Every dog barks as a way to communicate with their world, even you. You may not understand what they are saying, but your Shiba Inu likes to pretend that you do.
They will carry out conversations with you, telling you what they need or want or how they feel. Unfortunately, it is hard to figure out what your furry friend is saying. Thus, you have to rely on their body language, the situation, and more.
This makes it hard for you to help your Shiba Inu when necessary. So if you want to decode their barks and howls, you have come to the right place.
In this article, you will learn the reason behind each vocalization your Shiba Inu makes. By overcoming the language barrier, you can make your bond stronger. After all, your relationship with your Shiba Inu is a two-way street!
Are Shiba Inu Vocal?
True to its cat-like nature, this breed is generally not a nuisance barker. They only make some noise if they feel like something is amiss. Or, they may also do this to tell you how they feel.
One of the joys of owning a Shiba Inu is experiencing how dramatic and comical they can be. Whenever they feel strong emotions, they will express themselves through vocalizing. And they are very good at it, too.
Shiba Inu is even one of the most vocally talented dog breeds you will ever come across. There is nothing special about their vocal cords. But they do know how to use their voice to get heads turning.
They will bark, growl, and howl like other dogs. But to top that off, they will also shriek, yodel, and even scream!
This breed is so famous for its vocalizations that people even made a term for one of them, the “Shiba scream”. Shiba Inu owners can attest to how vocal this breed can be through the many videos on the internet.
Your Shiba Inu can be more outspoken than others by mistake, too. This happens when you respond or reward their vocalizations. This is why you will see many clips of this breed talking with its owners.
With this, you can expect your Shiba to make head-turning vocalizations from time to time. But most of the time, they are a quite furry companion. This is why they also make great apartment dogs.
Why Does My Shiba Inu Talk So Much?
Your Shiba Inu’s talkativeness is their way of communicating with you. They will use their wide array of vocalizations to express themselves and want you to hear them.
This can be a sign of something good, such as an expression of happiness. But it can also be that your furry friend feels anxious or fearful. It can also be that they feel great displeasure about their current situation.
To decode the meaning behind their vocalizations, you need to look into two things. One is their current environment and situation. And another is their body language.
A happy Shiba Inu will vocalize with their tail wagging. You will also get to see the iconic Shiba smile that captured the hearts of many.
Usually, this occurs when they know that you are going to play with them. Or, when they sense that both of you are going to go out on a walk.
This can also happen when you come home after a long day of work. Family is everything to this furry being, and they are happy to finally be with you again. They may not be cuddly like other breeds, but they will show their love for you by “singing”.
On the flip side, vocalizations can also mean something negative. Thus, you should watch out for the signs of an upset Shiba Inu:
- Ears flat against their head
- Nose pointing in one direction and the eyes in another
- Showing the whites of their eyes
- Lip licking
- Tail down
- Avoiding eye contact
All these can mean that your Shiba Inu is afraid or anxious. And there are many reasons why this could happen.
One is that your furry friend is not a fan of strangers, and this triggers their fear. They want the stranger to be as far away from them as possible. And as a warning to them, your Shiba Inu will start vocalizing.
But one of the most common reasons for a Shiba being so noisy is general displeasure. This happens when you handle them too much for their liking. Usually, they will start being a drama queen when you try to groom them.
So if you plan to trim their nails, bathe them, brush their coat, and more, they will scream. They want you to stop what you are doing to them, and they want you to hear them loud and clear.
Are Shiba Inu Quiet Dogs?
By nature, Shiba Inu are quiet dogs compared to other breeds. They will make noise here and there, but they do not always do this. Much of this is due to their long history of working alongside humans.
Before this breed made its way into the homes of many, they worked as hunting dogs. They worked with their owners to catch small game, such as birds. But these dogs were also utilized for larger game, such as boars.
But to become an effective hunter, the Shiba Inu had to learn to be quiet and stealthy. They had to make the slightest noise possible as they creep up behind their prey. Thus, they were trained for centuries to be seldom barkers.
Do All Shiba Inu Bark?
Shiba Inu will bark, but they are not usually a barking breed. Many Shiba owners can attest to this, as they only hear their buddies bark occasionally. In general, this breed only barks whenever they feel appropriate.
The question now is, what does your Shiba Inu find appropriate? Their training from an early age will dictate this. They will only learn what you teach them, and only then will they know what is normal and accepted.
So if you let your Shiba Inu bark at the doorbell when it rings, they will grow up and think that this is normal behavior. As a result, your Shiba Inu may keep barking at the doorbell whenever they hear it.
This can also happen if your buddy barks at strangers, at animals passing by your home, and more. Thus, you need to correct their behavior at an early age. This will let them know the proper barking etiquette.
With this, your Shiba Inu will only be a nuisance barker if you let them be one. You need to take action and get to training while they are still puppies.
It is never too late to train your furry friend, though. You can still train an adult or senior Shiba Inu not to bark. But this will take more of your time and patience.
Teaching your Shiba Inu not to bark will also help you in the long run. When you hear them bark, you will know that they sense danger and not because they see some stranger by the door. This way, you can act right away thanks to their alert.
Other than that, this will also prevent your neighbors from complaining. This breed may not be big, but their barks can be quite loud!
Why Do Shiba Inu Bark at Everything?
There are several reasons why your Shiba Inu barks at everything. It can just be that they are outspoken communicators. Or, this may tell you that they did not get training or socialization.
This is an issue that you should correct, as this can not only affect you. This can also affect every dog and person you meet. Your neighbors will also not appreciate the nonstop barking.
But to correct the issue, you must know the root of the behavior. This way, you can address the issue correctly.
With this, here are the possible reasons why your Shiba Inu seems to bark at everything.
Lack of Socialization
Dogs often fear unfamiliarity, and the same goes for your Shiba Inu. If you did not introduce them well to a variety of stimuli, then they will act out of fear. And most of the time, this fear will push them to bark in an attempt to keep the scary stimuli away.
This is why some dogs will bark at new people, situations, animals, sounds, and even smells. Not only do they not know what to do with them. But they also do not have the confidence to react to these stimuli.
This is why you should introduce your Shiba Inu to as many things as you can while they are puppies. They are most receptive and accepting of anything new while they are still young. And you only have a short window for this because they grow up so fast.
Thus, you need to put a lot of effort into socializing your puppy, and fast. Otherwise, they will grow up to be a big barker, even if nothing is threatening them.
If your Shiba Inu is already an adult, it is not too late to socialize them. Of course, this will take more effort from you because they are already set in their ways. But with consistency, patience, and kindness, your furry friend will get there.
Lack of Training
Whenever your Shiba Inu barks at something or someone, what do you do? Do you let them be? Or do you take this as an opportunity to train them?
What you do whenever they bark will either reinforce or discourage the behavior. This is why you need to be careful in approaching this situation.
If you do not do anything, then your Shiba Inu will think that this is normal. It then becomes a part of their habits, and it can be a hard one to break.
Some dog owners may even reward this behavior without knowing. If you pet your Shiba Inu to calm them down when they bark, they will think of it as a reward. This is your way of letting them know that they are being good, which is what you should avoid.
Excess Energy
This is an energetic breed and they need to let their energy out throughout the day. They do this by running, playing, training, and exercising. But if they cannot do this, they will have so much pent-up energy that they do not know what to do with it.
Your Shiba Inu will find creative ways to use up their energy because they will go mad if they cannot. And one of the things that they can do this is by barking, even if they do not have a good reason to.
Boredom
A Shiba Inu’s intelligence is both a blessing and a curse. It makes them easy to train, if not for their stubbornness. But this also means that they need plenty of mental and physical exercise.
Your Shiba Inu will need an outlet for their energy and intelligence. Some dog owners only focus on physical stimulation. But this does not give a dog enough opportunities to use its mental capacity.
Thus, they can still get bored. This is why you should engage your Shiba Inu with brain games. This not only keeps their minds sharp but is also a great way to drain their energy.
If you cannot provide for these, then your Shiba Inu will look for other ways to pass the time. This can be digging holes in your yard or destroying furniture. But it can also be by barking excessively.
Loneliness
This is not a common trigger for excessive barking in Shiba Inu because they generally do well alone. But your Shiba Inu can still get lonely when you are not around.
This breed may not be the showy type with their affection. But Shiba Inu love their owners so much that they often worry about their humans.
And when you are not at home with them, they may bark a ton. This can be an expression of their displeasure as well.
Anxiety
Unlike you, your Shiba Inu does not have much of an outlet to channel their anxiety. Anxiety can exhibit itself in various ways, and one of them is excessive barking.
So take the time to assess your furry friend’s situation. Anxiety can be due to other people, pets, traveling, or scary stimuli. And you can only fix this if you show your Shiba Inu that these are not something to be afraid of.
Although not common in this breed, many dogs also get separation anxiety. This condition puts them under a great deal of stress whenever you are not around. Thus, they develop excessive and harmful coping mechanisms in your absence.
Communication
Your Shiba Inu can only do so much to communicate with you. They can only do this using their body language and the various sounds that they make.
So their incessant barking may be their way of telling your something.
It can be them telling you that they are happy and excited! This often happens during playtime or when they smell the delicious meal you made them. You can tell this by the wagging tail and the delightful grin they show you.
Or it can be their way of telling you that their dinner is late and they are already hungry. They will stand over their bowl for this and they may also nudge it toward your direction.
Their barking can also mean that they are trying to alert you. It can be the deliveryman ringing the doorbell, but your buddy thought that they should let you know.
Attention-Seeking Behavior
Shiba Inu are smart enough to learn what gets your attention best. And if you always check up on them when they bark, they will keep doing this. So make sure you stay one step ahead of your furry friend or they will outsmart you!
When they do bark due to this, it is best to ignore them. This way, they will learn that barking does not get your attention. So they will look for other less-annoying ways to get your focus onto them.
At What Age Do Shiba Inu Start Barking?
A Shiba Inu puppy will begin to bark once they are around 3 to 7 weeks of age. Each puppy will grow at a different rate. So some may begin to bark earlier, while others a little later.
Do Shiba Inu Grow Out of Barking?
Your Shiba Inu will not grow out of barking because this is a natural and essential behavior for dogs. They bark to communicate their emotions, needs, and wants to those around them. If your furry friend ceases to bark, how else can they talk to you?
Instead of getting rid of the behavior, you should focus on lessening it. This way, your Shiba Inu will learn when they can or cannot bark.
You may even train them in nonverbal ways to communicate with you. Instead of barking to get your attention, they can put their paw on you to communicate.
But all this will depend on how you train your Shiba Inu. They may be smart, but they are also quite stubborn. Still, you should treat them with kindness, otherwise, their mood will turn sour fast.
This breed does not do well if you use aversive training techniques. This includes punishing them, hitting them, and shouting at them. You are not helping your buddy to learn anything, but you are teaching them to fear you.
As a result of this fear, they will not see you the same way again. They may cower at the sight of you. Or they may even turn aggressive toward you.
So make sure to only teach your Shiba Inu using positive reinforcement. This will help them learn faster while fostering a healthy relationship with them. You will also earn their respect for being such a great pack leader!
How Do I Get My Shiba Inu to Stop Barking at Everything?
One way to control your furry friend’s barking is to keep them exercised. This will tire them out so that they do not have the energy for excessive barking. But this does not work for every Shiba Inu, so you should also look into other methods.
Below is a list of other ways to curb your buddy’s barking so that you can find one that works for them.
Proper Socialization
Keep in mind that Shiba Inu is an ancient breed. Because of this, they are less domesticated than other dog breeds. So you have to put extra effort into teaching them.
This is why this breed is shy and wary of people, to begin with. If you do not expose them to a variety of people early on, they can be fearful of strangers.
The same can happen with new experiences, other dogs, and even certain situations. All the fear that your buddy feels can result in excessive barking. It may also bring out aggressive tendencies.
So make sure to take your buddy around with you to experience many things and meet new faces. You can even take them out for errands so they can learn more about the outside world.
The more your Shiba Inu gets to see these, they will learn to accept them as a part of their life. This builds their confidence, so they know how to deal with people, dogs, and other stimuli in the future. Because of this, they will not bark out of fear.
Manage Their Surroundings
If your Shiba Inu barks at home when you are not around, it is time to make some changes in the environment. You need to keep anything that triggers their barking out of sight.
A good way to start this is by closing the curtains before you leave. This way, your Shiba Inu cannot see people passing by. Or, they will not see some animals that bring out the barker in them such as birds or squirrels.
You may also want to remove furniture away from the windows too. They may climb on it and push the curtains away to see any potential triggers.
Tricking them into thinking that you are still at home may work too. You can turn on the TV or leave the radio on while you are away. This mimics the sounds of what they hear whenever you are around.
Capture Calm Behavior
This one is a bit tricky to do, as you will have to keep an eye on your Shiba Inu a lot. What you do here is reward them whenever they remain calm. Shower them with rewards whenever they lie down, sit, or when your buddy is quiet in general.
What you are doing here is teaching them behaviors that you want to see. If you are consistent with this, they will soon learn that being quiet gets them a treat and some praise from you.
The important thing here is to use a high-value treat, something that your Shiba Inu cannot resist. If your furry friend loves the reward, they will keep on showing wanted behaviors to get them.
Give Them the Cold Shoulder
This breed is smart enough to pick up on behaviors that benefit them. So they may learn that barking gets your attention, and you quickly rush to check up on them. By giving them attention whenever they bark, you are rewarding the behavior.
So for their attention-seeking barking, ignore your Shiba Inu. Remain calm, do not react to them, or even look into their eyes.
In time, they will get discouraged from doing this behavior again — it does not work anymore, so there is no point in doing it.
Your Shiba Inu will then look for another way to get your attention. But make sure you teach them one. Otherwise, they may pick up on another unwanted behavior.
The Quiet Command
You can also train your Shiba Inu to be quiet on cue. To train your furry friend for this, you first need to catch them in action. Prepare a high-value treat as well and wait for them to stop barking.
Once they do stop, take out their treat. The smell should catch their attention, stopping the barking even more.
Now say “quiet” and you may also do a hand gesture so they understand better. Give them the treat right away too. Your quick timing is crucial so they can associate the act, command, and treat together.
Keep practicing this until your Shiba Inu understands. Be consistent here, especially with the timing.
You can speed up the training process by triggering your Shiba Inu to bark. So you can ring the doorbell, for example, to start the training right away.
The Distraction Method
When your Shiba Inu barks, divert their focus to something more interesting. It will help if you know what your Shiba Inu loves doing. This can be playing a good game of tug with them or giving them their favorite toy.
This will interrupt their thinking and they will go on to have fun instead.
But it will be better if you establish a routine for this. When your buddy starts to bark, send him to bed where they can play with their toys. When he does, reward your furry friend.
This will encourage your buddy to do their quiet routine instead of being noisy.
Ask for a Different Command
Another way to keep their mind off of barking is by giving them a command that is inconsistent with barking. So when your Shiba Inu barks, ask them to lie down, sit, or go to their bed. It may be better to go for the latter one. This will ask them to move away, so the trigger will be out of their sight. They will move to their safe space, where they feel more comfortable.
Seek an Expert’s Help
If none of these work for your Shiba Inu, it is time to ask for help from a professional. You may visit your vet or you may want to contact a dog behaviorist. These experts are better equipped with handling behavioral issues in dogs.
If your Shiba Inu’s barking is due to a health condition, then only your vet can help. But if they have a clean bill of help, then a dog behaviorist can help you much better.
Do Shiba Inu Bark at Other Dogs?
Your Shiba Inu will bark at dogs, whether they get along with them or not. Keep in mind that barking is one of the ways that your furry friend communicates. And they will bark at other dogs for various reasons.
Clashing Personalities
This is a common issue in Shiba Inu. They have a dominant personality, and so, they do not mix well with other dogs who are the same as them. Your Shiba Inu will want to be on top of the hierarchy, and they will fight even a larger dog for it.
Because of this, your Shiba Inu will bark at another dog to assert its dominance. This is why they do better when paired with a submissive dog.
Showing Excitement and Playfulness
Dogs will also bark as they play with other dogs. This is their way of expressing their intense excitement! If you see your Shiba Inu doing a “play bow”, this is what their barking means.
You may also hear them growl while they play, but this is usually nothing to worry about. This is all part of their way of having fun.
Greeting One Another
Like how you say hello to another person, your furry friend also does this by barking at another dog. They will also do the same to a person that they pass by. You will also see some tail wagging or full-body wagging as they bark.
Showing Anger or Fear
Your furry friend’s voice is one of their greatest weapons. This can serve as a warning to the other dog, telling them to back away. An example of this is when another dog comes too close to your buddy’s favorite toy.
Barks out of fear or anger are usually lower in pitch and they vocalize much longer. You may also hear some growling too.
Signaling Frustration
You may wonder why your usually friendly Shiba Inu barks at another dog passing by. This can be their expression of frustration.
All they want is to greet the other dog up close. But they cannot do this because they are on a leash or behind a fence. Think of this as your buddy throwing a bit of a tantrum. Or, this can also be because the other dog does not reciprocate their energy. Your Shiba Inu may want to play with them, but the other does not want to.
Displaying Territorial Behavior
This breed shows their love for their family by becoming protective of their people and home. This is why your Shiba Inu will bark whenever they sense an intruder nearby, be it a human or a dog.
But this can also occur outside of your home. Anywhere they consider their territory, they will try to protect it. Your Shiba Inu may even consider you as their territory.
So even in a public place, when some dog comes near you, your furry friend will bark. This is their way of keeping another dog, a potential threat, away from their beloved human.
Why Does My Shiba Inu Bark at Big Dogs?
One possible reason why your Shiba Inu barks at bigger dogs is because they fear the other dog. Their voice becomes a weapon against a larger predator. This is your furry friend’s way of maintaining the distance between the two.
Another reason is that the other dog is also as dominant as your Shiba Inu. This is not a submissive breed, and they will fight to become the top dog. Your Shiba Inu will not mind if they are much smaller than the other dog too.
Both are an issue whenever you take your Shiba Inu to dog-filled places. Your buddy may run into trouble with another dog, fighting them to no end. Unfortunately, your Shiba Inu is not likely to win this battle.
Other than that, you might also cause issues with other dog owners. In any scenario, this can spell trouble for you and your pooch.
Thus, you need to provide your Shiba Inu with proper socialization if this is your issue. This will help your furry friend overcome their fear of other dogs. And this will also teach them how to act whenever they see one.
This will take time, but with positive reinforcement, you will eventually get there. Who knows, your Shiba Inu may end up playing with much larger dogs in the future!
How to Stop Shiba Inu Barking at Other Dogs
When your Shiba Inu barks at another dog, you must take control of the situation by remaining calm. Your furry friend can sense your emotions, and they may mirror your anxiety. If they sense your stress, they will bark even more.
Now you have several ways to stop your Shiba Inu from barking at canine friends. But not every method will work for them, so it is best if you have a variety of ways to do this. To help you look for one that works, below is a list of these.
Take an Alternate Walking Route
One of the easiest ways to manage their barking is to avoid other dogs as much as possible. This will be helpful while you are trying to use other methods to train your Shiba Inu too.
Thus, you should take a less busy place for the time being. It may be impossible to totally avoid all dogs on a walk. But if your buddy sees less of them, their unwanted behavior becomes more manageable.
When you do meet a dog, keep calm and remember to take this as a training opportunity. Do not punish your Shiba Inu as this will only confuse or worry them even more.
Keep Walking When You See Another Dog
Some dogs bark at another dog out of fear to increase the distance between them. If this is the case for your Shiba Inu, then continue walking.
Once you see another dog afar walking in your direction, avoid them by going to another. This way, the other dog will not be too close for your furry friend’s comfort. Thus, you do not give your Shiba Inu a chance to bark.
Turn Around and Walk Back
Sometimes, you will get stuck in a situation where your buddy is way too stimulated. You cannot move forward or go in another direction to calm your Shiba Inu. What you need to do then is to turn around and leave.
Do this by grabbing the leash toward your Shiba Inu. Once you get to their shoulder, turn your buddy around using your legs.
If they are on your right, turn them to the right. The same goes if your buddy is on your left. This will motion your Shiba Inu to turn around without pulling on their leash.
Try to talk to them as you are trying to turn them around too. This will help them calm down during the process.
Distract Them With a Fun Command
At home, practice playing a “find it” game with your Shiba Inu. What you do is scatter a handful of treats at home, and command them to “find it”. Your Shiba Inu will then put their nose to work to look for their treats.
Keep doing this until your Shiba Inu goes into scavenging mode whenever you say the command. You can take this fun game on the road, too!
When you see that there is another dog ahead, toss some treats in the grass. Then command your Shiba Inu to find their yummy treats.
This is a great method to try if your Shiba Inu is food-motivated. Their focus will go onto the ground instead of the other dog passing by. Your buddy may not even notice this.
Teach Them to Focus on You
Whenever you catch your Shiba Inu looking at you, give them a verbal cue and a reward after. Once they learn this, you can divert their attention from another dog to you.
The key here is to use a high-value treat so that your Shiba Inu will keep on working for it. Practice this at home and especially on walks to test their obedience.
By doing this, you can capture your furry friend’s attention whenever distractions arise. This will allow the other dog to pass by without any barking.
Teach Them the Quiet Command
When your Shiba Inu barks at another dog, wait for them to stop. Once they do, say “quiet” and give them a high-value treat right away. This will teach your Shiba Inu not to bark a lot and to quiet down whenever you tell them to.
With this method, you are showing them the behavior you want to see whenever they meet another dog. The message is clear here, as long as you are quick with your command and reward.
Counter-Condition Them
When your Shiba Inu barks at another dog, they are responding to a negative emotion that they feel. Oftentimes, it is due to fear, stress, or anxiety. But you can work with your buddy to change how they feel about seeing other dogs.
Whenever your buddy sees another dog and barks, keep on giving him treats. This way, you can remove the negative emotion that they associate with the other dog. Instead, they will have a positive association with them in the form of treats.
Desensitize Them
To do this, you need the help of another dog-owner friend. Meet up in a neutral place, such as a dog park. Having the two dogs meet at home is not the best idea as they may get territorial.
Now have your Shiba Inu on a leash and maintain a good distance between them and the other dog. You should be far enough that your furry friend does not start barking. But near enough for them to see the other dog.
The distance will depend on what your Shiba Inu is comfortable with. Thus, there is some trial and error for their initial position.
When your Shiba Inu looks at the other dog but does not react, give them a high-value treat. Remember to give verbal praise, too, as a cue.
Next, have the other person pass by with their dog. Keep feeding your Shiba Inu as they see the dog inching closer to them. This is not only a continuous reward for their behavior, but it also distracts them from barking.
Remember to move the dogs away when your Shiba Inu starts becoming defensive. This includes growling and rising their hackles. You should only reward them before they begin to bark.
Keep practicing this and then add a verbal cue once they get the hang of it. Say a short word like “look”, and once your buddy looks at you and away from the dog, give them a treat. They should allow the other dog to pass by without barking.
Now you can make things more challenging for your Shiba Inu. This time, you and your buddy should move closer toward the other dog.
Inch toward the other dog slowly by giving your Shiba Inu continuous treats as long as they do not bark. Once they start barking, move back and allow them to calm down. Then, you can repeat the process.
Keep in mind that consistency is key, so keep practicing this with your Shiba Inu.
Why Do Shiba Inu Bark at Strangers?
If your Shiba Inu barks at a stranger, it can be their way of saying a friendly greeting. A well-socialized dog may love meeting new people, so they get excited when they see one! You can tell that your buddy is saying “hi” if their tail wags, they jump, along with other friendly behaviors.
But these are several other reasons why your Shiba Inu barks at other people. It is not always a sign of happiness, it can also be due to trauma, fear, and more.
With this, here are all the possible reasons why your buddy barks at strangers. This knowledge is crucial in trying to correct this unwanted behavior.
They Are Alarming You
This breed is not a big barker, but they are usually alarm barkers. Whenever they spot unfamiliar or unusual people, they want to let you know. New faces send their alarm bells ringing, and your buddy will see them as a potential threat.
And by letting you know about this, you become aware that a stranger is nearby. This is your buddy’s way of helping you take action if there is a need to.
Keep in mind that a Shiba Inu often worries about its owner’s safety. So while this can happen in the comfort of your home, this may also happen in a public place. This attribute is why a Shiba Inu can be a great watchdog.
They Are Being Territorial
As a territorial animal, your Shiba Inu is always on the lookout for invaders. In the wild, having an unfamiliar creature come too near can mean their death. A pet may not need this, but this remnant instinct still lives in domesticated dogs today.
Thus, whenever your Shiba Inu sees a stranger, they assume the role of a defender right away. One way they do this is by barking at the stranger to scare them off.
All this is your furry friend’s attempt to protect their territory. This includes their home and even their loved ones. So even if you are in a public place, your buddy may keep strangers away from their territory, which is you.
This does not mean that your Shiba Inu will be aggressive toward strangers. They often only put up a tough act to widen the distance between the stranger and their territory.
This also doubles as letting their pack know that there is a potential threat nearby. And in this case, your buddy’s pack is you and your family.
They Get Frustrated
If your Shiba Inu is a friendly dog, they will want to greet every person they come across. But this cannot happen all the time, as your buddy may be on a leash or behind a fence. These restrain them, and they get frustrated that they cannot greet someone up close.
And one way for them to channel their frustration is by barking at the stranger. This is easy to confuse for another reason, such as territorial barking. So if your usually friendly pooch barks at a stranger, this may be the case.
But keep in mind that this can also happen without these restrictions. Your Shiba Inu may come up to a person and ask them for some playtime. But if the stranger does not want to, your furry friend may throw a tantrum by barking.
They Lack Proper Socialization
It can also be that your Shiba Inu is not used to strangers, so they do not know how to act around them. A lack of proper socialization makes your furry friend fearful of unfamiliarity. In this case, their fear is due to people that they do not know.
This fear can then push your Shiba Inu to become defensive in an attempt to protect themselves. They will bark to scare the stranger off, not letting the person inch closer to them.
They Have a History of Trauma
You may want to look into your furry friend’s past experiences. If they had a bad experience with strangers, then this can make them nervous around them in the future. This can be hard to determine if your Shiba Inu is a rescue as you may not get a complete picture of their past.
In cases like these, your buddy will become watchful of the stranger’s next move. They never know how the stranger is going to treat them, so they will be wary of their every move.
They Are Taking Your Cues
Dogs are great at sensing your emotions through your body language and the tone of your voice. You may not notice it, but you could be acting anxious or nervous around a stranger. If your Shiba Inu picks up on this, they will do the same.
You are your Shiba Inu’s world, and they do not want you to feel like this. Thus, their barking could be their way of moving the person away from you so that you can calm down.
But if you feel relaxed when interacting with a stranger, your Shiba Inu will also follow suit. So if you are teaching them how to act in front of a stranger, you need to remain calm at all times.
How to Stop Shiba Inu From Barking at Strangers
There are several ways for you to stop your Shiba Inu from barking at strangers. You need to use a combination of these methods, depending on the situation. Some work best for meeting a stranger in public, while other methods are best when used in your home.
With this, the following is a list of methods that you can try.
Ignore Their Barking
Your Shiba Inu should learn that barking does not let them get their way. Thus, you need to ignore their barking so that you do not reward their unwanted behavior.
To teach them this lesson, you need to practice with a friend and have them pose as a stranger. You may start at home and have them over as a visitor.
But before your friend comes over, make sure to let them know what to do. They should not engage with your Shiba Inu or make eye contact with your buddy even if your buddy jumps at them.
Once your Shiba Inu calms down and stops barking, then your friend can reward them with attention. Give them a treat or two as well so they can form a positive association with the stranger.
Keep repeating this process with other friends until your Shiba Inu is comfortable. When they see improvement, you can test them by meeting strangers in the dog park. Never forget to reward them each time they are polite towards a stranger you meet.
Walk Away From the Stranger
If your Shiba Inu does not understand that barking at strangers is not welcome, it is best to walk away. This will teach them that their rowdy behavior will not get rewarded for interaction. Unless they remain quiet, your Shiba Inu cannot get some pets from a friendly stranger.
To do this, turn around and walk in the opposite direction if you see a stranger approaching. This way, Shiba Inu cannot interact with a stranger if they keep on barking. As soon as your furry friend stops barking, give them a high-value treat.
The treat will let them know that being quiet will warrant a reward. Keep practicing this and they will understand that barking does not get them what they want.
Distract Your Shiba Inu
You can also distract your Shiba Inu once they begin to bark. But you should also combine this with a command to tell them to quiet down.
A good way to distract your furry friend is by noise. So jangle your keys, make a silly sound, snap your fingers, or you can even use your clicker. Once your Shiba Inu stops barking and focuses on you, tell them to stop barking.
You may also want to give them a treat once they stop barking. This will help them learn that being quiet will warrant a treat.
Ask Them to Sit Down
If your Shiba Inu does not know how to properly greet a stranger, it is time to teach them how to act. To do this, your furry friend should already know how to sit down.
When a stranger approaches, ask your Shiba Inu to sit down. If they follow this and remain calm, do not forget to reward them with tasty treats! This will let them know that they did good and this will encourage their good behavior even more.
But if your Shiba Inu does not remain calm and seated, then they do not get to have a treat. Make sure to correct your furry friend until they get it right. And do not reward them until they do.
It is best to practice this with someone who already knows what you are training for. You can ask the help of a friend that your Shiba Inu is not quite familiar with yet. This way, you can focus on your buddy and not worry about the other person as much.
Teach Them the Quiet Method
The quiet command is versatile, you can use it to hush your Shiba Inu in various situations. This applies to the barking at other dogs as well as new faces!
There are two ways you can do this, and you will find both below. See which one works best for your Shiba Inu.
The first one involves holding their muzzle. When your furry friend barks at a stranger, let them have a go a few times first. Then gently hold your buddy’s muzzle and say “quiet”. Remember not to shout as this will only scare your Shiba Inu. Then let go of their muzzle.
If your Shiba Inu remains quiet, give them a high-value treat. But if they keep barking, hold their muzzle again and ask them to keep quiet once more.
The other method does not involve holding their muzzle. Instead, you wait for your Shiba Inu to stop barking. Once they do, say “quiet” and then give them a treat right away.
Some dog owners are not comfortable with the first method. Both work well, it will only depend on your timing and consistency in training your buddy.
Command Them to Go to Their Spot
This is a useful method if you like having friends over at home, but worry about your barking pooch. But to do this, your Shiba Inu should already have gone through basic obedience training. They should sit, stay, and lie down when you tell them to.
Next, you have to pick a spot at home where your Shiba Inu can stay when a visitor arrives. Somewhere far from the front door is best so that the stranger is not too close for their comfort.
Now you can begin training them by saying “go to your spot”. Then toss a treat in their spot to bribe your Shiba Inu into going there. When they do, ask them to sit, stay, or lie down.
Then move them away from the spot and then repeat the process. Keep practicing this until your Shiba Inu understands the concept.
Make sure to say the exact command each time and toss a treat too. The reward is crucial as this is a form of positive reinforcement, which is how they learn best.
Once your Shiba Inu follows your command without fail, then you can practice this in other spots of the home. Remember to incorporate the basic commands too so that your buddy can follow right away, and when your Shiba Inu does, give them some of their favorite treats.
Reward Any Positive Interactions
This will help your Shiba Inu if they are not used to strangers yet due to a lack of proper socialization. You have to acclimate your furry friend to humans through positive experiences.
Begin by inviting your friends home. But make sure they know what your goals are first. You may want to start with a few people first, and then invite more as your furry friend’s confidence builds up.
Ask your friends to be as bubbly and affectionate toward your Shiba Inu as they can. Let them give your buddy some pets, yummy treats, and more!
But make sure that they do not do anything your buddy is uncomfortable with. Keep in mind that this breed is not a big cuddler. Thus, tell your friends that your furry friend is not a fan of excessive handling.
With these interactions, your Shiba Inu will realize that strangers are not to be afraid of. The positive interactions are a reward for them, too. This will not only build their confidence but also encourage them to be friendly to people.
After much practice, you can take your Shiba Inu on walks and have them meet new faces. They will know how to treat strangers, and this includes being polite enough not to bark.
Why Do Shiba Inu Bark at Kids?
A Shiba Inu barking at children can be a sign that they want to play! This is your furry friend’s way of telling kids that they want to join in on the fun. This usually happens if they see a group of kids playing around as this gets them excited.
But this only happens if your Shiba Inu already has a good relationship with kids. A well-socialized dog who had positive interactions with kids is more likely to do this. You can tell this if your buddy barks at them along with positive body language:
- Ears perking up
- Wagging tail
- Play bow
The other reasons why your Shiba Inu barks at kids are not as positive as this one, though. It can be a sign of jealousy, stress, trauma, and more. But this can also tell you that the kids do not know how to respect your Shiba Inu.
It is scary to hear your furry friend barking at small children, and you often worry about their safety. But to correct this behavior, you must figure out the root of the behavior.
To help you with this, here are the possible reasons why your Shiba Inu barks at kids.
Lack of Proper Socialization
Early socialization is crucial for your Shiba Inu not to fear almost everything. And this includes children. All dogs have to go through this, especially this breed.
Keep in mind that your Shiba Inu is not like most dogs, because they are not as domesticated as others. Thus, you need to teach them early on how to behave in every situation they are in.
The best time for this is around 6 to 14 weeks of age when they are most curious and open to learning. This is a short window, but your pup has much to learn about how children act.
Children do not handle dogs the same way as adults. They are often rough with dogs, much to your furry friend’s displeasure.
One example is that kids may touch your buddy’s face a lot, and this breed is not a fan of touch, to begin with. But if they got used to this as a puppy, then they are more accepting of this act once they become an adult.
Barrier Frustration
If your Shiba Inu is inside and they bark at the children playing outside, this can be due to frustration. This occurs when your buddy wants to do something but cannot because they have a restriction. In this case, they want to play with kids but they are on a leash, behind a fence, or a gate.
To release their frustration, your Shiba Inu will bark and they will make sure everyone hears. But you do not want your furry friend to keep on doing this. This can become a bad habit that will be hard to correct.
Once it reaches that point, your Shiba Inu will start barking once they see children playing. Thus, you need to train them right away not to do this.
Territorial Barking
Your Shiba Inu will try to protect their territory even if the perceived intruder is a kid. If children get too close to your home, your buddy will bark to scare them off and keep them away. But the same can also happen if kids get too close to you.
Territorial barking is not something you should tolerate, though. If the kid does go away, your Shiba Inu will think that it is all thanks to his barking. Thus, this encourages their behavior and they will have this habit of barking at the sight of kids. It will be hard to correct this behavior by then. So make sure to teach them not to do this right away as soon as you see this.
Traumatic Experience
Children are rowdy little people, and because of this, they can be rough with your Shiba Inu. Kids may poke dogs, pull their tails, pull their fur, and more. While some dogs are tolerant enough of this, others can develop a fear of children.
Thus, your Shiba Inu will want all children to stay away because they might get hurt or startled again. Dogs have a good memory, and they will remember a negative experience for a long time. Your buddy may even get nervous even at the sight of kids, leading them to bark right away.
This is why you should always keep an eye on your kids and dogs whenever they interact. Both can be unpredictable and you should stop the interaction before it gets worse.
Resource Guarding
Your Shiba Inu will see their belongings as their prized possessions. Sometimes, this can get out of hand because they will not let any human or dog go near their resources. This can happen even if a kid threatens to steal their items.
Resource guarding is an instinct in dogs. Their wild ancestors had to do this for their survival. If they let another creature come too close to their food, for example, they may starve.
This is not necessary for a domesticated dog. But remnants of this instinct still live in canine pets today. Thus, your Shiba Inu will bark at kids to keep them away from their resources.
Unpredictable Playmates
A child’s rambunctious behavior can be too overstimulating for your Shiba Inu. Children will run around while yelling, create a mess, and more. Your Shiba Inu may not be a fan of all this chaos, and they will let the kids know.
Other than that, some children also do not know how to respect a dog. They will do what they want with your Shiba Inu, even if your poor buddy gets hurt in the process. This breed is not a fan of touch, to begin with, and they will be vocal about their displeasure.
Stress or Anxiety
Handling children can be too much for people, and your Shiba Inu is no different. All their rowdy behaviors can heighten your furry friend’s stress levels.
It can be due to the children’s behavior, the noises they make, or even how they treat your buddy. When your Shiba Inu has had enough, they will scare the children off by barking to be at peace.
Every dog barks as a way to communicate with their world, even you. You may not understand what they are saying, but your Shiba Inu likes to pretend that you do.
They will carry out conversations with you, telling you what they need or want or how they feel. Unfortunately, it is hard to figure out what your furry friend is saying. Thus, you have to rely on their body language, the situation, and more.
This makes it hard for you to help your Shiba Inu when necessary. So if you want to decode their barks and howls, you have come to the right place.
In this article, you will learn the reason behind each vocalization your Shiba Inu makes. By overcoming the language barrier, you can make your bond stronger. After all, your relationship with your Shiba Inu is a two-way street!
Are Shiba Inu Vocal?
True to its cat-like nature, this breed is generally not a nuisance barker. They only make some noise if they feel like something is amiss. Or, they may also do this to tell you how they feel.
One of the joys of owning a Shiba Inu is experiencing how dramatic and comical they can be. Whenever they feel strong emotions, they will express themselves through vocalizing. And they are very good at it, too.
Shiba Inu is even one of the most vocally talented dog breeds you will ever come across. There is nothing special about their vocal cords. But they do know how to use their voice to get heads turning.
They will bark, growl, and howl like other dogs. But to top that off, they will also shriek, yodel, and even scream!
This breed is so famous for its vocalizations that people even made a term for one of them, the “Shiba scream”. Shiba Inu owners can attest to how vocal this breed can be through the many videos on the internet.
Your Shiba Inu can be more outspoken than others by mistake, too. This happens when you respond or reward their vocalizations. This is why you will see many clips of this breed talking with its owners.
With this, you can expect your Shiba to make head-turning vocalizations from time to time. But most of the time, they are a quite furry companion. This is why they also make great apartment dogs.
Why Does My Shiba Inu Talk So Much?
Your Shiba Inu’s talkativeness is their way of communicating with you. They will use their wide array of vocalizations to express themselves and want you to hear them.
This can be a sign of something good, such as an expression of happiness. But it can also be that your furry friend feels anxious or fearful. It can also be that they feel great displeasure about their current situation.
To decode the meaning behind their vocalizations, you need to look into two things. One is their current environment and situation. And another is their body language.
A happy Shiba Inu will vocalize with their tail wagging. You will also get to see the iconic Shiba smile that captured the hearts of many.
Usually, this occurs when they know that you are going to play with them. Or, when they sense that both of you are going to go out on a walk.
This can also happen when you come home after a long day of work. Family is everything to this furry being, and they are happy to finally be with you again. They may not be cuddly like other breeds, but they will show their love for you by “singing”.
On the flip side, vocalizations can also mean something negative. Thus, you should watch out for the signs of an upset Shiba Inu:
- Ears flat against their head
- Nose pointing in one direction and the eyes in another
- Showing the whites of their eyes
- Lip licking
- Tail down
- Avoiding eye contact
All these can mean that your Shiba Inu is afraid or anxious. And there are many reasons why this could happen.
One is that your furry friend is not a fan of strangers, and this triggers their fear. They want the stranger to be as far away from them as possible. And as a warning to them, your Shiba Inu will start vocalizing.
But one of the most common reasons for a Shiba being so noisy is general displeasure. This happens when you handle them too much for their liking. Usually, they will start being a drama queen when you try to groom them.
So if you plan to trim their nails, bathe them, brush their coat, and more, they will scream. They want you to stop what you are doing to them, and they want you to hear them loud and clear.
Are Shiba Inu Quiet Dogs?
By nature, Shiba Inu are quiet dogs compared to other breeds. They will make noise here and there, but they do not always do this. Much of this is due to their long history of working alongside humans.
Before this breed made its way into the homes of many, they worked as hunting dogs. They worked with their owners to catch small games, such as birds. But these dogs were also utilized for larger games, such as boars.
But to become an effective hunter, the Shiba Inu had to learn to be quiet and stealthy. They had to make the slightest noise possible as they creep up behind their prey. Thus, they were trained for centuries to be seldom barkers.
Do All Shiba Inu Bark?
Shiba Inu will bark, but they are not usually a barking breed. Many Shiba owners can attest to this, as they only hear their buddies bark occasionally. In general, this breed only barks whenever they feel appropriate.
The question now is, what does your Shiba Inu find appropriate? Their training from an early age will dictate this. They will only learn what you teach them, and only then will they know what is normal and accepted.
So if you let your Shiba Inu bark at the doorbell when it rings, they will grow up and think that this is normal behavior. As a result, your Shiba Inu may keep barking at the doorbell whenever they hear it.
This can also happen if your buddy barks at strangers, at animals passing by your home, and more. Thus, you need to correct their behavior at an early age. This will let them know the proper barking etiquette.
With this, your Shiba Inu will only be a nuisance barker if you let them be one. You need to take action and get to training while they are still puppies.
It is never too late to train your furry friend, though. You can still train an adult or senior Shiba Inu not to bark. But this will take more of your time and patience.
Teaching your Shiba Inu not to bark will also help you in the long run. When you hear them bark, you will know that they sense danger and not because they see some stranger by the door. This way, you can act right away thanks to their alert.
Other than that, this will also prevent your neighbors from complaining. This breed may not be big, but their barks can be quite loud!
Why Do Shiba Inu Bark at Everything?
There are several reasons why your Shiba Inu barks at everything. It can just be that they are outspoken communicators. Or, this may tell you that they did not get training or socialization.
This is an issue that you should correct, as this can not only affect you. But this can also affect every dog and person you meet. Your neighbors will also not appreciate the nonstop barking.
But to correct the issue, you must know the root of the behavior. This way, you can address the issue correctly.
With this, here are the possible reasons why your Shiba Inu seems to bark at everything.
Lack of Socialization
Dogs often fear unfamiliarity, and the same goes for your Shiba Inu. If you did not introduce them well to a variety of stimuli, then they will act out of fear. And most of the time, this fear will push them to bark in an attempt to keep the scary stimuli away.
This is why some dogs will bark at new people, situations, animals, sounds, and even smells. Not only do they not know what to do with them. But they also do not have the confidence to react to these stimuli.
This is why you should introduce your Shiba Inu to as many things as you can while they are puppies. They are most receptive and accepting of anything new while they are still young. And you only have a short window for this because they grow up so fast.
Thus, you need to put a lot of effort into socializing your puppy and fast. Otherwise, they will grow up to be a big barker, even if nothing is threatening them.
If your Shiba Inu is already an adult, it is not too late to socialize with them. Of course, this will take more effort from you because they are already set in their ways. But with consistency, patience, and kindness, your furry friend will get there.
Lack of Training
Whenever your Shiba Inu barks at something or someone, what do you do? Do you let them be? Or do you take this as an opportunity to train them?
What you do whenever they bark will either reinforce or discourage the behavior. This is why you need to be careful in approaching this situation.
If you do not do anything, then your Shiba Inu will think that this is normal. It then becomes a part of their habits, and it can be a hard one to break.
Some dog owners may even reward this behavior without knowing. If you pet your Shiba Inu to calm them down when they bark, they will think of it as a reward. This is your way of letting them know that they are being good, which is what you should avoid.
Excess Energy
This is an energetic breed and they need to let their energy out throughout the day. They do this by running, playing, training, and exercising. But if they cannot do this, they will have so much pent-up energy that they do not know what to do with it.
Your Shiba Inu will find creative ways to use up their energy because they will go mad if they cannot. And one of the things that they can do this is by barking, even if they do not have a good reason to.
Boredom
A Shiba Inu’s intelligence is both a blessing and a curse. It makes them easy to train, if not for their stubbornness. But this also means that they need plenty of mental and physical exercise.
Your Shiba Inu will need an outlet for their energy and intelligence. Some dog owners only focus on physical stimulation. But this does not give a dog enough opportunities to use its mental capacity.
Thus, they can still get bored. This is why you should engage your Shiba Inu with brain games. This not only keeps their minds sharp but is also a great way to drain their energy.
If you cannot provide for these, then your Shiba Inu will look for other ways to pass the time. This can be digging holes in your yard or destroying furniture. But it can also be by barking excessively.
Loneliness
This is not a common trigger for excessive barking in Shiba Inu because they generally do well alone. But your Shiba Inu can still get lonely when you are not around.
This breed may not be the showy type with their affection. But Shiba Inu love their owners so much that they often worry about their humans.
And when you are not at home with them, they may bark a ton. This can be an expression of their displeasure as well.
Anxiety
Unlike you, your Shiba Inu does not have much of an outlet to channel their anxiety. Anxiety can exhibit itself in various ways, and one of them is excessive barking.
So take the time to assess your furry friend’s situation. Anxiety can be due to other people, pets, traveling, or scary stimuli. And you can only fix this if you show your Shiba Inu that these are not something to be afraid of.
Although not common in this breed, many dogs also get separation anxiety. This condition puts them under a great deal of stress whenever you are not around. Thus, they develop excessive and harmful coping mechanisms in your absence.
Communication
Your Shiba Inu can only do so much to communicate with you. They can only do this using their body language and the various sounds that they make.
So their incessant barking may be their way of telling your something.
It can be them telling you that they are happy and excited! This often happens during playtime or when they smell the delicious meal you made them. You can tell this by the wagging tail and the delightful grin they show you.
Or it can be their way of telling you that their dinner is late and they are already hungry. They will stand over their bowl for this and they may also nudge it toward your direction.
Their barking can also mean that they are trying to alert you. It can be the deliveryman ringing the doorbell, but your buddy thought that they should let you know.
Attention-Seeking Behavior
Shiba Inu are smart enough to learn what gets your attention best. And if you always check up on them when they bark, they will keep doing this. So make sure you stay one step ahead of your furry friend or they will outsmart you!
When they do bark due to this, it is best to ignore them. This way, they will learn that barking does not get your attention. So they will look for other less-annoying ways to get your focus onto them.
At What Age Do Shiba Inu Start Barking?
A Shiba Inu puppy will begin to bark once they are around 3 to 7 weeks of age. Each puppy will grow at a different rate. So some may begin to bark earlier, while others a little later.
Do Shiba Inu Grow Out of Barking?
Your Shiba Inu will not grow out of barking because this is a natural and essential behavior for dogs. They bark to communicate their emotions, needs, and wants to those around them. If your furry friend ceases to bark, how else can they talk to you?
Instead of getting rid of the behavior, you should focus on lessening it. This way, your Shiba Inu will learn when they can or cannot bark.
You may even train them in nonverbal ways to communicate with you. Instead of barking to get your attention, they can put their paw on you to communicate.
But all this will depend on how you train your Shiba Inu. They may be smart, but they are also quite stubborn. Still, you should treat them with kindness, otherwise, their mood will turn sour fast.
This breed does not do well if you use aversive training techniques. This includes punishing them, hitting them, and shouting at them. You are not helping your buddy to learn anything, but you are teaching them to fear you.
As a result of this fear, they will not see you the same way again. They may cower at the sight of you. Or they may even turn aggressive toward you.
So make sure to only teach your Shiba Inu using positive reinforcement. This will help them learn faster while fostering a healthy relationship with them. You will also earn their respect for being such a great pack leader!
How Do I Get My Shiba Inu to Stop Barking at Everything?
One way to control your furry friend’s barking is to keep them exercised. This will tire them out so that they do not have the energy for excessive barking. But this does not work for every Shiba Inu, so you should also look into other methods.
Below is a list of other ways to curb your buddy’s barking so that you can find one that works for them.
Proper Socialization
Keep in mind that Shiba Inu is an ancient breed. Because of this, they are less domesticated than other dog breeds. So you have to put extra effort into teaching them.
This is why this breed is shy and wary of people, to begin with. If you do not expose them to a variety of people early on, they can be fearful of strangers.
The same can happen with new experiences, other dogs, and even certain situations. All the fear that your buddy feels can result in excessive barking. It may also bring out aggressive tendencies.
So make sure to take your buddy around with you to experience many things and meet new faces. You can even take them out for errands so they can learn more about the outside world.
The more your Shiba Inu gets to see these, they will learn to accept them as a part of their life. This builds their confidence, so they know how to deal with people, dogs, and other stimuli in the future. Because of this, they will not bark out of fear.
Manage Their Surroundings
If your Shiba Inu barks at home when you are not around, it is time to make some changes in the environment. You need to keep anything that triggers their barking out of sight.
A good way to start this is by closing the curtains before you leave. This way, your Shiba Inu cannot see people passing by. Or, they will not see some animals that bring out the barker in them such as birds or squirrels.
You may also want to remove furniture away from the windows too. They may climb on it and push the curtains away to see any potential triggers.
Tricking them into thinking that you are still at home may work too. You can turn on the TV or leave the radio on while you are away. This mimics the sounds of what they hear whenever you are around.
Capture Calm Behavior
This one is a bit tricky to do, as you will have to keep an eye on your Shiba Inu a lot. What you do here is reward them whenever they remain calm. Shower them with rewards whenever they lie down, sit, or when your buddy is quiet in general.
What you are doing here is teaching them behaviors that you want to see. If you are consistent with this, they will soon learn that being quiet gets them a treat and some praise from you.
The important thing here is to use a high-value treat, something that your Shiba Inu cannot resist. If your furry friend loves the reward, they will keep on showing wanted behaviors to get them.
Give Them the Cold Shoulder
This breed is smart enough to pick up on behaviors that benefit them. So they may learn that barking gets your attention, and you quickly rush to check up on them. By giving them attention whenever they bark, you are rewarding the behavior.
So for their attention-seeking barking, ignore your Shiba Inu. Remain calm, do not react to them, or even look in their eye.
In time, they will get discouraged from doing this behavior again. It does not work anymore, so there is no point in doing it.
Your Shiba Inu will then look for another way to get your attention. But make sure you teach them one. Otherwise, they may pick up on another unwanted behavior.
The Quiet Command
You can also train your Shiba Inu to be quiet on cue. To train your furry friend for this, you first need to catch them in action. Prepare a high-value treat as well and wait for them to stop barking.
Once they do stop, take out their treat. The smell should catch their attention, stopping the barking even more.
Now say “quiet” and you may also do a hand gesture so they understand better. Give them the treat right away too. Your quick timing is crucial so they can associate the act, command, and treat together.
Keep practicing this until your Shiba Inu understands. Be consistent here, especially with the timing.
You can speed up the training process by triggering your Shiba Inu to bark. So you can ring the doorbell, for example, to start the training right away.
The Distraction Method
When your Shiba Inu barks, divert their focus to something more interesting. It will help if you know what your Shiba Inu loves doing. This can be playing a good game of tug with them or giving them their favorite toy.
This will interrupt their thinking and they will go on to have fun instead.
But it will be better if you establish a routine for this. When your buddy starts to bark, send him to bed where they can play with their toys. When he does, reward your furry friend.
This will encourage your buddy to do their quiet routine instead of being noisy.
Ask for a Different Command
Another way to keep their mind off of barking is by giving them a command that is inconsistent with barking. So when your Shiba Inu barks, ask them to lie down, sit, or go to their bed.
It may be better to go for the latter one. This will ask them to move away, so the trigger will be out of their sight. They will move to their safe space, where they feel more comfortable.
Seek an Expert’s Help
If none of these work for your Shiba Inu, it is time to ask for help from a professional. You may visit your vet or you may want to contact a dog behaviorist. These experts are better equipped with handling behavioral issues in dogs.
If your Shiba Inu’s barking is due to a health condition, then only your vet can help. But if they have a clean bill of help, then a dog behaviorist can help you much better.
Do Shiba Inu Bark at Other Dogs?
Your Shiba Inu will bark at dogs, whether they get along with them or not. Keep in mind that barking is one of the ways that your furry friend communicates. And they will bark at other dogs for various reasons.
Clashing Personalities
This is a common issue in Shiba Inu. They have a dominant personality and so, they do not mix well with other dogs who are the same as them. Your Shiba Inu will want to be on top of the hierarchy, and they will fight even a larger dog for it.
Because of this, your Shiba Inu will bark at another dog to assert its dominance. This is why they do better with another submissive dog.
Showing Excitement and Playfulness
Dogs will also bark as they play with other dogs. This is their way of expressing their intense excitement! If you see your Shiba Inu doing a “play bow”, this is what their barking means.
You may also hear them growl while they play, but this is usually nothing to worry about. This is all part of their way of having fun.
Greeting One Another
Like how you say hello to another person, your furry friend also does this by barking at another dog. They will also do the same to a person that they pass by. You will also see some tail wagging or full body wagging as they bark.
Showing Anger or Fear
Your furry friend’s voice is of their greatest weapons. This can serve as a warning to the other dog, telling them to back away. An example of this is when another dog comes too close to your buddy’s favorite toy.
Barks out of fear or anger are usually lower in pitch and they vocalize much longer. You may also hear some growling too.
Signaling Frustration
You may wonder why your usually friendly Shiba Inu barks at another dog passing by. This can be their expression of frustration.
All they want is to greet the other dog up close. But they cannot do this because they are on a leash or behind a fence. Think of this as your buddy throwing a bit of a tantrum.
Or, this can also be because the other dog does not reciprocate their energy. Your Shiba Inu may want to play with them, but the other does not want to.
Displaying Territorial Behavior
This breed shows their love for their family by becoming protective of their people and home. This is why your Shiba Inu will bark whenever they sense an intruder nearby, be it a human or a dog.
But this can also occur outside of your home. Anywhere they consider their territory, they will try to protect it. Your Shiba Inu may even consider you as their territory.
So even in a public place, when some dog comes near you, your furry friend will bark. This is their way of keeping another dog, a potential threat, away from their beloved human.
Why Does My Shiba Inu Bark at Big Dogs?
One possible reason why your Shiba Inu barks at bigger dogs is because they fear the other dog. Their voice becomes a weapon against a larger predator. This is your furry friend’s way of maintaining the distance between the two.
Another reason is that the other dog is also as dominant as your Shiba Inu. This is not a submissive breed and they will fight to become the top dog. Your Shiba Inu will not mind if they are much smaller than the other dog too.
Both are an issue whenever you take your Shiba Inu to dog-filled places. Your buddy may run into trouble with another dog, fighting them to no end. Unfortunately, your Shiba Inu is not likely to win this battle.
Other than that, you might also cause issues with other dog owners. In any scenario, this can spell trouble for you and your pooch.
Thus, you need to provide your Shiba Inu with proper socialization if this is your issue. This will help your furry friend overcome their fear of other dogs. And this will also teach them how to act whenever they see one.
This will take time, but with positive reinforcement, you will eventually get there. Who knows, your Shiba Inu may end up playing with much larger dogs in the future!
How to Stop Shiba Inu Barking at Other Dogs
When your Shiba Inu barks at another dog, you must take control of the situation by remaining calm. Your furry friend can sense your emotions and they may mirror your anxiety. If they sense your stress, they will bark even more.
Now you have several ways to stop your Shiba Inu from barking at canine friends. But not every method will work for them, so it is best if you have a variety of ways to do this. To help you look for one that works, below is a list of these.
Take an Alternate Walking Route
One of the easiest ways to manage their barking is to avoid other dogs as much as possible. This will be helpful while you are trying to use other methods to train your Shiba Inu too.
Thus, you should take a less busy place for the time being. It may be impossible to totally avoid all dogs on a walk. But if your buddy sees less of them, their unwanted behavior becomes more manageable.
When you do meet a dog, keep calm and remember to take this as a training opportunity. Do not punish your Shiba Inu as this will only confuse or worry them even more.
Keep Walking When You See Another Dog
Some dogs bark at another dog out of fear to increase the distance between them. If this is the case for your Shiba Inu, then continue walking.
Once you see another dog afar walking in your direction, avoid them by going to another. This way, the other dog will not be too close to your furry friend’s comfort. Thus, you do not give your Shiba Inu a chance to bark.
Turn Around and Walk Back
Sometimes, you will get stuck in a situation where your buddy is way too stimulated. You cannot move forward or go in another direction to calm your Shiba Inu. What you need to do then is to turn around and leave.
Do this by grabbing the leash toward your Shiba Inu. Once you get to their shoulder, turn your buddy around using your legs.
If they are on your right turn them to the right. The same goes if your buddy is on your left. This will motion your Shiba Inu to turn around without pulling on their leash.
Try to talk to them as you are trying to turn them around too. This will help them calm down during the process.
Distract Them With a Fun Command
At home, practice playing a “find it” game with your Shiba Inu. What you do is scatter a handful of treats at home, and command them to “find it”. Your Shiba Inu will then put their nose to work to look for their treats.
Keep doing this until your Shiba Inu goes into scavenging mode whenever you say the command. You can take this fun game on the road, too!
When you see that there is another dog ahead, toss some treats in the grass. Then command your Shiba Inu to find their yummy treats.
This is a great method to try if your Shiba Inu is food-motivated. Their focus will go onto the ground instead of the other dog passing by. Your buddy may not even notice this.
Teach Them to Focus on You
Whenever you catch your Shiba Inu looking at you, give them a verbal cue and a reward after. Once they learn this, you can divert their attention from another dog to you.
The key here is to use a high-value treat so that your Shiba Inu will keep on working for it. Practice this at home and especially on walks to test their obedience.
By doing this, you can capture your furry friend’s attention whenever distractions arise. This will allow the other dog to pass by without any barking.
Teach Them the Quiet Command
When your Shiba Inu barks at another dog, wait for them to stop. Once they do, say “quiet” and give them a high-value treat right away. This will teach your Shiba Inu not to bark a lot and to quiet down whenever you tell them to.
With this method, you are showing them the behavior you want to see whenever they meet another dog. The message is clear here, as long as you are quick with your command and reward.
Counter-Condition Them
When your Shiba Inu barks at another dog, they are responding to a negative emotion that they feel. Oftentimes, it is due to fear, stress, or anxiety. But you can work with your buddy to change how they feel about seeing other dogs.
Whenever your buddy sees another dog and barks, keep on giving him treats. This way, you can remove the negative emotion that they associate with the other dog. Instead, they will have a positive association with them in the form of treats.
Desensitize Them
To do this, you need the help of another dog owner’s friend. Meet up in a neutral place, such as a dog park. Having the two dogs meet at home is not the best idea as they may get territorial.
Now have your Shiba Inu on a leash and maintain a good distance between them and the other dog. You should be far enough that your furry friend does not start barking. But near enough for them to see the other dog.
The distance will depend on what your Shiba Inu is comfortable with. Thus, there is some trial and error for their initial position.
When your Shiba Inu looks at the other dog but does not react, give them a high-value treat. Remember to say verbal praise too as a cue.
Next, have the other person pass by with their dog. Keep feeding your Shiba Inu as they see the dog inching closer to them. This is not only a continuous reward for their behavior, but it also distracts them from barking.
Remember to move the dogs away when your Shiba Inu starts becoming defensive. This includes growling and raising their hackles. You should only reward them before they begin to bark.
Keep practicing this and then add a verbal cue once they get the hang of it. Say a short word like “look”, and once your buddy looks at you and away from the dog, give them a treat. They should allow the other dog to pass by without barking.
Now you can make things more challenging for your Shiba Inu. This time, you and your buddy should move closer toward the other dog.
Inch toward the other dog slowly by giving your Shiba Inu continuous treats as long as they do not bark. Once they start barking, move back and allow them to calm down. Then, you can repeat the process.
Keep in mind that consistency is key, so keep practicing this with your Shiba Inu.
Why Do Shiba Inu Bark at Strangers?
If your Shiba Inu barks at a stranger, it can be their way of saying a friendly greeting. A well-socialized dog may love meeting new people, so they get excited when they see one! You can tell that your buddy is saying “hi” if their tail wags, they jump, along with other friendly behaviors.
But these are several other reasons why your Shiba Inu barks at other people. It is not always a sign of happiness, it can also be due to trauma, fear, and more.
With this, here are all the possible reasons why your buddy barks at strangers. This knowledge is crucial in trying to correct this unwanted behavior.
They Are Alarming You
This breed is not a big barker, but they are usually alarm barkers. Whenever they spot unfamiliar or unusual people, they want to let you know. New faces send their alarm bells ringing and your buddy will see them as a potential threat.
And by letting you know about this, you become aware that a stranger is nearby. This is your buddy’s way of helping you take action if there is a need to.
Keep in mind that a Shiba Inu often worries about its owner’s safety.
So while this can happen in the comfort of your home, this may also happen in a public place. This attribute is why a Shiba Inu can be a great watchdog.
They Are Being Territorial
As a territorial animal, your Shiba Inu is always on the lookout for invaders. In the wild, having an unfamiliar creature come too near can mean their death. A pet may not need this, but this remnant instinct still lives in domesticated dogs today.
Thus, whenever your Shiba Inu sees a stranger, they assume the role of a defender right away. One way they do this is by barking at the stranger to scare them off.
All this is your furry friend’s attempt to protect their territory. This includes their home and even their loved ones. So even if you are in a public place, your buddy may keep strangers away from their territory, which is you.
This does not mean that your Shiba Inu will be aggressive toward strangers. They often only put up a tough act to widen the distance between the stranger and their territory.
This also doubles as letting their pack know that there is a potential threat nearby. And in this case, your buddy’s pack is you and your family.
They Get Frustrated
If your Shiba Inu is a friendly dog, they will want to greet every person they come across. But this cannot happen all the time, as your buddy may be on a leash or behind a fence. These restrain them, and they get frustrated that they cannot greet someone up close.
And one way for them to channel their frustration is by barking at the stranger. This is easy to confuse for another reason, such as territorial barking. So if your usually friendly pooch barks at a stranger, this may be the case.
But keep in mind that this can also happen without these restrictions. Your Shiba Inu may come up to a person and ask them for some playtime. But if the stranger does not want to, your furry friend may throw a tantrum by barking.
They Lack Proper Socialization
It can also be that your Shiba Inu is not used to strangers, so they do not know how to act around them. A lack of proper socialization makes your furry friend fearful of unfamiliarity. In this case, their fear is due to people that they do not know.
This fear can then push your Shiba Inu to become defensive in an attempt to protect themselves. They will bark to scare the stranger off, not letting the person inch closer to them.
They Have a History of Trauma
You may want to look into your furry friend’s past experiences. If they had a bad experience with strangers, then this can make them nervous around them in the future. This can be hard to determine if your Shiba Inu is a rescue as you may not get a complete picture of their past.
In cases like these, your buddy will become watchful of the stranger’s next move. They never know how the stranger is going to treat them, so they will be wary of their every move.
They Are Taking Your Cues
Dogs are great at sensing your emotions through your body language and the tone of your voice. You may not notice it, but you could be acting anxious or nervous around a stranger. If your Shiba Inu picks up on this, they will do the same.
You are your Shiba Inu’s world and they do not want you to feel like this. Thus, their barking could be their way of moving the person away from you so that you can calm down.
But if you feel relaxed when interacting with a stranger, your Shiba Inu will also follow suit. So if you are teaching them how to act in front of a stranger, you need to remain calm at all times.
How to Stop Shiba Inu From Barking at Strangers
There are several ways for you to stop your Shiba Inu from barking at strangers. You need to use a combination of these methods, depending on the situation. Some work best for meeting a stranger in public, while other methods are best when used in your home.
With this, the following is a list of methods that you can try.
Ignore Their Barking
Your Shiba Inu should learn that barking does not let them get their way. Thus, you need to ignore their barking so that you do not reward their unwanted behavior.
To teach them this lesson, you need to practice with a friend and have them pose as a stranger. You may start at home and have them over as a visitor.
But before your friend comes over, make sure to let them know what to do. They should not engage with your Shiba Inu or make eye contact with your buddy even if your buddy jumps at them.
Once your Shiba Inu calms down and stops barking, then your friend can reward them with attention. Give them a treat or two as well so they can form a positive association with the stranger.
Keep repeating this process with other friends until your Shiba Inu is comfortable. When they see improvement, you can test them by meeting strangers in the dog park. Never forget to reward them each time they are polite toward a stranger you meet.
Walk Away From the Stranger
If your Shiba Inu does not understand that barking at strangers is not welcome, it is best to walk away. This will teach them that their rowdy behavior will not get rewarded for interaction. Unless they remain quiet, your Shiba Inu cannot get some pets from a friendly stranger.
To do this, turn around and walk in the opposite direction if you see a stranger approaching. This way, Shiba Inu cannot interact with a stranger if they keep on barking. As soon as your furry friend stops barking, give them a high-value treat.
The treat will let them know that being quiet will warrant a reward. Keep practicing this they understand that barking does not get them what they want.
Distract Your Shiba Inu
You can also distract your Shiba Inu once they begin to bark. But you should also combine this with a command to tell them to quiet down.
A good way to distract your furry friend is by noise. So jangle your keys, make a silly sound, snap your fingers, or you can even use your clicker. Once your Shiba Inu stops barking and focuses on you, tell them to stop barking.
You may also want to give them a treat once they stop barking. This will help them learn that being quiet will warrant a treat.
Ask Them to Sit Down
If your Shiba Inu does not know how to properly greet a stranger, it is time to teach them how to act. To do this, your furry friend should already know how to sit down.
When a stranger approaches, ask your Shiba Inu to sit down. If they follow this and remain calm, do not forget to reward them with tasty treats! This will let them know that they did good and this will encourage their good behavior even more.
But if your Shiba Inu does not remain calm and seated, then they do not get to have a treat. Make sure to correct your furry friend until they get it right. And do not reward them until they do.
It is best to practice this with someone who already knows what you are training for. You can ask the help of a friend that your Shiba Inu is not quite familiar with yet. This way, you can focus on your buddy and not worry about the other person as much.
Teach Them the Quiet Method
The quiet command is versatile, you can use it to keep your hush your Shiba Inu in various situations. This applies to the barking at other dogs, as well as new faces!
There are two ways you can do this, and you will find both below. See which one works best for your Shiba Inu.
The first one involves holding their muzzle. When your furry friend barks at a stranger, let them have a go a few times first. Then gently hold your buddy’s muzzle and say “quiet”.
Remember not to shout as this will only scare your Shiba Inu. Then let go of their muzzle.
If your Shiba Inu remains quiet, give them a high-value treat. But if they keep barking, hold their muzzle again and ask them to keep quiet once more.
The other method does not involve holding their muzzle. Instead, you wait for your Shiba Inu to stop barking. Once they do, say “quiet” and then give them a treat right away.
Some dog owners are not comfortable with the first method. Both work well, it will only depend on your timing and consistency in training your buddy.
Command Them to Go to Their Spot
This is a useful method if you like having friends over at home, but worry about your barking pooch. But to do this, your Shiba Inu should already have gone through basic obedience training. They should sit, stay, and lie down when you tell them to.
Next, you have to pick a spot at home where your Shiba Inu can stay when a visitor arrives. Somewhere far from the front door is best so that the stranger is not too close for their comfort.
Now you can begin training them by saying “go to your spot”. Then toss a treat in their spot to bribe your Shiba Inu into going there. When they do, ask them to sit, stay, or lie down.
Then move them away from the spot and then repeat the process. Keep practicing this until your Shiba Inu understands the concept.
Make sure to say the exact command each time and toss a treat too. The reward is crucial as this is a form of positive reinforcement, which is how they learn best.
Once your Shiba Inu follows your command without fail, then you can practice this in other spots of the home. Remember to incorporate the basic commands too so that your buddy can follow right away. And when your Shiba Inu does, give them some of their favorite treats.
Reward Any Positive Interactions
This will help your Shiba Inu if they are not used to strangers yet due to a lack of proper socialization. You have to acclimate your furry friend to humans through positive experiences.
Begin by inviting your friends home. But make sure they know what your goals are first. You may want to start with a few people first, and then invite more as your furry friend’s confidence builds up.
Ask your friends to be as bubbly and affectionate toward your Shiba Inu as they can. Let them give your buddy some pets, yummy treats, and more!
But make sure that they do not do anything your buddy is uncomfortable with. Keep in mind that this breed is not a big cuddler. Thus, tell your friends that your furry friend is not a fan of excessive handling.
With these interactions, your Shiba Inu will realize that strangers are not to be afraid of. The positive interactions are a reward for them, too. This will not only build their confidence but also encourage them to be friendly to people.
After much practice, you can take your Shiba Inu on walks and have them meet new faces. They will know how to treat strangers, and this includes being polite enough not to bark.
Why Do Shiba Inu Bark at Kids?
A Shiba Inu barking at children can be a sign that they want to play! This is your furry friend’s way of telling kids that they want to join in on the fun. This usually happens if they see a group of kids playing around as this gets them excited.
But this only happens if your Shiba Inu already has a good relationship with kids. A well-socialized dog who had positive interactions with kids is more likely to do this. You can tell this if your buddy barks at them along with positive body language:
- Ears perking up
- Wagging tail
- Play bow
The other reasons why your Shiba Inu barks at kids are not as positive as this one, though. It can be a sign of jealousy, stress, trauma, and more. But this can also tell you that the kids do not know how to respect your Shiba Inu.
It is scary to hear your furry friend barking at small children, and you often worry about their safety. But to correct this behavior, you must figure out the root of the behavior.
To help you with this, here are the possible reasons why your Shiba Inu barks at kids.
Lack of Proper Socialization
Early socialization is crucial for your Shiba Inu not to fear almost everything. And this includes children. All dogs have to go through this, especially this breed.
Keep in mind that your Shiba Inu is not like most dogs, because they are not as domesticated as others. Thus, you need to teach them early on how to behave in every situation they are in.
The best time for this is around 6 to 14 weeks of age when they are most curious and open to learning. This is a short window, but your pup has much to learn about how children act.
Children do not handle dogs the same way as adults. They are often rough with dogs, much to your furry friend’s displeasure.
One example is that kids may touch your buddy’s face a lot, and this breed is not a fan of touch, to begin with. But if they got used to this as a puppy, then they are more accepting of this act once they become an adult.
Barrier Frustration
If your Shiba Inu is inside and they bark at the children playing outside, this can be due to frustration. This occurs when your buddy wants to do something but cannot because they have a restriction. In this case, they want to play with kids, but they are on a leash, behind a fence, or a gate.
To release their frustration, your Shiba Inu will bark and they will make sure everyone hears. But you do not want your furry friend to keep on doing this. This can become a bad habit that will be hard to correct.
Once it reaches that point, your Shiba Inu will start barking once they see children playing. Thus, you need to train them right away not to do this.
Territorial Barking
Your Shiba Inu will try to protect their territory even if the perceived intruder is a kid. If children get too close to your home, your buddy will bark to scare them off and keep them away. But the same can also happen if kids get too close to you.
Territorial barking is not something you should tolerate, though. If the kid does go away, your Shiba Inu will think that it is all thanks to his barking. Thus, this encourages their behavior and they will have this habit of barking at the sight of kids.
It will be hard to correct this behavior by then. So make sure to teach them not to do this right away as soon as you see this.
Traumatic Experience
Children are rowdy little people and because of this, they can be rough with your Shiba Inu. Kids may poke dogs, pull their tails, pull their fur, and more. While some dogs are tolerant enough for this, others can develop a fear of children.
Thus, your Shiba Inu will want all children to stay away because they might get hurt or startled again. Dogs have a good memory, and they will remember a negative experience for a long time. Your buddy may even get nervous even at the sight of kids, leading them to bark right away.
This is why you should always keep an eye on your kids and dogs whenever they interact. Both can be unpredictable and you should stop the interaction before it gets worse.
Resource Guarding
Your Shiba Inu will see their belongings as their prized possessions. Sometimes, this can get out of hand because they will not let any human or dog go near their resources. This can happen even if a kid threatens to steal their items.
Resource guarding is an instinct in dogs. Their wild ancestors had to do this for their survival. If they let another creature come too close to their food, for example, they may starve.
This is not necessary for a domesticated dog. But remnants of this instinct still live in canine pets today. Thus, your Shiba Inu will bark at kids to keep them away from their resources.
Unpredictable Playmates
A child’s rambunctious behavior can be too overstimulating for your Shiba Inu. Children will run around while yelling, create a mess, and more. Your Shiba Inu may not be a fan of all this chaos, and they will let the kids know.
Other than that, some children also do not know how to respect a dog. They will do what they want with your Shiba Inu, even if your poor buddy gets hurt in the process. This breed is not a fan of touch, to begin with, and they will be vocal about their displeasure.
Stress or Anxiety
Handling children can be too much for people, and your Shiba Inu is no different. All their rowdy behaviors can heighten your furry friend’s stress levels.
It can be due to the children’s behavior, the noises they make, or even how they treat your buddy. When your Shiba Inu has had enough, they will scare the children off by barking to be at peace.
Why Does My Shiba Inu Bark at Night?
Barking at night can mean that your Shiba Inu is alarming you with a possible intruder. Dogs have a long history of having a close relationship with humans. Because of this, it is part of their instinct to protect their loved ones.
This is especially true for a Shiba Inu. They can love their owners too much to the point of being overprotective. Thus, they will let you know right away if they sense any harm nearby.
But to decode this doggy behavior, you have to consider all the possibilities. This will help you correct this unwanted behavior. Each case will have a different approach, thus, you need to be sure of the root of the behavior.
Below is a list of the possible causes for this so that you can figure out what you are facing.
Boredom
Humans have a lot of ways to keep themselves entertained at night. But your Shiba Inu has only so much, and they may not even want to play with their toys. One of the ways they can combat their boredom is by “singing” loudly, even if you wake up.
Both you and your neighbors will not appreciate your furry friend’s lullabies. Take this as a sign that your Shiba Inu needs a safe outlet for their entertainment.
You must provide them with a variety of toys to stimulate their minds. This will keep them busy at night and helps in diverting their focus from barking.
Excess Energy
If your Shiba Inu does not get enough exercise during the day, then they will be up all night. This is because they have a lot of pent-up energy and they do not know what to do with this. They will become restless, looking for ways to shed off the extra energy that they have.
But at night, there is not much your Shiba Inu can do. You are indoors with them, and you might already be sleeping. They will have to be creative in trying to tire themselves out.
One of the ways they can do this is to bark until they can no longer bark. This may be annoying to you, but this is their last resort to get a good night’s sleep.
Loneliness
Like you, your poor Shiba Inu can also get lonely at night. To express how they feel, your furry friend will let out their cries. But what could your Shiba Inu be lonely about?
One reason could be that you are too tired to spend time with them after getting home. Your Shiba Inu has been waiting for your return the whole day. And while they are not cuddly dogs, they still love you a great deal.
So if you went home and go to bed right away, your furry friend will get sad. Thus, you may want to spend some quality time with them once you come home.
Another possible reason is that your Shiba Inu sleeps in another room. This is a pack animal, and they want to stay close to their family as they get a restful sleep.
This can be due to their instinct, as wild dogs huddle up to sleep at night. Or, it can be your furry friend’s desire to protect you as you get a good shut-eye.
Whatever their reason may be, your Shiba Inu only wants to sleep close to you. And they will let you know this by barking at night.
Seeking Attention
Barking is an effective way for your Shiba Inu to get your attention. Thus, they may do this at night because they want something from you.
This attention-seeking behavior is something you should ignore or act on. But this will depend on your buddy’s reason.
They may grab your attention because they want some pets or they want some food. These are examples of when you should ignore your furry friend’s barking.
But your Shiba Inu may also have a valid reason for this, like wanting to go to the potty. This is something you should watch out for if they do not have a potty area indoors. Or, if your Shiba Inu sleeps in a closed crate.
Ignoring your Shiba Inu’s night barks, when they have no good reason to, is crucial. Giving them attention is only encouraging their behavior since you are rewarding them. This also means that you should not tell them to quiet down or tell them to stop.
Nighttime Noises
Your furry friend has quite a sensitive hearing. So while your home may be quiet to you, your Shiba Inu will hear the slightest of noises. If what they hear is unusual to them, they will resort to barking.
This is part of their alert nature, making them great watchdogs. But most of the time, they are responding to nothing unusual at all.
It can be the footsteps of rodents doing their business. Or it can be the rustling of the trees in the wind.
To help your Shiba Inu calm down at night, you can put up some white noise for them. You can turn on the TV or radio at a low volume, for example. This blocks out some normal nighttime sounds to lessen their night barking.
Old Age
An aging dog faces physical and mental decline. Physical issues may put your Shiba Inu in constant pain. While mental issues can make them more anxious, nervous, or stressed with age.
All these can make your Shiba Inu restless at night, pushing them to bark.
One age-related issue that dogs face is arthritis. This condition causes chronic pain, so they cannot get comfortable enough to sleep. The pain will then lead your poor buddy to cry at night.
In this case, an orthopedic dog bed will help them to settle down at night. This distributes the pressure throughout the body, relieving stress from the joints.
Illness or Injury
Nighttime barking can also be a sign that your Shiba Inu needs the help of a vet. They may be in pain, which pushes them to bark at night.
Barking due to this can sound different. It is often consistent and this may last for several hours.
It can be due to an underlying medical condition. Or, your Shiba Inu may have an injury that you did not notice.
The best thing you can do for your furry friend is to have them checked by their vet. So if you see some scary symptoms, take them to the vet right away. This includes the following:
- Excessive drooling
- Loss of appetite
- Refusal to drink
- Lack of coordination
- Inability to recognize you or family members
Do Shiba Inu Howl?
Shiba Inu howls like other dogs, but theirs may sound different from what you normally hear. This breed has a piercing, high-pitched howl that can turn heads without a problem. But while all Shiba Inu can howl, not every Shiba will do this.
Those who do not howl may resort to the popular Shiba scream. This is the breed’s unique twist on their ancestor’s howls.
Shiba Inu are more inclined to howl than other breeds because they are a basal breed of dog. This means that they have a close genetic makeup to wolves, who howl as one of their main forms of communication.
So while this breed is usually quiet, they can create a noisy household too, especially at night. Shiba Inu usually lets out their shrill howls when the sun is down, which can drive you and your neighbors mad. They may even let out a single howl right before they drift off into a deep sleep.
Why Does My Shiba Inu Howl at Night?
Your Shiba Inu howls at night to communicate with you or those around them. The tricky part here is trying to decode the message that they are getting across. There is no one reason why your buddy howls at night, thus, you have some investigation to do.
To help you with this, here are the possible reasons why your buddy howls at night.
They Are in Pain
One of the first things that you should consider is your furry friend’s health. If they are ill or injured, they will be in pain and they cannot settle in at night to sleep. Humans can express their pain through talking, but your Shiba Inu cannot do this.
If your buddy howls and then stops moments after they started, there may be nothing to worry about. Howling due to pain is consistent and lasts for an extended period.
So make sure to check your furry friend for any external injuries. You can treat minor and superficial injuries at home with a first aid kit. But if it is severe or if you cannot see anything, you must take your Shiba Inu to the vet.
Their nighttime howling will only stop if they get the appropriate medical care.
Their Old Age
As your Shiba Inu gets older, they are likely to have painful joint issues. And as you know, pain can make a dog restless at night. This may be why your Shiba Inu howls at night.
But physical issues are not the only thing to consider here. Older dogs will also experience an increase in emotional turmoil.
Once their sight and hearing deteriorate due to aging, they may panic more. This is understandable, as your poor buddy relied on these senses so much when they were younger. Thus, they need more reassurance during their golden years, even at night.
Another thing to consider is canine dementia. Some signs of this include disorientation, change in sleep-wake cycles, and increased anxiety.
Both of these can lead your older Shiba Inu to howl. This is likely because they feel vulnerable. Thus, they are calling on their pack to look for them and protect them.
They Are Responding to Howls or Noises
When dogs hear a howl, it is their instinct to howl back. This creates a chain reaction where dogs in your neighborhood begin to follow suit. This taps into their primal instincts, giving them a sense of community.
But other howl-sounding sounds can trigger this as well. An ambulance or fire truck siren, for example, can trigger the inner wolf in your Shiba Inu. This is why when you try to howl, your furry friend is likely to sing with you.
They Are Protecting Their Territory
Your Shiba Inu is territorial by nature. Especially because this breed is a close descendant of wolves. Thus, the need to protect their pack and boundaries is strong.
Their howling is one way that they can do this. When your furry friend senses an intruder, they tell the other dog to back off because this is their place. This also doubles as warning their pack that potential trouble is around the corner.
Your Shiba Inu may also do the same if they hear your neighbor’s dog howling. When the other dog howls, your buddy jumps into action to help them, starting a group of howls of other dogs nearby. This is their attempt to scare off any dogs that do not belong in your area.
They Have Pack Separation Anxiety
As a pack animal, your Shiba Inu may feel anxious when they are away from their pack. When they are alone or one pack member is missing, they will let out a howl to ask for their location. This is their attempt to get reunited with their family again.
This can occur if your Shiba Inu is looking for other dogs in your house. But they may also do the same for their non-furry housemates.
This breed is fiercely loyal and they get attached to their humans. If you or another household member are not at home, your buddy will go calling for you.
They Lack Exercise
When your Shiba Inu does not get enough exercise during the day, they will have a ton of energy left by nighttime. With this, your furry friend will try to do something to shed off their excess energy. They need to do this, otherwise, they will not get tired enough to settle down and get a restful sleep.
But at night, they only have limited activities that they can do. Playing with their toys may not be enough to drain them. Or, running around your house may not be an option, especially if they are in a closed crate.
So your Shiba Inu may resort to singing to everyone around at night. Their incessant howling is their way to get tired enough to sleep.
They Had a Change in Routine
Like other dogs, your Shiba Inu is a creature of habit. They will get used to their nighttime routine which helps them know what to expect. But if there is a change in their routine, your furry friend will get confused.
If they started howling after a new routine, then this may be what you are facing. This is a sign that your buddy is struggling to adapt to the changes.
The change can be subtle, such as moving their bedtime earlier or later. Or, it can be that you have moved their bed someplace else.
An abrupt change like this will not help your Shiba Inu to adapt. Thus, you may want to make gradual changes instead.
But in time, your Shiba Inu will get used to the new routine. So you must not reward their howls, such as telling them to keep quiet. This will encourage them to howl even more because it gets a reaction out of you.
They Need Something From You
Your furry friend’s howls may be their way of telling you what they need. This is often due to two things. One is that they are hungry, and another is that they need to pee.
If they need to pee, then you should let them out of their crate and take them to their potty area. This may be annoying at night, but at least your Shiba Inu is not soiling your house.
When it comes to their hunger, sometimes they are only trying to get more food from you. But you have to look into this more as you may not be feeding them enough. It can also mean that you are making them wait too long for their meals.
Thus, you may need to adjust their feeding portions and mealtimes. Once you make the appropriate change, the nighttime howling should stop.
Are Shiba Inu Yappy?
This breed is not known to be a yappy dog. Instead, they are seldom barkers, only barking when they need to. But when your Shiba Inu has something to say, they will make sure that you hear them. And they can be dramatic dogs who always have an opinion.
With this, your Shiba Inu will get all yappy when they are not pleased or unhappy. But this can get confusing, as they will do the same when they are happy or excited.
Why Is My Shiba Inu So Yappy?
Your Shiba Inu may be getting yappy because they cannot contain their excitement. Thus, they feel the need to express their intense emotion vocally. This usually happens when during playtime or when you take them outdoors for some fun!
With this, you can take their yapping as a sign that you have a happy dog with you. You can tell this by the grin on their face and their wagging tail.
But this can also tell you that your Shiba Inu needs help. This breed is the quiet type, so getting extra noisy should alarm you. Their yapping can also be due to danger, anxiety, and more.
To help you understand this, below are more detailed explanations of the root of the behavior.
Your Shiba Inu Is Warning You of Danger
As their loving owner, your Shiba Inu will want to protect you in any way they can. Since they are small, they will not do well in actually fighting off an intruder. Instead, your furry friend’s voice will be one of their greatest weapons.
With this, your buddy’s incessant yapping can be their way of letting you know that they sense danger. This can be an unusual person, creature, or even noise that they picked up on. By letting you know right away, your Shiba Inu is helping you take action as soon as you can.
Your Shiba Inu Is Anxious or Stressed
Stress or anxiety can bring the worst out of even the most well-behaved of dogs. They will exhibit a variety of destructive and excessive behaviors. And one of them is constantly yapping.
This is one of their only self-soothing behaviors, like excessive licking. Your Shiba Inu will yap until they no longer can as a coping mechanism for how they feel.
With this, you should figure out the reason behind your buddy’s stress. This can be any abrupt change in their environment or their routine.
An example of this is when you move homes. Your Shiba Inu needs time to get accustomed to a change in its environment. And they may not be handling it well, so they will voice out how they feel.
If your Shiba Inu is anxious, there are also several possible reasons for this. A common one in dogs is separation anxiety. But this is not common in this breed because they often do well spending time alone.
But each dog is unique, and your Shiba Inu may be so attached to you. While this is a testament to your strong bond, they will not do well in your absence. Thus, they will yap when you are not at home to distract themselves.
Your Shiba Inu Is Expressing Their Frustration
There are various reasons why your Shiba Inu can get frustrated. Some have their quirks and get irritated by normal things.
An example of this is the sound of your alarm clock. Your Shiba Inu may get irritated by the sound, but they do not know how to turn it off. With this, they will yap at you to turn it off, finally giving them quiet time.
But a common cause of this behavior is barrier frustration. This happens when your Shiba Inu is on a leash, or behind a gate or fence. Being restricted like this does not let them do what they want to.
So they may see a group of children and they will want to join in on the fun. Or, they may see a dog passing by and they want to greet their new friend. But the leash or fence prevents them from doing this, thus, they become frustrated.
And this expressive dog will want everyone to know how irritated they are. They know they have a voice, and they will use it to vent out.
Your Shiba Inu Has an Attention-Seeking Habit
As a dog owner, you cannot deny that hearing your dog’s yapping is a good way to get your attention. Since this breed is intelligent, they will learn this in time. Thus, they will yap loudly whenever they need you for something.
Your furry friend may be trying to bribe you for more treats. Or, they may want to go out for a walk. They will do this for many reasons, though.
This is an undesirable trait in dogs. This is not the proper etiquette, and other people will not appreciate this.
But your Shiba Inu did not learn this without your help. How you react to hearing their yap is the main consideration here.
Do you give them all your attention when they yap, even if they have no good reason to? Do you try to comfort your Shiba Inu’s yapping by petting them? Both of these will reward your furry friend’s unwanted behavior. Thus, they get encouraged to keep doing this.
So the next time your Shiba Inu barks for attention, you must ignore them at all costs. Be as boring as you can, do not react, and do not even make eye contact with them. This will teach them that yapping is not a great way to catch your attention.
Why Is My Shiba Inu Whining?
Happiness and excitement are one of the many reasons behind a Shiba Inu’s whining. This is an energetic breed that can get too excited when they are having fun. Sometimes, they cannot control their emotion and they use their voice to express this!
You can tell that your Shiba Inu’s whining comes from excitement with these signs:
- Jumping around
- Running in circles
- Tail wagging
Zoomies are also a good sign that your buddy is whining in excitement! This occurs when they get a sudden burst of energy. Thus, your Shiba Inu runs around at full speed.
This also happens when their beloved human comes home after a day of work. Or your buddy may also get excited once they see you taking out their leash for a walk.
But as you know, whining is not always a positive thing. This can also be a sign of fear, displeasure, pain, and more. Thus, your Shiba Inu needs your help.
With this, the possible reasons listed below may explain why your Shiba Inu is whining.
Your Shiba Inu Is Not Pleased
The most common reason behind the Shiba scream is displeasure. When your furry friend is not happy about something, they will make sure you know. And they do not know the best way of doing this because they have such shrill whines.
This often comes out when you are trying to groom your Shiba Inu, especially nail trimming. This breed does not like excessive handling and they can be such drama queens about it. But this can apply to just about anything because Shiba Inu always have an opinion.
There is not much you can do to stop their displeased whining. You either have to stop what you are doing to them or give them a tasty treat to placate them.
Your Shiba Inu Finds Social Situations Stressful
This breed is not the friendliest dog right off the bat. You need to put a lot of work into your Shiba Inu for them to love interactions with other humans and dogs. Early socialization is the best way to do this.
If you did not make an effort for this when they were young, your buddy will grow to be a fearful dog. So in social settings, they will appear anxious, aggressive, or distant.
But even some situations can be too much for your Shiba Inu. An example is when there are too many rowdy children around. This may overstimulate your furry friend, causing them a lot of stress.
Your Shiba Inu Gets Startled by Loud Noises
Almost every dog will get startled by loud noises. It can be the vacuum cleaner, the fireworks, your hair dryer, and more. One way they respond to these scary sounds is by whining.
Some loud noises are under your control, such as your hairdryer. If this is the case for your Shiba Inu, it will not be hard to help them. Turning the hairdryer off will calm them down and stop the whining.
But other loud noises, such as fireworks, are out of your control. With this, you will need to reassure your Shiba Inu and figure out other ways to manage their fear.
Your Shiba Inu Wants Something
Vocalizations are your furry friend’s main form of communication with you. While you may not understand them, they will whine at you like you are speaking the same language. This can be a sign that your buddy is getting your attention because they need something.
Their favorite toy might be stuck somewhere in your home, so they need your help to get it. Or, there may be another pet in their bed and they need you to shoo them away.
But food or potty time are two of the most common reasons why your buddy whines at you. You have to be careful with these though.
Asking for food after eating their meal is often something to ignore. Your furry friend may only want more food for the sake of it. Or, it can be a sign that you are not feeding them enough, so you need to change their meal portions.
When your Shiba Inu whines to go to the potty, you must help them go outside right away. But if they do this after already walking out, then this can be a sign of a health issue. Your furry friend may have digestive or bladder issues, so you need to take them to the vet.
Your Shiba Inu Has Nothing Interesting to Do
Sometimes, your Shiba Inu does not get enough exercise that they need. When this happens, your furry friend will whine at you to beg for playtime. This is how they let you know that they are getting tired of being idle, so you should get up and go out with them.
This is a common occurrence in Shiba Inu because they love getting stimulated. Your furry friend is always up for a challenge because they find it fun!
Whining due to boredom is often short and high-pitched. Usually, they also sigh after whining and they will not show interest in playing with their toys.
Your Shiba Inu Is Submitting to You
Whining is a submissive behavior in dogs. This is their way of telling you that you are their leader and they are surrendering to your authority. Thus, this can also be your lovable pooch’s way of apologizing to you.
You can tell that this is the case for your furry friend if they did something naughty. They may have gone through garbage, chewed on your shoe, and more.
Along with whining, your Shiba Inu will also apologize with their body language. They will bow their head in your direction and tuck their tail between their legs. All these are signs of a guilty dog.
Your Shiba Inu Has Separation Anxiety
This breed often does well when you leave them home alone for hours to work. But they are not an exception to developing separation anxiety.
This happens when your Shiba Inu gets too attached to you. When this happens, they will never want to leave your side. If they get separated from you, they will be in great distress.
Separation anxiety can bring out excessive and destructive behavior in your Shiba Inu. The sad part is that they do not know when to stop this. So your buddy may claw through the door even if their bleeding already.
These behaviors usually present themselves when you are not around. Your furry friend will cry, howl, and dig holes when you are away. Once you come back, they get too overexcited.
But even when you are home, your buddy may still be too clingy. They may jump and whine to beg you to cuddle or pet them.
A Shiba Inu who suffers from this will is too dependent on you. They also lack confidence and do not know how to spend time alone.
In severe cases of separation anxiety, your Shiba Inu may need medication to calm them down. But no matter the severity, training your buddy to be independent is a must. Thus, you may want to work with your vet and a dog behaviorist for this.
Your Shiba Inu Is in Pain
Whining is a common response to pain in dogs. This is a generally healthy breed, but they are still prone to joint and hip issues, and other health issues.
This is an even bigger consideration if your Shiba Inu is already old. Physical and mental deterioration can happen with aging. Joint issues, such as arthritis, are also common in dog breeds regardless of their breed.
Other than these, your Shiba Inu may also be in pain due to an injury. This can be due to a superficial injury, such as a cut or a wound. But some injuries go deeper, such as a bone fracture.
All these have one thing in common, and that is pain. This can lead to consistent and extended whining. And this is your poor pooch’s way of getting your attention and asking for help.
The best thing to do here is to take your Shiba Inu to the vet right away. Their condition may get worse if left untreated, and this may make it harder to get a good prognosis.
How to Stop Shiba Inu Whining
The first thing that you should do if your Shiba Inu is whining is to take them to the vet. This behavior can be a sign of pain, which can mean that they have an underlying medical condition. The only fix for this cause is medical intervention, and you cannot do this at home.
But if your Shiba Inu gets a clean bill of health from the vet, you can get to work at home. Correcting their whining entails training and reassuring your Shiba Inu.
To get a more detailed guide on this, below are a variety of ways to correct your buddy’s whining. You may want to use a combination of these to see results much faster.
Create a Calm Environment
This is a crucial thing to do if your Shiba Inu whines due to stress. Even in the comfort of your home, your furry friend may get overstimulated. Unfortunately, there are a lot of household things that can startle your Shiba Inu.
A popular one is the sound of your vacuum cleaner. Most dogs do not like loud sounds, and your Shiba Inu is not different. They may find the sound scary or even irritating.
Children are another cause of overstimulation because they can get loud and rowdy. The chaos they bring to your home is too much for a Shiba Inu. Sometimes, the kids may even be rough with them, which is another cause of fear.
So make sure to remove anything that triggers your Shiba Inu’s whining. This may take some trial-and-error since every dog has different triggers.
Redirect and Drain Their Energy
This can help in correcting whining due to excitement and boredom. Your Shiba Inu has so much energy that they channel it into overexcitement. Or, they have so much energy that they do not know what to do about it.
In both of these, your furry friend can resort to whining. But by draining their energy, they will not have enough left to whine.
Make sure that your Shiba Inu gets plenty of daily exercise. Take them out on a nice walk around the neighborhood. Or spend a few hours playing with them, such as a game of tug-of-war.
Spending quality time with them will also strengthen your bond. Thus, this is hitting two birds with one stone!
But physical exercise is not the only thing you should think of. You should also provide your Shiba Inu with tons of mental stimulation. This can be even more tiring than physical exercise.
Make sure to provide your buddy with puzzle games, as this will get their minds working; since this breed is food-motivated, make sure to get a toy dispensing one. Your buddy will get occupied for hours to try and get out the tasty treat.
But teaching your Shiba Inu new commands and tricks will also do well. This is both a physical and mental exercise for them, so it drains their energy a lot.
Give Them the Cold Shoulder
If your Shiba Inu whines for attention, the best you can do is to ignore them. Giving them any sort of attention will only encourage this behavior. Your Shiba Inu will think that you are rewarding them, even if you are telling them to keep quiet.
Comforting them in any form is even worse, especially if you try to pet them. So do not react to your Shiba Inu or even look them in the eye.
Provide Them With Comfort Items
Your furry friend’s favorite items may help in bringing them comfort when they need to. So instead of whining, your furry friend has comfort items to help them calm down. But this is only possible if you already know what your Shiba Inu’s favorite thing is.
To some dogs, it can be a soft and fluffy blanket. To others, it can be a bunch of soft pillows. But this can also be your furry friend’s favorite toy.
A lot of dogs have a comfort toy in the form of a plush toy. These toys are soft and cuddly, and they absorb your buddy’s scent. The scent is part of the reason why it is comforting because it is familiar to your Shiba Inu.
But another source of comfort for your lovable pooch is you. With this, providing them with one of your used shirts will also help them calm down. Your scent on the shirt makes them feel like you are always with them.
Divert Their Attention From Whining
You can also stop your furry friend’s whining at the moment. But this is only possible if they already know some basic commands like sit, lie down, or stay.
Once your Shiba Inu starts whining, try to command them to do something else. Make them lie down, for example. This will take their mind off of whining.
If they continue to lie down and keep quiet, then give them some tasty treats! This way, your Shiba Inu will know that staying quiet is what you want them to do. The treats will keep on encouraging them to behave and refrain from whining.
You can also bring out their favorite toy to stop them from whining. Once they stop making noise and start playing with it, give them some high-value treats too. This is the same concept mentioned above, and you are teaching your buddy how to behave.
Capture Calm Behavior
It is always better to teach your Shiba Inu what to do, rather than telling them what not to do. Your goal here is to teach them to be quiet and calm and not create a noisy home.
So whenever you find your Shiba Inu behaving and remaining quiet, make sure to reward them! Scratch the back of their ears, give them verbal praise, and shower them with tasty treats. Your smart Shiba Inu will soon learn that they will only get a reward if they remain quiet and listen to you.
Make sure you use a high-value treat though, as not any treat will do. If your furry friend has a favorite treat, then they are more likely to follow you.
Ask Help From a Professional
If nothing here works for you, it is best to get in touch with a dog trainer or behaviorist. It is tricky to determine the root of any unwanted behavior. Each cause has a different correction method, and you may be reading everything wrong.
But this is where dog experts come in to help you with behavioral issues. They are well-equipped to determine the cause of your buddy’s whining. Once they do, they know the best course of action to correct this.
Why Does My Shiba Inu Puppy Cry So Much?
When your Shiba Inu cries, they are trying to communicate something to you. This vocalization is the first form of communication they learn. So while it is worrying or annoying to hear their cries, they have not learned a better way to talk to you yet.
There are several possible reasons why they are trying to communicate with you.
Some of them are valid, such as telling you that they are sick. While other reasons are something to ignore, such as getting excited. Most of the time though, you should acknowledge your crying Shiba Inu puppy.
To gain an understanding of your Shiba Inu puppy, here are the reasons why they may cry.
Your Puppy Feels Unwell
This is the first thing that you should consider as puppies are susceptible to getting ill. Like a kid, your poor puppy will cry, too, if they are sick. So their crying can mean that something is not right.
With this, you should look for some common symptoms of an illness:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lack of appetite
- Dizziness
- Increased breathing
- Excessive licking
If you notice the last symptoms, then there are several possible causes for this. It can be due to an allergy, whether from a food or environmental allergen. This can also be because of a parasite, skin infection, and more.
You should make sure to see a trusted vet right away once you see these. Take note of what you observed before coming in. This will help your vet narrow down the possible causes right away.
It will still help to take a trip to the vet even if you do not see any symptoms. Dogs like to hide their pain so you may not notice that your pup is sick. When in doubt, it is best to make sure by seeing an expert.
Your Puppy Is Lonely
Dogs are social creatures, to begin with. But a puppy relies on their pack even more for warmth, security, and more.
Before your Shiba Inu moved to your new home, your buddy had their mother and littermates. But now that they got separated, your poor puppy is finding it hard to cope with the changes. This is why your Shiba Inu cries, they are expressing their loneliness.
In time, your Shiba Inu will adjust to their new home and family. But there are steps you can take to help them get there.
One way is by keeping your Shiba Inu near you at home. You may do this by placing their crate or playpen in a busy area of your home. A great place is the living room, where you and your family hang out a lot.
Your Puppy Is Going Through a Fear Period
Your once bright and playful pup may become withdrawn and scared as they grow older. This may be due to a “fear period”, which often happens at different stages of their growth.
The first one occurs at around 8 to 12 weeks of age. The second one is at 4 to 9 months of age. And the last one happens at around 1-and-a-half to 2 years of age.
During these stages, your Shiba Inu will cower away from many things. They may even fear objects that they usually had no problem with. This fear is what drives your puppy to cry.
Experts are not sure why this happens. But your pup’s brain may be going through growth spurts at these stages.
Another reason may be due to their survival instinct. Since they are not with their mom, their protector, they begin to become more cautious.
Your Puppy’s Stomach Is Empty
Make sure you take note of the timing of your furry friend’s cries. If they cry when mealtime is almost up, they may be trying to tell you that they are hungry.
Your Shiba Inu puppy’s appetite will change fast as they grow older. With this, their feeding portions may not be enough to sustain them one day. And your puppy is trying to tell you this.
If you suspect this, make sure to talk to your vet about changing their diet first. Giving them more food may not be the best option all the time. Instead, what they may need is a new diet that is appropriate for them.
Your Puppy Wants Some Fun
Take the time to reflect on your furry friend’s daily activities. Do they get enough mental and physical exercise? Have you provided them with various toys to play with?
If your answer is no to both of these questions, then your puppy is crying out of boredom. They have not used up all their energy for the day. Thus, they have a lot of pent-up energy and they are looking for ways to get rid of it.
Their crying is a way for them to get rid of all their excess energy. They may also be trying to beg you to play with them.
Your Puppy Is Asking for Affection
Your Shiba Inu needs time to form a strong connection with its new family. With this, they will ask for affection from you and your family members. They may even wait for others to come home so they can interact with them.
So when your puppy feels that it is time to spend some quality time, it will cry. This may be to let you know, or it can be out of frustration from no one noticing them.
So make sure that you always acknowledge your Shiba Inu puppy when you come home. Take some time to give them some cuddles and talk to them.
Make sure that you give them your full attention when interacting with them and do not multitask. This will not be enough for your Shiba Inu. And it will also not help in forming a strong bond with them.
Your Shiba Inu Needs a Potty Break
Keep in mind that your puppy still has a small bladder and they do not have complete control of it yet. They will pee more frequently than an adult, about every few hours. So their cries may be their way of telling you to let them out so that they can relieve themselves.
Crying due to this is always a valid reason to check up on your Shiba Inu. This is especially true if they are inside their closed crate. Your furry friend may even bother you at night to go to the potty.
Your Shiba Inu Feels Cold
Young puppies find it hard to regulate their body temperature. Cuddling up to their littermates and mother was what kept them warm. But in their new home, they do not have their family.
With this, you need to make sure that your Shiba Inu puppy is warm enough. Give them lots of fluffy blankets and pillows for warmth, especially at night. But if it gets too cold, your poor pup may do better with a heated pad.
How Can I Make My Shiba Inu Quieter?
To turn your Shiba Inu into a quieter dog, you first need to know what triggers them to become noisy. Only then can you manage, train, and desensitize them to the stimuli. There is no one way to correct their unwanted behavior as you will need a combination of methods.
Not every method will work for your furry friend, though. But the good thing is that you have a variety of ways to make them quieter dogs! The following is a list of some of these.
Take Them for a Vet Checkup
Barking, whining, and other vocalizations are normal for dogs. This is how they communicate, after all. But excessive barking could mean that your Shiba Inu has an underlying medical issue.
You need to rule this out first because their condition may worsen if you do not take action right away. Other than that, if their barking is due to this, no form of training can fix this behavior.
Only your vet can help your Shiba Inu feel better again. Even if you are not sure if your buddy is sick, it is best to be on the safe side.
Use a Quiet Cue
You can train your Shiba Inu to be quiet once they hear your command. The command word can be anything you like, as long as it is short and simple for your furry friend to understand. Some popular choices are “quiet” and “enough”.
Here is how you can train your Shiba Inu for this.
First, you need to know what triggers your furry friend to bark or vocalize. Make sure it is something you can control, such as the sound of a doorbell. You may even ask the help of a fellow dog-owner friend if your buddy barks at the sight of another dog.
Next, introduce your Shiba Inu to the stimuli. Have someone ring the doorbell so that your buddy begins to bark. When they do, acknowledge their behavior for a bit by investigating the source. In this example, check the door or the window.
Then come back to your Shiba Inu and grab their attention. You can do this by showing them a high-value treat if they are food-motivated. If not, you can use their favorite toy. Once your Shiba Inu sees this, they will stop barking. Give them a treat right away once they become quiet.
Keep repeating the process above until your Shiba Inu gets the hang of it. You should also test them and make them wait longer for their reward. This will teach them to stay quiet for much longer.
If your Shiba Inu makes progress, you can now add your chosen cue word. While your furry friend is barking, say your command word in a loud, firm, and upbeat voice. Do this while you are showing them your reward.
Your furry friend should do the same thing, and they will stop their barking. Keep practicing this again with the cue word until your Shiba Inu complies all the time.
Now you can test your Shiba Inu by using your quiet command in real-world situations! The next time the deliveryman rings your doorbell, make sure to say your quiet cue.
Provide Them With Plenty of Exercises
A Shiba Inu who has excess energy will become restless, looking for ways to drain themselves. Ample daily exercise should be enough to keep their energy levels in check. But this can be a sign that your furry friend is not getting enough of it.
Physical exercise gets your furry friend’s body moving. This speeds up their metabolism, using up the fuel they get from their food.
A popular exercise is walking your Shiba Inu around in the neighborhood. But this will not drain this energetic breed’s energy enough.
Thus, you have to do more challenging exercises for your buddy, and they will love this. Have them zoom around the dog park and play fetch with them. Play a game of tug-of-war, have them chase a flirt pole, and more.
These exercises also stimulate your buddy’s mind as it gets them to think. But activities that focus on mental stimulation are as important.
The best way to sharpen your pooch’s mind is by training your Shiba Inu and teaching them new tricks. If you have a tasty treat with you, they will work for it.
Mental exercises do not make your buddy move as much. But it is just as, or even more tiring to them.
Provide Them With Various Sources of Entertainment
Boredom in dogs can manifest itself in various ways. But the most common sign of it is a noisy dog. Thus, your Shiba Inu should have access to many sources of entertainment.
The best way to do this is by providing them with a variety of toys. Different kinds of toys will help ensure that your buddy does not get bored of them.
You can hide some of their toys in the meantime. And if you see that your furry friend does not play with them anymore, bring out the hidden ones. Rotating their toys will bring them something new, even if you are not buying them a new toy.
Limit Their Exposure to Triggers
If you know what pushes your Shiba Inu to bark, it is best to keep it out of their sight. This is helpful if your Shiba Inu is territorial, as they will always react to possible invaders.
You can do this by closing the window curtains when you are away. This will prevent them from seeing dogs, people, and other small animals outside.
But this may not be enough for your furry friend. They can still hear noises that may push them to react.
You can turn on some white noise to muzzle out unusual sounds. So turn on the radio or TV whenever you need to be away for work.
Desensitize Them to the Trigger
Your furry friend’s triggers can bring you trouble, as it leads them to bark. But instead of looking at their triggers as a problem, you can use them to your advantage.
Once your figure out your buddy’s trigger, you can use it to train them. But make sure you use a trigger that you can control, such as the sound of a vacuum cleaner.
To do this, your Shiba Inu must be at a good distance from their trigger. It should be far enough that your furry friend does not make noise. But it should be close enough for your buddy to see the trigger.
Now prepare your furry friend’s favorite treats and turn the vacuum on. If your Shiba Inu does not bark, give them a treat.
Then begin coming closer to the vacuum, giving them continuous treats if they stay quiet. If they do begin to make noise, take a step back and try again.
Keep doing this until your Shiba Inu can come near to the vacuum without making any sound. This takes a lot of patience and practice, but this is not an impossible task.
