Shiba Inu Puppies - Breed, Care and General Health
Shiba Inu puppies and their general care
Shiba Inu puppies are small and agile dogs that look very much like an Akita; but only smaller in structure. These puppies are the smallest of six original dog breeds from Japan, and were originally bred for hunting. However now, they can very well cope with mountainous terrains.
The meaning of Inu is dog in Japanese; however the origin of 'Shiba' is not so clear. The word refers to a red shrub; so it could be used in the name Shiba Inu puppies because these dogs used to hunt in wild shrubs or because their red color is similar to that of shrubs. So a literal translation of Shiba Inu puppies would be Little Brushwood puppies.
Breed Description
Shiba Inu puppies have a thick double coat where the outer coat is stiff and straight while the inner one, soft and thick. The dog has bushy hair on its tail and hind legs too. Basically, these dogs are bold, lively and sweet and make a great companion, especially to children.
This breed of dogs is playful, energetic, lively and affectionate. But can be rather independent about demanding attention from their masters. As they are prone to barking, Shiba Inu puppies can make great alarm dogs. It is advised not to keep the dog around small animals; though they go well with cats.
Care
Shiba Inu puppies need extra care when they are born, because they are generally very tiny in nature. So if you have kids playing with the dogs, it is better to supervise them as they will not be aware of their strength. In addition to this, make sure the room temperature is maintained well enough to keep them warm.
It is easy to groom the coat of these puppies as they are naturally clean. All you have to do is rubber brushing to get rid of dead and loose hair. However as these dogs are seasonal heavy shedders, most owners prefer relying on a professional groomer to maintain minimum shedding.
It is not advised to bathe Shiba Inu puppies on a regular basis as this will only remove the waterproofing of this breed. You could wash it four times a year, during its non-shedding period.
Though it is quite easy to housebreak these puppies; it is better to start obedience training at a young age. This is because these dogs are full of energy and at times, can be quite stubborn. However these dogs should be grown as a member of the family as they love attention, and are not recommended for kennel life. For its exercise, regular walks are quite sufficient.
However as a member of the family, don't serve them table scraps as they are bad for dogs. Consult your vet for the right foods to serve your dog as they have to be provided a fair and balanced diet.
General health
This breed of Shiba Inu dogs have a life span of 12-15 years, but can get affected by health problems like hip dysplasia, glaucoma, cataracts and luxating patella. Moreover, they are prone to food allergies while epilepsy has grown quite common in many bloodlines. On the whole, they have great genetic soundness, and have fewer genetic defects when compared to other breeds of dogs.
Make sure the puppy sees a vet when it is three months old as the law requires that they take a minimum of 2 multivalent vaccinations with distemper and parvo, when they are over three months old. In addition to this, they should also be given a rabies vaccination.
Your vet may also suggest giving the puppy additional vaccinations that help in providing protection against diseases like Corona virus, Bordatella and Lyme disease. These vaccinations should be administered after six weeks of birth, every three or four weeks, and get completed before the dog is sixteen weeks old.
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