As an owner of a Shiba Inu, you’re probably aware of its tendency to run away. Since Shibas know to behave quite stubbornly from time to time, they require special training lessons that will outwit their minds and keep them occupied. How to train a Shiba Inu not to run away is one of the most important lessons to teach your furry friend. These dogs have strong hunting instincts, so we have to find the right way to restrain their nature.
Shiba Inus are excellent dogs for people who live in apartments, but they also require a lot of freedom. They are very active, love to play with toys or chew on bones. If you have a yard, it’s important to make sure that you keep your Shiba Inu away from poisonous plants as they will sniff and lick anything.
Why do Shiba Inus love to escape?
Shiba Inus are one of 16 basal breeds. They were formed by many breeding generations of wolves that evolved into domestic dog breeds.
We can explain the basal dog breeds as ‘the root’ of modern dog breeds. Shiba Inus are one of the oldest dogs in the world, they originate from Japan, and possess strong hunting instincts. Due to the last fact, they’re also known as great escape artists. They’re very intelligent, and can quickly figure out how to jump over fences, open gates, and doors, and chew their way through wood fences.
Since it can be quite difficult to control their natural instincts, it’s important to tailor their personalities from an early age. It’s the key to getting the best results and living with an obedient pet. As an owner of this dog breed, you won’t be able to walk them unleashed. However, with a few tricks, you can significantly direct your dog’s energy to the right point.
Shiba Inus are independent
If you want a dog who will love to cuddle with you and sit in your lap, then we must tell you that Shibas won’t be a good pick. These fox-like dogs are independent, love to investigate their environment, and always go towards what they want.
How to train a Shiba Inu not to run away with simple tricks?
As long as you’re consistent and you start with obedience lessons from an early age, you can expect your dog to become a well-behaved family member. Since they have wild traits, they can become anxious if we restrain their minds. That’s why it’s essential to teach them certain commands and tricks from the moment they meet new families.
Even though Shibas are small in size, they still require a lot of freedom to satisfy their temperament. They can figure out lessons very quickly, however, you have to find the right motivational tools.
Using dog treats usually works the best, as well as chew and interactive toys. Look for classes that will teach your pet to concentrate on something. Every dog can learn basic commands such as sit, stay, and come. When it comes to Shibas, they’re especially easy to master, so you have to teach them more complex commands such as wait, drop, and heel.
Heel command
This command involves teaching a pet to walk beside your leg. Since Shibas know to be quite dominant, they’ll try to walk in front of you and lead the stroll if you allow them. In this command, your dog needs to keep pace with you and stop walking only when you stop.
Clicker training showed as one of the best methods in teaching a dog heel command. You’ll need a clicker device and a lot of treats to reward your Shiba for obedience. Start walking with your pet next to your leg, make a clicking noise, and then reward him/her with treats. Every time your pooch wants to take the lead or want to walk behind you, you have to stop the walk and wait. Reward your dog as he/she starts to walk again, make a clicking sound and reward him again. The sessions should be repeated daily until your dog masters the command completely.
Drop command
To teach your dog to drop something from his/her mouth, you have to stop the undesirable chewing behavior by telling the word ‘Drop’. Take the snack and immediately reward him/her. Play and practice this command daily, at least 5 times in a row. That’s how your dog will give the best results.
Wait command
The ‘wait command’ tells your Shiba Inu to focus on you. It also includes staying where you are and not trying to escape. This is definitely the most important command to teach your Shiba Inu not to run away. It can also be of great help to prevent your pet from bolting out the door or fence.
For performing this command, you don’t need any special equipment. You just need to have a special bond (a sort of connection) with your dog. When you want to take your Shiba Inu outside, open the door of the house just a little bit. Then, close the door quickly if he wants to quickly run away. Tell your dog the word ‘wait’ and do not open the door until he calms down.
You should repeat this command every day, and you can also perform it several times in a row. Every time you give your Shiba Inu the command, open the door slightly and close it quickly if he lunges forward to get out.
Your Shiba Inu should become able to wait for you until you tell him the word ‘free’ after a few days of practice. Practicing patience is of great importance for your Shiba Inu’s temperament, so make sure you reward him for perseverance.
