The Shiba Inu is a very appealing and fluffy dog, and a part of their good looks is due to the proper care and grooming procedures. The thick double coat should be brushed twice or thrice a week to remove dead hair, prevent tangling, and spread natural oils throughout the coat, and bathing should be done once every 3 or 4 months.

Besides their adorable fluffy coats and friendly nature, the shedder factor makes Shiba Inu a popular breed. It is even sometimes referred to as “Shiba Inu glitter”. While shedding is a fact of life for all those who own this breed, with proper grooming, it should be minimized. If you are looking to keep your Shiba’s coat in top condition and make it easier for both you and your pet, then this blog will help you out with that.

Understanding the Shiba Inu Coat

The Shiba Inu has a thick, plush coat consisting of a thick, soft, and dense undercoat and a stiff and straight top coat. It is naturally weather resistant and very self-cleaning. This is very significant to help regulate body temperature; they are warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather. The Shiba Inu is protected from harsh weather conditions such as rain and snow, sunburn, as well as from minor injuries and insect bites.

Shibas are known to groom themselves similarly to cats and do not have the odor that other breeds normally have. There are two important points to be noted by the owners of this coat: it is never to be shaved, and it will blow twice a year (spring and fall), a process known as “blowing coat”. These features occur due to the hormonal changes and changes in light hours that the body uses as triggers to change its coat with seasons. The dense undercoat is shed to adapt the dog to the new weather condition.

Grooming Your Shiba Inu

Frequent grooming prevents parasites, promotes healthy skin and hair, and gets rid of shedding fur. Here is what you should know about Shiba Inu grooming.

Brushing Shiba Inu

With a long bristle brush, Shiba Inus should be brushed once or twice a month to prevent hair loss at home. Conditioners make brushing easier, prevent tugging of the coat, and also add shine and moisture. Deshedding brushes and rake brushes help in the removal of undercoat without causing any harm to the natural protective coat of the dog. Brushing is the best method of dealing with shedding.

During non-shedding times, brushing should be done twice a week. However, during shedding time, make an effort to brush your Shiba once a day to remove loose fur. A slicker brush, a de-shedding brush (Furminator), or a bristle brush can be very helpful. Here are the regular brushing tips to help:

  • The removal of the dead and loose hair.
  • Taking steps to prevent shedding at home.
  • Making efforts to prevent shedding at home.
  • Prevention of accumulation of loose hair in the coat
  • The distribution of natural oils in the coat
  • Make the coat healthy
  • Inspect skin for signs of sunburn, rashes, or other injuries

Step-by-step Guide to Brushing

  1. Start with the Slicker Brush: Use the slicker brush to remove loose fur and detangle mats. This brush will work well on the first brush pass, lifting the top coat and preparing the coat for a deeper brush.
  2. Follow up using the Metal Comb: Once the slicker is brushed, follow up with the metal comb to make sure all tangles have been picked out. Be careful around sensitive areas such as behind the ears and under the legs.
  3. Shedding Rubber Brush: Now use the shedding rubber brush to remove the upper layers of fur and massage the skin. This will help the coats grow healthy by stimulating the blood flow and spreading the natural oils.
  4. De-shed Brush for Heavy Shedding: For heavy shedding periods, use de-shed brush to get to the undercoat and remove loose fur not falling out. This will help control the majority of the shedding.
  5. Complete with Undercoat Rake: For dense undercoat, use the undercoat rake to loosen the undercoat without damaging the outer guard hairs.
  6. More Grooming When It’s Shedding Season: During shedding times, go to more grooming sessions, and sometimes do additional grooming sessions to get a head start on shedding. This routine will help you thoroughly groom your Shiba, minimize shedding, and maintain their coat’s health and manageability.

Grooming may be made easier with the correct knowledge, from bathing and brushing to keeping skin and nails healthy. Learn more about practical recommendations, professional advice, and useful information about grooming, diet, exercise, health, and daily pet care by visiting our website.   

Bathing Schedule

Bathing your Shiba Inu is essential for grooming, but their dense double coat does not require bathing on a regular basis. In fact, due to their naturally protected double coat, which is designed to remain fairly clean, excessive bathing will be more damaging than helpful. Here are some simple tips that make bath time comfortable, safe, and effective:

  • Bath every 3-4 months, maximum
  • Shampoo should be dog-specific and pH balanced
  • Ensure that you rinse well to avoid skin irritation
  • Brush before and after bathing

Step-by-step Guide to Bathing

  1. Before you give your Shiba a bath, brush them. This gets rid of hair and tangles. It makes the bath better.
  2. Make the bath water warm for your Shiba. Hot or cold water is not good for them. Fill the tub with water.
  3. Next, wet your Shiba’s coat over. Use a showerhead or a cup to do this. Make sure the water gets to the undercoat.
  4. Now put shampoo on your Shiba. Use a shampoo that helps get rid of loose hair. Rub it in well so it gets to the undercoat.
  5. Wash all the shampoo out. Make sure you get it all out. If some is left, it can irritate your Shiba’s skin.
  6. Use a conditioner that’s just for dogs with two coats, like your Shiba. Let it sit for a bit, then rinse it out.
  7. After the bath, dry your Shiba with a towel. If you have a dryer, use it. If not, use a blow dryer on cool. This is important so your Shiba does not get skin infections.
  8. You need to dry your Shiba’s coat all the way. There is an undercoat, so it takes time. If it is not dry, it can cause problems like skin irritation and hot spots.
  9. When your Shiba is dry, brush them again. This gets rid of hair and prevents matting. Brushing your Shiba is a part of taking care of them, especially after a bath.

Additional Grooming Techniques

  1. Nail care: Clip nails every 3-4 weeks.
  2. Keeping ears clean: Clean ears weekly using veterinary-approved ear cleaning solution.
  3. Skin care: Look for any redness or unusual odor.
  4. Dental care: Brush teeth twice to thrice a week for dental health.

Seasonal Adjustments to Grooming

  1. Spring shedding: Heavy shedding caused by the shedding of winter coat. Brush more and use undercoat brushes to control coat blow, which should be done daily.
  2. Summer Management: Regular brushing. Don’t shave during the summer since the double coat provides important insulation and UV protection.
  3. Autumn Shedding: This is a second major shedding season during the shedding of the summer coat. Brushing thoroughly helps to develop a winter coat.
  4. Winter Protection: Insulation against lower temperatures is provided by the coat. Aim for fewer baths to not disturb natural oils.

Shiba Inu Grooming Mistakes to Avoid

Simple mistakes might reduce the effectiveness of your Shiba Inu’s grooming. You should avoid the following mistakes:

  1. Excessive bathing: Avoid giving your Shiba Inu excessive baths. The natural oils in your Shiba Inu’s coat may be eliminated if you give them too many baths.
  2. Aggressive brushing: Give your Shiba Inu a gentle brushing. Brushing aggressively is dangerous for Shiba Inus because it might pull on their skin, causing them discomfort. Even the skin of Shiba Inus may be harmed.
  3. Shaving the double coat: You should also not shave the coat of your Shiba Inu. Shaving is usually not necessary. It can interfere with the Shiba Inu’s coat’s natural protective function.
  4. Ignoring heavy shedding: Another thing to remember is to not ignore the shedding of your Shiba Inu. If you let the undercoat of your Shiba Inu accumulate, it can make grooming your Shiba Inu more difficult.
  5. Using human grooming products: When you are grooming your Shiba Inu, you should use dog grooming products. Do not use grooming products on your Shiba Inu. Always choose products that are formulated specifically for dogs, like your Shiba Inu.
  6. Neglecting other grooming needs: Lastly, do not neglect the grooming needs of your Shiba Inu. You should combine the coat care of your Shiba Inu with the nail care, ear care, and dental care of your Shiba Inu.

Final Thoughts

A Shiba Inu has a coat, but that does not mean you need to wash and groom it every single day. What a Shiba Inu needs is to be taken care of properly. If you groom your Shiba Inu a time a week and give it a bath every 3/4 months, that will be beneficial. You should also make sure your Shiba Inu’s nails, ears, teeth, and skin are healthy.

Spending time with your Shiba Inu is very important. Grooming is a way to do this. When you groom your Shiba Inu, you can see if it needs anything. This way you can take care of your Shiba Inu’s needs as they change.

If you want to feel more confident when taking care of your Shiba Inu, you can contact us today. Our website has information about taking care of dogs, grooming, feeding, and keeping dogs healthy. Visit our website today and learn what you need to know to give your Shiba Inu a happy and healthy life.