About Us

Prairie Shiba's is located on a ranch in SW Nebraska. We breed our dogs for the enjoyment and pleasure of producing healthy, happy, quality (to breed standard), Shiba Inus. Our puppies are socialized with children and animals. Including; cattle, cats and other dogs. Some of the facts you should know about us is that the care of our dogs, and that our puppy people come first at Prairie Shibas. We preform extensive health testing on our breeding stock. Health testing can be viewed at www.offa.org.

I have been an animal lover all of my life. My main love of animals was with horses and in 1990 I became a barn manager for one of the Top Paint horse breeders in Washington for 5 years. Not liking the wet and wanting a dryer climate we moved to Nebraska, where my mother was born and raised. I was here 4 months and the local vet called me and wanted to know if I would like to work for him. Wow, how did he know what I did? Small area, word gets around was what my Aunt said. I have been with Western Plains Vet Service now sense November 1998. 

We came across our first Shiba in 2005. Maika was unlike any previous breed we had been familiar with. Her characteristics took owning a dog to another level. House training was not an effort. She was very intuitive and did not have any dog odor, shedding or blowing their coats only twice a year. We fell in love with the breed and decided to add a Shiba Inu male, Obi Wan Keobi. We felt this was a breed of dog we were willing to share with others. We bred and sold my paint horses but never bred and sold dogs, with my vet technician background, I felt I could go down this road. We only breed Shiba Inus. They are very unique and although not for everyone, it is difficult to own another breed once you’ve been owned by a Shiba. When we plan a breeding we have a specific goal in mind and often keep a puppy from the combination to further our line. Characteristics we choose are confidence-mental soundness, ideal Japanese Shiba Inu conformation, excellent coat quality/color and sound health. Pedigree is also closely studied prior to breeding to ensure the offspring are not in-bred. I have worked very hard to be able to own and improve my breeding dogs. Showing is new to me and with the help of friends and grandchildren, I enjoy showing and am close to having some beautiful champions.

Shiba Inu: The Shiba is the smallest of the Japanese native breeds of dog and was originally developed for hunting by sight and scent in the dense undergrowth of Japan's mountainous areas. A spirited boldness, a good nature, and an unaffected forthrightness, which together yield dignity and natural beauty. The Shiba has an independent nature and can be reserved toward strangers but is loyal and affectionate to those who earn his respect. We are not a puppy mill or backyard breeder. We hand raise, handle, and love our puppies every day and enjoy every minute we're with them.