Pooshi Dog Breed Info: Shiba Inu Poodle Mix

What is a Pooshi Dog?

Heritage:

Pooshi = Shiba Inu Poodle Mix

Other Names:

Poo-Shi, Shiba-Poo, Shibapoo, Shiba Inu Poodle Mix

Shiba Inu Poodle Mix Breed History

Shiba Inu History:

The Shiba Inu breed has a long history in Japan as hunting dogs, dating all the way back to 300 B.C. They were mainly used to hunt small game in rugged wilderness. The name Shiba Inu originated because of their hunting abilities. “Shiba” which means “brushwood,” was often where they hunted and “Inu” means “dog.”

World War II nearly caused the extinction of Shiba Inus. Miraculously, they overcame the odds and are now one of Japan’s most commonly owned breeds of dogs.

The first Shiba Inu made an appearance in the United States in 1952, and was officially recognized by the AKC in 1992. Ever since they made their way to the United States, they’ve been growing in popularity, and now are ranked the 44th most popular dog breed in the country.

Poodle History:

While commonly associated with the French, the Poodle actually originated as a duck hunter in Germany over 400 years ago. In German, “pudelin” refers to the splashing in water that the dogs would do to retrieve waterfowl. The Poodle’s curly, weatherproof coat as well as its natural swimming ability and high intelligence made it an excellent retriever.

Eventually, Poodles made their way from the lake to the life of luxury as they were the breed of choice by French nobles, and eventually royalty across all of Europe. To this day, the Poodle is still the national dog of France. The entertainment industry then caught on to the Poodle’s showy looks, intelligence, and ease of trainability and gave them a prominent role in circus acts across the world.

While the Poodle started out as the “standard” variety, eventually the miniature and toy variations were bred. The Toy Poodle started in the United States in the early 20th century to be a city-dwelling companion dog. Due to the many positive personality traits and its hypoallergenic coat, Poodles are now commonly bred with a wide variety of other breeds to produce the “designer” hybrid dogs known and loved by many as “doodles.”

Pooshi History:

The Pooshi is a newer breed of dog. Shiba Inus weren’t in American until the 1950s, and then during the 1980s and beyond it became common to breed Poodles with other breeds to create a lower shedding variation.

Although we don’t know exactly who thought to mix a Poodle and a Shiba Inu, it was likely sometime within the past two to three decades. This roughly the same timeframe when the Australian Shepherd Poodle mix and the Bernese Mountain Dog Poodle Mix got their start.

Shiba Inu Poodle Mix Appearance & Grooming

How Big Do Pooshis Get?

Pooshis are on the smaller size, but not quite as tiny as some small dogs like the Pomeranian Poodle mix or the Pekingese Poodle mix. They range in size from 10-20 inches in height and 15-20 pounds in weight. The males tend to be just slightly bigger than females.

Pooshi Coat & Grooming:

Depending on which type of coat a particular Pooshi puppy inherits from their parents determines how often they will need to be brushed. On average it’s safe to assume you’ll be brushing them at least every other day. If the coat takes after the Shiba Inu, it may require more frequent brushing which will help with any shedding. If the dog takes after the Poodle coat, they will need to be taken to a groomer more often to be more thoroughly groomed and to avoid matting.

On the plus side, they rarely need to be bathed. These dogs rarely develop an odor and do not drool at all, minimizing any need for frequent bathing. To prevent any dental problems, it’s advisable to brush Pooshi’s teeth as often as possible.

Are Pooshis Hypoallergenic?
Do Pooshis Shed?

No, Pooshis are not considered hypoallergenic. If you need a guarantee of a hypoallergenic dog, a mix between a hypoallergenic dog and a non hypoallergenic dog will not do.

It is impossible to predict how the genetics will play out. It’s very likely that a mixed breed of one hypoallergenic parent and one non-hypoallergenic parent will be less shedding and trigger less allergies, but it’s not accurate to make the claim that they will be non-shedding or completely hypoallergenic.

For completely hypoallergenic doodle varieties, check out the Maltipoo, Schnoodle, Shihpoo, Whoodle, Woodle, Yorkipoo, Poochon, or Havapoo.

Shiba Inu Poodle Mix Health & Wellness

Pooshi Lifespan:

Of course, lifespan varies by the individual dog but, on average, Pooshis have a long lifespan of around 12-15 years.

Pooshi Common Health Concerns:

For the most part, both parent breeds of the Shiba Inu Poodle mix are pretty healthy. However, both have some genetic predisposition to develop certain health issues. Luckily, because the Pooshi isn’t a purebred, it means that the risks of developing genetic diseases is minimized.

Some of the more concerning health problems a Pooshi might encounter are progressive retinal atrophy, gluacoma, epilepsy, Addison’s disease, mitral valve disease, and cancer. Some other problems that aren’t as common or as big of problems for this breed are patellar luxation, entropion, hip dysplasia, corneal dystrophy, and allergies.

Due to the cost of treating these common health concerns, we highly encourage all dog owners invest in pet insurance. We recommend getting a free online quote from Healthy Paws Pet Insurance.

Click here to get an instant, online pet insurance quote from Healthy Paws!

Shiba Inu Poodle Mix Temperament & Personality

Pooshi Behavioral Traits:

A Pooshi puppy will be a friend for life. They would rather be with their human companions than left alone. Not to fear if you have youngsters in your family, as Pooshis often do well with both children and other pets! Other companions are actually encouraged because they have high energy levels and having playmates can be a great way to exert this excess energy.

The Shiba Inu Poodle mix can be a little stubborn, but with confident leadership they can learn quickly how to behave properly. Training these dogs isn’t too difficult, as both of the parent breeds are highly intelligent and have an eagerness to please. Positive reinforcement is a great way to encourage them to behave.

Pooshi Activity Requirements:

In comparison to many other dog breeds, the Pooshi is a relatively laid back dog that doesn’t require a lot of exercise. If you’re not sure that you can always dedicate hours everyday to getting your dog adequate exercise, this might be an ideal breed for you.

The Poodle Shiba Inu Mix only requires around 25 minutes of exercise a day. This could easily be achieved in a walk around the neighborhood, a short jog, or a few rounds of fetch. This being said, this may also be a good dog adequate for apartment living. They’re on the smaller size and don’t require much space or physical activity.

The Pooshi shouldn’t be left outside for long periods of time in extremely hot or cold weathers. During the summer, it’s best to exercise this dog either early in the morning or in the evening to avoid hot temperatures.