CY@CY Says Welcome to my dreamscape. Where a Lim is also a Ling.
A breed of dogs is enjoying worldwide popularity thanks to hot meme cryptocurrencies. I am talking about Shiba Inu dogs.
Shiba Inu dogs
In 2013 the crypto world was introduced to Shiba Inus when Dogecoin, created by IBM software engineer Billy Markus and Adobe software engineer Jackson Palmer as a joke in response to other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, picked the breed as its mascot. The viral meme, called the “doge meme,” featured a photo of a Shiba Inu giving the camera a side-eye.
Dogecoin logo
In August of 2020, Shiba Inu coin debuted, dubbing itself as the “Dogecoin killer” and also adopting the Shiba Inu breed as its mascot to directly rival Dogecoin.
Shiba Inu coin logo
Both Dogecoin and Shiba Inu coin have exploded in value in recent months, giving Shiba Inu dogs their moment. It was in late 2020 that Tesla CEO Elon Musk first tweeted about “Doge” leading to a big spike in Dogecoin’s value. If you have invested USD1000 in Doge in 2013 when it was first launched and hold it till now, you will be sitting on a very comfortable savings nest of over a million dollars.
But Musk may have also contributed to the wild popularity of Shiba Inu coins. In March this year, he tweeted, “I’m getting a Shiba Inu #resistanceisfutile,” implying that he may be planning to get a Shiba Inu dog as a pet. Shiba Inu coins, known as SHIB, has become the most searched cryptocurrency in the past two months or so.
Fans of the meme coins are snapping up Shiba Inu puppies, creating a boom for the dogs that parallels the soaring cryptocurrency market. A typical Shiba can cost up to $3,000, which is almost double what the dogs cost several years ago.
There is a dark side to the breed’s rising popularity. Puppy mills and backyard breeders are starting to churn out the dogs to meet the surging demand, leading to overbreeding that has translated into health complications and deformities.
Shibas are bred to be hunters and are notoriously difficult to train. They are known to be stubborn, aloof, and not eager to please. Routine tasks such as bathing, nail clipping, and vet visits can be horrific for both Shiba and owner. First-time owners are unaware of the breed’s sometimes difficult temperament, resulting in Shiba dogs being dumped and creating influx of Shibas into dog shelters.
Shiba Inus can be very affectionate, but only when they want to be. Most Shibas won’t cuddle into you or sit on your lap like other dogs, but they will show affection when they’re in the mood. They’re among the most popular breeds in Japan.
So if you planning to get a Shiba Inu dog, seriously think twice. Make sure you are prepared to face the challenges!