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  Since they first opened many years ago, we have supported the Nuvet Vitamin Company. We were impressed by the quality all natural ingredients in their vitamins. Our shibas are healthy and live longer lives, which we contribute to giving them Nuvet vitamins. As our shibas age we switch them to the Nujoint Plus vitamins to enhance their quality of life, helping them live a pain free and longer life. We also like the idea that they don't sell to pet stores, because the vitamins are made fresh and sent directly to you, instead of sitting for months on a shelf. For more information on the Nuvet Plus Vitamins you can contact us, or the Nuvet Company, or go to our Nuvet Page and click on and read all the testimonials from other people about their experiences with their dogs and cats. We would like to take this moment to thank the adoptive loving families of our Fur Babies for taking this time to send us their updates, thoughts, and pictures. Feel free to contact any of the people below to talk with them regarding their experience with IceWind Farm. GOING BACK TO ICEWIND FOR OUR THIRD SHIBA  Take care, Kim.
A BIG THANK YOU  Brooks Eden
HE LOVES LOVES LOVES US   Best wishes, Kurt and Sue Raup Palmyra, NJ WHO SAYS SHIBAS DONT GET ALONG  Three shibas enjoying a relaxing nap at Kevin's house.
TINY WHITE BEAR  
She is a very sweet and very smart Shiba Puppy. She is playful and her siblings Barney (a Basset Hound) and Efrat (a 10 year old mix breed) are learning that she just wants to play with them. At first the only dog who immediately took to liking Tiny was Rachel’s Shiba named Sheeba. Now that Sheeba is back in NYC with Rachel, Tiny has been trying to “win the hearts” of Barney and Efrat. Barney loves to chase her in the snow. Tiny is a great Shiba! Paula Scharf Kohn ICEWIND SHIBA LOVES HIS SNUGGLE PUPPY!  It was a pleasure to do business with IceWind Farm. Everyone thinks he is adorable. Take care, Bill SOCIAL EVENTS  I bought a sesame male shiba inu (Tyson) from you last year. His date of birth is 6/18/06. I just wanted to update you on him and tell you he is doing great. He is such a lovable dog. He loves people and other dogs. Everytime we go to petco he wants to play with all the dogs. I like taking him to the events they have at petco. The next one we are going to is the pet valentines pet party. It will be a lot of fun. I have been recomending the shiba to everyone that says they want to get a dog. I also told them to go to you cause you guys are great. I know in a couple of years we might buy another one cause we like them so much. We finally got some snow so he got to play in it. He was jumping around like a rabbit in the snow. He loves it. Thanks, Tiffany THE JOYS OF ADOPTING AN OLDER DOG This past Fall, I awoke one morning feeling certain that our family had room for a second dog, and decided it was time to go hunting. Having welcomed 8-year old Max, an unbelievably sweet Samoyed a few years before, I researched lots of other breeds and quickly fixated on Shiba Inus. Yes, I read all the pros and cons about the breed. (Just be aware of the door-bolting tendency and prepare accordingly.) Truly, logic played no part in this decision, but it just felt right. Shibas are different and interesting. We searched regionally for reputable breeders and Karen, Anya and company topped the list. So it was off to Icewinds Farm to see these little creatures up close. If you can, please try to schedule a visit to Icewinds. It's beautiful country and you will be entertained every minute you are there. The charms of a Shiba are obvious, and if you are reading this, you are probably already hooked. Surely, there are times and places in our lives when a puppy is a perfect fit. But a Shiba puppy, while almost unbearably cute, may prove challenging for the faint of heart or those with ultra-busy lives and careers. If the average puppy is high-octane, young Shibas run on jet fuel. So, if you’ve "been there and done that" with raising puppies, please think about adopting an older rescue dog or as we did from Icewinds, a retired breeding dog. Instead of housebreaking and obedience training for a year or two (or three or four), you could have a terrific canine companion oriented into your home and family within a few weeks at most. And if your Shiba has been vetted by Karen and Anya, you are virtually assured of success! They clearly love their dogs and know each of their individual personalities. On our second visit to Icewinds, we were adopted by Misty (formerly " Sahara" and briefly "H oney"), a sweet little red female, 7 years young. Before I became a rescue fan, I used to worry that an older dog would be with us for fewer years. Now I know that every year with a lovely dog is time well spent – for them and for us. We've come to learn that an 8-year journey can be every bit as rewarding as a one that lasts 15. After all, we Baby Boomers don’t want to be written off in middle age, so let's appreciate our canine friends in the same phase of life! There are now five rescue dogs in my extended family -- our Samoyed, an Akita , a Beagle, a mystery dog, and now little Misty. None of them came to us as puppies, but all have been loads of fun. Although Misty came home with us just two short months ago, it feels like she’s been part of the family forever. She flitted about on the outskirts of our daily lives for the first few days, much like a shy little woodland creature, quietly observing the life lead by King Max. She's very smart and soon decided that she would be Queen, and it would be a monarchy. Misty has adjusted very well, concluding her breeding career and transforming with calm assurance into pampered pet in short order, despite what had to be enormous life change for her. She is friendly but not needy, amusing but not exhausting, very quiet (not heard the infamous Shiba scream yet), and never destructive. She has no interest (thank God) in scaling our 4 foot fence, which would not even challenge a young Shiba. Misty will often play and frolic all by herself. In the chaos of remodeling, she has been no trouble at all, only snitching a little paintbrush every now and then. She has captivated even those that are not the biggest dog lovers, including Mom, who in her eighties can easily handle Misty on her own. In fact, we’ve come to believe that an older Shiba would make a wonderful companion to seniors. All in all, a more mature Shiba can be a perfect second dog – or a great first dog – or a third dog.... Karen and daughter Anya will tell you all you need to know and Karen is also very generous with post-adoption advice that we really appreciate. And visit Anya’s store for Shiba favorites. Just be assured that if Karen and Anya recommend the dog, you can have the utmost confidence and perhaps you too will be adopted by a quirky little Shiba. Please remember that a nice dog is a nice dog every year of its life. Debbi Potter Warminster, PA FIRST TIME PUPPY OWNER My children have shown their love for animals from the moment they began to express themselves. For years they have begged my husband and myself for a puppy. I was the resistance all these years as I figured most of the care would have to be given by me as he has a pretty demanding schedule. I never had any pets of my own and only last year picked up a puppy for the first time in my life when my neighbor’s escaped and she couldn’t get it. It’s not that I don’t like animals but simply that I was never comfortable with them. When we decided to take on the task of owning a puppy I did a lot of research. The girls wanted a Shiba Inu after seeing it on a dog show and doing much research. I knew it would be a handful, but decided it was time. In my search I located breeders within a reasonable traveling distance. My sister in law who is very experienced with animals viewed the sites and thought that Ice Wind was the way to go. I was very nervous. Her key advice (which I take her advice very seriously) was JoAnn, take the first puppy that runs up to you. (that piece of advice will be important later.) Now onto my experience with Ice Wind, Karen & Anya were just wonderful to deal with. I was a nervous wreck as I was going to be picking this puppy up without my husband or kids. I was so afraid that I wasn’t going to pick a good one. I know this may sound ridiculous to some of you, but I was truly scared. Karen put my fears to ease and Anya said not to worry that she’d find the perfect puppy for me, also that if I changed my mind when I got there I could take a different one. When I showed up at Ice Winds, I was truly impressed with all the knowledge Anya had. She was a delight. She told me all the important things I should know and helped me pick out everything that I would need to get started. When I walked up to the puppies there was this one little pup that came running over to me it was the one Anya had chosen for me, as if the puppy knew that my sister in law told me to take the first one that came over to me. HOWEVER, I was torn because there was an absolutely darling one in the corner. I decided that since the one Anya picked for me was also the first one to run over to me I was going to stick with that one, even though that other one in the corner was so adorable that I wanted to take her too!!! I have emailed Karen many times since getting this puppy for Christmas. Just filling her in on how we are doing. The puppy (which we named Cleopatra and call her Cleo for short) is the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to our family. She is intelligent, adorable and truly the best puppy for us. Anya did a splendid job of picking her for us. She also had the knowledge to give someone with no animal skills the confidence to take care of her properly. Anya put my mind at ease, and never in her wildest dreams could she imagine the joy she has brought to our family. You might ask why Anya would bring us joy, I’ll tell you why, if Anya hadn’t made me believe that I could handle this I would have backed out and my kids would not have gotten that puppy. Without her caring attitude and delightful spirit I would never have believed that I could do this. Thank you Anya and Karen for all you have done for us. Sincerely, JoAnn, Bob, Alex, Kayla and Cleo ! I looked throughly through your page and I am am so excited to become a shiba inu parent to one of your puppies. Your dedication is astoundingI am so impressed! Sarah POSSIBLY THE BEST DOG IN THE WORLD   Peter I have had the privilege of knowing Anya for five years in the capacity of being a family friend. During that time, I have recognized so many mature qualities for such a young lady. She has demonstrated great responsibility by running the pet store she created. Her personable nature shines during the hours she spends with the clients. Anya has a wide knowledge base about dogs and cats as she has demonstrated with the clients. She also helps in the delivery process of the puppies as well as grooming and personal care of the animals. I have also observed her ability to handle everything while her parents were on vacation. I am most impressed by her desire to establish and work for her own college fund. It is my distinct feeling that Anya would be an asset to the veterinarian program. Her great drive and compassion as well as aquired knowledge will help her realize sucess. Ashley Demarco. I was honored to be asked to write a letter in behalf of Anya. I have known Anya for approximately six years. I have admired her talents and her leadership abilities. She has mentioned her interest in animals on many occasions. Anya recently told me about the vo tech program and I explained to her that I had that I had gone to a vocational school sixteen years ago and how it has made me extremely successful. I believe that in order to be successful at something, you need to have a passion for something. Anya has that passion for animals. Anya has a self motivated personality and with that she can accomplish anything. Her mother has encouraged Anya to go after her dreams. She has helped her start her own business, which is also doing well. Anya gives up her own personal time to dedicate to the animals at her business on the weekends. She continues to strive for new ideas as she invests her time and energy to the dogs. Anya has always talked about being a veterinarian as I'm sure that this program will allow her to continue her dream. I highly recommend Anya, as I don't know of a more talented, intelligent, hard working thirteen year old. Karen Kenoff   ...Our shiba has never out grown his snuggle puppy. He now uses it more so as a toy instead of sleeping with it. Although it does go with him in his crate when he goes on a plane to keep him a little secure. He's a little ball of fire! But otherwise he loves his people =) thank you so much. I was just there and got the red male shiba inu. His first night away from home, he did great. His snuggle puppy kept him company and he didn't cry at all. He is such a pleasure to have. He takes all his stuffed toys and takes them to my bed and passes out. I find him there when I notice he's not at my feet. He's such a character. Thank you. Nikki   Annie & Chris  The Kennedys  William Beaulieu From Anya and Karen Sure the pizza is fine for your shiba. We feed it to our Shibas too. Moderate amounts of people food , I think is good for them. I think it makes Shibas live longer. And we are so glad you wrote to us to keep us updated on Sake! Don't forget to send a Christmas Picture. Cheers, Karen and Anya  Elise Johnson & Linda Cooperrider - Send Email   We wanted to thank you again for a wonderful time at Icewind Farm and for our wonderful pup Sakura (cherry blossom). She is a joy - very bright, lively and loving. Just great. I would recommend Icewind Farm to anyone looking for a Shiba Inu. Your experience and insights into the breed have been very helpful to us and your farm is impeccable - I've never seen so many happy dogs in one place before! Special thanks to Anya for the super treats, toys and supplies she chose (our pup loves them all). If someone wants a reference, feel free to have them contact us. Let's keep in touch. Warm regards, Cynthia (& Sean)  Mugen continues to sleep through the night and has not once had an accident in his crate. On the 3+ hour trip to Virginia I didn't have to stop once for him to go potty. He met many new people and animals on our trip and he got along with everyone. Of course he draws people like a magnet, he is so adorable. From the start he has been walking with harness and lead like a proper little lad, no problems there at all. He views people with polite interest but he prefers meeting new animals. He never jumps all over people and he's never underfoot. Mugen is very smart and picks up new things quickly. He is absolutely fearless. He's just 10 weeks old today but since the first day we brought him home he has not gone potty in the house. He took to the raw diet with no problems at all, and will lay down and work his meal for 40 minutes, crunching bone and tearing meat and tendons. Mugen has an extensive vocabulary and even though he rarely barks all the other sounds he makes are adorable. I take him with me everywhere I go and he is a very well behaved companion. I have dealt with many puppies over the years but never one as bright and clever as Mugen at this young age. Mugen is an absolute joy to my family, and especially to me. I have very high hopes for my little guy. Thank you so much for everything.  UPDATE Just wanted to let you know Sasha's (female red sesame from Sami and Beni) first night home was great! She went in her crate right away with no problems and has been going potty outside. She went to sleep around midnight, I heard her crying about 2:30am and took her out. She woke up about 8:00am and I noticed she was sitting on top of her snuggle puppy! So far she has not had any accidents with potty training. We are enjoying every minute of her so tell Anya-she is very loved!! She only got up once during the night, I think that heartbeat and heating pad helped alot. We wanted to thank you so much for taking so much time with us today. All of the puppies you have are beautiful. All the way home in the car we talked about the adorable puppy we chose and how we can't wait until we bring her home. It's very hard to do but we know for sure you will take such good care of her. If we ever need a sitter we will definitely call Anya! Anya, you are going to make an amazing Veterinarian, you do an amazing job taking care of the Shiba's. We wish you all the best. Thanks again, Bob, Fran, Julianna, Matthew and Nicholas Campton Email   Just thought I would drop you a quick note to let you know that we made it home safe and sound. Nala and both the girls fell fast asleep in the car. She did really well which was great. We opened the front door and let Nala walk in by herself just to see how she would react. She did great. She peaked in, looked around and then decided that the place was hers. We only introduced her to a few rooms downstairs as to not overwhelm her. After she got a little more comfortable, we brought her into another one. We walked her outside once or twice and then decided it was time for everyone to go to bed. Karen, we did as you suggested and brought the crate upstairs to our bedroom. Lights out at about 1:00 AM. Nala slept until about 5:15 AM, we took her outside and then put her back in the crate and she slept until 9:00 AM. While we have had one or two accidents, she has done incredibly well. We put a bell on the door and every time we go out we ring the bell. She gets so excited. I don't know how to thank you for such a wonderful gift. Nala just seems to be a perfect fit in our home and in our lives. She has a truly wonderful disposition and is great with the girls. She has developed a keen liking for my hair and when I am lying on the floor she just nuzzles up in it. Makes brushing quite a treat. Fingers crossed, I know that it is only the second day, but we really feel blessed for having her. She is so smart. Thank you. Anya, I have to commend you on your choice of dog treats and toys. Nala loves them. We haven't given her everything because we want to introduce her to the toys slowly. We gave her the squirrels hiding in the tree and she went nuts. She immediately got one of the squirrels out and ran into her crate as if to tell us that we weren't getting that one back. It is the cutest thing I have ever seen. Finding Icewinds was a blessing and I thank you for raising such happy, beautiful puppies. The Donofrio Family.   Choosing our 2 Shiba puppies, King Nicey and Queen Spicey, from Karen and Anya at Ice Wind Farms was easy and done with confidence. Together, the mother – daughter team have over 30 years of experience in breeding and caring for Shiba Inus, and provide ongoing support to owners of their puppies. Karen is dedicated to quality and care for her dogs and puppies. She is a wealth of knowledge and is available to answer questions, before, during and after the purchase of one of her puppies. Karen’s kennels are clean and organized; a key attribute to look for in a quality breeder, and she guarantees the health of her puppies. Anya is an extremely responsible and innovative teenager. She stays at home on weekends to care for the dogs and puppies, and runs her own TLC pet care and grooming. Anya gives new pups the human socialization they need by playing, holding, and tenderly kissing them. Anya has also made puppy ownership easy by putting together a crate of supplies and toys (available at a reasonable price -- she’s saving for college) that helped start us in the right direction with Nicey and Spicey! Thanks, Karen and Anya, for your guidance, assistance and two beautiful puppies! Becky & John Williamson    Thank you! I have recommended the Shibas all over town, and given out your website to friends and strangers. Here are some pictures of Mitsy. She is a GREAT dog!! We call her Mitsy the Wonderdog! She is very playful (we installed the Invisible Fence so she runs free over an acre of yard chasing and hunting anything from deer to crickets! (and never goes outside of her boundaries)She is very mindful when she is on her leash, and very quiet and clean! What a joy! Oh, she is also quite beautiful! Thank you again for our lovely little girl! The Kirvays Heidi, Robert, Mickey, & Tiger  We are very happy with Shekka (we call her Muffin).
When we first picked Muffin up from you this past summer she was six months old. Even though we live in a high rise in New York City, she patiently waits for the elevator to take her outside.
Over the past several months (she is now almost ten months) she has grown into an extremely sociable dog. Although we had heard that Shibas are aloof, this is not the case with Muffin. She enjoys being around people and loves to be petted. She is a very loving dog, always wanting to "kiss" us. We have a seven year old son, who Muffin adores. When I take Muffin to my son's school to pick him up, she can't wait to get there to give him kisses. She also plays nicely with other dogs.
Muffin is a good eater. We give her a mix of Purina Sensitive One and human food, such as pasta and chicken, which she gobbles up in less than one minute! She takes good care of herself, always licking her coat to keep it clean. She is so pretty and healthy that every time she is walked she is adored by people who pass her in the street. We look forward to many happy years with Muffin. The O'Connors  I wanted to thank you again for our lovely new family member, whom we actually named Anya after your daughter! (It was too pretty a name and suited our little girl) And thank you for all your help when we came to pick her up. Your daughter Anya was such a great help as well. Her store is wonderful! Such great items that I probably wouldn't have thought to pick up. Our little pup loves her baby blanket and all the little toys, especially the rope chew toy that was included in the puppy-bag. What a bargain that puppy bag is. You and your daughter are very professional and are so helpful. Thank you so much. Chris Milano, Danbury, CT  I hope all is well with you and your family. I just wanted to write with a little update on "Tsuki" (Zora & Tyler from March 12). We've been having a great time with her, to say the least. There are a lot of dogs in our apartment complex, and she gets along great with all of them. Her favorites to play with are an English bulldog, a yellow lab, and a Great Dane (who gets down to her level to play, which is very funny). She is quite the darling of the neighborhood, and has especially made friends with the little girls. She's made a trip to Wisconsin with us to meet our families, and we took her camping in a state park a few weeks ago. She really likes hiking, but isn't much for swimming. She's very healthy, and just got the stitches out from her spay. She's really enjoying finally being able to run around the apartment after two weeks of little activity. We're going to start obedience classes very soon, so we're looking forward to that. Thanks again for such a great dog! Rachel Smith (& Braden & Tsuki) We came across your web site to see pics of your shibas. We bought Sashi from you in mid April, and she is the love of our lives. she is so well tempered, we get many compliments on her. This dog is so spoiled, she gets everything she wants and more. We want to thank you again for breeding her for she is like the daughter I never had.....I will send you christmas pics as you requested from our son Mitchell Oh well hope you enjoy this letter.... Your friends Todd Dina, and Mitchell  I picked Bear up from Icewind Farm on August 13 and Karen gave us a diet to follow. I was a bit hesitant at first because I was used to the diet I fed my other dog Foxy. However, Foxy was already eating Wellness Fish and Sweet Potato. So, all I had to do was add the NuVet Vitamins and canned Salmon or Mackeral. The dogs love it!! At first, I was only giving it to Bear, but Foxy was so interested I decided it would be the diet for both of them! I would recommend this diet for any other shiba owners! Thank you! How was your experience with Ice Wind? Were you comfortable with the dogs, and their surroundings? I live in Oregon, and never managed to actually go and visit Ice Winds. Unfortunately, there are also virtually no Shiba Inu breeders within a reasonable driving distance from our home. I researched the breed and talked to several owners and breeders before talking to karen. Karen was incredibly patient with me (I had a LOT of questions) and was very happy to help us. We actually have become friends! Do you feel that the whole family is involved in the raising process, or just a few individuals? Given the photos I have recieved of my dogs (before the purchase), and after talking with Karen extensively, I believe that Karen and her entire family are truly dedicated to raising their Shibas. Are you comfortable calling the breeder to ask follow up questions? I think Karen wishes I would stop calling! Just kidding. Karen has always been very helpful with any questions I have and has actually helped steer me in the direction of getting to know how to care for and show my dogs. Have you taken the dog back to visit? I haven't had the opportunity, we are in Oregon. If I ever get out to NJ, I would love to visit with her! Did you look at any other Breeders, and if you did why did you choose Ice Wind? I talked with several breeders. As I was buying breeding dogs, I wanted dogs that had clean eyes and bites, good hips and patellas. I also wanted dogs that had 'bloodlines'; meaning notable dogs who had show experience. I didn't want to raise Shibas just because they were Shibas. All of karen's breeding stock is show quality and comes from show lines, something difficult to find with other, sometimes closer breeders. Karen was also quick to respond to and address any questions and concerns I had, and continues to do so. I have been nothing but very happy with my experience with Ice Wind. And finally do you have any advice for us, seeing as how you went through the process that we are about to embark on? These dogs are GREAT! They are gentle and friendly and bond strongly with their owners. They are also very smart. Shiba Inus are firmly planted in my heart! I raise horses, and am always concerned about where I buy my breeding stock from, and who I sell to. I am nothing less than convinced that Karen is one of the best dog breeders I have ever had the opportunity to know, and I plan on buying from her in the future as soon as I have the appropriate space for another Shiba. Please let me know if I can help you any further! Good luck! Buying a Shiba is a rewarding experience; they are just awesome dogs and genuine friends. -Caryn  The whole family drove up in January to New Jersey from Northern
Virginia to get our new 8 week old shiba inu. We had an interesting
trip
when we drove up on a snowy day and spun off the road but were
determined to get our new puppy. So we thought we would stay at a hotel
for the night and get the puppy in the morning. But the weather cleared
up so we went to get our puppy and stayed at the hotel with our new
puppy for the night.Thats when we got the idea for her name. She howled all night like a monkey. So we named her Kokezaru which means foolish monkey. She is a really playful puppy. She also is really friendly with all dogs, people, and our cats. She got along with all the alpha females that normally didn't like other female dogs. When she met another shiba, Hoshi, and we started to let her play with Hoshi we realized that Koke wanted another permanent playmate not just the cats. So near the end of July we went to get Tyco (now Taiko). The cats love Taiko more than Hoshi because Taiko doesn't bark at them. Taiko is a little nervous of the house but really seems to like Martika. It will just take a little time for Taiko to get use to everything in the house and the leash. He is getting alot better with his walk though. All our cats have accepted Taiko and rub against him. Taiko has a sweet personality, he loves Koke , is friendly with kids and adults and is even friendly with strange new dogs on our [ at least 5 ] daily walks. We are very happy with the shibas we got from IceWind kennels both are an important addition to our family. I would highly recommend shibas from Karen because of their temperment and the show quality they have. Thank you again Karen for Koke and Taiko, Darlene Moore  I have visited IceWind farm on many occasions. I have met each one of IceWind Shiba's, they are fun, loving, playful
and curious. I enjoyed my visit very much at IceWind. Every question I asked was answered. I spent hours
there conversating about the breed and playing with IceWind Shibas.
I do believe the whole family is involved in the raising process, after visiting Ice Wind farm on different occasions I have seen first hand what goes into raising their Shibas. I have called upon IceWind Farm on many occasions for questions, I would sometimes feel bad for asking so many questions at one time, but I was always assured it was not a problem and they welcome all the questions I had. I have taken my female Shiba back for a visit. She was actually there when I went on a family vacation and needed someone to watch her. There was never any question as to me bringing her there for a visit, they welcomed her with open arms and were able to spend time with one of the shiba's they so much adore. I have looked at other breeders, out of all the breeders I have found on the net that were close to me, IceWind farm stood out the most. When contacting these breeders IceWind farm was prompt in responding, answered all my questions without hesitation and also at the same time interviewed me and why I wanted to add a Shiba to my family.  I have been a dog owner since I was a little girl. I have never come across a breed that was so easily trainable.
Personality, loyalty, and friendliness is what I have found in the Shiba Breed. If you have alot of questions,
Just Ask. There is never a silly question. IceWind Farm has given me two additions to my family and I
adore them for that. After getting our second pup in 2003 I am still e-mailing IceWind with lil quirks that they do, or
just a quick "hey we are doing great" or "what do you think of this kind of dog food".. Im happy to say,
not only did we gain two beautiful dogs from IceWind Farm, but we gained family friends!
Donna We got our first dog from Karen in 1994, a gorgeous, wonderful Alaskan Malamute male pup, Zuni. Our experience with Karen was wonderful. We were in contact with her throughout Zuni's 10-year life to keep her abreast of how things were going with the pup she so graciously entrusted to us, and she was always interested in how he was doing...whenever we had a question, she was right there to help us. He was such a great dog!!! She was always very friendly and very knowledgeable about her breed. All of her dogs have always been very friendly and accepting of strangers. And the dogs and their runs were always well cared for. Her whole family seem to be dog lovers and a few years back, we observed her son in show with one of her Malamutes and he was confident and great with the dog. While we have never taken the dogs back to visit Karen, we periodically e-mailed/e-mail her with pictures so she can see their growth and development. When we were initially looking for our first Alaskan Malamute, we did look at other breeders and were unimpressed due to temperament of the dogs. When we met Karen, saw how she interacted with the dogs and saw the temperament of her adult Malamutes and of the pups, we knew she was good!!! Obviously we came back to her for our Shiba after Zuni passed away in September of 2004...a very sad day for us but Karen was right there to talk to us about his passing. We are now contemplating a second Shiba because our one-year old male, Koda, is a gem!!! Our advice to you is go and let the pup pick you! Karen had picked a few out for us and then we let the pup pick us. This is our second pup from Karen with a possible third up and coming and we have had no problems. We highly recommend Karen as a breeder...we trust Karen's judgment and knowledge. She's great!!! If you would like to contact us directly, you can reach Sue at home (973) 887-9457 or on her cell (973) 224-1165 or via e-mail at Sue Jones 
I haven't sent you an update on Coco lately. I thought you would like knowing that she is now showing interest in playing with other dogs when we are out for our walks. She is still a little shy/leery of people on the walks, but no longer panics and runs in the other direction! She will actually sniff the hand of some folks and just act aloof with others.
She is happiest when she is just with me. Runs around the house doing the "Indy 500" which makes me laugh out loud! She is even warming up to Eric now, and no longer hides when he comes home. She loves her bed, which is next to my side of our bed in our bedroom. Even though she could sleep with us, and sometimes does...she seems to prefer her own bed. She is so confident now that we sometimes find her sleeping on her back, with her paws up....very cute!!!! Her favorite safe place is next to a toilet. (We call the toilet her boyfriend "John").
 She is very comfortable over at my daughter's house, and doesn't even hide when we are there anymore. You will just find her in the "thick of things" hanging around wherever we all are. And she loves going for walks with me and my daughter and her dog, Wade (a Golden). Their neighborhood is very "woodsy" and she loves all the rabbit smells. etc.
She enjoys going in the car, and I take her everywhere with me. At first she was afraid to look out the windows, but now she does it a lot...and then retreats to the floor, where she feels safe. I have a car harness for her, so she can ride safely on the back seat.
She has her favorite places in the house...on the green chair in the den when I am on the computer, on our bed when I am in the bathroom or bedroom, and next to her boyfriend "John" whenever someone strange is in the house. We are looking forward to the day when she no longer feels she needs to do this. She doesn't seem interested in playing with any toys, balls, etc., but does move things out of her toy basket and onto her bed...you know, the "mine" thing! She does like to chew on her bone, though. We just keep "loving her through it" on every phase of her adjustment. She is so sweet, and it has been a joy to see her develop her confidence. Even the neighbors comment on what a different dog she is now...it is so evident. She struts now when we walk...with her tail and her head held high...like she owns the place! UPDATE She is doing so well...she is very happy, and is a great pet. Very obedient and well behaved. We love her more every day! UPDATE I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know that Coco is doing great! She is such a love, and gets more and more secure every day. I have even taught her to "sit" for her dog biscuits! We are taking her with us on a three day "vacation" to La Quinta this weekend. There are so many dog friendly hotels now, that it has become very easy to travel with your pet. She loves to go in the car. There is a large grassy area where I walk her, and I now can let her off leash and she runs like the wind. Then she stops and waits for me to put her back on leash. It's great exercise for her. There are a couple of dogs in the neighborhood that she just loves and then there's a few that she is oblivious to...she's very selective of her friends!!! I just wanted to let you know that I think your newly designed website is fantastic! I love visiting it and reading all about your pups, Anya's store, your testimonials, etc. Well done!!! And very informative.   
I have been working with you for over 7 years now. I just want to tell you again thank you for the wonderful dogs I have purchased from you. My Alaskan Malamutes are the biggest part of our lives here. You can't possibly know the joy they have brought over all these years. I don't know what my life would be without the Mals I purchased from you years ago. I would never have made it as a breeder myself if it wasn't for all of your advice. You have been just a wonderful source of information and it certainly shows how much you love your dogs. No matter how busy you have ever been, you have never been too busy to help me with any problems. I also want to thank your son again for meeting me half way in Virginia that one year when we traded pups..That female is one of my son's best of his soccer team! I look forward to one day doing business with you again...When I switch breeds..lol :) I willl keep in touch Christine Walsh UPDATE - Shikki just finished whelping, and we have 5 beautiful little puppies! 3 girls and 2 boys, all appear to be red sesame like mom except for one black little girl. They are completely adorable and very healthy and strong. Thank you so much for giving me the chance to welcome these dogs into my life. Shikki and I are bonded at the hip and Bear is my little man, and it's been so rewarding to help her through her pregnancy and whelping. She is just an awesome mommy and the pups are beautiful. A few months ago my husband and I decided, after long months of searching, that we were ready to take the big step not only to invite more dogs to our home and farm, but to raise them. After researching breeds, we fell in love with the stocky little Shiba. We began to contact breeders, asking after dogs available and their pedigrees. We wanted to show our breeding dogs, so we wanted something with a good pedigree, disposition, and conformation. I don't believe in breeding something just because it's a certain breed; it needs to have good conformation, disposition, and pedigree. Several breeders we spoke with were happy to sell us dogs that we considered 'pet' quality at breeding prices. These dogs looked like they would make great pets, but had nothing to their pedigree that gave any indication they would be show dogs and some had bites I didn't like. Karen was prompt to respond to every email I sent her, along with phone calls (and trust me, I had LOTS to ask her!). She offered us two dogs as a breeding pair that were both absolutely lovely and breeding quality. The female she sold us, Shikki, has received lots of oohs and aahs from not only the general public, but several trainers and dog breeders have drooled over her excellent conformation. Our 5 month old male pup, Bear, has one of the most beautiful and expressive faces I have ever seen on a dog. Both dogs arrived pleasantly plump and healthy with recommended food and vitamins, in good sized crates so they were very comfortable, and with toys! This was great to see, as the dogs had to fly from New Jersey to Oregon, and I was worried about what a long flight could do to a dog. They had ample access to water and I could see Karen definitely planned ahead. We have horses, cats and goats, and had read some things about Shibas that made us concerned about allowing them around our other pets (namely their hunting instict is very strong). Two days after our Shibas arrived, they got loose in a confined space with our barn cat Salem. Salem is used to dogs but I had heard stories about Shibas going after cats. Our dogs' dispositions were so good that they actually helped bathe the cat! There was zero aggression toward Salem. This further convinces me that Karen has not only the right breed for me, but she also breeds for the right disposition. Karen has continues to be a wealth of information, advising me about showing and breeding my dogs, and providing me with information about the AKC. As we gradually get set up to allow another female dog into our lives, we plan to purchase from Karen. If you are interested in buying a Shiba puppy, I would STRONGLY recommend buying one from Karen. Her dogs are in immaculate condition and she is extremely helpful even after the dogs have arrived. Best of luck in your Shiba search! Feel free to write back and ask any questions you may have. Caryn Let me answer your query and give to you my good reference for the Icewind Farms of White Township, NJ. For over ten years I have owned and raised three dogs with the Icewind bloodlines from Karen. I should say outright that I think she is probably one of the best dog, horse and cat breeders in this Country and worldwide. You will not find too many people on her level of accomplishment. She has been breeding dogs for over thirty years and grew up in a family that also bred dogs. She has an innate knowledge of bloodlines:genetics. She is highly regarded in her fellow community too. I believe that dog breeding is an Art. When the great poets combine the Truth, the Beauty and the Goodness they harness the intangible and bring forth epiphanies. When Karen combines the genetics, the aesthetics, and her own rare and true heart she produces dogs of incomparable beauty and temperament. Everytime you gaze upon your dog, you will automatically be smiling and in awe of its beauty. If anyone is a dog whisperer, Karen is surely one. Karen is a very forthright individual who enjoys what she does. Dog breeding is a labor of love to her. She is kind and amenable and will help you in your search. The Icewind Kennel is impeccably outfitted with everything dogs need and more. You will find the journey to getting your dog an enjoyable one with Karen as your breeder. She has special talents and knows how to make the dogs with the pretty faces and the elegant bone structures with the endearing personalities. I wish you all the very best on your quest for a Shiba Inu. Wishing you happiness and joy with your new puppy. Kindest Regards, Diana   I wanted to thank you again for all your help with Kimiko’s diet. Since speaking with you I have changed her food to the sweet potatoe and fish formula and have started adding salmon to her food. I have also kept her on the NuVet vitamins since the day we picked her up. Kimiko no longer has hot spots and isn’t scratching like she used too. I have also noticed a big difference in her coat and she always feels so soft and she never smells, and she is outside all the time. I am so happy to have this ongoing relationship with you concerning Kimiko. I never hesitate to contact you before I even contact her vet!! I think it is so nice that you are still here for us if we need you. Kimiko and Rocky are getting along great. They have their moments every now and then but as you can see they truly love each other. And who said Shiba Inus couldn’t get along with cats??? Thank you again Karen! Christine Perry |