Combing Beautiful Type with Beautiful Temperaments We are a small Show Hobby Kennel specializing and dedicated to the Preservation of Shiba Inu and Shikoku Ken. Our dogs are all AKC and most NIPPO Registered. ALL our breeding dogs are OFA health tested on Hips, Patella, Eye Certifications, Thyroid and genetic DNA tested (**Chic Numbers & **AKC Bred With a Heart). We exhibit our parent dogs in AKC, NIPPO, UKC and IABCA Dog Shows. Some of our dogs also have various titles in Sporting, Hunting and even working Working Dogs (Certfied Therapy Dogs). Our puppies all come with Board Certified Veterinarian issued Health Certificates and Breeder Health Guarantees. All puppies are sold with strict Spay/ Neuter, Pet Puppy Contracts. (All puppies sold as pet and NOT to be bred.) The origin of our kennel name and it's proud connection from 25+ yrs ago: The Sierra Nevada Mountain range is in the Western United States and primarily in California. It is traditional for breeders to name their kennels reflect the region of the US where the dogs were bred and in these breeds case the similar mountainous environments in Japan where they hunted. My first Shiba I owned back in 2000 was from a Reputable Kennel called Sierra Shibas. Over the years I always stayed in contact the Breeder, Rhonna Fuller and she even encouraged me to get into Shikoku Ken. This was because she began breeding Shibas before they were fully accepted back in 1992. Over the years as our friendship grew and after many years of exhibiting and putting multiple titles on multiple dogs, I began brainstorming to come up with a kennel name. Since my friend long retired her kennel name, it seemed obvious and kismet. So with her blessing I used part of her kennel name, "Sierra" as part of my own. To have her blessing was very sentimental to me. It was fitting to my start in Shibas and a tribute to my first one. A sweet little boy named, Sierra's Red Samuri "Yoshi". With the other portion of our kennel name, "Ohkami" means Wolf in Japanese. Shiba Inu and Shikoku are primitive breeds and it is proven in a study that the Shiba is the most genetically related to the Grey Wolf. To own owe feels like having a bit of the Wild or Nature in your presence.

is a primitive breed right for you?

Shiba Inu and Shikoku Ken date back to BC times. This means that they are less domesticated than other breeds. Less domesticated means more wild and closer in relation to the wolf. They are not recommended for first time dog owners...unless a person is willing to put in the time to learn basic training techniques, posetiv training principles and commit to regularly exposing their puppies to various enviroments, people and situations early in life. With these breeds there is a lot of "pack mentality" to always keeps in mind. Especialy when managing multiple dogs. Training needs to be consistant, short and positive. With Shikoku it needs to be balanced carefully. If a Shikoku is repremanded too harshly, they can shut down and just stop listening. Forming a partnership and bond with these breeds early on is a must. Puppies need to be socialized earlier and more frequently than more domesticated breeds. Like any dog breed, if not well socialized early as a puppy in programs like Puppy Kindergarden/Social Play Groups, they could grow up to become shy, fearful and reactive towards other dogs. They can co-habitate nicely with other pets like cats if they are raised with them very early as puppies. Rule of thumb with cats is, just give them a high place they can get away to and they will do fine. They have a strong prey drive and it is recommended they not be off leash since they are not good on recall (especially if destracted by a squirrel). With this strong prey drive it is advised that small pets like guinea pigs or hamsters not be unsupervised with them. These are breeds that are used for hunting and to expect them to fight that urge is going up against thousands of years of inbred instinct. Do not be surprised if you occasionally find rats or mice in the yard that they've killed. If this type of thing will bother you, then a hunting breed may not be for you. Both breeds make wonderful pets around small children as long as the child is taught to be respectful to the dog. It is advised that all family members be involved in the raising and feeding of these puppies. (children can give treats and scoop food into bowls by hand to put their scent on the food.) Just as with wolves a Primitive Dog will not respect those it doesn't have to rely on for survival (pack mentality). Shikoku and Shiba make wonderful family dogs if raised and trained properly. My teen son has grown up with many of our dogs from birth and always had wonderful relationships with them. These placements are successful when children are taught to treat a dog with kindness and respect.

What Clients Say

  • "Tomo is getting settled in nicely. He did cry before bed and we stuck with your advice and as you said he eventually fell asleep. All day the kids kept saying how much they love him already. He is such a sweet loving pup. Thank you so much!"
    — Karina S. Puppy Parents of Tomo Shikoku




What We've Been Up To

Hikaru (Shiba) one of our Champion Show/Breediing dogs doing Therapy Dog work at our local Library twice monthly