I had a rough start with my Shiba Inu, Sephy.
Shiba Inus can be a challenge to care for, especially as a first dog. I wanted to do my very best for my Shiba Inu puppy, but I still made many mistakes along the way. This is A Shiba Story about the journey of Shiba Inu Sephy and me learning to understand each other through different training approaches. As a breed classified among the non sporting group breeds, Shibas possess unique traits that require tailored methods.
Woman sits beside her Shiba Inu with her arm around him, showing a close bond.
Early Challenges: Exploring Alpha Rolls
Because I was new to dogs, and particularly to the characteristics of a japanese loyal dog like the Shiba Inu, I asked my breeder many questions. She recommended that I check out Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer, for dog obedience training tips.
After only four days with Sephy, I took him to the vet. The vet technician recommended that I return him because he was mouthy and not well-behaved. Despite this advice, I had already fallen in love with Sephy and was not about to give up on him. The vet technician also taught me how to implement alpha rolls, a technique often associated with dominance-based training.
It’s important to note that many traditional trainers now agree that aversive techniques are not appropriate for young dogs and puppies. Instead, starting training early with reward-based methods is often recommended. However, at the time, based on the advice received, I bought some DVDs of The Dog Whisperer and started to try alpha rolls with Sephy.
The results were not good. Shiba Inus are known for being a feisty, stubborn, strong-willed breed. My little Shiba fought every time I attempted an alpha roll on him. While he would be slightly subdued immediately after, he would quickly revert to his challenging behaviors: chewing everything, running around crazily, knocking things down, jumping on furniture, mouthing on me and other people, and much more. Life became very difficult for both Shiba Inu Sephy and me as we navigated this phase of our a shiba story.
Woman smiles affectionately at her Shiba Inu during an outdoor walk on a leash.
Seeking Expert Guidance: Aversive Methods
Recognizing the need for professional help, I signed Sephy up for a SIRIUS puppy class to assist with his dog socialization skills. I also engaged a private trainer who was well-versed in aversive dog training methods. Having watched The Dog Whisperer, I was under the impression that I could only establish myself as the pack leader by showing my Shiba Inu “who was boss” through more forceful, aversive techniques.
Aversive methods involve delivering an unpleasant stimulus to the dog. Techniques such as leash jerks or electronic collars deliver pain or discomfort. While some argue these methods merely get a dog’s attention, for them to be effective in changing behavior, they must deliver a level of stimulus that motivates the dog to comply to avoid the discomfort. In the short term, aversive methods can sometimes elicit quicker and more consistent responses because pain or discomfort can be a strong motivator.
Sephy responded extremely well to my private trainer, Gary. Gary was exceptionally skilled and fearless with dogs. My Shiba would occasionally act out and mouth Gary’s arms, but Gary was able to easily deter this using some leash jerks (administered via a flat collar). One particularly challenging moment involved Sephy even placing his jaws near the trainer’s neck while being held, but Gary maintained control and calmly de-escalated the situation.
Gary taught me how to train my Shiba Inu using leash jerks or leash corrections. He stressed the importance of proper timing, force, and redirection. He cautioned me against over-correcting and advised me to always try and set Sephy up for success. Furthermore, he instructed me not to give direct eye contact during corrections and, whenever possible, to redirect the source of corrections away from myself to avoid becoming the direct target of Sephy’s resistance. Sephy seemed to enjoy his weekly one-hour training lessons and was always affectionate towards Gary. This experience demonstrated that aversive methods can sometimes work well, but only when implemented by an expert with the right understanding and energy, adding another layer to this evolving a shiba story.
Shiba Inu Sephy and his companion Kai playing indoors, illustrating dog socialization.
Progress and Escalation: Walking Challenges
Using leash jerks or other aversive techniques requires precise application. Applying a leash jerk with insufficient force will be ineffective and may even worsen behavioral issues. When applied correctly, leash corrections are intended to cause discomfort to the dog. If you are not comfortable applying methods that cause discomfort, then pain-based aversive methods like leash corrections are not suitable for you and your dog.
Initially, Sephy responded well to my application of leash jerks. However, when he became extremely excited, for instance, upon meeting other dogs during walks, my jerks had little to no effect. Our trainer ultimately recommended that I try using a prong collar and showed me how to fit and put it on properly.
It is crucial not to attempt to slip a prong collar over your dog’s head like a choke chain. Prong collars are designed to be assembled and disassembled to put them on correctly and safely. Proper use is essential to avoid injury to the dog.
The prong collar was extremely effective initially. I had always been concerned about potentially hurting my Shiba Inu, which resulted in my leash jerks often being too gentle. With the prong collar, the corrections seemed to be just right in terms of force for this particular dog. People commonly refer to the prong collar as providing “power steering” for leash jerks because it amplifies the force, delivering a greater aversive stimulus to the dog, a significant aspect of navigating this challenging non sporting dog.
Shiba Inu digging intensely under a guard rail at a park during a walk.
The Impact of a Dog Walker
At this point, I also enlisted the services of a dog walker/trainer, Betty (a pseudonym). Betty also subscribed to the Cesar Millan-style, physical dominance type of training. This seemed suitable to me at the time, as Betty also used leash jerks, and I believed consistency in training techniques would be beneficial for Sephy’s behavior modification journey in our a shiba story.
However, the situation began to deteriorate from here. Sephy became extremely sensitive to handling. He would constantly challenge Betty by leash biting, hand biting, and performing “alligator rolls” (rolling on the ground to resist moving forward). Sephy also discovered that Betty really disliked his high-pitched Shiba scream, a vocalization tactic he began to employ frequently and effectively to get his way or express displeasure.
Betty did her best to control the situation, but her specific approach to dog obedience training was clearly not working well with Sephy’s temperament. Ultimately, she proposed escalating her methods by using a choke chain. Given the potential dangers and risks associated with choke chains, I decided that this was not an option for my dog. Research and statistics on injuries related to choke chains were disturbing enough to make this decision firm.
Close-up of a Shiba Inu face indoors, lying on a carpet with a window shadow.
Re-evaluating Methods: A Point of Decision
At this stage, the leash jerks I applied were also becoming less and less effective. My Shiba was becoming habituated to them. I realized I was not implementing the leash jerks quickly enough, sometimes making them more like tugs that had no corrective effect. Additionally, I was over-correcting and my leash jerks lacked sufficient force, even with the assistance of the prong collar.
To continue relying solely on aversive techniques, I would have had to escalate the force of my leash jerks further or consider switching to an electronic or shock collar. I was unwilling to pursue such extreme measures. This led me to a critical point in A Shiba Story: I decided to explore all other possible dog training philosophies and methods.
Shiba Inu dog sits on a hiking trail with tongue out, appearing to spit.
Discovering the Right Path: Reward-Based Training
I discontinued dog walking services with Betty and began searching for a new dog trainer. This time, I actively sought out trainers who specialized in different methods, rather than limiting myself to only Cesar Millan-style or aversive trainers. During this search, I encountered a fair amount of unsolicited criticism and strong opinions, particularly from some proponents of reward dog training who, ironically, used quite aggressive or dismissive language when discussing aversive methods.
It struck me as rather ironic that many individuals and resources advocating for the use of positive reinforcement and reward training would resort to aversive communication tactics (insults, zealous preaching) when attempting to convince others of the effectiveness of their “positive reinforcement” methods.
Fortunately, I did find several reward dog trainers who genuinely practiced what they preached. Based on their advice and recommendations, I acquired the book Bones Would Rain From the Sky by Suzanne Clothier. After reading just a few chapters, I made a significant decision: I would stop using aversive methods entirely and commit to trying only reward obedience training with Sephy.
Man trains a Shiba Inu dog, who is performing a ‘Down’ and ‘Look’ command.
I would love to declare that reward dog training instantly solved all our issues and that we lived happily ever after without any further effort. Reality, however, is typically a bit more complicated. Firstly, Sephy gets bored quite easily, with everything, even his food and regular toys.
For the reward methods to be effective with this particular non sporting dog, I had to identify a wide variety of high-value dog treats that he truly liked and cycle through them throughout the day to maintain his motivation. I also expanded our collection of toys and learned to leverage external opportunities, such as meeting other dogs or people, as valuable rewards for good behavior.
Teaching him to walk on a loose leash without resorting to leash jerks was challenging at first. However, consistently stopping whenever the leash became taut and sometimes performing a quick 180-degree turn proved to be a very effective strategy for encouraging him to stay close without pulling.
Shiba Inu lies down and chews on a soft cube toy.
I am personally a lot happier since transitioning to reward obedience training. Frankly, I realized I simply do not have the temperament required to implement an aversive correction with enough force and precise timing necessary for my stubborn Shiba Inu. I also felt I was losing my dog’s trust because I was over-correcting and, perhaps more significantly, I wasn’t adequately protecting him from other people (like the dog walker) who were also over-correcting him in ways that negatively impacted our bond and this a shiba story.
Sephy is responding much better to the reward methods and appears more relaxed and happy. As an adolescent dog, he still misbehaves occasionally, but significantly less so than when I was primarily using aversive methods such as leash jerks and alpha rolls.
Shiba Inus are indeed very strong-willed and stubborn. A Shiba will almost invariably respond to an aversive stimulus by resisting and fighting back. The greater the stimulus or perceived threat, the more intensely they tend to fight back.
This is not to say that aversive methods never work on a Shiba Inu. As mentioned earlier in this japanese loyal dog‘s journey, under the skilled guidance of an expert trainer like Gary, Sephy actually responded quite well to leash jerks. However, I have not observed him responding similarly with anyone else, even other seemingly experienced trainers. This reinforced for me that the success of aversive methods is heavily dependent on the expertise, timing, and energy of the handler, something that is difficult for the average owner to replicate consistently.
Smiling Shiba Inu eats cake alongside a Siberian Husky during a celebration.
Key Lessons Learned from My Shiba Story
My experience with Shiba Inu Sephy taught me several valuable lessons about dog training and the unique bond between a dog and their owner:
- Seek information from multiple sources: Do not blindly accept advice from just one person, even a popular or well-known trainer. Research different philosophies and techniques and be willing to try out various methods yourself, carefully observing your own dog’s response.
- The “best technique” is highly individual: What works perfectly for one dog-owner pair may not work for another. So-called “experts” may sometimes try to pressure you into using their preferred techniques, but the effectiveness depends on your training skill, your temperament, your dog’s temperament, and the existing level of trust and respect between you. Be honest with yourself and let your own moral compass guide your choices.
- Start with reward obedience training: Reward-based training carries very little risk of damaging your relationship with your dog or causing them physical or mental harm, even if you make training mistakes. Implementing a program like “Nothing In Life Is Free” (NILIF), where the dog earns resources through compliance, can help establish yourself as a fair but strong leader through controlled interactions.
- Be aware of the potential downsides of aversive methods: If implemented incorrectly or without expert guidance, aversive techniques can lead to unintended negative consequences. Your dog may misbehave more, become destructive or aggressive, lose trust and respect for you, become stressed, shut down, try to escape, or even be physically injured. If you consider using pain or dominance-based aversive methods, always seek direction from a qualified professional trainer who uses these methods responsibly and is experienced with your specific breed.
Smiling man gently holds the face of his sitting Shiba Inu, highlighting their bond.
Ultimately, this a shiba story is one of perseverance, learning, and finding the approach that fostered a happier relationship for both of us. My bond with Sephy, despite the initial training struggles, has grown immensely, and he truly is a beloved member of our family.
Happy Shiba Inu lies on grass with a wide grin, enjoying a tummy rub.
