Shiba Inu: Care And Feeding
The Shiba Inu is generally a very good-natured dog. They are fearless dogs that are usually alert, strong-willed and confident. This means that they usually have their own idea of what to do and how to do it.
This breed is one of the six native breeds of Japan, known for being an energetic breed, with a cheerful attitude, with pricked ears and an almost feline agility. It also stands out for being considered a hypoallergenic breed.
Shiba Inu are incredibly loyal and loving dogs with the family. However, they are suspicious of strangers and often mistrust them. In addition, he is not too fond of sharing, which leads him to maintain a vigilant attitude.
Occasionally, this can make him aggressive in protecting family, food, toys, or territory. In any case, training can improve this trend.
Shiba Inu care
The Shiba Inu is a breed of dog with a thick coat, and consequently, it shed a lot of hair. Very much. Because of this, during the shedding season it is necessary to brush several times a week, even daily. If not, one or two brushings a week is usually enough.
But, despite the shedding problem, it is an easy dog to groom, since it is a naturally clean dog that hardly smells. Brushing, in addition to helping to remove shed hair, will help distribute its natural oils.
As for the bath, the Shiba Inu needs a bath from time to time, every three to four months, when it is observed that the dog needs it. Bathing it in excess will dry out its skin and coat, so it should not be abused.
Like all dogs, the Shiba Inu also requires tooth and nail grooming. Thus, it is advisable to brush the Shiba Inu’s teeth two or three times a week to prevent gum disease and bad breath. The Shiba Inu’s nails should be trimmed once or twice a month to prevent injury to the feet.
As the Shiba Inu can be a tremendously stubborn dog, it is advisable to start a regular grooming routine as soon as possible and make the experience as pleasant as possible. Therefore, the Shiba Inu must be taught what to expect and how to behave from the beginning, in order to properly correct any unwanted behavior, which will facilitate the grooming process for the future.
In addition, it is very important to provide the Shiba Inu with opportunities for physical activity on a daily basis, as often as possible. Dogs of this breed need to run, play and be active to be in good health.
It ‘s also key to start your training early. Shiba Inu puppies generally need discipline. In fact, Shiba Inu are notoriously stubborn and stubborn, and are generally considered to be difficult to train.
Shiba Inu diet
The Shiba Inu requires a nutritionally balanced diet to live a long and healthy life. As with other dogs, raw natural foods are always the healthiest.
Processed foods do much more harm than good in the long run, so choosing a healthier diet means improving the health of your digestive system. Giving him raw dog food will give you a happier dog, with a shinier coat, and healthier skin and organs.
But this does not mean that you cannot give the Shiba Inu dry food. You just have to take into account a series of characteristics that dry food should have :
- The food must have meat as its main source of protein.
- Avoid foods with wheat, corn or soy as the main ingredients (many dogs are allergic to wheat and corn). For carbohydrate sources, potatoes and rice are easier to digest.
- Avoid foods with too many ‘by-products’ in the ingredient list (flour, concentrates…).
- Avoid foods with artificial colors and preservatives.
- Avoid foods with too many filling products.
Shiba Inu puppies need to eat many times during the day. They should be fed four to five small meals a day. Depending on the type of food, the nutritional value and the calories included, a Shiba Inu puppy should eat at least one cup of food a day, distributed throughout the day. You also need to provide him with enough water to stay adequately hydrated.
From one year of age, you should eat only twice a day. He usually needs about a cup of food a day, although the amount depends on the size, activity level and age of each dog. It is best to consult with the vet.
