The qualities of the Shiba
 

To provide the right basis for each healthy, stable dog we naturally need  ‘the parents’ and the environment. The parents themselves should, of course, be healthy. An indication of their good health is given by health reports such as those concerning hips, knees and elbows. The better breeders, at home and abroad, have these tests carried out and the budding Shiba owner should be alert to these test results before buying a pup. This could save him possible problems and aggravation in the future!  The Shiba is regarded as being a ‘healthy’ breed.

The use of aggressive or nervous animals for breeding is considered inadvisable as the progeny could inherit these undesirable characteristics from the parents.

In it’s native Japan where the Shiba was used to hunt small game (see the history of the Shiba) they were independent dogs well able to act on their own initiative.  This is still reflected in the character of the present day Shiba.

The Shiba is a noble dog and likes to be treated accordingly. It is extremely willing to learn but like many Japanese breeds has difficulty in maintaining concentration levels over longer periods of time. Doing obedience or agility training with a Shiba can be great fun but regular diversions during training can be very rewarding. This is then also an encouragement for the owner to persevere. Shibas are also known for their ‘good’ and ‘bad ‘ days. On a good day one can do anything with them, train or show them with excellent achievements. On a bad day, oh my! Then one really learns what it means when such a nice dog has an independent character.

The Shiba is a dog with a healthy sense of humour and extraordinary social qualities. They delight in spending a day out and about with you and are then untiring. On the other hand they can also spend days stretched out on the couch feeling quite heavenly.

Personally I enjoy taking them for a run on the beach, I can keep an eye on them more easily there, and in the woods I’m constantly wondering if I shall ever see them again. An outing along the beach does wonders for the dog and for its owner too!

If it has been brought up correctly a Shiba makes a wonderful pet, show or training dog.  They are excellent with children and need and enjoy the company of their own sort. The Shiba is not a subservient dog and sometimes imagines itself to be bigger than s Great Dane. Self-conceited, sometimes self-centred, stubbornness, a feeling of being exalted above others, active as well as lazy, are all qualities at the command of the Shiba, but with a bit of smarminess he’ll do anything for you.

‘Putting it on’ is the primary disease of the Shiba and many an owner knows what I mean by this. Oh my goodness……….just suppose he should have to do something he doesn’t fancy, he’ll scream the place down, the neighbours are ready to call the cruelty man! In reality it’s just a lot of fuss about nothing. Young dogs are particularly good at this but the right sort of upbringing in which is demonstrated that this sort of behaviour achieves nothing at all will soon cause it to disappear. It is advisable to develop the habits of nail cutting and coat care at an early age.

The Shiba is simply a great dog that is in no way servile but that laughs and has fun with you, cries with you when you are sad and cheers you up when you are down. He is supportive in both good and hard times and simply accepts you as you are. The Shiba adapts very well to the surroundings in which he finds himself which makes them easy dogs for an apartment, a family home or a farm and for a busy or restful family.

It is a tremendous and a healthy breed that is what most breeders are aiming at to. A challenge to discover for both breeder and owner.