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How to Teach Your Shiba Inu to Enjoy Off-Leash Freedom: A Step-by-Step Guide
One of the questions we get asked most on our account @myathefoxy is how we taught Mya to enjoy freedom on walks. Before the steps, it helps to understand the kind of dog we are working with.
What a Shiba Inu is like (and why it matters for training)
The Shiba Inu is a Japanese hunting breed: intelligent, independent, curious and with a strong prey drive. It was bred to make decisions on its own, so it doesn't obey "just because" like some breeds, and it tends to follow a scent, a bird or a squirrel before its family. That is why Shibas have a reputation as escape artists and as hard to train.
The good news: every Shiba is different, and with patience, positive reinforcement and consistency many can enjoy more freedom on walks. The key is not to compete with their independence, but to become the most interesting thing on the walk and teach one command you can trust above all others.
Quick answer: start with a long line in a safe place, teach your dog to pay attention to you with hide-and-seek games and big rewards, and master "stay" before a perfect recall.
⚠️ Important: always start in enclosed, safe spaces and never let your dog loose near roads. A Shiba that responds well in the park is not necessarily reliable everywhere.
The method in 5 steps
01
Put on a long line and go to a safe place
Pick a quiet, enclosed spot, such as a fenced park. Put on a CountryFox harness and clip on a long training leash, like the 5 metre FreedomGlow. It has no handle, so it doesn't snag, and you let it drag on the floor without holding it: if you need to stop your dog, you step on the line.
02
Make them aware of you
With a treat or toy they love, call their name, run and hide. The point is that they understand they could lose you at any moment and need to keep an eye on you. It doesn't matter how long it takes them to find you.
03
Celebrate their arrival with a high-value reward
When they find you, however long it took, greet them with huge excitement and give them something they value: a treat they go crazy for, playtime or, in Mya's case, praise and an encouraging voice. Reaching you should always be the best thing that happens to them.
04
Be the funnest thing at the park
Repeat the game many times. The goal is that no other stimulus is better than finding and playing with you, and that they know to pay attention to you at all times because you might disappear. A treat pouch on hand helps you reward instantly.
05
Teach "stay": your emergency brake
Mya is lazy and, like many Shibas, her recall is very slow 😂. So we focus on "stay", a command she obeys no matter what. It gives us peace of mind that she will stop at a zebra crossing or with any other stimulus around, and we can safely go and get her. Practise it at every zebra crossing, on walks and at home.
FEATURED IN THIS ARTICLE
Freedom™ Glow Training Leash | Aqua
€9,90
VIEW PRODUCT →Our everyday life: freedom on the 1.5 m leash
Even though Mya masters these commands, in practice she always wears her FreedomGlow Pro 1.5 metre leash. That way she is free to explore at her own pace, and we can grab her in an emergency or when the playful zoomies start. It is the balance that gives us the most peace of mind.
💡 Patience: this kind of control is built over months. Raise the difficulty gradually and go back a step if there are setbacks.
FEATURED IN THIS ARTICLE
CountryFox™ PRO Dog Harness | Matcha Green
€42,90
VIEW PRODUCT →Frequently asked questions
Can you teach a Shiba Inu to be off leash?
Every dog is different, but with training and consistency many Shibas can enjoy more freedom. Always start in enclosed places and judge whether it is safe for your dog.
Which is better: recall or "stay"?
Both are useful. In our case, "stay" is the one that gives us the most safety.
Which leash do I need?
A long 5 m one for training and a 1.5 m one for everyday. The FreedomGlow comes in both lengths.
FreedomGlow leash: 5 m for training, 1.5 m for everyday.
View FreedomGlow
FEATURED IN THIS ARTICLE
FoxyPouch Dog Walking Pouch | Matcha Green
€21,90
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