“Your dog lost so much weight!”
Every time the dogs are shedding or the dogs are in full coat, people need to comment on their “weight”. Their weight is pretty much the same, all they gained or lost is their fluff.
Beside of having various body types in the Shiba, so they have a very inconsistent/diverse appearance.
Shibas have a natural, wolflike coat, with rough guard hair and a very fluffy and warming undercoat.
The undercoat of the double coat will be shed when it gets warm outside or when the dogs prepare for winter; they lose their “summer undercoat” and get a thicker one for the cold. The hair is constantly changing, so after they lost it, the body will rebuild it fast, even in summer. Most Shibas at the same climate zone will start shedding at the same time. Of course, hormones influence hair growth as well.
It is not true they only shed twice a year.
The guard hair also is renewed constantly (like people’s head hair), however they won’t lose them all at a sudden. If they get naked spots due to missing guard hair, your Shiba might be sick or have parasites.
Shibas are made for winter (you may realise that on the pictures as they tend to pant more often on the summer pictures), it is their favourite season usually, but they can deal with the heat as well. Japan’s summer is a hot and humid one in most regions.
Same goes for the Siberian Husky or any other Northern or primitive breed with natural double coat. It is a common disbelief they will suffer under the heat - they don’t suffer more than other dogs, except maybe primitive dog types that have adapted to the hot evironment like Oriental sight hounds or Africa’s Basenji.
There is a bit longer and shorter standard guard hair, so Yoma is less fluffy than Akuma for example. Younger Shibas tend to have a less thick coat than older ones and an overall leaner build regardless the body type.
Of course there are “truly” long haired Shibas, too. They are rare as the long hair is caused by a recessive gene. The Shiba standard doesn’t allow to breed with long haired dogs. Although people might like the appearance, the natural wolflike coat may be influenced in a bad way if the guard hair is long. If you compare e.g. Eurasiers to Shibas in the summer, most likely the Shiba will have it easier.
By the way, dogs that just have short guard hair with the lack of undercoat due to human influence - like a lot of short haired European hunting dogs - have a higher risk for heat strokes as they tend to overwork themselves. They have a slight advantage in the beginning, however they deal with the heat less good than Shibas in the long run.
The coat will affect the Shiba’s looks.
Momo is a good example of how much the coat will change the expression of their faces and their entire appearance. Thick undercoat is the ideal of the Shiba as it makes their head round, their faces “smooth”, their eyes keen, and the ears have the desired proportions:
Akuma’s facial expression and proportions “changed”, thick undercoat emphasises the Shiba’s “soboku” (素朴).
Maybe I’ll do a post about what is meant by that, as good as a non-Japanese person can grasp the concept.
Combing is essential although some people skip it...thus the loose undercoat becomes very itchy - your dog will try to get rid of the loose fluff by rolling, rubbing, scratching, everywere the entire time; furthermore it most likely it will become smelly if it is not removed, especially when they went swimming.
If you dislike pet hair, don’t get a Shiba. ;)
Don’t trim your Shiba, remove the undercoat with the right tools. If you remove the guard hair by cutting it, your Shiba only loses its natural protection from rain, sun, and dirt, however there will be no relief from heat as the undercoat has a warming function. If the undercoat isn’t removed properly there will be zero cooling effect by trimming the entire double coat.
Undercoat will be grown back quicker than guard hair.
Here is an example of the Shiba’s shedding cycle; Akuma (constantly the same weight) almost completely shed, with "half” the fluff and then with full undercoat:
So the next time if you think a dog is chunky maybe it is no excuse if the owner tells you:
“That’s all the fur!”
It might be true. The double coat will hide any muscles even when it’s totally shed. Moreover adult Shibas have deep and broad chest and only a slightly tucked up stomach with longer hair between the legs. The sturdier the body type the more it is prominent.
Same goes for “magically slimmed-down” dogs - they are fed properly most likely.
Thanks to Christine for the pictures of wonderful Momo and neat Shippo (the beautiful dogs in the top rows) and thanks to Audrey for the photo of her cute girl Indie (the red Shiba in front of the door) as she is the perfect example for a Shiba completely out of coat! ♥
