cromwell

Dont be fooled, twas all an act! Yeah, I love the little buggers but they can be a pain sometimes. The screaming yodel of welcome can be a bit scary as well . Training them is easy! They learn quickly. They then learn just as quickly how to get around everything you ask. Sit, stay, drop not a problem if you have a treat. No treat, no listening to owner. The high energy level cant be worse than some other breeds. Loki is very placid and quiet(I think he missed that chapter in the breed book ) Fun website that doesn't gloss over the bad points is the one below ;) http://shibainus.ca/tms-in-a-nutshell-or-b...-from-the-past/ Ha, ha, so true!!! My shiba Yoshi will do anything for food, take the food away and it's like you don't exist. I'm a first time dog owner and love my shiba to bits....best decision I ever made. Basic training was a breeze....however, anything more than that you have to be very patient and put a fair bit of time in. He toilet trained himself and always does his business in the same place, so no potential land mines. Rarely barks, only when total strangers pull into the driveway. Loves people but isn't super friendly so doesn't annoy them and is really gentle with my niece and nephew. He has the nick name Mr Personality. People always think he's still a puppy even though he is 3.5 years old. He is a chick magnet, so I no longer let my husband walk him by himself as he gets way too many females coming up to him, LOL!!! My warnings to potential owners would be: don't expect them to be an off-lead dog, they shed heavily once or twice a year (but they don't lose any hair for the remainder of the year which I love!!!), hard to train past the basic sit, down, drop, shake, stay on your mat and roll over, mine hates water (common with shiba's), can be a bit aloof. So basically if you want a dog that you can take off-lead to the beach or take to the park to play fetch, a Shiba is probably not the dog for you. In human terms I'd call a lab a blokey bloke and a shiba a metrosexual!!!!

Have to be careful with some of that Lenard's chicken pet mince. I found that it was quite old and also had some bones in it, fine if feeding raw but you have to be careful cooking up the bones!

Ha, ha!! My Shiba thinks his heartworm tablet is a treat as well!!! I started him on Revolution, but he would scream when you tried to spot it on his skin (sook!). I have changed to Sentinal Spectrum, doesn't cover a couple things that Revolution doesn't, but it does do intestinal worms. Anyway, what I'm saying is Shiba's can be a bit funny if you touch them in funny places (sorry that sounded a bit suss!). If they don't like something chances are there is a simple solution. BTW most of us get heartworm medication from www.pricelesspets.com.au , I have found it to be the cheapest. Food wise my boy has a combo of high quality dry food Advance (can be expensive so something like Supercoat may be ok), Chicken neck, frames, Kangaroos meat (his favourite), sardines, and heaps of bones!

Hi All, Not sure if it has been done previously, but I'm trying to put together a spreadsheet comparing all the different products. I' have to tidy it up a bit, but will post it on hear in a few days for people. I am also trying to include a bit of a cost comparison from different sources. Once posted I'll need a bit of feedback regarding products as I have just pulled it off different websites. I have been using Revolution for my dog, but he hates the spot application. He will eat a tablet out of your hand anytime!!!! P.S. If this has already been done, can soumeone post the link!!!!

Hi Lamanna, We have a 12 month Shiba and I can identify with some of your problems Yoshi also does anything you want when you have food, take away the food or praise him instead and he refuses to do it. Very frustrating! He is a bit crazy when he comes inside, we are trying to get him to sit on his mat when inside, but we say he has ADD as he has to smell everything, hunt for socks, jump on the couch when you aren't watching etc. He doesn't bark at other dogs, more of a lover than a fighter. Love to play fetch but never wants to drop the ball and when we does you have to grab it quickly otherwise he will take it again. Walking on a lead is slowly improving. Dog obedience suggested turning and walking the other way when he pulls, or stopping walking completely. But I'm afraid it doesn't work, he doesn't mind stopping and being able to sniff everything around him. I'd be very keen to hear of any suggestions you receive, we love Yosh and he is a very, very funny dog. Always making us laugh, he is never really naughty or destructive, but sometimes its like he is saying 'stuff you, i'm not stupid, as if I am going to do that if you don't give me food' Some things however, I unfortunately have resigned to the fact that Shiba's take more time to train than other breeds as they have such an independent nature. Probably the wrong approach I know, but we are slowly improving. Good Luck, hope to hear about Rico's progress!!!!

We use the old multiple peg trick!!! Towels have 3 pegs, socks 2 etc. Yoshi, gets so frustrated that they don't come off easily he stops doing it

Our little boy does the same thing! I did a bit of reading and talked to a few people at obedience and have found that making a yelping sound (same sound as when you accidently step on their paw) whenever they bite or are about to bite seems to work. If you do it just before they are about to bite they pull back. It is the sound their litter mates would make if they bit them, so they are used to associating it with hurting another dog.