Are Shiba Inus Good Pets? 10 Pros and Cons of Owning a Shiba 

Shibas are cats in dog Costume.

Also worth mentioning Shibas are healthy and live a long time. They don't have the kind of rampant health problems a lot of other breeds have.

I grew up with a shiba named Banzai. My folks got him only a couple months before I was born and spent my entire early childhood with him. He was standoff-ish and stoic on the outside but loving and fiercely loyal on the inside.

I never saw my husband cry until our senior Shiba died. He was all that and more. They are great dogs.

My parents have a Shiba. His name is Jirou, I call him Boofer. He's a good dog, knows his routine well. Very loyal to me and my parents. The only thing he loves more than us is his own reflection. lol

I had a Shiba (guy in my profile pic) and he was amongst the most lively, loving, compassionate (you read that right), and loyal living beings I have ever known. Unfortunately, he passed away because of cancer at 11 years and 4 months exactly one week ago. He loved me with all his heart and so did I. The looks he gave me that expressed how he much he will miss me because he knew his time was near just broke my heart. Still utterly devastated by his death.

I’m a border collie guy but I had a neighbor once who had a couple Shibas and they were wonderful pups. I lived next to that guy for 7-8 years and I never once heard them bark. They would just com to the fence and stare at me.

Our shiba definitely breaks the mould on "Quiet Demeanor". He's a very, VERY vocal pup and lets us know when he's suffered the most minor of inconveniences.

Whenever I’m asked if our Shiba is hard to train I always say “Yes, because we don’t speak Japanese and she doesn’t understand a word of English”

I miss my Shiba so much. Got her in 2006, and she passed in 2017. Best dog I ever had. RIP Babie 💕💕

We love our Shiba Inu Buster! He’s been such a huge part of our lives. I think the Japanese culture has been ingrained in the breed and ours is completely different from other dog breeds. You do not dominate the Shiba, which is a hard concept for many American dog owners to understand. It truly is a relationship of trust and respect.

I've never met a Shiba outside Japan but not surprisingly they are like their Japanese owners. They are wary of strangers but very attached to their owners. Possible this is a result of a lack of socialization. Japanese rarely invite outsiders inside their homes so Shibas just don't meet many people. They're generally very calm and kind of aloof. The one that lives near me has the softest fur that I've ever felt on a dog. He basically tolerates my presence and allows me to pet him when he wants.

I love the breed introduction done by actual owners, thank you so much for the informative video.

Shibas are much smarter than their owners expect. They will track your behavior. And know when they can get away with things you don't want them to do. Which includes digging holes under fences to go exploring in the spring... They very quickly come to the conclusion that they know things you don't and will use that to their advantage.

My Shiba, Koji, is so spunky. Half the time I talk to him like “Child, who the hell do you think you are?” And he does his little sassy bark. There are days that are difficult for sure, but I wouldn’t trade Koji for any other dog in the world.

Tadashi❤❤❤ We had our Sasha for 14 1/2 beautiful years. She was the most rewarding dog we’ve ever had in our family-when our Lab died she constantly followed me around and touched her nose to my calf, saying “don’t worry-I’m here.” I was so distraught over losing my soulmate dog that I didn’t notice her Shiba-persistence until one day I looked down and there she was…looking up at me with the most knowing eyes. She worked her way into my soul deeper than any other dog. Her loss is still hard, and I would love nothing more than to be a Shiba mom again. Shibas are by far the most unique dog you will ever welcome into your life. Fiercely loyal, fiercely loving, fiercely smart, and fiercely intelligent. They are VERY fast to react-Sasha taught me so much about dog language - we became partners at a very deep level. Shiba parents reading this will know what I mean. If you are considering a Shiba, I highly recommend reading the “Shibas 101” section on the Colorado Shiba Inu Rescue website. These dogs are not for the inexperienced dog owner. If you are willing to work with your Shiba companion, go on daily outdoor adventures, and grow into a partnership with them, you will be a newly fulfilled person❤❤

It is a hit and miss with these guys. My shiba definitly has most Shiba qualities, but the odd one is that he is very social with humans, and some dogs. He loves to be pet and greeted by strangers, and plays with kids. Ppl always say he is friendly for a Shiba. With dogs he is a hit-and-miss, sometimes will like them other days he will do a snarky bark. I love this non-stinky Doggo! He definitely is my bff!

I watch KyloTheDoge, and I can confirm that Shiba are worth it.

I am blessed to have two, they have a level of intelligence that is Spiritual. The love and power they exude is healing. The female is very affectionate, the male is such a gentleman..he waits for the female and accompanies her outside regardless of whether he needs to go or not. They are both alert and protective of the home, property, and children in the family as well as myself. Shedding is not an issue it is part of caring for what I love and am grateful to have in my life. We learn from each other...if we humble ourselves and listen to what their personalities bring to our daily lives.

Bro, i love your whole video ! I always wanted to get a Shiba Inu myself but I am not in the right time of my life to get a dog or anything else, and that’s why I liked your “outro” words (before 4:58 ) that much !

A friend of mine hadc2 Shiba. They decided I was a ok and I adored them both. My little ginger girl passed 2 years ago but she and her brother are forever in my heart.

god I love how they can be stubborn and ignore you. makes them even more lovely

Shibatube: Are Hoomans Good Owners?

Getting a shiba pup was the greatest thing we ever did. She fit right into our pack of two senior dogs (cavalier king charles and puggle). The pup is the best friend of our young boys and comes with us to every baseball game and practice where she is adored by all the children and parents alike. You can spend the entire day playing with her or watching the Shiba 500. Does she snuggle much with us, no. She has a bed in front of the fireplace in the same room that she loves. At nightime she sleeps with the kids, usually in their beds and she lives to be with them. Absolutly wonderful dog. She turns 1 next week. Love these videos. Yes, the Shiba Inu is worth it!

Love our sheba Loki! Great video

Awww I’ve been completely owned since I first looked after a Shiba! Tadashi is soo fit and handsome. Kato and Yuki would love to send him a super-thanks if anything is available? Keep up our regular doses of spot-on accuracy and joy xx

I'm a cat person and am not a fan of most dogs, but I really love Shibas. They're like cat-dogs. Perfect.

Good thing about dogs is that there is a breed for every personality type.

I have a Shiba/Husky mix and she is a marvelous dog... I totally recognize the traits given here. Now pile on the Husky traits and some of what was presented is MAGNIFIED. Love my dog

My Mom's last dog was a Shiba Inu. Kiro, He was ALWAYS trying to escape. But, other than that he was loyal to her. Hated me. But he made enough of an impression she never replaced him.

Some folks I met at a week long get together had one. We went into the local town one night for kind of a change of pace dinner. I rode with them and sat in the back with their Shiba Inu. When I got in, he was clearly pretty standoffish and had zero idea what to think of me invading the back seat of his car. The couple said he would probably ignore me, but that I shouldn't let it bother me, he does it to everyone. 15 minutes into the 30 minute trip, he rested his head on my leg and had no issues with me petting him. On the trip back, he just curled up in my lap and slept then entire way. Both the husband and wife were absolutely floored and said they'd never seen him react to anyone else that way.

I can agree with stubbornness. I remember my parents and me went to take my dog, LuLu, out on a walk. But after my dog was done doing her business in the leafs, my mom wanted her to walk more but my dog just kept dragging her towards our house. Or when my dog is getting trained, she sometimes doesn’t sit when we tell her “sit” and I kept getting told that she understands us but doesn’t wanna do it.

Shibas have an ocean of difference between them. Ours loves spending time with us, hates touching his paws, sheds like crazy, has a cute yawn where it sounds like he’s talking several times a day, HAS to have a gift to give you when you get home, spins over and over when excited, rarely barks, gets super nervous around strangers. Runs when you change your garbage out, runs when you put bright colored clothes on, is always up for chasing a ball, when he knows you’re mad at him he goes into freak mode and starts spinning and acting goofy trying to perform for you. Among other things.

Scared the ish out of that dog @3:34 😩😂😭💀 Thx for sharing, been thinking of getting one once I find my new house.

Great video. I have a Corgi and live out in the county on 2 acres. It would be like Green Acres. She would love it

Shibas are really independent, if they don't absolutely love you they will want nothing to do with you lol

So adorable!

I have three, they are the best dogs I've ever had. The pandemic baby is the only one who is wary of strangers because she couldn't get much socialization as a puppy, but the other two just want to be everyone's best friends. They're sweet and loyal and care for the pack (me included) in ways I have not seen other dogs care. They're definitely great pets if you have the patience and the willingness to learn how to deal with this little guys' attitude.

Yup, Shibes shed twice a year, and one shedding lasts about six months 😅 I had a Shiba-Taiwan Dog mixed breed called Rocky, it was basically Shiba with boosted reflexes and be even smarter. He's got that Shiba attitude, lol! One moment he is happily playing catch with you and then suddenly he would be like "nah, I'm done." stands by and watch the ball roll away like it's none of his business. He was very friendly toward all people but hated any dog that stepped into his turf, but if you talk to him tell him this is a good friend he'll tolerate that dog. Rocky passed away at 12 years old, we sure miss him a lot!

We have a pup, she is 10 months old... had her from very young age, we also have an American Pit and they after about 2 weeks are inseparable, and as this video stated, they are not afraid of larger dog, our pit is a 100lb female and they play all the time... funny to watch as the pit is so gentle but firm with Chia, .. great dogs....

When i grow older, i will get an shiba since they are incredibly cute and what you said in the video 🥺

Extremely accurate on the pros and cons. Highly recommend a Shiba if you get out and about a lot.

They're absolutely amazing!!

Indeed, shibas are awesome. Sure they are stubborn but they can appreciate all the efforts you invest in educating them. I'm rewarded everyday by the love I received from my sweet potato.

very nice video thanks for the iformacion

We rescued a shiba chi, (shiba x chihuahua) and she’s so so loyal, loving and fierce! She’s a little cutie and I love her so much.

I've got a dog that was given to my brother when it was just a pup, we never met the parents but I always suspected it was some sort of shiba cross. I can see so many similarities both in the looks and in the personality.

back home, my sister has a Shiba, when i came back to visit I walked her everyday, everytime she heard my steps from the stairs she knew it was walking time and she got really excited - lovely beautiful dog and we developed a really good bond - my family said she was really sad when she realised that i was gone. Cant wait to come back to see her again 😁

Great pet. Had my female for 1 month short of her 16th birthday. Miss ,miss miss her....

We have a Singapore Special that we 100% suspect having some Shiba DNA. Aloof, self grooming, hunting, not easily excited, walks with poise, aggressing on other dogs, puts face on human laps… this video is so spot on about the whole set of behaviors

My sister has a shiba-schipperke mix, as well as a pit bull-bulldog mix, both rescues. Sirius is a very sweet dog, and one of the few dogs I actually like (cat person, lol) because he’s so calm and reserved. He’s a good pet, especially for my sister who doesn’t like being alone. He’ll keep you company even if he doesn’t want pets, curling up at peoples feet, and is always respectful towards my nibling. They definitely require careful consideration if you don’t have a yard to let them run around it, but they make excellent pets for the right people.

Had a Shiba. Lived 13 yrs. Is very popular here in Hawaii. Can be a little stubborn but overall mines was very friendly.

I have a chihuahua Shiba mix with 90% shiba personality. She was the absolute worst when we got her. She's far from perfect now, but that comment about earning trust is so true. She is an absolute love bug when she feels like it. And so fun to play with, when she feels like it... haha

Great video, i have a shiba, you are spot on

We have an almost 2 yr old Shiba(Buddha) he is super hyper, stubborn and gets into EVERYTHING! He screams everytime he is alone or when I go outside, He is high maintenance. And has separation anxiety. He just barks at every little thing. I wish I did more research on the breed before getting one. We love him but he can be very annoying at times. And about the potty training. No matter how many times a day he gets walked and goes outside on his own in the fenced yard he feels the need to pee on the wood framing! No amount of training has worked, he has cost so much money. Definitely do your research on this breed!

Thanks for mentioning the dog aggression. This cannot be overstated since combined with the fearlessness it can lead to your Shiba being badly injured or even killed. I heard from a breeder once that the first breeders to bring Shibas Inus to the USA were Akita Inu breeders. The Shibas would get into fights with the Akitas and since Shibas don't ever back down the Akita would often end up killing them. This led to Akitas gaining an unjust reputation for being killers, but it was really the Shibas goading the Akitas into it.

We have three , A 4 and 11 year old red males and a 14 month old black and tan female. They didn't find me hard to train, when they want a walk they go to the door, when they want a biscuit they follow me into the kitchen , when they feel like a fuss they sit beside me, I soon got the hang of it. When the 11 year old sees me change out of my scruffy clothes to go out he follows me to the car, he loves the ride. They are all the things described and more.

I've always wanted a chonky lil' shiba inu, but i've never had one, hopefully someday i'll get one. ;)

It’s all about how you train and discipline your dogs. If they aren’t they misbehave if they are they’re well behaved.

My corgi acts and looks a lot of times like a shiba.! Also the cat comment fits perfectly. Also for corgis

The don't worry about barking really depends, my shiba barks at anything that comes close to the house, including people or cars just passing on the street. Also my shiba is great with sharing toys and such, as long as he likes the other dog. He is very specific about which dogs he likes though and only really decides if a dog is ok or not after sniffing him up close (except for pugs, he hates them all), which can be a bit scary cause if it's a no, he instantly goes into attack mode which is why I never let him off his leash and when near other dogs always short so I can pull him back at the first growl. He does growl a lot while playing also, though that's happy growling, but is often misunderstood by others.

I love our Shiba. He is protective but so sweet and loving. And he makes me laugh.

I see that as a absolute Win !

I almost gave up on my Shiba Inu, but we bonded and now he is much more obedient and loving. Shiba Inus are really special animals. They have so many unique and quirky qualities, not seen in other breeds. I also have 3 pitbulls which I love, but my Shiba Inu is so much different and intelligent than them and he is still just a puppy. I think it has to do with how the Japanese people transmitted their discipline and beautiful culture into the Shibas and all the the rest of the Inu family.

Hihihi! Try extending the Shiba fur to 6" long. Now that's shedding! When people ask if my Miko (Mittelspitz) sheds, I say yes, but only 4 times a year, 3 months at a time. 😜

We got a Shiba this year and I can relate to almost any point listed here. So far we have no issues with his fur though

Good video, 100% true. in addition to the video: shiba Inu males are very dominant, especially to other males. The owner must be very dominant too, otherwise the Shiba takes the lead and you will have a big problem. So be aware of this before buying one. Shiba inus also stay very playful their entire lives. They also don't bark a lot. A special tip: buy a pet water blower! it helps a lot to loosen all the hair from the undercoat and they like it too (always give a treat at the end).

Wow this is a well done 🎉

As a shiba inu lover, they are very intelligent. They also take a lot of time to open up but it’s worth it after a while because they are loving once they open up to you.

I love these dogs. We have a Labrador retriever & I wonder how well she’d get along with a Shiba. She mentioned that they can be destructive? In what way? Chewing furniture & shoes?

Your video perfectly described our black shiba Sesame!

Gorgeous looking dogs.Personality -wise,sounds very much like a chow-chow.Cat-like,aloof,stubborn,didn't bark an awful lot,a bugger to groom though!

My Corgi LOVES Shibas, they are very sweet!

THE BEST! 14 Years old and still awesome :)

My friend has two and he surprised me when i didnt hear them bark like any other dog! He killed some chickens tho but that lil fox face kills me 😍

Growing up, my nana had a shiba, and he was MEAN!!! Incredibly territorial. He did not like it when any guests were in the house. He had that small dog fearless energy too and would attack anything and anyone that got too close that wasn't my nana. He was a fierce little poop stick, but I still miss him sometimes. He had his own charm, even if he was a little stinker in the personality department lol

My Shiba lived up 18 years old. I got her while I was a third grader and she passed away during the pandemic. She was the best Shiba you can ask for 😔 RIP Roxy

I have a Shiba Inu in my neighborhood and he’s so nice and cute

And, let's not forget to mention how absolutely, phenomenally, insanely smart they are. My shiba not only took off his collar when he felt like it, managed to slip his leash on another dog when he did so, but habitually unlocked his three-stage crate, unlocked and opened doors, and would occasionally mimic words (albeit, with a whining, soft howl that made it clear it wasn't human). They can, and will, teach you just how not-child/shiba safe your house is within the first month or two. But they're also clever, very capable of being trained, can live in houses with other pets (if you socialize them early and thoroughly), and take to discipline well (if it's consistent... they will test you to see if a rule still applies). Absolutely loved my shiba. Little guy was a part of the family that certainly helped to make us all better people.

There was a shiba my toy poodle initially got along with, but she played roughly and her spinning butt attack was enough to knock the air out of me

Yes they are a good pet. I have one and he is well behaved. He didn’t bark and he is very gentle . I love Shiba Inu they are cute puppy 🐶. Depending on how well you train them.

Having Basenji and Shiba and rescuing both breed I can state after 23 years yes they are terrific. Indpendent intellignet and loving

ALL BEAUTIFUL!!

I've got 4 of em, this is mostly pretty true. Mine have an addiction to demanding pets, 2 of them wont stop hitting me if i refuse

Good Pets: Priority 1 = Behaviour that fits the human owners life styles most. It's not a good idea to start with appearance as top pro as that's the biggest form of mistake dog owners tend to make. A better premise: For new dog owners: Breeds x x x would be likely to be more suitable. For experienced y y y . The longer version, best approach of all as opposed to above short version: List All Major Needs to optimise Shiba's life and demands to be met from owners. Probably more demanding so be careful in choosing. For example too many owners cannot take the Shiba off the lead or else it is aggressive etc because it needed a lot more training. How many can people honestly meet continuously every day? Agree they can be great pets for the right owner however.

Short answer, yes. If you are a dog person, love dogs and understand dog behavior, then absolutely yes they're excellent dogs to have.

One hundred percent they are. Very protective. Very loyal. But not needy. Love mine! To those that don’t research and don’t understand they are not a good pet. If you are the selfish type and don’t put in the time when they are a puppy their stubbornness will be something you will really have to deal with.

Definitely YES!!❤❤❤❤❤❤

Those pros outweigh the cons 100:1. My little Lucy is a Jack Russel/Wire-Haired Terrier mix

I have had a shiba inu for 6 years now (he is 9) and i find it important that folks know these cons (and some tips): 1) they are very stubborn so be prepared to put your foot down multiple times a day for many many years. It can be very DRAINING but it is important once youve commited to having a shiba that you put your foot down for the rest of their lives or they'll walk over you and be very annoying due to their intelligence. 2) Train your dog like it's your second job and be CONSISTENT. If the shiba gets any room to 'not listen to you' they disrespect you immediatly. They respect you if you keep showing them that you have more energy and patience than theyll ever have. They will also trust you more due to you being consistent. They will also feel more relaxed. You have to act like a boss 24/7. I see so many people babying their dog or giving them a command and when the dog doesn't do it after two times they're like ''oh well''. Don't ''oh well''. In fact: if you ''oh well'' once the shiba will remember and will try to be the boss and be very VERY annoying. And they will be 'okay' listening after a year of day in and day out training after saying ''oh well' once. In fact; I'm a real pet person, but shibas can be so stubborn and annoying that I have secretly plotted every 2 years to sell him. I am completely in love with my shiba and he's a very good boy doing his best, but that's just a very honest thing i wanted to share because I see sooooo many people only looking at how 'cute' a shiba is and not down playing the effort part they will have to manage. That's why a shiba is NOT A DOG FOR A BEGINNING DOG OWNER. Only if you master like say a husky, you could try a shiba. They aren't even in the same field as a golden retriever. 3) Make a clear boundry between dog food and human food. Once they learn begging and the wonders of human food, they will be annoying as hell and find very clever and distructive ways to get what they want. They will also annoy all your guests and they can pray on your kids food. Don't spoil them thinking it's otherwise sad for them. Feeding them food for people is actually cruel. It's like giving a junkie some stuff and then taking it away. Theyll be addicts for life. 4) Never let them walk off a leash. It's not only very hard to get them into it again and behave, they have a very high instinct to go after anything that moves, igoring you completely and disrespecting you by ignoring your calls. And worst: they will zigzag on car roads. My shiba has only escaped under 10 times and that's not much for a shiba since they are escape artists. And I'm glad I always had luck with traffic on roads and cows in fields who can make shiba pudding. 5) be okay to wear dog fur in a way that their hair can be and therefor will be EVERYWHERE. Including your eyeball, any urns in your house, on all of your meals and even on everything you love and don't love. Shibas are hairy. 6) They hate your touch on their paws, tail, ears and snout. It is very important to teach them that you are the boss and if you wish to touch them, it will happen, despite their efforts. NEVER back down from a growl or anything, opr they'll learn that they can intimidate you and use that knowledge throughout all their inteacrtions with you. I can grab my shibas paws and snout everytime i feel like it, even when he sleeps (I respect his sleep, it is just in a manner of speaking) and their aint nothing he can do about it and he knows that. Therefor he never gets mad and trusts me completely with his paws and he feels so much more safe with me because of that. A dog entrusting their paws to you is so important. And if you gets wounded anywhere or i have to check for tics, he is a delight to inspect. 7) don't let your dog lick any orfaces (mouth, nose, ears, eyes). They are dogs and so they can handle a whole different zoo of microbes and virusses than a human can. You can get an std from your dog. Don't do it. 8) If you are a man and feel a certain way about your male dogs ball. Don't get a male dog. Because some really have it heavy with all those hormones. My dog had really didn't enjoy his levels and we have tried many things. But since he's nutered he feels relaxed, still has his energy and makes lots of friends. He is so much more happy and this wound't be the case if he was just in a household with men who project all their feelings on the dog. (sigh) This all sounds pretty heavy, but remeber i wanted to honestly list all the cons i know, because the shiba gets too popular on social media and owners with not enough experience and bossyness is a disservice to this wonderful breed.

I have three Shibas, the two in my thumbnail and a red and white that I adopted from the shelter. My girls that are in the thumbnail are older and pretty calm now, especially my Sesame, who use to love to play “keep away from the hooman,” now she is by me all the time. The new Shiba is super sweet and loves to play, his big thing is that he is a night owl. It can be 3 or 4 in the morning and he is in the backyard screaming at something, most likely a bunny as we have thousands here. Shibas don’t bark, they scream so be warned. But they are so loyal.

My Shiba is 15 years old and one of the best things about him is in all those years he has never tried to steal food off the kitchen table or go into the garbage bin. My brother has had beagles all his life and none of them could be trusted anywhere near the kitchen table. His beagles are definitely more affectionate though.

one of these days i do want a shiba inu i lve dofgs overall and germ short hairs and shibas are my two favorite but right now i can't financially take care of any pet, nor can i give it enough attention and love at my current moment in life some day though when I am capable I am definitley getting one

Hope them have a wonderful time. 😍😍

Shibas are the Best! Couldn’t imagine not having my Shiba friend alongside me

Overly sarcastic productions did a great episode about a Japanese folk tale called "Shippeitaro" featuring a Shiba Inu. I highly recommend it.

How they deal with the water. If i decide to shower him with a hose each day after go out, shiba will be okay with it?

So cute

The one issue I have is that my Male Shiba/JRT has no friends because he won't let any dog near him, and is very reactive. I did socialize him as soon as we got him at 4 months, but when he was about 1-1.5 yrs old he didn't want to play with dogs any longer. I think it's healthy for dogs to play together, heck even cats play and lay together, but I am just trying to train him to not lunge at other dogs. We live in a busy area so this is important. I also think the Covid isolation was terrible for him because he's gotten worse with dogs and even strangers. I am really trying hard to train him to at least tolerate other dogs when on our walks.

They are amazing pets. Turned mine into a service dog. She’s only barked 3 times in 8 years lol she’s perfect