I do hope you will consider rescue or maybe a Shiba that a breeder has to rehome because the original owners brought it back. So many people don't have a clue as to what it takes to care for a dog.

You might want to check out Petfinder.org to see if you can locate one that way. Another site to check is www.hua.org which has many breeds of dogs rescued from all over the country. They are located in southeastern Nebraska.

As for leaving a dog alone all day, many dogs are able to adjust to that kind of schedule. Even though I work from home, my dogs know my schedule and basically just chill out during the day. The key is to have a routine for morning activities and when you get home in the afternoon. Plan on spending at least 30 - 45 (or more) minutes playing with and exercising your dog on a daily basis. If I made one HUGE mistake with the first dogs I had as an adult, it was not realizing just how much exercise a dog of their size and temperment needed. (A tired dog is a good dog.)

Good luck in your seach for dog to share you life.