How To Take Care Of The Shiba Inu
The Shiba Inu is a very gentle dog. It is a bold and very alert animal, with a strong willpower and that can be trusted with closed eyes. He can often be stubborn and would like to decide what to do.
This breed is one of the six native breeds of Japan and is known for being energetic and with a positive attitude.
The Shiba Inu has straight ears and an almost feline agility. It is also a breed that does not cause particular allergies.
Shiba Inu are incredibly loyal and affectionate dogs with family. On the contrary, they suspect and are wary of strangers.
They are not very fond of sharing things, which leads them to always keep an alert attitude.
Sometimes they can show an aggressive attitude by protecting family, food, toys, or the territory. Either way, training can improve this trend.
How to take care of the Shiba Inu?
The Shiba Inu is a breed that sheds a lot of hair. For this reason, during the moulting season it is necessary to brush his fur several times a week, even every day.
If not, once or twice a week should usually be enough.
However, apart from the problem of abundant hair loss, it is an easy dog to keep clean, as it does not tend to get dirty and smells little.
Brushing him, in addition to helping to remove the fallen hair, will help distribute the natural oils present on his skin.
As for the bathroom, it only needs it from time to time, every three or four months, when you deem it necessary.
Bathing them too often can dry out their skin and fur, so don’t overuse them.
Like all dogs, the Shiba Inu also requires cleaning of nails and teeth. It is recommended that you brush your teeth two to three times a week to prevent gum disease and bad breath.
The nails, on the other hand, should be trimmed once or twice a month to prevent injury to the paws.
Training of the Shiba Inu
The Shiba Inu can be a tremendously stubborn dog, so it is recommended that you educate him with a regular grooming routine as soon as possible.
It would be ideal to turn the experience into a pleasant event for him. In this regard, the Shiba Inu must be taught what to expect and how to behave from the beginning, in order to correct any unwanted attitude in time.
This type of training will facilitate the grooming process in the future.
In addition, it is very important to have the Shiba Inu perform daily physical activity, and as often as possible.
Dogs of this breed need to run, play and be active to stay healthy.
Exercise is essential to start training early.
In fact, Shiba Inu are notoriously stubborn and are considered difficult to train, especially puppies, who need a lot of discipline.
Power of the Shiba Inu
The Shiba Inu must follow a balanced diet to live a long and healthy life. As with other dogs, wet natural food is always considered better than dry.
Dry food does more harm than good for the dog in the long run. Choosing a healthier diet for your dog means improving the health of his digestive system.
With raw food the dog will be more satisfied and happy, with shinier coat and healthier organs.
This does not mean that you cannot give Shiba Inu dry food. It is only necessary to take into account a number of characteristics that dry food should have :
- Contain meat as the main source of protein.
- Avoid foods with wheat, corn or soy as the main ingredients (many dogs are allergic to wheat and corn). For carbohydrate sources, potatoes and rice are easier to digest.
- Discard foods with too many “by-products” in the list of ingredients (flour, concentrates …).
- Avoid foods with artificial colors and preservatives.
- Avoid foods with too many filling products.
Shiba Inu puppies have to eat many times throughout the day. You will need to feed them four to five small meals a day.
Depending on the type of food, nutritional value, and calories included, a Shiba Inu puppy must eat at least one bowl of food, spread out throughout the day.
You will also need to give him plenty of water to keep him properly hydrated.
From one year of age, he will only have to eat twice a day. It usually only needs one bowl, although the amount depends on the size, activity level and age of each dog.
If in doubt, it is always best to consult your veterinarian.
