Shibas are a unique breed and not everyone can handle one. In general, they are not cuddly lap dogs; they hate to be held; they don’t retrieve balls or catch frisbees; they don't like to swim; you can't let them run free at the lake or the park or anywhere that is not securely fenced; if you drop their leash while walking them, they will take off like a bullet; if there is a hole in your fence, they will find it and escape; and they are door bolters. Puppies are non-stop bundles of energy who need lots of guidance and even more exercise. If a Shiba puppy is not socialized properly, it can become skittish and shy, or aggressive to other dogs. If a dominant Shiba puppy does not receive the right kind of training (positive enforcement only) at a very early age, you may end up with a little monster on your hands. And one last thing, Shibas shed like crazy at certain times of the year.
Most of the Shibas who end up in rescue were purchased from pet stores or disreputable breeders who will sell any pet to anyone who has the money. They don't care if the Shiba is clearly the wrong type of dog for that particular person, and they don't adequately prepare the person for what to expect from a Shiba. Many of the Shibas who end up at animal shelters were probably found as strays after escaping from their homes.
Shibas are beautiful; from the tips of their prick ears to the curl of their tails. They are incredibly coordinated, agile and light on their feet. Their coats are plush and their brown, almond-shaped eyes are gorgeous. They are the perfect size to take anywhere. They are easily housetrained and are very clean dogs. They don't yap or bark a lot, but they do make some very funny noises when they are excited. Shibas are independent, smart, alert, and fearless. Shibas can do just about anything, including being therapy dogs and agility dogs. They are tireless and make wonderful hiking or running companions. They are affectionate, but not needy. They are generally a very healthy breed. Their main health concerns are allergies or luxating patellas (kneecaps that sometimes pop out of place). If you are careful and buy a puppy from a reputable breeder, you will have the assurance of a healthy pup with a good temperament.
A lot of Shibas are given up to Rescue through no fault of their own, but because their owner no longer has the time, commitment, health, finances, etc. to care for the Shiba. With others, we find that the "issues" that caused a Shiba to be given up to Rescue are easily resolved once the dog is with someone who understands the breed. Most rescues are adults so you don't have to worry about any health problems they might grow into (such as hip dysplasia). Their health will already be apparent, as well as their temperament, and you'll already know things such as how they get along with other dogs and cats, or with children. The Shiba will have been in a foster home so its behavior will have been evaluated by an experienced Shiba person, and that person will be available to answer questions or address concerns after the adoption, unlike a pet store or puppy miller. If you have researched the breed and feel a Shiba is a good match for you, then perhaps there is a rescue Shiba just waiting for you to come along. For more information about the Shiba Inu, please visit The Shiba Inu Homepage and the Introduction to the Shiba Inu.
To inquire about Shibas in Texas, please contact Kerri Chambers via email at kchambers@jw.com or contact the person listed on that particular dog's bio. In addition to the Texas site, the National Shiba Rescue website lists most of the Shibas available for adoption in the United States and Canada. Some Shibas can be shipped (by air or ground transport) to other parts of the U.S. or Canada.
A large number of animal shelters now list their adoptable pets on Petfinder. You can narrow your search to just the Shiba Inu breed. There are usually some purebred Shibas available, lots of Shiba mixes, and a few that, frankly, don't appear to have any Shiba in them.
All Shibas adopted through Shiba Rescue are spayed or neutered prior to placement. Why? The pet overpopulation problem in the United States is so bad that 24,000 pets are euthanized every day in animal shelters. Almost 70% of these pets are produced by back yard breeders. Only the best representatives of any particular breed should ever be bred. These are Shibas that meet the Japanese Nippo standards and/or the AKC standards. Because everyone thinks highly of their own dogs, they should be deemed to meet these standards by someone other than the breeder, such as an AKC judge. Reputable breeders only breed dogs who have attained Champion status in the show ring, whose pedigrees are intact, and who have had proper health screenings done for hips and eyes, and are free of defects sometimes seen in the breed such as an overbite/underbite, luxating patellas, heart murmurs and the like. Very few rescue Shibas (if any) would meet these stringent criteria.