Is a Shiba Inu a Good Guard Dog? Vet-Reviewed Breed Temperament & Alternatives
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View 2 More +Shiba Inus have a lot going for them; they’re smart as a whip, faithful, stubborn, independent, and very in tune with their environment, but are Shiba Inus good guard dogs? Taking into account common Shiba Inu characteristics, these dogs are more likely to make better watchdogs than guard dogs.
Read on to find out why.
Watchdog vs Guard Dog: What’s the Difference?
First of all, it’s essential to understand what exactly a watchdog and a guard dog do and how their roles are different. In a nutshell, a watchdog barks loudly to let you know that there’s a potential intruder lurking about. Breeds of all sizes can make excellent watchdogs, including Shiba Inus, as long as they have an alert nature.
On the other hand, a guard dog is often large in size and physically imposing, although size is not necessarily the defining factor. The role of a properly trained guard dog is to protect people and property, primarily by deterring and scaring away potential threats rather than immediately attacking.
This could be achieved by controlled behavior such as growling, barking, baring teeth, and intimidating the threatening presence with size and power. If the intruder enters the property or attempts to attack despite the dog’s warnings, the guard dog may proceed to engage in a trained manner, typically by biting and holding to restrain the person until commanded to release by the handler, if present. While the goal is controlled force rather than excessive harm, physical injury can still occur.
What Is a Protection Dog?
A protection or police dog has a different role from watchdogs and guard dogs. These dogs are usually trained by law enforcement organizations and the military to help apprehend or incapacitate a suspect.
Dogs that have received proper professional training are conditioned to engage only under defined circumstances and are trained in controlled techniques rather than immediate attacking. They are highly obedient working dogs that respond reliably to their handler’s commands and are trained to release when directed.
Are Shiba Inus Good Guard Dogs?
While Shiba Inus have the traits necessary to make fantastic watchdogs, they’re less likely to be effective guard dogs. Though Shiba Inus are often very alert and have distinctive, piercing, and/or sharp barks and a natural wariness of strangers, they’re not very large and may not be physically imposing enough to deter the most determined intruders.
Furthermore, good guard dogs should be highly responsive to training to ensure they turn out well-rounded, and Shiba Inus are famously independent and strong-willed. This doesn’t mean they can’t be trained, but it does mean that training them can be more of a challenge.
These dogs are also renowned escape artists. According to the American Kennel Club, Shiba Inus aren’t very reliable when it comes to free-roaming, depending on how well you train them. If you leave a door open by accident and the Shiba slips out, it’s possible that they just run without looking back.
Therefore, if, for example, you let your Shiba Inu out into the yard to scare off an intruder, there’s no guarantee they won’t just slip out of the gate and escape. Taking everything into account, these traits don’t make for the most reliable guard dog.
All that said, some intruders may be deterred by a protective Shiba Inu, as they might be by any dog that growls, barks, or bares teeth at them.
If you are struggling with your dog's behavior, we suggest speaking to a vet or a certified canine behaviorist.
Which Dog Breeds Are the Best Guard Dogs?
If you’re considering honing your dog’s guardianship skills, it’s important to remember that proper training and socialization are key to developing a well-rounded dog. The American Kennel Club compiled a list of the most suited guard dog breeds based on common breed traits like fearlessness, loyalty, alertness, intuition, and strength.
Here are some of the breeds on the list:
Final Thoughts
To recap, though Shiba Inus are loyal, watchful, and alert, there is no guarantee they’d make effective guard dogs against intruders, largely due to their smaller size and the fact that they can be challenging to train.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t take away from the Shiba Inu’s natural protectiveness, sensitivity, and alertness, and these traits are likely to make Shiba Inus great watchdogs that will sound the alarm loudly and clearly if they’re suspicious of something or someone.
Featured Image Credit: ikate25, Shutterstock
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Kit Copson is a freelance writer and lifelong animal lover with a strong interest in animal welfare. She has parented many furry beings over the years and is currently a proud cat mom of two—one very chilled (unless hungry) Siamese and a skittish but adorable Domestic Shorthair—and dog mom of one—an adopted Bichon Poodle cross. When not writing about or spending time with pets, Kit can be found drawing in her sketchpad, reading, or more often than not, drinking tea.
