Northwest buyers

Driving to Boise for a Shiba Inu puppy

We do not ship puppies in cargo, so everyone who buys from us either drives here or sends a flight nanny. Here is what that drive looks like from the cities people come from, and why seeing the parents is worth the day.

How far Boise actually is

Boise sits in the middle of a lot of the Northwest. These are approximate driving times, one way, in ordinary conditions:

Most people who have done it drive over on a Saturday morning, spend an hour or two here, and drive back. It is a long day. It is not a long weekend.

Why we ask you to come

You cannot tell from a photograph whether a puppy was raised in a living room or a shed. You can tell in about ninety seconds standing in the room. That is the entire argument.

When you get here you can meet both parents, which is the part that matters most. Mica and Fox are our dogs and they live in the house. A Shiba's temperament comes from somewhere, and you get to see where. You can also see where the puppies sleep, what they walk on, how they react to the door going, and whether the whole thing smells like a home or a kennel.

We will also hand you the paperwork in person: the Embark panels on both parents, the veterinary record, and the contract, with time to read it before anybody signs anything.

What to check if you buy closer to home instead

We would genuinely rather you bought a well-raised puppy an hour from your house than drove seven hours to us. If there is a good breeder near you, use them. Here is what we would check, whoever you buy from:

• Can you meet the mother? Not a photo of her. Her, in the building the puppies live in. A breeder who will not arrange that has a reason.
• Are both parents health tested, with results you can read? Ours are public and linked from the main page. “Vet checked” is not health testing.
• Does the price make sense? We wrote up what Shiba Inu puppies actually cost in this region, with the real numbers.
• Will they take the dog back? For life, in writing, no conditions. This is the single best test of whether someone is a breeder or a seller.
• Are the papers what you think they are? Registries are not interchangeable. We explain the difference between AKC and CKC, including the part where our own sire is the weaker of the two.

If a listing near you fails several of those, read how Shiba Inu puppy scams work before you send anyone money.

If you cannot drive

A flight nanny is possible. You book and pay for them directly, they fly into Boise, collect the puppy in person and fly back in the cabin with them. We will not put a puppy in cargo, at any price, for any buyer. That is not negotiable and it is the one thing we will turn down a sale over.

Common questions

Do you ship Shiba Inu puppies to Portland or Seattle?

Not in cargo. You are welcome to drive to Boise, which is roughly six and a half hours from Portland and seven and a half from Seattle, or to book and pay a flight nanny who carries the puppy in the cabin. We will not put a puppy in a cargo hold.

Can I reserve a puppy before driving out?

Yes. The application comes first, then a deposit holds a position in pick order. Most out-of-state buyers apply, talk to us on a call, and drive out at seven or eight weeks to meet the litter and take their puppy home the same day.

Is it worth driving five hours to see a litter?

Only you can answer that. What the drive buys you is meeting both parents and seeing the room the puppies grew up in, which no photograph or video call shows you honestly. If a breeder closer to you will let you do the same thing, use them.

What should I bring when I come?

A crate or a seatbelt harness, a towel, water, and someone to sit with the puppy if you can. The drive home is the puppy's first long car ride, so plan a stop every couple of hours.