Training and Ethology:
Its a myth to think that Shibas are un-trainable. Many people think shibas are a dumb breed. They are not dumb. On the contrary, they are one of the smartest breeds I have ever worked with.
So then why are they so hard to train? Because they are not a biddable breed. They don't do it because you want them to. They don't do it because they love you. They do it because you will give them something they want. Food, toys, whatever, as long as it matters to them, is the key to training a shiba.
Shibas do not react well to heavy correction based training. Pop and praise / jerk and praise, call it what you want, will be an uphill battle with almost any shiba. Most shibas will shut down and give you the go to hell look if corrections are used too much. Shibas instead thrive on positive reinforcement based training. Clickers, verbal markers, whichever, will work wonders with your shiba. It allows them to understand what you are asking for and they know they are getting something in return.
It also allows them to think instead of depending on finding out then they are wrong. They will try new things in an effort to see if it will get them something special.
A well behaved shiba is not a miracle, it is just consistency. Any shiba can be a lovely member of any household or even a competition performance dog. It just requires practice, patience, and a sense of humor.
If you are having a specific behavior problem or question, feel free to contact me.
