Siho, a Shiba Inu and Jindo mix, was rescued from the site of the Gyeongbuk wildfires in South Korea. Despite everything he went through, he arrived at his foster home gentle and trusting. He did well from the very first day, and within about a week he seemed to feel completely at home.
His foster family says he is one of the most polite, easygoing dogs they have ever met — people around them say they have never seen a dog with such good manners.
Siho is affectionate, playful, intelligent, gentle, and exceptionally well mannered. He loves being near his people and follows them around the house, but he has an independent side too: rather than being held, he prefers to rest with his back or paws touching you.
At bedtime he likes to lie on the bed with his people until they fall asleep, then quietly moves to his crate and sleeps there through the night. He is so patient that he will not even yelp if someone accidentally bumps into him or steps on his paw, so his family will need to pay attention to how he is feeling.
Siho gets along well with dogs both large and small. With dogs he has just met, he joins in if he is invited to play, and if not, he is just as happy exploring on his own.
He is a true peacemaker: when a small dog barks or growls at him on a walk, he simply turns away and goes about his business. He could live with a compatible dog, but he would also be very happy as an only dog, since he especially enjoys playing and walking with his people.
Siho becomes highly excited when he sees a cat, bird, or other fast-moving animal running away, and he may try to give chase; he will even go back to look for a cat where he once saw one. A home without cats or small free-roaming animals is required.
| House trained | Yes — he goes to the bathroom outdoors only and has never had an accident indoors in his foster home. Because of that, he must be taken out at least three times a day. |
| Alone time | He stays home alone for about six hours on weekdays and up to two hours on weekends, with no separation anxiety. He likes to follow his people to the door, but once they leave he seems to settle in his spot and sleep. |
| Barking | Exceptionally quiet — the neighbors don’t realize a dog lives there. He gives a couple of quick barks when he hears his caregivers coming home, and that’s about it. |
| Destructive behavior | None. He loves shredding his own toys, and occasionally gets so excited that he tries to tug at a nearby blanket or clothing, but he stops right away when told no. |
| Car rides | He was reluctant at first but has improved with practice. He now hops in after a brief hesitation, sits pressed against the seat, and usually lies down after about 10 minutes, though he may still drool or seem anxious. He is calmer in a secure crate, so crate travel is recommended while he adjusts. |
| Favorite activities | Fetching balls, squeaky toys, and plush toys — a few rounds of fetch, then he settles down to take the toy apart, and a plush toy lasts about 30 minutes. Play should be supervised and damaged toys removed. He hasn’t figured out tug-of-war yet. |
| Crate training | Yes — he goes into his crate on his own and treats it as his safe sleeping space. |
| Grooming & handling | He is hesitant to go into the bathroom (his foster leashes him up as if heading out for a walk), but once inside he tolerates bathing and blow-drying well. He also tolerates tooth brushing, especially when it is done quickly, and loves dental chews. |
| Resource guarding | None at all. If you take his toy, pet him while he eats a treat, or reach for kibble near his bowl, he just thinks you want to play. |
Siho is a high-energy dog who loves his walks. His current routine is a 30-minute morning walk, a one-hour evening walk, a 20-minute walk at night, and 20 to 30 minutes of ball play. In cooler weather, his foster recommends about an hour in the morning and evening plus a short nighttime potty walk. Even after a walk, he is often ready to bring a toy over and play again after about 20 minutes.
He sits nicely before going out the door and before and after riding the elevator. He gets very excited on walks, though: his pulling has improved a lot on familiar routes, but in new places he may pull and zigzag from side to side, so his handler should keep the leash short and secure at first, especially near streets and crosswalks. He can be stubborn about going where he wants, and he becomes intensely focused on fast-moving animals such as cats, birds, and weasels.
His recall is good at home and in securely enclosed areas, but not reliable on walks, so he must stay securely leashed outside enclosed spaces. He is starting to respond to cues such as “no,” “let’s go,” and “good boy” — all trained in Korean.
Siho appears very healthy, with no significant medical concerns reported and no allergies observed. He is neutered and vaccinated, and he should continue veterinarian-approved heartworm, flea, tick, and internal parasite prevention every month, year-round.
He eats well, though he prefers to have a person nearby during meals and may follow his foster if they leave the room. He currently eats a hydrolyzed salmon-based kibble. His favorite treats, roughly in order, are boiled chicken tenderloin, salmon and omega-3 treats, beef treats, soft sweet potato, and dental chews.
He weighs about 44 lbs (20 kg), with a normal body condition. His neck measures 16 in and his chest 24.5 in.
Siho needs an active, attentive, and affectionate family that can provide at least three outdoor outings a day, regular ball play, continued leash training, and careful supervision around wildlife and traffic. He can live with respectful children and a compatible dog, but not with cats or small animals.
Because he is so patient and rarely complains when something is uncomfortable, he is not a good fit for a hands-off owner; his family should watch him closely and handle him gently. And while he loves to play and follow his people around, he also has an independent streak, so he may prefer a home without someone pestering him all day.
In return, his family will gain a joyful, loyal, and loving companion.
“From the moment he arrived, he was so gentle and did so well. It took about a week for Siho to relax and feel that this was his home. He loves people and he loves dogs, and his manners are so good that everyone around us says they’ve never seen a dog like him. He is a perfect dog — so perfect in every way that there’s hardly anything else to write. Siho, all we want is for you to be happy!”
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Siho is in foster care in South Korea and will travel to the United States with a flight volunteer once he is matched with a suitable family. Every vetted applicant selected to adopt him receives a two-week trial and monitoring period with continued rescue support.
Adoption fee: $650 · Covers neuter, core vaccinations, microchip, veterinary exam, health certificate, pre-departure care & transport from South Korea