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Shiba Inus
If Japanese products have played an important part in your life, you may add another kind of import. But this time, one that eats, sleeps, breathes, walks, runs, plays and protects…yes, Japan's Shiba Inu dog. Shiba Inus closely resemble Akita dogs, another popular breed of this country, except that they are much smaller. In early times, the Shiba Inu dog was used for hunting in the mountainous region of Japan and is one reason why it has such a furry coat and loves being outdoors. In the Japanese language, "Shiba" means "small", while "Inu" stands for "dog". Together, you have Shiba Inu, a dog you'd need to know a lot about, here's why.
Physical features
Shiba Inus fall within the `small dog' category owing to their diminutive size. A full-grown, male Shiba Inu is just 14 � - 16 � ft tall and weighs between 23-25 lbs. A Shiba Inu has a thick, double coat of hair and ranges in color from black and tan to red with black tipped hair. Despite its small size, a Shiba Inu is a muscular dog. Insofar, as their young, Shiba Inu Puppies are fluffy and cute but will lose much of their fur when they reach their teens.
Health and reproduction
Something positive, if you want to buy Shiba Inu for sale or Shiba Inu Puppies for sale is thet they are extremely energetic and this may rightly be perceived as good health but Shiba Inus also have their own health problems and its important to take note of this when making a choice between this breed and others. A major dog health hazard to this breed is `patella laxation' (loose knee caps) but can be corrected with surgery. Other health problems of Shiba Inu dogs include skin allergies, especially those caused by fleas, or consumption of commercially produced dog food. Older Shiba Inus may also be prone to hip dysplasia which can restrict ease of movement and cause them pain. With proper nutrition, veterinary care and comfortable living conditions, a Shiba Inu can have a life span between 13-16 years. In one litter, it can deliver 2-3 Shiba Inu Puppies.
Positive personality traits
A Shiba Inu dog is primarily a highly, independent, loyal and active dog. It is extremely alert at all times and therefore, is an ideal watch dog. Shiba Inus are also bold, fearless and not particularly easy to train or discipline. Additionally, they keep themselves clean and rarely bark. There also a few negative traits, viz., they do not interact well with other dogs, tend to wander or escape, can be destructive around the home, are aggressive with people they aren't familiar with and, most importantly, not particularly fond of children.
Owing to some negative traits, acquired from their ancestral counterparts, and the fact that they are so fiercely, independent and hard to discipline, the Shiba Inu may not, and cannot now be labeled as a good `family' dog. However, like all such dogs, if you catch them young and have lots of patience, a Shiba Inu may just be the dog you're looking for.
Russ 
