How To Care For A Shiba Inu Dog.Making the decision to adopt a dog involves a responsibility large enough to previously carry out an exhaustive analysis of different factors. One of them, perhaps the most important, is to know in depth the characteristics of the breed. If you intend to welcome a Shiba Inu into your home, you need to discover its characteristics and the care it requires.
How To Care For A Shiba Inu Dog
The Shiba Inu dog is one of the most popular companion dogs in Japan today. Such is its growing popularity that its presence has also expanded to the West and other areas of the world, so it is not strange if you see specimens of this breed in your country. To discover how to care for a Shiba Inu dog , its origin, the characteristics and the care it needs, at oneCOMO we recommend that you continue reading this article.
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Index
- Origin and history of the shiba inu
- Characteristics of the shiba inu
- Shiba Inu Health
- Feeding the shiba inu
- physical activity of the shiba inu
- Shiba Inu Hygiene
- Shiba Inu education and socialization
Origin and history of the shiba inu
Shiba Inu dogs are the closest relative of the Akita Inu. The Shiba Inu is one of the oldest Spitz-type breeds on the planet. Its country of origin is Japan and its presence dates back to the 3rd century BC.
Its name means “small dog”, which is why it is referred to as a small version of the Akita Inu. This is a breed bred to hunt birds, wild boars and other animals in the mountains of Japan. It almost suffered its disappearance during World War II due to air raids and a distemper epidemic.
You may also be interested in this article on What the Akita Inu’s Temperament Is Like .
Characteristics of the shiba inu
The Shiba Inu is a small , robust dog with erect ears, a curled tail and thick fur. On their hair, it can be red, tan, black, sesame or white. They have a particular characteristic called Urajiro: some areas of the fur are white, in this case the cheeks, jaw, snout, abdomen, the inside of the legs and the tail. This breed reaches a height of between 36.5 cm and 39.5 cm. Its weight is around 10 kilos in both males and females.
Regarding the character of the Shiba Inu, it is an affectionate, active and independent dog . He has a very strong hunting instinct and usually patrols the home, alert for any strange presence or noise. For this reason, he tends to be reserved with strangers. This little furry one is playful and excitable with games. He has the shiba cry , that is, a distinctive feature, since it is expressed very sharply when nervous.
Shiba Inu Health
The Shiba Inu is a dog that is usually in good health, but can suffer from some hereditary eye defects . Therefore, at unCOMO we recommend that you perform routine tests on your furry little one to avoid major problems in this regard in the future.
Another health problem related to this breed is hip dysplasia and patella luxation , since they are dogs prone to suffering from these ailments.
Here, we explain how to care for a dog with hip dysplasia .
Feeding the shiba inu
The Shiba Inu’s diet must consist of an adequate distribution of the main nutrients. Meat is the essential source of protein and your diet should also contain foods such as rice and potatoes .
As foods to avoid for this breed, there are soybeans, wheat and corn so as not to run the risk of possible allergic reactions, as well as food intolerances. You must give him food at least twice a day following these feeding guidelines and with his specific food.
physical activity of the shiba inu
The Shiba Inu needs at least one hour of exercise daily . You need to go out for a walk with him two or three times a day so he can channel his energy. If you let him go, make sure he comes to your call because his strong hunting instinct can lead him to be distracted by the presence of some stimuli. Therefore, it is advisable to do physical activity with this dog in fenced and safe places .
Shiba Inu Hygiene
Regarding grooming, it is a very clean dog. The Shiba Inu grooms itself, just as cats usually do. Even so, it is advisable to brush your hair once a week . You should increase this frequency during hair shedding periods.
He also needs to bathe every two months . Keep in mind that it has a thick, inner coat of hair, which retains natural fat. Excessive grooming could remove this natural protection from your skin. Another factor to consider about this little furry dog is that it has a tendency to accumulate weeds . It is advisable to remove them so that a tear stain does not form.
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Shiba Inu education and socialization
It is important to start the socialization process of the Shiba Inu as a puppy , since it is a dog that is usually reserved with strangers. If he socializes from his first months of life, he will interact properly with other people and dogs. If you manage to complete the socialization process correctly, it will be a dog with balanced behavior as an adult. Regarding his education, it is important to start basic obedience, betting on positive reinforcement.
Spend 10 or 15 minutes a day training your Shiba Inu. It will be enough time, since he is an intelligent dog with a great learning capacity. However, you must remain consistent during the educational stage and you must be firm in setting rules such as whether or not to let him get on the couch or bed, his walking and eating times, among others.