As you might have guessed, Shibas are an unique breed. Independent and charming, they will woo you. Independent and cunning, they might also drive you crazy. We strongly recommend obedience for your Shiba, as that is the only way your Shiba will know what kind of dog you want him or her to be. We think it is SO important for your MSIR Shiba to have obedience, we're willing to pay you to do it. That's right; we'll pay you $50 when you complete an obedience course. However, like any service or product available by multiple vendors, not all obedience courses are the same value. So, here are MSIR tips to choosing a great facility.
In general, the kind of training facility you want for a Shiba combines these three factors: a positive training technique, an experience with primitive breeds, and well-educated trainers.
Positive training involves motivating the dog through only positive methods (praise, treat, clicker, etc). It is not what is often called "correction training" (snapping a collar via the leash or forceful alpha rolling). Shibas usually don't respond well to correction training--in fact many will fight it and you, their handler, but they generally respond well (as most dogs do) to positive training.
An experience with primitive breeds means that the trainers have dealt with breeds like Chow-Chows, Akitas, Jindos, or Shar-Peis. These dogs DO have different needs than the typical Labrador, and your trainer should know that. For example, while many Labs enjoy romping with other Labs they have just met, most Shibas aren't keen on being manhandled that way, especially on first meeting. Therefore, they can respond quite fiercely to another dog invading their space without permission. A trainer who understands those issues is key to your success. If your trainer says Shibas can't be trained, find a new place to go.
The last aspect is well-educated trainers. You should definitely be working with people who do this for a living--people who are trained and educated about dog behavior beyond anecdotal experience. Your trainers should have all titled dogs themselves in obedience and/or have degrees in mammal behavior. A typical chain petstore employee usually won't have the same experience or knowledge base. Remember, its better to drive 10-15 minutes farther for a trainer who will really help you, than drive down the street for some unexperienced advice.
If you live in the Chicago-area, please contact us directly for recommendations on trainers. We've worked with several great ones! As well, if you and your Shiba have worked with a great trainer in the Midwest, let us know the name so we can add it to our list.