Everyone wants to get a pet that is original and unique and different, something that they can talk proudly about to other pet owners. Something with distinction. You cannot get anything with more distinction and uniqueness than a pet that originates from Japan. There are six overall distinct and original dog breeds from Japan and the Shiba Inu is one of them. This dog was originally bred for hunting and is similar in appearance to the well-known Akita. Shiba Inu training is a vital part of owning one of these distinct and beautiful dogs as they can be stubborn as well as intelligent.

The name “Inu” literally means “dog” in Japanese and the prefix “Shiba” can either mean “small” or “shrub” since this dog was bred to hunt in wild shrubs. As a result, Shiba Inu is sometimes translated as “Little Brushwood Dog”. These dogs are generally independant as well as intelligent, and some owners can struggle with Shiba Inu training as a result, but, just as with any dog, socialization from a young age can help with temperament. Shiba Inu’s may often misbehave in order to get their owners attention, so correction for misbehavior should be impersonal and eye contact and touching should be avoided.

When you begin your Shiba Inu training, the first thing you should remember is to not set yourself up for failure. For instance, do not command your dog to complete something that you know it is not able to do, or if you are not willing to wait for however long it takes for them to understand. You should also expect your Shiba Inu to sometimes challenge you and your training. Your mindset should always be one of victory, view the challenges as your dog’s way of questioning you. Be consistent.

To become an overall acceptable and loving part of a household, Shiba Inu training should include some type of obedience class. Do not expect your dog to perform as some of the others might, since these dogs can be very stubborn and have a bit of a “wild” streak to them. Shiba Inus are “thinking” dogs, and they do not like to be told “what to do” but they also respect the rules and obedience training gives them the foundation for these rules. One thing to remember with these dogs, Shiba Inus love human contact and have the capacity for great affection. When deciding to own one of these dogs, remember that trust is the keyword.