Shiba Survey Results

Back a few months ago, I conducted a shiba survey (see I, II, and III). The purpose of this survey was to get an in-depth understanding of shiba characteristics. I hope these results are helpful for current shiba owners, as well as those who are considering and researching the breed.

How might these results be more informative than other sources (like Wikipedia, AKC, and the National Shiba Club)? Well, for example, a number of resources say that the shiba is very fastidious, loves to be clean, and is very easy to housebreak. But what does "very easy to housebreak" exactly mean? The results of this shiba survey reveals that "very easy to housebreak" means that 51% of shibas that were gotten as puppies were potty trained in less than 2 weeks.

I've complied the results here, so that it is easily accessible and easily linked. The original survey was conducted in 3 parts. Each question has over 100 responses. This is not a scientifically conducted survey; just something I did online. Don't sue me.

If more people continue taking the survey, then this compliation will not include the new respondents. The most updated results can be accessed here for Part I, here for Part II, and here for Part III.

Overall Time Commitment (compared to other dog breeds)

53 %	Above Average
42 %	Average
5 %	Below Average

Good for First Time Dog Owner?

23 %	Yes
77 %	No

Willingness to please owner? (compared to other dog breeds)

5 %	Yes, master
30%	Average
64%	Eh? Not so much

Playfulness with owner (like playing fetch) (compared to other dog breeds)

27 %	Always ready for fun!
34 %	Mostly playful, but sometimes not
35 %	Only playful on my terms, not the humans'
4 %	Me fetch? Why don't you go fetch!

Independence (compared to other dog breeds)

56 %	Like a cat, happy to be near, but not too attached
38 %	Depends on my mood
6 %	Very attached, like a shadow

Dominant vs. Submissive

68 %	Dominant, happy to be alpha if you're not
28 %	Average
3 %	Submissive

Aggressiveness

3 %	Aggressive, must handle carefully
27 %	Mostly non-aggressive, but with some trouble spots
52 %	Mostly non-aggressive, except when provoked under special circumstances
18 %	Completely non-aggressive

Anxiety Level

7 %	Typically anxious
74 %	Anxious only in some circumstances
19 %	Always calm & confident

Affection (compared to other dog breeds)

3 %	Always cuddly
29 %	Mostly cuddly, but sometimes not
60 %	Sometimes cuddly, but mostly not
8 %	Not cuddly

Barking (compared to other dog breeds)

2 %	Lots of barks
15 %	Average
45 %	Only when necessary
39 %	Very rarely

Energy level (compared to other dog breeds)

52 %	High energy
45 %	Medium energy
3 %	Low energy

Intelligence (compared to other dog breeds)

52 %	Outsmarts human
42 %	Above average
6 %	Average
1 %	Dumb dog

Necessary socialization? (compared to other dog breeds)

42 %	A great deal more than other dog breeds
44 %	Somewhat more than other dog breeds
9 %	Average
3 %	Somewhat less than other dog breeds
2 %	Much less than other dog breeds

Friendliness with other dogs?

33 %	Very friendly (i.e. playful) with all other dogs
17 %	Non-aggressive, but aloof with other dogs
41 %	Mostly friendly/aloof, but can be dog aggressive
9 %	Mostly dog aggressive

Friendliness with cats?
(Only 64% of respondents have had their shiba exposed to cats. The figures below reflect the percent among those respondents.)

23 %	Very friendly (i.e. non-aggressive) with household cats
45 %	Mostly friendly, but can be aggressive
16 %	Cannot be trusted to be around cats without supervision
16 %	Cats are prey to be hunted

Friendliness with adults (non-owners)?

41 %	Always very friendly (i.e. eager to meet and greet)
40 %	Never aggressive, but sometimes aloof
15 %	Mostly friendly/aloof. Can be aggressive depending on the person
2 %	Somewhat aggressive. Can be friendly depending on the person
2 %	Mostly aggressive

Friendliness with children (non-owners)?
(95% of respondents have had their shiba exposed to children. The figures below reflect the percent among those respondents.)

39 %	Always very friendly (i.e. eager to meet and greet)
42 %	Never aggressive, but sometimes aloof
9 %	Mostly friendly/aloof. Can be aggressive depending on the child
6 %	Somewhat aggressive. Can be friendly depending on the child
3 %	Mostly aggressive

Ease of training in terms of initial learning

28 %	Very easy compared to other dog breeds
29 %	Somewhat easy compared to other dog breeds
11 %	Average compared to other dog breeds
25 %	Somewhat difficult compared to other dog breeds
8 %	Very difficult compared to other dog breeds

Ease of training in terms of reliability

7 %	Very reliable (obeys over 80% of the time)
40 %	Somewhat reliable (obeys 50% - 80% of the time)
44 %	Flip a coin! (obeys 50% of the time)
6 %	Somewhat unreliable (obeys 30% - 50% of the time)
3 %	Very unreliable (obeys less than 30% of the time)

Off-leash reliability

2 %	Successful in training my shiba to be reliable off-leash!!
23 %	Reliable off-leash only in rural, low-density areas
75 %	Never ever reliable off-leash

Darting out of doors or escaping from yard?

15 %	Always tries to dart out of the door/escape; need to put a GPS on my shiba
52 %	Sometimes tries to dart out of the door/escape
33 %	Never tries to dart out of the door/escape

Exercise requirements

2 %	Low or none
5 %	Walks less than 15 min a day
24 %	Walks for 15 to less than 30 min. a day
34 %	Walks for 30 to less than 45 min. a day
20 %	Walks for 45 to less than 60 min. a day
16 %	Walks for over 60 min. a day

Ease of potty training
(83% of respondents had a complete potty training experience with their shiba. The figures below reflect the percent among those respondents.)

51 %	Took less than 2 weeks
20 %	Took between 2 weeks and less than a month
13 %	Took between a month and less than 2 months
7 %	Took between 2 months and less than 3 months
2 %	Took between 3 months and less than 4 months
1 %	Took between 4 months and less than 5 months
1 %	Took between 5 months and less than 6 months
1 %	Took between 6 months and less than 9 months
2 %	Took over 9 months

Any Food Allergies?

79 %	No food allergies. No problems finding appropriate food.
18 %	Some food allergies. Some problems finding appropriate food.
3 %	Many food allergies. Difficulty in finding appropriate food.

Overall health?

63 %	Very healthy. Minimal vet care required.
37 %	Mostly healthy.
0 %	Mostly unhealthy.
0 %	Very unhealthy. A lot of vet care requried.

Ease of giving your Shiba a Bath?

7 %	Very easy. No protest. No problems.
54 %	Moderately easy. Some protest. Some problems. But can handle.
20 %	Moderately difficult. More protest. More problems.
9 %	Very difficult. A lot of protest. A lot of problems.
11 %	Goes to professional groomer.

Ease of cutting or grinding nails?

8 %	Very easy. No protest. No problems.
27 %	Moderately easy. Some protest. Some problems. But can handle.
22 %	Moderately difficult. More protest. More problems.
7 %	Very difficult. (Use muzzle)
21 %	Goes to professional groomer.
16 %	Goes to vet.

Ease of vet visit?
(Note: At least one respondent commented that this question was difficult to answer, so perhaps the answer options were not well-designed.)

42 %	Very easy. No protest. No problems.
48 %	Moderately easy. Some protest. Some problems. But can handle.
5 %	Moderately difficult. More protest. More problems.
5 %	Very difficult. (Use muzzle)

Ease of leaving Shiba in another person's care (boarding)?

31 %	Very easy. Can leave with anyone, even friends. (Largest set of options)
39 %	Moderately easy. Can leave with most boarding places. (Many options, but not all.)
24 %	Moderately difficult. Must choose boarding place very carefully. (Few options)
6 %	Very difficult. Cannot leave with anyone. (No options)

Severity of shedding (although shedding is seasonal, please answer on the average)
(Note: This was a bad survey question. The results only seem to reveal the cleanliness of owners and not how much shibas shed.)

17 %	Vacuum 0-25% more often than without dog.
20 %	Vacuum 25-50% more often than without dog.
16 %	Vacuum 50-75% more often than without dog.
10 %	Vacuum 75-100% more often than without dog.
16 %	Vacuum more than twice as much as without dog.
12 %	Vacuum more than three times as much as without dog.
11 %	N/A. I give up. I don't vacuum.

Being left alone (i.e., separation anxiety)

61 %	No problems. No anxiety.
36 %	Some problems and anxiety.
1 %	More problems and anxiety.
2 %	A lot of problems and anxiety. (Destructive)

Inside/Outside tolerance

25 %	Only an indoor dog.
72 %	Mostly indoor, but sometimes outdoor dog.
3 %	Mostly outdoor, but sometimes indoor dog.
0 %	Only an outdoor dog.

Space (yard) required

36 %	No yard is fine.
50 %	Small yard is required.
14 %	Large yard is required.

Food/treat pickiness
(Note: At least one respondent commented that I should have separated food pickiness from treat pickiness. Perhaps this question was not well-designed.)

35 %	Not picky. Will eat anything.
54 %	Mostly not pickly. Will eat most things.
8 %	Mostly pickly. Won't eat just anything.
3 %	Very picky.

Price of a puppy
(82% of respondents got their shiba as a puppy. The figures below reflect the percent among those respondents.)

16 %	$0 - $499
27 %	$500 - $749
20 %	$ 750 - $999
21 %	$1000 - $1249
13 %	$1250 - $1499
2 %	$1500 - $1749
2 %	$1750 - $1999
1 %	$2000 +