Shiba Inu vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison

Shiba Inu vs Australian Kelpie - Breed ComparisonShiba Inu is originated from Japan but Australian Kelpie is originated from Australia. Shiba Inu may grow 8 cm / 3 inches shorter than Australian Kelpie. Shiba Inu may weigh 9 kg / 19 pounds lesser than Australian Kelpie. Both Shiba Inu and Australian Kelpie has same life span. Both Shiba Inu and Australian Kelpie has almost same litter size. Shiba Inu requires Low maintenance. But Australian Kelpie requires Moderate maintenance

History

shiba inu - historyThe Shiba Inu hails from Japan and was a dog bred to hunt birds and small game. The dog is one of 6 native breeds in Japan. Today he is essentially a companion dog in both Japan and the United States.

He is actually one of the smaller spitz dogs in the country but known for his boldness.

The first Shiba Inu was imported into the United States in 1954 and was recognized by their Kennel Club in the Miscellaneous Class and also the Non-Sporting Group.

australian kelpie - historyThe energetic Kelpie came into being around 1870, with this working dog breed having a role to play with the herding of sheep in the harsh Australian outback.The sheep and wool industry in Australia has always been big business, and Australian ranchers were looking for a tough dog that could cope with sheep but also cope with the harsh environment.

These are adaptable dogs too and their ancestors include the Coley or Collie, a British herding-type dog, the English- and the Australian Shepherd and the Dingo. In fact it is believed that up to 4% of their genes comes from the Dingo. These adaptable dogs were also brought to North America where they quickly adapted to the different climate and different livestock.

The Australian Kelpie isn’t your regular pet as they are essentially an outdoor, working dog. They are recognized today by the United Kennel Club and registered by the North American Australian Kelpie Registry.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Working dog
Origin:
Japan
Australia
Height Male:
33 - 43 cm
12 - 17 inches
46 - 51 cm
18 - 21 inches
Height Female:
33 - 43 cm
12 - 17 inches
43 - 48 cm
16 - 19 inches
Weight Male:
6 - 11 kg
13 - 25 pounds
14 - 20 kg
30 - 45 pounds
Weight Female:
6 - 11 kg
13 - 25 pounds
12 - 20 kg
26 - 45 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
4 - 7
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Japanese Shiba Inu, Shiba-Ken
Kelpie, Barb
Colors Available:
Cream, red, sesame, black and tan.
Many Colours, from solids to bi-colours - tan, fawn, blue, red, black, chocolate
Coat:
 Double coat - thick and straight
short and dense
Shedding:
Moderate, Constant
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

shiba inu puppy - descriptionThe Shiba Inu is a medium sized, athletic dog standing at between 33cm and 43cm in height both male and female and weighing in the region of 6 to 11kg.

He is an agile dog, known for his feline agility. He has the typical spitz dog erect ears and slanted eyes with the tail curling over the back.

The coat is available in a number of colors – cream, red, sesame, black and tan.The double coat is thick and is made up of straight, stiff kind of hair.

Temperament:

This is an intelligent, independent, alert, strong willed dog who has a calm aura about him. He is stubborn too, so it will be best to have him trained or socialized just to make him more amicable to get along with.

As he is a dog that just loves his human family, this training helps him to get along with other dogs too. He is possessive with his human family, wanting to guard them and everything he regards as his territory.

The Coat

australian kelpie puppy - descriptionThe Kelpie is a medium-sized dog with a coat that comes in a number of colours – black, chocolate, fawn, red, blue, tan, white and gold. . The nose colour blends in with the dog’s coat colour and can be black, brownish and even pinkish.

A Sharp, Intelligent Look

The Kelpie has a medium-length tail which is low-set. The ears are pricked, giving the dog an intelligent, alert appearance. The dog’s head is also narrow and long, and his eyes are bright and inquisitive.

Lithe and Athletic

The Australian Kelpie has an athletic appearance, with a body which is longer than their height, similar to that of a German Shepherd. Because the Australian Kelpie is such an energetic, active breed, he’ll need plenty of ‘jobs to do’, lots of ball games and other exercise to keep him free from boredom and to ensure he maintains his lithe, lean, muscular limbs.

Characteristics

The Shiba Inu looks like a large fox and he is just as bright and alert.

shiba inu dog - characteristicsHe is the smallest of several spitz dogs that originated in Japan. He is known for his bold, feisty personality and for being so good natured as well. Other excellent characteristics are intelligence, strong-willed, loyal and loving and he has a calm, confident dignity around him.

He will get on well with kids and other dogs he has grown up with but he can be a bit aggressive towards dogs he doesn’t know.

Always ensure good exercise. Getting outside and active is important for this dog.

You can certainly benefit from having this wonderful dog in your life as he has some excellent characteristics.

Friend of Children

australian kelpie dog - characteristicsThe Australian Kelpie is an active, busy, intelligent, loving breed who is highly protective of his human family. He gets on well with children and other pets in the home but you’ll want him trained if you want him to be gentle around children and smaller pets. He does tend to gravitate towards one particular family member as his ‘favourite’ though.

He Must be Busy

Your Kelpie won't do well in an apartment as he is a working dog who wants plenty of place to run and play. If he is bored, it manifests itself with constant barking. Make sure to provide a stimulating, active lifestyle for your Australian Kelpie, provide him with everything a dog needs and you’ll be rewarded with a devoted and loyal companion.

Health Problems

shiba inu puppies - health problemsShiba Inus are generally healthy, but like all breeds, they're prone to certain health conditions. Look out for things such as hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, bloat, cancer, eye diseases and skin allergies.

Skin Allergies:

Skin allergies can come about because of being allergic to food, fleas, too much shampooing and some medications. It can be traumatic for your pet who will sometimes chew and bite to get relief. Treatment varies but get your pet to the vet.

Glaucoma: 

There is pressure in the eye, and symptoms can include vision loss and pain. Glaucoma can be treated with eye drops but sometimes surgery is required.

A Healthy Breed

australian kelpie puppies - health problemsYour Australian Kelpie is a hardy breed and you won’t find many health problems with him. Yes, every dog is susceptible to illnesses which are common with all dog breeds, and these are illnesses such as hip dysplasia and cryptorchidism.

You will need to check your Kelpie out for eye disease such as PRA or Progressive Retinal Atrophy, a group of genetic diseases which are found in some breeds of dogs. This can lead to cataracts and blindness.

Lifestyle and Environment Impact Health

Health problems in your Australian Kelpie can certainly be partially prevented by the way you feed your dog and by the environment you provide him with. Every dog has the potential to develop genetic health problems, but as we’ve said, the Kelpie is a generally healthy breed.

Always find a reputable breeder whose focus is on breeding healthy dogs and who can provide certification that the parents of the dog are clear of defects and are in tip-top condition for breeding.

Puppy Vaccinations

Along with quality food and fresh water, getting your puppy vaccinated is hugely important. Australian Kelpie puppy shots will protect your new 4-legged family member from the likes of distemper, parvovirus and hepatitis. Your puppy will also need additional booster vaccinations after his first shots which start at around 8 weeks of age.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

shiba inu dogs - caringA nice long walk out and about in the neighborhood is good for this dog. Apart from a daily workout, he will love to come running with you or if you go cycling, he will run next to you. He will require exercise every day.

Grooming:

Brushing your Shiba Inu will be required at least twice a week as he is a dog that sheds quite a bit throughout the year. You want to get rid of those loose hairs to keep him looking nice and groomed.

Diet:

Never pop sugary treats into your pets mouth and avoid feeding him spicy, toxic foods. It can drastically upset his digestion.

You can feed your Shiba Inu commercially manufactured food but it should be the best quality ones. Give him some tasty homemade food too. Simply add into one big pot chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. This food can all be chopped up, refrigerated and added warmed up and in small portions to your pets dry kibble once or twice a week.

Try and also give him some raw meat occasionally. Ensure that there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water within his reach.

Grooming

australian kelpie dogs - caringAustralian Kelpies are low maintenance and their coat is easy to groom and maintain. You want to give him a good brush twice a week to get rid of loose hair. Australian Kelpies are moderate shedders.

Feeding your Kelpie

It is important to get your puppy off on the right foot to avoid health problems later on. Homemade dog food which includes chicken, rice and vegetables is always the best food for your dog. If you can't prepared your own meals for your Kelpie, top grade commercial dog food brands are recommended.

When looking at dog foods, remember that your Kelpie is a working dog – a naturally active breed and you’ll need to look at dog food which has been specially formulated for active dogs. Every dog will need raw meat in their diet if you want to avoid a dog with an itchy, flaky skin, a dog with poor energy levels and a dog that has no resistance to infection.

Training

Every owner who cares for their dog will provide him with socialization and training. The Australian Kelpie is an intelligent breed who responds well to training.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Shiba Inu vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Shiba Inu vs Border Collie - Breed Comparison
  3. Shiba Inu vs Sakhalin Husky - Breed Comparison
  4. Shiba Inu vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  5. Shiba Inu vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  6. Shiba Inu vs German Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  7. Shiba Inu vs Portuguese Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  8. Shiba Inu vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  9. Shiba Inu vs Puli - Breed Comparison
  10. Shiba Inu vs Griffon Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  11. Shiba Inu vs Borador - Breed Comparison
  12. Shiba Inu vs German Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  13. Shiba Inu vs Canadian Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  14. Shiba Inu vs McNab - Breed Comparison
  15. Shiba Inu vs Porcelaine - Breed Comparison
  16. Shiba Inu vs Finnish Lapphund - Breed Comparison
  17. Shiba Inu vs Berger Blanc Suisse - Breed Comparison
  18. Shiba Inu vs Griffon Nivernais - Breed Comparison
  19. Shiba Inu vs Hokkaido - Breed Comparison
  20. Shiba Inu vs Petit Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  21. Shiba Inu vs Pumi - Breed Comparison
  22. Shiba Inu vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  23. Shiba Inu vs Griffon Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison
  24. Shiba Inu vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  25. Shiba Inu vs Istrian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  26. American Bulldog vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  27. Border Collie vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  28. Sakhalin Husky vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  29. Alaskan Husky vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  30. Catahoula Leopard vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  31. German Pinscher vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  32. Portuguese Water Dog vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  33. Puli vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  34. Griffon Bleu de Gascogne vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  35. Borador vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  36. German Spaniel vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  37. Canadian Eskimo Dog vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  38. McNab vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  39. Porcelaine vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  40. Finnish Lapphund vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  41. Berger Blanc Suisse vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  42. Griffon Nivernais vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  43. Hokkaido vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  44. Petit Bleu de Gascogne vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  45. Pumi vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  46. Australian Kelpie vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  47. Griffon Fauve de Bretagne vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  48. Basque Shepherd vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  49. Istrian Sheepdog vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  50. Jamthund vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds