Our Philosophy
We believe that all dogs deserve to be loved companions in permanent homes. As such, we do not kennel our dogs outside, nor do we sell them to people who intend to keep them kenneled and away from their family. It is okay to kennel your dog, for safety's sake, when you are absent from home. It isn't fair to the dog to leave him kenneled most of the time.
There are 2 types of breeders: REPUTABLE and all other breeders, including Back Yard Breeders (BYB) and Puppy Mills. If you don't know the difference, please visit Reputable Breeders Vs. Petshop Dogs.
We place most of our pups as pets. Why? Because, most of the great homes are pet homes. We do show our dogs, and will place a quality pup in a show home, but that is not the end all be all for us. Our goal is to produce top notch temperament and health first , along with correct breed stucture.
Many people believe there are too many dogs in the world, so why should we bring more into it? If people who care about their breed do not produce good dogs, who will? Should it be left to the Puppy Mills and Back Yard Breeders to provide the public with "pure breeds"? We say "NO!" It is much better to get a purebred from a responsible breeder. One guaranteed to be genetically free of any health problems than some poor dog who ends up crippled, costing the owner thousands of dollars in vet bills. That does not include the heartbreak when the dog has to be put down early in its life.
Some of you may think, "People should stop getting purebreds and save a pound puppy from death". This is unlikely to happen. Purebreds are around for one reason. People like to know what they are getting. No two dogs are the same. However, all Shiba Inu have "SOME" Shiba traits (easy to house train, clean, only reach so tall, etc.). If you live in an apartment, and you can only have a dog that is less than 25 lb., you can research breeds based on size. If you have allergies, you can get a non-shedding breed. The list is endless.
You wonder, "Why don't I go to rescue instead of buying a puppy from you?" We encourage rescue. We foster Shibas until homes can be found for them. We think rescue is one of the best programs out there to get a reasonably priced purebred. Some people don't need a puppy and so a rescue dog may be perfect for them. For more information on Rescue go to Rescue and check the available Shibas link.
Responsible breeders are not the problem. We are the solution. We provide people with healthy, happy pets for 10 or more years of their life. We take back all the puppies we produce for ANY reason. We are happy to help the new owners out with training, housebreaking, or any other problem. We try as best we can to keep track of every puppy we produce. We are there for the good times as well as the bad. That's what being a breeder is all about.
The one thing we are not, is in it for the money. You can't produce this kind of pup and make a living off it. First, to get a dog that you should breed is not cheap. Then, there is the cost of showing (entry fees, hotels, meals, travel time, etc.). Even if you don't show, there are health clearance test (hip, elbow, and patella x-rays, eye certification, etc.). There is also the cost of a good stud dog, shipping your femle to the stud and back. What if your female has to have a C-section? What if her milk is bad? What if the pups die? What if she dies!?!
We will continue to breed here at Enigma, but only when the time is right
(the parents have to pass all the health clearances and be of good quality
both mentally and physically). The puppies we do produce will only go to
GREAT homes. We will keep a pup here before we sell it to someone who wont
love it the way all dogs should be loved. Dogs are for life. They should
not be taken lightly. They share our hopes, our dreams, and our lives. They
love us for who we are. They love us unconditionally
There have been
visitors since 1/1/02.
