Shiba Inu
The Shiba Inu is a breed of hunting dog originally from Japan. Shibas are intelligent and independent dogs with a high level of energy. They have a bold and curious nature. Their strong will can make obedience training more challenging, but patience and perseverance pay off.
Because Shibas are very active, some form of daily exercise is recommended to burn off excess energy. A bored Shiba with too much energy is a recipe for destructive behavior.
Shibas can be very playful. Proper socialization at a young age is very important otherwise aggressive behavior may develop. Early socialization will help develop a good temperament. Because Shibas are curious, it is beneficial expose them to a variety of sights and sounds.
Shibas are clean dogs and will lick themselves much like a cat. This clean nature eases the housebreaking process. However, they generally don't like water so bathing a Shiba may be a struggle.
Shibas come in three varieties of colors:
Red (sesame) and white
Black and tan
White
Shibas also come in a wide range of sizes. In general, males tend to be larger than the females. It is not uncommon to encounter Shibas as small as 12 pounds and as large as 40 pounds. This wide variation may be explained by historic circumstances. After World War II, the breed was in danger of being wiped out in Japan. The decision was made to inter-breed three distinct, remaining bloodlines of the dog in order to ensure the breed's continued survival.
With proper care and training, Shibas make great pets that are playful, loyal and loving.
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