Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Dogs

Why you should consider crate-training your Shiba Inu

Debbie Clason
By

That little foxlike face is hard to resist, even when he is refusing your every request. You know he can hear you, but the stubborn streak in Shiba Inus runs deep. It’s not you, it’s him. Your Shiba considers your requests carefully before deciding whether to comply. If he doesn’t think it makes sense, he just says “no.”

Regardless, a dog with as much intelligence and energy as a Shiba Inu needs to understand his boundaries, which is why obedience training is so important with this breed. Crate training your dog is a good place to start. Here’s why.

shiba inu lying in grass
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Shiba Inu training

It helps establish you as pack leader

Some say that Shiba Inus are the canine version of a cat because they are every bit as indifferent to pleasing their humans. That’s all well and good; however, indifference is vastly different from disobedience. Your dog may not like what you’re asking him to do, but for his safety as well as yours, it’s important for him to follow your commands.

Recommended Videos

By teaching your Shiba to go to his crate when told, you’re establishing yourself as the authority figure in the household. And if you exercise consistency and patience during the training process, your dog will come to appreciate his new space and be ready for the next phase of his obedience training.

It helps with housebreaking

Whether you’re housebreaking a puppy or an older dog, using a crate can help. That’s because most dogs don’t like to potty where they sleep. As long as the crate isn’t so big your dog can sleep in one end and potty in the other, he’ll probably wait for you to take him outside before relieving himself.

Please keep in mind that experts don’t recommend leaving your dog in his crate for more than eight hours at a time, four to six hours for puppies and older dogs. Doing so can create behavioral problems, especially with a breed that needs as much activity as a Shiba Inu does.

shiba inu in front of crate
Image used with permission by copyright holder

It keeps your belongings safe from doggie boredom

Speaking of activity, Shiba Inus were originally bred as hunting dogs. Not only are they super intelligent, but they’re also full of energy. These particular characteristics are great when it comes to learning new tricks or playing a game of fetch in the yard, but they can also lead to destructive behavior when your dog is left unattended to make up his own fun.

Although it’s no substitute for giving your pup the physical exercise and mental stimulation he craves, crate training can prevent your dog from chewing on door frames or furniture, or destroying household items like shoes and sofa cushions.

It keeps your Shiba Inu safe

Crate training your dog isn’t punishment. In fact, it’s often the best way to keep him safe when you’re not home. Destructive behavior can be dangerous, especially if your Shiba decides to chew on a lamp cord, receives a cut from a glass object he breaks, or ingests something poisonous.

The key to crate training is to create a space in which your dog feels safe and secure. This takes time and lots of patience. Here are a few tips:

  • Start when your dog is a puppy, if possible.
  • Choose a crate that’s large enough for him to stand up, turn around, and lie down in comfortably.
  • Place the crate in a common area of the house where your family congregates.
  • Make the crate an inviting retreat by placing comfy blankets and his favorite toy(s) inside.
  • In the beginning, leave the crate door open and let him explore inside and out.
  • Use treats and lots of praise to encourage him to spend time inside the crate with the door open.
  • Begin shutting the door while you’re in the room for a few minutes at a time. Increase the increments as he becomes more comfortable.

And remember, your Shiba Inu is an intelligent dog who can read your emotions, so keep all training positive and playful. Use treats and praise as a reward. Be consistent with the words you use in your commands and gentle but diligent when enforcing your requests. Your little independent thinker might have a naturally dominant nature, but he understands when to be the subordinate. Teaching him how to love his crate creates a solid foundation on which he can learn the additional rules of the house.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Debbie Clason
Debbie Clason
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Debbie Clason's work has appeared in Family Life Magazine, Sports Illustrated, The Lutheran Witness, Massage Magazine…
The best ways to pet your dog to show them how much you care
There's a right way to pet your dog. Here's what you need to know
A man's hand pets the head of a shepherd dog

There are a hundred ways to make a dog happy, from delicious treats to epic playtime. Pets, scratches, and belly rubs almost always make the top of the list, too  -- but did you know there are particular ways to pet your dog to show them how much you love them?
In this article, you’ll learn how to pet your dog -- what tricks and techniques to use to relax them, what spots to avoid, and how to keep everyone comfy and happy. Of course, every dog has their own likes and dislikes, so it’s important to pay attention to your fur baby’s body language and behavior during your massage sessions.
This is what you need to know.

How to pet your dog to show them you love them
In general, most pups are just happy to get some attention from their favorite person, but there are a few specific things you can do to make your next pamper sesh a little more special.

Read more
Off-leash dog training is easy if you follow these 5 tips
These tips will make this process smoother
Puppy learning to heel

We’re going out on a limb here, but it’s safe to say that if you’ve ever caught the look on a dog’s face when he’s running off leash at the dog park, you’ve caught a glimpse of what pure bliss looks like.

As a pet parent, it’s only natural to want to see that expression more often. And, without disparaging the leashed walk around the neighborhood, your dog would probably tell you he’d prefer being off leash more often. Is that possible, given local leash laws and all the mischief your untethered pet can get himself into? Perhaps, if he is well trained.

Read more
Why do dogs eat cat poop? And how you can get them to stop
These tips will stop your pup from eating cat doo-doo
Dog wears a yellow sweater and looks at the camera

Sometimes you might think you hear your cat using their potty, but when you go into check, it's actually the dog eating cat poop. Gross! While it seems pretty revolting to us, dogs sometimes eat poop, the feline variety included. Coprophagia, which means eating poop, shows up reasonably frequently in pups, and certain diets, environments, and even breeds can make this act more likely (research says hounds and terriers are the groups most likely to chomp poop, in general).

So why do dogs eat cat poop, and what should you do about this behavior? Read on for a few things to check and a couple of tips to prevent this extra meal.
Why do dogs eat cat poop?
Theories abound, but it turns out lots of different mammals eat poop, their own and others'. One possibility is that not all nutrients fully digest when they go through our systems, which means there are plenty of vitamins to have by consuming feces. Sometimes, these cravings result from a nutrient-deficient diet that is easy to fix by changing up your dog's food.

Read more