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While Shiba Inus are not the friendliest dogs in the world – that does not mean that they are aggressive dogs either.
Shiba Inus were originally bred as hunting dogs which make them more prone to aggression than non-hunting, non-fighting dog breeds such as companion dogs.
So although Shiba Inus are not typically aggressive dogs – they definitely CAN BE if they come from bad breeding practices and / or not socialized properly
Dealing with any form of dog aggression is a serious matter that needs to be addressed promptly.
So it’s important to get professional help when necessary.
Me and three of my Shibas – from left to right, Anzu – not aggressive, Kinai – definitely not aggressive, Yae – can be aggressive
Are Shiba Inus an Aggressive Dog Breed?
No, Shiba Inus in general are not an “overtly” aggressive dog breed.
Yet, they are definitely not push-overs or the friendliest of dog breeds either.
Shiba Inus are more “primitive” than their other more domesticated counterparts.
This means that Shiba Inus will have more “wilder” tendencies and instincts lurking in their adorably cute bodies.
After all Shiba Inus were originally bred to be small-games hunters which increases the chance of aggression versus non-hunting breeds.
Overall the breed classes that have the most aggressive dog breeds as members included dogs that were bred to fight and / or hunt.
Hunting dogs do need to develop keen “killer-instincts” to be successful at hunting and one can expect that Shibas did a pretty good job on that in the past based on their confident demeanor.
So the possibility that some Shiba Inus can display aggressive behavior is higher than docile dog breeds bred to be human companions like Retrievers.
Well-bred Shiba Inus rarely have aggression issues and instead are balanced dogs that don’t intentionally go looking for trouble.
However, any dog can get provoked so Shibas will react if they feel that their boundaries have been crossed.
And when they “do” react, their innate wildness and high-pitched screams and growls can give them the appearance of pretty fierce dogs!
Why Are Some Shiba Inus Aggressive Then?
Because Shiba Inus are more primitive than most dogs, breeding and socialization are two factors that massively affect the temperament of Shibas.
Ill-bred Shiba Inus from puppy mills or inexperienced breeders are the source of a large portion of Shibas that have behavior issues (aggression, anxiety, fearfulness).
And it’s an unfortunate fact that many new Shiba Inu owners purchase their Shibas from these sources.
This perpetuates a cycle of animal cruelty that will only continue unless more dog owners become aware of the issue.
