Shiba Inu generally are a food-motivated breed. The amount of food they eat dictates their poop volume. But what they eat can also impact this.
What they eat can also affect their pee, as certain foods have higher water content. This can supplement their usual water intake.
With this, if there is anything wrong with their poop or pee, you can trace them back to what your buddy consumes. But this can also be due to some health issues, and some are more serious. Others are even possibly life-threatening.
So you have a lot to learn about your furry friend’s pooping and peeing. You may not know where to start, but this guide will help you.
How Often Do Shiba Inu Need to Go to the Bathroom?
An adult Shiba Inu generally needs to go to the bathroom thrice a day, 8 hours apart. They can even hold it in for up to 10 to 12 hours. But this does not mean that you should let them hold their bladder or bowel this long.
This is only a general statement, though. There are variables that you need to consider that will affect how often your buddy needs to go to the potty.
The factors that you should look into are the following:
- Age
- Size
- Activity level
- Diet
- Water Intake
Their age plays a big part in this. A younger Shiba Inu will not have enough control over its small bladder. With this, they need more frequent trips to the potty to do their business.
An old Shiba Inu will also need to relieve themselves more often. Their bladder muscle, for example, will weaken with age. This can lead to urinary incontinence, making them pee more.
Like age, your Shiba Inu’s size is also another factor. Smaller dogs generally have a faster metabolism than larger ones. Thus, their bowels and bladders move faster, which means more trips to the potty.
In connection to the above, their activity level can hasten their metabolism too. Exercising speeds up the processes of the bladder and bowel. So if your Shiba Inu is active, you can expect them to relieve themselves more.
Your furry friend’s diet, too, can affect their potty frequency. If their diet consists of wet food or raw food, then they will pee more. This is due to the high water content of these diets, compared to dry food.
Last but not the least, their water intake is an obvious factor too. The more your Shiba Inu drinks, the more they need to do their business. Their body cannot hold all the water they consume, and what comes in, must come out.
How Often Should You Take a Shiba Inu Puppy Out to Pee?
If your Shiba Inu is still a young puppy, then you should take them to the potty every 2 hours. Their potty break frequency will depend on their age, though. As your Shiba Inu pup gets older, you can wait an hour longer between each potty break.
To figure out your furry friend’s potty break frequency, there is a general rule that you can follow. A puppy’s month of age corresponds to the number of hours they can hold their pee.
Following this rule, if your Shiba Inu puppy is 3 months of age, it can hold its bladder for 3 hours. This is likely the frequency of their potty breaks. Thus, you need to take them out to the potty around 8 times each day.
But again, this is only a guide and it is not definite. You also have to consider your furry friend’s water intake, diet, and activity levels.
If they are quite the active pup who drinks a lot of water, you can expect them to relieve themselves more. And if their diet consists of a lot of wet food, you can expect the same.
Other than basing their potty frequency on these, they should also go to the potty at specific times:
- First Thing in the Morning: Taking your puppy outside to potty is the first thing you should do. They have small bladders, and they likely want to relieve themselves. But of course, they cannot do this yet without your help, especially if they are in a crate.
- After They Eat: Once your puppy finishes their breakfast, wait for around 5 to 30 minutes. Then, you can take them out again to their potty area. A puppy needs 3 to 4 meals a day, so do this every time they finish their meal.
- During and After Playtime: A puppy’s digestive system gets stimulated by exercise. With this, they may want to stop for a potty break. You can tell this by looking at their body language. Take them to the potty if you see them sniffing the floor, barking or staring at you, or running to the door.
- After Each Nap: Your puppy’s bladder fills up as they nap, even for only a short while. This is like their morning routine, where they have to get up and go potty first thing in the morning.
How Often Do Shiba Inu Pee?
Generally, a healthy, adult Shiba Inu pees 3 to 4 times a day, at 6 to 8 hours apart. During adulthood, your Shiba Inu already has complete control over its bladder. But this is not set in stone, as there are a few factors that can make your buddy pee more.
The first factor is their diet. One of the differences between dry food is its water content. The former has little to none, while the latter has the highest water content in any dog food.
So if your Shiba Inu mainly eats wet food, they will pee more. This food type supplements their water intake. So on top of the water they consume, they will have more water in their system due to their food.
Another factor is your furry friend’s water intake, of course. Some dogs are great at drinking water, while others are not. If your Shiba Inu is the former, then they will have to relieve themselves more often.
Your buddy’s activity level also plays a part in this. An active Shiba Inu who gets plenty of exercise will have a faster metabolism. This is because moving around gets their body processes to move faster.
Other than that, a Shiba Inu who exercises a lot is more likely to drink water to replenish themselves.
One more factor is your Shiba Inu’s health. Some medical conditions can make your furry friend thirstier. For example, diabetes causes excessive thirst in dogs.
Other than that, dogs who have health issues may need a change in diet too. If your furry friend has a dental disease, eating dry food may be too painful. With this, your Shiba Inu is better off eating wet food, which has high water content.
The last factor is your lovable pooch’s age. As you know, a younger Shiba Inu will need to pee more often. But the same also applies to seniors.
Their bladder muscles weaken with age, so they do not have control over their pee again. This is one of the reasons why older dogs have urinary incontinence.
As you can see, the factors mentioned above have a connection to one another. So make sure that you consider all these so that you can figure out the best potty schedule for your Shiba Inu.
How Long Can Shiba Inu Pee at Night?
Since adult Shiba Inu have control over their bladders, they can hold their pee for 8 hours at night. If they need to, they can extend this duration for up to 10 to 12 hours. But making them hold their pee this long is pushing the limit.
With this though, you and your furry friend can sleep through the night uninterrupted. Still, you have to make sure that you take them out to the potty first thing in the morning.
But of course, a Shiba Inu who has a health issue may not be able to hold their bladder this long at night. Thus, they may wake you up in the middle of the night so that you can take them outside. The same can happen if your Shiba Inu already suffers from urinary incontinence.
If you can trust your furry friend to roam your home at night, then it may be better to use potty pads. This way, they can relieve themselves indoors without having to wake you up.
Using potty pads indoors is even better for dogs with urinary incontinence. They cannot hold their bladder enough to wake you up and walk them outside. Accidents are bound to happen with this condition, so you need to make adjustments at home.
How Often Do Shiba Inu Puppies Pee?
There is no one answer to this, as this will depend on your Shiba Inu puppy’s age. Your puppy will need to pee more often the younger their age, though. It can be tricky to figure this out, but that is why you can follow a general guideline.
As a rule of thumb, your Shiba Inu can only hold its bladder for 1 hour per month of age. You can use this information to figure out your buddy’s pee frequency.
Following this rule, here is a general guide on how often your pup needs to pee based on their age:
- 1 Month of Age: Every hour
- 2 Months of Age: Every 2 hours
- 3 Months of Age: Every 3 hours
- 4 Months of Age: Every 4 hours
- 5 Months of Age: Every 5 hours
- 6 Months of Age: Every 6 hours or up to 8 hours
As you can see, once your Shiba Inu is half a year old, they can already control their pee like an adult. With proper potty training at a young age, your Shiba Inu may even reach this stage at 4 months of age.
But keep in mind that this is only a general guideline. Your Shiba Inu may not fit these as there are other factors that you should consider, such as their water intake.
How Often Do Shiba Inu Puppies Pee at Night?
At night, the general rule that puppies can only hold their pee for an hour for every month of age still applies. With this, if your Shiba Inu is 2 months of age, they will need to pee every 2 hours. But since your Shiba Inu is asleep at night, they may be able to hold their pee a little longer.
When your Shiba Inu is asleep, they do not move around or drink water as they would when awake. Both of these can increase the rate at which their bladder fills up. Thus, they can hold their bladder for an extra hour or so.
There are ways you can help them in holding their pee longer, though. A good way to do this is to prevent or lessen their water intake for a few hours before bedtime. By doing this, your buddy’s bladder does not fill up as much as they sleep.
You should also make sure that they have one last potty break right before bed. Emptying their bladder will help ensure that your puppy will not wake you up in the middle of the night to pee.
Still, it is best to be on the safe side for this. Potty accidents can happen if your Shiba Inu is still a puppy. Thus, it is better to set an alarm at night for their potty breaks.
So after your puppy drifts off into dreamland, set an alarm for about 4 to 5 hours after. Once the alarm sets off, gently wake your puppy up and carry them outside for a potty break. Make sure you have treats with you to reward them after they pee.
How Long Can Shiba Inu Hold Pee?
If your adult Shiba Inu is in good health, they can hold their pee for around 6 to 8 hours. They may be able to push this even further, not peeing for up to 10 to 12 hours.
Once your Shiba Inu gets older, they will pee often again, like a puppy. A senior Shiba Inu should pee every 3 to 4 hours, and this is a natural process of aging.
Keep in mind that it is always best to let your Shiba Inu out frequently to pee. They may hold their bladder for up to 12 hours. But you should not let it go this far, as this can have some serious consequences on your furry friend.
How Long Can Shiba Inu Hold Their Pee at Night?
A Shiba Inu puppy can hold their pee for an hour every month of age. So if your furry friend is a month old, they can hold their pee for an hour. As they age one more month, you can add an hour to this again.
With this, you can expect some late-night interruptions so your puppy can pee. But hang in there, because your Shiba Inu can soon have better control over their bladder.
By the time they reach 6 months of age, they should already be able to hold their bladder for 6 to 8 hours. Since this is how long most people sleep at night, you can sleep uninterrupted.
How Long Can Shiba Inu Puppies Hold Their Pee?
The same general rule still applies to your furry friend’s pee frequency at night. For every month of age, your Shiba Inu can hold their pee for only an hour. So your buddy’s month of age is how long they can hold their bladder.
But during the day, your Shiba Inu is active. They exercise, eat, and drink water. All these can fill up your buddy’s bladder fast. Thus, your Shiba Inu may need to pee more frequently during the day.
What Happens if My Shiba Inu Holds Its Pee Too Long?
If your Shiba Inu holds their pee too long, the first thing you can expect is a potty accident. This breed may value cleanliness but this will not matter to them at this point. There are other more serious issues that your buddy may face if they hold their pee too long, though.
Keep in mind that peeing is a natural biological process for your furry friend. Thus, you should be respectful of it and not control it. Otherwise, any of the health issues listed below may occur.
Urinary Incontinence
This is the first threat that can happen to your Shiba Inu if they hold their pee longer than 12 hours. The bladder works by stretching to a certain extent only. As it extends, the pressure inside should push the pee put.
But in bladder distention, your furry friend’s bladder will continue to fill up. It will not push out their pee, even with the pressure building up inside.
This frequent pressure can damage their bladder muscles and the surrounding tissues. This can then lead to frequent leaking, which means more potty accidents at home.
Unfortunately, this damage can be irreversible. So the best way to prevent this from happening is by letting your Shiba Inu pee when they need to.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
Part of what the urinary system does is flush out bacteria. These microorganisms can build up in the bladder, kidney, and urethra. And the body cleans these by peeing.
If your Shiba Inu does not pee, the bacteria will stay stagnant in the system. This will allow the bacteria to grow in the urinary tract, leading to an infection.
This can be quite a painful condition for your Shiba Inu. Among its symptoms are bloody urine and difficulty urinating. Your furry friend may need antibiotics to treat their UTI.
Urinary Stones or Crystals
The urine staying in their system too long can also calcify and crystalize. This can lead to crystal or stone formation in the urinary tract.
If your Shiba Inu has these, they will be in excruciating pain. This can also cause physical damage and can be life-threatening.
Urinary Cancer
This is an even scarier consequence of letting your Shiba Inu hold their pee too long. Urine also contains carcinogens. If left in the urinary tract too long, this can interact with the cells longer than it should.
The symptoms of urinary cancer mimic the symptoms of urinary tract infections. This includes straining to pee, painful urination, and the presence of blood in the urine.
Urinary cancer is a less common issue compared to those mentioned above. But it is still something that you should consider.
To let you know how serious this is, the prognosis of urinary cancer is not good. Usually, dogs who suffer from this will only have 6 to 12 months to live with treatment. This will be even shorter, at 4 to 6 months, if your buddy does not receive medical attention.
Why Does My Shiba Inu Pee So Much?
If your Shiba Inu pees so much, there may be a medical or behavioral reason behind it. A common health issue for this is that your buddy has a urinary tract infection. But it can also be a natural consequence of aging.
A dog who is peeing more than usual is alarming to any dog owner. But since it can be due to many things, it is hard to figure out the root of the issue.
With this, below is a list of possible reasons why your Shiba Inu pees so much. This will help you narrow your options down, so you can pinpoint the cause faster with your vet.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
This is a common reason behind a dog’s frequent need to pee. An overgrowth of bacteria in your furry friend’s urinary tract can have several signs. And one of them is excessive peeing, even if they do not let anything out.
Other than that, UTIs can also have the following symptoms:
- Bloody urine
- Cloudy urine
- Whining as they pee
- Straining to pee
- Small drops of urine
If you see any of these, make sure to take your Shiba Inu to the vet. UTIs are treatable and your vet can give your buddy some antibiotics. If left untreated, UTIs can lead to more serious issues, such as cancer.
Incontinence
If your Shiba Inu suffers from this, they lack control over their bladder. Thus, they will leak urine from time to time, even if they do not mean to.
Incontinence has a few possible causes. And treating the issue will depend on this. Here are some factors that may cause urinary continence in your Shiba Inu:
- Ectopic Ureter: This is a condition where your Shiba Inu has an abnormal urethral opening. Usually, UTIs are in connection with this. And as you know, urinary tract infections can make your Shiba Inu pee more.
- Decreased Urethral Closure Pressure: This is often due to a neurological issue. But your Shiba Inu will need to undergo a neurological exam to confirm this.
- Hormonal Imbalance: This is also known as spay incontinence. When you spay your buddy, they experience a decrease in estrogen or testosterone. With this, they cannot hold their bladder well and it can leak out without your furry friend knowing.
- Age-Related: Incontinence can also be a result of the natural process of aging. As your buddy gets older, the muscles of their bladder weaken. Or, they become prone to health issues that affect their peeing. Both are possible reasons why they pee more.
Urinary Blockages
Urinary blockages can take the form of a bladder stone, crystal, or tumor. It can also be a blood clot, scar tissue, or a lesion. These prevent and block the passage of urine, making it hard for your Shiba Inu to pee.
These can cause distention because the bladder expands so much, building up pressure. This pressure can cause damage to the muscles and tissues near the bladder. Thus, your buddy will leak urine, peeing more, but in small amounts.
These blockages can cause extreme pain in your Shiba Inu. But an even bigger worry for any pet parent is that this is life-threatening. Thus, make sure that your Shiba Inu sees a vet right away.
Diabetes
This condition occurs if the body does not produce insulin. But it can also occur if the body does not respond to the insulin it produces. Both can lead to high blood sugar in your Shiba Inu.
Due to this, the kidneys shed off water, stimulating your buddy to pee. Increased thirst is also another symptom of diabetes, making them drink water more. This can further increase their need to pee.
Cushing’s Disease
This condition occurs when your furry friend’s body produces too much cortisone. Cushing’s disease has several signs, such as increased thirst and urination. But your Shiba Inu can also exhibit other symptoms, such as:
- Increase in appetite
- Hair loss
- Lethargy
- Seizures
- Muscle weakness
Tumors
As you know, tumors can cause blockages and lead to bladder distension. But this is not the only way tumors can bring urinary issues.
Tumors on the brain or spine, although far from the bladder, can make your Shiba Inu pee more. These tumors can put pressure on the nerves between the brain and the bladder. With this, your furry friend’s ability to control their bladder weakens.
A tumor that puts pressure on the pituitary gland can also spell trouble. This is because your buddy’s hormone levels become abnormal as a result of the pressure. Thus, the unusual hormone levels can cause your pooch to pee more often.
Kidney Infection or Disease
Frequent urination does not always have to be an issue with the bladder. Sometimes, the issue can come from the urinary tract and move to the kidneys.
An example of this has to do with urinary tract infections. The bacteria in the urinary tract may migrate to the kidney. This can cause kidney inflammation, and one symptom of this is excessive thirst. The increased water intake can make your Shiba Inu pee more.
If left untreated, kidney infections or diseases can lead to kidney failure. With this, you have to act fast if you suspect that your Shiba Inu has this.
Bacterial Cystitis
This condition occurs when the bladder has an infection and becomes inflamed. Bacterial cystitis has similar symptoms to a urinary tract infection. But sometimes, you are not going to see any symptoms at all.
Bladder infection is not regarded as true incontinence. But it increases your buddy’s urge to pee. It may also scar the bladder, affecting your pooch’s ability to hold urine.
Medication Side Effects
Does your Shiba Inu take medications? If so, some medications can dilute their urine so much. And this can lead to urinary incontinence.
One medication that can lead to urinary incontinence is prednisone. This medication is anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive. Because of this, prednisone is a commonly used medication in dogs.
Lack of Proper Potty Training
Sometimes, the problem does not lie within your Shiba Inu. You should also consider that they did not have enough time to learn where to potty. Thus, it can look like they are peeing a lot because it all happens in your home.
Compared to most dog breeds, Shiba Inu is not that difficult to potty train. This is thanks to their cat-like cleanliness, and they want their home to be clean too.
But you cannot expect them to know where they can relieve themselves right off the bat. Thus, you need to put more effort into training your buddy.
Diet
You should take everything that goes into your furry friend’s system into account. And this includes the type of food that they eat.
Wet food, for example, has high water content compared to dry food. This increases the water that they consume, making them urinate more.
Salty food, such as table scraps, can also do the same. This is due to its high water content, making your buddy drink more water to replenish their thirst.
Weather
During the warmer months, your Shiba Inu will have ways to cool down. Since they cannot sweat as much as humans, your buddy will pant more to regulate their body temperature. But panting takes up much of the water that is in your buddy’s system.
With this, your Shiba Inu will drink more during the summer, as humans do. And an increase in their water intake will make their bladder fill up faster, causing them to pee more often.
This often happens once your Shiba Inu goes inside where it is cooler. They do not need the extra water they consumed anymore. So your buddy will expel the water by peeing a lot.
Age
As you know, a puppy will need to pee more due to its small bladder that fills up fast. Their urinary cycle may also hasten due to their lifestyle. An energetic puppy moves around more, speeding up its metabolism and making them pee a lot.
But a senior Shiba may also pee as often as a puppy too. Their bladder muscles weaken with age, affecting their ability to control their bladder.
Marking
Since dogs are territorial beings, they will have ways of securing their territory. But they may also use their pee to attract mates. Your Shiba Inu may exhibit this behavior more during mating season.
This is common in unneutered males, and it is mostly a territorial behavior. But a female dog may also do this, especially when they are attracting a male for mating.
Anxiety
Anxiety can exhibit in dogs in various ways, and urination is only one of its many signs. This can be trickier to correct because you have to figure out what is causing your buddy’s anxiety.
It can be due to overstimulation, a lack of exercise or socialization, and more. Anything that your Shiba Inu finds scary is always a possibility for this.
Once you can pinpoint the cause, you can figure out how to help your Shiba Inu. Sometimes, you only have to let time pass by, as in the case of moving homes. But most of the time, they need training, especially if they lack socialization.
Why Is My Shiba Inu Not Peeing?
Some reasons why your Shiba Inu pees too much or does not pee enough overlap. This includes urinary tract infections, which can urge them to pee often. But with this issue, your Shiba Inu may try to pee but they do not produce anything.
This is only one of the several possibilities why your Shiba Inu is not peeing, though. Sometimes, this can be a sign of a behavioral issue. But other times, this can be due to a medical issue.
Below is a list of possible reasons why your Shiba Inu is struggling to pee.
Uroabdomen
This condition occurs when the bladder ruptures. As a result, the urine does not pass through your furry friend’s urinary tract. Instead, their urine leaks into the peritoneal cavity.
In dogs, uroabdomen often is a result of trauma, such as getting hit by a car. With trauma to their abdomen, your Shiba Inu will find it hard to pee. But your furry friend may also show other symptoms, such as the following:
- Vomiting
- Anorexia
- Restlessness
- Extreme lethargy
- Difficulty lying down
- Swollen abdomen
- Assuming a “praying” position (due to abdominal pain)
Make sure that your Shiba Inu gets help right away if you see these signs. The mortality rate for this is around 20 percent, and it is quite serious.
Urinary Stones
You can find these urinary stones anywhere in your buddy’s urinary system. It can show up in the kidneys, the urethra, the ureters, and the bladder. But in dogs, urinary stones are often found in the bladder.
No matter where this occurs, it can cause your Shiba Inu to struggle to pee as it blocks the urinary cycle. Bladder stones can grow up to 3 to 4 inches (75–100 mm), and this size makes it impossible to leave the system.
These urinary stones can form when minerals accumulate in the urinary tract. This usually happens if your Shiba Inu has the habit of holding their pee too long.
Urinary Tract or Bladder Tumor
Tumors, whether benign or malignant, can cause blockages. This is an abnormal growth of tissues, forming a mass. And this can occur either in the urinary tract or in the bladder.
Naturally, this mass can prevent your furry friend’s pee from getting expelled.
Bladder Cancer
If you do find a cancerous tumor in your Shiba Inu, the most common type is transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). This tumor grows on the cell lining on the inside of the urinary bladder. But can also show up in the following:
- Ureters
- Urethra
- Kidney
- Vagina
- Prostate
Unfortunately, the data on bladder cancer in dogs is saddening. In around 20 percent of dogs who have bladder cancer, cancer had already spread to other parts of the body. This data is upon the diagnosis of the dogs.
With this, you should always consult your vet if you see anything unusual in your Shiba Inu.
Symptoms of bladder cancer include frequent peeing without producing urine. Other symptoms of bladder cancer include the following:
- Painful urination
- Bloody urine
- Incontinence
Prostate Hyperplasia
This is one of the possible reasons why a male Shiba Inu may struggle to pee. Male dogs have a prostate gland that appears inside the anus, close to the urethra.
The prostate gland produces fluid for the sperm. And this reproductive gland is under the control of testosterone.
Unneutered dogs produce a lot of testosterone. Over time, this large amount of testosterone can cause the prostate gland to expand.
It is normal for a male dog to have an enlarged prostate gland at some point in its life. But most of the time, it does not cause any issues. Other times, though, it can be a problem.
It presses on the colon and urethra when it gets too big, making it hard to pee and poop. In more serious cases of prostate hyperplasia, the following issues may arise:
- Infection of the prostate (prostatitis)
- Development of cysts
Kidney Failure
This is a serious condition in dogs, as it also impacts other vital organs. The kidney plays a vital role in the body, such as the following:
- Eliminating toxins
- Helps in producing red blood cells
- Maintaining electrolyte balance
- Regulating hydration
These also affect your furry friend’s urinary system. Toxins get flushed out of the body through pee. And hydration is crucial for your buddy to produce urine.
So if your furry friend’s kidney no longer works as normal, you can expect severe consequences. Kidney failure also has other symptoms besides being unable to pee. Here are some of them:
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Change in water intake
- Nausea
- Bloody urine
- Seizures
The first three symptoms can worsen your Shiba Inu’s condition.
Frequent vomiting can dehydrate your Shiba Inu. And the lack of water in their system will impact their urine production.
Loss of appetite is also another because dogs also intake water through food. Especially if they are on a wet diet.
A change in their water intake is also an obvious problem. Your buddy’s water intake may either increase or decrease. If it decreases, this can contribute to your buddy’s dehydration. But even if they drink more water, the kidney cannot use it to regulate the body’s hydration.
Neurological Issues
Some neurological diseases affect your furry friend’s muscles. Keep in mind that the bladder is a muscle. When it fills up, the pressure increases inside, and it expels urine due to this.
With this, urinating relies on the contraction and relaxation of muscles. But some neurological diseases make this hard and sometimes impossible to do.
Dehydration
This condition occurs when your furry friend’s body loses more fluid than it takes in. What goes in of their body must come out. But since your Shiba Inu is not drinking enough water, there is nothing for them to expel.
Dehydration, if left untreated, can lead to serious life-threatening consequences. The damage they get from dehydration may even be irreversible.
You can usually tell that your Shiba Inu lacks water in their system by looking at them. Here are some signs of dehydration in dogs:
- Dry nose
- Thick and pasty saliva
- Sunken eyes
- Pale and dry gums
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Loss of skin elasticity
With this, you should check if your Shiba Inu always has access to drinking water. You must do this, especially during summer, as their water may evaporate. Constantly replacing their water is also a must during the warmer months.
You should also check if their drinking water is clean. Some dogs will refuse to drink from their water bowl if they find it dirty. This can contribute to their dehydration.
Feeding them water-rich food will also help in keeping them hydrated. This is where wet food trumps dry food, as it is rich in moisture.
Watery treats are also great when your buddy is most prone to dehydration in the summer. Watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe are great for this. You may want to chill these first before serving so that your Shiba Inu enjoys them more.
Nervousness
General nerves and stress can also prevent your Shiba Inu from peeing. These negative emotions will not make your buddy comfortable enough to relieve themselves.
One reason why your Shiba Inu feels this way is because their potty area is scary. There may be a strange dog or person by the area where they usually pee. Thus, your Shiba Inu will hold its pee until those unfamiliar faces move away.
It can also be that your Shiba Inu is in a new environment because you moved homes. Dogs thrive with a routine, and they would rather have everything stay the same. Any change in their environment can cause stress and they may not pee in their new place.
It can be tricky to deal with nervousness because there are so many possible triggers for your Shiba Inu. But it is necessary for you to figure out why your furry friend is nervous. Only then can you figure out the best way to help them.
Why Do Shiba Inu Pee in the House?
When your Shiba Inu pees in your home, it is often due to a behavioral issue. This can be a sign of improper potty training, territorial marking, and more. But like any other unwanted behavior, you must first rule out any health issues.
With this, you must first take your Shiba Inu to the vet. If you delay this, their condition may worsen if they suffer from a health issue.
There are a lot of health issues that can cause this behavior. Some of them are serious, thus the need for immediate medical attention. Here is a list of some of these:
- UTI
- Diabetes
- Addison’s disease
- Cushing’s disease
- Urinary tumors
- Intestinal parasites
- Kidney or liver disease
- Bladder stones or crystals
- Adrenal gland issues
Four other common conditions can also explain this behavior. But it may be best to explain them in detail below for you to have a better understanding of their condition. You will also find the behavioral causes of your buddy’s house soiling below.
Arthritis
This is a common age-related health issue in all dogs. Those who suffer from this will experience chronic pain and discomfort. Their ability to pee in the right place may also get affected.
If your Shiba Inu suffers from this, the pain or discomfort will come from their joints. This makes it hard for your Shiba Inu to stand up and go to their designated potty area. With this, they may not get there in time and begin peeing where they stand.
Sometimes, your Shiba Inu may not even bother to get up to pee. This is because they know that standing up will cause them pain. So your poor Shiba Inu will just relieve themselves wherever they are.
Other than that, this condition may also make it painful for your buddy to lift their leg. With this, your arthritic Shiba may also make a mess because they cannot get into a proper position.
Cognitive Decline
Old age does not only affect your furry friend’s joints and physical capabilities. But it may also affect their cognitive functioning.
A common form of this is canine cognitive disorder, better known as dog dementia. This condition can cause disorientation and confusion. And this confusion is what can lead your buddy to pee everywhere at home.
Urinary Incontinence
This is a common reason behind house soiling in younger and older dogs. But the reason behind their incontinence will vary.
In the case of a young Shiba Inu, they have a small bladder that fills up fast. If they cannot get to their potty area on time, they have no choice but to pee inside. This often happens if they only have a designated potty area outdoors.
This can also happen if your Shiba Inu recently got spayed or neutered. It is common for them to experience incontinence due to a hormonal imbalance.
But in the case of a senior Shiba Inu, its bladder muscles get weaker and weaker. The bladder works by contracting and relaxing. And if your buddy cannot control this, then they will leak urine.
Lack of Potty Training
If your young Shiba Inu soils your home, then it can mean that they need more potty training. Since they are not fully potty trained yet, you need to go retrain them again on the basics.
Make sure to use positive reinforcement, and give them praise and treats when they do pee outside. This will help encourage your Shiba Inu to keep doing the behaviors that you want to see.
You should also establish a potty routine for your furry friend. If you are consistent, they will come up with a body clock for this. Thus, you can expect when to take them out and they will usually comply.
Another thing is to always keep an eye on them. This will help you catch the signs of a dog who needs to pee. This includes whining, sniffing the floor, or scratching the door.
The last thing to go back to is to keep your buddy in their crate if you cannot watch over them. Your Shiba Inu will try their best not to soil their den, and this is an instinct in dogs. But make sure to take them out when it is time for their potty break.
Urine Marking
Your Shiba Inu will do what it can to keep other creatures away from their territory. And one odd way they do this is by peeing on them, even if they are indoors.
There are several possible reasons for this, such as sensing an unfamiliar dog. They will pee at home to communicate to the other dog that this is your buddy’s house and they should back off.
But this can also happen if there is anything else unusual in your home. This can be a new pet, baby, or any unfamiliar item brought inside. Your buddy will then get territorial. So they will pee on the spot where the pet or the baby has been in. This is to replace their scent with theirs.
Environmental Changes
As a creature of habit, your Shiba Inu can become stressed if there are changes in your home. And both minor and major changes can be the root of their stress. With this intense negative emotion, your Shiba Inu may react by peeing.
A big change in the home is when you introduce a new pet or household member at home. Rearranging your home, buying new furniture, or moving to a new home are also some.
But the problem lies within minor changes, as they can be so subtle that you do not know what you did wrong.
The most common one is a change in their daily routine. Even pushing their daily walk time earlier or later can send your Shiba Inu into distress. Changing your work schedule, even if it does not concern them, may also cause this.
In time, your Shiba Inu will get used to these changes. Once they adjust to their new environment, the house soiling should go away. Otherwise, you need to seek a dog behaviorist’s help.
Poor Weather Conditions
If your buddy suddenly decides to pee indoors, make sure you check the weather outside. There may be a snowstorm or a thunderstorm happening. Or, it can be too hot or too cold for your furry friend’s comfort.
In these scenarios, their designated potty area outdoors is not inviting. So when the weather is bad, make sure you set up a potty area indoors using potty pads.
Happy Peeing
Sometimes, your Shiba Inu cannot contain their excitement that they leak their pee. While this is often seen in puppies, this may also happen to an adult dog.
So make sure you figure out what triggers your furry friend’s overexcitement. A common scenario for this is when your buddy greets you once you come home. This is a loyal breed who worries about their owners, and they get too happy once you are back home safe.
Why Do Shiba Inu Pee When Excited?
Your Shiba Inu pees when excited because they cannot contain their overflowing joy! A common scenario for this is when you come home. Your furry friend waited for you the whole day and they are just so excited that they get to be with you again.
This issue is more common in puppies. This is because they do not have control over their urinary sphincter yet. With this, they find it challenging to hold their pee when they feel intense emotions.
But an older Shiba Inu may still exhibit this unwanted behavior.
It is easy to tell if your Shiba Inu pees out of overexcitement. Look for a wagging body or tail, a grin on their face, some happy dances, and more.
Watching out for these signs is crucial. Peeing when excited can also have a different meaning.
When you go near your Shiba Inu and they start to pee, it can also be due to submissive urination. This happens if your buddy is shy or did not go through proper socialization. It can also happen if they have a history of harsh punishments.
You can also tell if this is the case for your Shiba Inu by looking at them. They will pin their ears back, tuck their tail between their legs, and other submissive signs.
This can occur when you greet them once you come home too. Interacting with them by standing over them is a dominant position. So your buddy will react by peeing to tell you that they are not challenging your authority.
How Do I Stop My Shiba Inu From Peeing in the House?
To stop your Shiba Inu from peeing inside the house, you first need to rule out health issues. Delaying medical attention can make their condition worse. Thus, this may lead to a bad prognosis for your buddy if the issue is serious.
Other than that, your Shiba Inu will keep peeing in your home if you do not get them proper help. And if they are ill, only their vet can help them.
But if your Shiba Inu has a clean bill of health, then you can get to work at home. It can be tricky to figure out where to start. To help you with this, here is how you can correct your buddy’s unwanted behavior.
Clean Up Their Pee
Your Shiba Inu is more likely to pee in spots of your home where they can smell their pee. Thus, you should clean up after them right away. Otherwise, they will keep using the spot as their “bathroom”.
But this must be with the correct products, not only soap and water. Canines have a powerful enzyme in their urine that only they can smell. So while you do not smell anything anymore, it still lingers for your furry friend.
Thus, you need an enzymatic cleaner to fully get rid of the smell. This cleaner breaks down the odor-causing bacteria in your furry friend’s pee.
So when your Shiba Inu pees on the floor, wipe it up with a paper towel first. Then spray or saturate the spot with the enzymatic cleaner. Do not wipe the spot dry as the cleaner must be in contact with the pee to be effective.
Track Their Activities
There are several points of the day where you need to take your Shiba Inu out to pee. They need to pee after they eat, drink water, sleep, or exercise. So keep track of when they do this.
With this information, you can predict when they will need to relieve themselves. You will then get a better feel of their bladder’s daily rhythm. Sometimes, all your Shiba Inu may need is tweaking their potty schedule.
Watch Out for the Pee Signs
Dogs often have a “tell” whenever they want to do their business. Some of this includes circling, sniffing the floor, and more. If you see these signs, you must take action right away.
Your Shiba Inu may start getting into position to pee. But you have to interrupt them before they even begin. So make a loud noise, such as clapping, to bring their focus onto you.
Now you can take them outdoors to relieve themselves. Once they do, make sure to give them praise and a tasty treat to reinforce the behavior.
Follow a Walking Routine
Walking is your furry friend’s opportunity to take their business outdoors. But if you do not walk them enough, they may resort to peeing in your home. Other than that, this can also be due to poor planning of their walks.
In the case of an adult Shiba Inu, they need to pee every 6 to 8 hours. Thus, they need to pee 3 to 4 times a day. Taking this into consideration, your Shiba Inu needs to walk outside at least thrice a day.
These walks should be carefully spaced throughout the day. So take your Shiba Inu for a walk in the morning, at noon, and at night. Then you may want to take them out before bedtime to empty their bladder.
Address Their Anxiety
Some anxious or nervous dogs pee as a response to how they feel. This is more common in puppies and older dogs. But what they have in common is that they have a trigger for their odd habit.
This can be a scary noise, such as a siren, fireworks, or even a loud voice. But this can also be a scary situation, such as meeting new faces.
Figuring out their trigger can be tough, but you will notice a pattern. Once you figure out your furry friend’s triggers, you can help ease their anxiety in a variety of ways.
If your buddy gets triggered by sounds, then you can play some white noise for them. Turn on the TV or play some classical music to muffle out the scary noise.
You may also create a safe space where they can retreat if they feel overwhelmed.
First, you must find a quiet place where they can be alone. Provide them with their necessities, such as their toys, water, and a bed. Then leave in one of your used shirts so your scent can bring them comfort.
Keep Them Beside You All the Time
Until you can trust your Shiba Inu not to soil your home, you must keep them near you at all times. This will allow you to take action when you need to right away.
If they begin to show that they want to pee, you can interrupt their behavior right away and rush them outside. Or if they already made a puddle, have them finish their business outside.
This is an opportunity to keep training your Shiba Inu. Whenever they do pee in their designated potty area, give them a treat. This will help in teaching them where they can pee, and where they should not pee.
Confine Them if You Cannot Supervise
Of course, you cannot stay at home all the time to keep an eye on your Shiba Inu. If you have to leave home, then you can keep your buddy in a confined area.
The best way to confine your Shiba Inu is to keep them in their crate. Dogs are den animals, and a crate mimics this. Because they like to keep their den clean, they will avoid soiling it too.
But a crate is not the only place where your Shiba Inu can stay. You can keep your furry friend in a playpen or a small room too. But make sure they have their necessities, such as their toys and water bowl.
Make sure you come back in time to let your furry friend out so they can relieve themselves. This is especially important if your Shiba Inu is still a puppy.
Otherwise, they will still pee in their confinement area. Or, they may hold their pee too long that they may develop a health issue.
How Often Should Shiba Inu Poop?
Your Shiba Inu should poop at least once a day, but they often empty their bowels once or twice a day. Some dogs may even need to poop up to four times a day. But this is not the only thing you should watch out for.
Another thing to consider is that the frequency of their poops should be consistent. It does not matter if they poop only once or as many as four times a day. They should not pee any more or less than what they usually do.
If there are changes in their poop frequency, this can be a sign of a digestive issue. Thus, knowing how often your Shiba Inu poops will help you catch anything amiss.
There are factors that affect your furry friend’s bowel movements, though.
Their diet plays a big part in this. If they eat fiber-rich meals, then this can move their bowel movements faster. This can also happen if your Shiba Inu likes to drink a lot of water.
Other than these, there are also other factors to consider:
- Activity level
- Medications
- Size
How Long Can a Shiba Inu Go Without Pooping?
If your Shiba Inu is healthy, they can go a day or two without pooping. But if they still do not poop on the third day, then you should take them to the vet already. You should also seek help right away if your buddy shows other symptoms.
Do not delay taking a trip to the vet if you see these symptoms:
- Bloody stool
- Straining to poop
- Lack of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
Constipation is not always a medical emergency. It is common for dogs to go through this for a few days. And most of the time, it resolves on its own.
There are several reasons why your Shiba Inu experiences this, some are the following:
- Medication side effects
- Change in diet
- Lower activity level
- Decreased water consumption
But there is a severe medical issue that can cause your Shiba Inu not to pee. This condition is constipation, a life-threatening health issue.
When obstipation occurs, your Shiba Inu cannot empty their bowel themselves. Thus, they will need your vet’s help to do this, and you need to act fast.
But if you leave them alone, your Shiba Inu can face some serious consequences. Keep in mind that their poop has a lot of bacteria. If left alone, the bacteria can get absorbed into your buddy’s bloodstream.
This can lead to blood poisoning (sepsis), or even death.
Why Does My Shiba Inu Keep Pooping?
Your furry friend’s frequent trips to the vet can mean that something is wrong with their diet. It can also be due to their young or old age, or it can mean that they have a health issue.
Figuring out the correct fix for this will need some investigating. So for you to begin this, here are the possible reasons why your Shiba Inu poops so much.
Too Much Fiber in Their Diet
Fiber is a necessary part of your buddy’s diet as it helps regulate their digestion. With fiber in their diet, your Shiba Inu can avoid constipation and diarrhea. But too much fiber can also spell trouble.
Too much fiber in their diet can speed up the passage of stool in their digestive tract too much. With this, you need to take a closer look at your furry friend’s diet. They may be consuming more fiber than they should.
Sudden Change in Diet
If you recently changed your buddy’s diet, did you give them enough time to get used to their new food? Changing their diet right away can make your Shiba Inu poop more than usual.
Their stomach has gotten accustomed to their old diet. Thus, you need to make a gradual switch if ever you decide to feed them new dog food. You need to give your Shiba Inu at least a week to adjust to their new food.
To do this, you first need to mix their old and new food in their bowl. Start by mixing 80 percent of their old food with 20 percent of their new food. Then increase the ratio of their new food as the week progresses. By doing this, you lessen the risk of upsetting your furry friend’s stomach.
Eating the Wrong Diet
Not every dog food is suitable for your Shiba Inu. Two of your immediate considerations here are food allergies and intolerances. And in this breed, allergies are all too common.
With this, you need to make sure that there is no ingredient in their diet that can trigger these. Common food allergens in dogs include the following:
- Soy
- Wheat
- Eggs
- Dairy
- Beef
- Chicken
Other than this, your Shiba Inu may also have a medical condition. If this is the case, there is a certain diet that they should follow. Otherwise, your buddy’s digestive tract will get affected.
Eating Too Much
The amount of food that your Shiba Inu eats dictates the volume of their poop. So if you feed them a ton, you can expect that they will have to relieve themselves more often.
The first thing you should do is to check their meal size. You may be feeding bigger meal portions than what is appropriate. But if you are feeding them the right amount, then you have other factors to look at.
Do you like sharing your food with your Shiba Inu? Too many treats a day can add up to their usual meals. So make sure to cut down on training treats or the table scraps that you give them.
Also, you should not give in to them when they beg for more food. This intelligent breed will look for ways to manipulate you into giving them more. But you should always be one step ahead of them.
Stealing Food
Even if you are doing everything right with their diet, your Shiba Inu may still eat more than they should. Thus, you should consider the possibility that your buddy steals food from time to time. This will add up to their already well-planned meal portions.
And as you already know, the more they eat, the more they have to poop. With this, make sure to keep any food items out of reach. This will prevent your Shiba Inu from consuming more than they should.
Age
Since puppies have to eat more often, a young Shiba Inu will also poop more. You can expect a puppy to poop up to 5 times a day, but this should be less frequent once they hit adulthood. And older Shiba Inu, then, should poop around once or twice a day. But their old age comes with a weaker immune system. Thus, they get sick more easily, such as suffering from diarrhea.
Environmental Changes
Your Shiba Inu thrives on a routine, and they like everything to stay the same. So if there is any change in their environment, your buddy may have trouble coping.
Stress due to this can manifest itself in a variety of ways, and this includes pooping more often.
There are many possible triggers to this. This includes a new household member, a new pet, or moving to a new home. But the trigger can also be as subtle as a change in the way your home smells.
If this is the case for your Shiba Inu, then you only have to wait for them to get used to the environment. In time, they should go back to their usual pooping schedule.
But if this persists for more than a few weeks, then you need to check with your vet. Their issue may not be due to environmental changes anymore.
Health Issues
A lot of health issues can affect your furry friend’s digestive system. Thus, this can make changes in their poop frequency. The most common one is diarrhea, and this is often a symptom of other health issues.
But another condition that you should consider is colitis. This is a condition where the colon or large intestine becomes inflamed. This can cause watery stools and even diarrhea.
Why Does My Shiba Inu Fart So Much?
What your buddy eats, how they eat, and their lifestyle can explain why they fart so much. But this can also be a sign of an underlying health issue too.
To have a better understanding of what is going on, you need to go into detail with each of these. With this, here are all the possible causes behind your buddy’s flatulence.
Food Allergies
Allergies are common in this breed so you have to consider this possibility. There may be an ingredient in their diet that triggers an allergic reaction.
This occurs because their immune system reacts to the food as though it is harmful to the body. Thus, the immune system attacks the ingredient to protect the body.
Allergies in dogs mainly present themselves as skin issues. So some symptoms of this include itchy skin, excessive licking, and flaky skin.
But this can also make your Shiba Inu fart more often. Although, pooping is often more common in food intolerance, not in food allergies.
Food Intolerance
Your Shiba Inu may also find it hard to digest a certain ingredient in their diet. Because the digestive system is struggling, more gas can build up in the stomach. Thus, your Shiba Inu farts more to let everything out.
Other than flatulence, other symptoms of this include diarrhea and an upset stomach.
With this, make sure to check out what you are feeding your Shiba Inu. The most common trigger for this is dairy products.
Dogs lack lactase, and this is crucial in breaking down lactose found in dairy products. This is why most dogs are lactose intolerant. Thus, you may want to keep your Shiba Inu away from milk, cheese, ice cream, and more.
Gassy Food
Some foods, although nutritious, can contribute to your furry friend’s gassiness. This includes veggies such as Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli.
So if you want your buddy’s farting to stop, then you should feed them less gassy foods. This includes carrots, sweet potatoes, and peas.
Low-Quality Food
Make sure to carefully check the ingredients of your furry friend’s dog food. Poor quality dog food often contains fillers, like carbs, to make your Shiba Inu feel full faster. This also makes the price of dog food cheaper.
But they may also contain a lot of other ingredients that may upset your buddy’s stomach. This includes the following:
- Added sweeteners (corn syrup)
- Animal by-products
- Preservatives (MSG, BHT, BHA)
- Soy
- Carrageenan
- Cellulose
- Low-quality fats (lard, vegetable oil)
- Artificial colors
Eating Too Fast
When your Shiba Inu eats, they also take in air every time their bite. But if they eat too fast, they swallow too much air that can turn into fermented gas.
This can make their stomach bloated and this makes it hard for their body to digest food. With this, your Shiba Inu will fart more.
If this is your buddy’s issue, then you have several ways to make them eat slower:
- Provide them with a slow feeder
- Spread their food on the floor
- Feed them small, frequent meals
- Use an interactive feeder
- Place a tennis ball in their bowl
- Prevent exercises before and after a meal
Sedentary Lifestyle
If your Shiba Inu is a couch potato, then they are more likely to have excess weight especially if they eat a lot. Overweight or obese dogs are more prone to health issues that can cause excess gas, no matter their diet.
With this, you can expect your Shiba Inu to stink up the place more often.
Intestinal Malabsorption
This condition makes it hard for your Shiba Inu to absorb the nutrients from their food. Because their digestive system struggles, gas can build up inside their stomach. This can lead to bloating and more frequent farts.
Intestinal malabsorption is often due to an underlying issue. Your Shiba Inu may have a disorder in their pancreas or small bowel.
Other than gassiness, intestinal malabsorption also has other symptoms, such as:
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Upset stomach
- Vomiting
- Dull coat
- Lethargy
- Depression
Health Issue
Several health issues can trigger your buddy’s frequent farts. This is why you need to take your Shiba Inu to the vet first to rule these out. Some health issues that can cause this are the following:
- Intestinal bacterial overgrowth
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Intestinal parasites
- Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Enteritis
Why Does My Shiba Inu Roll in Poop?
Your Shiba Inu may roll in poop just because they like the smell. Dogs have a weird attraction to gross items. With this, they may use poop as their weird and smelly perfume.
But this is not the only reason why your Shiba Inu rolls in poop. The other reasons come from their survival instincts. Though they do not need this, your buddy still has some remnants of these.
To decode your furry friend’s behavior, here are the reasons why dogs do this odd behavior.
Marking Their Territory
A dog’s poop carries its unique scent. Though you may only smell poop, your Shiba Inu can gather a lot of information from it. Because dogs are territorial, your furry friend may try to override the smell.
By rolling in the random poop they found, your Shiba Inu leaves its scent. This can be a warning to the other dog to stay away, as this is your buddy’s turf.
Hiding Their Scent
When dogs were in the wild, they had to work hard and hunt for their food. A successful catch means a lot to them as this can mean their survival. To prepare for the hunt, dogs will hide their scent by rolling in poop.
This gives them an advantage because their prey cannot smell them coming. This allows them to stalk and prowl their dinner without getting caught.
Telling You Where They Have Been
Dogs have a powerful sense of smell. And they can tell where you have been or what you have been up to by smelling you.
But sometimes, they expect that you have this ability too. So your Shiba Inu rolls in poop to tell you where they have been.
Wild dogs use this to communicate with their pack. Once they come home, they let the pack smell them.
This can be one way for them to tell the others where they have found potential food. Thus, the rest can follow the smell and track down their dinner.
How Do I Get My Shiba Inu to Poop?
To get your Shiba Inu to poop, you can add more fiber to their meals. Fiber helps in the movement of stool in the digestive tract. Steamed or boiled pumpkin is a great option for this.
Canned pumpkins are also something to consider. This is not only high in fiber but also water. Thus, this is a great way to encourage your Shiba Inu to empty their bowel.
But there are many other methods that you can try. If feeding them pumpkins will not do the trick, then you can try the methods below.
Feed Them Probiotics
Probiotics will help the good bacteria in your buddy’s gut to recover. These bacteria are crucial for them to pass stool.
So if your Shiba Inu has trouble pooping, yogurt is a popular probiotic option. Its dairy content may also help your Shiba Inu to poop even more.
Of course, you can also use probiotic supplements for your buddy. But yogurt, along with fiber, can do the trick for your Shiba Inu while they enjoy their meal.
Make sure to combine their probiotic intake with fiber-rich foods such as:
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Apples
- Green beans
Wet Food
Switching to mainly feeding your Shiba Inu with wet food can help them in the meantime. Wet food has a higher water content than dry food, and this will help encourage your buddy to poop.
Adequate Daily Exercise
When your Shiba Inu exercises, their metabolism increases. Thus, this stimulates their bowel movement.
This is why you should establish and follow a daily exercise routine for your Shiba Inu. Make sure you take them out at the same time each day. This consistency will allow their digestion to follow a predictable rhythm.
During playtime, you may want to give your Shiba Inu some belly rubs too. This will stimulate their bowel movements, even by a bit.
Manual Stimulation
One way to encourage your buddy to poop is to stimulate their rear area. Not every dog owner is comfortable with this, but you can use this as one of your last resorts.
The anal sphincter is quite sensitive, and manually stimulating it can get your buddy to poop. You can do this by rubbing or pressing your furry friend’s anus.
You need to calm yourself down beforehand because your Shiba Inu will not be happy about this. You may need the help of a friend to hold your Shiba Inu for this.
One way to do this is by using a pair of gloves and lubricant. Apply some lubricant to your dominant hand’s fingertips. Then press the soft tissues surrounding your buddy’s anus.
Now place your forefinger and thumb around your anus and press inward. This will stimulate the opening of your furry friend’s rectum.
Another way to do this is by using some dog wipes. This is the more convenient option to encourage your Shiba Inu to poop.
Grab a dog wipe and wipe it around your buddy’s butt in circular motions. Do this for a few minutes and your buddy may want to do their business soon after.
Ice Cube Method
Again, your Shiba Inu will not be happy with this method. So before you do this, you must ask someone to hold your buddy and make them feel comfortable.
Begin by wearing gloves and preparing some ice cubes. Now lift your furry friend’s tail to expose their anus. Take an ice cube and place it on your Shiba Inu’s anus for a few moments.
Your furry friend will try to escape and back off but do not let them. Make sure that you give them treats throughout the process to bribe them.
After a while, your Shiba Inu will start to contract their anus. This will push some poo out, which means it is time to clean for you.
Why Are Shiba Inu Hard to Potty Train?
This breed may be hard to potty train because they are quite stubborn. There is no doubt that they are smart dogs. But sometimes, they will not listen to you because they simply do not want to.
But training them, in general, requires them to listen to you. Otherwise, you cannot teach your Shiba Inu where to potty. This can make the potty training process tricky and lengthy.
Another reason is their size. Shiba Inu are quite a small breed, thus, they also have a small bladder. With this, they do not have the best ability to hold their bladder.
And because they can only hold their bladder for a short while, accidents can happen. But once you get a feel of when they need to pee, you can take them out to their potty area in time.
While this may be the case, Shiba Inu are easier to potty train than most dog breeds. This is all thanks to their natural cleanliness. Not only do they want to keep themselves clean but they also want their home to be clean.
With this, they will try their best to pee only in their designated potty area.
Are Male or Female Shiba Inu Easier to Potty Train?
While both genders do well with potty training, a female Shiba Inu may be easier to handle. This is because a female Shiba Inu tends to be more careful about where they can relieve themselves. But for a male Shiba Inu, wherever works.
You have to take this with a grain of salt though, as this is only a generalization. Every dog is different, even if they are of the same breed and gender.
So this will all boil down to how you train your Shiba Inu and how diligent you are about it.
At What Age Should a Shiba Inu Be Potty Trained?
You should start potty training your Shiba Inu once they move into your home. But make sure you give them time to get comfortable with their new home first. Beginning this early will set your buddy up for success, as they will know what to do earlier. This way, you can lay down the ground rules and help them understand them fast. But you cannot expect your Shiba Inu to follow these right away.
If they are still young, they still do not have complete control over their bladder. So accidents are bound to happen. But once your Shiba Inu reaches 12 to 16 weeks of age, you will see more progress. By then, they will already have better control over their poop and pee.
How Long Does It Take to Potty Train a Shiba Inu?
It may take you 2 to 3 weeks to potty train your Shiba Inu. But this is assuming that your furry friend already has good control over their bladder. If they are still a puppy, this may last for a few months.
This will also depend on the effort you put into training your Shiba Inu. If you are consistent in their daily training, you can speed up the process. It will also help if you use positive reinforcement to teach your Shiba Inu.
How Long Does It Take to Potty Train a Shiba Inu Puppy?
It is hard to tell how long it will take you to train your Shiba Inu puppy. Some may take only a few weeks, while others need a few more months. Thus, the safest estimate for this is that they need 4 to 6 months for potty training.
This prediction is the safest because at this age they will already have better control over their poop and pee. Thus, you can expect fewer potty accidents or even none at all.
How Do You Potty Train a Shiba Inu?
Potty training your Shiba Inu involves several steps. It is not as simple as setting up their potty area and expecting them to use it. So if you have trouble with this, below is how you can potty train your furry friend.
Establishing Their Potty Area
The first thing that you should do is to figure out where you let them do their business. Most dog owners set up a designated potty area outdoors. And this is what most dogs are comfortable with.
It may help to create the potty area clear for your Shiba Inu. One way you can do this is by surrounding their potty area with a playpen. This way, once your buddy goes outside, they know where exactly to go.
By doing this, your Shiba Inu may go through their potty training much faster. Whenever they use their potty area, you must reward them. This will make them form a positive association with that specific spot.
But keep in mind that their outside potty area is not always accessible. Bad weather can hinder your Shiba Inu from going outside.
Or, if your Shiba Inu is young, you may want the potty area to be more accessible to you. If you do not want to go out in the middle of the night, then create a potty area indoors.
Another thing to consider is if your Shiba Inu is already a senior. They may have arthritis or urinary incontinence. This can make going outdoors such a big task for them.
For these reasons, it may be best to set up a potty area indoors too. This will help in preventing any house soiling from happening.
Watch Out for Their Potty Signs
Dogs often have a “tell” when they want to relieve themselves. You can tell that they want to go to the potty by looking at their body language. This includes sniffing the floor, pawing at the door, and pacing in circles.
By knowing your furry friend’s tells, you can act right away when they need to go. This will also help you create a better potty schedule for your Shiba Inu.
Keep track of when they need to poop or pee. And once you have enough data, you can create a potty schedule that follows their body clock.
Encouraging Their Good Behavior
Once you see the signs mentioned above, you need to take them to their potty spot right away. Make sure you grab high-value treats and take them with you on the way out.
As soon as your Shiba Inu relieves itself in the right spot, give them a tasty treat. Make sure you give the reward within 3 seconds. Acting this fast will help your buddy associate the treat and the behavior.
This will encourage your Shiba Inu to keep peeing in the right spot. Most Shiba Inu are food-motivated. And whatever they can do to get food, they will do it.
But you cannot expect to keep giving them a treat whenever they pee. As soon as your Shiba Inu gets the hang of this, you can transition to verbal praise instead.
To do this, shower them with praise as soon as they begin doing their business. Make sure you use the correct tone of voice so that your Shiba Inu understands. Use an upbeat voice to let your Shiba Inu know that they did something good!
Being extra with your verbal praise will do well while you are still transitioning. This way, your Shiba Inu will learn that verbal praise is a reward in itself too. Keep practicing this so that in time, you do not have to feed them a treat whenever you take them out to the potty area.
Use a Verbal Command
Once your Shiba Inu gets the hang of the process, you can add a verbal cue to train them. The moment your buddy begins to relieve itself, say a command word. The most common word used is “potty” as it is simple enough for your Shiba Inu to understand.
How to Potty Train a Shiba Inu Puppy
One of the most effective ways to potty train a puppy is to crate train them first. While some are not comfortable with this, a proper-sized crate will help in training them.
Canines, by nature, like to keep their dens clean. A crate mimics a den, so your Shiba Inu puppy will avoid peeing or pooping in it. So your buddy will hold their bladder or bowel until they can go out to their potty area.
Keeping dogs in a crate may be cruel to some. But this is only cruel if you keep your puppy in its crate the whole day. This does not give them the chance to relieve themselves.
So first, get them used to their crate. This should be a slow and gradual process. And you should never force your Shiba Inu puppy to go inside.
Instead, you can add their toys to the crate to encourage them to go inside. You can also place some of their favorite treats inside, as this may be the best way to bribe them to get in.
Once your Shiba Inu puppy has no problem going in its crate, you can start potty training them.
Step 1: Set Up a Designated Potty Area
Choose a spot outdoors where you allow your Shiba Inu to relieve themselves. Use a playpen to go around their potty area. This way, your Shiba Inu knows where to go the moment they go out.
Make sure to choose a quiet and secluded potty area outdoors. If it is too busy, then your Shiba Inu will get distracted when they try to poop or pee. Any outdoor stimuli may also overwhelm your poor puppy. This can discourage them from doing their business out of fear, anxiety, or stress.
Step 2: Establish a Routine
Canines are a creature of habit. Once you help them follow a routine, it will be easier for them to learn. This will also help your Shiba Inu puppy know what to expect at different times of the day.
Getting into a routine will get your furry friend’s body into a rhythm, forming a body clock. It will adjust to your routine, along with its bladder and bowel movements.
Here is when you should take your Shiba Inu out to their potty area:
- In the Morning: As soon as you wake up, take your Shiba Inu out of its crate. Bring them to their potty area and wait until they begin to do their business. Remember to take your time and not rush your Shiba Inu puppy.
- After a Meal: A hearty meal will fill up your buddy’s bladder and bowel, but this is not instant. Give your puppy 5 to 30 minutes, and then take them to their potty spot. Waiting too long can mean a potty accident.
- After a Nap: This is like a mini version of your furry friend’s morning routine. No matter how short their nap is, make sure you give them time to go to the potty.
- After Exercising: Exercising speeds up your furry friend’s metabolism. Thus, they may want to poop or pee after playtime.
- Before Bed: You must always give them time to empty their bladder and bowel before bed. This can lessen their need for nighttime potty breaks.
Step 3: Teaching Them With Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is the best way to train your Shiba Inu. This way, you are teaching them what to do. You are also not instilling fear in them, which is not what a good dog owner wants.
As soon as your Shiba Inu puppy pees or poops, shower them with praise right away. Remember to use an upbeat voice to get your message across. Along with that, give them a tasty treat too.
By doing this, you are encouraging your Shiba Inu to keep pooping or peeing in the right spot. This is because you are associating their potty area with something positive. In this case, it is your verbal praise and treats.
Step 4: Using a Verbal Command
Once your Shiba Inu understands this, you can move on to adding a verbal command. You are not making a big change here from the method above. You only have to add an extra step here.
Again, look for your Shiba Inu puppy’s potty signs. Or, you can follow the pee schedule that you have created for them.
Then take them out and wait for them to begin pooping or peeing. As soon as they do, say a command, such as “potty”. Then give them a high-value treat right away.
You must be quick in giving them a treat here. In the past, you helped them associate the potty spot, the act, and the treat. Now, you are helping them associate the act, command, and treat.
In the future, you can slowly decrease the treats that you give your Shiba Inu. They will only need your potty command for them to start relieving themselves.
This will also help in keeping your Shiba Inu’s weight in check. Too many treats can make them gain weight.
How to Potty Train an Older Shiba Inu
When potty training an older Shiba Inu, you need to go back to the basics. But before that, you need to make sure that your senior Shiba Inu does not have any health issues. At their age, they are already prone to developing medical conditions.
Some of these can affect your furry friend’s ability to pee in their designated potty area. This includes arthritis, a condition that causes chronic pain in the joints.
Those who suffer from this find it hard to get up or move around. Thus, your Shiba Inu may have an accident because going to their potty area hurts too much. Some may even resort to peeing where they stand.
With this, you need to take your senior Shiba Inu to the vet first. If they have a health issue, you must first focus on their treatment. And in the case of arthritis, you need to help them manage the pain.
Now that your Shiba Inu saw their vet, here is how you can potty train an older Shiba Inu.
Step 1: Stick to a Potty Routine
Make sure you know when to take your Shiba Inu outside, and you should be consistent with this. By following a routine, your Shiba Inu knows what to expect. They may not be able to read a clock but their body clock will soon know when their potty time is up.
Not only will this help your Shiba Inu learn faster. But this will also give them a ton of opportunities to learn.
Their potty routine closely ties in with their feeding schedule, so you need to plan. Remember, what goes into their system must come out. So after each meal, wait for about 15 minutes and take them out to their potty area.
You should also take them out to relieve themselves whenever they wake up. Do this first thing in the morning, and do this after each nap.
If your Shiba Inu does not do their business, bring her back indoors but put them in their crate. You should never let your Shiba Inu loose indoors if they did not poop or pee.
Other than these, you should also take them out to their designated potty area after playtime. Exercising hastens their bladder and bowel movements. So your furry friend may want to relieve themselves after.
Step 2: Prepare Their Crate
Crates are a powerful training tool, especially for potty training. When you keep your Shiba Inu in the right-sized crate, they will avoid soiling it. Thus, you can prevent potty accidents.
But the main thing here is that your Shiba Inu will hold their poop and pee until you let them out. With this, you can take them to their potty area right away and they are likely to relieve themselves.
But the key here is that you should pick a crate of the perfect size.
If you get a crate that is too big, your Shiba Inu cannot assume a comfortable position. This will only make them feel cramped, and this will become a negative experience for them. With this, your Shiba Inu will get discouraged from using their crate.
But a crate that is too big is also not good. This will not make them feel like they are in a den. Thus, your Shiba Inu may pee or poop inside it.
So, for an adult Shiba Inu, a large crate that is 36 in (914 mm) is the best size. But if your furry friend is on the smaller side, a medium crate that is 30 in (762 mm) may be better.
Step 3: Put Their Crate in a Secluded Spot
Remember that your goal is to make your Shiba Inu comfortable in their crate. Thus, you need to be careful in choosing where to place it.
You need to place their crate in a quiet area, like a spare room. No pet or children should come in to bother or tease them. This can instill fear and anxiety in your Shiba Inu.
So if you have kids at home, make sure that they know how to respect your Shiba Inu. Set some ground rules and keep an eye on the children before they overstep their boundaries.
Step 4: Learn Their Potty Tells
Your Shiba Inu will tell you when they need to relieve themselves. But since they cannot talk to you, you need to watch what their body tells you. This will help you know when to take them out.
Dogs often pace in circles or back and forth when they need to pee. They may also bark a lot, stare at you, and sniff the floor. An even more obvious sign is when they scratch at the door.
Step 5: Bring Them to the Potty Spot
Once you see your buddy’s potty tells, make sure to take them outdoors right away. Do not forget to take your furry friend’s favorite treats with you.
With an older Shiba Inu, repetition with rewards is key. This will help ingrain all their learnings in their mind.
Step 6: Use Your Potty Command and Give Them a Reward
The moment your Shiba Inu does their business, say your command right away, such as “potty”. After that, give them a high-value treat and shower them with praise.
You have to act fast here, give them their reward within 3 seconds from when they start to poop or pee. This will help them associate the act with the command and the treat.
So the next time your buddy hears “potty”, they know what to do. And they will do it because they know they get a tasty treat.
How to Potty Train a Shiba Inu in the Winter
Potty training your Shiba Inu follows the steps above. With this, you can follow the method above. The difference here is that you need to make your furry friend’s potty area more comfortable.
For this, you need to shovel a potty area for them outside as they need to poop or pee in a snow-free spot. Once you have that, you must show the potty area to your Shiba Inu.
You may also take their poop and place it in that spot so your buddy knows what it is for. Whenever you take them out to do their business, give them a treat when they poop or pee on the spot. Keep doing this until your Shiba Inu understands that this is where they can poop or pee.
You should also shovel a path that leads to their potty area. By doing this, your Shiba Inu will know where to go.
But if outside conditions are too harsh, you need to give them a potty area indoors. So make use of pee pads and show them what it is for. Make sure to give them a tasty treat whenever they use it too.
