The Shiba Inu is an iconic breed that hails from Japan. From their adorable face to stocky frame, it is not hard to see why this dog is one of the most popular breeds in their home nation. After Shiba Inu were imported from Japan following the end of World War II, they also became popular in the West. This breed has a variable reputation, but one of their most well-known traits is their intelligence. But is that actually the case? How smart is a Shiba Inu? How do they stack up against other dogs?

Shiba Inu are generally considered to be quite intelligent, but that description does come with a few caveats. Here is everything that you need to know about the intelligence of a Shiba Inu.

Shiba Inu Are Intelligent

Shiba Inu are considered to be highly intelligent dogs. They are rarely in the conversations about the smartest dogs in the world, but they are definitely above average. They typically show multiple levels of intelligence, as they have the ability to learn and interpret commands. They also have the intelligence to manipulate people and ignore orders when they don’t feel like doing something. Shiba Inu have a sizable well of emotional intelligence too, which helps them bond with their direct owner. All of these things together make this breed highly intelligent.

But just how intelligent are these dogs? There are multiple layers to that question. In some ways, Shiba are smarter than many other dogs, but in other ways, they can be considered stubborn and frustrating.

High Emotional IQ

Shiba Inu are considered to be extremely loyal, as they form strong bonds with their humans. That is due in part to the fact that they have high levels of emotional intelligence. They tend to know when a person is happy, upset, scared, or wary and will react accordingly, especially for their primary person. Shiba typically form an extremely strong bond with one person, and they can read them the best.

Furthermore, Shiba Inu are hypervigilant and will keep a strong eye (and fang) out for anyone or anything that could potentially disturb their owners. If you are out in public and you start acting scared or anxious, your Shiba Inu is likely to go on high alert and could even turn aggressive. This makes some people feel safe, but it can also lead to uncomfortable public outings.

Are Shiba Inu Trainable?

Yes. Shiba Inu are trainable, but training them may not come easily. While these dogs are smart, they are also stubborn. Shiba are capable of learning a host of commands, but they sometimes simply choose not to follow them. It is not that your dog doesn’t know what you are asking of them, as they likely do—they just make the conscious decision to disobey.

Therefore, it takes a strong hand to train a Shiba Inu properly. The good news is that since Shiba Inu are loyal and attached to their families and have a high emotional intelligence, they often know when you want them to listen. That means Shiba Inu are often great for their owner or favorite person but may be terrible for everyone else.

One thing that Shiba Inu may have difficulty with is being off leash in an open space. Some dogs can walk alongside their owners off leash while hiking or biking, but not this breed. The American Kennel Club puts it in no uncertain terms, stating: “The one thing every Shiba owner must know is that a Shiba can never, ever be considered reliable off lead unless in a confined area. No amount of obedience training will ever change that. Letting a Shiba off lead, or any dog, for that matter, is playing Russian roulette with its life.”

So, while Shiba Inu are loyal and smart, they should never be trusted off leash while out in public.

Shiba Inu Intelligence Compared to Other Dogs

Shiba Inu are universally considered to be above average when it comes to smarts. However, they rarely rank near the top of any intelligence list. Most lists that cover the top 10 or 15 most intelligent breeds leave the Shiba Inu conspicuously absent. This means they are more intelligent than your average dog but are not as intelligent as some of the heavy hitters, such as Poodles, Border Collies, and Goldens.

Top 5 Smartest Dogs

Intelligence Can Be a Double-Edged Sword

While many people prize canines for their perceived levels of intelligence, having a smart dog can be a double-edged sword. While a Shiba Inu regularly exhibits above-average levels of intelligence, this can be a thorn in your side because they are also prone to being stubborn. This dog can use their smarts to examine a situation and decide if they want to participate in a particular activity or not. One of the only ways to coax a Shiba into doing what you want is with food.

Less-intelligent dogs are driven more by affection or blind loyalty than smarts, which can make them more malleable. Shiba Inu rarely do anything that they don’t expressly want to do, and since they are clever and opinionated, they tend to have a long list of disliked activities.

Summary

Shiba Inu are considered to be smart dogs. They are above average in almost every category. They are emotionally intelligent but smart enough to put their own wants and needs before yours, which can make them hard to train and hard to handle in public. Shiba are rarely in conversations about the smartest dog breeds in the world, but they are generally considered intelligent overall.

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Featured Image Credit: TOM KAROLA, Shutterstock