Meet Bob and Kelsi

Yokiko Shiba Inu is a small Melbourne kennel run from our home, shaped by the dogs we live with every day.

We are not trying to become a large kennel. We keep things small so our dogs are known properly, our puppies are raised with care, and every family we speak with gets an honest picture of what life with a Shiba Inu is really like.

Shibas are beautiful, clever, independent dogs, but they are not the right breed for everyone. Part of our role is helping people understand that before they bring one home.

Panda and Peanut, the two Shiba Inu dogs Yokiko was built around
Panda and Peanut, the two dogs who started Yokiko.

How Yokiko started

Our journey with Shiba Inu began with Panda and Peanut.

Like many people, we first fell in love with the look of the breed. The more we lived with them, the more we came to appreciate the things that make Shibas so different: their confidence, their cleanliness, their stubbornness, their intelligence, and the way they build trust on their own terms.

Panda relaxed at home in Melbourne, the daily environment Yokiko puppies are raised in
The dogs are part of our home first. Breeding comes second.

That experience changed the way we think about breeding.

For us, Yokiko is not about producing as many puppies as possible. It is about raising a small number of puppies thoughtfully, with attention to health, temperament, early handling, and the kind of home each puppy is going into.

We are still early in our breeding journey, and we are honest about that. It is one of the reasons we move slowly, ask questions, work closely with our vet, and keep learning with every litter.

Our aim is simple: to raise Shiba Inu puppies who have been given a careful start, then place them with families who understand the breed and are ready for the commitment.

How we approach breeding

Health comes first

Every breeding decision starts with health.

Panda has completed DNA testing and hip scoring. Bao Bao has not yet completed those checks; her DNA testing and hip scoring are planned before breeding. Testing can inform a breeding decision, but it cannot guarantee that a dog or future puppy will never have a health issue.

Future puppies are intended to leave microchipped, wormed, and with their first and second vaccinations, a puppy care guide and a puppy pack. Vaccination timing follows veterinary advice, age requirements and each puppy's actual records.

Temperament matters

Shibas are not soft, easy, people-pleasing dogs. They are independent, alert, and opinionated.

That is part of what makes them special, but it also means temperament and early handling matter. We spend time observing each puppy as they grow so we can understand their confidence, sensitivity, energy, and how they respond to people and new experiences.

Our goal is not to match puppies by colour alone. We want each puppy to go to a home that suits who they are.

Breed type still matters

We love Shibas for what they are.

That means we care about structure, expression, movement, coat, and the traits that make the breed recognisable. We are not trying to change the Shiba Inu into something easier or more fashionable.

At the same time, we care about real life. A puppy still needs to grow into a companion who can live well with their family.

Support does not stop at pickup

Bringing home a Shiba puppy is exciting, but it can also be challenging.

We welcome contact from our puppy families throughout their dog's life, including questions about settling in, the first nights, feeding, toilet and crate training, adolescence, training, general behaviour, day-to-day care and older-dog life.

This is personal breeder guidance, not veterinary treatment, behavioural rehabilitation, guaranteed outcomes or unlimited availability.

We keep Yokiko small on purpose

We are not a large kennel, and we do not want to be.

Our dogs live as part of our home. We know their habits, their personalities, their strengths, and the little things that make them themselves. Keeping Yokiko small gives us the time to notice those things.

It also means we can be more careful with each litter. We can spend time with the puppies, speak properly with potential families, and avoid rushing decisions just because someone is ready to buy.

We would rather have a smaller waitlist of suitable homes than place puppies quickly with people who are not prepared for the breed.

That is especially important with Shibas. They can be loyal, funny, clean, and deeply rewarding dogs, but they can also be stubborn, aloof, vocal, prey-driven, and difficult for first-time owners who expect an easy puppy.

We will always be honest about that.

If a Shiba is right for you, we want you to feel confident and prepared. If another breed would suit your life better, we would rather say that early.

We are not here to talk everyone into a Shiba. We are here to help the right families find the right puppy.

Thinking about a Yokiko puppy?

The best place to start is by learning about the breed, our process, and what we look for in future puppy homes.

If you are interested in a future litter, you can read through our puppy process and send an application when you are ready. We review applications carefully and may ask follow-up questions so we can understand your home, lifestyle, and experience with dogs.

There is no pressure to rush. A Shiba Inu is a long-term commitment, and the right match matters more than being first.

Apply for a Future PuppyMeet Our Dogs
Read about the Shiba Inu