We currently have very limited space intaking Shibas, but work with owners and shelters to rehome with qualified applicants. Please email us for more information, at shibas4life@msn.com.

Stop and Read before you Buy....

What's the attraction? The first and most common reason a Shiba is purchased from a pet store or picked out at the local shelter is because of its teddy-bear or fox-like exterior that no one can refuse. Lured by his charm, soft coat, and sad eyes that look right into yours, people can forget the importance of research before deciding if this breed is right for your family. They become a "must have!" It's the perfect size puppy that resembles a Beanie baby, and thought to be as cute and innocent as he looks. At that very moment no one takes the time to consider what this dog entails, and impulse shopping takes control!

Like any breed, the Shiba may not be right for you, and one moment of compulsive shopping may turn out to be a dog that's surrendered to rescue by age two, with a sad impact to his or her life. The Shiba needs specific training, diet, socialization, and proper exercise in order to excel as a wonderful pet. A breeder once told me to have vitamins, granola, and orange juice in large quantities on hand to raise a Shiba. When I wondered if she was crazy wanting that for the dog she said, "It's not for the dog, it's for you to keep up with the dog!"

So why own one? Here's the reasoning for my own desire for the Shiba and why I'm addicted to these fur kids! One side of my family owns a Veterinary Hospital and I have seen a lot of dog breeds growing up. I wanted a special unpopular breed that suited my lifestyle so I made a list. I thought it out well and came up with these items that were crucial to my lifestyle and family needs:

1. A breed that was active and spirited, but not too hyper.
2. A breed that didn’t bark or whine too much if I didn’t entertain them all the time.
3. companion that could be social with people on their own terms, but also independent.
4. A breed that could respect cats and live with them on their own terms.
5. A loyal watchdog that wasn’t a liability if training was provided.
6. A dog I could travel with and take on vacations, especially to hike.
7. A smaller breed so the vet bills weren’t outrageous - since most charge by the weight of the dog with surgeries and grooming.
8. A breed that could live among other dogs and enjoy them if matched up properly.
9. A small- to medium-sized attractive dog that didn’t look like every other breed, and required minimal grooming.
10. A dog that is affectionate enough to cuddle with me while watching television or reading a book, after a nice walk.
11. A breed that could live with older children if taught to respect each other without smothering.
12. A breed that would make me laugh and keep me guessing.

With the above list, I knew I had been well educated. After much research from reputable breeders, trainers, and knowledgeable Veterinarians, I decoded my above list with better information to consider with my original list:

1. An active dog meant about 75% of Shibas are rehomed with a fenced in backyard, due to their hunting instinct and boredom factors and almost daily walks.
2. The breed is not typically vocal, but barks while protecting their home, which is not suitable for most apartments.
3. A companion dog that can bond more with one person but does well with a family. Most are aloof to strangers.
4. The breed can respect cats with training and do well. However, some don't. This breed shouldn't live among free roaming critters (guinea pigs, rabbits, birds).
5. A loyal watchdog that barks and lets me know when someone is at my door.
6. A dog I could travel with meant always on a leash and not tied out anywhere.
7. A smaller breed so the vet bills weren’t outrageous was a smart idea for my pocket but still required regular vet care that I still needed to be prepared for.
8. This breed does best living with other Shibas or similar breed. You must match up carefully or even the best dog will develop aggressions and other behavioral problems. Two alpha Shibas will cause fighting and someone will be bit and can cause damage among the dogs.
9. A rare breed is nice, but with huge responsibility to the primitive background. Although there is minimal grooming, this breed does not always care for it and will let you know.
10. As long as this breed is well exercised they can enjoy quiet time and be affectionate on their own terms.
11. Very few reputable breeders or rescues rehome with small children because if a child is not old enough to avoid smothering, he or she could be growled at or even bitten. Supervision is required at all times and may not be desirable for most.
12. A breed that would make me laugh and keep me guessing is saying the least! This breed is like having a toddler with Einstein's brain!

All this was a Shiba Inu, and you should ask yourself these same things to determine if this breed is right for you! If you're still interested, I encourage you to read about the standards of this special breed.

The Shiba Inu (Shiba for short) is a spitz breed that resembles a fox. Other Spitz breeds similar to the Shiba in appearance are the Akita, Jindo, and Husky. The females are petite and feminine averaging about 19 pounds and standing 14½ inches at withers. Males are compact and muscular, averaging about 25 pounds and standing 15 ½ inches at withers. Correct AKC standards can found at: www.akc.org. However, in rescue we see all shapes and sizes and love them all - standard or non-standard - because we contribute, unwillingly, letting backyard breeders and pet stores exist. If we continue to buy, they continue to sell and we are making them a lot of money! Did you know that some backyard breeders sell their dogs to labs for live research? Read more information about puppy mills at: http://www.nopuppymills.com/. Education starts with us and you will find reputable breeders on The National Shiba Club of America. We also encourage you to read "How to Find a Good Dog Breeder".

The Shiba is a challenging breed and not a good match for the obsessively clean and perfect home that does not want chaos. I like to match a dog breed with my personality. I am low maintenance to care for but have a high maintenance personality! Shibas are independent, spirited, bold, very intelligent, fun-loving, and an athletic breed with cat-like qualities that include a superiority complex, (love me one moment, leave me alone the next). The Shiba has different sounds to express their personality. They may bark when someone is at the door or by your fence line. You may hear low growling or yapping during playtime with another dog or play companion. Many can yodel when they are happy to see you or want your attention and some just howl trying to yodel. The worst sound of all is the Shiba scream when you do something they do not approve of, such as nail trimming or bathing. All these noises are at a minimal and some are more vocal than others. If they spoke only one word it would be "mine" and continuously remind us that it's "my toy" and "my food" and "my house" and sharing is not always an option! This breed takes a lot of time, patience, and a good sense of humor to understand. The Shiba is not for someone who wants a dog to walk unleashed or a dog that will continuously mind the owner, since on a good day they'll meet you half way. Grooming is minimal but they do shed their undercoat, twice a year which sometimes can go on quite awhile depending on your climate. Since we live in Oregon, the weather constantly changes and this year my boys have shed lightly throughout the entire year. A good brushing as often as possible will reduce the shedding. Baths are rarely needed since they're clean dogs and this challenging task can be done best after a nice long walk or playtime in an off-leash dog park. Nails also can be a challenge and it's a two person task. Many owners choose to take their dog to the Vet or Groomer for these tasks and stay in good graces by doing so! I always watch the Groomer at first to supervise the kind of care and handling that our dogs need. In addition, I complete a reference check with the Better Business Bureau and prefer someone that I know has had a ton of praise. One bad moment of grooming can cause a traumatic experience for life so do your homework if you choose to use a Groomer.

Shibas can do well with children if they are raised together with respect. Most Shibas will not tolerate infants and small children that smother them and by doing so the child could be nipped at, by a Shiba scolding them. If the child is old enough to respect the dog's space then they will bond closely and well-behaved children do very well with this breed. In my opinion, the child should be old enough to actively participate with the dog's needs. Shibas who are raised with cats do well in the same household but since they're a primitive hunter, smaller critters are not safe (e.g. gerbils, mice, rats, ferrets, rabbits, and squirrels). Although Shibas may be dog aggressive, most do well with another passive dog as their companion and play well with similar breeds that understand their rough play. Shiba owners who want to adopt another Shiba should choose opposite gender and make sure their current Shiba is ready for this change. Just because your dog plays with others at the park or a friend's house doesn't mean they want to share their toys, home, and family. Since a Shiba should be forever be sure this is the right choice. There is only room for one alpha dog in a family, and the rest must become the lower end of the pack.

Shibas are loving, loyal, and a good watchdog and need to be an active part in their owner's life or they become destructive or withdrawn. If you are gone for long hours during the day then a Shiba is not a good choice because they need to be socialized or your favorite chair or shoes may be chewed up, for punishment. Most do not board well in doggy daycare facilities because they do not like to be separated from their family and cared for by strangers. Shiba owners usually have a familiar family member or friend baby-sit when they can not take their dog with them. These dogs were meant to live indoors, close to their family. Shibas do not live in outdoor dog runs and again, socialization with the family is extremely important.

I hope after reading this section you will discover the pros and cons about owning this special breed and make a list like we did. The Shiba is a wonderful breed and people either love them and can't live without them, or hate them and should have never had them!

Irresponsible Ownership Causes Rescue to Exist.

If everyone did the research, spayed/neutered, and made a life-long commitment for his or her dog, then Rescue organizations would not need to exist. Dogs are not disposable! Irresponsible ownership is a problem across the country and because of this hundreds of dogs are euthanized weekly in shelters. This does not include deaths, illnesses or life-changing circumstances that force owners to surrender their dogs.

There are so many benefits in rescuing an older dog rather than buying a new puppy. The first and best reason is you save a life and in return, they bond extremely closely! We commonly hear the following statements that are misleading about the benefits of rescuing a dog:

• Why would I want an older dog when I could buy a puppy?
• Rescues are somebody else’s problem that nobody wants, right?
• Don’t these dogs have behavior problems?
• Rescues are used dogs and can’t be retrained, right?
• Aren’t these dogs all non-standard Shibas who don’t resemble the true Shiba spirit?
• A rescue won’t bond as well.

All of these statements are wrong!

Why would I want an older dog when I could buy a puppy?
If you're home all day and have time to train your puppy with housebreaking, chewing behavior, and socializing, then one could be right for you. But face it, most of us work all day, come home, decide what's for dinner, spend time with the family, and walk and play with our dog - we just don't have the time it takes to train a new puppy. In addition, puppies are very expensive, with the full vet care needed up to age one. With an adult rescue dog, what you see is what you get. You know exactly what they look like and all dogs are fully vetted and only require routine vet visits.

Rescues are somebody else’s problem that nobody wants, right?
Not true at all. Most rescue dogs do not fit a family's lifestyle because they didn't do the research on the breed before buying. Maybe they didn't have time for daily exercise for their dog, and Shibas require good playtime and walks. Maybe they had a toddler who bothered the dog until he nipped at the child. This is a common problem because children who are not old enough to respect the dog's space may be growled at or even nipped. People don't realize this is not a dog breed that can be smothered. Another example is that somebody worked 12-hour days and the dog had destructive behavior. The dog didn't always have this behavior and developed it as part of a separation anxiety due to lack of attention.

Don’t these dogs have behavior problems?
Yes, some do - but negative behavior changes when the dog is placed in the right situation with proper screening of our applicants. For instance, a child abused one of my rescues so he's afraid of small children. This behavior won't change for a long time, so this particular dog was placed with teenagers and is doing great. Another dog of mine was not raised with cats so she chases them and corners them aggressively. She is now in a new home with no cats. These are just a few correctable situations.

Rescues are used dogs and can’t be retrained, right?
Wrong! Shibas are a highly intelligent breed, and with the right amount of love, time, and patience they excel in training. It may take time but they can be retrained.

Aren’t these dogs all non-standard Shibas who don’t resemble the true Shiba spirit?
No! All of our Shibas have true spirit, but you will see all shapes and sizes because of different bloodlines, pet store/backyard breeders, and changes in the standards. Regardless if you have a female runt that weighs only 13 pounds, or a large male that weighs 30 pounds, all have the Shiba spirit that shines with the right amount of love!

Some believe rescues don’t bond as well.
This is so wrong! A Shiba that did not have a good start and is placed with a proper match turns out to bond with you more then ever because you saved them! Shibas who were in happy home and uprooted because of a bad situation do work through the loss with extra love, time and patience, but still bond incredibly strongly to hold to what they have gained.

Rescue is a positive solution for those who cannot keep their dog because it allows us to help someone make the right decision to rehome his or her Shiba with the perfect match. By matching a new owner and the dog's needs, we are able to help them with a better transition so that he or she can continue to be loved and cared the rest of their life. The alternative is placing the dog in a local shelter and once again ending up with someone who knows nothing about the breed and what they need. This can also result in poor health since Shibas do not do well in these facilities.

We are non-judgmental and provide free rescue services for Shibas in the Northwest. Most of our dogs come from owner surrenders and Shibas left in shelters. We do request an owner release form if you decide you can no longer care for your dog and would like us to assist you. After we take ownership of the dog we start a lengthy evaluation with a full Vet exam, cats, kids, other dogs, behavior, and training. This allows us to find the perfect match for their situation. Your dog will have foster care with us or a volunteer, unlimited, until placement. We do not discriminate against race, color, religion, etc. but we may deny you a specific dog due to their needs. All puppies are placed with 6 foot fenced yards, due to their activity level and potty training needs. Older dogs are placed with fenced yards when necessary. Dogs that can climb and/or jump fences may be most suitable for condo/apartment life since they should be exercised and walked by leash only. In addition, we try and match up our dogs with people who have flexible work schedules so that they can spend good quality time with their new family member. Very few rescue dogs are placed with children under 6 years old but a match can be made, it just may take more time.

Available Shibas nationwide are posted on the National Shiba Rescue website. Some out of state dogs can be shipped to the right home, if shipping is paid for and weather conditions are tolerable. Rescue works because we are taking the time to get to know the dog's behavior, socialization skills, and when applicants are properly screened there is a perfect match! We are not looking for the first available home; we are looking for the perfect home for the dog's needs! Rescue fees are based on the overall incurred expenses for all dogs. The typical reputable breeder is selling a pet Shiba for about $1,000 and even a pet store Shiba is now ranging $700-$1,000.

• Puppies and Adolescents - 1-3 years of age: $350
• Adults - 4-7 years of age: $300
• Seniors - 8+ years of age: $250

Example of average rescue costs:

Vet Exam:	$30
Vaccinations:	$40
Deworming/Fecal:	$25
Heartworm Test:	$20
Heartworm medication:	$8
Spay/Neuter:	$100
Microchip:	$30
Flea control:	$15
Harness/Collar:	$10
Leash:	$10
Food during stay:	$12
Total:	$300

This is only an average cost structure and does not reflect additional fees such as shelter costs, transporting, additional medical care, and training costs. Our adoptions fees are based on an average because some dogs need much more medical care then others. In 2006, rescue went $4,100 into debt and had to put a hold on intaking dog's for 2 months.

We try and keep costs down, but provide with a healthy start and new history. In addition, all dogs need a superior dog food, regular Vet care, obedience, toys, and treats and can be costly because they're our children who need to be spoiled!

The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.     ~ Andrew A. Rooney