SIBA-INU

Dogs of this breed are very active, fearless and hardy. Also, they do not need constant caress from the owner. They have their own opinion on everything, so the education of the Shiba Inu should begin from the very moment the dog appears in the house. Self-willed Shiba often try to show themselves as masters in the house, so they should not be indulged. They loyally love the owner, are loyal to family members, but rarely show a desire for constant communication. Shiba, like many other hunting dogs, love to be alone, sentiment is not their element.

The stubbornness of Shiba Inu dogs sometimes complicates the training process, so the owner must find an approach to the animal in a timely manner. One of the characteristic features of the Shiba Inu is a zealous attitude towards everything that, in the understanding of the animal, belongs to him. These dogs do not get along well with other pets (especially dogs), they do not tolerate well when the owner caresses and shows participation in the upbringing of someone else. Shiba Inu are wary of strangers, as potentially dangerous enemies, but they never show cowardice. They do not belong to those animals who are ready to let everyone in their souls. In other words, Shiba are dogs with character.

Shiba Inu, even at an early age, are able to fend for themselves, the owner and the territory entrusted to them. They are excellent guards and tireless hunters who know their worth. An easy-going person who is able to devote enough of his time to walking and training the dog is suitable as an owner for a Shiba Inu.

Caring for a Shiba Inu is not difficult. The animal is small in size, so you can allocate a corner for its residence both in the apartment and in the open-air cage (if there is an insulated booth). They get used to temperature fluctuations well, if we are not talking about critical levels of the mercury column.

Shiba Inu are quite clean, require simple procedures for the care of wool, claws and ears, it is imperative that parasites be prevented. The thick coat of the Shiba should be combed (several times a week), especially during the shedding period (daily). Show dogs are bathed monthly, while animals whose vocation is to guard the house, as a rule, take water procedures no more than 2 or 3 times a year. The dog's nails should be trimmed 1 or 2 times a month on their own using a nail clipper or at a pet salon. The dog's ears should be cleaned gently 1-2 times a week with a cotton swab or disc. It is advisable to purchase an ear cleaning spray that dissolves the wax in the dog's ear, so the process will be faster and easier.

A Shiba Inu diet should include foods that provide the dog with all the vitamins and minerals it needs. Whether it is natural food or industrial feed, the owner should always give preference to a quality product. When the shiba eats food prepared by the owner, care should be taken to avoid fatty meats, smoked meats, sugar, potatoes, legumes, bones, and a lot of salt in the diet. Ready-made food is convenient for the owner, and useful for the dog when it comes to premium and super-premium products. Mixed meals are highly undesirable, as is table food.

And the main point of keeping the Shiba Inu is the obligatory and long walks in the fresh air every day in any weather. Dogs of this breed lead an active lifestyle, they need movement. Often the owners combine business with pleasure - they ride a bike, keeping the dog on a leash. This exercise heals both the person and the dog. If the shiba is purchased to participate in the hunt, then it is possible to start forays into nature from six months - there will be expanse for the dog. In urban areas, you should not let the dog off the leash, since the Shiba Inu is a hunter with all the ensuing consequences, which can really be dangerous for animals and people, especially if there are gaps in training.

Dog training should begin with early socialization. Shiba Inu should be taught from childhood the rules of good dog behavior: do not crap in the apartment (or in a strictly designated place for this), do not beg for food from the table, do not encroach on the life of other pets and calmly react to animals while walking, do not bother master and listen to his commands implicitly. A trained dog is one that does not force the owner and other household members to live exclusively in her interests. From an early age, a Shiba Inu puppy needs accustom to one's own nickname, behave calmly and moderately with the animal. You should not raise your voice and beat the dog. But such a breed should not be overly complacent even after the successful execution of the command. It is enough to praise the dog verbally, only occasionally giving a treat. And you should never allow the unreasonable aggression of the Shiba Inu towards people and animals, the dog should receive punishment, which may consist in a slight physical impact and the corresponding situation in the intonation of the voice. Shiba Inu should be accustomed to a leash, collar and muzzle from an early age in order to avoid tragic situations.

Experienced dog owners advise in no case to be limited to home teaching, but to go through the main course of dog training on their own (you can study the relevant literature, there are many video tutorials on this topic on the Internet) or contact a specialist. The general training course allows you to train (or improve the skills given at an early age) the dog in the following commands: "To me", "Sit", "Next", "Walk", "Stand", "Lie down", "Aport", "Fas" other. The dog must be adapted to life in society, calmly react to the sounds of shots, signals, noise. It is advisable to seek the help of a training instructor, since the Shiba Inu are very capricious. It is easy for the owner to make a mistake during training. But the initial training in simple commands must still be done independently in order to establish contact with the animal.

Shiba Inu are quite healthy and physically strong dogs. In rare cases, they are prone to dysplasia of the hip joints, which at an early age is easy to calculate when examined by a veterinarian and x-ray. The Shiba Inu sometimes has a genetic disorder - von Willebrand disease (pseudohemophilia), which is characterized by poor blood coagulation. Another ailment that can significantly worsen a dog's quality of life is hypothyroidism associated with thyroid disorders. In rare cases, Shiba Inu may suffer from eye diseases (cataracts, keratitis, retinal atrophy).

Purchased in a good nursery puppieswho have healthy parents and good heredity, and documents confirming this, rarely get sick. Their immune system is strong enough, hereditary diseases can always be identified by knowing the dog's parents. Buying a puppy from an unscrupulous seller is fraught with the acquisition of an unhealthy animal, in whose health you will have to invest a lot of effort and money.