I have had the pleasure of sharing my life with Siberian Huskies, Dobermans, American Pit Bull Terriers, German Shepherds, Akitas, Australian Cattle Dogs, and Shiba Inus. I have had numerous Champions, Obedience and CGC titled companions. 
I have been involved with breeding and showing dogs for 36 years, and the past 10 have been with Shibas. The Shiba caught my eye when they were first being shown in the Misc. Class. I knew then that this was the Breed I had been looking for. Unfortunately, trying to find a puppy proved very difficult, both because they were not very common, and their price. I knew, however, that at some point a Shiba would be part of my family.
Finally, in 1997, I had the opportunity to purchase my first Shiba. Though the Breeder I bought her from was not really accepted by the better known Shiba Breeders, she bought her dogs from well known kennels and x-rayed hips of the dogs she used for breeding. She had also bred several Champions. A friend loaned me half the money to buy a little female puppy, and Kira began her life as a member of my family.
I can not express strongly enough the need to thoroughly research the Breed before you bring one into your family. I have to admit that first year with Kira was not what I had expected. Although I had researched the Breed, at that time there was not much available on them, and the Breeder only offered a small book, which was fairly generic. So, I had to “wing it” so to speak. Luckily I couldn’t have asked for a better first Shiba to teach me about the breed.
