Shiba Inu
Breed Stats
Shiba Inu Puppy Overview
Shiba Inus are an incredibly popular dog breed within Japan, and these dogs have been growing their presence in the United States over recent years. The Shiba Inu was once used as a hunting dog, and these pups are often described as the “cats” of the dog world as they can be highly independent, clean, and stubborn. The fox-like face of the Shiba Inu is a selling point for this dog, and many may be wondering about the best way to add one to their family.
If you are interested in adopting a Shiba Inu puppy, you have two options: adopt from a shelter or Shiba Inu-specific rescue, or purchase your puppy from a Shiba Inu breeder. In many cases, it can be difficult to find this breed in a local shelter or animal rescue as they tend to only come from breeders and are unlikely to be abandoned or surrendered. A Shiba Inu-specific rescue may have older dogs or purebred Shibas that need to be rehomed in their care, but you will need to research if this is an option in your area, and you will most likely end up with an older dog.
If you are set on adding a purebred Shiba Inu puppy to your life, it is likely that only a reputable breeder in your area or one located close to your area can provide you with one. That said, you will need to carefully research breeders and how to care for your Shiba Inu puppy before actually contacting a breeder and putting a deposit down for your future dog.
How to Find Shiba Inu Puppies for Sale?
As you start to look for Shiba Inu puppies for sale, it’s important to look in the right type of places – you will want to avoid websites that can lend themselves to more suspicious puppy breeding operations, such as Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. Backyard breeders and puppy mills often list on these websites, and you should not buy a puppy from these operations, no matter how cheap or convenient it is; backyard breeding and puppy mills often produce dogs with health and behavioral issues, and they do not consider the health or safety of any of the dogs in their care.
You can find Shiba Inu puppies for sale through your vet, trusted pet care professionals (such as a pet sitter or groomer who might have connections), or through online research. Dog Academy provides a very easy and trusted way to find Shiba Inu puppies online, and you can browse through puppies from reputable breeders and sources that always put the safety and health of the dogs first using our puppy search tool.
We recommend staying away from pet stores that sell purebred Shiba Inu puppies as these can also be sources of puppy mill dogs. Many of these animals are poorly cared for, and profit is the focus of these operations, not the health and safety of the dogs or the standards of the Shiba Inu breed.
How to Find a Good Shiba Inu Puppy Breeder?
Looking for a good Shiba Inu puppy breeder doesn’t need to be confusing as long as you keep your eye out for both red and green flags. These indicators can help you ensure that the breeder you purchase a puppy from is adhering to the breed standards and caring for their animals properly. This is important as you want a dog that grows up without a strong tendency to develop health or behavioral issues, and adhering to breed standards helps to ensure that you can more or less predict your Shiba Inu’s adult size and care needs.
Green flags of a reputable breeder include the following:
- Knowledge about the breed, including the breed standard and both the pros and cons of Shiba Inus
- Due diligence in researching those interested in purchasing puppies
- Litters that are not too big and puppies that are not instantly available – most good breeders have waiting lists
- Willingness to show where the parent dogs are being kept
- Availability of paperwork, including details about the parents
- Contract requirements, many of which include clauses about not breeding your Shiba Inu and what to do if you can no longer care for your puppy
Conversely, red flags that indicate a breeder should not be worked with include the following:
- Dogs that are instantly available with little oversight
- No ability to answer your questions about the breed and no knowledge of breed standards
- Prices that are extremely high or extremely low
- No contract requirements, may prefer cash transactions
- Unwilling to discuss the parent dogs, provide paperwork, or show the conditions the dogs live in
Keep in mind that finding a proper breeder for your Shiba Inu puppy and taking the time to ensure you and your breeder are the right match may take several months. It will likely be several months after you sign a contract that your Shiba Inu puppy is available – the immediate availability of dogs can indicate a poor breeding operation.
How Much Does a Shiba Inu Puppy Cost?
Shiba Inu puppies range in price depending on your breeder, your location, and the lineage of the dog you are adopting. On average, you can expect to pay between $1,500 and $3,000 for this breed, give or take about $500. You should be wary, however, of dogs that are much lower than this average or much higher in price, as this could indicate you are supporting a backyard breeder or a puppy mill that is focused entirely on profit.
Shiba Inus For Sale
How to Care for a Shiba Inu Puppy?
Caring for a Shiba Inu puppy properly is key to setting your dog up for success with good manners and encouraging them to be their healthiest and happiest self. It’s essential that your puppy is trained and socialized from a young age as Shiba Inus can be quite stubborn, and they will often ignore their owners to go about things their own way. Introducing training from a young age helps to curb these behaviors somewhat and makes it easier to correct poor behaviors in your dog if they develop them as an adult.
Puppy-proof your home and yard by sealing up cracks and gaps along fencing, making sure doors and windows close tightly, and place baby gates by stairs and in between rooms you wish to keep your Shiba Inu puppy out of. Make sure you remove chewable things from the ground in addition to potentially toxic plants and take the time to set your Shiba Inu up with their own space in your home complete with toys, a bed, and their own food and water bowls.
Your Shiba Inu will need a fair amount of exercise, and you should take them on a couple of walks each day to ensure they meet their exercise needs. You will need to brush your dog daily to remove loose fur, and Shibas are prone to developing anxiety and acting destructively if they are not trained and given the right amount of physical and mental stimulation throughout their days.
Is It a Good Idea to Buy a Shiba Inu Puppy As Your First Dog?
The Shiba Inu is generally not recommended for first-time dog owners. These dogs can be incredibly stubborn, and they need a significant amount of training and firm leadership from within their household to live happy and healthy lives. Individuals who are not experienced with owning dogs may be prone to letting their Shiba Inu do whatever they want or have difficulty training unwanted behaviors out of their dog, leading to a Shiba Inu that thinks they run the household and act out regularly.
That being said, if you are committed to the amount of training, mental stimulation, and patience you will need for a Shiba Inu, you may be able to own them as your first dog. It’s essential to understand the breed and all of their care needs before making this decision, however, to ensure you can provide them with the life they need to thrive.
Buy the Right Shiba Inu Puppy for You
Shiba Inus are distinctive and interesting dogs from Japan, and these pups are quickly gaining popularity within the United States. When it comes to adding a Shiba Inu puppy to your life, it’s important that you understand what it takes to care for this dog and that you research a reputable breeder. A breeder that puts the health and safety of the dogs first not only leads to a Shiba Inu with fewer potential health issues and behavioral issues as they grow up, but it also stops you from supporting practices that actively harm dogs.
And remember, check Dog Academy’s listings of Shiba Inu puppies to find a dog in need of a loving home today!
