Please make sure your son does lots of research on this breed. They are definatly not for everyone. They are for experienced owners ONLY. Like most spitz dogs, the are independant, strong willed, and stubborn. They have high prey drives. They need to be socialised with other dogs and children very well as they have a tendency to be dominant and assertive. One will not tolerate rough handling and shouldn't be left with small animals. Never let this dog think that he is boss or he will rule the roost. One must also not be let offleash in an unfenced area, and they are diggers.

On the other hand, shibas are VERY intelligent dogs. They are lively, bold, and affectionate towards their owners. Very fast and very agile. Charming little guys. They don't bark often, but they have a typical shiba "yodel." They have a double coat that needs to be brushed everyday and they are heavy seasonal shedders. But bathing isn't usually a problem -- shibas act very much like cats and will lick themselves clean. They usually don't smell bad either.

Hope that helped. Here are some sites about shibas.

http://www.littlewolf.com/faqs.htm
http://dogbreedinfo.com/shiba.htm