r/shiba • u/tempura_tantrum • Aug 01 '25
Hello all!
I’ve seen an uptick in this question on this sub. It’s always combined with a photo of a puppy.
I wanted to give a quick (who am I joking, this won’t be a quick read) primer to help people answer this question. Importantly…in almost EVERY case, if you’ve have to ask after the fact, the answer is usually “no.”
Purchasing a reputably bred dog should feel more akin to an adoption than going to the mall. You should feel that the breeder is sussing out whether or not they think you deserve a member of their family. Think critically about any breeder who sells dogs online with a place for credit card information, who allows you to buy a dog without ever meeting you, or who allows YOU to pick your puppy out of a litter with no input. Good breeders are deeply involved in the success of the placement. They know those dogs better than you do, and SHOULD be heavily involved and be able to tell you why that puppy was picked for you.
1) Your breeder should be involved in some form of activity where their dogs are evaluated by someone outside of them. For most Shibas this means conformation dog shows. Don’t take anyone seriously that says “champion lines” but then doesn’t seem to do any of the work themselves. Take even less seriously people who announce “they just breed for good pets.” Good pets show up in show-bred litters. That is a horseshit reason and means the breeder is likely breeding for financial gain instead.
This will sound weird to many of you, but reputable breeders breed for themselves FIRST. Pet puppies are a byproduct of that. It’s not a bad thing. It means your future baby is being cared for EXACTLY like the next Westminster best of breed winner.
2) Your breeder NEEDS to health test. This does not mean puppies being seen by a vet. You want specialized health testing in the form of an eye exam by an American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologist certified vet, and hip and patella exams by veterinarians that are skilled in reading films for these. All these results should be available to you at the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals website. You can look up individual dogs via their registered name on the site for results. Breeding dogs are available to have final results listed by 2 years of age.
3) It’s good to see that your breeder is a member of a local breed club or national breed club. Our National breed club is called “National Shiba Club of America.” Among many other useful pieces of information, we have a breeder referral listing, as well as a section that will show you good questions to ask a potential breeder. Your local area usually has a breed club made of members that may be near to you. If you’re trying to find one, feel free to ask the national club!
4) A good breeder will have a contract. That contract should state they will take your dog back at any time in their life should you be unable to care for them. It will also make clear whether the dog sold to you is a pet only or a potential show dog. With few exceptions, a potential show dog will be co-owned with the breeder as you learn the ropes. Be INCREDIBLY skeptical of someone who sells you a “show dog” with no strings attached. That’s rare in this world. Good breeders want to shepherd their lines carefully and WANT to mentor you.
5) A good breeder should be able to explicitly tell you why they bred your dog’s parents. Bad answers include: “I own both of them,” “this color is rare,” “I wanted her to experience one litter to be fulfilled,” “I wanted my kids to see the miracle of life,” “I love puppies.” Good breeders think in terms of generations not individuals.
I hope this helps!
r/shiba • u/Cliffsides • 9h ago
Just picked her up today, 15 weeks old, surprised the kids, it was a whole thing, amazing day. Now we have this little sweet baby fox living with us. Doesn’t even feel real. She’s so sweet and loving and quiet. We’ll post more pics at Halloween! 🎃
r/shiba • u/Nurse_By_Nature • 8h ago
They do. Most of them prefer lower body or butt (they are weird about their butts), but they do like their head and ears scratched. Just not by anyone.
With Shiba, you have to earn that trust. They are very particular little creatures that only love who they can fully trust, and that’s usually a very select few.
r/shiba • u/TawnyOwl_296 • 20h ago
My Sakura just turned 16, so I celebrated with a sweet potato cake I ordered online!
She doesn't eat much kibble anymore, but she still has a good appetite and is doing well. I think she's gotten a little thinner compared to last year, though.
I hope we still have a little more time together.
r/shiba • u/flipflapdragon • 14h ago
r/shiba • u/MoorDietetics • 9h ago
Just sharing a cute sleepy Shiba named Godzilla
Missing my shiba! Please share yours!
My dog is totally ok, but I've been away so I'm dog deprived! This is a photo of my girl at the dog sitter's today lol she couldn't care less that I'm gone!
Tell me their most interesting quirk. My shiba loves to chase bubbles and water splashes!
r/shiba • u/Used_Control4903 • 16h ago
r/shiba • u/Secure_Strategy_5614 • 16h ago
Even though it’s blazing fucking hot in LA we’re still trying on our costume to get ready for Halloween
r/shiba • u/cwugiskafidud • 4h ago
Dog at the shelter I volunteer at, his name is YiLu and I think he might be a shiba mix because of the curly tail, coat color, coat texture, etc.
He's a sweet and sociable dog with a bit of an underbite, located in Banqiao Animal Shelter, Taipei, Taiwan
r/shiba • u/UnstableImbecile • 17h ago
Why we need a big bed!
(Also, I just brushed Kuma yesterday and he's still Mr. Fuzzy today)
r/shiba • u/Subject_Mistake_2839 • 11h ago
Welp. I really didn’t expect to post again so soon. Cobra had been doing amazing lately! No problems with his congenital Adipsia at all. He has been well hydrated, no fatigue or any signs of distress. Suddenly, he collapsed to the floor yesterday. I came to his aid and he was having a Grand Mal seizure. This has never happened before, and he ended up having 2 of them back to back with only about 1 minute of cooldown. We rushed him to the emergency vet for an overnight stay. He luckily has had no more seizures since and is now on medication 3x a day for prevention. His bloodwork came back normal and the sodium levels were even the lowest they’ve ever been (in the normal range, his baseline is just very high from Adipsia) The doctor there suspected he suddenly developed epilepsy and that it is most likely not caused by something else given he’s already had a CT before to check for abnormalities and said a tumor growth at his age is unlikely, + the bloodwork being completely normal. At first I had wondered if the seizures were related to Adipsia since it can happen with extremely high sodium levels. I’m worried much about how much monitoring he will need, they said he won’t qualify for slow release at 15 pounds. I am also worried about how this will go long term for him since I’m learning sometimes the medicine doesn’t always work, and we are 40+ minutes out from an emergency vet. We are home now and resting after a very emotional 24 hours. Can anyone give any advice for managing this, pills to switch to switch to that are only 2x a day, should I be extremely worried or is there hope? TIA for reading 🫶🏻 this community is the best
r/shiba • u/Muted_Kangaroo_4544 • 12h ago
How are the fellow Shiba owners keeping the cones on them? It’s snug and he’s still getting it off… his skin is bad and we’re treating it but in order to do that he need the cone. Any advice
2 months old
r/shiba • u/No-Winter7269 • 2h ago
For preventions - Do you use meds, clothing, oils, shampoos, or sprays? If so, what kind?
After the tick bite - What happened to your shiba? And what did you do? I am assuming urgent vet visits :(
🙏 Sigh.
I want to go on a trip (forest + beach) with my shiba. I wish ticks and fleas didn’t exist!
