What I've Learned From Owning a Shiba Inu

So on June 8, 2016, my husband (boyfriend at the time) and I were at a pet store so we could just play with a few puppies. We weren't thinking about bringing one home. That is until they brought Lucy out to us. The next day I came home from work and there is this Shiba Inu puppy running up to me and I don't know where it came from. At this point I knew ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about the breed except they were the dogs mostly used in memes because of their face. So the more I researched the breed and the longer that I've had her, I have learned a few things about them. So for those who are thinking about getting a Shiba, give these things a read to see if a Shiba Inu is right for you.

They are fluffy dogs.

One of the things that are obvious about the Shiba Inu is that they are quite fluffy. So if you are a person that is highly allergic to dogs, do not get this dog. Because along with being fluffy, they shed a lot. Luckily, though, Lucy's fur doesn't really require a lot of grooming except a brushing once or twice a week. She's also double-coated so her fur cleans itself and baths are seldom needed. So if you like fluffy dogs, the Shiba can be one of your choices. If you are not a fluffy dog person or if you are allergic to dog fur I wouldn't recommend this dog; the shedding alone will kill you (figuratively, that is).

They are very clean dogs.

One of the things that I love about Lucy is that she is a very clean dog. Literally. Shibas are very very anal about their appearances. They like to keep themselves clean, so they can actually be house trained fast with consistent training, which my husband and I were able to do pretty well and fast. Her fur is double-coated so that's half of the work right there. And also she makes sure it is clean. When I look at her she is literally cleaning herself about 50% of the time. All I have to do is brush her once or twice a week. Literally. And her nails when she lets us cut her nails.

They are stubborn/independent dogs.

One of the downsides of this dog is that they are very stubborn and very independent. Meaning they think they are smarter than you. As I have learned, Shiba Inus are not the easiest dog to train because of their stubborn nature. You have to be experienced in dog training and be consistent with them. Even with excellent training, it still doesn't get rid of their stubborn nature. My husband and I didn't take this seriously, and because of this Lucy runs the household a little bit, but she tends to listen to me more than my husband and I honestly have no clue why. Now she does know basic commands like sit, lay down, get down, but that doesn't mean she listens. Like literally, I yell at her "no," and she just looks at me like I'm stupid. So if you're a first-time dog owner or if you're one of those people who are soft, this is not the dog for you. My husband and I learned that the hard way, but she is still my sweet little angel.

They are the divas of the dog world.

What a Shiba Inu wants is what a Shiba Inu gets. Not kidding. Shiba Inus are not afraid to tell you what they want when they want it. They are almost cat-like in that manner. They don't care what you're doing; if they want attention, they will get attention. If not, you're going to endure a temper tantrum for all ages. Because these dogs talk. If you don't believe me, look it up on YouTube. And when talking doesn't work, they scream. Don't believe me? Look it up on YouTube. There have been multiple times Lucy has thrown a tantrum just because we wouldn't give her a treat or because she didn't want to get her nails cut. But at the same time her tantrums can be absolutely adorable.