Rodel Shibas is the home of
Tom & Sandie Rolenaitis
and is located in Aspers, PA.
(717) 528-7067
Traveling times are:
NYC - 4 Hours / Pittsburgh - 3 Hours /
Washington, DC - 2 Hours / Philadelphia PA- 2 Hours
We welcome visitors to see our dogs and play with them, in fact we encourage it. We sell our pet puppies on a Spay / Neuter contract, with a health guarantee. Our contract also states that if for any reason you cannot keep your Shiba, that it comes back to us for placement in an approved home. We want you to come here. We want to see if your home is a good home for our dogs and to make sure a Shiba Inu is the right breed of dog for you. You may find Shibas for a better price from a kennel that produces many Shibas or you may find them for more money, but what you do get from us is a personalized service and constant contact with us to help you raise your Shiba properly. You are like extended family to us. We want you to call us when your dog is sick or if you're having problems with them or call when they did something cute. Shibas, on the average, have three puppies in a litter. We have an average of 2 litters a year, so with only 3-4 puppies a year going to pet homes, we want them to be good homes. We help with Shibas that are abandoned or lost and assist in finding them new homes. To obtain a copy of our contract please e mail us or call us.
Shibas were bred for hunting in Japan, and for their size, they are strong, athletic, and most of all QUICK. We warn you that at the age of 3 months that a Shiba can out run and out dodge most humans on the face of the planet. They are strong willed and often will not listen to commands when they have found something that has stricken their fancy. ( Usually, a rabbit, a bird, a squirrel or some other moving object). This makes it mandatory for them to be either on a lead or in a secure enclosed fenced back yard. The number one cause of death in this breed is being struck by cars. Shibas can also be aggressive towards other dogs and we recommend puppy kindergarten and basic obedience classes
Shibas and Children: Yes, Shibas and children can and do get along fine. We suggest as with all breeds of dogs, that small children and dogs should not be left unattended. The main problems with Shibas and children tend to be with the fact that children leave doors open, causing Shibas to immediately dash out. Also Shibas may tend to see your child as an equal. We recommend that children take an active part in the care, training and grooming of your Shiba. Your Shiba will see them more as a leader than as a equal.
Crate Training: Shibas are easily housebroken and we highly recommend crate training. They are a clean breed and need very little help learning not to soil their home. Our puppies, when they leave, are housebroken and can stay crated for a few hours (bladder control isn't fully developed until at least 4 months of age)
Grooming: Though Shibas tend to need very little grooming, what little there is to do is met with objection by your Shiba. Nail trimming will invoke screams that will pierce your eardrums and your heart as they make you think that the most inhumane torture is being bestowed upon them. With patience, practice and positive re-enforcement this simple task will eventually become just annoying. The Shibas very seldom smells doggy and when bathed you will ask yourself where all the dirt came from. They are a double coated breed, which hides the dirt very well. They will also "blow coat" which means that they loose their undercoat, generally twice a year. We recommend warm baths to help the process along.
Now that I've told you all the bad things about a Shiba, I can tell you all the good things. They will bond with their owners and show occasional affection up to worshipping the ground you walk on, without letting you know it. They will jump in bed (if allowed) and clean your face and roll on you and run through the house doing the "Shiba Boogey" (running in figure 8's). They are inquisitive little animals with an intelligence that will amaze mostly anyone and seem to be completely in tune with your feelings. They will run across the yard at amazing speeds, jump up 4 feet in the air to kiss you hello, then disappear again seeming like they know that you love them and they love you, and neither one of you have to say it. They will flip, bounce, run and amuse your for hours, making you look at the clock at work, waiting for the moments to tick by, so you can get home and hold them (despite their occasional objections). You will buy one and it's guaranteed the thought of the second one will always pop into your mind, since one is this wonderful then two obviously must be exponentially better (and they are). Many of our pet buyers are referred or related to people who have either bought one from us or bought one from someone else. We like it that way. They know what they're getting into. We know who we're dealing with. We don't do this for the money or fame, but because we love our dogs and enjoy the love that they give others.