Ruff Housing

As a Shiba Inu, Marou can be very aggressive when excited or startled, which can be fun for people who like to be rough with their dogs or to train them as guard dogs.

The Shiba Inu is not the kind of dog i would care to make into a guard dog, though i do like to do a little rough housing with him from time to time as a reward for good behavior or using the potty outside.

I have to be very careful so as to not get hurt badly or hurt marou in the process, as he is a little guy and he bounces very well.

Josie and I have been pretty diligent about teaching him to calm down when we accidentally get him a little too excited. It's always helpful to have a 'safe command' (to make the dog stop/sit down or lay down) for rough play just in case your pet gets a little too aggressive, especially in larger canines.

Comes in different colors and works wonders for keeping pups occupied

Marou's Day Out

A few months ago we decided that it was time to take marou to his first big social event. The event was called "Bark In The Park", and it was hosted at our local recreational park by a few vendors and charities. There were kiddie pools to keep the dogs cool.

Marou was extremely excited to see all of the other dogs and people. So much so that he relieved himself in the middle of the path. It took him a while, but he got accustomed to all of the action and had a blast meeting other dogs and people.

We also signed a petition to hopefully get a dog park in the area.

Cuddlebug

Shibas are known to be an independent breed, though some are known to be affectionate. Marou can be the biggest cuddlebug i've ever met. He can't stand to be without josie or myself around for even a minute, and if we are in separate rooms, he will run back and forth to check on both of us.

His favorite spots to nap are all right next to Josie and I, and a lot of them are on us. He loves to cuddle up next to Josie when she lays down, and as a puppy he would lay on top of us to nap or just to relax. 

We have no idea why he is so cuddly, but we wouldn't change it for anything.

Maybe he's the 1 in a million.

The Fox and the Toad

One of Marou's favorite outdoor activities is to stalk small animals and bugs. The amusing part is when they stop running away from him and move toward him. I would never think that this 20 lb dog would be startled by a 3 oz toad that is less than 2 inches tall. He will hop like a bunny when startled by even the smallest prey.

After a few minutes of hunting, Marou usually gets bored and goes about his business and proceeds to relieve himself/mark his usual territory.

As amusing as it is to see Marou hunt, Josie and I have to keep a good watch on him because he has already had an intestinal infection from eating/drinking something that he found on the ground.

While the sport is fun, safety must always come first.

Another Day At The Races

Every Shiba Inu owner has heard of the famous "Shiba 500", where the dog will run in circles around a set area as fast as he/she possibly can, and many are fascinated by it and the fact that there hasn't been a confirmed cause for the behavior. Some owners report bowel movements or the presence of treats as triggers, but there has been no definite cause.

Marou's favorite time to run his Shiba 500 is when we return from a prolonged absence or when we get down on the floor with him and play rough. 

He has been known to run his Shiba 500 as many as four times in one day, but his average is only about once a day.

Start Your Engine!

Training Diaries - Verbal Commands

Verbal commands can be some of the simplest training you will ever have with your Shiba. Verbal commands must be strictly enforced to have any success.

First, give the command followed by an example or some assistance if it is a more complicated command. Make sure to reward the pup for the successful completion of the command, and do this every time. This is imperative for successful memory.

Marou, like many Shibas, didn't need much assistance or too many examples due to his intelligence. He has picked up the majority of our commands fairly quickly, though he does still like to ignore us from time to time if it will interrupt his fun.

Next, when you think your pup has learned to do the technique alone, withdraw any assistance and stop giving any examples. Upon successful completion, reward your pup well, and always be sure to do this to emphasize the priority of these commands.

In Marou's case, this was the harder step due to his whimsical nature and reluctance to pay attention for more than a few minutes. 

It may take a little while for your pup to catch on, but after the first couple of commands, it seems to become easier for them to learn new commands. The earlier you start, the quicker and easier this will be and the more receptive you will usually find your pup.

Marou laying on his back waiting for a belly rub

Training Diaries - Potty Training

Potty training is the focus of every puppy owner. Some pups take only a few days or weeks, and some take as long as a few months. I've even heard of some people that were never able to  potty train their pups.

Thankfully Marou is absolutely repulsed by his own waste, so potty training was as simple as taking him outside when he showed any signs of needing to relieve himself. Save for a few incidents and some extenuating circumstances, he doesn't relieve himself inside at all.

The first step was to acquaint Marou with his harness and show him that it was not bad or scary. This was simple: we just fed him a few pieces of kibble or training treats that we had on hand as we put his harness on him. Getting accustomed to it took him a little while, but now he wears it like a natural.

Next, we showed him where the door was and taught him that it leads to outside (where he should relieve himself). This was accomplished by many short trips outside when there was any suspicion that he had to go. He caught on fairly quickly and began to sit by the door when he needed to go. If he needed to get our attention he would paw the door or "speak" to us until we acknowledged him.

Josie did an amazing job teaching him where the door is and how to show us that he wants to go outside.

He's by no means a model citizen, but his compliance with the training has made life so much more pleasant and a whole lot easier.

Breed Introduction - Shiba Inu

The Shiba Inu is not a breed for the faint of heart, as training one can be a nightmare if not done early and correctly. The Shiba needs a strong willed trainer willing to always be stern and confident in his/her decisions.  Like most dogs, they can sense any insecurity or doubt, and they will be openly defiant if any of this is present.

The Shiba is a very mischievous breed, and this often shows, especially when bored.

Not everything about the Shiba is negative or frustrating. The Shiba has a definite "one-of-a-kind" personality that is larger than life.

With their foxy cuteness and "big-cat-in-a-small-dog-body" personality, the Shiba Inu will make a unique and unforgettable companion.

What? I Didn't Do It!