Shiba Inu Potty Training! How To Go About It

Potty training any pet remains a challenging endeavor for most pet owners. Since Shiba Inus don’t learn how to do their business in the right place by themselves, you may want to learn some potty training tips and tricks.

Although Shiba Inus are naturally clean and tidy, potty training is a necessity you shouldn’t ignore. Besides, being clean and tidy makes them easier to potty train. So, the best way is to use a potty training schedule and remain consistent.

Potty training in Shiba Inu may be a time-consuming task but a necessary one.

That said, this Shiba Inu potty training guide takes you through things you need to know when preparing a Shiba Inu potty training schedule and how to go about it.

When To Start Potty Training a Shiba Inu Puppy

You can start potty training your Shiba Inu puppy as early as 10 – 20 weeks. The age at which you start potty training your Shiba Inus isn’t much of a factor; timing is everything.

It is best to start potty training your Shiba Inu when they start grasping commands. It all depends on your observation and timing.

It is best to potty train your Shiba Inu when they’re still a pup. That improves the chances of your Shiba Inu grasping tricks and commands faster than adult training.

The earlier, the better, as potty training puts your canine friend on a more valuable schedule as they grow older.

In addition, the schedule helps your Shiba Inu gain more control over their bladder and bowel movements.

Now, it’s time we get to the potty-training methods. Here, we’ll cover three potty training methods which include;

1. Schedule & Monitor Method
2. Accident Prevention Method
3. Crate/X-Pen Training Method

What’s more;

Schedule & Monitoring Method

This method comprises five major steps;

• Schedule Feeding
• Introducing Potty Breaks
• Constant Monitoring
• Cleaning Odors
• Increase Time for Pee & Poop Holding

Let’s explore each step below;

Schedule Feeding

Feed your Shiba Inu food and water using a schedule, especially during the first years of development. That way, you can easily predict when they’ll want to go potty.

Mostly, it’s usually one to two hours after eating. For young puppies, they may want to go potty even twice an hour.

Tip, since dogs are inclined to pee in their personal space, take your pup outside instead of using pee pads.

Introduce Potty Breaks

First, I’d like to suggest that you don’t use your bathroom. Instead, teach your canine friend always to do his business outside.

Instead of taking your Shiba Inu for frequent bathroom breaks, take them outside during this time. Monitor your Shiba after eating and drinking.

Teaching your Shiba Inu bathroom breaks is usually hard and confuses your pup. Besides, puppy pads are confusing for dogs and tell them, “Hey, you can piss inside as long as you do it on something.”

When accidents happen, clean them up immediately using a good enzymatic pet odor eliminator. Regular house cleaners hardly eliminate the odor effective, so your dog can still smell it.

Constant Monitoring

Monitor your Shiba Inu closely, especially after feeding and time the breaks based on age. Small pups should go for outside breaks to pee after every 30 minutes to one hour.

Adult dogs can do up to five hours, two times daily. If you’re busy with your schedule, you can consider hiring a dog walker to take your canine friend out at midday if you always come back home late in the evening.

Setting your Shiba up for housebreaking success comes down to your consistency. Crating is a good way to avoid accidents and teach your Shiba Inu how to housebreak. However, ensure you don’t keep them in a crate for long.

Cleaning Odors and Accidents

Cleaning of odors should be done immediately. The longer you take, the more the odor continues to stick, thus making it hard to do away with.

I’ve heard people suggest using the kitchen when teaching your Shiba Inu to potty, as that’s where they place the pee pad. That’s definitely not a good idea.

A pee pad is always wrong and teaches your dog to pee inside. So, opt to take your Shiba Inu outside frequently as you can.

Have a baseline of 5 hours maximum; however, every 1 to 2 hours is better. You should take young dogs outside to do their business an average of 4-6 times.

However, adult Shiba Inus are good with 3 times daily. In rare cases, some Shibas can do it once daily, which is good.

Increase The Time for Pee & Poop Holding Gradually

If your Shiba Inu can “hold it” for 3 hours constantly for 3 months, you can adjust the time to 4 or 5 hours.

Young puppies need hourly breaks. Not necessarily hourly breaks; some puppies need to go out twice an hour.

A mature Shiba Inu can do up to 8 hours without a break. Always note that your Shiba Inu needs a break every time you give them food or water, that’s shortly after.

Accident Prevention Method

This method is applicable if you’re always present and can constantly watch your Shiba Inu daily.

It comprises of the following steps below

• Constant Supervision
• Containing Your Shiba Inu If the Above Option Isn’t Possible
• Catchy The Need to Potty
• Take Them to Potty Area
• Positively Reinforce Potty Habits

What’s more;

Constant Supervision

You need to supervise your Shiba Inu and track their movements indoors closely. You can keep him in the same room as you.

Constant supervision helps you determine when to take your Shiba Inu outside. However, if you cannot offer such supervision, you can opt to contain your Shiba Inu.

Containing your Shiba Inu takes us to the next step.

Containing Your Shiba Inu If Supervision Isn’t Possible

If you can’t supervise your Shiba Inu, contain them in the crate. You should ensure that your Shibas crate has a favorite blanket if you use it to contain them.

A blanket helps them enjoy their stay there and not feel like you’re punishing them. Also, you can have a toy in there, assuming the crate is big enough.

Most Shibas like the idea of “denning up.” So, this strategy can be fit for your Shiba. However, make sure the crate is comfortable enough with some toys and a sleeping mat.

Since your Shiba isn’t likely to soil his bed, the crate contains him from going potty as he’s contained.

Catch The Need to Potty

Your Shiba Inu always show signs when they’re pressed. Stay close enough or visit them frequently to catch the need to go potty.

Some things they do when they need to go potty include circling, squatting, or sniffing around. Say a firm “NO”, and don’t shout it out. Don’t startle your Shiba Inu or punish them even if an accident happens.

Now, it’s time to take your Shiba Inu to go potty outside.

Take Them to Potty Area

Take your Shiba Inu to their potty area and let them free. Give them time to do their business before going back to the house.

Also, ensure you take your Shiba Inu to pee immediately after you observe any signs. If you’re creating them at night and they start crying out loud as they whine, they’re more likely pressed.

Take your Shiba Inu out first thing in the morning. If your Shiba Inu can’t hold it until he makes it outside, you can try waking up a little bit earlier.

If they pee successfully, reward them with a favorite treat and praise. It teaches your Shiba Inu that doing his business outside, at that position, is great.

Positively Reinforce Potty Habits

Whenever you’re in the potty area, use the command “GO POTTY” all the time so that they start associating it with peeing.

Keep your Shiba Inu in the pee area until they’re done with whatever it was, whether potting or peeing.

Always have some treats to reward what they do perfectly. Thankfully, Shiba Inus are intelligent and quickly learns new tricks.

Crate Training Method

The crate training method is easy and effective, especially with Shiba Inus, as they can be stubborn and independent.

It basically relies on the presence of a crate when you’re training your Shiba Inu to potty. The following are the steps;

• Crate Your Shiba Inu
• Use An X-Pen
• Take Potty Breaks
• Reward Successful Potty
• Provide Play
• Increase Time Between Breaks

Find out more;

Crate Your Shiba Inu

Have your Shiba Inu in a crate where they can rest comfortably. The crate should be large enough to accommodate your canine friend, plus some toys.

Ensure the crate is comfortable enough. You can check out a small blanket that fits well in there and have them sleep on it.

Shiba Inus adapt well to crates, especially when you start early. Instead of crating your Shiba Inu if they’re still younger, an X-pen works best. This takes us to the next point.

Use An X-Pen

An X-pen works wonders to contain your young Shiba Inu. Besides, they can’t do some destructive behaviors.

You can take your puppy outside every 20 to 30 minutes. The older your puppy grows, the longer they can take before going outside.

Since Shibas don’t want to poo or pee where they’re sleeping, an X-pen works wonders. Besides, when contained, your Shiba Inu puppy won’t nag you with puppy biting as well.

Take Potty Breaks

Now that you have contained your Shiba Inu, you can decide when to take them out. If still young, take them outside every 30 minutes to 1 hour to poo or pee.

Watch for the cues. If your puppy starts sniffing the ground, it’s time to take them outside.

The key thing is to watch your Shiba Inu behavior constantly. They’ll certainly tell you when they need to go outside and do their business.

Body whining is another body cue you can watch. Watch when your Shiba Inu whines at you constantly; that tells you they’d like to do something and maybe peeing or poo.

Reward Successful Potty

Reward your Shiba Inus every time you take them outside, and they go ahead and do their business. It signifies that they did the right thing.

That said, have some treats hidden somewhere where your Shiba Inu won’t smell them. Give a treat if they do it successfully.

Associate successful peeing or poo when you take your Shiba Inu with a treat. With time, your Shiba Inu will start doing it alone in that area.

Provide Play

Although this isn’t a must, you can provide your Shiba Inu with some bit of play before taking them back inside.

That helps them stretch and triggers their bladder and bowel to release any remaining. Therefore, expect your Shiba Inu to pee after play, not necessarily, though.

Increase Time Between Breaks Gradually

Increase the period in which your Shiba Inu remains in the crate gradually. This depends on how your Shiba Inu responds to their bowel movement.

If your Shiba Inu does 3 hours successfully for several days, you can consider increasing the time to 4 or 5 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Shiba Inu Easy to Potty Train?

Shiba Inus are easy to potty train as they don’t like messing around where they sleep.

The crate training method might be the most effective for Shibas. However, an X-Pen is a good substitute when your Shiba Inu is still a puppy.

How Long Does It Take to Potty Train A Shiba Puppy?

Potty training a Shiba Inu puppy can take 2 to 3 months. However, some are easy to potty train and grasp everything in a month.

All that matters is how consistent you are with the training. Consistency is key for your Shiba Inu to learn where and when to potty.

How Long Can Shiba Inu Hold Pee?

Shiba Inu puppies can hold pee for 30 minutes to 1 hour. However, adult Shiba Inus can hold pee for 3 to 5 hours.

In addition, some Shiba Inus can hold pee for 8 hours. This happens in rare cases, though.

Conclusion On Shiba Inu Potty Training

First, accidents must happen when you’re potty training your Shiba Inu. So, always be ready to clean the mess and move on like nothing happened.

You shouldn’t punish your Shiba or lose your cool when your Shiba Inu pees in. However, remember to say a firm “NO” if you’re lucky to catch the act.

Another tip is that ensure you potty train your Shiba Inu when they’re still a pup. Puppies often make mistakes, and that’s normal.

Ensure you build a solid connection with your canine friend throughout the process. Although it may sometimes prove to be hard, it’s always worth it at the end of the day.