On the same bloodlines since 2010: what traceability to great-grandparents means

We have been breeding Shiba Inu since 2010 on the same bloodlines. This means that we personally know not only the parents of every puppy, but also the grandparents and great-grandparents — because many of them were born and raised in our kennel. It is a depth of knowledge that very few breeding operations can offer.

Why continuity on the same lines matters

Continuity means standardisation. After having seen and evaluated the results of certain matings repeated over the years, we have a very precise idea of what to expect from the different combinations.

Furthermore, using few combinations also helps to stabilise type. In plain words, we see certain traits recurring with greater frequency — for example construction and movement, which are closely linked to one another. It is knowledge that is hard to replicate if you keep introducing new genetic material into reproduction.

The difference with those who buy dogs from outside

Many kennels buy breeding dogs from other kennels — in Italy or abroad — to “refresh the blood” or chase the fashionable dog of the moment. There is nothing wrong with this in itself, but it means that direct knowledge of the lines stops at the first generation, whereas we know our lines and what they can give us through first-hand experience, not hearsay.

Proof of this are the championships won abroad not only by the dogs we have placed with other breeders, but also the success of their offspring. It means having passed on “quality” — dogs that are not only beautiful but have the ability to transmit their characteristics effectively to their offspring. In cynology this is called the “penetration index”: the measure of how much a dog manages to imprint its traits on its descendants, regardless of the partner it is mated with. A dog with a high penetration index produces recognisable, consistent offspring that carry its imprint — and this is the clearest sign of the solidity of a line.

We too, over the years, have introduced new lines into our breeding. This is necessary to keep inbreeding within acceptable values, but if you do not want to waste the work already done, it takes method and competence. Competence to know how to choose what to take, and method because behind it there must be a breeding programme with clear, well-defined goals.

What those who look at our pedigrees see

Today anyone who opens our pedigrees can immediately see the consistency of our lines and the working method adopted for improving and stabilising traits. The proof of the validity of the starting lines lies in the results these dogs then achieve in competition.

Aiken Go Shinjukawa, the result of two linebreedings on our original lines, has been TopDog for two consecutive years — 2024 and 2025 — as well as being a champion in three countries at only three years old and having accumulated another 10 titles, both junior and adult.

Eden go Shinjukawa, in Slovakia, Hungarian Champion, Romanian Champion, Grand Champion, International Champion

Nippo Go Shinjukawa, currently at a prestigious Austrian kennel, follows the same pattern and is Austrian and German Champion.

Asahi No Goma Shinjukawa, based in Poland, same pattern: he has already won the Polish championship, and his offspring, still young, are achieving interesting results in Germany.

Why it matters for you choosing a puppy

When a breeder knows his lines down to the great-grandparents through first-hand experience, he can tell you with reasonable certainty how your puppy will turn out as an adult — not only in appearance, but also and above all in character, which is one of the traits that is passed on most regularly. Obviously it is not an absolute guarantee — every dog is an individual — but it is the difference between providing an informed prediction supported by data and formulating blind hypotheses with no knowledge of what you are doing.

Many kennels that chase numbers boast good dogs: if I produce 100 puppies a year, it is reasonable to expect to find something of value sooner or later. But that is not method, it is simple statistics.

At Shinjukawa we work differently. Ours is not a coincidence — it is a system.