I’m writing this because I’m feeling a bit lost. I adopted my Shiba Inu 18 months ago, and he is incredibly fearful.
I’m not really sure what to do; I’ve tried taking him to very busy places (outside school gates, to the station, in front of shopping centres...) to try and get him used to the noise. I even hired a specialist dog trainer who, aside from charging me about £75 for 45 minutes, didn’t teach me anything and hasn’t changed a single thing.
I’ve read online that there are medicinal or homeopathic treatments (Bach Flower Remedies -> Rescue Remedy) or even pheromone collars to help my dog relax, but I don’t know what to think of it all... What would you suggest?
I really want my dog to learn how to manage his fear because it’s exhausting for him, for me, and sometimes even dangerous. Last week, his harness came off because he lunged backwards in fear at a tin can rolling on the ground in the wind. He didn’t know what he was doing, bolted into the road, and nearly got run over...
When my dog has a panic attack (often triggered by wheelie bins on the street, prams, bikes, or a sudden loud noise), he completely loses his head. He runs in every direction and it's impossible to calm him down until we’re back in the lobby of my building or in my flat.
Aside from that, my dog is house-trained, well-behaved when he's home alone, and hasn't destroyed anything since reaching adulthood. He’s very playful, gentle, loves a cuddle, and is a real bottomless pit when it comes to food. Everything becomes a struggle as soon as I take him out; it’s like dealing with a different dog. Yet, I’ve never hit him, scolded him, or traumatised him with any kind of object. Whether an object is moving or not, if he’s scared of it, he won't listen and won't go anywhere near it.
I’ve never specifically comforted him in my arms or stroked him to remind him I’m there when he’s scared. I was advised not to reassure him when he’s afraid so that he learns to face it and overcomes his fear on his own.
Thanks in advance for your replies,
Best regards, Mathieu.
Translated from French
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Hi everyone,
I’m not sure if I’ll get any replies or if anyone will even see this... but I also adopted a Shiba from this breeder last September. I picked him up when he was 8 weeks old and he’s now just over 3 months. My pup isn’t timid at all; quite the opposite, he loves being around people, whether it’s adults or children. Having three kids at home already probably helps!
Since he arrived, we’ve tried to get him used to as many things as possible—shops, car journeys, the school run, other kids, and dogs—and so far, everything’s going well. We’ll have to see how things go as he gets older... What have your experiences been with this breeder? I must admit, I didn't really do much digging into them before choosing them...
Hi there,
I totally understand @Atarax, I’m having a similar issue with my 5-month-old Shiba. He’s scared of sudden noises, children, bikes and buses (but strangely, not cars). This is despite the fact that I made sure he was exposed to plenty of things between 2 and 4 months old. He gets on brilliantly with other dogs but is absolutely terrified of people (especially kids). It’s a real nightmare for both of us and people even imply that I’m mistreating him when I talk about the problem. I think I’m just going to have to be patient. Best of luck to you.
Well, look, if the breeder doesn't do the bare minimum to socialise the puppies, they’re bound to have some developmental gaps by the time they’re two months old. Even so, atarax did take him to the shopping centre and outside the school gates...
You got your dog at 2 months old, so if your dog hasn't been properly socialised, you can’t really blame the breeder. The breeder sold you the puppy at the legal age, and it’s up to the owner to socialise their pup from 2 months until 3 months old to ensure they turn out to be a well-adjusted dog. Has it really taken you over a year to notice your dog is fearful??? Why didn't you take them to busy places every day from 2 MONTHS OLD UNTIL 3 MONTHS OLD??? After about 3 months, puppies enter a fear period, so you shouldn't expose them to unfamiliar things in the same way you do during the socialisation period—IT’S COMPLETELY COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE.
Sorry if this sounds a bit harsh, I’m not blaming you directly, but the lack of information from the breeder and especially from your VET is appalling.
Hmm, that breeder doesn't have the best reputation in the community, both in terms of socialisation and their breeding lines, but it's hard to spot that at first glance :/
I know two trainers who really know their Shibas as they own them themselves – there's Margaux from Primitif Addict and Marion from Meute Citadine. They’re based in Paris and cover the Greater Paris area.
First of all, thanks for all your replies.
I got my dog from a breeder out in the countryside, near Étainhus (in the Seine-Maritime area, not far from Le Havre). I have to admit, I’ve got no idea how much work went into the puppies from birth until they were rehomed. I picked up Meïko when he was eight weeks and two days old (KC registered, microchipped, vaccinated, and all his health and developmental checks were done). I don’t think the breeder’s location was really ideal for socialising him with everyday noises, meeting other dogs, or anything else that might be a bit daunting for a small puppy. The place is right out in the sticks, surrounded by nothing but fields... (you have to drive down a dirt track for over a mile to get there). Still, I don’t know for sure, and I can only blame myself really as I didn’t think to ask the breeder anything about it on the big day.
I’ve taken all your advice on board, and from now on, I’m going to keep a log of every situation or object that frightens Meïko.
As for where I’m based, I live in the Yvelines area (near Mantes-la-Jolie, not far from the Eure and Val-d’Oise borders), so if any of you know a behaviourist or a trainer who could help my dog, please let me know! If it comes to it, I’m happy to travel if I have to; I’ll do whatever it takes so my dog can live a peaceful life!
Thanks in advance, and have a lovely day!
As Kikaah said, I think your dog wasn't properly socialised to their environment during that crucial early window (mostly before they’re 3 months old) and as they grew up.
Generally, this sort of case requires long-term desensitisation therapy, overseen by someone qualified, which involves a lot of careful observation beforehand.
Basically, it involves desensitising your dog to every "trigger"—meaning every specific situation that sparks the fear. When you have a nervous dog, it’s easy to assume they’re "scared of everything" or "scared for no reason", but in the dog's world, it’s always down to very specific circumstances.
For instance, a dog might be perfectly fine with people and fine with horses, but be absolutely terrified of a rider on a horse.
Personally, with a nervous dog, I’d definitely keep a little diary to record every situation that triggers a panic, trying to go into detail (the context, sounds, smells, etc.) to figure out as accurately as possible what needs to be worked on.
Your dog might actually be afraid of fewer things than you think, and just working on two or three main triggers could really improve their quality of life.
I know Shibas pretty well as I've had one for eight years now ;) Shibas are indeed very sensitive dogs and can become fearful quite easily. Where did you get yours from? Their background is really important because if they weren't properly socialised right from birth, it’ll be a lasting issue that's quite hard to correct. For successful socialisation, it’s better to introduce them to fewer things but in a very positive way, rather than showing them too much without giving them time to adjust (I made that mistake myself!).
If they're scared of buggies, the ideal thing would be to show them one while it's stationary and get them to relax with some play and treats. Then get them to sit next to it, then move the buggy, then walk alongside it... and so on. It might take a long time, but never mind—if after a month they aren't scared of them anymore, that's a win! It’s the same for anything else they're afraid of: take it slow, one step at a time. What did the trainer teach you? Which part of the country are you in (I might know some people there)? Have you seen a behaviourist? You could try Rescue Remedy; pharmacies have loads of homeopathic options (like Boiron) or supplements from brands like Hilton Herbs... personally, the thing that worked best to relax my girl in certain situations was food! ^^
