Are Shiba Inus aggressive or friendly dogs is probably one of the most common questions people search on the internet. Widely famous for their distinctive appearance, fluffy coats, and elegant body postures, Shibas take the world by storm. They’re often mixed with foxes and are recognizable for their cat-like natures. Due to all these facts, Shiba Inus are quite different from today’s dog breeds. Since they belong to primitive breeds, it means that we can’t completely prevent them from being independent and acting protective on certain occasions. Here is what do you need to know about Shiba’s aggression and how to prevent them from being aggressive.
Are Shiba Inus aggressive?
Shiba Inus are popular for their great protective abilities. They are also very territorial toward their toys, food, and place for sleeping, so it’s not advisable to touch those items in their vicinity. When we talk about their aggression, we need to note that every dog can be aggressive. However, the key is to find a good balance and correctly train a dog from an early age.
We recommend you buy a Shiba Inu puppy from a reputable and trusted breeder to escape potential behavior problems. If the dog is properly socialized and had interaction with other dogs and people, you shouldn’t be worried about your Shiba’s aggression.
You’re the one who tailors your Shiba Inu’s personality and temperament. It might sound weird but dogs also tend to pick up their owners’ behaviors and nature. They are highly social beings who copy the behavior of their family members. Therefore, you shouldn’t be surprised to see that a dog is anxious, nervous, or aggressive if its owner acts the same.
Are Shiba Inus aggressive toward other dogs?
Male Shibas can behave aggressively toward dogs of the same sex. Most Shibas should not be trusted off leashes because they’re natural hunters and guards. Due to this fact, you should never allow your pet to walk unleashed and to suddenly approach an unknown dog.
Shiba Inus tend to fight for dominance, so two male pooches would not be a good fit to live in the same house. However, this is only a recommendation which in many cases proved to be correct. In the end, all dogs are individuals, so the best tip we can give you is to properly train your Shiba from an early age.
Shiba Inus require to live with strong pack leaders that will prevent them from being dominant. Since these foxy creatures want to take the roles of leaders in their families, they won’t be good picks for inexperienced dog owners.
Are Shiba Inus aggressive toward strangers?
Well, the truth is that they can behave aggressively toward strangers. They’ll act quite suspicious, growl, and bark when they see someone is approaching their home. These are quite common features of this breed because they’ve kept the primitive, ancient characteristics.
Are Shiba Inus aggressive toward kids?
If properly socialized and trained, Shibas will behave very gently toward the youngest family members. The best fit will be to add a Shiba puppy to your family when the child is still small. That’s how they’ll make an unbreakable friendship full of trust and loyalty. However, you should be very careful not to leave your child with a Shiba Inu puppy unsupervised because it will know to respond aggressively if treated without respect. Dogs don’t love to be pulled by the ears, tails, and other body parts.
Rules to keep in mind to live with a properly socialized Shiba Inu:
- Start with training lessons when your pup is 8 weeks old
- Teach your dog to act calmly and confident
- Be careful about your feelings and behavior because dogs can quickly pick them from us
- Allow your pooch to discover the world, meet new people and dogs from an early age. It’s the key to proper socialization.
- Keep your Shiba Inu always on a leash, because they tend to run away no matter they seem loyal.
- Monitor your Shiba and your children when they are together.
- Search for a help of a professional dog trainer if you’re a first-time dog owner.
