Meet the Shiba Inu
The Shiba Inu is one of Japan's ancient native breeds, originally used for hunting in mountainous terrain. With its curled tail, alert ears and confident stride, it carries itself with unmistakable pride.
Shibas are clean, quiet indoors and deeply loyal to their people — but they are also independent thinkers. They suit owners who appreciate a dog with a mind of its own and enjoy patient, reward-based training.
Appearance and characteristics
A compact, muscular body, thick double coat, triangular eyes and a tail that curls over the back. Colours are red, sesame, black-and-tan and cream.
Temperament
Confident, alert and reserved with strangers. Shibas often dislike being restrained and may have a strong prey drive, so secure leads and early socialisation are essential.
Size and weight
- Height: Roughly 33–43 cm at the shoulder
- Weight: Roughly 8–11 kg
Males are usually larger than females. These are general guide ranges; individual dogs vary.
Grooming
Weekly brushing most of the year, with heavy seasonal shedding when daily brushing helps. Shibas tend to keep themselves clean.
Exercise
Moderate to high: daily walks plus enrichment. Always keep them leashed in public — their recall can be unreliable.
Is a Shiba Inu suitable for Singapore living?
Their dense coat means Shibas need to be walked in the cool of the day with shade and water. They often adapt well to indoor life with air-conditioning or good ventilation.
HDB eligibility
The Shiba Inu does not appear on HDB's approved dog breeds list, so keeping one in an HDB flat requires HDB's prior written permission. Source: HDB approved dog breeds.
All dogs in Singapore must also be licensed with AVS. Read our first-puppy checklist.
