by Rex Gaylord on 04/29/26
At Shomaisou Shiba Inu, our goal has never been simply to produce puppies. Our goal is to raise stable, healthy, well-prepared Shiba Inu and place them in homes where they can thrive for life.
As our program has grown, so has our ability to collaborate with trusted co-breeders and trainers who share that same commitment. One of the most important developments in our program has been our relationship with co-breeder Brooke Steinbach of K9 Level Up in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Brooke’s Puppy Preschool program has proven to be extremely beneficial for the puppies, their new families, and the breeders involved. Because of that success, we are making several important updates to our puppy go-home timing, vaccination protocol, and health guarantee for litters that participate in Puppy Preschool.
These changes may affect Shomaisou litters and selected co-bred litters connected with our programs in Ohio, Michigan, and West Virginia.
What Is Puppy Preschool?
Puppy Preschool is an advanced early-development program hosted by Brooke Steinbach at K9 Level Up in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Our puppies are already raised with early handling, enrichment, sound exposure, human interaction, and Puppy Culture-style foundations. When a litter attends Puppy Preschool, that development can advance even further.
I often describe Brooke’s program as:
“Puppy Culture on steroids.”
That phrase is not meant as marketing fluff. It reflects the intensity and value of the program.
By the time Puppy Preschool puppies are ready to go home, they may have been introduced to approximately 100 people, including the people they met before leaving my care. They also receive structured exposure to new surfaces, handling, crate introduction, early leash concepts, confidence-building exercises, household-style stimulation, travel preparation, and other age-appropriate experiences.
For many puppies, this creates a smoother transition into their new homes.
Change #1: Puppy Preschool Puppies May Go Home at 8 Weeks
Historically, puppies attending Puppy Preschool were often held until approximately 10 weeks of age before going to their new homes.
Going forward, puppies participating in Puppy Preschool will generally be able to go home at 8 weeks of age, rather than 10 weeks.
This change reflects the strength of the development program and the benefits of allowing the puppy to transition to the new family during an important bonding window.
The goal is not to rush puppies out the door. The goal is to place puppies when they are developmentally ready, properly supported, and matched to homes prepared to continue the work already started.
Change #2: Vaccinations for Puppy Preschool Puppies Will Begin at 8 Weeks
Because Puppy Preschool puppies are now expected to go home at 8 weeks, their vaccination timing will also change.
For litters participating in Puppy Preschool, the first puppy vaccination will begin at 8 weeks of age rather than 10 weeks.
This is a change from our prior timing and will be reflected in our updated vaccination protocol.
Change #3: Initial Vaccine Will Change From 2-Way to 5-Way
For Puppy Preschool litters, we are also changing the initial vaccine from a 2-way vaccine to a 5-way vaccine.
This change is tied to the revised go-home age, the broader exposure environment, and the need to balance protection with our long-standing caution about over-vaccination in Shiba Inu.
We still believe vaccine decisions should be made carefully and thoughtfully. Shiba Inu are a primitive breed, and our concerns about over-vaccination have not changed. However, the Puppy Preschool model creates a different practical situation than puppies remaining in a more limited home nursery setting until 10 weeks.
Our revised protocol will provide clearer guidance for new owners and their veterinarians.
Pickup Options: Grand Rapids, Michigan or Brecksville, Ohio
For litters attending Puppy Preschool, new homes may have the option to pick up their puppy in either:
Grand Rapids, Michigan
or
Brecksville, Ohio
This flexibility has been helpful for families traveling from different regions and allows us to better coordinate transitions based on the puppy, the family, and the litter’s schedule.
Optional Extended Training
Some families may also have the option to leave their puppy with Brooke at K9 Level Up for additional training after the normal go-home date.
This can be especially helpful for:
First-time Shiba Inu homes
Busy families needing a more structured start
Homes wanting additional crate, leash, or confidence work
Families traveling from a distance
Owners who want a more advanced transition plan
This is optional and would be arranged separately based on availability, the puppy’s needs, and Brooke’s training schedule.
Why This Partnership Matters
This collaboration has proven beneficial in several ways.
For the puppies, it provides expanded socialization and development during a critical early period.
For new homes, it often means receiving a puppy that has had more structured exposure, more handling, more environmental variety, and a stronger foundation.
For breeders, it creates another layer of observation and feedback. Brooke’s work gives us additional insight into temperament, confidence, adaptability, recovery, and early learning style.
For co-bred litters, it allows our programs in Ohio, Michigan, and West Virginia to share resources, improve consistency, and raise puppies with a broader developmental foundation.
In short, the relationship has been good for the puppies, good for the homes, and good for the breeding programs involved.
Upcoming Health Guarantee Revisions
Because these changes affect go-home timing and vaccination timing, we will also be revising our written health guarantee.
The updated health guarantee will better reflect:
The revised 8-week go-home option for Puppy Preschool puppies
The new 8-week vaccination start for participating litters
The use of a 5-way vaccine as the initial vaccine in these cases
Continued guidance about avoiding unnecessary over-vaccination
Owner responsibilities after pickup
Veterinary follow-up expectations
How the Puppy Preschool model fits into our broader health and development program
Until those revisions are finalized, we will explain the applicable protocol for each litter individually.
What New Homes Should Understand
These changes do not mean every litter will follow the exact same path.
Some litters may remain with me in Ohio.
Some may be raised or co-raised in West Virginia.
Some may attend Puppy Preschool in Michigan.
Some may have different timing based on development, logistics, health, or breeder judgment.
Our placement decisions remain based on the best interest of the puppy.
We do not place puppies simply by order of application, payment, or preference. We evaluate the puppies, evaluate the homes, and make the best match we can based on temperament, structure, lifestyle, and long-term fit.
Learn More About Puppy Preschool
For more information about the Puppy Preschool program, please visit:
https://shibas.dog/PuppyPreschoolShomaisouShibaInu.html
Final Thoughts
Breeding responsibly means being willing to improve.
When something benefits the puppies, we pay attention. When a program produces better-prepared puppies and smoother transitions for families, we adapt.
Puppy Preschool has become an important part of that evolution for selected litters. It does not replace responsible breeding, careful selection, early home development, or thoughtful placement. It strengthens them.
Our goal remains the same: healthy, stable, well-prepared Shiba Inu placed with homes that understand and appreciate the breed.
These upcoming changes are part of that commitment.
