First we would like to thank you for considering us as your choice for your puppy!  Buying a pup is a big decision and with so many puppy mills out there with fancy websites it can be hard to know who is a reputable breeder.  We are very proud of our Shibas and their accomplishments in the show ring and have had many pups go to happy loving homes!  We will try to answer the most commonly asked questions here, but you may also feel free to call us and talk in person if you have additional questions.

Visiting Kayobi Shibas:

Visitors are welcome here by appointment.  If you have a visit scheduled please try to be on time. We ask that you call before leaving home just to confirm your appointment.  If something changes and you will be more then 20 minutes early or late please give us a call to let us know. I like to be prepared when people arrive, not in the middle of chores.  Please let us know how many people are coming as well.  While there are big puppy sellers in MN with many breeds and pups available with carnivals, hay rides, and playgrounds we are not one of them.  Our farm is not set up as a petting zoo and we ask that you do not roam through the barn and poultry house.   We also ask that you do not bring current pets with you.  Your dog will not be interested in meeting a new pup and his reaction here at the farm is not a good indicator of how he will react when the pup is brought home.  He will be excited, nervous and more interested in the other dogs and farm animals while he is here.  

We encourage visitors after the pups are 6 weeks old.  Keep in mind young pups can be overstimulated, so play time may be short or require a break.  We will be happy to show you what the puppies are learning at their age and will help you to understand the socialization process and how to continue it once you take a puppy home.  We ask that you wear clean clothing and shoes if you have been visiting other puppies, and can provide hand and shoe sanitizer.

WAITING LIST:

 I ask that people who are interested in a Shiba fill out a questionnaire.  I will then get back to you to see if you have any questions or if I have any for you.  I do like to talk with people who live out of state and if you are local it is great to meet you and your family in person!  Once approved I put the questionnaire with your information in a 3 ring binder with the date it was received on it and you are officially on my contact list for the next litter of pups.  I usually do not list pups until they are born, but frequently I have buyers lined up in advance so pups are not listed on my available site.

 Once the litter is born I will go through my binder of filled out questionnaires and contact those people to let them know what was born.  If there is a pup you are interested I request a $400 deposit to reserve that puppy. This deposit applies towards the cost of the puppy. We accept Pay Pal, Checks or a Money Order for the deposit.  You do have the option of paying in full at this time.  This deposit is for a specific pup and if you put a deposit on a red female you will not get a black&tan male unless you request to switch to another available pup.  If for some reason the pup you have a deposit on is not available (i.e. the pup develops a health problem) you will then have the option of choosing another available pup or receiving a full refund of what you have paid.  The deposit will not be refunded if you decide to purchase a pup elsewhere as by the time we are at this stage I am hoping to have developed a good relationship through phone and e-mails.

We care about our puppies and we reserve the right to cancel a sale if we feel we are not developing a good relationship with the buyer, or if the home may not be in the best interest of the puppy.  In this case a full refund of all money paid would be refunded.

Picking up your puppy: 

If you are within driving distance you are welcome here to pick up your puppy.  Many people come to meet the dogs and put down a deposit on a pup at that time.   The pups are usually ready to go at 9 weeks of age. You are required to have cash for the balance due.   If for some reason you are not able to pick up your pup when it is ready to go we ask that you notify us when you place the deposit.  

Once you get your puppy you should take him home.  This may seem like common sense, but many people take their puppy out visiting, or to the pet store, groomers or vets!  This is not a good idea.  The puppy is already stressed and may have car sickness.  He is tired and this is all new to him.  The best thing is to take him to his new home and let him rest,  Place him in a warm comfortable area with a kennel or soft bed.  Offer him some food and water and let him explore this area and take a nap! He should have 3 hours of quiet time before he is played with, and should not be taken around to groomers and pet stores until the next day. 

Vet

We advise a private practice not a chain like Banfield or VCA clinics.  You will get a different vet every time and they are there to make a profit, not necessarily do what is best for you and your pet.  Call around  and ask if they are familiar with the breed of dog you have.  Ask about prices for spay or neuter and what their office charge and puppy wellness checks cost.  There can be a BIG difference in costs. My vet charges $45 for a wellness check while some are $100

DO NOT take your pup to an emergency vet unless you have an emergency!  They are going to charge you a fortune just to see your pet.  Most cases are not emergencies. Coughs, colds, loose stools with streaks of blood (Typically caused by parasites) are not emergencies.  If your pup wakes up and is active, eating some and interested in his new home he can wait until your vet can see him at a scheduled appointment.  If your dog has not eaten for 24 hours, is throwing up all food and water, has been bitten by a larger dog or been crushed or dropped, or has eaten poison or is unable to be woken up it IS an emergency.

Food:  There are a lot of dog foods out there and many people have a hard time deciding what to feed their Shiba.  The price varies a lot and so do the ingredients.  Ultimately the choice is yours as it is your dog.  But here are some things I have learned through my 25 years showing dogs.  

  • High priced foods are not always the best.  A higher price means you are paying for the companies advertising and packaging.  Dog food companies spend a lot of money trying to convince you their food is best.  They send rep.s to dog shows and pet stores and they tell you the food you are feeding is no good and your dog needs their food.
  • Grain based diets are not bad for your dog.  Dogs need carbohydrates for energy.  Even before there were commercial based diets, breeders would add oatmeal, bread or corn meal to their dogs meat.  The "no grain" diet is the latest fad.  Unless your dog has allergies you do not need to avoid grains.
  • You can cause problems by switching feeds.  Your puppy needs to be exposed to many things to develop a healthy immune system. Too many people try to keep their puppy ultra clean and indoors, away from other animals, mud and germs.  This can cause your dogs immune system to over-react to normal dust, pollen and feeds. By feeding a diet for a dog with a sensitive stomach your puppy's system may be weakened.  Let your puppy be a dog.  They need to play in the grass, dirt and leaves.  Keep your puppy on his original food until he is at least 6 months old unless there is a problem.  Give a variety of treats and things to chew on.

Shots and Wormings.

Your new puppy will have vaccinations given at 6,9 and 12 weeks of age.  NEVER let your vet give your pup any shots if your puppy is not feeling well!  You should not have your pup on antibiotics, wormer and give him shots all in the same day! You may get by with doing this on a 5+ pound pup but to a pup under 3 pounds it could be deadly!

  • No Lepto, No Lyme and No Giardia unless your dog is a farm dog or a hunting dog that spends a lot of time in wet pastures or woods. Too many vets are over vaccinating which is NOT good for your dog.

Worm your puppy every 2 weeks until he is old enough for Heartworm Medications.

For pups with loose stools treat for Giardia with Panacur or coccidia with Albon.    

REGISTRATION 

Most pet people do not register their puppy.  While AKC registration does not necessarily mean you are getting a quality puppy, other breed registries may be a cause for concern.  CKC (Continental) is a registry that will register any dog.  You send them the dogs photo, let them know what breed you think it is and pay a fee and you now have a "registered" dog.  APRI (Pet Registry)  This registry was created for the puppy mill industry when AKC began to require DNA testing.  It is a way these large breeders avoid AKC inspection to insure proper record keeping and healthy conditions are met.  Many dogs with APRI registration come from a puppy mill background and are not good representatives of the breed.  I would not recommend buying a puppy from a breeder who uses either of these registries.

There are several registries that are recognized by the AKC or that are used by reputable breeders.  In Shibas you may run across NIPPO registered dogs.  These dogs come directly from Japan and Nippo is their show registry.  Some breeders maintain Nippo registration as well as AKC.  In MN you may find dogs with CKC (Canadian) registry.  This is not the Continental Kennel Club, but the registry for purebred dogs in Canada.  It is recognized by AKC.  UKC (United) is a registry for purebred dogs with an emphasis on performance.  They hold shows with many obedience and agility events as well as weight pull and barn hunt events.  Many AKC dogs compete in UKC events.  IABCAA is the club that hires foreign judges so that your dog may get an International Championship here in the US.  Many AKC dogs also compete at these shows and you get a written critique of your dog from the judge.

Learning About Your Shiba

There is a lot of information about Shibas on the internet.  Some is great and some is very bad. I have seen groups where people post that have awful information on health, training and care.   I have found the worst to be new people, 'know-it-alls' who have one or two dogs and will spout off advice on breeding, showing, vet care and other breeders.  I would avoid advice from anonymous lists, the ones where people never have to give their real names.   I have known several teenagers posting and giving advice on breeding, showing and training!  Go to your breeder and to your vet for advice, don't trust some stranger who has two poorly bred Shibas and is now a self-proclaimed expert!