Answer: No! The Shiba Inu is not a hypoallergenic breed. These canines are known to shed their fur quite heavily and they also produce a decent amount of dander.
Answer: A properly trained and well-socialized Shiba is fairly friendly and kind to kids. These pooches are happy to spend their time with a playful and fun-loving child and thus, it is considered to be a suitable breed for those families that have a young child present in their house.
Answer: Untrained Shibas may be a bit aggressive with other canines who they find strange and especially if they are of the same gender. That’s why it is very important for the owners of the Shiba Inu to properly introduce their dogs to a lot of different pooches at a young age so that they can become a bit more sociable and friendlier with other canines when they grow up.
Answer: Generally, Shibas are known to chase down other small-sized household pets which include cats as well. But with proper guidance and socialization, these canines can learn to get along with other animals and gradually Shibas can become fairly warm and cordial with cats too.
Answer: Their guarding abilities are fairly average, but Shibas do make pretty awesome watchdogs. They can effectively look after their home and property and can alert their owners through their bark in case of an intruder, trespasser or a burglar.
Answer: Yes! Shiba is a great apartment dog. This canine adjusts really well to the apartment lifestyle and mostly remains fairly relaxed and contented inside its home.
Answer: Shibas are heavy shedders. These pooches can shed their fur all around the year, but during the shedding season which can come at least once or twice every year, the amount and frequency of shedding further increase and during that period, regular brushing of their coat is highly necessary as it can be useful in controlling to shedding process to some extent.
Answer: Shibas require the guidance of a skilled and experienced owner to become more sociable with others. These pooches are also not that easy to train as well. Their owners have to be highly patient and tolerant with them so as to teach them new things and only a knowledgeable owner would know how to properly control and handle these canines, thus this breed is not highly recommended to a novice or first-time owner.
Answer: Some Shibas do bark a lot, but with proper training, this habit can be easily controlled. These pooches mostly bark when they want the attention of their loved ones or when they are guarding or looking after their home, but apart from this, most of these canines shouldn’t bark all that much.
Answer: Shibas have moderate exercise requirements. They should be taken on daily short walks either in a park or a garden where they can freely move. Light-hearted games and fun activities are also highly beneficial for the Shibas; hence they must also be included in their exercise sessions. Fulfilling the exercising needs of a Shiba is not that hard of a task and should be fairly manageable for most people.
Answer: Properly trained Shibas whose basic needs (exercise, feeding etc.) are being satisfactorily fulfilled can live alone in the house for a fairly long period of time. These canines mostly just relax in their beds when their owners are not at home and have almost no problem in spending some time alone or away from their loved ones. But it is important to fulfill all their bathroom needs and provide them with enough food and water before leaving them alone and it is also a good idea to leave their favorite toy near them so that they couldn’t get bored or annoyed.
Answer: No! Shibas are a little stubborn and independent in nature. They are known to get distracted fairly easily during the training sessions and that is why they require an experienced owner who understands the psyche of a canine and who can properly guide these pooches. It is also important to start their obedience training from an early age so that they listen to their owner’s commands more intently when they eventually grow up. And finally, patience and gentle behavior are highly crucial while training a Shiba as this pooch’s feelings can be easily hurt if its owner decides to use any harsh training methods.
Answer: A Shiba’s grooming needs are not that high. Its coat is only needed to be brushed on a weekly basis so as to avoid any matting and tangling issues. But the frequency of brushing should be increased to 2-3 times a week during the shedding season. These pooches only require occasional baths to remain fresh-looking. Their nails should also be trimmed whenever it is necessary as overly long nails can cause a lot of pain to a canine while walking and running. And finally, their teeth must also be brushed on a regular basis so as to maintain proper dental health.
Answer: Shibas have an average tolerance to heat. These canines can live comfortably in moderately warm areas but they do require a fair amount of protection and care from their owners. And, these pooches shouldn’t be kept under the direct heat of the sun especially during the summer months as it can be highly harmful to their health.
Answer: Shibas have a great tolerance to low temperatures and cold. These pooches are happy to reside in chilly and snowy areas and thus they are a good option for those people who want to raise a pet in a cold and wintry region.
Answer: A Shiba is a fairly smart canine that possesses decent thinking and decision-making skills which are required for a canine to efficiently live and grow in this world.
Answer: Normally, Shibas are known to remain fairly reserved and quiet around strangers. These pooches take their time before they start trusting a new person and they also remain decently alert and aware whenever they are around someone new. But with time and proper socialization, these canines gradually become more warm and cordial when meeting a stranger or a new person.
Answer: No! Shibas mostly drool when they have just eaten their food or after drinking their water, but apart from that, they don’t drool or slobber all that much.
Answer: Yes! Shibas are highly expensive canines that are not very easy on the pockets of most people. But their maintenance needs are average at best. They don’t require a lot of grooming to look good, their exercise needs are fairly manageable and they don’t need the constant attention and presence of their loved ones to remain happy. But these pooches do require a lot of training and guidance from their owners so as to become well-mannered, sociable, less stubborn and a better version of themselves, hence, in that regard, this pooch can be considered fairly high-maintenance.
Answer: Shibas have a mediocre availability in India. These pooches can be found in some of the bigger cities like Delhi, Bangalore et cetera, but when it comes to other smaller regions of the country, their availability is still fairly low.
Answer: The average price of a Shiba Inu puppy in India is around ₹55,000 to ₹75,000. But there are a lot of factors that affect their price in the country and because of that, the cost of bringing a Shiba puppy home can go even higher than that.
Answer: Most Shibas are not known to enjoy swimming in a pool or getting wet in general, but there are a few exceptions, and some of these pooches do like to play in the water. Hence, if your Shiba is comfortable around water and likes to swim in it, then definitely take that dog to a pool or to a beach (with proper safety measures).
Answer: Shibas come in a lot of different colors which are listed below:
Answer: Shibas have a fairly decent lifespan of about 12-15 years. Some of these pooches can even live longer than that, if proper care, nutrition, exercise, and protection are consistently provided to them.
Answer: Most common health problems found in the Shibas are Skin Allergies, Hip Dysplasia, Glaucoma, Cataracts, Entropion, and Patellar Luxation.