[stosh]

So I've really fallen in love with the Shiba Inu breed.
I feel that our lifestyle and personalities lend well to the breed.

Here is the one thing that I don't like about the breed. EVERYWHERE I've read about the dog it states that they must be leashed when outside. Part of the reason I want a dog is for the dog to be out in the yard with me, hiking with me, biking with me, and so on. Is this feasable with a leashed dog? Or..... is there another similar dog to a Shiba Inu that doesn't need to be leashed, that I'm missing?

 

[jacksonpt]

biking with a leashed dog - not a good idea
hiking wiht a leashed dog - works pretty well from my experience

 

[MTB_Rob_NC]

Go to the Humane Society. I bet there is a puppy you will equally fall in love with.

 

[peter6061]

Get an Austrailian Cattle Dog. Great for biking (no leash) and one of the smartest dogs around. You'll tire well before he/she does.

 

[BurlyShirley]

Any dog is trainable. Pay no mind.

 

[stosh]

Go to the Humane Society. I bet there is a puppy you will equally fall in love with.

Our human society only has pit bulls and rott weilers.

 

[stosh]

Get an Austrailian Cattle Dog. Great for biking (no leash) and one of the smartest dogs around. You'll tire well before he/she does.

I love any type of "working" dog but I want a dog that is smaller and can live inside a clean house as well.

 

[dogwonder]

My 2 cents.

Get an underground fence and shock color for playing in the yard. Pricey, but damn they work.

Being off leash has a lot to do with training as well as instincts. Max chases things. Cats, squirrel's, deer, people. So we almost never have him off leash. (Plus folks get freaked out about an off leash pit bull). If your dog is a chaser, you may not be able to take it off leash. Training can help but it's tough to break instincts.

I agree with Jacksonpt, hiking isn't bad being on the leash but biking on a leash is tough.

 

[dogwonder]

Our human society only has pit bulls and rott weilers.

SAVE THE PITBULLS!!!

 

[Westy]

One of the ladies here at work has a Shiba Inu. She claims it translates into "devil in a dog suit". Supposedly a great dog when she is at home but the separation anxiety translated into a couch turned into a pile of sawdust. So she crated it, upon returning from work after the first day in the crate the dog had torn most of it's teeth out trying to bite it's way out of the cage. Just rescue a mutt.

 

[stosh]

Any dog is trainable. Pay no mind.

I live in the country but there is a road all the drunk red-necks speed on just thru a small patch of woods in front of our house. I worry about a dog bolting out into the traffic.

 

[stosh]

My 2 cents.

Get an underground fence and shock color for playing in the yard. Pricey, but damn they work.

Being off leash has a lot to do with training as well as instincts. Max chases things. Cats, squirrel's, deer, people. So we almost never have him off leash. (Plus folks get freaked out about an off leash pit bull). If your dog is a chaser, you may not be able to take it off leash. Training can help but it's tough to break instincts.

I agree with Jacksonpt, hiking isn't bad being on the leash but biking on a leash is tough.

Shiba Inu's were used for hunting wild boars in Japan. They like to chase!

 

[BurlyShirley]

I live in the country but there is a road all the drunk red-necks speed on just thru a small patch of woods in front of our house. I worry about a dog bolting out into the traffic.

Kick it if it does that.

 

[stosh]

One of the ladies here at work has a Shiba Inu. She claims it translates into "devil in a dog suit". Supposedly a great dog when she is at home but the separation anxiety translated into a couch turned into a pile of sawdust. So she crated it, upon returning from work after the first day in the crate the dog had torn most of it's teeth out trying to bite it's way out of the cage. Just rescue a mutt.

Well they say they are great for crate training.
Thanks for the tip though, I've been reading a lot and I'm getting conflicted opinions and stories.

 

[jonKranked]

Our human society only has pit bulls and rott weilers.

rott weilers actually make REALLY good trail dogs. same w/ dobermans. i ride with 2 guys and they have one of each (well, one has one, the other guy has the other). VERY friendly, very good on the trails. they are well trained dogs though. THe one day we were building the doberman wandered off. after a few minutes we decided it'd be a good idea to look for him and we found the dog with a groundhog in its jaws being shaken to death.

 

[stosh]

rott weilers actually make REALLY good trail dogs. same w/ dobermans. i ride with 2 guys and they have one of each (well, one has one, the other guy has the other). VERY friendly, very good on the trails. they are well trained dogs though. THe one day we were building the doberman wandered off. after a few minutes we decided it'd be a good idea to look for him and we found the dog with a groundhog in its jaws being shaken to death.

Yeah, I'm not all about bringing my dog out and having him kill things.

 

[dogwonder]

rott weilers actually make REALLY good trail dogs. same w/ dobermans. i ride with 2 guys and they have one of each (well, one has one, the other guy has the other). VERY friendly, very good on the trails. they are well trained dogs though. THe one day we were building the doberman wandered off. after a few minutes we decided it'd be a good idea to look for him and we found the dog with a groundhog in its jaws being shaken to death.

I don't know if chasing animals is unique to dobey's. I was riding once and came across a guy walking his lab who was carrying a dead chipmunk around like a trophy. I think most dogs will chase animals if given the chance.

 

[urbaindk]

Any dog is trainable. Pay no mind.

True.

My dog, does well leashed both hiking and riding. I keep her leashed because she gets kind of wired up by the wild life and I would prefer that she not go off trail to find it. She's part sight hound and I'd probably never see her again. I also do it a courtesy to other trail users. As a third reason, she has a killer instinct towards other dogs and I'd prefer to avoid unpleasantries such as large vet bills.

Take an obedience class and learn to properly walk your dog and you'll have no troubles transferring these skills over to biking. Just keep in mind that you may need to go slower on downhill sections.

The big thing to teach the dog is that it must always stay on the same side of trees as you so as to not get strangled by their leash and jerk you of the bike. Obedience classes will teach the dog to key in to your movements so in someways you'll already have a good start. To teach her to ride, what I did was ride around in very slow circles in my yard weaving in and out of trees, so she got wrapped up a few times. After she did that a few times, I would say "watch out" and either let her wrap herself up again or if successful follow by lots of praise and 'good girls'. Eventually she realized what "watch out" meant and now she always stays on my side of obstacles. Pretty cool.

 

[jonKranked]

hey we didn't peer pressure the dog. he did it all on his own.

 

[Westy]

Well they say they are great for crate training.
Thanks for the tip though, I've been reading a lot and I'm getting conflicted opinions and stories.

Every dog can have a different personality, even within a breed. The problem with some breeds that have a very intense nature is that the individual quirks can be greatly maginified, maybe not the best choice for a first time dog owner. Just guessing this would be your first go-round at have your own dog outside of when living with the parents.

 

[jonKranked]

I don't know if chasing animals is unique to dobey's. I was riding once and came across a guy walking his lab who was carrying a dead chipmunk around like a trophy. I think most dogs will chase animals if given the chance.

oh hell yes. i just mentioned that along with dobey's being good trail dogs b/c its funny. we then put a pancake on the dead groundhog's head. i think DHS has the picture "I have no idea what you're talking about... so here's a dead groundhog with a pancake on its head"

 

[Jeremy R]

Yeah, I'm not all about bringing my dog out and having him kill things.




Shiba Inu's were used for hunting wild boars in Japan.

Maybe they lost all their instincts on the boatride over?

 

[MTB_Rob_NC]

Our human society only has pit bulls and rott weilers.

That isnt necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Silver]

I'm pretty sure Shiba Inus are generally yappy. Might want to make sure you're ok with that.

Having a leashed dog, IMHO, is a responsible thing to do. Not every dog is going to be well trained (and just from eyeballing it, I'd say that 90% of dogs aren't) and even a very well trained dog can have instinct occasionally override training. Are you willing to have your dog get smacked by a car?

Out on trails, away from cars, and well trained? If you're allowed, unleash him. Just make sure you know your dog. A lot of dog owners are like parents...they don't recognize that their wonderful dog is actually an out of control nutcase.

 

[stosh]

Every dog can have a different personality, even within a breed. The problem with some breeds that have a very intense nature is that the individual quirks can be greatly maginified, maybe not the best choice for a first time dog owner. Just guessing this would be your first go-round at have your own dog outside of when living with the parents.

It is and it seems like the Shiba Inu may be the wrong choice from all that I've read.

 

[stosh]

I'm pretty sure Shiba Inus are generally yappy. Might want to make sure you're ok with that.

Having a leashed dog, IMHO, is a responsible thing to do. Not every dog is going to be well trained (and just from eyeballing it, I'd say that 90% of dogs aren't) and even a very well trained dog can have instinct occasionally override training. Are you willing to have your dog get smacked by a car?

Out on trails, away from cars, and well trained? If you're allowed, unleash him. Just make sure you know your dog. A lot of dog owners are like parents...they don't recognize that their wonderful dog is actually an out of control nutcase.

True, this is my first go around so maybe something a little less high maintenance would be good.

 

[Tame Ape]

Oh man, I've been calling Shibu Inu's Akitas! Whoops!

Actually, a lot of people in my nabe have those little guys. But then there is a lady on my block with a Great Dane and an asian couple with a set of Goldens...

I used to frown on the Pitt Bulls, but some of them seem so sweet, attentive and mellow. I would completely consider rescuing one.

 

[dogwonder]

True, this is my first go around so maybe something a little less high maintenance would be good.

and therein leads you to adopt the pit...

 

[BurlyShirley]

Stosh, when all is said and done, the golden or yellow lab will be the easiest to train and manage w/ the best temperment and amount of activeness for just about EVERY outdoorsy person's lifestyle. Maybe a german shephard would be good too, but you cant go wrong with a lab.

 

[Slugman]

Shiba's have a "breed defect" where some are as Westy says - they are timid and suffer enormous separation anxiety.

My QA manager has one; she said that they can behave more like a cat than a dog. Not sure how that translates as far as your expected interaction with it – but just an FYI.

Things to consider about Shiba’s (from my QA manager) - they tend to not be food based when training them. You can’t give them a treat to reward good behavior. If you use physical force to punish for bad behavior – the dog will NOT respond or learn, and will end up a problem animal. She says that they have a memory, and they NEVER forget when you are mean to them (even if you are just trying to train them). As she put it – you have to earn the dogs respect. She does NOT allow her dog off leash, although she does know some people who do when hiking.

Personally, the dog is a reflection of it’s owner – a strong willed human will win over a strong willed dog anyday.

 

[stosh]

and therein leads you to adopt the pit...

Let me put it to you this way, I AM NOT GOING TO ADOPT A PITBULL.

 

[Tame Ape]

Actually, consider the Wheaton Terrier or a smaller Poodle. If you get a curly haired doggy, you won't have to worry about shedding or alergic guests.

 

[jonKranked]

poodles are for kicking.

 

[Ciaran]

It is and it seems like the Shiba Inu may be the wrong choice from all that I've read.

Maybe it's just the wrong choice of dog at the present time. I have always wanted a Great Dane but till recently never had a place large enough for them or the time to spend with them. Now, after years of waiting, I can finally get one! Maybe you can get a dog better suited to your current lifestyle and hold off on the Shiba Inu till a bit later in life.

Let me put it to you this way, I AM NOT GOING TO ADOPT A PITBULL.

Good on you! IMO the breed should be extinguished. (This is my personal opinion. Any flaming from pit lovers will not faze me or change my mind :eviltongu )

 

[Jeremy R]

Actually, consider a smaller Poodle. If you get a curly haired doggy, you won't have to worry about shedding or alergic guests.

or being considered a man.

 

[particle bored]

So I've really fallen in love with the Shiba Inu breed.
I feel that our lifestyle and personalities lend well to the breed.

Here is the one thing that I don't like about the breed. EVERYWHERE I've read about the dog it states that they must be leashed when outside. Part of the reason I want a dog is for the dog to be out in the yard with me, hiking with me, biking with me, and so on. Is this feasable with a leashed dog? Or..... is there another similar dog to a Shiba Inu that doesn't need to be leashed, that I'm missing?

The stubbornness and willfullness of the Hokkaido dogs (of which the Shiba Inu is one) are legendary, as is their fierceness when they feel provoked by other dogs, as is their very strong predatory drive which can cause the death of neighbors' cats, etc.

I would not own a Hokkaido dog because it will be a whole lot more work than most dogs. But if you're truly willing to put in the time required, and follow the leashing cautions, it's probably possible to have fun with one.

There are other dogs of similar size that would be better suited to taking on MTB rides and hikes. Aussie Shepherds come immediately to mind, although they can be about 10-15 lbs heavier than a Shiba Inu.

 

[Westy]

Let me put it to you this way, I AM NOT GOING TO ADOPT A PITBULL.

My pup is part pitbull, and he is great. Loves kitties.

 

[particle bored]

poodles are for kicking.

I'll build the goal posts if you provide the poodle.

 

[Hawkeye]

Let me put it to you this way, I AM NOT GOING TO ADOPT A PITBULL.

Pits need responsible strong owner who will be the Alpha in the relationship and you will never be a true Alpha to a adopted dog. Especially a Pit.

 

[Slugman]

Maybe it's just the wrong choice of dog at the present time. I have always wanted a Great Dane but till recently never had a place large enough for them or the time to spend with them. Now, after years of waiting, I can finally get one! Maybe you can get a dog better suited to your current lifestyle and hold off on the Shiba Inu till a bit later in life.

Good on you! IMO the breed should be extinguished. (This is my personal opinion. Any flaming from pit lovers will not faze me or change my mind :eviltongu )

Yeah but you'll have the Boy Wonder training your dog...