Thank you for considering Kawako for your Shiba. We would like to share some information that could be helpful to your search.
As the Shiba is getting more popular it is getting even more difficult for people to find a good puppy. Also, as puppy buyers are becoming more educated about exactly what a good puppy is and the tragedy of puppy mills and backyard breeders more and more buyers are seeking out responsible breeders. This is GREAT and exactly what we breeders have always wanted but it doesn't change the fact that Shibas have very small litters. 1 to 3 pups is normal. So buyers who want a good puppy may have to be patient. That means finding a breeder you like, putting a deposit down for a future litter and waiting, sometimes up to a year or more.
As you continue to browse our site you will gain an understanding of the thought we put into placing each puppy. At Kawako we ONLY sell puppies to people who are committed to wanting a Kawako Shiba and NOT just any Shiba puppy. Our puppies are sold by reservation, usually before they are born and there are only a few reservations available per year. We like to get to know people well and will need convincing of a suitable home before we will accept a deposit and commit to placing a puppy with anyone. Cheri screens all potential buyers carefully before they come to the house and Marcel is particularly picky about where our Shibas go and he asks lots of questions so together they make a great team.
We suggest all potential Shiba owners join NSCA - National Shiba Inu Club of America (www.shibas.org) or a local club. You will need two sponsors and we will help you with that. Your membership comes with a complete list of members and a quarterly subscriptions to the Shiba-E-News magazine. If you live in OR/WA you could also join The Evergreen Shiba Inu Club (www.evergreenshibainuclub.com). Remember, nobody has puppies just sitting around waiting for homes. Sometimes you can get lucky with a puppy somebody has kept to show then changed their mind. Again, all we can do is ask that people be patient and refrain from buying pups from pet shops, puppy mills and backyard breeders as it is the ONLY WAY WE CAN SHUT THEM DOWN FOREVER. You, the pet buying public, DO have the power to stop puppy mills.
We hope this information will help you make a safe and happy decision in your Shiba search. Please let us know if we can help you any further.
TruthAboutPetFood.com
This page was last updated: 6/9/2025
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) emphasizes animal welfare as a core principle, viewing it as a human responsibility to ensure all aspects of an animal's well-being are met, including proper housing, management, and nutrition. The AVMA also recognizes the distinction between animal welfare and animal rights, with animal welfare focusing on the quality of life and ensuring needs are met, while animal rights assert that animals have intrinsic rights.
Never support and animal rights group. Even some Veterinarians are animal rightist. Google the topic. Look for the tell tale signs. Do NOT support animal rightists.
OUR PHYLOSOPHY
Cheri Fun Fellinger & Marcel Marckelbach are considered "Preservation" or "Show Breeders" along with many other devoted individuals who keep a few dogs in their home, as pets and then on weekends compete as show dogs. We do not have a commercial kennel. We are focused on preservation, protection and advancement of the Shiba its Japanese characteristics. The goal in our breeding program is for progressive improvement in style and structure while still preserving the unique character of the Shiba Inu as the ancient treasure it is. In meeting our goals we are able to provide a few lucky pet owners with a well bred, properly raised and beautiful Shiba puppy, a well started youngster or a trained adult Shiba.
It has always been our goal to present dogs, dog breeders and dog ownership to the public in a positive light by being responsible pet owners, sharing our knowledge generously and educating new owners in all things "dog". As dog breeders we strive to create a beautiful dog with a sound mind & healthy body that takes to training well and is a nice calm house dog and family companion. We have been training and showing dogs 40+ years and in that time we have owned & loved Aussies, Rottweilers, Pomeranians, a Golden, a German Shepherd, a Lapponian Herder and rescued any breed or species of animal that needed us. We love ALL animals. Each individual animal has taught us different lessons which we can only surmise was in preparation for the Shibas to come. We've now devoted nearly 35 years to the Shiba Inu.
As breeders it's our responsibility to preserve the Shiba as the dog the Japanese intended it to be. We would never consider changing the Shiba to make it more marketable, less spirited or more docile as that is not our right. There are some who want to Americanize the Shiba and make it "easier" for the pet owner. The Shiba will NEVER be the breed for everyone and that is the way it should stay. The Shiba requires a master it can count on to be fair, firm and consistent so mutual respect and trust can develop naturally. The Shiba has life lessons to teach his master too. So it is wise to listen to him.
OUR EXPERIENCE & AFFILIATIONS
- 35 years in the Shiba Inu with previous years devoted to Pomeranians, Aussies & Rottweilers
- 38 years as a professional dog trainer teaching manners and obedience to family dogs.
- Kawako donates to local and national Shiba Rescue and Animal Assisted Programs annually.
- History of serving pet owners across the U.S. & Canada since 1981
- Lifetime member of NSCA the AKC parent club in the USA.
- Member of NIPPO the parent club of the breed in Japan.
- Members of Evergreen Shiba Inu Club our local Washington/Oregon Shiba club.
- AKC Shiba Inu Breeder of Merit and participant of AKC Bred With Heart Program.
- Our Shibas enjoy natural & holistic food, health and rearing with early neurological stimulation.
- We participate in UKC, CKC and IABCA and AKC conformation and other performance competition.
STANDARD OF BEAUTY - PERFORMANCE & FUNCTION -
HEALTH & TEMPERAMENT
Thank you so much for visiting our site and we would be honored if you would consider
It's a personal goal to make every effort to encourage Shiba enthusiasts to join the sport of showing dogs. Conformation and performance events foster close bonds between dogs and humans and definitely creates a more enjoyable pet. We will help you find mentor near you.
KAWAKO is now KAWANOKO SHIBA INU
(pronounced: cow-uh-no-co) to be the same as our NIPPO registered kennel name.
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