| The Shiba Inu: An interesting canine breed | |||||||
| by BUDDY AMATO | |||||||
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The Shiba Inu is a dog native of Japan that was bred for the purposes of hunting by sight and scent in that country's mountains. The Shiba Inu is perfect for hunting because it is alert and lively as well as an ideal watchdog. There are several theories as to how the Shiba Inu's acquired its name, which means `brushwood'. It could be because the areas in which they hunted were heavy with brushwood or because their reddish coat matches the autumn leaves of the brushwood leaves. A third theory would be the word `shiba' can also be related to the size of the dog, giving the meaning `little brushwood dog'. For such a small dog, there are various different theories of how it got its name! The Shiba Inu is NOT a large dog; the average male weighs approximately 23 pounds and the females weigh in at 17 pounds. The size of this dog should not deter you when looking for a protective pet because Shiba Inu is wary of strangers and can be aggressive towards other dogs. However, they are very loyal and affectionate to those who have gained its respect. The Shiba Inu has a stiff coat while the undercoat is soft and thick and colored in usually buff, gray or cream. The outer coat colorings will range from a white to cream color, to orange and reds. In some cases you will even see black with tan points on various parts of the Shiba Inu, such as above the eyes and the muzzle! Pet owners of the Shiba Inus have various health concerns such as allergies to fleas. Although it is not life threatening, it is annoying for your pet, so it is recommended that you seek veterinary assistance. Another health concern that Shiba Inu's are prone to is being born with a heart murmur. A heart murmur is an unusual sound to the heart beat; generally though, there is not cause for alert, they usually go away without treatment in younger dogs. If your dog still has the heart murmur into adulthood, you may want to consult your veterinarian. The Shiba Inu can live both indoors and outdoors as it possesses a thick coat that helps to shield it from the cold If you are planning on having the Shiba Inu as an outdoor pet, make certain as with all dogs that they have shelter from the cold, heat and storms. In addition, these dogs are prone to running, so a fenced yard is best with living with this pet. An interesting detail about the Shiba Inu is that it has a very distinct bark from all other dogs. The Shibba Inu's bark can sometimes be compared to that of a yodel, which the dog may make because it has been handled in a way that it deems unpleasant, or it can make the nose out of sheer joy of seeing their owners after a long period of time away from them. Did you know:
Grandmaster Buddy Amato operates Amato's Karate and Weapons Academy, 589 Palmer Avenue, West Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom. For more information, call (732) 671-9555.
Copyright Buddy Amato Amato's Goju-ryu Karate, Nunchaku, Bo-staff, Aikido, Sword, Kendo, Sais, Kick-boxing, Tai-Chi and more 589 Palmer Ave, Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom, NJ 07734 (732) 671-9555 |
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