Buddyz is pet business management software that helps grooming salons, dog daycares, boarding businesses, and multi-location pet service operators manage scheduling, check-in, pet profiles, customer communication, payments, and daily operations in one platform.

Who is Buddyz built for?

Buddyz is built for pet business owners and teams running grooming salons, dog daycares, boarding facilities, and multi-location pet service businesses. It adapts to grooming-only shops, daycare-only operations, combined services, and multi-location businesses.

Is Buddyz free to start?

Yes. Buddyz starts with a free Core Platform that includes smart scheduling, pet intelligence, and smart check-in. Add-on capabilities for grooming, daycare, boarding, operations, customer communication, payments, and reporting are available as modular add-ons.

Does Buddyz replace scheduling software like Vagaro or MindBody for pet businesses?

Buddyz goes beyond scheduling. While it includes smart scheduling and booking, it also provides live operations workflow, pet intelligence (profiles, grooming notes, vaccine tracking), customer communication, deposit and payment processing, and business reporting — all in one platform built specifically for pet service businesses.

Can Buddyz track pet vaccine records?

Yes. Buddyz tracks vaccine records, expiration dates, and compliance requirements as part of each pet's profile. This is particularly useful for daycare and boarding businesses that require up-to-date vaccination documentation before accepting pets.

How does Buddyz reduce no-shows for pet appointments?

Buddyz reduces no-shows by enabling businesses to collect deposits at booking, save cards on file, and send automated appointment reminders to customers. This combination of financial commitment and timely communication significantly reduces last-minute cancellations and no-shows.

Does Buddyz work for multi-location pet businesses?

Yes. Buddyz supports multi-location operations with shared customer and pet profiles across locations, location-level access controls, role management, team visibility, and consolidated business reporting.

What makes Buddyz different from traditional pet salon software?

Traditional pet salon software focuses on calendar booking. Buddyz is a full operating system that adds live workflow visibility, operations intelligence, pet profile management, grooming history tracking, automated customer communication, and payment processing alongside scheduling — giving pet businesses a complete platform instead of disconnected tools.

Are Shiba Inus easy to train?

Shiba Inus are highly intelligent but have a strong independent streak and will decide for themselves how much they feel like cooperating. Unlike eager-to-please breeds, they don't work simply to make you happy, so training relies on making it worth their while with high-value rewards and short, upbeat sessions. Their recall is notoriously unreliable, so never trust a Shiba off-lead in an unfenced area. Consistency, patience, and picking your battles get far better results than force, which just makes them dig in.

Do Shiba Inus get along with other dogs and pets?

Shibas can be selective about canine company. Many are same-sex aggressive and quite bossy, so they don't always mix easily with other dogs, and some prefer to be the only dog in the home. Their very strong prey drive also makes them a real risk to cats, small pets, and wildlife — they'll chase with total focus. Early, thorough socialisation helps, and careful supervision is essential. If you have small pets or a resident same-sex dog, think carefully before adding a Shiba.

Do Shiba Inus shed a lot?

Shibas have a plush double coat that sheds moderately all year and then dramatically twice a year, when the soft undercoat comes out in clumps over a couple of weeks. During these 'coat blows' you'll need to brush daily to keep on top of it. The rest of the year, brushing several times a week is enough. The upside is that Shibas are otherwise very clean and low-odour, so aside from the shedding, their coat is refreshingly low-maintenance and rarely needs bathing.

Are Shiba Inus good for first-time owners?

Shibas are a challenging choice for first-time owners. They're strong-willed and independent, their recall is unreliable, they're accomplished escape artists, and they can be possessive or same-sex aggressive. None of this makes them bad dogs — they're spirited, clean, and deeply rewarding for the right person — but they need an owner who understands their nature, commits to early socialisation and patient training, and can provide secure fencing. If it's your first dog, go in with realistic expectations and ideally some training support.

Japan • Non-Sporting

Shiba Inu

A spirited, cat-like Japanese companion — clean, independent, and famously his own dog.

Weight15–24 lbs

Height13–17 in

SizeSmall

Overview

An ancient Japanese spitz breed with a small, compact, well-muscled frame and distinctive fox-like appearance. Known for its spirited personality, confident bearing, and agile movement.

Best for

•Experienced, patient owners who admire an independent, dignified dog and don't need constant affection or obedience. Shibas suit people who enjoy a clever, spirited companion, can commit to secure fencing and firm-but-fair training, and appreciate a naturally clean, low-fuss breed.

May not suit

•First-time owners wanting an easy, eager-to-please dog, or homes with small pets or unfenced gardens. Shibas are strong-willed, have a powerful chase instinct, can be same-sex aggressive, and their notorious escape artistry and stubborn recall demand real vigilance.

History & Origins

One of Japan's six oldest native breeds, originally developed for hunting small game in mountainous terrain. Nearly extinct after WWII but saved through dedicated breeding programs. First brought to the United States in 1954.

Characteristics & Traits

Apartment Living4 / 5

Families with Children3 / 5

First-Time Owners2 / 5

Other Dogs2 / 5

Alone Time Tolerance4 / 5

Shedding Level4 / 5

Grooming Needs2 / 5

Trainability2 / 5

Barking2 / 5

Prey Drive5 / 5

Energy Level4 / 5

Lifestyle

Apartment Living

4/5

Families with Children

3/5

First-Time Owners

2/5

Other Dogs

2/5

Alone Time Tolerance

4/5

Shedding Level

4/5

Grooming Needs

2/5

Behavior

Trainability

2/5

Barking

2/5

Prey Drive

5/5

Exercise

Energy Level

4/5

Exercise & Training

Aim for around 45–60 minutes of total activity per day. Moderate to brisk activity keeps this athletic breed happy. Mix good walks with play and training, and always in secure or leashed conditions given their chase instinct.

Daily Walks by Living Situation

Apartment or Home Without a Backyard

2 walks / day

~30 min each

Two good walks a day plus play and training keep an apartment Shiba content — their cleanliness and quietness suit flats, but they need the exercise to stay settled.

Home With a Backyard

2 walks / day

~30 min each

A garden must be securely and fully fenced — Shibas are expert climbers and diggers who will escape a weak boundary — and even then they need proper walks, not just yard time.

Daycare or Park Time?

Shibas can enjoy daycare if well-socialised, but their bossiness and possible same-sex aggression mean you need a facility with careful, experienced supervision and good playmate matching. Not every Shiba is a daycare dog.

Shiba Inus are notorious escape artists with a strong prey drive and unreliable recall. Always keep them on a lead in unfenced areas, use a secure harness, and make sure gardens are fully and securely fenced — a loose Shiba will chase and may not come back.

Shibas can be prone to allergies and luxating patellas (slipping kneecaps). Keep them lean and mention any limping or skin irritation to your vet early.

Training

Highly intelligent but famously independent, Shibas decide for themselves how much they'll cooperate.

Start socialisation and training very early — a Shiba's independence hardens with age, so good habits must be built while they're young.
Use high-value rewards and make training worth their while; Shibas cooperate when they see the benefit, not out of a wish to please.
Never rely on off-lead recall in unsecured areas — the chase instinct overrides training, so keep them leashed or in fully fenced spaces.
Keep your tone calm and fair; Shibas resent heavy-handed correction and will simply shut down or dig in.
Trade rather than take — swapping for something better prevents the resource-guarding this breed can show over food and toys.

Keep sessions short and rewarding, and pick your battles — motivation works far better than repetition or force with this breed.

For Pet Parents

The Shiba Inu wears a plush, weather-resistant double coat and is famously clean — many owners compare their grooming and self-care to a cat's. The real commitment is managing the heavy shedding, especially during the dramatic twice-yearly coat blow.

Difficulty: Moderate

Grooming Commitment

The Shiba Inu is one of the cleanest, lowest-odour breeds and largely looks after its own coat. The main job is managing the shedding — regular brushing year-round and daily during the twice-yearly heavy moults — plus routine nail, ear, and dental care. Baths are rarely needed.

At-Home Basics

Difficulty: Moderate

Caring for Your Shiba Inu at Home

Brush out the double coat

Work through the coat several times a week with an undercoat rake and slicker brush to remove dead fur. Step up to daily during the twice-yearly 'coat blow', when the undercoat sheds in clumps.

Bathe rarely

Shibas are naturally clean and low-odour, so they need bathing only every few months or when genuinely dirty. Over-bathing strips the coat's natural protection and dries the skin.

Trim nails and check ears

Trim nails about every four weeks — if you hear clicking on the floor, they're too long — and check the upright ears weekly, cleaning the outer area only if needed.

Keep up dental care

Brush the teeth several times a week with dog toothpaste and book regular vet dental checks to keep the mouth healthy.

Mistakes to Avoid

Underestimating the twice-yearly coat blow, then being buried in undercoat — daily brushing during the moult is essential.
Shaving the double coat to reduce shedding, which damages its insulation and natural protection.
Over-bathing this naturally clean breed and drying out the skin and coat.
Forcing a stressed Shiba through grooming — building calm, positive handling early prevents the dramatic 'Shiba scream'.

When to Call in a Professional

Most Shiba grooming is easily managed at home, but a professional groomer is well worth a visit during the heavy seasonal moults for a thorough de-shed, or if you'd like help with nail trims and a proper bath and dry. Introduce grooming calmly and early so the experience stays low-stress.

Coat & Colors

Type: Double coat
Family: Double coat (spitz)
Undercoat: Yes
Shedding: High
Seasonal Change: Heavy twice-yearly moult
Matting Risk: Low

Common Problem Areas

Rear 'trousers'TailNeck ruffBehind the ears

Frequently Asked Questions

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