The Shiba Inu is one of the oldest types of spitz. They are very popular in Japan and are gradually getting more popular in the West. They are very loyal to their owners and are perfectly suited to any environment – both city and countryside.
They are very independent, intelligent and strong dogs. Although training does not require a lot of effort, you should spend some time each day in order to achieve good results and to have a great companion.
If you have thought about adopting this breed of dog and you’re wondering how to train a Shiba Inu, keep reading this article.
The character of the Shiba Inu
If you are wondering how to train your Shiba Inu, you should also find out how they behave, because training a dog will depend on their character.
Some of the peculiarities of this breed are their independence and nervousness. As a general rule they are quiet dogs, although they are reluctant to strangers and may bark if someone they don’t know approaches their territory. This shows that they are good watchdogs and protectors.
They can become somewhat naughty if you don’t train them properly. In addition, you must devote time to dog socialization both with other dogs and other people in order to prevent a scary and aggressive dog. Don’t forget that socialisation is critical in every dog’s education.
Always use positive reinforcement
As we discussed, they are not very confident dogs, so the first thing you should do when they get home is show that they can trust you. You can do this by approaching gradually, letting them have their own space. You can also show affection by stroking them and feeding them dog treats. The breed is very loyal and loving and as you win their trust, you will have a faithful companion and protector for life.
Despite showing affection, in order to educate a Shiba Inu properly you must be authoritarian from the outset. The breed is very self-assured and independent, so you must make it clear who rules from the beginning. Of course, this should be done without using violence or force because you can make your dog become aggressive and frightened. Always use positive reinforcement to train your dog.
You will achieve good results by being firm and reasonable with the standards you set. You should reward your dog if they do well. Remember that, rather than using punishment, you must guide your pet into a positive attitude so that they like you.
How to train my Shiba Inu
As a general rule, this breed is not particularly difficult to house train, but you should spend enough time each day doing dog training sessions. They are a very independent breed and tend to ignore their ownersif they are not trained. So, first you should focus on teaching them to recognize their name and the basic order ‘come here‘ so that they don’t escape when let loose.
Once your dog has learned to come when you call them, you can continue with basic obedience commands such as ‘sit’, ‘lie down’, ‘stay’, etc. Gradually increase the difficulty of training.
Socialization is fundamental. Shiba Inus often have a strong character and don’t usually give in to other dogs. So that they don’t become aggressive, you should socialize them and play with other dogs every day so that they get used to their company from a very small age.
In the same way, your dog should get used to the presence of people other than yourself. We have already said that this is a distrustful breed, so if not used to dealing with different people, they can become frightened.
If you’re still wondering how to train your Shiba Inu because you don’t have enough time to teach them, or you don’t know how to do it for various reasons, you can always go to a dog trainer, who will help transform your Shiba Inu into an obedient, balanced and happy dog.
Source: animalwised.com
