’re too cute to get in trouble…
Shiba’s have a unique, bold outlook on life. Everything is there for their amusement, and they plan to make the most of any opportunity. Some describe them as catlike, as they are great climbers and seem to enjoy perching on high places. They are very independent and like to follow their own muse. They are also incredibly cute. It’s hard not to smile or even laugh at their antics. They are great entertainment for people of all ages, and especially enjoy children. They like to play games but also enjoy curling up alongside their family for a long snooze. Shibas get along well with other dogs in the family, but can be unsocial toward strange dogs. The same is true for family cats versus neighborhood cats. They are friendly toward strangers, but not overly so. They are infamous for their ear-piercing “Shiba scream,” which they usually reserve for times of great excitement or disagreement.

Exercise

Though active, Shibas are smaller dogs and don’t necessarily require an enormous amount of exercise or space. It’s as important to exercise their brain as their body, though.
Shibas require about an hour of exercise daily. They aren’t good at coming when called, so exercise needs to be in a fenced area or on a leash. They enjoy jogging, hiking, or even a long walk around the neighborhood. These can be mixed with backyard games of fetch, tug, or chase. Some Shibas have fun with a backyard agility course that lets them jump, climb and race. Shibas can even get exercise indoors with games of tug, find it, or hide and seek. Some are good in dog parks, while others can be too aggressive toward other dogs. It’s as important to exercise their minds as their bodies, as this will keep them out of trouble. Learning tricks can help do this, as can challenges such as using their nose to find hidden objects. Favorite organized activities include any sort of lure coursing or racing. Although they like the parts of agility where they do the obstacles, they’re not great at doing them in the order you suggest.
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Kokuryuu Shibas

Training

Shibas are independent in nature and certainly not hop-to-it obedience dogs. But they are very smart, and very capable of learning, as long as they think it was all their idea.
If you try to force a Shiba to do as you say, they will dig in their heels and never comply. The trick is to use treats and games to convince your Shiba that they are training you. These clever dogs will quickly find out the best way to have you deliver treats like a vending machine, and that way is usually by doing as you ask. Although some Shibas have done well at obedience trials, they have a tendency to become ring-wise and realize no treats will be delivered while in competition. They also have a penchant for devising alternate ways to do an exercise. As a result, obedience trials are not their forte. They do nonetheless enjoy competitions such as rally, barn hunt, and nose work. Young Shibas require extensive socialization so that they know how to behave around strange people, dogs, and situations.

Diet and nutrition

Shibas do well on commercial or home-prepared diets (only if consulting with a veterinary nutritionist). They have no special dietary or weight concerns.
Adult Shibas thrive on almost any quality balanced diet. Puppies should eat a diet formulated for puppies, but have no special needs compared to other breeds. Obesity can be a significant problem in Shibas—especially neutered or spayed ones—so watch (or rather, feel beneath the fur) your Shiba’s weight and adjust the food accordingly. An occasional Shiba may develop a health condition that necessitates a special diet, but no such conditions are common in the breed. Your veterinarian can advise you if your Shiiba should develop such a problem.
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Evenfalls Shiba Inu

Health issues

Shibas are healthy dogs, but are overrepresented for a couple of health conditions.

Lifespan: 13 to 16 years.

Patellar luxation

In which the kneecap slips out of the groove in which it should be nested, causes lameness and arthritic changes. It occurs mostly in small breed dogs. Screening involves an examination and grading of the degree of luxation present registered with OFA.

Hip dysplasia

This complex condition involves both genetic and environmental factors and arises when the head of the femur doesn’t fit in the pelvic socket, causing arthritis and lameness. No genetic test is available to date, therefore, the recommended screening test is x-rays.

Ocular conditions

Including glaucoma, cataracts, distichiasis, and persistent pupillary membrane. Ophthalmic exams performed by ophthalmologists are recommended for breedings dogs.

Allergies

Such as flea allergy dermatitis, atopy, and food allergies/hypersensitivities.

Learn more about health issues that may impact Shiba Inu

History

The Shiba Inu is a very ancient breed with a very modern influence on culture.
According to DNA, the Shiba Inu is one of the oldest breeds of dog. It is probably the most ancient of the Japanese native breeds. Inu simply means dog in Japanese. Shiba means either brushwood (a tree that has autumn leaves the color of a Shiba’s red coat) or possibly, small. The Shiba is sometimes called “the little brushwood dog.” Japan’s Cultural Properties Act declared the Shiba Inu a precious natural monument of Japan. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the Shiba Inu in 1992, placing it in the Non-Sporting group. Shibas have an incredible Internet presence, with one named Marutaro amassing almost a million followers, and a single Shiba litter’s puppy cam over 65 million views. Owners include Kelly Osbourne, Roberta Flack, and Zack Follett.
A Shiba Inu stands on a leash outside
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Frerose By FinSōl Shibas

2 Shiba Inus laying on the ground together
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Jogoso Shibas

About the author

Canine specialist, Caroline Coile, Ph.D., is the author of 34 dog books, including the top-selling Barron's Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds. She’s written thousands of magazine and web articles about dogs. She specializes in canine science, health, breeds and competitions. Caroline has won 20 national dog-writing awards, and was a 2015 Inductee into the Dog Writers Association of America Hall of Fame.

Veterinarian reviewed

Dr. Nate Ritter, DVM is the Veterinary Medical Director at Good Dog. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Lafayette College and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, New York State Veterinary Medical Society, the Veterinary Medical Association of New York City, and the Society for Theriogenology. Additionally, he is a USDA-accredited veterinarian.

Breed Scorecard

Characteristics and temperament

  • Affectionate with family

    3

  • Watchdog level

    5

  • Playfulness

    4

  • Adaptability

    3

  • Social needs

    3

  • Temperament

    Bold, mischievous

  • Intelligence

    4

  • Good with other dogs

    2

  • Good with cats or other pets

    2

  • Friendly with strangers

    3

  • Good as a service dog

    1

  • Good for apartments

    3

  • Barking level

    3

Appearance

  • Height

    13-16"

  • Size

    Medium

  • Colors

    Cream, Red, Black and tan, Sesame

  • Coat texture

    Soft

  • Coat length

    Medium, double, stand-off, straight

Training

  • Trainability

    2

Exercise

  • Exercise needs

    3

  • Exercise time

    One hour daily

  • Mental exercise needs

    4

  • Favorite activities

    Tricks, hiking

Grooming

  • Grooming needs

    3

  • Brushing frequency

    Weekly

  • Needs professional grooming?

    No

  • Drooling level

    1

Health issues

  • Patellar luxation

  • Hip dysplasia

  • Ocular conditions

  • Allergies

Other

  • Bred for

    Hunting small game

  • Country of origin

    Japan

  • Popularity level

    4

FAQs

  • On Good Dog, you can search for Shiba Inu puppies or dogs in rescues and shelters. Adopting a Shiba Inu from a shelter or rescue is generally less expensive than buying a puppy from a breeder with ethical practices. Across the United States, there are dedicated rescues that specialize in specific breeds and may even help transport a Shiba Inu dog to you from another part of the country. Although it can be more cost-effective, adopting the exact breed you're looking for is typically more difficult than working with a responsible breeder. Learn more about adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue.

  • It depends on the person. If you are not tolerant of mischief and some disobedience, then no. If you admire innovation and a sense of fun, then absolutely yes.

  • Surprisingly, they are well known for their roles as Internet stars.

  • They are mischievous and can be disobedient. They may be aggressive toward strange dogs.

  • The typical price for Shiba Inu puppies for sale may vary based on the breeder and individual puppy. On average, the price of Shiba Inu puppies from a breeder is $3,000.

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