Quick Answer
The Puppy Farm Crisis in Australia
✅ GREEN FLAGS: Ethical Breeder
Full member of state canine association
🏠 Home-Raised Puppies
Puppies raised inside, not in outdoor kennels
🧬 Health Testing
Hip/elbow scoring, eye certification, DNA tests
📝 Questions for You
Interviews potential buyers thoroughly
⏳ Waiting Lists
No puppies immediately available
🤝 Lifetime Support
Contract requires returning dog if needed
❌ RED FLAGS: Avoid These
Constant supply of multiple litters
📱 Facebook/Gumtree
Advertises on classified sites only
🚫 No Health Testing
Cannot provide parent health certificates
🙅♂️ No Facility Visit
Refuses or makes excuses not to show premises
💸 Deposit Demands
Requests full payment before 8 weeks
📄 No ANKC Papers
Cannot provide pedigree registration
Start with ANKC
- Visit Dogs Australia (ANKC) website
- Search state bodies: Dogs Victoria, Dogs NSW, Dogs QLD, etc.
- Contact the Shiba Inu breed club for breeder referrals
- Compile a list of ANKC-registered breeders
- Expect 6-18 month waiting lists for ethical breeders
Verify Health Testing
- Request hip/elbow scores (AVA/AWV accredited)
- Ask for recent eye certification (annual testing)
- Verify DNA testing for breed-specific conditions
- Check parents are tested, not just claimed
- Ask to see certificates - ethical breeders proudly share them
Visit & Observe
- Breeder should welcome facility visits
- Puppies should be raised inside the home
- Meet mother (father may be co-owned/elsewhere)
- Observe cleanliness and puppy condition
- Puppies should be confident, not fearful
Ask These Questions
- How often do you breed each female? (ethical: 1-2 litters/year max)
- What health guarantees do you provide?
- What socialisation do puppies receive?
- Do you take dogs back if circumstances change?
- What ongoing support do you offer?
- Why did you choose this breeding pair?
Understanding ANKC Registration in Australia
The Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) through its state bodies (Dogs Victoria, Dogs NSW, etc.) provides the only legitimate pedigree registration in Australia. However, not all ANKC-registered breeders are equal. Here's what different levels mean:
- Full (Main) Register: Puppies can be shown, trialled, and bred from. Highest quality breeding stock.
- Limited Register: Puppies can compete in non-conformation sports but cannot be bred. Standard for pet homes.
- Associate/Non-Members: Some breeders claim 'registration' but aren't full ANKC members. This is a red flag.
Always verify membership through the state body's public member list.
Professional Groomer Tip
Health Testing Requirements for Shiba Inus in Australia
| Type | Best For | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Hip Dysplasia | AVA/AWV Hip Scoring (12+ months) | Score 0-106 (lower is better) |
| Patellar Luxation | Veterinary orthopaedic examination | Grade 0-4 (0 is normal) |
| Eye Disease | Annual ACES certification | Clear of hereditary eye conditions |
| DNA Testing | GM2 Gangliosidosis, Primary Glaucoma | Clear/Carrier/Affected status |
Shiba Inu Breeder Pricing: What's Reasonable?
Based on our Shiba Inu Price Guide Australia, ethical ANKC breeders charge $3,500-$7,500 AUD. This reflects their investment in health testing, show careers, and puppy rearing. Be extremely suspicious of:
- Under $3,000: Impossible with proper health testing
- Significant discounts: Ethical breeders don't 'sale' puppies
- Price negotiation: Quality isn't negotiable
- 'Rare colour' premiums: Reputable breeders price by quality, not colour
The Breeder Interaction Test
Do
- •Do expect the breeder to interview YOU thoroughly
- •Do ask to see health certificates for both parents
- •Do request veterinary references
- •Do expect a written contract with health guarantees
Don't
- •Never buy from someone who won't show you where puppies live
- •Don't accept 'vet checked' without seeing specific test results
- •Avoid breeders with multiple litters from different breeds
- •Never pay a deposit without a signed contract
The Breeder's Home Environment
RSPCA Australia's puppy buying guidelines emphasise that puppies raised inside the home develop better social skills and are less fearful. During your visit, observe:
- Cleanliness: No overwhelming ammonia smells, visible waste, or unsanitary conditions
- Mother's demeanour: Confident, friendly, neither fearful nor aggressive
- Puppy behaviour: Curious, playful, not cowering or excessively timid
- Living conditions: Puppies should have indoor access, not confined to outdoor kennels
- Socialisation evidence: Puppy toys, household sounds, different surfaces
The Contract: What Ethical Breeders Include
Every reputable breeder provides a comprehensive contract. It should include:
- Health guarantee: Minimum 24-72 months for hereditary conditions
- Veterinary examination period: 48-72 hours for puppy's initial vet check
- Desexing requirement: For puppies sold on limited register
- Return policy: Breeder will take dog back at any life stage
- Registration papers: ANKC pedigree transfer details
- Vaccination and microchip records: Documented proof
- Diet and care instructions: Continuity for puppy's adjustment
The AVA warns that absence of a written contract is an immediate red flag.
State-by-State Breeder Regulations
Australian states have varying regulations for dog breeding:
- Victoria: Breeders with未 breeding females must be registered with local council. Code of Practice for Breeding and Rearing of Dogs applies.
- NSW: Breeders with more than 2 breeding females require registration under the Animal Welfare Code of Practice.
- Queensland: Breeders with 10+ dogs need council registration.
- WA, SA, TAS, ACT: Varying requirements; ANKC membership supersedes most local regulations.
Ethical breeders welcome transparency about their compliance status.
What Ethical Breeders Expect From YOU
The Shiba Inu Club of Victoria notes that reputable breeders will assess you just as carefully as you assess them. Be prepared to answer:
- Have you owned Shiba Inus before? What happened to them?
- What is your experience with independent breeds?
- Who will be the primary caretaker of this dog?
- Do you have children? Other pets?
- What is your housing situation? Fencing? Rental pet approvals?
- How many hours will the dog be alone daily?
- What training and exercise do you plan to provide?
- Have you budgeted for ongoing costs ($1,800-$3,000/year)?
This isn't nosiness - it's responsible placement. Ethical breeders are emotionally invested in every puppy they produce.
Professional Groomer Tip
The Waiting List: Patience is a Virtue
According to Dogs Australia, ethical Shiba Inu breeders typically produce 1-3 litters per year, with 3-5 puppies per litter. Combined with high demand, waiting lists of 6-18 months are normal. Red flags include:
- Puppies immediately available - Especially from multiple litters simultaneously
- No waiting list system - First come, first served for expensive puppies
- Pressure to decide now - 'Someone else is coming tomorrow' tactics
- Deposits without specific litter - Vague promises of 'future puppies'
A reputable breeder will be transparent about their waiting list position and realistic about timing.
International vs Australian Breeders
Some buyers consider importing Shiba Inus from overseas. Considerations:
- Quarantine: Imported dogs require quarantine periods and health certificates
- Shipping stress: 24+ hours of travel for a puppy is significant welfare concern
- After-sale support: Overseas breeders cannot provide lifetime support
- Health guarantees: Difficult to enforce across international borders
- Genetic adaptation: Imported lines may not be adapted to Australian climate
The AVA recommends supporting Australian breeders who health test for local conditions and provide ongoing support.
Yokiko's Breeder Philosophy
At Yokiko Shiba Inu, we believe in complete transparency. We publish our health testing results, welcome facility visits, and interview every potential puppy family. We produce 1-2 litters annually and maintain relationships with our puppy owners for life. We don't just place puppies - we build Shiba Inu families.
We encourage every buyer to apply the criteria in this guide to ANY breeder they consider - including us. An ethical breeder has nothing to hide.
Ready to Start Your Search?
Use this guide as your checklist when contacting breeders. For a transparent look at ethical breeding practices, meet our breeding Shiba Inus and learn about our application process.
Before applying, ensure you've read our price guide and breed suitability assessment.
RSPCA recommendation: Take this guide with you when visiting breeders. A reputable breeder will respect your diligence.