How to raise a Japanese Shiba puppy
The method of raising a Shiba depends partly on the owners purpose. Some people want a simple family dog, some may treat it more like a rural yard dog, some may value hunting qualities, and others may hope to produce a show quality animal. Whatever the goal, the first essential step is understanding the Shibas true nature and the way it should present itself.
In terms of character, the Shiba should be bold, strong, good natured, and plain in the best sense of the word. In terms of expression and movement, it should feel sharp, agile, light on its feet, and springy in motion.
These qualities are often said to be the key to judging a good Shiba. Setting heredity aside for a moment, the environment and quality of husbandry still carry enormous responsibility for whether a Shiba grows into a good example of the breed.
So here we focus on some very basic care and management principles.
Feeding from weaning to six months
For puppies still spending their time running to the mother and nursing, there is usually very little to worry about as long as they are not unusually weak or sick. If the mother is healthy, well fed, and able to rest while the puppies sleep beside her and play with one another, the puppies often thrive naturally. Human interference between mother and litter can sometimes create unnecessary problems.
The Shiba mother usually has strong maternal instincts and is generally very capable of raising her litter. Still, because dogs are often kept in kennels, the mothers health needs close attention. The growing puppies depend entirely on her, and as they become heavier and more lively, the nutritional and physical burden on the mother increases. From pregnancy through nursing, the mother may have little rest, and this makes health management especially important.
From the beginning of heat and breeding onward, the owner should pay close attention to the mothers condition so that she enters mating, pregnancy, birth, and lactation in the best possible physical state. The health of the mother and the health of the puppies are closely linked.
At about two weeks of age, the puppies open their eyes and begin to look around at the world. Around twenty days, they become more active and mischievous, following the mother and sometimes even trying to put their heads into her food bowl. At around twenty five days, they may approach the food bowl even if the mother tries to push them away. At that stage, a small amount of dog food mixed with warm broth and a little minced meat can be offered twice a day. If the mother is producing too little milk and the puppies are crying from hunger, feeding can begin slightly earlier.
At about thirty days, many mothers will regurgitate food for the puppies, and the feeding amount can be increased to three times a day. After about forty days, the puppies begin to play with the mother and fight lightly with their littermates. Most of these quarrels happen around food, so feeding should be arranged so that all puppies have equal access. Feeding one by one and then feeding them together often leads to conflict. Once the mother begins to dislike nursing because the puppies are too lively, she can be separated from them during the daytime, and within four or five days the litter is usually fully weaned.
Puppies gradually become more independent each day. At this stage, feeding is often divided into morning, noon, evening, and night, for a total of four meals per day. The quantity should be just enough to make the belly slightly full, while stool quality should be observed to see whether the amount is appropriate. Puppy stool is often a good indicator of health. Soft stool or diarrhea may result from overfeeding, unsuitable food, chills, or even parasites.
By around fifty five days, puppies can usually be separated from their littermates and sent to new homes without major problems. In the same way, people buying a puppy should understand its stage of development and ask clearly about feeding quantity, feeding frequency, and what kinds of food it has been eating.
Is the Japanese Shiba easy to raise?
The Japanese Shiba is generally considered easy to keep. It is intelligent, naturally clean, relatively small, but still has strong guarding instincts. It is loyal to its owner, easy to train, calm and obedient in character, and has a sharp sense of alertness and strong territorial awareness.
Overall, it has many good qualities and suits family life well. The Shiba often likes to stand on slightly elevated places and observe what is happening below. It is alert, independent, physically strong, and agile in movement. In Japan it is one of the most widely kept breeds, making up a very large proportion of pet dogs. It is naturally somewhat reserved with strangers but deeply loyal and affectionate toward those it respects. It may also show aggression toward other dogs at times.
Because the breed values cleanliness, the coat should be brushed often. In summer, some owners bathe the dog about once a week; in autumn, about once every ten days. The Shiba is also energetic and should be taken outside for daily walks or activity. In Japan it has become especially fashionable as a companion dog for women and is now widely loved throughout much of Asia. It also has a good temperament, does not bark excessively, and can serve as a reliable watchdog.