The Shiba and the Piglet Had Their Eyes on the Hens the Whole Time
Behind the wooden fence, a handful of hens are going about their business, and they have an audience. A cream Shiba Inu in a brown collar sits with his foxy face turned toward the birds, ears pricked and eyes narrowed in concentration. Next to him, a pink piglet presses her side to the boards and stares through the gap, snout lifted. In the yard beyond, a few chickens peck the ground while a blue bucket and a pair of boots lie nearby.
Shiba Inus are alert, independent dogs from Japan, with a strong hunting instinct, so a hen on the loose may be hard for them to resist. That is why a sturdy fence matters when a dog lives near poultry. They are clean, quiet dogs who like to do things their own way, and they do best with consistent training. Pigs and chickens often live side by side on farms, but they need supervision since a pig may eat eggs or chicks if given the chance. If you share a yard with several kinds of animals, ask your vet for tips on keeping them safe.
We will call the piglet Pearl. She does not really understand chickens, but she likes the way they move, and the Shiba is giving her an education in staring. The two of them stay perfectly still. On the other side of the fence, the hens carry on, not yet aware that they are being very carefully watched.
