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Are Shiba Inus really stubborn and untrainable? This is what a dog trainer says

Shiba Inus have a reputation for being particularly stubborn and headstrong. But is this really the case? Dog trainer Katharina Marioth has a clear opinion on this.
Shiba Inus have a reputation for being particularly stubborn and headstrong. But is this really the case? Dog trainer Katharina Marioth has a clear opinion on this. Photo: Getty Images & Katharina Marioth

October 19, 2024, 11:08 am | Read time: 5 minutes

Shiba Inus are currently enjoying great popularity worldwide. However, the Japanese dogs with the cuddly appearance have a reputation for being particularly difficult. It is said that Shibas are particularly stubborn and rarely bond with people. Dog trainer Katharina Marioth has a clear stance on this issue.

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The term ‘Shiba Inu’ translates to ‘little dog’ in Japanese. However, you shouldn’t be fooled by its cute appearance. Because the Shiba may be small in stature, but it has a big personality! And even if it generally has a pleasant nature, it is by no means a beginner’s dog. Quite the opposite is true. The reputation that precedes the four-legged friend from Japan often describes representatives of this breed as stubborn, independent, and difficult to train.

Some even go so far as to say that this independent breed has more of a cat’s character than a dog’s. PETBOOK spoke with dog trainer Katharina Marioth from the “Stadthundetraining” dog school in Berlin about Shiba Inus, their reputation, and why they are often misunderstood.

“I fundamentally reject the word ‘stubborn’ – for all dogs!”

PETBOOK: Katharina, Shiba Inus are considered to be stubborn and difficult to train. What experience have you had as a dog trainer with this breed?
Katharina Marioth: “This is often the unspoken wish of many owners: to have a dog that is ‘particularly difficult to train.’ There are already two beliefs involved here. ‘I have to show everyone that I can cope with a dog like this’ or ‘He can’t hear at all because the dog is like this and that.’ These are usually two things I come across.

Every dog can learn – it’s an inherent part of their nature. The so-called ‘will-to-please’ is different in many breeds of the so-called original type than in a Labrador Retriever, for example. I have to handle a Shiba Inu a little differently than an American Staffordshire Terrier. But a dog is a dog, and the laws of learning are the same for all of them. Incidentally, I generally reject the word ‘stubborn’ – for all dogs.”

Intrinsic motivation is the quickest way to pick up the Shiba Inu

There are many voices on the internet from owners who complain that their Shiba has hardly any “will-to-please”, is stubborn, hardly shows any affection and is extremely difficult to train. What would you like to say to such owners?
“I would say that at least some of them have looked into the origins of this breed – and that is often the basic problem. I always ask myself why someone has chosen this breed if they don’t like the possible genetic dispositions. Incidentally, this also applies to many other breeds, especially highly specialized ones, whose breed description has simply not been read. The classic: ‘Oh, my Jack Russell Terrier goes hunting – I didn’t really want that!

The quickest way to engage a Shiba Inu is through intrinsic motivation. This means control through freedom, which in turn means time and patience. It’s also commonly overlooked that almost all primitive dog breeds have one fewer muscle around their eyes. This means that the typical ‘puppy look’ with these round eyes is simply not possible because this particular muscle is not present. So you have to ask yourself: is this really a ‘will-to-please,’ or are we simply missing that cute look?”

“This is less about sit, down, heel!”

Is it possible to work on this with good relationship work and good training?
“Yes, but the focus is on bonding work, so a lot of body language orientation and deep, good moments together. It’s less about ‘sit,’ ‘down,’ and ‘heel.’ Leading a Shiba Inu in dummy work and mantrailing is no problem at all. It will usually have less fun in classic obedience. In the end, you have a self-confident hippie at home who enjoys and needs freedom. But this freedom can be well-managed with the right knowledge. The most basic thing is to find out – and this is more a question of character than breed – what motivates my dog. What does he enjoy, and what do I enjoy? We then use that in training.”

Shiba Inus constantly provoke other dogs with their body language

Shibas are said to unconsciously provoke other dogs with their different body language. What do you think?
“Almost all dogs of the original type have this problem. The raised ringed tail, the slightly higher hips, and the rather short neck are seen by many dogs as antagonistic behavior or so-called imposing behavior. In human terms, you could say in very simplified terms: ‘They always walk around in a showy manner.’ That’s why it’s important that dogs are well-socialized. But that always means quality dog contact over quantity.”

What challenges or problems do you see in keeping Shiba dogs? There has been a real boom in this breed for years …
“Unfortunately, dogs of the original type and their smaller relatives are being kept more and more in cities. I don’t want to say that these dogs are unhappy per se. But many Shiba Inus are happier when they have a territory, lots of forests, and space around them, rather than in the big city and possibly as an office dog with 0.0 dog-friendly exercise.

More on the topic

Modern breeds are usually bred at the expense of the dogs

Breeding practices often suffer when a dog breed becomes excessively popular. I wish every day that people would let themselves be guided less by appearance and instead ask themselves honestly: “What do I really want from a dog?” Take a close look at their beliefs and then invest more time in character selection than in appearance.

We recently had a case of a dog being surrendered because it ‘no longer matched the furnishings and style’ after moving house. That is the absolute worst-case scenario. The fact is that dogs are extremely capable of suffering! I’m convinced that many dogs would gladly leave if they could find a home that offered genetic and species-appropriate exercise and living conditions.”

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of PETBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@petbook.de.

Topics dog behavior Interview
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