Training built for Shibas.
Generic obedience does not work on this breed. We use positive reinforcement, owner involvement, and behavior modification when needed.
Why Shibas need their own kind of training.
Cookie-cutter obedience plans hit a wall with this breed. Here is the short version of why.
Independence
Shibas were bred to think for themselves in the mountains of Japan. They are smart and pick things up fast, but they will weigh your request against their own opinion and frequently choose their opinion. Training works when it is interesting to them, not because you asked.
Prey drive and escape behavior
The same brain that hunts small game can clear a 5-foot fence on adrenaline. Shibas slip leashes, dart through cracked doors, and chase squirrels at full sprint. Containment and recall need to be trained early and reinforced for life.
Recall difficulty
Recall is the single hardest skill to build in a Shiba and the most important. A bombproof recall in a Shiba takes months of consistent work, high-value reinforcement, and a long-line phase most owners skip. We do not skip it.
Generic obedience does not work on Shibas. They evaluate every command and decide whether it is worth their time. We make sure it is.
Not sure a Shiba is the right fit? See what makes a good Shiba home →
Three ways to work with us.
Pick the format that matches your dog and your situation. Not sure? Start with a 15-minute consult and we will tell you.
Private 1-on-1
$150 / sessionBest for: specific behavior issues, leash work, recall, foundation skills.
Zoom consult or in-person session. Custom plan after the first call. Bundle 4 sessions for $600.
- 1-hour private session with a trainer
- Whole family included so the dog learns from everyone
- Text support between sessions
Board and train
Pricing: askBest for: dogs whose owners need a stronger foundation before continuing at home.
Multi-week stay at our training home. Daily structured work, weekly video updates, and a transition program when your dog comes home so the training sticks.
- Skill plus behavior modification with daily reinforcement
- Weekly progress reports with video
- Family transition sessions throughout
Behavior modification
Pricing: askBest for: Shibas with established behavior patterns that 1-on-1 sessions alone won't shift.
Long-form work on reactivity, resource guarding, separation distress, escape behavior, and severe leash reactivity. Honest screening on intake.
- Structured multi-week program
- Veterinary collaboration when warranted
- 90 days of post-program text support
When we're not the right fit.
No trainer is right for every situation. We will tell you upfront if your case is one of these:
- Aggression cases involving a bite history. These need a veterinary behaviorist, not us.
- Dogs needing 24/7 medical supervision. We are not equipped to manage active medical needs in a training environment.
- Owners looking for a one-session fix. Behavior change takes weeks to months of consistent work. There is no shortcut.
- Households that won't participate in homework between sessions. The training only sticks if the family does the daily reps.
- Non-Shibas. We only train Shibas. Plenty of excellent trainers handle every other breed.
If your situation is on this list, we will tell you upfront and refer you to someone better suited.
Five steps from first message to handoff.
Consult call
15-minute call to understand the dog and the goals.
Assessment
In-person or video assessment of the actual behavior.
Custom plan
Written plan with goals, exercises, and a timeline.
Sessions
Run the plan together with structured reps and feedback.
Handoff and followup
Owner takes the lead. Text support continues after.
Who you will be working with.
Maya T.
Lead trainerCertified positive-reinforcement trainer. Works with every dog before placement so we know what we are sending home. Leads private sessions, board and train, and most behavior modification programs.
James M.
Specialty placementsHandles the harder behavior cases that need long-form work: severe reactivity, escape behavior, and resource guarding. Collaborates with veterinary behaviorists when a case needs medical support.
What change actually looks like.
The escape artist
Before: A two-year-old male slipping his collar on every walk, bolting through the front door three times in a month, recall nonexistent.
After 8 weeks: Walking on a martingale with no slips, sitting at the threshold before any door opens, recall reliable in fenced spaces. Offleash work still a long way off, which is the right call for a high-prey-drive Shiba.
Resource guarding
Before: A four-year-old female guarding food bowls, toys, and one specific couch cushion. Two air-snaps at family members.
After 12 weeks: Trade-up protocol installed across all resources, family education on management, no more air-snaps in 6 months. We do not call this "cured." We call it well-managed.
Leash reactivity
Before: A three-year-old male lunging and screaming at every dog on the sidewalk. Owners stopped walking him.
After 10 weeks: Engage-disengage protocol, threshold work, calm walks past dogs at 15 feet. Owners walking him daily again, which was the actual win.
Separation distress
Before: An 18-month-old male howling within 5 minutes of being left alone, scratching the door raw, two destroyed crates.
After 14 weeks: Desensitization from 30 seconds to 4 hours, neutral exit and return rituals, comfortable alone for half-day shifts. Not bulletproof on full workdays; we tell owners that upfront.
Recall from zero
Before: A nine-month-old male with no name response in the backyard, bolting any time a door cracked.
After 10 weeks: Reliable name turn indoors and in the yard, long-line recall at 30 feet with high-value pay, daily recall game on the calendar. Offleash freedom still off the table, and we are honest about why.
Vet and grooming handling
Before: A six-year-old female muzzle-required at every vet visit, lunging at the groomer, nails not trimmed in over a year.
After 9 weeks: Cooperative-care protocol with consent-based chin rest, husbandry reps at home, nails trimmed by the owner monthly, vet visits without sedation. Muzzle still in the bag as a tool, not a crutch.
These are composite cases drawn from real programs, anonymized for client privacy. Want to talk to a real past training client? Email norcalshiba@gmail.com and we will connect you.
What it costs.
Frequently asked.
How many sessions does my Shiba need?
It depends on the goal. Foundation skills like recall, leash manners, and crate comfort usually take 4 to 6 sessions plus daily homework. Behavior modification takes longer, often 8 to 16 weeks of structured work. We give you an honest timeline on the consult call.
Do you take aggressive dogs?
It depends. If your dog has a bite history toward people, we are not the right fit, see the limits section and we will refer you to a veterinary behaviorist. Dog-on-dog reactivity, resource guarding, and severe leash reactivity we do work with, in the behavior modification program.
What if we don't see results?
We give you weekly written progress notes so you see the trajectory clearly. If the plan is not working, we revisit the plan with you, not double down on more sessions. Behavior is not linear and we are transparent when something needs to change.
Can you do remote-only training?
Yes. Zoom consults work well for diagnostic calls, plan reviews, and many foundation skills. Some work, especially leash reactivity and recall in real environments, needs in-person sessions to do well.
Do you use e-collars?
No. We are a positive-reinforcement program. Shibas respond very well to high-value reinforcement and clear structure. We do not use shock or prong collars, and we are happy to explain why if you want the long version.
Discount for NorCal Shiba adopters?
Yes. Adopters from us get $25 off Zoom calls and $50 off in-person sessions, plus priority scheduling. Email us with the dog's name.
Final terms for adoption, surrender, boarding, training, and the Lifetime Placement Promise are in the written agreements signed in person. If anything here conflicts with a signed agreement, the signed agreement controls.
The NorCal Shiba Training Guide.
Six parts. Written for Shibas specifically. Covers everything from why generic training fails on this breed through the behavior challenges that send the most owners to our inbox.
Owners who put in the reps.
"We did three private 1-on-1 sessions ($150 each) for resource guarding. Unlike generic trainers who tried to treat our Shiba like a Golden Retriever, NorCal Shiba focuses strictly on breed-specific behavior modification. They gave us realistic, actionable tools that actually work for an independent dog."
"Our dog went through their board and train program for severe leash reactivity. They were completely honest about what generic obedience can and cannot fix in a Shiba. They didn't promise a magically submissive dog. They promised a manageable, focused dog, and they delivered exactly that."
"If you have a hard case, call NorCal Shiba. Our dog had intense prey-drive issues and selective aggression. Eric worked with us directly on behavior modification, breaking down how the primitive brain works. They don't use corporate softening; they tell you the truth about what it takes to manage a Shiba."
"I was skeptical about paying $150 a session for training when there are cheaper group classes, but group classes don't work for Shibas. The 1-on-1 focus on primitive dog behavior modification made all the difference. They call it like it is: they are stubborn animals, and you have to train the owner just as much as the dog."
"Finding a trainer who doesn't panic when a Shiba does the 'Shiba scream' or shows teeth is impossible. NorCal Shiba handles these harder cases with calm expertise. The behavior modification sessions are intense but incredibly educational. Dropped one star only because booking can fill up fast due to their small network."
"We did the 1-on-1 behavior work for counter-conditioning and handling sensitivity. They helped us understand that you can't just force a Shiba to obey. You have to negotiate with them. The training philosophy is grounded, practical, and highly effective."
Want to talk to a real past training client? Email norcalshiba@gmail.com and we will connect you with someone who has done the work with us.
Talk to a trainer.
Tell us what is going on with your Shiba. We will reply within one business day and recommend the right program.