An adult dog that is already trained, will require less. However, all dogs need a good amount of daily exercise, time with their people, a consistent but interesting routine, regular teeth brushing and grooming, and more.

Before I got Sephy, I asked myself these questions -
1. Do I have the time to walk him every day?
When he was young, we walked for over 2 hours every day. In addition, we had play sessions, grooming sessions, training sessions, and more. We did not have a backyard then. Now he is fine with 1 hour daily walks, but we have a large fully enclosed yard and two Huskies that he plays with.

2. Do I have a consistent routine, as well as the time to train him and make sure all of this needs are met.

Dogs are pack animals and need to be with their family a large amount of the time. Sephy also really needs a consistent set of rules, and a fixed routine. He gets stressed (understandably so) when I do not get home at my usual time, or when I leave early. If our schedule is very inconsistent, that will likely create problems for our dog.

We also do yearly checkups and shots at the vet, and have them do a teeth cleaning. In addition, there may sometimes be unexpected health issues, and therefore large vet bills. Dogs are much more expensive than what I originally thought they would be.

3. Will I be able to commit to a dog for the rest of his life.

Caring for a dog is an endurance activity. I walk my dogs every day whether it is sunny, raining, very hot, or very cold. If I am too sick, I get someone else to walk them. I can’t just leave on a vacation, unless I find someone reliable to take care of my dogs. I can’t just take off to a party, because I have to get home to feed my dogs and take them out.

Dogs are a big responsibility. They bring big rewards, but they also place a lot of restrictions on my time and activities.

I waited until after I finished school before getting Sephy because then, I have more financial flexibility, and my environment and schedule are a lot more consistent and stable. This is not to say that having a dog during college is bad or impossible, but only that it is very difficult to fit the great demands of college (both social and academic), in together with the great demands of a dog. We only have so much time in a day.

Many breeders here will transport a dog by air. However, they will charge for the crate and shipping. I would consider looking for an accredited breeder from a closer location, e.g. Australian Kennel Club.

Note that there are many breeders who offer “Club papers” but many of these are fake. I only look at breeders who are directly listed on the directory of a recognized Kennel Club.

Also, there may be a wider range of adoption agencies in surrounding areas (e.g. Malaysia). Here are some current adoption listings. As you say, there are many more large dogs, but there are also a few small ones in the mix.
http://asdsingapore.com/wp/adopt-a-dog/
http://www.animalloversleague.com/adoption.html
http://www.spca.org.sg/services.asp?cat=1

Hope this helps and good luck!

In contrast, I got my Sibes from a more experienced breeder (Kelly) that I found by visiting the Siberian Husky Club breeder page. Kelly is awesome. First, we met with her and her puppies. She had already socialized them well since they were little by bringing them to various “puppy-safe” Sibe events, bringing them to meet her co-workers, etc. We also got to meet the puppy’s mother, who is a very sweet, friendly, and well-socialized dog.

After we met the puppies, she brought Shania over to our house to do a house check, and talk to us further about the breed. She also gave us kibble, some toys, and a blanket with scent from the puppy’s mom and litter-mates. This helped Shania feel more comfortable and less anxious in her new environment. Kelly also hooked us up with various Sibe activities in our area, and comes to visit us whenever she has some free time.

My next Shiba I am going to get from a breeder like Kelly – one who is experienced, cares greatly about her dogs, and truly loves the breed.

If you are looking for a Shiba puppy, I would start with the National Shiba Club of America breeder list.
http://www.shibas.org/breeders.html

I found out the hard way that getting a puppy from a good breeder makes a very big difference, especially in terms of temperament and early socialization.

Good luck and share some puppy pictures with us when you get your Shiba.