It is a fact that Shiba Inus are escape artists and you may not be able to have them off-leash. Off-leash training should only be attempted with older, trained dogs who are not likely to run away or bolt over other types of distractions.
Since Shiba Inus love hunting for squirrels and other critters, you want to train them from an early age that they should come back when called or whistle blown.
You should always consider taking your Shiba Inu to a fenced area when they are off-leash. Shiba Inus are very smart and they can work out how to open doors. They can also jump over fences that aren’t high enough, scale brick walls, or chew their way through wood fences. If you train them at an early age to come back when called and not run away it will make it easier for both of you as a Shiba Inu owner and your dog.
It’s best to start your Shibe with training as a puppy but if you have an older Shiba Inu, that is not still a puppy, you can take them to training classes. Look for a class that concentrates on teaching discipline and obedience. You don’t want them to learn other bad habits like digging holes and chewing your furniture. Any dog can learn the basic commands of sit, come and stay but these lessons aren’t challenging for a smart pet like the Shiba Inu.
You will need to take your pet to an obedience school that has some advanced classes. They should learn some of the more complicated commands like heel, drop and wait until you’re given the command for them to continue. The Shiba Inu was originally used as a hunting dog, so when training him or her be sure to use similar commands like fetch and so forth. They are very good at this because they have a good desire to please their owners.
Shiba Inu Off-Leash
If you want to have the Shiba Inu off-leash in your yard, you need to make sure that you set up a pretty good fence first. The more of a challenge it is for your Shiba Inu to jump over, scale or chew through this fence, the better. You can’t let them run free in the backyard because it’s easy for them to run into traffic or cross busy streets.
Any time you are taking your pet outside, make sure that you check their collar for any holes. You should also make sure that they have a Shiba Inu license or identification tag with your phone number and address on it. This way you can call them back if they run away without you having to go look for them. You may need this if your dog gets lost and accidentally wanders into a busy neighborhood or gets run over by a car. A lost Shiba Inu will be a disaster for you and your neighbors. Be sure that if you take them out to play that they wear a leash or find something to harness them up with.
Shiba Inus are very intelligent dogs and you must allow them to make mistakes as long as they don’t cause too much damage. You don’t want your Shiba Inu to run away because they learn that it’s okay to do so. It’s easy for them to learn discipline from a young age as long as you are consistent with all of the training methods that you use. It can be very tempting for owners to give in and let their pets do what they want but this will only lead to trouble down the road. As you start training them, it’s important to be consistent and never take your Shiba Inu off-leash unless you know where your dog is at all times. If you don’t train him or her from a young age, they will learn that the world is their toy box.
If your dog runs away, stay calm. Go outside and call their name. Make sure you’re not yelling and that you’re right next to their favorite spot so they have something familiar to come back to.
Your dog will come back when they have their mindset on something, so don’t worry about them staying gone for long.
If you think your dog might be having issues with you or with other dogs- they may run away because they’re scared and need some time to calm down. They want to play but may not understand that play is appropriate with people, especially strangers. Don’t let another dog scare your dog or run in front of it when it’s scared.
When your dog comes back, reward it with something they love, like food or a praise-filled pat on the back.
If your dog is good at escaping, get a collar that doesn’t allow them to slip out of it. You may also want to have a microchip put in your dog so you know where to return it. Putting in a microchip is a great idea and just one of many ways to ensure that you find your lost dog in no time.
In some instances, the dog may be unusually active when she is not supposed to be. The dog can also get lost or injured. A GPS collar ensures that your dog will always be where it is supposed to be. This gives you peace of mind and saves money on expensive car insurance and impound fees as well as vet bills.
Before you get a tracking collar, make sure that your dog is the right type for the collar. Dogs that are more laid back with less energy are better candidates for the device. Dogs that have a lot of energy and like to run or roam are not good candidates for this.
Animal Control
Animal control is a government agency that is responsible for enforcing animal-related ordinances, laws, and regulations. When a dog is caught by animal control, the dog will be evaluated to see if it has any identifying tags or markings identifying its owner.
The officer may also ask about the dog’s age and any other identifying marks which could help in locating the owner of the pet.
If there are no identifying marks or information on what the owner looks like, then a notice will be sent out to nearby residents asking them if they have been missing their pet.
If officers are unable to find an owner after seven days, then they will adopt and care for the animal until an appropriate person requests ownership of it from them with proof of identification and residence.
Animal control officials have many ways they can go about searching for an owner. They must be able to do this with a specific protocol, and with the help of the public. If anyone has any information regarding the whereabouts or identity of someone who is possibly looking after their pet, they are encouraged to call the phone number and request that animal control comes to pick up their pet so that it can be returned to its rightful and loving owners.
Why you should microchip your dog
One of the main reasons is that if they are lost, the person who found them will know who owns it and they will be able to contact you.
Another reason is it’s a great way to identify your dog if they are attacked. Or in case a neighbor or friend wants to keep your dog, they can scan for the chip with their phone and see all the details including name, address, and phone number.
It’s also good for veterinary clinics because can use it as a source of contact information when needed without having to ask for personal information from your pet owner.
The way your dog is microchipped can also say a lot about you.
If they are microchipped at the shelter, it was most likely the cheapest provider and no one is going to be looking for your dog when it goes missing. The chip will most likely become dislodged over time and therefore rendered uselessly.
A vet can provide more reliable service because their primary concern would work with you on getting your dog back asap. They can also be more expensive.
If you decide to do it yourself, you should go to a provider that specializes in pet microchips. They are constantly upgrading their equipment and they are people that are constantly reading up on new techniques and developments.
Once you get a microchip, register it right away. The vet will need your contact information including name, address, and phone number so the chip can be easily scanned and the information retrieved by a scanner that can read the frequency of the chip.
Fence your yard
Many people who have dogs in their yards worry about safety and choose to fence them in. A dog living in a fenced yard is safer because the barriers will keep it from wandering away. The space between the inside of the fences and the outside should be no more than six inches apart for an electric or chain link fence. Dogs have an instinct to keep away from areas that are not known to them. Fences also provide some protection against larger prey such as coyotes, foxes, and other animals that may attack the dog. Since dogs instinctively mark their territory, a fenced yard will help them feel comfortable.
Not all dogs are happy living in a fenced yard, especially if it is too close to an active street. Dogs can hear road traffic, see people and other dogs, and sometimes even smell them. Also, you might live next to a busy street or other animal-run areas. Fences can make dogs feel hemmed in, and those that are used to being free may try to escape.
