Oh the vanity!

[Sayuri]

Shibas are notoriously vain creatures...although at times they take great pains to suggest that this is not so. You can tell from Kimi's expression in the following pictures that she is trying to pull this off - but we know she thinks she's sexy.

Anyway - it seems there's been a bit more interest and talk of Shibas on the board than usual, and I know that not everyone has seen a Shiba and knows what one looks like, so I thought I'd post pics of my girl and see if anyone wants to engage in Shiba-talk. Kimi is quite proud that I'm as obsessed with this breed (though she thinks it's just her) as I am. I need better pictures of my old man Tai, but you can see him in my avatar right there for now.

Anyway, here she is - San Jo Kindred Spirit

[lisa & paul]

Very nice pictures. I'll try and post some of Dexter, so ppl can see what black and tan looks like.

[britishbandit]

She is beautiful!!! *shush, don't tell her I said that!* HAHAHHAA JK

[lisa & paul]

I hope they worked.

[Cassiepeia]

Fantastic pictures!! Kimi & Dexter are both stunning dogs.
I was captivated by this breed when I met one at the pet expo I went to last year. I found it hard to keep away from that gorgeous boy they had out for everyone to see and touch.

I'm curious about a few things. Firstly, how much exercise do they need each day? Do they do well in dog sports such as agility? Is obedience too insulting to their ego to attempt? Hehehehe!
Their fur is so dense, what is grooming like?

Cass.

[linnie]

I love the thick coat and those beautiful ears

[Shadowkins]

Such beautiful dogs !!!!

[Sayuri]

Hey look! It's Dexter all grown up! What a sweet boy - Kimi's dam was a black and tan, so I have a fond spot in my heart for them.

The exercise thing can be pretty variable with this breed. They'd appreciate at least a half hour walk a day, and you might supplement that with some free exercise out in your yard - I know I do! Kimi likes to play ball, but fetch is a game that the majority of the breed tends to find pointless and repetitive. "I just brought this back to you and now you've gone and thrown it away? You are hopeless!" In Japan the Nippo show dogs are roadworked along bicycles for ten miles a day - so it's a breed that can really go the distance if that's what you want to do.

Tai is a trained agility dog and really enjoys it but I tell anyone that is interested to be careful. The breed is extremely athletic, agile, and fast as well as wickedly intelligent, which means that they're built to be prime agility dogs...but this is coupled with a naughty sense of humor, a heavy independent streak, and a recall which everyone in the breed recognizes is less than reliable. I always have spotters when I do agility in case Tai decides he's going to break for it rather than run a course. As he's aged he's gotten a lot better about it, but I'm still careful. They're just not offlead dogs. I'd love to get into agility with Kimi, and I might still, but I'm even more wary about having her offlead. This isn't to say it can't be done of course...I believe Ken Fairchild has his Kiri at a MACH 3 right now! I just believe in being very cautious with this breed.

Ahhhh obedience! It *can* be done, but the ambitious handler must have patience, a good understanding of the nordic breed temperament, an ability to keep things short, interesting, and to suggest to the Shiba it was all his idea, and of course a sense of humor! Shibas tend to ask "why should I?" and "what's in it for me?" when you ask them to do something, so figuring out how to make the sessions creative and interesting is a good idea. They have this wonderfully frustrating way of looking directly at you when you give them a command, and then sloooooowly turning their head deliberately to the side as if to say "I didn't hear you." Most of the time you're not going to make a UD Shiba, but I'm pretty sure I've even seen at least one High in Trial - so once again, it can be done.

In other words...if you're a glutton for self punishment, consider a Shiba!

[IceyBlueSibes]

Originally Posted by Sayuri

Hey look! It's Dexter all grown up! What a sweet boy - Kimi's dam was a black and tan, so I have a fond spot in my heart for them.

The exercise thing can be pretty variable with this breed. They'd appreciate at least a half hour walk a day, and you might supplement that with some free exercise out in your yard - I know I do! Kimi likes to play ball, but fetch is a game that the majority of the breed tends to find pointless and repetitive. "I just brought this back to you and now you've gone and thrown it away? You are hopeless!" In Japan the Nippo show dogs are roadworked along bicycles for ten miles a day - so it's a breed that can really go the distance if that's what you want to do.

Tai is a trained agility dog and really enjoys it but I tell anyone that is interested to be careful. The breed is extremely athletic, agile, and fast as well as wickedly intelligent, which means that they're built to be prime agility dogs...but this is coupled with a naughty sense of humor, a heavy independent streak, and a recall which everyone in the breed recognizes is less than reliable. I always have spotters when I do agility in case Tai decides he's going to break for it rather than run a course. As he's aged he's gotten a lot better about it, but I'm still careful. They're just not offlead dogs. I'd love to get into agility with Kimi, and I might still, but I'm even more wary about having her offlead. This isn't to say it can't be done of course...I believe Ken Fairchild has his Kiri at a MACH 3 right now! I just believe in being very cautious with this breed.

Ahhhh obedience! It *can* be done, but the ambitious handler must have patience, a good understanding of the nordic breed temperament, an ability to keep things short, interesting, and to suggest to the Shiba it was all his idea, and of course a sense of humor! Shibas tend to ask "why should I?" and "what's in it for me?" when you ask them to do something, so figuring out how to make the sessions creative and interesting is a good idea. They have this wonderfully frustrating way of looking directly at you when you give them a command, and then sloooooowly turning their head deliberately to the side as if to say "I didn't hear you." Most of the time you're not going to make a UD Shiba, but I'm pretty sure I've even seen at least one High in Trial - so once again, it can be done.

In other words...if you're a glutton for self punishment, consider a Shiba!

LOL This sounds just like my huskies. Like you said though, a majority of the nordic breeds have attitudes and temperments like this.

Such silly dogs...

[Cassiepeia]

Originally Posted by Sayuri

Hey look! It's Dexter all grown up! What a sweet boy - Kimi's dam was a black and tan, so I have a fond spot in my heart for them.

The exercise thing can be pretty variable with this breed. They'd appreciate at least a half hour walk a day, and you might supplement that with some free exercise out in your yard - I know I do! Kimi likes to play ball, but fetch is a game that the majority of the breed tends to find pointless and repetitive. "I just brought this back to you and now you've gone and thrown it away? You are hopeless!" In Japan the Nippo show dogs are roadworked along bicycles for ten miles a day - so it's a breed that can really go the distance if that's what you want to do.

Tai is a trained agility dog and really enjoys it but I tell anyone that is interested to be careful. The breed is extremely athletic, agile, and fast as well as wickedly intelligent, which means that they're built to be prime agility dogs...but this is coupled with a naughty sense of humor, a heavy independent streak, and a recall which everyone in the breed recognizes is less than reliable. I always have spotters when I do agility in case Tai decides he's going to break for it rather than run a course. As he's aged he's gotten a lot better about it, but I'm still careful. They're just not offlead dogs. I'd love to get into agility with Kimi, and I might still, but I'm even more wary about having her offlead. This isn't to say it can't be done of course...I believe Ken Fairchild has his Kiri at a MACH 3 right now! I just believe in being very cautious with this breed.

Ahhhh obedience! It *can* be done, but the ambitious handler must have patience, a good understanding of the nordic breed temperament, an ability to keep things short, interesting, and to suggest to the Shiba it was all his idea, and of course a sense of humor! Shibas tend to ask "why should I?" and "what's in it for me?" when you ask them to do something, so figuring out how to make the sessions creative and interesting is a good idea. They have this wonderfully frustrating way of looking directly at you when you give them a command, and then sloooooowly turning their head deliberately to the side as if to say "I didn't hear you." Most of the time you're not going to make a UD Shiba, but I'm pretty sure I've even seen at least one High in Trial - so once again, it can be done.

In other words...if you're a glutton for self punishment, consider a Shiba!

LOL It's funny, that actually sounds like a great dog to me. I hadn't really looked into them before because I kind of knew they wouldn't be obedience champs (I really want to do comp. obedience with my next dog), but you've actually made me want to consider them some time in the future.

I think I need to read up more about that 'nordic' temperament that you mention though. Hehehe!

Cass.

[Sayuri]

If what I've said about them excites you more about the breed, then I'd definitely continue considering them! Those are the very traits that thrill me about them as well - I can always tell that someone isn't cut out to own a Shiba if they seem horrified by the independence, obstinance, and just plain naughtiness rather than intrigued. If you're intrigued then keep on looking into them - when you do become friends with a Shiba it's well worth all of the work you put into it!

[Cassiepeia]

I will...I was looking at a few sites last night. They seem like amazing little dogs. I've found a few Australian breeders on another site so I'm going to have a chat to them about their dogs and what they're like. Also see if I can go to a couple of shows.
Hopefully the breeder that was at last years Pet Expo will be at this years as well (which is coming up next month I think) so I'm looking forward to speaking to them and seeing their dogs there too.

Ok...yes, I do get a bit obsessed when I become interested in another breed of dog. But that's a good thing, right?

By the way...I can't wait to see some more pictures of Tai. *hint hint...nudge nudge* lol

Cass.

[Sayuri]

Lol I'll see if I can find some good pictures of my guy for you soon! I will forwarn you though - he is a HUGE Shiba - about two times the height the standard calls for; he makes an excellent watchdog when strangers come to the door.

I'm so excited to hear you're going to pursue them further - my sister tells me she's fairly certain there is a breeder in Australia somewhere being sent a dog that has our breeder's lines (which are *excellent*). I'll see if I can get you some more information, but I'm certain you are doing great research of your own as well.

If you'd like to keep up with some of the Shiba news in America, keep an eye out for Group 2, Group 3 winning Am.Can. Ch. San Jo Wild Wild West, who recently went BOB over the top Shiba in the nation. He is an absolute delight and I am thrilled to be credited as a co-breeder on him, although I really can't take credit at all - it all belongs to my breeder and his wonderful owner!

[Cassiepeia]

If you'd like to keep up with some of the Shiba news in America, keep an eye out for Group 2, Group 3 winning Am.Can. Ch. San Jo Wild Wild West, who recently went BOB over the top Shiba in the nation. He is an absolute delight and I am thrilled to be credited as a co-breeder on him, although I really can't take credit at all - it all belongs to my breeder and his wonderful owner!

Awesome , I'll keep an eye out for him! I saw the picture of him you had in your signature on Chazhound, he really is stunning.

I'm so excited to hear you're going to pursue them further - my sister tells me she's fairly certain there is a breeder in Australia somewhere being sent a dog that has our breeder's lines (which are *excellent*). I'll see if I can get you some more information, but I'm certain you are doing great research of your own as well.

I'm starting to wonder why I never bothered to look into them before actually. The more I look and read...the more I like. It'd be great to find out which Aussie breeder is importing a dog from your breeder's lines.

I found a breeder here in Western Australia who says they have Nippo type dogs. I understand that Nippo is the Japanese club for native dog breeds, is that right?
Is there much of a difference in the Nippo type dogs? Or is it (the term "Nippo type") just referring to the fact the dogs were from or are Japanese imports?

Cass.