Shiba Inu as a dog breed is still relatively obscure in North America, although their popularity is growing quickly.  These dogs are very popular in Japan and make wonderful companions.  Shiba Inu Puppies are absolutely adorable and will surely melt your heart.

If you are looking for a active, playful and very loyal companion, consider the Shiba Inu.  If you don't know much about them, learn more here about Shiba Inu Puppies, or check out my other Shiba Inu hub.

Shiba inu puppies look like foxes, and in truth they will look a good bit like foxes when they grow up too.  Shiba Inu is probably the most cat-like dog you will ever meet.  They are meticulously clean and even groom themselves like cats.  Because of their natural cleanliness they are very easy to housetrain.  Although they love their masters, and are fiercely loyal, they also have a strong independent streak.

They are very intelligent dogs, but demand to be treated with respect and a good dose of love before they commit themselves to you.  I own two shibas, and they are amazing little friends.

 Like all dog breeds, Shiba Inu puppies and dogs have specific health concerns.  Overall they are a very healthy and sturdy breed, but if you own one, or plan to - become familiar with the breed's individual health concerns, so that you can be conscious of problems before they become a problem.

If you have a Shiba Inu dog, you have to be especially careful about breeding. Make sure you know how healthy both dogs are, learn all you can about their medical history.

You'll find Shiba Inus to be very lively and friendly. They can thrive in the home or even outside, making them great multipurpose dogs. There's no specialized diet involved unlike some dog breeds, so you can just make sure it has the essentials and gets plenty of exercise, and they're set. Shiba Inu breeders like this low maintenance quality of their dogs, amongst other fine qualities.

They're also extremely nimble, which can prevent them from getting injured in the same way that other breeds can.

In spite of all this, you have to keep in mind some hereditary problems inherent in the Shiba Inu breed of dog. Thankfully, there are few truly serious conditions that will plague the dog.

The biggest concern you may have about breeding Shiba Inu dogs is the chance of them being born with Patellar Luxation. This condition is accompanied by a displaced kneecap on the leg. Luxation comes in several stages you should recognize. The kneecap displacement is merely the first stage, and you can often manually pop it back into place. Three more stages into the condition, the kneecap displacement is irreparable, causing bowed legs or even limping in your dog.

Hip dysphasia is an additional concern for Shiba Inu dogs. All of these are in addition to the normal eye defects that can affect any dog. The most typical of these are cataracts. Studies have recently shown that female dogs are likelier to have eye defects than males are.

FAD, or flea allergy dermatitis is an allergy that can be very common in Shiba Inu dogs, which you should be educated on. Your dog will constantly try to scratch or chew their hair if they have FAD, so watch for these signs of allergies. You can often treat this condition with non prescription canine products you apply to the skin of the Shiba Inu. Injections can be required, however, if the condition is severe.

Your Shiba Inu could have a potential problem with his dental health. Since a majority of Shiba Inu dogs suffer from weak jaws, early tooth loss and poorly structured teeth, you have to take good care of them.

if you're looking to breed Shiba Inu dogs, you should make sure you know the complete medical history of both dogs, and get them tested by your veterinarian before you decide to breed them, to avoid these issues in their puppies.