I would love to give you a little insight into what I consider important when raising our puppies and preparing them for life in their new homes.

Growing up in a home environment

All of our puppies are raised in our home, surrounded by the sights, sounds, smells, and routines of everyday family life. Their mother is, of course, their most important companion during their first weeks, but once she is comfortable with it, our Akita Yoshi will also be nearby and able to interact with the puppies.

We also have two cats in our household, and the puppies will be gradually and carefully introduced to them. This allows them to learn from an early age that other animals are a normal and positive part of their environment.

I believe that raising a puppy is about much more than simply keeping them healthy until they are old enough to leave. The first weeks of a puppy's life are incredibly important for their future development, and I want to give every puppy the strongest possible foundation for a confident, balanced, and happy life.

Early socialization & development

I am fully committed to providing our puppies with a broad range of positive and age-appropriate experiences. Socialization, in my opinion, is not about exposing puppies to as many things as possible, but about teaching them that new experiences can be safe, interesting, and enjoyable.

During their time with us, the puppies will be introduced to:

• A variety of scents, sounds, household noises, and everyday routines
• Different surfaces, materials, and environments
• New people and different forms of gentle handling
• Safe exploration and age-appropriate challenges
• Walking on a leash, as well as safe off-leash exploration
• Basic show training, including standing correctly, stacking, and walking on a show lead
• Different situations they may encounter later in life

We also encourage age-appropriate play, exploration, problem-solving, and the development of confidence and independence. At the same time, we respect the puppies' need for plenty of sleep and recovery. Our aim is to give them positive experiences without overwhelming them.

House training

House training is something we start from the very beginning. All of our puppies so far have been completely house-trained by the time they leave our home.

Of course, moving to a new environment can be a big change for a puppy. It is therefore completely normal for a puppy to have an occasional accident during the first days in their new home. In our experience, our puppies have generally had only one or two accidents after moving, after which they and their new owners quickly learn to recognize the puppy's individual signals and routine.

We believe house training is a partnership between the puppy and the owner. By learning to recognize when your puppy needs to go outside and responding to those signals in time, accidents can usually be prevented very quickly. We will also explain the routine the puppy has learned with us, so that the transition to their new home can be as smooth as possible.

Health & preparation

The health and well-being of our puppies are extremely important to us. We want every owner to receive not only a healthy puppy, but also as much information as possible about their puppy's individual background and development.

Before leaving for their new homes, the puppies will:

• Be microchipped and registered in Dutch Dog Data
• Receive their FCI pedigree and, where applicable, their NIPPO pedigree
• Have a DNA profile established
• Have their genetic diversity assessed through DNA analysis with BetterBred
• Be dewormed when indicated, based on fecal examination rather than automatically following a fixed schedule
• Be vaccinated when indicated, using titer testing to help determine whether vaccination is necessary
• Receive a complete clinical examination by our veterinarian before leaving for their new home

We believe in making thoughtful and individual decisions regarding the health care of our puppies, rather than simply following a one-size-fits-all approach.

Puppy package

Every puppy will leave with a comprehensive puppy package containing everything we feel is important to give both the puppy and their new owners the best possible start.

The package includes:

• FCI pedigree and, where applicable, their NIPPO pedigree
• European passport
• Microchip and registration information
• DNA profile and BetterBred genetic diversity information
• Nutritional guidance, developed in collaboration with Ekowolf
• Information about titer testing and fecal examinations, so owners can continue this approach in the future
• A Puppy Owner Guide created by Yume Canine Academy, providing practical information about the Shikoku breed, puppy development, training, care, and living together with your new puppy

We specifically chose Yume Canine Academy because of their specialization in the behaviour and characteristics of Japanese primitive breeds. Their knowledge is not purely theoretical: the people behind Yume Canine Academy have extensive hands-on experience living with and working with these breeds themselves, including Akitas, Shibas, and Shikoku.

For us, this is extremely valuable. Japanese primitive breeds can have very specific behavioural traits and needs, and we want our puppy owners to receive guidance from people who genuinely understand these characteristics from both professional knowledge and personal experience. The guides therefore offer practical, breed-specific advice that owners can apply in everyday life with their Shikoku.

• A practical guide to help you and your puppy take your first steps in the show ring, should you wish to explore showing. This includes basic handling, stacking, movement, and tips for making those first show experiences positive and enjoyable
• Information about the puppy's individual development, character, and experiences during their first weeks of life
• Practical guidance for the first days and weeks in their new home
• A purchase agreement between breeder and buyer
• A special collar and leash set from us, so your puppy has everything they need to safely start exploring the world with you from day one
• A supply of both kibble and raw food from Ekowolf, so you do not have to worry about what to feed your puppy during the transition to their new home. We have already thought about their nutrition and provide enough of their familiar food to help make the first week(s) as easy and stress-free as possible

Support beyond the day your puppy goes home

In addition to everything mentioned above, one of the things I value most is maintaining an ongoing relationship with the families who welcome one of our puppies into their lives.

For us, breeding does not end when a puppy leaves our home. We want to remain available to our puppy owners throughout their dog's entire life. Whether they have questions about nutrition, behaviour, training, health, showing, or simply want to share an update, we are always happy to think along with them.

We also genuinely enjoy watching our puppies grow into the dogs they were meant to become. Seeing their personalities develop, hearing how they are doing, receiving photos and updates, and staying connected with their families is one of the most rewarding parts of breeding for us.

Our goal is therefore not simply to raise and place puppies. We want to give each puppy the best possible start in life, prepare their owners as well as possible for the journey ahead, and build a lasting relationship with the people who become part of the Akai Bijo Kara family.

Because bringing a puppy into your life is only the beginning of the journey - and we want to be there for the rest of it too.