We are located
on Vancouver Island, in Beautiful British Columbia (Canada)
We ship internationally.
Please note
all images are original and the © copyrighted property of SunoJo.
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About SunoJo:
In 1986,
we became involved with the delightful breed known as the Shiba Inu -
lively, fun loving, smart - their temperaments have been described as
fox and cat. We have been active in many dog activities - conformation
showing, some obedience, some agility, public relations, breed seminars,
rescue, and club activities.
I an
a founding member of Shiba Inu
Canada, the national breed club, and was involved in gaining breed
recognition with the Canadian
Kennel Club in 1992. I am currently president of the club, and a CKC licensed
judge for the Working and Toy Groups.
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Our
Shibas:
We are a small kennel,
concentrating on quality, not quantity. You will not see 20 or 30 breeding
animals at our home - it is not necessary to keep a "herd" to
produce some of the finest quality Shibas in North America. We also do
not believe the Shiba is a good kennel dog - they are very personable
individuals who require attention and love on a one-to-one basis.
SunoJo Shiba Inu have
been among the top-ranked Shibas in Canada since breed recognition, and
we are pleased to have sent dogs to South America and Europe, as well
as to the US. Click here for a list
of SunoJo champions.
While we are extremely
active in the conformation show ring, and plan our breedings to produce
the next generation of champions, we have never faltered from our principles
in selecting only the best breeding stock:
Temperament:
All our dogs must be mentally sound, human oriented, and a pleasure to
be around. Doesn't matter how pretty they are if you can't live with them!
Health: The
breed is robust and generally healthy - BUT there have been reports of
hip, knee, heart and eye problems. Reputable breeders screen for these
problems using proven veterinary methods (xray, opthomology, etc.). A
clean bill of health, while necessary, does not preclude hidden problems,
and is no proof of a dog's genetic makeup. To view certifications from
OFA, click here.
(please note that only dogs with the SunoJo name are included, as this
list was created by searching on our kennel name.)
Soundness:
This is the physical structure, and how well it performs its function
of moving a dog from Point A to Point B. The Shiba was developed as an
all-day hunter - they should be able to run effortlessly and seemingly
tirelessly. A dog with legs of incorrect proportion (too long, too short)
will tire sooner. Legs that are not straight are prone to injury. Elbows
that do not fit properly against the ribcage have too much pressure on
them, and will develop arthritis. Too long a back means a weak back, and
corresponding muscle issues. There are numerous other concerns, but it
boils down to Mother Nature is not happy with an animal that cannot run,
hunt, jump for its dinner (even when we humans supply dinner on a gold
plate!).
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How
We Raise Our Shibas:
Our puppies are born
in the house, and spend their first 4 weeks underfoot or carried around
(a lot!). It is essential that Shiba puppies learn to trust humans, and
this is done by lots of contact in the first few weeks of life. This is
still a primitive breed, and their first instinct is to avoid everything
that is not "mom". So it is our job to teach the puppies that
humans are pretty wonderful friends - we bring food, warmth, and are good
cuddlers!
We live on 3.5 acres,
all fenced, with 1.5 acres dedicated as "Shiba Only" yard. The
rest of the property is shared with some Dorset sheep, laying hens and
Narragensett turkeys. The dogs all get turns running in their yard, where
they can run, dig, chew, chase squirrels & mice (ew) and do all their
doggy stuff. When they are in the common yard, they are not supposed to
dig in the flower beds or chase the chickens!
Our dog room is attached
to the house, with 5 in/out runs so the dogs can sunbathe or snooze inside
as they want.
Puppies move into
the dog room as their activity levels increase - and also they do NOT
want to potty on paper by 5 weeks of age - they want access to the outside.
Puppies become part of the family group - we have one old Akita left who
is an excellent auntie, and 4 Japanese Chin who teach puppies to respect
ALL dogs, no matter how small! Several of our adult Shibas are puppy-crazy,
and love to play and entertain the little ones. That's a nice break for
Mom and for me!
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Diet
& Immunizations :
We feed a combination
of raw, cooked, and high quality kibble, and feel this is the best we
can offer. Note: RAW bones only, cooked bones splinter and can kill your
pet!
RAW: chicken
parts (necks & backs) are given whole, starting at 4 weeks - not that
they get much down, but they lick and start using those little teeth for
more than chewing my fingers! Lamb bones are much loved. I do not recommend
beef, as oriental breeds do not have the digestive enzymes to break this
down. Pork I hate myself, so don't feed it to the dogs. I do however give
the dogs RAW large beef soupbones - safer than Greenies, rawhides, or
pig ears/hooves.
COOKED: I cook
chicken, lamb, or fish to produce a thick broth, and then strain out the
bones. I then pick off the meat, add rice and pureed veggies and some
herbs. Also make scrambled eggs (from our accommodating hens) twice a
week.
KIBBLE: We
feed and recommend Go Natural -
it is the best dry dog food we have found in over 30 years. Two new varieties
have been introduced, one a "single protein source" and the
other "grain-free". We are trying them now, and so far (through
2 bags) they seem to be as tasty and high quality as the original variety.
IMMUNIZATIONS:
The American Veterinary Board recently released new protocols for immunizing
dogs. It has long been believed by those in the dog world that our dogs
were being over immunized, and these new protocols confirm that belief.
SunoJo puppies are
seen by our vet (Dr. Rob Reiner, Mill Bay) at 8 weeks of age, when they
are given their first shots (EXCLUDING Lepto and Kennel Cough). Their
second shot should be given 6 weeks later. Dr. Rob gives each puppy a
thorough examination, and his findings recorded in an individual health
certificate.
Yearly shots are NOT
required - every three years is sufficient, and further studies may show
that even these are unnecessary. Rabies should be given at 6 months of
age, and boosted every 3 years.
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Guarantee:
We offer a 10 day
purchase price refund if for ANY reason, the puppy is not as represented.
We highly recommend you take your new puppy to your vet within days of
receiving him/her, and to please follow our guidelines for diet, exercise,
and socialization.
A two-year genetic
health warranty is also part of our agreement, which covers hips, eyes,
knees, and heart disease of a genetic nature.
Lifetime Support:
When you purchase
a puppy from SunoJo, you become a member of the family. No, not the type
that arrives on your doorstep and never leaves! We encourage you to CALL
if you have any questions/concerns about that little ball of fluff - no
question is silly! And this is Lifetime - from the first questions about
teething, to caring for the old veterans.
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Price:
Show/Breeding:
If you are considering "getting into" dog shows, please be aware
I will want you to prove that you ARE serious, and this puppy will be
given every opportunity to develop into the champion we believe it to
be. Price for show/breeding potential puppies start at $2400 US.
Companion: "Pet"
puppies are sold are sold on a non-breeding agreement: they are to be
spayed or neutered by 9 months of age, and NOT to be bred. Prices start
at $1500.
"But I
Only Want A Pet!"
Yes, you can find
a pet for much less. The SPCA and Rescue Organizations usually charge
$100 - $250 for dogs of mixed breeds and unknown background. And if you
are comfortable with those types of pets, I highly encourage you to adopt
one of the many dogs that are in dire need of a loving home.
If you are wanting
a SHIBA COMPANION, then you are looking for a puppy that LOOKS
and ACTS like its breed, is HEALTHY and HAPPY, and will give you many
years of love and friendship.
Benefits
of a Purebred
You know exactly what
the adult dog will be: size, colour, coat type, looks. There are also
personality traits that can be accurately predicted. Contrary to popular
belief, purebreds are NOT more prone to health, genetic, or temperament
problems.
But....
this is only true of purebreds that are bred well. Unfortunately there
are many people who put a male and female together and call themselves
"breeders", with no knowledge of breed type, history, characteristics,
and issues. They can charge less for their puppies because they have not
invested in quality breeding stock, do not screen for health/temperament
problems, do not invest any time, money or effort into evaluating their
breeding program, and breed their bitches repeatedly to produce large
numbers.
Over the years, I
have heard stories of Shibas that are shy, vicious, sickly, plain ugly,
etc. etc. I have tried to educate the public to visit breeders - Shibas
should be clean, happy, active dogs. If the parents are nasty or shy,
there is a very high possibility the puppies will be too. If they are
kept in dirty squalid conditions, guess what - they will arrive at your
home with parasites and other goodies. If there are large numbers of dogs,
how much attention will each individual receive?
"Buyer
Beware" and "You Get What You Pay For"
- two very good pieces of advice when looking for your new family member.
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