Concerned & Confused

My Shiba Pharaoh is going to be 2 years old on Christmas eve. He's very energetic, friendly, intelligent and happy. However there are a couple of things i'm a bit concerned with. I know that Shiba's are leery of strangers and are skiddish by nature. I've been told that as they get older that they grow out of those traits. I'd like to know how true that is, because it seems that he's become more skiddish at times than when he was a lil pup. If we are going up the stairs from a walk and my neighbors are on thier balcony (they're 2nd flr & I'm 3rd flr) he is hesitant to go up. I'm starting to feel that he doesn't trust that I will protect him if anything happens.

Also I'm having a problem with him licking the piddle spots of other dogs when we are out on a walk. Some of the spots he'll lick once and then mark over them. then there are other spots that he will lick continuously as if he's having lunch and then mark over them. I've been stopping him from doing this because it really grosses me out and he likes to lick my face and I just can't allow him to after that. It doesn't happen that frequently but, when I catch him doing it I give his leash a tug to correct him and he'll stop. Does anyone have suggestions on what I can do to break him completely of this habbit, or is that something that all dogs do?

I don't know that Shibas grow out of traits like being skiddish, I have never heard that. Have you socialized him with people? I have two shibas and we take them to the pet stores all the time. Sami is very outgoing and gets attention from who ever will give it to her. Miko on the other hand is more shy and reserved. She will go up to some people and not others. She is getting better though. She is more apt to go up to someone that gets down on her level. I would suggest that maybe you try to get him used to being around different people. You have to find a way to make meeting people a positive experience for Pharaoh. Maybe take some treats with you on your walk and if someone wants to meet him, have them get down on his level and have them hold out a treat for him. That is what we do for Miko and at first she wouldn't even take the treat, but now she does. Has he ever met these people? Is it just these people he is skiddish with or any stranger in general?

The other problem is a new one for me. I know why dogs eat other dogs poop, but not pee. I sense that this is something entirely different. Sounds like he is being very territorial, marking over another dogs pee. I don't know why he would lick one more then others unless it's the difference between male and female pee. Let's face it, dogs do some rather discusting things and I think the only way to get him to stop this is to avoid getting him into situations where he is getting around other dogs pee. I was also wondering if he is neutered. Sorry if I wasn't very helpful.