Can Shiba Inus be Left Alone? For How Long? (Explained)

If you’re a happy Shiba Inu owner and wondering if it would be okay to leave your Shiba home alone for some time, you have nothing to worry about since Shiba Inus can easily manage on their own for a substantial period.

Can Shiba Inus be left alone?

Shiba Inus are less prone to separation anxiety, hence, will do fine without human company for 6-8 hours if trained properly. You have to provide him with adequate food and a place to sleep. A dog run or pen along with chew toys outside would be perfect to keep him occupied in your absence.

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Can Shiba Inus stay home alone?

Being an active and energetic dog, a Shiba Inu can stay home alone for quite some time. However, he’ll need exercise and have playtime after or before their home alone period to burn the extra energy, or else he might get cranky or lazy.

Even though a Shiba can manage on his own for some time and stay home alone, it would be cruel on your part to leave him on his own every day. If you can’t manage time for your furry friend, you should give it a second thought on having a pet in the first place.

Can Shiba Inu puppies be left alone?

You really shouldn’t leave Shiba Inu or any puppies alone. Since they’re really small, you can’t potty train them properly. Hence, they’ll most likely make a mess and harm themselves.

Just like with human babies how you won’t leave them alone, the same goes for your puppies as well. Puppies are small, delicate, fragile, and in need of your care and attention.

However, if it becomes so urgent to leave your Shiba Inu puppy alone, you’ll have to properly potty train him. But a small puppy cannot hold their bladder for too long. Consequently, he’ll need you or a company for peeing after every few hours.

Not to mention about the food. Shiba Inus are energetic dogs and may get hungry frequently because of their high activity level. Ensure you have provided him with enough food before leaving and trained him to eat by himself.

Puppies may also find it difficult to fall asleep when you’re not around because they’ll be uncomfortable and confused about their sleeping place. Hence, you have to make him his bed or train him to sleep in a particular place.

How long can a Shiba Inu be left alone?

You can leave a Shiba Inu alone for a maximum of 6-8 hours. Ensure your pup is properly trained and you’ve provided him with enough food. Remember he’ll need plenty of exercises when you come back to release energy.

Despite the fact that Shiba Inu can manage on his own for such a long time, you mustn’t leave him for that long repeatedly. Initially, you’re going to train him leaving alone for a few hours, and then increase the time length.

Leave him with playing toys or chew toys to keep him entertained for 6-8 hours. Or he’ll get bored and frustrated and will eventually develop bad behavior.

Now if you have a hectic schedule, and you have to leave him alone for 6-8 hours regularly, better take him to a pet center. Or have some close friends come over to accompany your furry friend.

Make sure your pup is already comfortable with your friend since Shiba Inus can be indifferent to strangers.

Do Shiba Inus get separation anxiety?

Shiba Inus are social and active dogs but are least likely to get separation anxiety from your absence.

One of the common reasons for Shiba Inus to get separation anxiety is if they’re kenneled before. However, your Shiba can also suffer from anxiety if you’re abandoning him all of a sudden for a prolonged time.

You must be relaxed and calm when your pup is having an anxiety attack to cool him down in the first place. Your stress will feed onto his separation anxiety. Hence, you have to learn how to deal with Shiba’s anxiety issues. Seek medical attention if required.

Barking, biting, urination, defecation are the symptoms of separation anxiety in Shiba Inus. Initially, you can take him out on walks and help him with physical exercise. Socialization, interaction with humans, and other dogs help with Shibas’ anxiety issues primarily.

If you’re leaving your pooch for quite some time home alone, make sure there’s adequate food and water. Ensure his access to entertainment to keep him occupied while you’re gone. Too much alone time can make Shibas aloof and aggressive.

That being said, if you’re going on a business trip and will not be returning any time soon, it is recommended to take your pup with you. Or you can have your trusted or loved ones come over and take care of your pooch on your behalf.

What should I do when I leave my Shiba Inu at home?

Five facts you should maintain when you leave your Shiba Inu at home-

Provide him with adequate food and water:

Ensure there’s enough food left for your pup to keep him healthy and full. Being home alone and hungry will ruin his mood and it’s equally bad for his mental and physical health.

Keep him entertained:

It is an important aspect to keep engaged while you’re gone. Or else he’ll get bored and develop destructive behavior. You can follow a few entertaining methods to keep your furry friend occupied. Such as-

Leaving the radio or TV open
Treats along with tricky games
Lots of toys
Marked territory of his where he can relieve himself

Make him exhausted before going out:

You can make him do a lot of physical exercises so by the time when you leave, he’ll get tired and fall asleep. Hence, you don’t have to worry about him making a fuss or getting in trouble.

Keep the destructive things away:

Any sharp pointy object can harm your pup while you’re gone. Make sure to hide those items safely so that your dog can’t get easy access to these spiky objects and hurt themselves.

Have a friend or family come over:

If you’re gone for a prolonged time on a regular basis it is ideal to have a trusted friend or family come over and look after your pup so he doesn’t get bored and develop destructive behavior because of frequent separation.

After coming back, make sure you take your pooch out on walks so that he can relieve himself provided with a lot of physical exercises.

Can Shiba Inus live in apartments?

Shiba Inus can adapt pretty well in apartments if properly trained and socialized. These good-looking dogs are naturally independent and like to stay clean and quiet.

Hence, making it a perfect fit for your apartment. However, you need to take him out on walks every day to burn off the extra energy.

Routine exercise will help to stimulate your pup’s physical and mental health. Shibas are notorious for being a little aloof, however, a healthy lifestyle will keep your Shiba in a good temperament to adjust in apartments.

Walking is an ideal exercise for Shiba Inus to release energy. Take him out on walks frequently if you’re petting him indoors.

Are Shiba Inus good house dogs?

Shiba Inus can be good house dogs if you provide them with proper training and early socialization.

Moreover, these intelligent breeds are highly active and are obedient towards their owner. They’re considerably quiet and prefer to stay clean. Hence, they could be your ideal house dogs.

However, Shiba Inus have quite the reputation of being aloof and can be indifferent towards kids, strangers, and other dogs. So, firstly you need to make sure your pup is comfortable with other members of the house.

Shiba Inus also enjoy roaming around in your fenced garden. So if you have a backyard or garden, and you happen to enclose it with a fence, you’ll have a happy and cheerful Shiba protecting the house.

How do you discipline a Shiba Inu?

You cannot completely discipline a Shiba Inu since he’s independent by nature and loves his freedom. However, early socialization, a healthy exercise routine, and learning to have patience can somewhat help to discipline your Shiba.

Always remember not to punish your furry friend. It might result in developing destructive behavior. But also you cannot let him take the authority or else he might take advantage of you.

Ensure to establish that you’re the alpha and you’re in charge so that he becomes obedient to you. Spend as much time as possible training your Shiba at his early age. It is not a cup of cake to train a Shiba, a reason why they’re not recommended for first-time dog owners.

At what age do Shiba Inus calm down?

Your hyperactive Shiba is most likely to calm down at 5-6 months if trained properly. By this time he reaches adolescence. If you provide him with adequate training from his puppyhood and focus on early socialization, he’ll calm down at this stage.

However, their hyperactive traits will get triggered when they’re on heat at the age of 8-9 months old. And it will last till they’re fully matured, that is, 16 months old.

All things considered, a Shiba Inu can be a perfect fit for your apartment. It is very eye soothing to watch this handsome Japanese native dog roaming and playing in the house.