Thinking about getting a Shiba as a family dog but have some questions
Hi there,
Recently our family pup of 20 years (Jack Russell terrier mix) sadly passed away and we’ve all been devastated about the loss. The house feels empty without him and we miss having a dog around. he was a wonderful weirdo who had a lot of funny natural tendencies for a Russell (he would shed fur in the winter and grow fur in the summer, he had a double coat and was way bigger than a normal JRT lol) he was a wonderful boy and I miss him very much.
On to the Shiba Inu part:
We’ve been on the hunt for a pup who we would suit best as the perfect home for & have been going back and forth about certain breeds. Quite a lot of us liked the idea of a Shiba — we had long suspected our Jack Russell mutt had spitz in him due to the stuff mentioned above which made us realise that a Shiba could be a really good fit. Other things we also liked about them:
• They seem kind of hilarious and have lots of personality, which we like.
• They like to play and exercise an amount we think we could meet pretty good
• They seem very clean and not stinky (although it seems that one various between who you ask?)
• A good size for a pup and similar to our late dog.
• they’re super adorable which is not the most important thing but very appreciated <3
But, we really want to make sure we’re doing the right thing & giving the dog the best home possible so I had a few questions/concerns and figured this sub might be able to help us out as I’ve been getting quite varied answers from different sources tbh.
how they are with children? This one is important. I’ve gotten varied answers from reading online and would like a more well rounded answer as it’s kind of a deal breaker issue. I know it’s a lot to do with how you train the dog (and we would make sure to socialise it properly of course) but still it’s a concern as we have two under 8yr olds in the house and their safety is very important to us.
what’s their shedding like? we’re not looking for a hypoallergenic dog (or as much as a dog could be) but just one that sheds less or produces lest dander naturally would be a bonus as we have some moderate allergies in the house, nothing crazy but still.
Is it true they aren’t affectionate? As someone with anxiety & ASD, I would appreciate a cuddly dog that enjoys playing/short walks but likes a cuddle too. I know shiba’s aren’t lap dogs and that’s okay but I have heard they can be quite independent. Just wondered what consensus on this was as I’m seeing quite different answers.
Are they super difficult to train? I’m aware they’re stubborn of course but after our last dog I think we’d like a bit of an easier time and whilst I know they will still take a bit of work I guess I’m asking they would be worse to train than a Russell?? All we want is an easier time than that at least, lol.
Please be super honest if you truly don’t think a Shiba would be the right fit for us, as we don’t want to make a mistake and give a dog the wrong home/put it through any stress. I wouldn’t think any less of them if they didn’t fit any of the criteria mentioned, either way they are still adorable pups!
anyway, thanks for reading as I’m aware it’s kind of a long post, but I figured this sub was the right place to ask/share. Thank you again!
TLDR: getting a Shiba for a large family after the loss of our beloved JRT - wondering if shiba’s are kid friendly, affectionate, difficult to train and if they shed a lot? These are all just questions bar the kid one which is a requirement. Cheers :)