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Knowing how Shiba Inus relate with other dogs is useful and keeps you in control. If you’re a Shiba Inu owner or an aspiring one, you might want to know how Shibas relate with other dogs.
For that reason, before you decide to get one, you might want to know this, are Shiba Inus good with other dogs?
Shiba Inus are dominant and get along well with other dogs that aren’t ‘bossy.’ They show aggression toward other dominant dogs that don’t submit. Shiba Inus are bossy with high ego and thus don’t like other dogs. Although, they get along and are playful with some dogs like Siberian Husky, Malamute, and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
Now, let’s explore how Shiba Inus relate to other dogs and the breeds they get along with.
Table of Contents
Are Shiba Inus Good with Other Dogs?
Shiba Inus are dominant dogs and always want to be the pack leader, so they get along well with other dogs that submit to them. They don’t get along well with other alpha dogs.
Shiba Inus are friendly with non “bossy” dog breeds that don’t want to dominate them. They don’t accept being the loser or lesser in whatever situation. If you have a Shiba, you can tell they are hard-headed and always want to take the lead.
Nevertheless, Shiba Inus can learn to be good with every other breed through training and socialization. Training your Shiba Inu suppresses the dominant nature to make him more friendly to other dogs.
In particular, Shiba Inus hardly get along with alpha dogs of other breeds. They have natural hunting instincts that make them stubborn to other alpha breeds and can easily create a fight.
If a dog from a different alpha breed intrudes on your Shibas privacy, such as toys, expect some chaos. But socializing your Shiba helps change the situation.
You can socialize your Shiba Inu using dog playgroups to make him friendly and welcoming to other dog breeds.
Shiba Inu are friendly with other Shibas since they match a lot, including playing energy. So, your take-home here is that Shibas get along well with similar Shiba Inu breeds of either sex; however, it’s not the case with different breed dogs.
Are Shiba Inus Aggressive with Other Dogs?
Shiba Inus are aggressive with other dogs that are ‘bossy,’ alpha, and dominant, meaning they don’t take Shiba as the pack leader.
Therefore, the reaction of a Shiba to a dog from a different breed depends on one key factor. That is, the breeds’ dominant status, whether alpha or beta.
If the dog from another breed isn’t dominant, meaning its dominant status is beta, it’s likely to get along well with Shiba Inus. Whereas, if the other dog has an alpha dominance status, it’s not likely to get along well with a Shiba.
Shiba Inus will become aggressive to any dog breed that fails to acknowledge them as the leader. They even go to the extent of fighting other dogs that are way bigger than them. So, it’s safe to have your Shiba on a leash to avoid awkward situations and fights.
Now, if your Shiba is aggressive with other dogs, that is an easy situation to handle. You should begin socializing your Shiba with other dogs.
If you have a dog psychologist near you, the better. Most of them have yards where you can successfully socialize your Shiba and make him friendly to any other dog.
You might want to read our post on, why are Shiba Inus so aggressive?
Why Does My Shiba Not Like Other Dogs?
There are several reasons why your Shiba Inu doesn’t like other dogs. Some of these reasons include;
- Dominant Character
- Lack of Socialization
- Short Temperament
Let’s explore each reason below;
1. Dominant Character
The primary reason why your Shiba Inu doesn’t get along well with other dogs is because of his dominance. At this point, you already know that Shibas are dominant over other dogs. So, when he meets other alpha dogs that aren’t ready to submit, they don’t get along well.
In fact, Shiba Inus easily start a fight with other alpha dog breeds. However, they are super friendly with other breeds that submit to them and take them as their pack leader.
In addition, Shibas aren’t friendly to other alpha Shibas. They easily start a fight when another alpha Shiba confronts them.
That said, if you’re looking to pet a Shiba with another breed, you know how to go about it. Find a breed that’s ready to submit.
2. Lack of Socialization
Lack of socialization is another reason your Shiba Inu isn’t friendly to other dog breeds. You can easily tell a Shiba that hasn’t been socialized from the behavior.
Socializing your Shiba makes him friendly to other dog breeds. Besides, it makes him less aggressive when he meets other alpha dogs of different breeds. As such, socialization is important to all Shiba owners.
3. Short Temperament
Shiba Inus have a short temperament. Therefore, if your Shiba is around other dogs that hardly submit to him, he’ll become temperamental and can easily initiate a fight.
With the slightest confrontation, Shibas are ready to attack. Therefore, don’t misjudge them for their small bodies; they’re fighters. They don’t care about the other dog’s size; Shibas even fight dogs that are bigger than them.
So, if you’re taking your Shiba for a walk, don’t forget to use a leash if yours hasn’t undergone socialization classes.
What Other Dogs Get Along with Shiba Inus?
If you’re looking for good suggestions of dogs that can be good companions for your Shiba Inu, read on below;
- Alaskan Malamute
- Corgi
- Akitas
- Other Shiba Inus
Let’s see how and why these dog breeds get along well with Shiba Inus.
1. Alaskan Malamute
Alaskan Malamute dog breed is extremely powerful with a loving and loyal character. As such, they like looking upon someone or another dog for friendship.
This makes the breed a good companion for your Shiba since they can play together and show loyalty to one another. Alaskan Malamutes aren’t as dominating and look forward to Shibas as their pack leader. As a result, they’re good friends with Shibas.
2. Corgi
Corgis are the most lively and active dogs and share many character traits with Shiba Inus. Shibas are also active and cheerful, making them friendly to the Corgi dog breed.
In addition, both dogs have a playful personality that keeps them active most of the time. As such, they like playing with one another most of the time. Thankfully, Corgis aren’t as dominant, so they look up to Shibas as their pack leader.
3. Akitas
Shiba Inus and Akitas share their origin and some powerful traits like being playful. As such, they make wonderful pets and hardly confront one another.
Therefore, if you’re looking for a Shiba companion and love Akitas, go for them. Apart from sharing their origin, Shibas and Akitas get along well and hardly engage in fights. Akitas are not dominant dog breeds; thus, can look upon Shibas as the pack leader.
4. Other Shiba Inus
Shiba Inus get along well with other Shiba Inus that don’t have dominating personalities. Therefore, you need to understand your Shibas dominant status.
If your Shiba is dominant, you can look for another Shiba Inu that doesn’t have the dominant status to coexist well. Don’t risk having two dominant Shibas together; they’ll keep causing chaos and being aggressive to one another.
Are Shiba Inus Playful with Other Dogs?
Apart from being dominant dog breeds, Shiba Inus like rough playing other dogs and chase games. Therefore, Shibas like to play with other dog breeds; however, they become aggressive if the other dog is an alpha.
Therefore, Shibas like playing with the beta version of other dog breeds. They want a dog they can rough play with without confrontation. If the other dog attempts to confront them, then a fight will easily come up.
Remember, Shiba Inus have been natural hunters for thousands of years. As a result, if given the right environment to prey on other animals, they’ll do it without boundaries. They also like chasing after other animals, including other dogs.
So, Shibas are playful to other dogs that don’t confront them and accept Shibas to dominate them.
See our post on, are Shiba Inus good apartment dogs?
How To Introduce Your Shiba Inu to Other Dogs?
Shiba Inus don’t like other dogs intruding on their territory. So, if you’re looking to introduce your Shiba to other dogs, use a neutral area or place. Take them both to new areas or yards.
Begin by allowing your Shiba Inu to interact with larger and more lively dogs. Ensure you pick the dog playgroup that likes to play rough like Shibas.
This time, let your Shiba free off-leash. Having him on a leash near other dogs causes anxiety and dissatisfaction. Therefore, let him roam freely in the yard without a leash in the presence of the other dogs.
Don’t rush him if your Shiba is aggressive; keep doing it until he’s free with other dogs in the yard.
After that, take your Shiba for walks with other dogs in playgroups. These can be dog groups of around 4 or 5 dogs. You can consult with a dog psychologist for assistance. However, if you’re doing it at home, dog playgroups comprising three or more dogs can work.
Repeat the walks until your Shiba is free to interact with the other dog before letting them roam freely together at home.
To test if your Shiba is completely free with the other dog, you can try having them feed on different bowls near each other. However, be keen to prevent a fight. Shibas are good at resource guarding hence the need to prevent a fight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Shiba Inus Bite Their Owners?
Shiba Inus can bite their owners but on rare occasions. If your Shiba lacks socialization and training, you’re at risk. You Shiba can become aggressive at any moment and end up biting you.
Not only you, but your Shiba can also easily attack other dogs bigger than him. Therefore, ensure to socialize your Shiba to avoid all these.
Are Shiba Inus Aggressive Towards Humans?
Shiba Inus can easily become aggressive to new human faces. When having visitors come to your place, keep an eye on your Shiba.
Moreover, socializing and training your Shiba prevents frequent human attacks. So, you might want to train your fur friend. Training and socializing your Shiba makes him friendly to humans, other pets, and small children.
Do Shiba Inu and Yorkies get along?
Apart from matching in their small bodies, Shiba Inus and Yorkies get along together. Besides, they become affectionate with their caregiver, thus are a perfect match.
You can train them together as they’re extremely intelligent dog breeds. Therefore, if you’re looking to get a Yorkie as your Shiba companion, feel free to do it. Both parent breeds are intelligent and clever, which makes them compatible.
How Can You Introduce Two Shibas?
Introducing two Shibas shouldn’t be a hard task. Do it simply by letting them know one another as you keep an eye on them.
Give them sufficient time to explore the borders like fences or doorways together until they calm.
Now, introduce a fetch game to make them bond together. This can take a while but exercise patience. Ensure someone is always watching them during the interaction time.
Can Two Female Shiba Inus Live Together?
Two female Shibas might not get along well with each other. Shibas get along well with other Shiba from the opposite sex in most cases.
However, two female Shibas can live together, given that there is a decided pack, not living together on their own.
Conclusion Regarding Shiba Inus with Other Dogs
Shiba Inus hardly relate well with dogs from other breeds that want to dominate them. They are dominant dogs and thus want other dogs to submit to them.
Therefore, Shibas get along well with other dogs that aren’t dominant. Besides, the other dog must be ready to regard Shiba as the pack leader. Your take-home here is that Shibas hardly coexist with other alpha dogs.
If you want a Shiba companion, you should consider the suggestions above. Moreover, get some advice from your vet on the best dog breeds that’ll relate well with your Shiba.
The bottom line is that Shiba Inus aren’t that good with other dominant dogs and have an alpha status.