As dog owners, we're often biased towards thinking our dog is the best dog. However, we know that all the different breeds of dog have a perfect home out there. During lockdown in the UK, a huge amount of people welcomed a new pup into their home. Sadly, however, The Dogs Trust have seen a massive increase of dogs being surrendered to them as owners return to work and realise they cannot cope with their new pet. That is why we want to help encourage would-be dog owners to take their time, do their research and find the pup that is perfect for them! In our 'Best Breeds' series of interviews, we will be talking to a whole host of different dog owners to get their take on what it is like to own some of the nation's favourite breeds. This week, we will be talking to Amy.
What is your dog's name, breed and how long have you had them?
Hiro is a Japanese Shiba Inu. He’s 11 years old now and I got him as a puppy in March 2010.
How would you describe your dog's personality?
Hiro is a really calm boy and likes to sleep a lot but when he wakes up he loves to play, especially tug of war. Shiba’s have a reputation for being aloof but I prefer to describe him as very loyal, he’s extremely affectionate to the people in his pack and has become more and more cuddly the older he’s got!
What are the 3 best things about your dog?
I love everything about him, he’s such an important part of our family, getting us out for walks in any weather which has become such a huge part of my life - I arguably need “walkies” more than he does these days!. He has such an expressive face and I love to watch him sleep so peacefully in the funniest of positions, he’s always happy to see me and I always look forward to getting home to his waggy tail and big ’Shiba smile’.
What is 1 challenging thing about owning your breed of dog?
Shiba’s are a very independent breed so his recall has never been that great and he’s definitely no lap dog so would rather be left at home than dragged to the pub but the flip side to that is that he is very easy and relaxed and I never need to worry on the rare occasions he does get left alone.
Who would you recommend your breed of dog to?
I would recommend Shiba Inu’s to people who want a calm dog breed that will give them plenty of love and affection but won’t be under their feet 24/7. When he was younger Hiro was a great hiking and running buddy so would definitely suit someone with a moderately active lifestyle. They can be a good breed if you live in a flat as they are very clean and easy to train in that regard and are also happy left alone for longer periods of time than many other breeds.
If you are thinking about adopting a dog, we highly recommend having a look at the resources available on The Dogs Trust website or even using services like Borrow My Doggy so that you can experience what it is like to have different dogs in your life. All dogs are different, so it is always important to do your own research and take each dogs past into consideration before adopting them. Your local animal shelter will be more than happy to talk you through what dog they think is perfect for you.