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The answer to this question varies widely depending on who is asked, knowledge of the breed, and experience living with a Shiba. The correct answer is, "Yes", Shibas shed year-round. Their shedding can be light to moderate, and twice a year it can be heavy to overwhelming. If hair on furniture, in carpeting, on clothing, in cars, or clinging to whatever it touches doesn't fit your lifestyle, a Shiba is "Not" the breed for you. Shibas are naturally fastidious, always cleaning themselves like cats. They have very little to no doggie odor, and seldom need bathing unless they roll in something, are up close and personal with a skunk, or during their heavy shedding seasons. They have a double coat with strong straight guard hairs for an outercoat, while the undercoat is soft and dense. The guard hairs are coarser and stiffer than the woolly undercoat. Both the outercoat and undercoat are very important for regulating temperature, keeping the Shiba warm or cool, so a Shiba should never be shaved as a means of controlling shedding. Brushing and combing two to three times a week will remove loose hair from the soft undercoat and any dirt in the coat. Besides the light to moderate year-round shedding, Shibas also shed heavily (or blow coat) twice a year, usually Spring and Fall. Anyone who has experienced the heavy Spring shedding understands "blowing" is the more descriptive word. They literally "free" themselves of their dense undercoat, and the soft little hairs end up on everything, in everything, and seem to take on a life of their own. Daily brushing and combing, along with weekly bathing, vacuuming as needed, plus an ample supply of hair/lint rollers will keep Shiba, owner and home looking respectable during heavy seasonal shedding. A wardrobe and home décor to match the color of the Shiba living there is also a plus. A second heavy shedding or blowing season most often occurs in late Summer early Fall, and pales in comparison to the one in the Spring, but it happens, so be prepared. After surviving seasonal "blowing", year-round shedding becomes a non-issue for most Shiba owners, just part of living with the breed they love. The amount of shedding and seasonal blowing varies with each Shiba, so there's no one correct answer for how much or how little Shiba hair an owner will have to deal with. Neither is there one correct answer for how long it will take a Shiba to complete their seasonal shedding (blowing), every Shiba is different, each has their own timetable. But, "Yes", Shibas do Shed year-round, so how willing a person is to accept that given needs to be taken into consideration before adding a Shiba. On a positive note, there are uses for Shiba hair once the Shiba has given it up. Birds, and small animals like chipmunks, squirrels, mice, etc., seek it out for their nests. What better way to keep a newborn dry and cozy than on a bed of soft warm Shiba hair. (If you need a quick project for a group, children or adults, Shiba hair in small mesh bags, tied off with colored string, to hang outside as nesting material is always a favorite.) Shiba hair can also be spun into yarn with other animal fur, and used to make special items. A zip lock bag of Shiba hair is a great educational tool when describing Shiba shedding and coat blowing. It can even be used as stuffing to revive a toy a Shiba loved too much. Even though there is a downside to that gorgeous, warm, wonderfully dense coat that begs for petting and massaging, when the yearly ritual of blowing and shedding is accepted as nature making everything new again, then living with Shiba hair isn't as objectionable as some might think. The new coat that replaces what was lost will be just as gorgeous, warm and wonderfully dense, and it will beg to be stroked, petted and massaged just like the old one. "Do Shibas Shed" was written by Carolyn Sanford for Northeast Shiba Rescue Association. It is the property of NESRA and is not to be used in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of Laura Paquette . |
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Unless otherwise indicated, all text and images were created by Laura Paquette.
© 2003 Laura Paquette. Web hosting and consultation provided by ZONE804.