Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I have never purchased a dog over the internet before, how does this work?
A: The internet makes buying a puppy directly from a breeder very convenient and easy. It's worked out very well for us and our customers. We have been able to place our puppies in great homes all across the US. You will be picking out your puppy through a combination of pictures on the website, phone calls, texts, e-mails and videos and pictures of the puppy taken at different ages. If you find a puppy that you're interested in we have you pay a non-refundable deposit to hold him/her until the age of 8 weeks (deposit is deducted from the price of the puppy). The balance will be due at 7 weeks of age. Payments can be made using credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, etc.), PayPal, or you can pay in cash when you pick up your puppy. We will keep you updated by sending you pictures or videos of your puppy every two weeks. They can go to their new homes at 8 weeks of age. You can come here to pick up your puppy or we can have it flown to an airport near you. We take care of all the necessary arrangements to ship your puppy. Our puppies fly out of Lambert Airport in St. Louis. You'll be given the flight details once the flight is booked and confirmed. Our puppies are taken to our Veterinarian for a wellness check up prior to flying, and a Certificate of Health will be issued stating he/she is healthy and can travel. The puppy will arrive in his/her very own travel crate. Picking up your puppy at the airport is usually very quick and easy.
Q: Are your adult dogs and puppies registered?
A: Definitely! Some of our dogs are AKC registered and some are ACA registered. All are full blooded Shibas and come with a 3-generation pedigree. We have also had APRI registered dogs. If you want a show dog you might want to get an AKC registered dog (although APRI also has championship competitions). Otherwise, all three of these registries are well known and can provide you with a full blooded registered Shiba. It should be noted that getting an AKC registered puppy does not ensure that you will be getting the best puppy possible. It is more important to find a good breeder that actually socializes and interacts with their puppies daily. There are good and bad breeders out there. You should be diligent in your research and be able to ask any questions that you have.
Q: Do you have a health guarantee?
A: Yes, we have a 2 year health guarantee. Please read our Sales Contract for details.
Q: What about worming and vaccinations?
A: Our puppies worming schedule is 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age. Worming a puppy is just as important as vaccinating them. Intestinal worms can cause the death of a puppy very quickly. Our pups are given their first puppy vaccination at 6 weeks old. You'll be given a health record listing the worming dates and vaccination dates of your puppy. You will want to follow through with additional puppy shots at 9, 12 & 16 weeks of age. It's important for you to know that puppies are not fully immunized to their greatest potential until they've completed their series of puppy shots. It is not advisable to have your new pup around strange dogs until then, but it can be with dogs that you are sure are up to date on their vaccines. Be especially careful to avoid other dogs feces when walking your puppy, at least until it has had all of it's puppy shots. Also, avoid taking your new puppy to dog parks until it has had all of its puppy shots. You can, however, socialize your puppy with pets of trusted friends and family members as long as they are up to date on vaccinations and worming.
Q: Are the puppies socialized?
A: Most definitely! Our puppies are guaranteed to be well socialized. Our puppies are handled beginning at birth. We also rub and touch the puppies feet to help desensitize them to make nail clipping as adults easier. We have grandchildren with us almost daily and they love to play with the puppies. Many breeders will say their puppies are well socialized, but that isn't always the case.
Q: Are they good off-leash?
A: Not usually (but there are exceptions!) Most Shibas cannot be trusted off leash because they love to run, and they are natural hunters that love to chase squirrels, rabbits, birds, etc. You should plan on having your puppy harnessed when you go for a walk. Your new puppy will become accustom to the harness very quickly. If at first your puppy struggles with wearing a harness and leash, you can give it the reassurance it needs by stopping the walk and petting him/her for a few seconds each time they struggle against the leash, and then begin the walk again. Before you know it they are walking on a leash like a pro! It is also a good idea to have some sort of fencing around your yard for your Shiba.
Q: Are they barkers?
A: Some might, but generally speaking, they don't bark. However, they are wonderful watch dogs and will let you know when someone is coming.
Q: Do they shed?
A: Yes, they are seasonal shedders. While they are shedding, a good shedding tool and regular brushing for a couple of weeks works well (we use a Furminator). Once the undercoat is shed, shedding is minimal and is controlled very well with an occasional brushing. Bathing is not usually necessary.
Q: Do they chew?
A: Yes, they are just like any other puppy in this regard. They will chew on anything and everything they get their teeth on! Make sure to have lots of chew toys for them. If you need to leave them home alone you can restrict them to certain areas of your home or you can crate them. They do very well with crating and will even come to find it comforting to have their own space to rest or nap.
Q: What dog food do you recommend?
A: We have tried several different kinds over the years. When it seems like they are not eating their food as well as they once were, we will try a different brand to see if their appetites improve. Right now, we are feeding Diamond Naturals to our puppies and adult dogs.
A: The internet makes buying a puppy directly from a breeder very convenient and easy. It's worked out very well for us and our customers. We have been able to place our puppies in great homes all across the US. You will be picking out your puppy through a combination of pictures on the website, phone calls, texts, e-mails and videos and pictures of the puppy taken at different ages. If you find a puppy that you're interested in we have you pay a non-refundable deposit to hold him/her until the age of 8 weeks (deposit is deducted from the price of the puppy). The balance will be due at 7 weeks of age. Payments can be made using credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, etc.), PayPal, or you can pay in cash when you pick up your puppy. We will keep you updated by sending you pictures or videos of your puppy every two weeks. They can go to their new homes at 8 weeks of age. You can come here to pick up your puppy or we can have it flown to an airport near you. We take care of all the necessary arrangements to ship your puppy. Our puppies fly out of Lambert Airport in St. Louis. You'll be given the flight details once the flight is booked and confirmed. Our puppies are taken to our Veterinarian for a wellness check up prior to flying, and a Certificate of Health will be issued stating he/she is healthy and can travel. The puppy will arrive in his/her very own travel crate. Picking up your puppy at the airport is usually very quick and easy.
Q: Are your adult dogs and puppies registered?
A: Definitely! Some of our dogs are AKC registered and some are ACA registered. All are full blooded Shibas and come with a 3-generation pedigree. We have also had APRI registered dogs. If you want a show dog you might want to get an AKC registered dog (although APRI also has championship competitions). Otherwise, all three of these registries are well known and can provide you with a full blooded registered Shiba. It should be noted that getting an AKC registered puppy does not ensure that you will be getting the best puppy possible. It is more important to find a good breeder that actually socializes and interacts with their puppies daily. There are good and bad breeders out there. You should be diligent in your research and be able to ask any questions that you have.
Q: Do you have a health guarantee?
A: Yes, we have a 2 year health guarantee. Please read our Sales Contract for details.
Q: What about worming and vaccinations?
A: Our puppies worming schedule is 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age. Worming a puppy is just as important as vaccinating them. Intestinal worms can cause the death of a puppy very quickly. Our pups are given their first puppy vaccination at 6 weeks old. You'll be given a health record listing the worming dates and vaccination dates of your puppy. You will want to follow through with additional puppy shots at 9, 12 & 16 weeks of age. It's important for you to know that puppies are not fully immunized to their greatest potential until they've completed their series of puppy shots. It is not advisable to have your new pup around strange dogs until then, but it can be with dogs that you are sure are up to date on their vaccines. Be especially careful to avoid other dogs feces when walking your puppy, at least until it has had all of it's puppy shots. Also, avoid taking your new puppy to dog parks until it has had all of its puppy shots. You can, however, socialize your puppy with pets of trusted friends and family members as long as they are up to date on vaccinations and worming.
Q: Are the puppies socialized?
A: Most definitely! Our puppies are guaranteed to be well socialized. Our puppies are handled beginning at birth. We also rub and touch the puppies feet to help desensitize them to make nail clipping as adults easier. We have grandchildren with us almost daily and they love to play with the puppies. Many breeders will say their puppies are well socialized, but that isn't always the case.
Q: Are they good off-leash?
A: Not usually (but there are exceptions!) Most Shibas cannot be trusted off leash because they love to run, and they are natural hunters that love to chase squirrels, rabbits, birds, etc. You should plan on having your puppy harnessed when you go for a walk. Your new puppy will become accustom to the harness very quickly. If at first your puppy struggles with wearing a harness and leash, you can give it the reassurance it needs by stopping the walk and petting him/her for a few seconds each time they struggle against the leash, and then begin the walk again. Before you know it they are walking on a leash like a pro! It is also a good idea to have some sort of fencing around your yard for your Shiba.
Q: Are they barkers?
A: Some might, but generally speaking, they don't bark. However, they are wonderful watch dogs and will let you know when someone is coming.
Q: Do they shed?
A: Yes, they are seasonal shedders. While they are shedding, a good shedding tool and regular brushing for a couple of weeks works well (we use a Furminator). Once the undercoat is shed, shedding is minimal and is controlled very well with an occasional brushing. Bathing is not usually necessary.
Q: Do they chew?
A: Yes, they are just like any other puppy in this regard. They will chew on anything and everything they get their teeth on! Make sure to have lots of chew toys for them. If you need to leave them home alone you can restrict them to certain areas of your home or you can crate them. They do very well with crating and will even come to find it comforting to have their own space to rest or nap.
Q: What dog food do you recommend?
A: We have tried several different kinds over the years. When it seems like they are not eating their food as well as they once were, we will try a different brand to see if their appetites improve. Right now, we are feeding Diamond Naturals to our puppies and adult dogs.
Please contact us with any additional questions.