Shiba Inu Puppies for Sale

The Mame Shiba is a smaller type bred in Japan, but it is not a recognized size. The AKC, UKC and FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) standards set one height range for each sex, with no separate small size.

Parents of Pawrade Shiba Inus typically weigh 17–30 lb (fathers) and 15–25 lb (mothers). Adult Shiba Inus weigh 18–25 lb.

Some markings do change as a Shiba grows. White patches on a newborn's chest and toes often fade into the urajiro, the pale markings underneath. Many dogs called sesame are really sables, red with some black-tipped hairs mixed in.

A purebred Shiba is small and compact, with small pricked ears, deep-set eyes that slant upward, a thick tail curled over the back and urajiro markings. The coat is a harsh double coat, shown untrimmed.

A Shiba's thick, high-set tail is carried over the back, either in a curl or in a sickle shape.

Males are a little larger, and the AKC standard sets males at 14.5–16.5 in and females at 13.5–15.5 in. Friction with other dogs is most common in intact males.

Both are Japanese spitz breeds, but the Akita is the largest of Japan's native breeds and the Shiba the smallest. Akita males stand 26–28 in at the shoulder, against 14.5–16.5 in for a Shiba male, and the Akita is the more protective of the two.

Shibas are affectionate on their own terms. They are devoted and sensitive to their owners' moods, but most dislike being held down or restrained. Build up handling calmly from puppyhood, and let cuddles happen when your Shiba is in the mood.

Shibas are not heavy barkers. A frustrated, restrained or stressed Shiba may give a loud, high-pitched scream instead, and calm, consistent handling helps.

It depends on the individual dog. Shibas are devoted and sensitive to their owners' moods, but they are independent, often reserved with strangers and dislike restraint.

Shibas do best with older children, and they do well with younger ones they are raised with. Many Shibas guard food and toys, so supervise play and teach children to leave the dog's things alone. Most Shiba Inu breeders on Pawrade socialize their litters with older children before the puppies go home.

It depends on the dog, because Shibas were bred to hunt small game and keep a strong prey drive. Early and ongoing socialization makes the biggest difference, so start while your puppy is young.

A Shiba needs a moderate amount of exercise, up to about an hour a day of walks and play. Sniffing walks, food puzzles and stuffed toys use its hunting instinct and prevent boredom.

A small home suits a Shiba, in town or country, as long as it gets its daily exercise. Shibas are not heavy barkers, though a frustrated Shiba can scream loudly.

Many Shibas will bolt given the chance, because they have wanderlust and a strong prey drive. Reliable recall is uncommon even in well-trained Shibas, so keep yours on a leash or behind a secure fence. Check the yard for gaps and digging routes, and make closing doors a household habit.

A Shiba can spend some time alone with a little preparation. Shibas bore easily and can get into mischief when left alone, so use a crate or pen for a puppy. Food puzzles and stuffed toys help keep a Shiba busy.

Shibas tend to suit experienced, patient owners, because of their independence and stubbornness. If you are new to dogs, plan on puppy classes, early socialization and short, reward-based training from the start.

Short walks and free play suit a growing puppy best. A puppy's growth plates stay soft while it grows, so agree an exercise plan with your vet and skip strenuous exercise until growth is done. Most puppies stop growing in height by 12 months.

Shibas shed a lot, and most heavily once or twice a year, when the undercoat blows. The coat is never trimmed, so regular brushing is how you manage the hair.

A Shiba needs little grooming beyond a weekly brush, and a daily one during a coat blow. Bathe now and then, trim the nails and clean the ears once a week. Shibas keep themselves clean, much like cats.

Shibas learn quickly, but their independence means training takes patience. Short sessions with high-value treats work, while repetitive drills and forceful restraint backfire.

A common rule of thumb is that a puppy can hold its bladder for about as many hours as its age in months. A 3-month-old, for example, can usually wait about 3 hours, and the rule works up to about 9 months to 1 year. A very young puppy still needs a trip outside during the night.

Your Shiba is most likely in adolescence, a normal phase when dogs test boundaries and may seem to forget their training. Adolescence runs from about 6–8 months to about 2 years. Keep training short, consistent and rewarding, keep the leash on outside a fence, and give plenty of exercise for body and mind.

Agility is a favorite, and Shibas also take part in AKC rally, obedience, scent work, tracking and Fast CAT, as well as barn hunt. At home, sniffing games and food puzzles suit their hunting instincts.

Shiba Inu breeders on Pawrade report a typical litter of 4 puppies, usually between 2 and 6.

Most Shiba Inu litters on Pawrade meet children and small dogs before the puppies go home. Breeders report socializing 79% of litters with older children, 79% with small-breed dogs and 65% with younger children. They also report getting litters used to car rides (71%) and loud music or TV (68%). These figures come from what breeders reported for 418 litters.

Check the yard and fence for gaps and digging or climbing routes, and get the household used to closing doors. Set up a crate or pen in a room where the family spends time, and move cords and shoes out of reach. Have chew and puzzle toys ready, and book a vet check for the first few days.

Start right away, because the first 3 months are the most important time for socialization. Puppy classes can begin as early as 7–8 weeks, with healthy classmates, as your vet advises. Keep socializing for life, so your Shiba stays at ease with strangers and other dogs.

Most puppies finish teething by about 6 months, when the adult teeth are in. Baby teeth start to fall out from about 12 weeks, and chewing is strongest in between. Offer a few safe chew toys at a time and rotate them, supervise chewing, and keep cords and shoes out of reach.

Most puppies finish their core vaccine series at about 16 weeks, as your vet advises. Some Shiba puppies react to vaccines, so ask the vet to watch your puppy for 15–20 minutes after each shot. Until the series is complete, keep away from dog parks and other places unknown dogs visit.

A young Shiba puppy eats three meals a day, moving to two at around 4 months, and adults eat twice a day. Keep onion and garlic foods away, because the breed's red blood cells are more easily damaged by them. Adjust the amount to keep your Shiba lean, and ask what your puppy is eating now before it comes home.

The Veterinary Health Report is the record of your Shiba Inu puppy's exam before it goes home. The breeder's licensed vet gives the puppy itself a full hands-on exam to PetPay's standards and writes down what they find. It gives you and your own vet a clear starting point for your puppy's care.

The breeder's licensed veterinarian examines every puppy before it goes home, to PetPay's exam standards. The results are recorded in the puppy's Veterinary Health Report, and a copy travels with your puppy for your records.

The breeder's vet examines the whole puppy and pays close attention to a few things that matter in Shibas. The vet feels both knees to check that the kneecaps stay in place, and checks the bite and the teeth that are present. In a male puppy, the vet also checks whether both testicles have come down, which can happen late in Shibas.

If the vet finds something that could put your puppy at risk during travel, your puppy stays with the breeder until it's resolved. Problems that can be treated before travel are treated by the breeder's licensed vet first. Anything else the vet notes is shared with you.

Puppies grow and change quickly, and their immune systems are still developing, so no single exam can find everything. The Shiba's form of glaucoma, for example, usually starts in middle age, and final hip X-rays are taken at 24 months. The report is a strong early look at your puppy, and your own vet builds on it at every checkup.

Every puppy comes with a health guarantee administered by PetPay, independent of the seller. The terms are on the health guarantee page.

Shiba Inu buyers rate their Pawrade experience 4.8 out of 5 on average, from 333 reviews, and about 88% of those reviews give 5 stars.