Shiba Inu

The Shiba Inu is a medium-sized working dog with a compact and sturdy body and a docked tail. The double coat is of moderate length, with furnishings on the legs, ears, and chest. The ears are pendant and the expression is relaxed and soft, indicating that it is indeed a member of the ancient hunting dog family. Its body is very symmetrical, but not excessively so, with all parts well-balanced. It has an elegant and distinctive demeanor, with a deep body, strong and well-developed legs, and long enough legs to move easily. Overall, the Shiba Inu should show strength, endurance, and liveliness. It should exhibit a good running and enduring posture, able to work continuously under harsh hunting conditions. In its ideal state, it possesses the qualities of fashion, symmetry, balance, and enthusiasm, and combines beauty and practicality, making it a true hunting dog capable of distinguishing prey.

"Shiba Inu" (also translated as "Spinning Dog") is a name that encompasses a group of dogs that are ancestors to many hunting dogs today. In the early 19th century, Shiba Inus and Cocker Spaniels were often born in the same litter, with size being the only distinguishing factor. In 1902, the Kennel Club recognized the English Shiba Inu as a separate breed.

Without a doubt, standards have made the Shiba Inu breed more uniform, resulting in individuals that are consistent in both show and field trials. They are recognized as excellent sporting dogs, therefore they are not allowed to lose their standard features, meaning they cannot become heavy-boned and short-legged in order to maintain agility in hunting. One of their uses is to flush out and retrieve game.

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Toetag

Symptoms: The dog frequently licks its toes, and the area between the toes becomes red and moist. In severe cases, limping may occur.

Preparation: Iodine tincture, erythromycin ointment, Elizabethan collar

Instructions: Wear an Elizabethan collar, remove the hair from the foot clean, wash with soapy water, or wipe with iodine tincture. After the inflamed area is dry, apply erythromycin ointment between the toes once a day, repeat for one week.

Ear mite

Symptoms: The dog will scratch and shake its ears. The dog's ears will have a strong sour odor, accompanied by increased tear stains, hair loss in the ears, and dark brown secretions and ear wax.

Preparation: Ear cleanser, ear wash solution

Instructions: Clean the hair inside the dog's ears, flush the ear canal with ear wash solution or Virbac ear cleaner, gently massage the base of the ear for 30 seconds, wait for the dog to shake out the ear wash solution, use cotton balls to wipe off the secretions and gently clean the auricle and ear canal.

Skin disease

Symptoms: The dog will feel itchy, the skin becomes red, itchy, and the dog will scratch. The fur becomes dull and rough, more dandruff, and even patches of hair loss.

Preparation: Dilute saltwater, topical ointment or spray for skin, vitamin B.

Instructions: Put an Elizabethan collar on the dog to prevent scratching and licking. Cut the problematic skin and the surrounding hair short, wash with saltwater for sterilization, and then apply ointment or use spray along with antibiotics and vitamin B.

Newborn period: The newborn period is when the dog is just born and relies mainly on breast milk. The body cannot regulate its temperature and needs the mother's warmth. For the first 1-2 days, there is no hearing or vision, and the puppy can only find the nipple by weak touch. Around day 13, the eyes open, and around day 15, hearing develops. Teeth start to come in around day 20. From day 21-28, the amount of milk is not enough, and the puppy needs to transition from liquid food to semi-solid food. This can easily cause diarrhea and constipation, so you must feed lactase, probiotics, or give them goat milk powder/pet milk powder. For constipation, you can massage the abdomen and feed a small amount of vegetable oil. Worming should start at 14-28 days old.

Puppyhood: 1-2 months old. The puppy's digestive system is not fully developed yet, so it needs careful care from the owner. Generally, the puppy should be fed at least three times a day, with small meals according to the puppy's condition. Soak the dog food in warm water or goat milk powder and feed it little by little. Do not overfeed, as it can cause poor digestion. Make sure to give the puppy drinking water and avoid feeding milk, as it can cause diarrhea. You can give them a small amount of probiotics every day to regulate their intestines. At this stage, the puppy has a weak resistance to viruses and bacteria and should not be taken outside or exposed to cold patients to avoid getting sick. Vaccination should start at 6-7 weeks old, with the final round at 3 months old. Try to bathe the puppy after vaccination. Dry cleaning powder can be used for early baths. Teeth start to come in at 19-28 days old, and all baby teeth are present by 2 months old. They have some learning ability and can start toilet training.

Adolescence: 3-6 months old. At this time, the puppy can gradually transition from soaked dog food to dry dog food. Adjust the puppy's feeding schedule and make it as regular as possible. They still eat dog food and drink water. However, the puppy's bones and muscles are rapidly growing, so they need a large amount of protein and calcium. They also start to shed their puppy coat and grow adult fur, which can be an awkward period. During this time, the puppy starts to assert dominance and establish their territory. Destructive behavior may increase. The puppy's body grows rapidly, so they need a moderate amount of exercise every day to support their growth.

Sexual maturity: 8-14 months old. At this age, dogs enter sexual maturity and have their first heat cycle. The first heat cycle can cause hormonal imbalances and disrupt the cycle. Continual heat cycles, irregular cycles, or false pregnancies can have low fertility rates and a high risk of dystocia. Supplement the dog with reproductive nutrients such as vitamin E, organic chromium, and folic acid. It is important not to breed during the first heat cycle and to maintain hygiene during the heat cycle to prevent infection. If not planning to breed, spaying can be done after the heat cycle ends.

Adulthood: 1-6 years old. Dogs are considered adults at 1 year old, and their body size is mostly stable by this age. They can continue to eat dog food without many restrictions. However, it is still important to supplement their diet with appropriate nutrients and avoid feeding chicken or duck bones, salty or spicy foods, raw food, or animal fat. If the dog becomes sick or catches a cold, it should be taken to a veterinarian instead of self-medicating unless you are a veterinarian yourself. Take responsibility for your beloved pet.

Senior stage: 8-18 years old. Dogs older than 8 years old are equivalent to being 50 or older in human years and have entered the senior stage of their lives. At this stage, organ functions decline, and age-related diseases such as diabetes, decreased liver and kidney functions, and bone and joint diseases can occur. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to supplementing calcium. You can choose to eat more soy products and cartilage or use calcium supplements available on the market. Take more walks in the sun and maintain cleanliness. With proper care, your time with your dog will be longer.

1. Can't bathe frequently

Giving a dog a bath, of course, should not be too frequent. Giving a dog a bath depends on the dog's hygiene. In hot weather in summer, wash it one or two more times, and reduce it by one or two times in winter, but it should not exceed 5 times in total. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!

2. Brush regularly

Dogs shed almost every day, especially in spring and autumn. Shedding is more severe seasonally. To grow good hair, regular brushing is an important step. Pet owners can use pet-specific combs to help dogs clean naturally shed hair and prevent tangling. Brushing once in the morning and evening for about five minutes each time is enough.

3. Sunbathe

Sunbathing is beneficial to the growth of a dog's hair, and besides making the hair more shiny, letting the dog sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. At the same time as sunbathing, pet owners can let the dog exercise, which can help improve the dog's physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier hair.

4. Deworming

Poor fur condition is actually closely related to parasites. Parasites will absorb a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body and compete for nutrients. Therefore, deworming is essential. It is recommended to do internal and external deworming at the same time. The damage to the dog's stomach and intestines caused by deworming medicine is also significant, so it is recommended to feed it with probiotics regularly to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.

5. Pay attention to diet

In order for the dog to have beautiful fur, it must have a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to daily diet. On the one hand, feed the dog with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a dog food that is suitable for the dog and has sufficient nutrition to meet the dog's needs; on the other hand, you can give the dog a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolk, and vegetable oil.