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Shiba Inus are a popular breed of dog known for their playful and energetic personalities.
They’re also known for their intelligence and loyalty, making them a popular choice for families and individuals looking for a companion.
But are Shiba Inus protective of their owners and families
Shiba Inus are protective of what they think belongs to them, including their owner. However, their small body size inconveniences them from offering you complete protection from potential threats
Although they’re more alert, Shiba Inus aren’t the best for protection, especially for use as guard dogs.
In this article, we will delve into the topic of Shiba Inu protection and explore whether this breed is known for being protective of their loved ones.
We’ll also discuss the role of training and socialization in shaping a Shiba Inu’s protective instincts, and provide tips for those interested in bringing a Shiba Inu into their home.
Table of Contents
Are Shiba Inus Protective?
Shiba Inus often protect their loved ones and what belongs to them. However, Shibas are not the perfect dogs for protection against intruders.
Shibas are more reliable for alerting you but can’t offer a final line of defence.
Although your Shiba might be protective of their toys and other things, they may not offer absolute protection against intruders. Their small body size inconveniences them from subduing potential threats physically.
That said, don’t confuse your Shibas loyalty with a source of protection. Although they’re loyal and faithful dogs, they’re not capable of offering enough protection.
Shiba Inus are more independent and aloof dogs. Therefore, they might not want to engage with intruders. All your Shiba does when intruders come in is bark for a while and reset to default mode.
However, Shiba Inus are protective of their toys and other things belonging to them. For example, they hardly welcome strangers to their habitat.
Shibas weigh around 17 – 24 lbs. You don’t expect them to fight and win against a 160+ pound person. That said, Shibas aren’t the best dogs for protection.
Are Shiba Inus Protective of Their Owners?
Yes. Shiba Inus are protective of their owners, especially their favourite person.
You may be asking, do Shibas have a favourite person? The answer to your question is a strong yes. Shibas select a favourite person among family members.
Shibas favourite person turns out to be the one who feeds them, takes them for walks, and offers attention to them.
Therefore, Shiba Inus are protective of their owners; however, not against threats as they’re small in size. They also lack interest in fighting intruders. All they do is bark.
So, you don’t have to fault your Shiba for failing to protect your home against intruders; their size favours more companionship rather than protection.
If you’re looking for a protective dog, you might want to consider other options with a muscular body build.
What Makes Shiba Inus Appear Protective?
Several things that might make you think your Shiba is that protective breed includes being protective of their belongings, territorial personality, and general personality.
These three features make people confuse Shibas for protective dog breeds;
- Possessiveness With Their Belongings
- Territorial Personality
- General Personality
What’s more about the traits above;
1. Possessiveness With Their Belongings
Shiba Inus are really protective of what they own, they’re possessive. For example, Shibas are protective of their food and can quickly start a fight if another dog approaches their feeding bowl.
That said, Shibas are on the borderline possessive type. Even when the owner tries to take their food away, they might still growl at them.
When feeding my Shiba, one time, my kid tried to take away the bowl away. The results weren’t friendly. Fur friend was furious and was barking at my child, ready to attack them.
That’s why you shouldn’t leave your Shiba with your children unless they’re good with one another.
2. Territorial Personality
Another thing to note is that Shibas are territorial. As such, they show a lot of protection for their family and belongings.
Generally, Shibas like to keep their area free from strangers. Not only people, but they’re also territorial when other dogs come around.
Therefore, if you own a Shiba with other pets, try to socialize them together. That way, you can make your Shiba accept the other pet in their territory as they don’t like sharing their territory.
3. General Personality
Shiba Inus have a one-of-a-kind personality. They are good with kids and like to play with them. Besides, they know how to play safe with kids without hurting them.
However, kids shouldn’t try to rough house or tease Shiba Inus as they’re sensitive. They quickly change their mood. Therefore, their general personality makes them look and sound protective.
Shibas love attention from their owners but only need it at specific times, not all the time.
Besides being good with their owners, Shibas can be aggressive with strangers. If a stranger walks in the house, they’re alert and will raise their heads immediately before barking at them. Also, they tend to bark more often when they see a stranger.
My little Shiba hates strangers. When my friend came over, my fur friend was clingy and growling all the time he was around.
Therefore, their personality can tempt you to think they’re suitable for protection which isn’t the case.
Can Shiba Inus Be Good Guard Dogs?
Shiba Inus aren’t the best guard dogs, primarily due to their small size, which an intruder can easily handle.
Although you can train a Shiba to be a good guard dog, I doubt their ability to scare away intruders. Shibas have a small body and hardly have a muscular build. Therefore, intruders easily fight them out of the way.
In addition, Shibas have an independent trait. So, they might not show concern when intruders come over to your house. Most Shibas lack interest in attacking intruders.
Therefore, all they’ll do is bark while sleeping on the couch and will hardly wake up to stage an attack. Besides, Shibas were never guarding dogs. They were hunters of birds and small animals.
Protecting you or your home from human intruders isn’t their strong point.
Since they have a small bodies with no muscles, intruders easily manage them. However, some Shibas can be vicious against intruders, but they’re easily put down or hurt. As such, your Shiba will hardly attack someone that could cause them harm.
Read our post on, are Shiba Inus good guard dogs?
Why Are Shiba Inus Not the Best Dogs for Protection?
Shiba Inus aren’t the best dogs for protection due to their lack of strong body build. Shibas lack muscles and a massive body to threaten intruders.
Shibas have a small body and hardly have a strong body build. They aren’t super protective as intruders can easily handle them. If you’re looking for a protective dog, you might want to consider a dog with a greater body build and muscles.
In addition, Shibas are independent and aloof. So, they might not even want to engage an intruder other than barking at them.
Some Shibas only bark while sleeping on the couch and won’t even attack an intruder. That gives the intruder enough time and space to do what they want and leave.
However, if you get a Shiba willing to attack in case there’s an intruder, you’re lucky.
Some Shibas are super aggressive and won’t let an intruder get inside your house. But this happens in rare cases. Most Shibas will only lie on the couch and bark once; thus aren’t perfect for protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is A Shiba Inu a Good Watch Dog?
Shiba Inus can be good watchdogs since they’re alert and pick on movements from a distance.
When they see a stranger, Shibas alert you using a sharp bark. They can bark once or severally. However, Shibas aren’t the dog breeds to bark all the time they see strangers.
Are Shiba Inus Good Guard Dogs?
Shiba Inus aren’t good guard dogs since they lack a muscular body build to attack intruders.
Although Shibas tend to be aggressive, they’re not good guard dogs. Besides, they’re independent and will hardly attack an intruder. They can even lie on the couch when intruders break into your house.
Will A Shiba Inu Protect You?
Shiba Inus aren’t exactly perfect at protecting their owners because they are a small breed. Therefore, they might offer a standoffish reaction in case you’re in danger.
By standoffish, I mean your Shiba might just stand there and do nothing when someone is messing with you. The best they can do is bark, but hardly will your Shiba attack to protect you.
Are Shiba Inus Aggressive?
Yes, Shiba Inus are aggressive, especially towards other dogs. Moreover, they’re also aggressive to humans as well.
Shiba Inus show aggression to new people but are unlikely to attack them. The best they do is bark at them for some time.
Is It Worth Getting a Shiba Inu?
It is entirely worth it to get yourself a Shiba Inu as they have a one-of-a-kind personality with a beautiful fluffy appearance.
Shiba Inus’s foxlike appearance makes them appealing and good-looking. As such, Shibas are worth your money.
But before getting a Shiba, do enough research about this breed and learn about their perks. They can be a little stubborn and nagging to new owners.
The Wrap Up On, Are Shiba Inus Protective
Shiba Inus aren’t the best protective breeds out there but seemingly offer considerable protection to their owners.
Moreover, they’re more protective of everything they think belongs to them, including food, toys, and space. Knowing how to set boundaries between your Shiba and loved ones is essential.
Besides, Shiba Inus aren’t the best dogs for home protection. You don’t expect a Shiba weighing 20 lbs. to fight a 160+ pound person. They’re not strong enough to scare away intruders.
Therefore, if you’re after a protective dog breed for your home, you might consider the likes of a Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Akita, and Doberman Pinscher, among other strong dog breeds.
Shiba Inus are more companion dogs than protection dogs.