Shiba Inu — Puppy Care
Care recommendations — Puppy stage
During the puppy stage, feed a puppy-formulated diet sized for Shiba Inus to support steady growth, and keep vaccinations and deworming on schedule as recommended by a vet. keep exercise age-appropriate while growth is still underway. The thick double coat sheds heavily during seasonal blowouts and needs brushing two to three times a week during those periods, weekly otherwise. Starting a gentle grooming and handling routine now, while a Shiba Inu puppy is small and adaptable, tends to make care far easier once it's grown, and this is also a valuable window for socializing a young Shiba Inu to people, other pets, and everyday household sounds.
⚠️ Watch for
Most of the conditions linked to Shiba Inus tend to appear later in life, so this stage is mainly about tracking normal growth: steady weight gain, bright eyes, a good appetite, and a comfortable gait. If anything looks off this early — such as an intermittent skipping gait or occasional hind-leg lameness — a prompt check-in with a vet is worthwhile rather than waiting.
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