The kids are older and you’ve decided to add a dog to your family. A year or so ago you saw a dog that was really neat, great size, clean look, seemingly well behaved. What kind of dog did the owner say he was? Right, a Shiba Inu, looked just like a fox. You go online and find a Breeder who has a litter available. They don’t live that far away so you call for directions, pack everyone in the car, and head to the breeder’s house. You walk in and are immediately smitten by these cute little fuzzballs. You pick out a feisty little bugger, pay the breeder and do the paperwork, and head for home. “STOP!!!!!!” Are you crazy? You would bring a dog that could be with your family for up to 16 years into your home without knowing anything about the Breed OR the Breeder? People need to start using their heads, and stop blaming Breeders for their puppies being sick, or for their cute little balls of fur turning into “Jack the Ripper”. All the Champions behind a puppy don’t mean squat, if the new owners don’t have the knowledge or desire to put the time into understanding the Breed and making it an acceptable member of society. Shibas can be very aggressive with other dogs, especially of the same sex. Lots of socialization around other dogs is a must. This is not a guarantee that you won’t have problems, but it will help teach you how to recognize the warning signs so you’ll have a better chance of avoiding confrontations. If you’re saying to yourself right now, “I’ve had dogs before, I’ll just do a couple of Obedience classes and there’ll be no problem”, then you need to get a different Breed.
Do your homework. There is only so much you can learn on the internet, and there is a lot of misinformation out there. Shibas are becoming popular for city dwellers. They’re a perfect size, and normally very clean (but there are always some exceptions). Talk to people who have Shibas. Talk to Breeders. Even if you are not planning on buying a puppy from them, reputable Breeders should not object to answering questions about the Breed. The more information you gather and understand about these wonderful dogs, the better prepared you’ll be to welcome one into your family.
