Shiba Inu
The Shiba Inu has a short double coat. It looks like a small job. Then the coat drops, and hair covers the house for weeks. Most Shibas come in every ten weeks for a wash and dry. Deshedding does the heavy lifting.
- Coat type
- Short Double
- Groom every
- 10 weeks
- Brushing at home
- Line brush weekly, daily while the coat drops
- Shedding
- Very heavy twice a year
- Watch for
- Back legs, tail and the sides of the neck
- Time in the salon
- About 40 minutes for a Luxe Wash and Dry
What the coat is like
A Shiba has a hard, straight outer coat over a soft, thick layer. The soft layer is the one that comes out. Dogs NSW says the coat needs daily brushing while it is dropping, and a weekly brush the rest of the year. Twice a year that soft layer lets go in sheets. It lifts off in clumps you can pick up with your hand.
Why ten weeks
The coat is short, so owners often skip the brushing. The loose hair still has to go somewhere. It sits in the coat and packs against the skin along the back and the back legs. Warm water and a strong dry push it out faster than brushing alone. Many Shibas do not enjoy the bath. We work slowly, keep two hands on the dog, and give breaks. If your dog says stop, we stop.
No shaving, whatever the weather. The coat holds heat off the skin as well as in, and regrowth is not guaranteed.
Home care between grooms
- Line brush once a week. Push the coat back with one hand and brush a thin line at a time, down at the skin. Do this every day while the coat is dropping.
- The back legs, the tail and the sides of the neck hold the most loose hair.
- Wipe the paws after wet walks. Check the ears each week.
Line brushing, shown by iGroomHub, our partner. This is how our groomers brush, and it is the way to do it at home.
What you need at home
- Slicker brush
This is the brush you line brush with. Follow it with the comb.
- Steel comb
Run it down to the skin. If it stops, you have found a knot.
- Shampoo and conditioner
A proper wash loosens the dead hair so the dry can lift it out. Our range is made with chemists: 100% natural, vegan and palm oil free.
What we do for Shibas at WOOOF
Most Shibas book a Luxe Wash and Dry with Deshedding. That is a bath, a deep dry, a full brush out, ears and nails. It takes about 40 minutes. Deshedding clears the loose soft layer instead of taking the coat off. Tell us if your Shiba dislikes water. We will plan the visit around that and keep it short.
What a Shiba Inu groom costs
Set to a medium dog with a short double coat. That is where most Shibas sit. Add Deshedding when the coat is dropping.
Showing the lowest prices, for a medium dog with a short double coat. Pick your dog’s weight and coat to see their price.
Add to any service
- Teeth Brush$30
- Nail Trim$25
- Nail filing$15
- DemattingFrom $34quoted on arrival
- DesheddingFrom $34quoted on arrival
Specialist grooming and programmes
Grooming that is priced after a conversation, a consultation, a coat assessment or a programme rather than a standard slot.
Happy Puppy Club
Short, positive sessions that teach a puppy the salon is a good place, so their whole grooming life is easier. Start any time from their first vaccinations.
See how the club works →
Spa treatments
Hydrospa and therapeutic treatments for coat, skin and muscular health, for itchy skin, dull coats, and older dogs who feel their walks the next day.
Browse treatments →
Hand stripping
Terriers and Spaniels whose coats are better hand stripped, or stripped and clipped. Duration and price depend on the coat.
Talk to our team →
Asian freestyle groom
Soft, sculpted, toy-like styling by an award-winning stylist: rounded faces, fuller legs, even braids. For smaller dense or curly coats groomed every 4 weeks.
Talk to our team →Cancellations and late arrivals
Please give us 24 hours if plans change. Arriving more than 15 minutes late may mean we cannot finish the groom booked.
Safe handling fee
A $30 safe handling fee applies where a dog needs two groomers or extra time to stay safe and comfortable. We always call you first.
Ready when you are
You’re 2 minutes away from happiness. Our booking portal helps you select the right services for your dog and shows you live calendar availability.
Book nowService prices are a starting point. The exact price is confirmed at drop-off, based on grooming time, coat condition, size and any extra handling. Add-on prices are exact.
Common questions
How often does a Shiba Inu need grooming?
Every ten weeks, and sooner while the coat is dropping. A weekly brush at home covers the rest.
Do Shiba Inus shed?
Yes, heavily. The soft layer under the top coat comes out twice a year in large amounts. A bath and a deep dry remove far more of it than brushing at home.
Where this comes from
Dogs NSW, Shiba Inu. "The coat requires additional attention when dropping coat (ie daily brushing) but outside of this, a regular weekly brush and occasional bath will keep its coat under control."
Tripovich and others, Feeling the heat, Australian Veterinary Journal, 2025. A study of NSW dogs from 1997 to 2017. Deaths rose about 0.6% for each degree above 25°C, and 9.5% on days over 32°C. A double coat and a body weight over 15 kg were listed among the things that raise the risk.
RSPCA Australia, Why and how should I groom my dog? Brush knots out before they turn into mats.
PetSure, Pet Health Monitor 2026. Ear infections in adult dogs cost $473 on average to treat.
WOOOF groomers are not vets. We tell you what we see on the table and send you to your vet. Nothing here is vet advice.