If you ask me I would say all puppies are “hyperactive”, yes some more than others, but they all have their moments where you ask yourself “Is my puppy dog crazy or what?”. I also happen to know that the Shiba Inu is considered to be one of the most “hyperactive” breeds, so I figured I would elaborate on some things that I have done to successfully focus my Shiba’s ample amount of energy.
Make Them Work For Their Treats
Everyone in the “dog-owner” world knows what a KONG is and most of you probably have purchased at least one for your Shiba Inu, more than likely because someone told you “get your dog a KONG, they are virtually indestructible”. I too heard this from a breeder that I happen to be close to, they recommended the KONG to me and yes I would also say that they are virtually indestructible. For the one or two of you that have been hiding under the proverbial “rock” for like the last decade, KONG is a manufacturer of long-lasting dog toys. KONG makes many different styles of toys, which I recommend that you check out (just type “KONG dog toy” in Google and search), however for the purpose of this article I will be focusing on the KONG Classic. The KONG Classic comes in five different sizes to suit any size of puppy or dog, my picture happens to be of the small size perfect for your Shiba Inu. The purpose of the KONG Classic is to make your Shiba Inu work for their treats, and let me say “bravo” because it works very well.
Load the KONG Classic with your favorite biscuit or crushed up milk bone and give it to your puppy. Tip: Once you load the KONG Classic with the biscuit you can lay the loaded KONG Classic horizontally on a hard surface and press down while rolling it back and forth to break up the treat, it works great and cuts down on the mess. Tip #2: You may also fill your KONG Classic with premium canned food and freeze it, this will also provide hours of entertainment for your pup. Most “hyperactive” puppies are so because they are teething, frustrated, hungry or just generally full of energy; giving them something constructive and worthwhile to focus their energy on will help.
Some puppies may need more than consecutive round with a loaded KONG Classic, I happen to give my Shiba two rounds, mostly just because he is spoiled not because he needs it. The KONG Classic is one of the best toys on the market, but it is not the only way to turn your “hyperactive” puppy into a calm, working little fur ball. NOTE: As with any other treat, please monitor your little guy or girl until the KONG Classic is empty then put it away for another time.
Chewing is Not Always a Bad Thing
All puppies chew! Whether they chew your ankles, your TV remote, your couch, a toy or a treat; they all chew. Just like any other type of training, getting your puppy to chew what you want will take persistence, but if you stay with it you will be impressed what your puppy will do. In my experiences, getting a puppy to chew something that smells and tastes good is easier than getting it to chew a toy. There are many different types of edibles for your puppy, but if I can give you one piece of advice when purchasing any edible treat it would be this: Only purchase edible dog treats that are made in the USA because rawhides, chews, treats, biscuits or any other edible that is made inside the USA has to abide by more strict rules than those manufactured in other countries. On top of lower manufacturing standards, imported edibles are often times treated with poisonous chemicals like formaldehyde in order to preserve them for international transport. Puppies have cast iron stomachs for the most part so any type of edible treat will suffice for your puppy but for the sake of this article I want to focus on edibles that keep your puppy busy not something it can inhale without even thinking.
My favorite and my Shiba’s favorite, long lasting, edible is a beef chew particularly beef pizzle. I know, what is beef pizzle? I will tell you but keep in mind that dogs will eat just about anything. Pizzle is an old English word for penis and today the word “pizzle” is used to signify the penis of a non-human animal. Beef pizzle chews are dried then sometimes twisted and then cut into different lengths. Some owners are repulsed by “bully sticks” after knowing this, but beef pizzle is actually very nutritious for your puppy and are excellent sources of glucosamine and chondroitin which work wonders for your puppies joint health. Again I only purchase USA made pizzle and my Shiba absolutely loves them. Pizzle is hard and feels great on your puppies teeth while keeping them busy for days and supporting healthy joint growth – sounds like a worthwhile treat to me! Say what you like but dried bull or steer penis is in my opinion the best treat for a “hyperactive” puppy. NOTE: As mentioned earlier in the article, please pay attention to your puppy while it enjoys edible treats.
