This is the smallest representative of hunting breeds bred in Japan, and today bred in the countryside as an assistant on hunting and farm. Shiba Inu, or the Japanese smiling dog, has become a popular companion in recent years.
A small, compact, neat and very smart animal is perfect for keeping in an apartment. Shiba Inu, a description of which is often found in Japanese fairy tales, is very affectionate with all household members. She loves to play, but is rather distrustful of strangers.
The Shiba Inu smile dog is a great friend who will not leave anyone indifferent, thanks to his smiling face and wonderful character.
Breed history
This breed was formed naturally, with little or no human involvement. The ancestors of the Shiba Inu dog breed were dogs, which in ancient Japan were used as assistants to peasants. Small-sized animals were valued for their ability to move in dense thickets at high speed. The hunters used them in the hunt for wild boars, bears and game.
The development of Shiba Inu continued for several millennia. Experts believe that its formation began in the III century BC, when the ancestors of these animals were introduced by Korean immigrants from Asia. In the course of crossing with animals of local breeds, the appearance of the animal known in our time began to emerge. Purebred specimens of Japanese dogs of the Shiba Inu breed were selected only in the 20th century. The standard was developed and approved in 1934. Two years later (1936), representatives of the breed received the status of a national treasure of the country.
In the XX century, Shiba Inu gradually began to spread outside of Japan: in Australia, Europe, North America. Successful breeding was halted by World War II. It was during this period that many individuals died, most of the breed's clubs closed, and pet owners were forced to euthanize their pets due to lack of feed.
Only after the end of the war, surviving specimens began to be collected by enthusiastic breeders to restore the breed. It was decided to combine all the pedigree lines that existed at that time into one. Of the varieties that existed before the war, three lines remained: San-Siba, Mino-Siba, Sin-syu.
The shiba inu smile dog was restored along with the country's economy. Hunting qualities of representatives of this breed are appreciated today. However, in modern Japan and beyond, due to the nature of the shiba inu, the animal is more often used as a pet. The Kennel Club of the United States recognized the new breed in 1992. A little later, he joined the National Kennel Club of Canada.
External features
The description of Shiba Inu today can be found in all cynological publications. By its appearance, the animal resembles a fox, and in habits it resembles a cat. This is a miniature dog with a proportional strong physique. A lively and strong dog has a proud posture, the silhouette of his body resembles a square in shape. Among the other Asian Spitz, the shiba inu smile dog is not much different. She has a strong build, natural proportions, a dry tight stomach.
The size of the shiba inu is small: the growth does not exceed 41 cm, and weighs no more than 14 kilograms. In accordance with the Japanese standard, animals have pronounced sexual dimorphism: a male dog has a more powerful skeleton and developed muscles, is endowed with a confident and courageous look. Bitches are smaller, have more sophisticated body shapes, meek and gentle look, soft movements.
Another requirement of the standard is the strict geometry of the dog’s head and its correlation with the body. Exceeding the size of the head is not in accordance with the standard. The following deviations are allowed:
- snack or overshot mouth;
- cowardice.
Disqualifying defects include:
- short or not curled tail;
- hanging ears.
Pointed, fox muzzle should not be too narrow. Slightly slanting small eyes look at the world with a sly, but at the same time gaze tenacious and firm. One characteristic feature is all representatives of the breed. A smile dog really almost always smiles and this fascinates many animal lovers.
Standing ears are tilted forward, which gives the animal a concentrated look. A rather thick tail can be straight, but more often it is wrapped in a ringlet.
Wool and color
The adult shiba inu has a double coat and a dense, felt-like undercoat. The rest of the hair shaft is hard and elastic. The coat is the same throughout the body. Only on the face and paws is it shorter by about 5 centimeters.
The tail is pubescent more densely due to the elevated arrangement of the hair. The color of the coat can be different: black or red with red or silver tan. With zoning, black at the ends of the hair.
Zoning colors can be:
- black sesame seeds (black prevails over white);
- red sesame seeds (a mixture of black and red flowers);
- sesame (white with black).
Rare and undesirable, according to experts, are considered almost white or light sand colors. Such dogs are not allowed to exhibit. Most preferred is the bright red color of the coat. In addition, at exhibitions, preference is given to animals with white or cream marks (urazhiro) in the lower neck, chest, inside the ears, on the cheeks, tail, on the inside of the paws, on the stomach.
Physical data
The Shiba Inu dog is a very hardy animal. It has an instant reaction, the ability to move through the snow and rough terrain with great speed, maneuverability in movement. The representatives of the breed have an extremely developed instinct for self-preservation, so they become excellent watchmen, but are not used as a guard.
These cute dogs with a fox face are very sensitive to any suspicious sounds: the appearance of unwanted guests is reported to the owner with a voiced bark. This pet is ideal for active, athletic people. The animal happily runs after a bicycle or accompanies the owner on morning runs.
Character
The character of Shiba Inu is very independent, by nature they are true individualists. In relations with a person, they prefer equal partnership. The dog loves the owner and his family and expects attention from them. If for some time you do not pay attention to your pet, the shiba inu begins to get nervous. At the same time, they absolutely cannot stand long or annoying caresses. Such a pet will not vigorously express its feelings. Most often, he keeps at some distance from the owner.
The animal loves attention to itself, but it does not require close physical contact. Shiba Inu has an independent character: only she decides what she should do at the moment, where to go for a walk. If she doesn’t like any command, she is unlikely to be a beginner in dog breeding, and sometimes an experienced owner will be able to get him to do it.
The Shiba Inu smile dog is socially minded: it builds a special relationship with each member of the family. Some of them are partners in games, others - while walking. They are pleased to make new acquaintances, but only if they do not feel danger from the new person.
No wonder the dog was called a smile. And this is connected not only with the expression of her face. This is a very fun and playful animal that enjoys communicating with children. Games and pranks are a favorite pastime for such pets. Sometimes during such entertainments furniture and home decoration suffer. The dog, as a rule, spills out excess energy on the street, in case walks are regular and active.
Do not have such a pet for families with small children. Excessive activity can be dangerous for babies. If during eating, playing, the baby encroaches on the personal space of the animal, the dog may bite. But older children, who are already aware of the rules of communication, get along well with these animals.
Often in the description of Shiba Inu in different sources, the inanimate nature of the representatives of this breed with other animals is noted. However, experienced dog handlers are confident that, with proper education, Shiba Inu gets along with other dogs and even cats.
Features of training and education
If you decide to get a Shiba Inu puppy, the price of which is quite high, you should know that such a pet needs to be raised from the very first days of the appearance of crumbs in your house. If at the time of adaptation the puppy is allowed to do everything that he wants at the new place, then in the future it will be extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible, to re-educate. The stubbornness of representatives of this breed can negate all the efforts of the trainer.
But you can’t put too much pressure on such a pet. Such attempts will only cause a protest of a freedom-loving animal. The harder you treat this dog, the more stubborn it will become. Understanding and obedience from these animals can be achieved only by building partnerships. It is necessary to make it clear to the animal that its interests are recognized and taken into account.
Shiba Inu should not be punished (owner reviews confirm this) if the dog did not fulfill your command at the same time. Sometimes this behavior of the dog is explained by a demonstration of its own significance. However, serious violations of discipline and order in the house cannot be ignored. If your four-legged friend has bitten some thing or growled at a family member, he should be punished. But this excludes screaming, excessive emotions and physical strength. In no case do not beat the dog: it will only become embittered and completely cease to obey.
The owner must become a true friend of this dog, who can always help in difficult times, provide support. It is important for the owner to convey to his pet that he cannot do without human help. To do this, use a variety of situations when the animal feels helpless and insecure:
- A ride in public transport.
- A visit to the dog site when large dogs walk on it.
In these cases, the owner becomes an assistant and protector of the dog, who will thank him obedience in gratitude.
Leash training
The hardest thing is to teach Shiba Inu to a leash, without which it is impossible to walk a dog: a puppy that appears on the street can rush off in an unknown direction. You need to start with a collar that is worn on the puppy for several days. After that, a leash is attached to it and the puppy is taken outside.
You should go where the dog offers you. It is necessary to train a puppy to move for the owner of the puppy gradually, alternating its directions with yours. The character of the Shiba Inu smile dog is so independent that some individuals cannot be trained on a leash.
Shiba Inu teams memorize very quickly, but they are most often performed according to their mood. It is quite difficult to meet an animal of this breed, which will execute all the commands on demand. Most dogs that, for example, chase a cat or watch birds, are unlikely to respond to the call of the owner, calling them to him. However, if you offer the game to these animals, Shiba Inu will fulfill all the requirements with enthusiasm.
Maintenance and care
Perfectly maintains the purity of his body Shiba Inu on his own. Caring for her is simple. On a walk, they carefully avoid puddles and dirt, carefully lick themselves, returning home. The hair of these animals practically does not get dirty, and therefore care for it involves only combing. They rarely bathe a dog, in case of urgent need. It’s quite difficult to wash the dog well because of the dense undercoat, on which water rolls without getting inside. It is necessary to keep the pet in the shower for a long time until the undercoat is completely wet.
Detergents intended for humans dry the wool, so only animal shampoos should be used. They bathe Shiba Inu only at night, in the warm season, so that the undercoat dries before the morning walk. It is not advisable to use a hairdryer for drying.
The Japanese dog Shiba Inu breed sheds twice a year, and the process is quite intense. At this time, the hair is combed out with a special brush with metal teeth and a curler twice a day. Shedding lasts about a month, sometimes a little longer. If you do not comb out the hair, replacing the wool will be delayed. Dry hair should not be combed: this makes the animal uncomfortable and injures the skin. Before combing, moisten the coat with oil or a special conditioner.
Once every two weeks, the pet needs to cut its claws, wash its eyes and ears three times a month, and brush its teeth twice a week. The content of the representative of this breed involves the organization of active walks. Such a pet is not suitable for people who devote a lot of time to work. Shiba Inu have a need for active physical exercise and new experiences. If this dog is left locked in the house for a long time, it will become aggressive, will be nervous and will cease to obey.
Nutrition
Malnutrition can lead to stunted growth and development because the dog needs nutrients, especially during periods of active growth. Shiba Inu diet should include cereals, meat, dairy products, vegetables. Up to six months, the dog is fed 4-5 times a day. After that, the animal is transferred to two meals a day.
For this breed, natural food is preferable to ready-made dry food. But if you do not have time, you can use ready-made compositions. The veterinarian usually recommends the most preferred brand, although more often the owners choose it by trial. Pay attention to the composition of the feed: it should not contain soy, and the amount of protein should be increased. Avoid feed with preservatives, as well as products made using offal. Breeders recommend the feed "Grandorf", "Monge", "Eucanuba."
Shiba Inu puppy: price
It is necessary to get a puppy of this breed from breeders with a good reputation. Even better if the dog is purchased in a specialized kennel. Those today are available in many large cities.
For example, in Moscow this is the Akatsuki nursery. Here you can buy purebred puppies of this breed for the price of 500 dollars. In St. Petersburg, the cost of puppies is higher - from 700 dollars. In regions, prices are lower.
Shiba Inu: owner reviews
Many owners are happy to have a smiling dog. This is a very neat, active, energetic animal, loving active walks. Most owners confirm that Shiba Inu is a smart companion. However, such a pet should not be given to beginners in dog breeding: it will take a lot of patience and experience to educate it. Many emphasize that self-training for four to five months did not produce any result and had to turn to professional dog handlers for help.