Chong
Gaylord's Up in Smoke @ Shomaisou
Born 4/20 Call Name: Chong
The First Doge In Space!
Shomaisou Shiba Inu Presents
Chong is a serious Shiba Inu from a serious preservation breeding program, with one very unserious campaign: becoming the first Doge on Mars.
Born on April 20, call name Chong, and registered as Gaylord's Up in Smoke @ Shomaisou, he has the kind of name story the internet understands instantly.
The Chong Origin Story
Some registered names are a stretch. Chong's is not. The theme works because the real details lined up almost too perfectly: a Shiba Inu puppy born on April 20, call name Chong, registered as Up in Smoke.
The page started as an inside joke between friends and grew into something more useful: a shareable story about a preservation-bred Shiba Inu with a memorable name, a clear origin, and enough personality to make people stop scrolling.
- April 20, 2026: Chong is born in the Picasso x Oami Alpha litter.
- Early puppyhood: Chong and his sister Cheechie get temporary call names that fit the 4/20 birthday theme.
- Registered name: Gaylord's Up in Smoke @ Shomaisou.
- Training foundation: Early development, handling, socialization, and at 5 weeks off to Puppy Preschool in Michigan, a foundation for the rest of their lives.
- Mission concept: Live mascot, event model, asteroid ambassador, and first Doge in space.
The Fun Pitch
Born 4/20. Call name Chong. Registered name Up in Smoke, the first Doge in space.
That is the shareable part. It is simple, visual, and easy to repeat. It fits Shiba Inu internet culture, space humor, Dogecoin-adjacent meme culture, and the kind of playful absurdity that gives a puppy page a life beyond a normal dog profile.
The Serious Part
Chong is not just an internet joke in a puppy suit. He comes from a preservation-minded Shiba Inu program focused on health, structure, temperament, evaluation, and responsible placement.
Shomaisou puppies are raised with attention to development, confidence, breed type, and long-term fit. The name is funny. The breeding program is not casual.
Open Letter to Elon
Dear Elon,
We realize you probably receive unusual messages every day. We would simply like to introduce you to Chong.
Born on 4/20. Named Chong. Registered as Gaylord's Up in Smoke @ Shomaisou. A preservation-bred Shiba Inu from Ohio with a Mars-sized personality and a suspiciously perfect origin story.
We are not saying Chong has to be the first Doge in space. We are only saying he appears to be available for mascot work, photo opportunities, asteroid ambassador duties, and reasonable negotiations involving travel expenses, snacks, and possibly a wrapped SUV.
Respectfully,
Team Chong
Shomaisou Shiba Inu
Excellence and Rarity
Chong's story is funny because the theme is memorable, but the foundation underneath it is the real point. Shomaisou is an accountable, heritage, preservation breeder of purposefully bred purebred dogs.
Rex Gaylord is a retired law enforcement K9 handler, AKC Breeder of Merit, an owner of Shomaisou Shiba Inu, a 2026 National Shiba Club of America Director, Chair of the NSCA Website Committee, and serves on the NSCA Breeder Directory Committee. For more than 18 years, he has been involved in the preservation, breeding, evaluation, and placement of Shiba Inu, with a focus on health, temperament, breed type, and responsible ownership.
That background matters because Chong’s page is not intended to be a gimmick. The humor is real, but the breeding program behind it is serious. Chong happens to have been born on April 20, nicknamed “Chong,” and given the registered name “Gaylord’s Up In Smoke @ Shomaisou.” That’s the joke.
The dog, however, is no joke.
Behind the name is the same health testing, pedigree research, temperament evaluation, Puppy Preschool training, socialization, and placement process applied to every puppy produced by the Shomaisou program. The goal is not to create internet-famous dogs. The goal is to produce healthy, stable, well-adjusted Shiba Inu that represent the breed well for years to come.
In short, Chong is a very Good Dog with a very Good Joke attached.
Bred by: Lisa and James "Truett" Harris and Rex and Tanya Gaylord of Shomaisou
Shiba Inu
Chief Trainer: Brooke Steinbach of
K9 Level Up
Handler: TBA.
Mini Press Kit
One-sentence bio: Chong is a preservation-bred Shiba Inu born on 4/20, named Chong, and registered as Gaylord's Up in Smoke @ Shomaisou.
Short caption: Meet Chong: the 4/20 Shiba Inu with a Mars-sized mission.
Long caption: Chong may have the most internet-ready name in the Shiba world, but he comes from a serious preservation breeding program focused on health, temperament, structure, and responsible placement.
Suggested Media
- Chong headshot
- Chong and Cheechie together
- Short vertical video: Chong running toward camera
- Short vertical video: Puppy Preschool training clip
- Mars/astronaut concept image with shibas.dog/chong2.html on the graphic
Not Just Another Internet Shiba
Shibas are already part of internet culture. Chong adds something different: a real preservation-bred dog with a memorable name story, breeder accountability, early development, and a placement philosophy built around long-term success rather than impulse attention.
Future Updates
- New photos
- Training notes
- Evaluation details
- Short videos
- Chong and Cheechie updates
- Official mascot milestones