THE VERSATILE SHIBA: DOING MORE WITH SHIBAS THAN ANYONE COULD EVER IMAGINE!
THE VERSATILE SHIBA DOING MORE WITH SHIBAS THAN ANYONE COULD EVER IMAGINE! THERAPY DOGS • LURE COURSING • TRACKING • SCENT WORK • FLYBALL • BARN HUNT • AND MORE!
BY THE NATIONAL SHIBA CLUB OF AMERICA WWW.SHIBAS.ORG S hibas are very versatile dogs—more so than we often give them credit for being. Their intelligence has long been recognized but not necessarily fully utilized. Shibas earn AKC titles in Confor- mation, Obedience, Rally, and Agility, but this only scratches the surface of what they are capable of doing. Shibas can be found competing in just about every dog sport. Here are just some examples of Shibas expanding the breed’s horizons. THERAPY DOGS Shibas are described as aloof dogs; however, for some Shibas nothing could be further from the truth. Today, there are a handful of Shibas that spend time volunteering to visit nursing homes, hospitals, schools, libraries, and courthouses. They enrich lives, console those in pain, and help children learn to read. Therapy work can be an extremely rewarding experience for the right dog and owner. If you are interested in getting involved, contact Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Therapy Dogs International, or other local therapy dog certifica- tion organizations. Working therapy dog teams can earn the AKC Therapy Dog title. LURE COURSING Does your Shiba embrace its ancestral instinct to chase and hunt? Then Lure Coursing may be a great sport for you and your dog. Lure Coursing is a sport where 2-3 white bags are tied to a string that runs the length of a 300-600-yard course. The bags fly along the course, triggering the dogs’ chase instinct. Shibas generally take to the sport quite easily and they have a blast chasing the bags.
SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MAY 2022 | 229
Powered by FlippingBook