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Are you looking for a friendly dog breed? Everyone’s wish when looking to own a pet dog is one that’s friendly and playful. I bet you have come across someone that says Shiba Inus aren’t friendly.
So, are Shiba Inus friendly?
The answer to this question can be a “Yes” or a “No”; and, for Shibas, it’s more likely to be a “No.” Although Shibas can be friendly, it depends on their personality, the socialization they receive, and what training you give them. They aren’t inherently friendly animals and thus quickly become dog and people aggressive.
Shiba Inus can be your best loyal friend, but they need training and socialization. Stick around to learn more insights on Shiba Inus and how to make your Shiba more friendly.
Table of Contents
Are Shiba Inus Friendly?
Shiba Inus can be friendly and loyal, especially to their owners. However, you should never take advantage of your Shibas friendliness because they’re easily provoked.
No matter how friendly your Shiba Inu behaves, never have complete trust in them as they easily change their attitude. They become aggressive in minutes.
So, understanding your Shibas dos and don’ts is key.
In addition, to understanding your Shiba, training and socialization work wonders. You might want to consider taking your Shiba Inus for obedience training classes. Socialization is also useful, especially with people and other dogs.
That said, don’t let strangers influence your perception of Shibas. Although they’re known to be unfriendly dogs, they have a one-of-a-kind personality.
Also, Shiba Inus can be a little difficult for first-time dog owners. But doing enough research about them helps a lot. Through research, you’ll learn most quirks about Shibas and, perhaps, understand how to handle them.
Are Shiba Inus Good and Friendly with Kids?
Shiba Inus can be good and friendly with kids, but you must introduce them together first. So, don’t leave your Shiba Inus to play near your kids before socializing with them.
This also depends from one Shiba to another. Some Shiba breeds are good to leave around kids and know how to play with them without causing injuries. However, some Shiba Inus breeds aren’t friendly to kids and can easily hurt them.
Therefore, ensure to socialize and train your Shiba before you start trusting them near your kids. Shibas are also quirky around strangers.
But socialization and training help in all these situations. So, if you have children, it’s even more important to train your Shiba to be gentle with them.
Before deciding to own a Shiba, collect all useful information about raising and caring for them. They can be a little difficult, but you’re good to go with the research. You should also have enough experience as a dog owner.
Thankfully, some Shibas are super friendly and good with kids without the training and socialization. However, this rarely happens as it’s their nature to be quirky.
Read our post on, are Shiba Inus good with kids?
Why Are Shiba Inus Not Friendly?
Several reasons limit Shibas from being super friendly from the go. They include;
- Shiba Inus are Bold, Strong-Willed, and Stubborn
- They’re A Sly, Roguish Intelligence
- Shibas Act Like the Evil, Black Spiderman
- Shibas Are Drama Queens
- Have High Dog Royalty
- They Pretend Not to Understand ‘Obedience’
What’s more;
1. Shiba Inus Are Bold, Strong-Willed, and Stubborn
Shiba Inus follow the motto: “Never give up, never surrender.” This attitude makes them less friendly because they know how to pursue their desires.
If you engage one another in a challenge, I can bet you’ll have to quit the challenge. Your Shiba isn’t going to give up anytime soon. Also, they fight back in case they sense a threat.
As such, most Shibas have aggression issues which make them less friendly.
Learn how to turn your Shibas annoying traits against himself. A good example is when your Shiba gets bored. If you ignore them and give them nothing they can react to, they’ll quickly lose interest and move to other things.
I’d accompany that with the quote, “learn how to turn lemons your Shiba gives into lemonade. Otherwise, slice one and squirt it on his muzzle.”
2. They’re A Sly with Roguish Intelligence
Shiba Inus are super intelligent. Thus, they use their brain power to “push your buttons.” This means that Shibas try to push you beyond your boundaries.
A good example is that Shibas like doing what you’re against. Also, if you own one, you might have seen that Shibas try to outsmart their owners.
Shiba Inus high intelligence makes them less interesting as they can manipulate you into doing anything for them.
3. Shibas Act Like the Evil, Black Spiderman
Shibas are capable of great fits of agility. Therefore, they need the training to direct their agility in the right direction.
If you fail to train and socialize with your Shiba, they can become a nuisance and stubborn. Training helps solve all these troubles.
Shibas can use their powers to destroy and cause great havoc around the household. Although, training them helps transform their behaviour.
For example, ever heard that “Shiba Inus are Escape Artists?” That’s very true. They have an evil mind that needs you to control or intervene. You intervene by training and socializing with your fur friend.
4. Shibas Are Drama Queens
Shiba Inus being drama queens isn’t anything new. When they’re unhappy about something, Shibas whine, mope, and act like the world is ending.
This can happen when they wear the harness, which Shibas hardly get along with.
In case your Shiba gets injured or thinks they’re hurt, you’re in for some drama. They’ll begin acting as if they’re close to the death door.
They also get dramatic when small things happen to them, like grass sticking between their teeth.
5. Shiba Inus Have High Dog Royalty
Shiba Inus have high dog royalty which makes them feel independent. They hardly want to come into touch with people unless they feel like it.
Besides, your Shiba Inus doesn’t want you to handle them at given times. They’re against people touching them, like cutting their nails, bathing, or getting a vet examination.
It’s never fun doing these activities. However, your Shiba starts enjoying them after some time, making the experience more relaxing and exciting.
Despite your desensitization efforts, your Shiba might still protest some activities. Therefore, this makes them less friendly.
Shiba Inus like dog royalty a lot. So, they want you to serve them but hardly want to do it in return. It’s their personality, though.
6. They Pretend Not to Understand ‘Obedience’
Shiba Inus are good pretenders. Despite being intelligent dogs, they’ll pretend not to understand or hear you.
Also, Shibas will ignore you, even from a short distance. Therefore, they hardly want to follow your commands at any given time. They like following their inner instincts, which kick in anytime.
They can even bargain with you on something. For example, when your Shiba doesn’t feel like going for a walk, they’ll bargain with you not to do it.
Of importance, aversive training doesn’t work with Shiba Inus. They’re strong-willed and independent dog breeds.
Here is a post we wrote on, are Shiba Inus hard to train?
How To Make Your Shiba Inus Friendly
After getting your first Shiba Inus, you might wonder how to make them friendly to you. Worry not! I got you on that.
There are several strategies to make your Shiba Inus friendly. They include;
- Stay Calm
- Learn How to Communicate with Your Shiba
- Redirect Your Fear and Always Be Confident
Let’s explore each;
1. Stay Calm
Staying calm all the time is critical if you own a Shiba Inu. So, stay calm and consistent during bonding and dog obedience training. That helps garner your Shibas ongoing loyalty, thus boosting the friendship.
Also, when teaching your Shiba Inus about commands, do it softly and authoritatively. If you’re calm, so will your Shiba Inu.
Also, maintain consistency when communicating to your Shiba. Consistency is vital for almost everything you’re teaching your fur friend. You can’t show your Shiba affection today and yell at them tomorrow, learn to be consistent.
2. Learn How to Communicate with Your Shiba
Communication is key when boosting the friendship between you and your Shiba. Remember, only communication helps you tell your Shiba when you’re happy about what they do.
Also, learn what it takes to communicate successfully with your canine friend. Some qualities that you need for successful communication include calmness, consistency, and fairness. These qualities make your Shiba feel secure.
In addition, communicating helps you know what to expect from them and what they can expect from you.
If you have frustration or anger, that confuses your Shiba Inus. They also develop anxiety and stress as well. That breaks the human and dog bond between you and your Shiba.
Learning suitable communication with your Shiba makes everything easier and improves the bond between the two of you.
3. Redirect Your Fear and Always Be Confident
Handling Shiba Inus requires knowledge on how to redirect your fear and anxiety. Since this breed is so strong-willed and stubborn, don’t show them your trepidation.
In addition, your Shiba Inus can easily sense fear and anxiety in you. Therefore, learn to redirect any fear you have and remain confident as you handle your Shiba Inus.
When your Shiba Inus picks up this feeling of fear from you, the bond between the two of you starts to break bit by bit. For your information, fear in you denotes a lack of trust and confidence.
Therefore, learning how to redirect your fears boosts the friendship between you and your canine friend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Shiba Inus Naturally Aggressive?
Yes, Shiba Inus are natural dog and people aggressive. Especially intact females are more aggressive due to their territorial nature.
However, training and socialization make your Shiba a good companion. They eliminate the aggression in your Shiba and make them more friendly.
Are Shibas Violent?
Shibas can be violent, but only when you provoke them. However, they are violent to other dogs and can quickly initiate a fight.
So, stay keen and watchful when taking your Shiba for a walk. Make sure to take charge and control your Shiba if you come across other dogs.
Even with their small body size, Shibas quickly reach and tease other dogs, thus easily starting a fight.
Do Shibas Love Their Owner?
Shiba Inus love and show loyalty to their owners. Moreover, Shibas select a favourite owner among the family members whom they can always trust.
Shiba Inus are companion dogs and tend to show love to those who love them. For example, Shibas love the person who feeds them or takes them for walks.
Do Shiba Inus Bite Their Owners?
Yes, Shiba Inus bites their owners gently as a way of expressing their playful and mischievous personality.
However, if you have toys, you can always give your Shiba to stop this behaviour. Ensure to limit it as early as possible before it gets out of hand.
Do Shiba Inus Like to Cuddle?
Shiba Inus can be good at cuddling; however, they only do it when they feel like it. You can’t trick your Shiba into cuddling.
They’re independent and always want to do what their instincts tell them. So, your Shiba will walk towards you or sleep beside you on the couch when they feel like cuddling.
This rarely happens, but as Shibas continue to age, the more they continue to like cuddling.
Concluding Sentiments on, Are Shiba Inus Friendly?
Shiba Inus can be super friendly dogs but need training and socialization. Ensure to initiate obedience training as early as possible when you get a Shiba Inus.
Shibas are quick to grasp commands as they’re intelligent dogs. However, they are also stubborn when training due to their independent mindset.
You need to learn what it takes to communicate with your Shiba Inus. Afterwards, you can now begin obedience training and socialization. Thankfully, Shiba Inus change their behaviour after socialization and training.
My Shiba became more friendly and less aggressive after years of constant training and socialization.