Sourcing a Good Breeder
Please note that this page is under current construction, therefore the information provided at this stage is unlikely to be our complete guide; please bear with us over the coming days while we work on completing the page.
Before we start let me state that there are a huge number of good responsible breeders out there, what we want to achieve is that those of you looking to purchase a new dog find those breeders and manage to avoid the less than responsible ones.
Your ownership experience is strongly determined by the way your Shiba Inu was bred and the environment it has lived in during the most important first few weeks of its development. This makes choosing the right breeder one of the most important decisions you will ever make.
Do not let your excitement and enthusiasm for getting your hands on one of these cuddly balls of joy lead you into the temptation of buying the first available example. I know how great the temptation is to let your heart rule your head rather than walk away from a breeder empty handed, it can prove very costly both emotionally and financially. Hopefully you are going to enjoy what could be 17 years with the dog you choose, so it is always better to wait a few months to ensure that those years are going to be happy and rewarding for both you and your Shiba Inu.
The Preparation.
Before you even contemplate looking for a breeder you need to do your research to ensure that a Japanese Shiba Inu is the right breed of dog, not only for you but also your lifestyle and environment. Remember your situation now may not be the situation you are in 12 months or even 12 years down the line and these things have to be considered. Purchasing any dog is a huge commitment and if you have any doubts then it is better to think things over and be 100% sure you want to have another family member before making the final decision. The internet is a great research tool, there is lots of information available about the Shiba Inu, including many forums and Facebook pages where current owners and breeders will be only too willing to provide information and advice. Do not forget that such places are the ideal hunting ground for the less reputable breeders looking for purchasers of their dogs, also so beware of those contacting you out of the blue with available puppies for sale.
Recommendations.
First thing to remember is the old saying "self-praise is no recommendation" you will encounter many breeders who can wax lyrical about their knowledge, experience and achievements, personally and via websites and forums. There are far more reliable sources of recommendation available to you. No recommendation whatever the source should be considered sufficient to allow you to park common sense and instinct at the door, you must do all your research.
Good places to start for recommendations are existing Shiba owners, local Vets (remember however that the breeders producing the most litters will often be the ones the Vets see most) Facebook sites used by Shiba Inu owners and breeders. Remember a reputable breeder is not likely to have a constant stream of puppies available and will often be happy to recommend another reputable breeder to you. Use private messaging on the forums as well as you will often find more honest appraisals of breeders being provided privately than in an open forum.
Check to see if your breeder is a member of the Kennel Club Accredited Breeder Scheme – these breeders are bound by a Code of Ethics, inspected by the K.C. and conduct mandatory health checks for their specific breed. For the shiba the required health check is glaucoma screening. Ask the breeder to show you the eye test certificates of your pup. For full explanation of the scheme and a list of shiba breeders who are enrolled on the A.B.S. follow this link. http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/assuredbreederscheme
Contacting the Breeder.
Most of us have that little helper who perches on our shoulder whispering in our ear when things just dont seem right, unfortunately most of us often choose to ignore them, especially when there is a fluffy ball of happiness tugging at our heart strings and we know that if we just ignore that idiot on our shoulder we could be taking it home with us. If the little helper pipes up, shut up and listen, he is there for a reason.
Telephone first... It is always better to speak to a prospective breeder on the telephone before visiting, it gives you a less distracting environment to get a feel for who they are. Also if they are a good breeder who care about the homes their dogs are going to they should be asking you at least as many questions as you are asking them.
The first visit... I say the first visit as you should plan to visit your Shiba Inu as often as you can prior to purchase to see how he behaves in his native environment, how does he/she react to you and others in the room, is he /she shy or nervous, if so it could be a sign that the puppies are not being properly socialised, an important part in any dogs development but especially the Shiba Inu. If the dog doesnt seem right at the very least agree to see it another time. During this and subsequent visits meet the parent dogs, it may not always be possible to see the father but the mother should always be available to you, also ask to see where the dogs are kept, is it a homely caring environment or are the dogs housed in pens outside, how much room do they have? How many different breeds of dogs or other animals are they breeding, how many currently available litters are there. All these things should help you build up a picture of the breeder and their dogs. Use all your senses during your visit, remember it isnt just a visit it is an inspection, it is your responsibility to apply due diligince to help ensure that bad breeders don't prosper.
Questions Questions Questions..
Never be afraid to ask questions, a reputable breeder will welcome them and will be more than capable of answering them to your satisfaction. Typical questions you should ask include "are there any restrictions applied to my ownership in respect of showing or breeding from the dog" - It is not unusual for breeders to apply restrictions in this area and such restrictions will form part of your sale contract therefore it is important that any restrictions are explained to you fully. Ask whether your Shiba Inu is a show prospect or considered "Pet Quality". A "Pet Quality" puppy usually costs less but make equally wonderful companions and pets. Ask to see paperwork and health clearances in respect of health checks and certificates relating to the parents of your Shiba Inu. A reputable breeder will be able to produce evidence of their taking responsibility for the continued health of the breed, especially in respect of known hereditary conditions such as eye examinations etc. Checks and certificates provided in respect of your Shiba’s parents and beyond will not guarantee your Shiba Inu will be healthy, but it will improve the chances that he/she will not inherit any problems.
Even well-bred and cared for Shiba Inus can develop health problems, many of which may not become apparent until later in life. Ask if the purchase price includes any form of health guarantee. Some breeders will offer a refund or rebate of the purchase price in the event that your Shiba Inu develops a heritable condition in later life. Be wary of a breeder whos sale agreement states that they are not responsible for any inherited conditions. WARNING.. Be very wary of the breeder who states that they will take the dog back in the event of any such problem, it may not be what you think.... If a request to return the dog is made from the new owner then this is good facility to have in place, I feel certain that many reputable breeders will take a dog back if either of you are unhappy however while this statement can produce confidence in a breeder always consider the possibility that the breeder is banking on the fact that by the time any such condition becomes apparent you will have become so attached to your Shiba Inu that you would not wish to part with him/her. No reputable breeder would inflict the potential suffering which would occur for the animal or the owner by removing it from its home simply to mitigate their losses. Ask outright if in the event of your Shiba Inu being diagnosed with a congenital/hereditary condition what percentage of the purchase price they would be prepared to refund. Do not compromise on this, a reputable breeder would understand their obligations in such circumstances and would look to support you and your pet. Later diagnosis of hereditary/genetic conditions can be emotionally stressful for you and your Shiba Inu as well as enormously expensive.
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Documentation.
The purchase of any new Shiba Inu should provide certain items of documentation such as a care sheet providing advice on how to care for your new Shiba Inu once you get home. A bill of sale and terms and conditions governing the sale, any agreements which have been made between you and the breeder should also be documented and signed by you both and you should receive a copy of these. A signed copy of the dogs pedigree showing your Shiba Inu's Kennel Club name and details of its lineage. A copy of the KC Registration Certificate, although this can sometimes be sent to you by the Kennel Club if the breeder is notifying change of ownership. Ensure that provision of the KC Registration Certificate is listed within your agreement. If you have paid for a pedigree KC Registered puppy you are entitled to the KC paperwork. Again ensure that you have been made aware of any restrictions which are applied to the sale in respect of breeding etc. We have provided more information on the KC Document and why it is important that you receive it on our KC Documents page. Please read this before accepting any Shiba Inu which doesnt come with a KC Certificate regardless of the reasons you may be given.
Aftercare.
Ascertain what level of aftercare your breeder provides. A reputable breeder will be more than happy to discuss any issues you may have and provide whatever aftercare and support is required to ensure a happy Shiba Inu and owner. If you do follow Facebook pages or forums then watch out for any breeder who is being contacted via these websites for paperwork, information etc, it may indicate that their customers have to chase them for information or at worst have to use the pages to ensure that the breeder responds to them.
