Shiba Inu Grooming

Shiba Inu dogs have medium-length, thick, double-layered coats that don't require too much maintenance. The coats shed somewhat year-round, and when they blow their undercoats in the spring and fall the shedding is pretty heavy. Even so, overall Shiba Inu grooming isn't very time-consuming, and will mainly consist of brushing and occasional baths.

Here you'll find plenty of details on caring for the Shiba Inu coat, including lots of info on brushing and bathing. You'll also learn about maintaining these dogs' teeth, ears, and paws--and you'll find out exactly why shaving a Shiba Inu is never a good idea.

Shiba Inu grooming doesn't take a ton of work--and a majority of Shiba grooming will encompass the maintenance of their thick, double-layered coats. Shiba dogs shed moderately for most of the year, and heavily during the spring and fall shedding seasons, so they'll need brushing a couple of times per week (and daily during shedding season, along with the possible addition of a de-shedding tool). Baths are only necessary about every three months, unless of course the dog rolls in something dirty or stinky. Haircuts aren't required at all.

And while most owners can handle all their Shiba Inu dogs' grooming needs themselves, it's a good idea to take the dog to a professional groomer at least once. The groomer can give the dog's coat a good makeover, and provide tips on how to groom a Shiba Inu in general.

Maintaining these dogs' coats will also require the use of a few Shiba Inu grooming tools, including a slicker brush, a greyhound comb, a de-shedding tool, and canine shampoo and conditioner.

With its thick, double-layered coat, the Shiba Inu brush should happen 2-3 times per week to help remove dead hairs from the undercoat. (During shedding season, brushing will need to happen daily, and the use of a de-shedding tool once or twice during these periods will be useful as well.)

The best brush for Shiba Inu dogs is a slicker brush, which has fine, stiff bristles than can reach down and "grab" hairs from the dog's undercoat. A greyhound comb will be useful, too, especially for removing tangles and mats.

How to brush a Shiba Inu: first wet the coat with water mist from a spray bottle. Then starting at the shoulders, brush the entire coat section by section, moving in the direction of hair growth. If you encounter a tangle or mat (which is more likely during shedding season), follow the steps described in the Getting Out Tangles section below.

While Shiba Inu coats aren't really known for tangling or matting too much, they can develop hair snarls if not brushed consistently. Tangles and mats are more prevalent during shedding season, when the dead hairs get caught up in the healthy ones, instead of falling out. Two methods for dealing with Shiba Inu tangles:

• Use your fingers. This is the preferred method, as it's less damaging to the coat. Use your thumb and index finger to separate the tangled hairs, going strand by strand if necessary. You can also use the end teeth of your greyhound comb to divide the hairs--and if a tangle is really stubborn or matted, you can use scissors to cut it into halves or even fourths.
• Use a de-shedding tool. When it's shedding season for a Shiba Inu, a Furminator or similar tool can be very helpful. With a Furminator, Shiba Inu dogs' coats are less likely to tangle in the first place--and the tool's fine, curved teeth often remove tangles entirely. The problem with using these tools is that they can remove healthy hairs along with dead ones, leaving the dog's coat uneven.

Bathing Shiba Inu dogs doesn't need to happen very often. In fact, bathing a Shiba too often will rid the coat of its natural oils, and even change the coat's texture. Unless the dog gets especially dirty or stinky, owners say, baths about every three months is fine.

It's important to use canine shampoo, too, as the kind made for humans can irritate a dog's skin. Because these dogs are prone to various skin allergies, according to breed enthusiasts, Shiba Inu shampoo should be free of any fragrances or dyes. The best shampoo for Shiba Inu dogs includes hypoallergenic shampoo from brands like Earthbath, Vet's Best, and Pro Pet Works.

How to bathe a Shiba Inu: first give the dog a thorough brushing. You can bathe your Shiba either in a bathtub, or in an outdoor plastic pool using a garden hose. Wet the coat completely, then apply a quarter-sized amount of shampoo to the dog's back. Lather well, working downward and outward as you go. (And don't forget the legs, underbelly, and tail!) Clean the face, head, and ears with a washcloth. Rinse the coat until the water runs clear, then repeat the process with conditioner if desired.

Towel-dry the coat, then blow-dry it if you like. (If you use a hair dryer, make sure it's on its lowest heat setting so as not to burn the dog's skin.) Finish by giving the coat another quick brush-through to make it look clean and neat.

Any owner thinking of giving their Shiba Inu a haircut is pretty much out of luck. These dogs' medium-length, double-layered coats aren't really good in any hairstyle other than natural.

And can you shave a Shiba Inu? The answer is a resounding NO. A shaved Shiba Inu will be miserable--for several reasons: first, double-layered coats on dogs serve to regulate body temperature. They insulate warm air in winter and cool air in summer. The idea that shaving a Shiba Inu in summer to keep the dog cool is simply a myth; if a Shiba Inu is shaved, it'll actually be more prone to heatstroke and sunburn.

Another myth is that a shaved Shiba Inu will shed less. Since it's the dog's undercoat that sheds, unless a Shiba Inu is shaved bald--which is never a good idea!--the undercoat remains, and the dog still sheds.

An exception to the no-shaving rule can be made, of course, if the dog needs medical treatment and must have certain body parts shaved because of it. Your veterinarian will have more details on this.

In a nutshell: to anyone thinking of shaving their Shiba Inu's coat, put those clippers away!

Maintain your Shiba Inu's paws in the following areas:

• Nails: If Shiba Inu nails click on hard surfaces, it's time for a trim. Use standard nail clippers to cut the dog's nails as close to the toe as possible--be be sure not to cut them too short! Doing so can cut into the nail's "quick" (the blood vessel running through it), making the nail bleed and be painful.
• Toe Hair: If the hair between your Shiba's toes gets too long, it'll collect dirt and debris and even get infected. Use a small pair of scissors to trim the hair short if needed.
• Paw Pads: Your Shiba Inu's paw pads can become dry and cracked, especially if the dog walks or runs a lot on hot asphalt or snow and ice. Apply commercial paw pad moisturizer (available at pet stores or online) to the dog's pads weekly to keep them soft and moist.

In addition to these dogs' coats and paws, they'll also need the following care:

• Teeth: Just like a human's, Shiba Inu teeth need regular brushing to help reduce plaque and tartar, and to minimize that Shiba Inu bad breath! Use a regular toothbrush to brush your Shiba's teeth 2-3 times per week--but make sure to use canine toothpaste (available at any pet store or online), because the kind made for humans can make dogs sick if they swallow it.
• Ears: Without periodic Shiba Inu ear cleaning, these dogs' ears can collect dirt and debris and get infected--which often leads to hearing loss. Clean your Shiba's ears monthly with commercial canine ear cleaning solution. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions, but the usual process is to squirt some solution into the dog's ear canal, close the ear flap, and massage the ear for a few seconds to work in the liquid. The dog will probably shake its head vigorously--this is normal--then you can use a cotton ball (never a Q-Tip!) to wipe out any remaining solution.