About Us

Originating in Western Washington, but having recently moved and currently living in Central Oregon, my husband (Tada) and I (Lauren) have always been long time dog lovers. In fact, how we met was through dogs. I was just starting my apprenticeship to become a dog trainer and my mentor, having previously been Tada's mentor, introduced us. She thought we might be a good match for each other, turns out she was right. 

In the following years we continued to build our careers and between the two of us, we now have over 20 years of professional dog training experience. This has allowed us to work with a wide range of dogs including some extremely rare and primitive breeds. Although there were a lot of breeds that we enjoyed and admired, none of them quite seemed to fit our lifestyle. They were either too large or too small, prone to common and/or serious health issues, were too vocal, or didn't match our energy needs. 

After years of searching for the right dog to add to our family, we came across an ad for a mixed breed puppy that just so happened to be within driving distance of us. Kazu, a Shiba Inu/Klee Kai mix, ended up being the perfect addition to our home. We were considering a Shiba Inu, but they can be 'sharp', difficult to train, and not a breed that would typically be successful in the doggie daycare/training facility, which is where I was  working at the time. The Klee Kai (miniature Husky), however, was bred to be a companion dog. In theory, the mix could provide exactly what we were looking for in a dog. 

We brought Kazu home in October of 2015 and he fit into our lives beautifully. Kazu matured to the athletic and ideal size of 25 pounds and his Husky markings really came in too, turning him into the perfect miniature Husky with Shiba features. He went to work with me everyday and was a dog that could easily travel, yet was hearty enough to keep up with us on all of our adventures. Kazu even starred as a Costco Kirkland dog bed model and was photographed for their magazine and tags, twice! Independent, yet loyal and affectionate with his people, he is a good balance of the primitive natured Shiba Inu and the companion bred Klee Kai. Of course not perfect, he was difficult to manage off leash because of his high prey drive and was also quite shy when meeting new people. However, through training, proper exposure, and maturity he has turned into a social, confident, and adaptable family companion. 

A few years later, along came Tuni. Her mom was a blue merle Australian Shepherd and her dad was a red Pomeranian. My husband needed a smaller dog to accompany him to work, just like I had with Kazu. So, it was decided that we would add another puppy to our pack! And this time around, we wanted to get a dog that was going to be a bit more outgoing than Kazu. Well, we got just that as Tuni is a total social butterfly and loves everyone and everything. She is extremely cuddly and affectionate, but also fun loving and adventurous, loves to swim, and can even catch a frisbee. Like Kazu, she is the perfect size at 25 pounds and has been a fantastic addition to our growing family. 

Kazu and Tuni ended up maturing into their own unique variations of what we envisioned to be the ideal dog; not just in looks and size, but in temperament as well. Better yet, they seemed to compliment each other: Where Kazu was maybe a bit too aloof and shy with new people, Tuni was overly friendly. Where Tuni was a little too vocal, Kazu was on the quieter side. And while Tuni's coat is soft and nice to pet, it isn't as functional as Kazu's and will sometimes get matted or things stuck in it. The two appeared to be a perfect match for each other. 

It wasn't until we moved to a larger property with acreage in sunny Terrebonne, Oregon that we were finally in the right place and the right time to turn our dream into a reality. In the summer of 2021, we welcomed our first litter into our home and family. Tuni and Kazu blessed us with six healthy babies and we cherish the time we spent with each and every one of them (all of which went to stellar homes and are living their best lives with owners that adore them). We are very proud of that litter and always looking forward to having our house filled again with sweet (and of course adorable!) puppies.

We, here at Half Pint Huskies, are a small hobby breeder with an average of 1-2 litters per year. Our puppies are raised in our home and as part of our family, which includes two adults, a toddler, and five dogs. They are properly socialized to many different people, children, dogs, and new environments. We also start them on leash and crate training, introduce some basic commands, and handle and play with them throughout each day. From the day they are born and until they leave our home, our puppies are given all of our love and attention. This will be evident if you decide to take a Half Pint Husky puppy home with you.