Fun Facts About Shiba Inu

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Shiba Inu is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. This adorable Japanese dog breed is one of the 6 native Japanese dog breeds along with Akita Inu, Kishu Ken, Hokkaido, Shikoku and Kai Ken that are protected by the NIPPO association for preserving Japanese native dog breeds. It is the national dog of Japan and it has a brief history in the western civilizations that began in 1959 when the first Shiba Inu was introduced to the USA. The history of this breed in Japan began about nine thousand years ago.

Here are some of the fun facts you need to know if you have or you are considering getting this particular dog breed.

NIPPO association

The NIPPO association is the most important preserver of this dog breed. It is questionable if this breed would even exist if NIPPO didn’t make sure of it.

Its full name is Nihon Ken Hozonkai (usually abbreviated to Nippo) and it is an association that is dedicated to preserving the Japanese native dog breeds. As we already mentioned it there are 6 breeds that have Japanese origins and they are heavily protected by the Nihon Ken Hozonkai.

They are the keepers of the registry for all 6 dog breeds and they made the breed standard that is still active to this day.

This association was formed and began its noble work in 1928 by Dr. Hirokichi Saito who was also served as their first president. The NIPPO was officially recognized by the State of Japan in 1937.

The Nippo holds one national show in Japan and the show is usually held in the fall. They have around 16.000 members and have around 60.000 new dogs registered every year.

Grooming a Shiba

Taking care of your Shibas coat doesn’t require much effort. They have a thick and dense double coat that requires brushing once every two weeks. Shiba’s have a thick undercoat that guards them against the elements - cold in the winter but also heat in the summer. It is not recommended that you ever shave Shiba’s coat during summer since it will only worsen the heat problem. Their outer coat is coarse and not too long. They usually come in red color.

The most interesting thing about Shiba Inu is that they like to be clean. They have a natural instinct that tells them to clean their coat as much as possible and they hate being muddy or wet. That is good news for everyone who doesn’t like grooming their dog too much and taking too much care of its coat. Shiba Inu does that for you. That means that there is no need to bathe your Shiba as they will take care of their coat themselves.

They shed heavily twice a year and at that time it may become a bit of a bother but daily brushing will help keep shedding in check.

Keep in mind that in the shedding season they will blow all of their undercoats. That is a lot of hair - and we mean really a lot. Be prepared for daily vacuuming since their coat is extremely light and will easily fly all over the place. You can get proper equipment that is best suited for grooming this breed since they are very sensitive about their fur and grooming. Look for slicker brushes, undercoat rakes, de-shedding brushes, and pin brushes and soon enough you will have all the necessary brushes to make their grooming session a peaceful time they will enjoy.

You will need to have a proper technique for brushing since these dogs do not tolerate the smallest amount of pain. They will feel mistreated and the grooming session will be over immediately. At times like that, this breed has a special trade they are known for.

Like we mentioned, taking care of their undercoat will require time and proper tools. The Furminator Grooming Rake will help you with their undercoat, and their deShedding Tool will help keep their coat at its best.

It would also be a good idea to invest in a proper vacuum cleaner. If you hate vacuuming, get the iRobot Roomba that could really save you a lot of time and frustration.

Shiba “scream”

These dogs have a distinctive bark that is known as “Shiba scream”. It is a high-pitched noise that these dogs make when they are not happy or they feel they are being handled in a way that is not good for them. Their scream is not actually a scream in that traditional sense of the word. It is more a sound a disgruntled toddler makes right before crying.

They are very expressive even though they don’t bark a lot. They will let you know how they feel about any activity by blowing air through their nose, grunting, screaming, and howling.

They can also let them scream out when they are happy or surprised. If their owner returns home from work or surprises them they can become vocal and they will let you know how happy they are to see you.

Favorite playtime activities

This dog breed is energetic and playful and since they are intelligent, they enjoy mental activity just as much as they enjoy physical activity. When playing with your dog try to incorporate some of these games to make them feel entertained and happy.

Tug of war

This is a fun activity that you can do with your dog and make them spend their excess energy. Tug toys can be fashioned from an old T-shirt or you can buy a pre-made toy.

Find the treats

Dogs love treats. And this breed is no different. Hide treats around your apartment or house and make your dog work for their treats.

Shell game

This is an easy game that develops the problem-solving capabilities of your dog and will give them plenty of mental stimulation that can keep them entertained for a long period of time.

Gove your dog’s toys names

This breed is intelligent and will love to learn more complex tasks so naming and learning the names of their favorite toys will give even the most intelligent of dogs plenty of mental exhaustion. 

World Dog Finder team