Masakado Shiba Inu

Moving to Wordpress

2011-10-05T03:13:00.000-07:00

I’m trying out WordPress for a bit. Blogger has some commenting and format issues that drive me nuts, so I changed the blog address to www.masakadoshiba.wordpress.com. No more of this naughty shiba bidness, so please update your links.

Scratch and Peck

2011-09-28T04:17:00.000-07:00

OMG, I love this blog! I made the switch to Scratch and Peck feed a few months ago, and really like the quality of the product. So, check out this chicken blog and I think you will like it, too.

Auction Supporting NW Shiba Rescue (Shibas 4 Life)

2011-09-26T01:25:00.000-07:00

Check out this amazing Shiba Inu Rescue near Portland, Oregon. They are raising money to build a new facility to house their rescue Shibas and have started an auction with some great Shiba Inu gear, some of it from Bark and Giggle. They started construction a few days ago, and here is a blueprint of the plan. Be awesome and make a bid!

Harbor Hounds 2011

2011-09-19T03:12:00.000-07:00

Grym and some Shiba friends went for a somewhat drizzly walk along the Gig Harbor waterfront this weekend. It cleared up enough to allow us to enjoy a great lunch at the Red Rooster cafe on their patio over the water. The owner, now affectionatly known as "the Bacon Man" to the canines, brought them all a piece of awesome bacon in celebration of dogs.

"Where's the Bacon Man?"

"Comrade, I would like some beer!"

"Is there bacon over here?"

"Phooey, no more bacon makes me a sad panda"

Signs

2011-09-18T02:18:00.000-07:00

It's good to know this stuff

Training Supplies

2011-09-15T18:15:00.000-07:00

Here is my latest order from Clean Run:

10 Rally cones, I can print the signs for free from AKC
2 Contempo Arc bully stick holders from Ethical Products
1 tub Paws Gourmet soft cheddar training treats
1 Benny Bully's Cheddar Chops
10 Bison Achilles chews
1 Bison gravy for Ike
1 Kong Squeak Tug for Farrah
2, 32 oz Dogswell Vitality Chicken jerky
4 pre viewed Whole Dog Journals from Pam

In addition to the Harbor Hounds dog walk in Gig Harbor and
the Puyallup Fair, this should be a great weekend!

Shiba Inus Are Horrid

2011-09-15T06:36:00.000-07:00

To whomever had this google query which brought them to my blog:

"shiba inus are horrid"

Quite a bold cow poke aren't you, telling google how Shibas really are and such. Why are you reading about them them? Go read about poodles, I'm sure there was never any horrid poodle in the history of the world. Put that in your book.

Craigslist I Can't Quit You, Revisited

2011-09-12T02:23:00.000-07:00

Another jem from Craiglsist:

"still looking for a grat dog

i just got married and was told i cant have kids but me and my husbend has lots of love for a new puppy are dog we live in a traller with a yard we just spant lots of money to get ready for a new dog so we dont have any money left to pay for a dog but we have lots of time and love to give so plez call are text"

In regards to not having children, in this case I believe Martha would say, "It's a good thing."

The Cutest Thing Ever Is...

2011-09-11T02:27:00.000-07:00

A pipsqueak Shiba Inu herding pipsqueak Babydoll Southdown Sheep. It's like a (very small) match made in heaven.

I had wanted at some point to get some Babydoll Sheep. They always seemed very "charming" with their faint little smiles, small size, and gentle nature. Now I can get my fill by visiting them at Ewetopia!

Shiba Inu are not what can be considered a herding breed, as in, they have not been specifically bred to specialize in that task, in contrast to Border Collies. There is no native herding dog in Japan. I like to consider this breed, however, as more of a jack of all trades dog. For me, this describes a dog that is not a specialist, but a generalist, a multipurpose dog who has many potential uses, such as pest control, hunting (baying, pointing, flushing, retrieving), companionship, watch dogging and alerting, and garbage disposal.

The term "proto-collie" seems very apt in describing the behavior I observe in my Shibas, and I have had a lot of opportunity to compare and contrast as my dogs have competed and been successful in traditional Collie/Cattle Dog/Shepherd/Sight Hound events. All the instinct is there for herding, hunting, guarding, etc, but it just has not been heavily selected for and is often buried (in some cases deeply) due to stronger selection for conformation, with more focus on selecting for an "easier" companion temperament.

So, while I can't title or compete with any of my dogs in Herding Trials, I can certainly give them the chance to explore their primitive instincts in between dog shows, and marvel at how versatile this breed truly is.

Q and A About Drive in Shibas

2011-09-09T04:58:00.000-07:00

First, I ordered this sick Agitation Collar with felt lining and handle for Grym. He is at the right height for me so I can collar walk him without having to bend over, but his current Lupine martingale gets buried in his coat and is near impossible to grab in case of emergency. COs also tend to carry their heads really low, so collar grabs are difficult, and I usually end up holding on to his tail instead. This new collar has a grab handle, so will be perfect for when he needs to leave the house, or if guests come over. It is wide enough and padded so it won't hurt him by pulling either.

Agitation collars are used mainly for sport work such as in Schutzhund. The dogs will throw a lot of weight in to the gear during the tests, so they need to be supremely durable. I don't do any of that with Grym, but I liked the functional design of the collar and I think it will prove useful. He is after all, well over 100lbs. He gets to wear it next time he goes herding.

Grym goes herding part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eLvrAMhCjo
Grym goes herding part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnparnuxNlw

Question time: Shibamistress asks, "Can you tell us the difference in behavior between a "sharp" or "drivey" Shiba and a more laid back one? How would that play out in every day life? How could you tell if a puppy was likely to be sharp?"

Well, I'm no expert on drive, or with dogs, but I will give it a shot. There are different drives in dogs, basically some internal factor (instinct) that motivates an individual dog to do something that is rewarding to the dog. These things are inherited, but not always obvious. If a dog has a strong response to a certain instinct, then it can be said that the dog has a strong drive for that instinct. Most often discussed are prey, play, food and defense drive, but there are others such as sex drive, and social drive.

The instincts are all there, in varying amounts, and training can do a lot to nurture them. I'm definitely not saying a Shiba will ever become a world class pointer, or personal protection dog, or take to dock diving with a little training, but training will help to bring to full potential whatever the dog already has.

I think "drive" and "sharpness" can still be pretty subjective terms, and sharpness of temperament does not necessarily correlate with drive or describe it well. I consider a sharp dog, as one who tends to be a bit quarrelsome, alert, keen, edgy and can be more "aggressive". Here is an explanation of sharpness, although there is some dominance nonsense at the end. The definition in that PDF for sharpness is fairly accurate for Beebe.

I don't think a dog with a slightly sharper temperament is a bad thing however. The dog that appears more lively and alert with a slightly higher degree of reactivity may be beneficial in a dog that is expected to hunt dangerous animals or alert to danger, so I actually do tend to favor a slightly sharper Shiba, as is described in our breed standard, "alert and agile with keen senses, he is also an excellent watchdog and companion." However, this type of Shiba may require more management and may not do as well in larger groups of dogs. A very sharp dog sounds quite difficult to manage, IMO.

So, what I look for in puppies that I know I will be wanting to do performance or competition with, is play and prey drive, with a little sharpness. I want to see a puppy that is bold, engaging and biddable (social), but not effusive, who is alert and keen and motivated internally to want to interact with people. These types of puppies like to play games such as chase the human, and tug, and they are not shy. I am thrilled when they do retrieves and come to find me to show off and try and get me to play some more. It also makes me grin when I watch one of these kinds of puppies see or hear something spooky and march right up to it like a little show dog and give a pip squeak bark, then toddle off to play. I mean, how cute is that?

The laid back puppies are more chill and pretty darn sweet. They would likely be the best and easiest temperaments to live with as long as they are not too shy or fearful, and those puppies would be suitable for most people. They should be pretty agreeable, sweet, attentive and gentle. There may be some really good play or prey drive there also. In general, this type of puppy would be fairly non reactive and steady, and would probably be easier to run with other dogs in a group.

Funny Shiba Nonsense

2011-09-07T03:34:00.000-07:00

I'm bored and sleepy and out of ideas. Here are some silly picture links that I found thru a half assed search of the net:

Dogs in Duds
Shiba Shake
icanhascheezburger
giggledaily

Seriously, I need some ideas. What does anybody want to know? Want an opinion? I have a bunch for free!

Hairless Bear

2011-09-05T07:13:00.000-07:00

Chupacabre? Naked sewer rat? A 16 year old Pomeranian? Hairless bear? Apologies if this has been done.

Sunset on the Farm

2011-09-04T02:23:00.000-07:00

There's a lovely little dog park next to Ewetopia out in Roy, Washington. The dogs had fun exploring it after a hard day of learning to herd sheep (more on that later), just as the sun was starting to set with the sounds of sheep, barn swallows and working dogs in our ears. It's the profound, yet peaceful moments like these, that help me appreciate the complex relationship humans and dogs share, side by side, doing what they have done for thousands of years. What a remarkable thing.

Herding Instinct Test

2011-09-03T14:06:00.000-07:00

Taking the dogs (5 Shibas and the Caucasian Ovcharka) for their first ever Herding evaluation at Ewetopia

The owners feel it is safer for the Shibas to work with sheep instead of ducks. I'm relieved since I wasn't looking forward to "you break it you buy it" duck for supper. Wish us luck!

Craigslist, I Can't Quit You

2011-09-01T03:10:00.000-07:00

No wonder the Japanese think we are fucking retards:

"$ 100.00 REWARD My cats were Cat Napped and then excapted in the RentonHighlands near the Ice Skating Rink the are a 2 year old male nuitered mail short hair gray with some stripes in the gray and white his name is BOY KITTY and I love and miss him so much, He has gotten me through some hard times , The other cat is just as Loved and she is a femail 5 years and she is a Calico dark in colars her name is STORMY and she is a little lieary of people but she is also loved and missed she also has been their for me so please if you have seen my cats call me and leave a message for xxxxx Like I said the we Cat Napped and excaped throught the dryer ducted and I know they are trying to return home to me and I used to live in the Renton Highlands behind the GoodWill.., Where the excapted at was also in the Highlands by the Skating rink and the IGA that closed , Thank You"
Guess and Go spelling does NOT pay off after Kindygarden!

Interview For Japanese TV

2011-08-31T02:03:00.000-07:00

Today the Shiba Inus and their people were the stars of a pilot episode featuring Japanese things in America for a new Japanese television series out of Osaka, Japan. We spent over 2 hours shooting in several locations. Now Ike, Beebe, Farrah, Grym, Penny, Pip, Eli, Maluko and Koji, with their people Sandra, Pam and myself, are super awesome Japanese TV stars!

They basically asked us why we chose Shiba Inus (clean, small, quiet-ish, primitive, not in your face) and how we think they represent Japanese culture (they are a National Treasure, number 1 companion pet in Japan, reserved, naturally beautiful, artless grace, discussed Kan-i, Ryosei, and Soboku and learned how to pronounce them correctly!). They asked what their names were and why we chose American names over Japanese names (the dogs were born in America afterall).

The director was also interested in where we got our dogs (insert multiple shameless plugs here), if strangers approach us looking at our dogs and what do they say (are those foxes?), and if they are becoming more popular in America (mentioned puppy mills and pet stores!!!!). For some reason, they were particularly interested in our Shiba Inu bumperstickers and wanted to know what they ment and if people commented on them.

In turn, I learned about some very interesting cultural differences via their American liason. He indicated that his apartment was considered spacious by his Japanese friends, and it was basically the size of my kitchen. Holy cow, that's why they all nodded their heads in approval when I stated the Shiba Inus small size makes them a popular pet in Japan, and I believe it if their living quarters are that small. No wonder so many Japanese train their dogs to go on pee pads indoors in their crates.

Lastly, they were duely impressed by (frightened of) the Caucasian Ovcharka, but he was not so fond of them. I was suprised that several of the Japanese film crew asked if he was an Akita. Fail. They must not see too many Akita up close. Sadly, we were too busy to get many pictures of ourselves, however, we will be getting a DVD copy of the shoot to share with everyone, hooray!

Rawr!

I luvs you Koji

Koji, I win

Eli

Ike

Agility Fun with Eli

Ike, Farrah, Koji

Eli and Pam get interviewed at the park. Thanks to the asshat
who drove by us during MY interview yelling "Ha, I ruined
your interview!" I apologized on behalf of the American
people for this guys rudeness.

Random Show Photos

2011-08-22T02:23:00.000-07:00

Ike's too sexy for his shirt. Can anyone say "Beefcake!"

FYI, for anyone who is interested, Susan Norris Jones of Sunojo Shibas is a very nice breeder and really fun to chat with. Her dogs are also beautiful.

Calling NASA, I Have a Breeding Question

2011-08-20T23:29:00.000-07:00

I was looking at vendor booths while at the dog show. My eye was captured by a set of snazzy little blankets and vests. The vendor began telling me how NASA designed this special heat absorbing garment to regulate temperature in space of astronauts during re-entry, etc. It can also be used to keep dogs cool and prevent them from overheating. She was trying to sell me some. I thought to myself that my dogs have their own built in space blankets and the ability to pant to cool down. Why would I need something like this with a Shiba? Seeing the puzzled look on my face, she volunteered that she had English Bulldogs, and we both went "Ah, gotcha" at the same time, as that pretty much explained everything.

Dear NASA, since when did you become concerned with breeding dogs? I think we need to let bulldogs be extinct already if it takes space technology to keep them alive. Seriously, if you're going to invest all that time and money and research into making things stay alive that should be dead, why not make something really cool like a dinosaur? Or 100 Einsteins? We could use some more of those. Bulldog space blankets is right up their with your MAG (maximum absorbency garment) idea so astronauts and cosmonauts can wet themselves in space or while driving across the country to stalk their lovers. Toilets are sooo 20th century. Yeah that's cool, not!

I Want a Border Collie

2011-08-18T02:54:00.000-07:00

I am turning to the Dark Side. I want a Border Collie as my next working/performance dog. I am not giving up on training with Shibas at all, but there are these great Border Collies enrolled in my Rally and Focus classes that I am mesmiraized with. It's been great fun watching how they learn and speaking with their owners, and seeing what great dogs they can be to work with.

Beebe, my Flyball/Agility Shiba, is not as physically sound as she needs to be in order to safely continue with Agility training, which is why I am getting back into Rally with her. Her conformation is terrible and I don't want her to injure herself on one too many jumps, although bless her little heart, she is an enthusiastic worker.

So, I am looking for a sound dog who is built to work and wants to work...down the road of course, not right now.

Shiba Inu Health Issues Survey

2011-08-17T05:46:00.000-07:00

For curiosity sake, what health issues do your Shiba Inus suffer? I made a quick little survey to find out. Thanks for playing!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZV56MH2

Here is part 2 of the health survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5MFV897

Craiglist, the New Canine Matchmaking Service

2011-08-16T02:31:00.000-07:00

I browse Craigslist every so often, mostly looking for dog training equipment, or chicken things. While I'm browsing, I also like to scout the Pet section for Shibas and lost dogs in my area. I follow that by searching generically for "dog", which has become a form of self torture for me. Here is why: If the d-bags that are flipping puppies, or "looking for a femail to breed with lab/gsd mix with papers" isn't enough to give me indigestion, surely all the 7 week old teacup designer puppies for "adoption", adolescent pit puppies that "sadly are not allowed in the new house", and 11 year old "we love him very much and hate to see him go but he needs more time and attention and is too jealous of the baby" dogs, are. Also, what's with all the Hissing Cockroaches and Dumbo Rats for sale? Do people really keep these as pets? The least CL could do is mandate pictures of the skeevy owners along with their wares, just for grins, otherwise it's like a really uncomfortable blind date (which is synonymous I realize).

Nisqually Kennel Club, Day 1

2011-08-14T02:35:00.000-07:00

Ike was awesome. It was a beautiful outdoor show in a nice grounds. Thanks to Sandra for the great pictures and Ike's Auntie Cheryl for advice. Her girl Gussy was WB, and Ike was BOW, so we all went home with a point and happy dogs.

Do Dogs Understand Sarcasm?

2011-08-12T08:59:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th birthday Beebe! I'm glad you like the giant pile of rocks I bought just for you. I know you have always wanted someplace hard and lumpy to sleep on so I am glad I haven't wasted any money on 5 oversized plush dog beds from Costco.

Shiba Pictures

2011-08-11T16:48:00.000-07:00

New Ike Pictures

2011-07-28T02:25:00.000-07:00

He is in his summer duds:

Chicken Jerky and Another Shiba Passes the CGC

2011-07-27T03:26:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Sandra for making some delicious preservative free chicken jerky for the dogs using her food dryer. The best part, this chicken isn't from China and the dogs love it!

Also, a whopping huge congratulations to Sandra and her Shiba lady, Maluko, who is perhaps the most well behaved Shiba bitch I have ever met. This award of Good Citizenship is well deserved. Ike and Beebe send her an arroo-roo and welcome her to the Shiba Inu with CGCs club.

More Home Improvement

2011-07-25T04:52:00.000-07:00

The nosey white trash loud mouth neighbor was banging on my entry gate again and jiggling the handle to let herself in, ignoring the very upset words from my dogs. She complains, "You gotta do something about these gates. I can't see in." Nosey neighbor tries to scare me by citing rape, murder, fire, no one can come save me from burglars, or strangers, or people trying to hurt my dogs, etc, etc, etc. Naturally, the irony of her own words are lost on her, and she doesn't seem to realize that she was just trying to unlawfully enter my property in broad day light while my dogs were loose in the yard. Impenetrable gates stay as they are.

To put this in perspective, these two...gentlewomen...remind me of my neighbor. Add some cigs and dentures, and voila!

Her next complaint (there was a list), involves some blackberries growing on the second lot, which is also blocking her view of my yard and she wants them gone yesterday.

Doggie Grandpa Wayne is the overseer of this new project

The worker was soon engulfed in the briar patch, but, it turns out we can start building soon. The soil drainage is good and the undeveloped lot, about 6000-7000 square feet, is enough for a second house for my parents to retire in. With any luck, at least one room of this new house will be built with the dogs in mind. The plan is to install a professional grooming tub and whelping room with a patio and secured small puppy yard off of it. That's plenty for the nosey neighbor to spy on, so she should be happy.

Picture Post

2011-07-24T02:25:00.000-07:00

I iz Sleepy Puppy

Too Sleepy to Play

I iz Tired

We iz Tireds

I Take Nap Now, You Come Back Later

Beautiful Expression!

Beebe Hunting Bees

Home Improvement Project #7,859

2011-07-21T15:29:00.000-07:00

An industrial size mound of bark dust deposited next to the current and blueberry plants. It must be investigated.

News Flash: Purina Kibbles Cure Mange!

2011-07-17T05:39:00.000-07:00

Who would have thunk it, a few extra Purina kibbles could cure mange? I think someone needs to tell the AVMA, so they can promote the formulation of a new prescription mange diet and save consumers and pets the hassle of ivermectin treatment. Maybe it's the rancid grease from restaraunt fryers and rendering plants that does it? Lots of secret ingredients there to chose from.

Spring Cleaning: Busy Toys

2011-07-16T16:04:00.001-07:00

It's easy to tell which brands I like, or rather, which brands the dogs like, that have held up, primarily Kong, Premier, and Everlasting tend to have survived over the last 5 years with 9-10 dogs using them in that time. Guessing from the murky water, they were due for a scrub, which I aim for after every 3rd or 4th use depending on what was in them. I used a scented bleach soak of 3/4 cup per gallon and left them to stew for about an hour while I washed beds.

Brother From Another Mother

2011-07-14T20:12:00.001-07:00

Ike and Eli are 3/4 brothers. They are soo similar in how they just love to get good lap time anytime. They are also so good with other dogs, they don't mind sharing the same lap. These are some sweet boys.

Why 8 weeks?

2011-07-14T03:22:00.000-07:00

Here is a good link on the critical socialization period for dogs from Dog Star Daily. A quote that stands out to me is, "being accepting and friendly to people is the most important requirement of any companion dog." This is why, with Shiba Inu, who mature quickly in comparison to other breeds (potty trained by 6 weeks), I would like to see them in their new home by 8 weeks of age. With a breed that tends to be aloof, ask yourselves if it is more important for them to spend an extra two weeks with their littermates bonding with dogs, or meeting new people and learning that humans are fun and safe?

After having more experience in rescue, and those of you in rescue will have heard this too probably, the one thing that will sign a dogs' euthanasia release is bites to people. Attacking other dogs can be managed with seperation, and even then it doesn't always work, but human biting in this day and age especially, isn't going to be well tolerated legally.

There are puppy play groups and play dates in training centers, day care, friends dogs, current dogs, and so on that will help with keeping puppy current on appropriate dog interactions. However, I think it is more important to get the dog into a home where they will be well socialized with people as early as possible. This is not to say that the breed doesn't have issues with dog aggression as well, because they certainly can, but my first preference would be to help the dog along with being a good pet able to live with people, over being a good pack dog, although I definately desire both of these things in my dogs.

What are your opinions?

5 Chubby Shibas

2011-07-13T06:19:00.000-07:00

Is it just me, or is the camera making these Shiba kids look enormously overweight? Maybe it's just that the bonafied skinny dogs Ike and Farrah are surrounded by a wall of curly tailed lardies? Fyi, Ike and Farrah are not speutered so I am thinking there is a correlation there as well. Regardless, they always seem to look heavier when they have good coat, like the three, ahem, beefy Shibas. If you're wondering, they are all eating Honest Kitchen after a long day of frolicking in the pasture.

Gotta Love the Oldster Shibas

2011-07-11T10:13:00.001-07:00

14 year old Penny, like all little old ladies, doesn't stand on ceremony. At her age, if she wants to sit in the people chairs, by golly she's going to and the young pups better not get in her way. She's earned it.

The CGC is not a Title

2011-07-10T10:48:00.000-07:00

Great post by "Dog Show Newbie" on titles. AKC is coming up with all kinds of programs to keep the general public interested in spending money. A CGC is hard enough to earn with a Shiba or a CO, and it's expensive. I have paid over a $100 per dog on 6-8 week classes (for 4 dogs so far), including all the outside proofing and socializing, nursing home visits, trips to the hard ware store and other dog friendly events, etc. After all that work, make it a title already! The CGC certificate does not certify temperament I realize, but it does indicate to me that the owner is willing to put the time into socializing a dog, is willing to learn about responsible dog ownership, and is helping the dog to be well behaved in public. Can't say that about a Grand Championship title. Well, I consider it an achievement if AKC does not, especially for these 2 breeds, so I am declaring it on their individual pages even though I realize it is not an official title.

Biker Bitch

2011-07-10T09:09:00.000-07:00

That's right, I said it. She is a bitch, but she loves her Grandpa :)

Canine Blood Donation

2011-07-08T23:39:00.000-07:00

I love animals, and I am definitely a dog person. I also do something that I *think* many dog parents do, if they are in any way similar to human parents, and that is think of the worst. I think about what would happen to my dogs if they were suddenly injured, and what I would do if they were suffering or not getting what they needed, mostly the normal "what if" scenarios that cause me to hug them tighter and really go the extra mile for them.

Enter canine blood donation. It turns out canine blood donors are in high demand as our Veterinary technology reaches new peaks of increasingly complex critical care. Summer is the time of year with the greatest rate of canine death primarily due to trauma from car related injury, followed by dog on dog maulings. After that in no particular order is surgical blood loss, immune related anemias, cancers and cancer treatment, poisonings, and so on. Canine blood donation and blood components are critical in saving dogs that suffer from these things.

It turns out Grym is the perfect canine blood donor candidate for the Access Blood Bank canine donor program. He is over 50 lbs, he is calm, he is compliant, he will quietly lay still if I ask, he is not aggressive, and most importantly, he is the canine equivalent of a universal donor (it's a very rare blood type that, as in humans, can be given to any dog). On Thursday, he went in for his first donation. He got onto their donation table all on his own, and got a ton of liver treats.

"Grandma" went with us to help keep him happy. He is very hairy, so the Licensed Vet Tech needed to shave him.

Blood donation requires a jugular stick, and works via gravity. The needle is large, but he didn't mind. This is his giant hairy neck, and the little red line is his donated blood.

Grym donated about 450 mls of canine blood. This will save the lives of about 3-4 dogs, and will make at least 3-4 families very, very happy.

He got his "I donated blood today" bandanna, scored a bunch of liver treats, and picked out a brand new Kong Wubba, which the Shibas promptly stole from him. He also got a cheeseburger and more liver for supper.

The staff stated he was a perfect donor and an excellent breed ambassador. They had never met a Caucasian Ovcharka, and seemed genuinely pleased to include him in their program. I am so proud of him.

Fit Paws and My Favorite Pet Supply Stores

2011-07-07T01:09:00.000-07:00

My guilty pleasure lately has been online shopping at dog supply companies. I'm not looking for generic things, my interests are leaning towards specialty items with time and experience. When I was supporting 1-2 dogs and myself only, money was no object and with lack of know-how, I spent wildy and in excess. As a consequence, I have cupboards and shelves full of dog supplies that are basically useless and turned out not to be good purchases. It's always a bit iffy buying online, but over time, I have learned to be a smarter shopper for my discriminating canines.

Today I got in my first order from Clean Run. This is an online company dedicated to the performance hound, with a heavy focus on excellent training materials and sporting/training equipment. From left to rightish, there are Ice Pods for the up comming summer shows, a book on building Agility equipment, The Focused Puppy, Puppy Sounds for conditioning working and show puppies :), the DVD Calming Signals, Fit Paws for all the dogs (which Farrah was trying to steal for herself), and a Balance Pod for Beebe's conditioning and new babies :) The nobby textures on these last two items and wobbly undersides will help puppies mental development and confidence on uneven surfaces I believe.

Pay special attention to the Fit Paws label and you will see why I HAD TO HAVE THIS!

How Big Does a Yard for a Shiba Inu Have To Be

2011-07-06T05:08:00.000-07:00

I get some really weird search queries that bring people to this blog, but mostly they are good questions, which I am pleased about, like this one: How big does a yard for a shiba inu have to be?

The short answer is, it depends. Looking back to the days with my first Shiba, I rented and did not have a fenced yard. She had to rely on walks, dog park visits and doggy day care for her exercise. I admit I was thinner back then too and had all the time in the world to devote to her off leash recall (which is fabulous and due in part to not having a fenced yard), training and travel. That was adequate for 2 dogs and 2 small dogs are easy to walk with one person.

So, if you have 1-2 dogs, you really only need an area at home that is large enough to potty them, IF you are doing 2-3 walks a day for at least 30 minutes. Unless you run your dogs, they do deserve a chance to stretch their little legs and run full out once a day, so in this case, I do believe an enclosed dog park, tennis court or a friends/family yard is good.

Today, I usually have 5-10 dogs on any given day during the week and there is no way I can walk them separately and often enough to give them the exercise and stimulation they need, especially in light of their conditioning requirements for showing and performance sports (Flyball, Agility). This is why I now own a fully fenced acre, and our walks are no longer daily or needed for exercise beyond mental stimulation (they are out of the house often for mental enrichment). I also don't worry so much about door bolting and failed recalls. These are the nice parts about having a large fenced yard.

The not so nice part for many pet owners is the frustration of going to all the effort to fence a larger yard, only to find their Shibas refusing to potty in the new yard, and sitting on the doorstep pining to come inside to go on a walk, not frolicking as was intended. Dogs can quickly become isolated and forgotten this way if living with lazy owners. This is why some breeders I have spoken with are not so concerned about fenced yards, as the dogs who are being walked everyday tend to be in decent shape and are better socialized.

The tendency when fencing a yard, is to assume that the dogs will exercise themselves so the pressing need to do potty or exercise walks, is diminished. We all have these neighbors at some point who fall into this habit, who have 1 or 2 dogs that spend all day unattended in the backyard, no matter how large, and are never walked. They probably bark and dig out of boredom and look very sad while they sit on the porch waiting for someone to interact with them. Sometimes they leave their spacious yards much to their owners' perplexity, to go into your yard, or into the street, searching for someone to interact with.

This is the rub: a big fenced yard does not create a happy or exercised dog by virtue of being fenced in. So, what is the point of having an acre play area again? My play pasture is a safer, time saving alternative to multiple individual walks 2-3 times a day, and it serves as my private dog park and dog gymnasium, with a lot of work on my part to keep the dogs moving. Believe me, my dogs are not lazy backyard loungers and I am a busy mom for them making sure they get their needs met. They are not allowed to just sit around and veg when they are outside and this is where special attention needs to be paid. Planning adequate backyard exercise takes a surprising amount of effort.

Over time, I am learning the canines are more inclined to exercise the more of them there are. When my dogs have guests, they run and chase for hours. They leap and twirl and dig, catch tennis balls and race each other to climb to the highest point of their jungle gym. I use a chukit, a flirt pole, a pen light, agility equipment, and a custom dog jungle gym to make sure they are on the move. When they come inside after an average of 5-6 hours outside running, they are fit and exhausted.

So, it really depends on how many dogs there are and what you are willing to provide for them. 1 or 2 dogs can get by fine with out a fenced yard if given multiple walks daily. More than 3 dogs is hard for one person to walk usually in my experience, so if your yard is a good size and fenced (my parents' city has 1/4 acre lots for instance) just make sure the dogs are not spending all day loafing in the sun. Get out there and play with them, encourage them to run, or take them for a car ride to a dog friendly area for a walk, or a pet friendly store, or invite some of their doggy friends over for a play date. A tired Shiba is a good Shiba!

Happy Fourth!

2011-07-04T07:45:00.001-07:00

Ike is patriotic red, white and blue while he sleeps off his 4th of July hangover. Happy and safe 4th to all my Shiba friends and their people. Keep those doggies cool indoors or where it is quiet, with collars and some radio or a touch of ace, benadryl or Rescue Remedy to help them help you enjoy the holiday.

What Constitutes a Puppy Mill?

2011-06-30T06:19:00.000-07:00

I want to address this because of a new special forum troll buddy, who's "friend" has a puppy from a breeder. When presented with mountains of evidence listed by other people about what constitutes a puppy mill, he refuses to recognize that this place shares many features of a dog farm (the word "farm" is even in the kennel name!) So, I present you readers with a list of commonly accepted features associated with puppy mills, and ask you to decide for yourselves. PS, google the name and "puppy mill" pops right up in the search results.

1) USDA license
2) Multiple breeds with multiple litters on the ground
3) Designer breeds and mixes
4) Brokering for larger operations with smaller satelite facilities in cooperation (can be called back yard breeders)
5) Sick and injured dogs lacking medical care
6) Money is the priority
7) Limited health guarantee if any (a 1 year health guarantee is LAUGHABLE!)
8) Seem nice enough, but remember, their job is to make you comfortable so you buy from them, they are salespeople more than anything
9) Will sell to who ever has funds
10) Dogs are not standard and not shown (this is a big deal in Shibas, they need to be within standard and they need to have been shown before being bred)
11) Contract covers sellers' best interests, if there even is one
12) Lack of health testing (OFA, Penn Hip, Cerf) on breeding dogs but will almost always say "the Vet said it's healthy" when asked
13) Almost always will NOT mandate spay/neuter or return of dog if new owner is unable to care for it
14) and the list goes on for miles

Just because a dog farm seems to care about and professes to love their dogs, does not negate the facts. Just because the dogs have AKC registration, champions in their history, live indoors and are raised with children, does not rule out shady dealings and questionable motives or ethics. At best, that indicates a backyard breeding operation, where at least more often than not the dogs are actually cared for and there aren't that many of them, but still...when I read stories about this puggle puppy and this same puppy that almost died, I doubt very much that the intentions go beyond making money in a day and age when so, so many mix breed dogs and purebreds are in need of homes in shelters across the nation.

Don't take my word, here are some more interpretations. If it looks like a duck....

Can Shiba Inu be Therapy Dogs?

2011-06-29T01:41:00.000-07:00

Here's one (this is for Inubaka), a Cream Shiba Inu therapy dog.

I think most Shibas will find therapy work a bit taxing and not really their style, but that is certainly not to say that there are not Shibas who will enjoy and excell at therapy work. I think good breeding also has a lot to do with it as most are aware that temperament and steady nerves are inherited. I see so many good things in Shibas, not just mine, that I can't help but to applaud quietly whenever I see one "working" outside the box and taking on a non traditional role for the breed, like Flyball and Pet Therapy.

Farrah is about 10 months old in this photo. She was doing her 4th nursing home visit and you can tell by her blurry wagging tail, that she is quite thrilled to meet people where ever she goes. Who knows, maybe some day when she is a big girl she can join the ranks of other non-traditional Shibas and become a real therapy dog :)

Hot and Spicey

2011-06-27T03:57:00.000-07:00

She looks like a chorizo. This is one very tired beach bum puppy snoozing in the beach cabin after some surf time, while the people make paella. Be jealous, it was delicious and the weather and company were phenominal.

Available Shibas to be Rehomed

2011-06-25T11:07:00.000-07:00

No, none of mine.

A reputable and responsible Shiba breeder in the Great Lakes region is placing 4 young adults and a puppy who would happiest on someones couch instead of in a breeding program. They are healthy, vetted, have great temperaments and spayed/neutered prior to placement. Please email me at masakadoshiba at hotmail.com and I will pass your info onto the breeder.

Farrah the Débutante Shiba

2011-06-21T23:51:00.000-07:00

It finally came in the mail! Farrah's first show picture. San Jo Lillith Fair, June 12, 2011, Tacoma Kennel Club, Mr John Madieros, Winners Bitch for 5 pt Major win her first weekend out. I love this picture of her, she is just beautiful and showed well. I luvs my little baby. She is 9 months in this photo.

Beebe's Cameo on NSCA Website!

2011-06-20T03:16:00.000-07:00

I like the new info on the National Shiba Club of America webpage. I really like this link on Shiba activities especially. Some of you may recognize a certain naughty red Shiba towards the bottom of page 2 showing off her amazing Flyball skilz. Kudos to all the owners, handlers and breeders who are getting their Shibas out and about and titled in Companion Events!

Check out this updated section on health concerns, and the new how to chose a breeder checklist while you're visitng.

Seattle Area Shiba Inu Needs Adoption

2011-06-19T03:23:00.000-07:00

Check out this poor little guy, Fred, who is in need of a permanent home. SPDR is working with him and a potential foster family. If you are interested in adopting Fred, please contact the number in the ad (Everett Animal Shelter, Everett, WA (425)257-6000)

I know he looks like a hyena right now, but he is completing treatment and is not contagious, and really needs to get out of the shelter and into a peaceful home to help speed up his healing.

"Fred is an adult Shiba Inu who came into the shelter suffering from sarcoptic mange. He has since been treated and is on the road to recovery and is currently being treated for a secondary skin infection. His hair should grow back. Fred is a well behaved and polite dog who is smart and clever. This spunky guy knows sit, down, and walks very well on leash. Shiba Inus are tough little dogs, who have a somewhat unique and charming personality. Shiba Inus are generally confident, head-strong dogs who can be stubborn and strong-willed, and are described as having a strong temperament. Due to this, Shiba Inu owners need to be dedicated to providing consistent, firm, but gentle training, and willing provide plenty of exercise. Shibas can be energetic dogs, who require a decent amount of daily physical and mental exercise to keep them entertained. Fred will need a home with no children under the age of 12, and adopters with cats should be cautious and provide very strict supervision as Shiba Inus have high prey drives."

Random Backyard Pictures

2011-06-16T02:44:00.000-07:00

The doggy grandpa helped me build an awesome canine jungle gym based off of a modified agility ramp and dog walk. Maluko, Koji, Eli and Penny came over for a play date to give her a spin. I think they liked it.

Each morning I say "table" and my crew beats feet to the top so they can get some chicken and tripe cookies, while at the same time practicing their table manners.

I consider the new play thing to be a form of "environmental enrichment".

It is of course not a substitute for walkies, zoomies, or games of chase.

And nothing beats a rousing game of chase like a good takedown and wrestling session at the end.

Farrah's Big Day (Show Win Brag!)

2011-06-13T02:56:00.000-07:00

Farrah (San Jo Lillith Fair), made her AKC debut in Puyallup this weekend. As she is a 9 month old puppy and this is her first show, I didn't expect an outstanding performance. My goals for her were for her to have fun, pay attention to me, and mind her manners. Boy was I thrilled when Judge John Madieros awarded her Winner's Bitch on her second day for a 5pt Major! Woot! The weekly handling lessons and classes are paying off. Early socializing is such a huge deal with this breed and can help make happy, confident dogs that are enjoyable to take anywhere. Good girl Farrah.

Just starting to drop her gorgeous puppy coat

Blurry shot of her awesome reach

The Judge loved her movement and front and asked to see her
go around several times, really studying her

Head shed and false eyebrows!

She has a toosh like her mommy, Lillith

She had a great time

Tail drop on the table is ok, it comes right up as soon she is baited

Puppy Play Palace

2011-06-08T09:20:00.000-07:00

Wrestling Doggies

2011-05-25T01:16:00.000-07:00

Firstly, Farrah really likes her new Puppy Pull toy. She has a good deal of play/prey/toy drive, which is why I was so happy to have a puppy from her breeding. I want to encourage her tug affinity for training reasons, so this was a good purchase for her. I consider this one of those "environmental enrichment" activities that helps to create happy dogs. She doesn't seem to want to play with it unless she has an audience (she's a total ham), so I will spice it up a bit with some of the leftover calf hide.

Last video, is Grym and Ike wrestling. There are 2 points where Ike doesn't appreciate Grym's rough-housing style, and you can hear him "discipline" Grym briefly by the change in his snark tone. Grym, good boy that he is, instantly backs off, giving some nice appeasing behaviors, and the play resumes. You can also see Ike wagging his tail with enjoyment and handicapping himself. He is really inviting the play, which is cute, considering he is definately the head cheese among the dogs and my little Silver Back, the gentle patriarch.

Breeding Better Dogs

2011-05-23T03:09:00.000-07:00

@ Jen

You asked in this post how providing toys and new objects helps with a puppy's brain development. This article on Early Neurological Stimulation, describes what some breeders are implementing into their rearing practices. I have heard it described as "Super Dog" rearing and been privilaged to see how some Shiba breeders are using it in their programs with their puppies, and I plan to follow suit.

The portion on "enrichment" and future trainability speaks very loudly to me. I believe that providing varied types of toys and tactile experiences to young puppies helps them learn how to engage their world with more confidence, and sets them on the right path of learning how to learn, and learning how to play. I can tell you from personal experience and I'm sure you can relate to this as well given your extensive rescue history, that it can be very difficult to motivate a dog to engage you for training when everything around them is a new experience.

Undersocialized dogs and dogs reared in an un-enriched environment often have no clue about toys, how to play, and lack coping skills needed to be successful in new situations. Most of the training I do with my dogs involves using treats, toys and play to motivate behaviors I like, so a dog that is fearful of or disinterested in those things, makes training for even the most basic skills, difficult to say the least. And I really love a Shiba that wants to learn and play. Does that make sense?

Little Barnyard Miracles

2011-05-23T01:59:00.000-07:00

Kitty is my "handicapable" pet chicken. She was attacked by a cat before she came to stay with me, and has a little difficulty getting around. She can do her chicken thing just fine, although she isn't very graceful about it, but she tries. We had some bad downpours a week or so back, and well, poor Kitty somehow managed to get stuck in a brush pile overnight in the rain. When I finally found her the following day, she was soaked, on her back in a puddle, and couldn't walk or stand up. She would instantly tip over and her head would point skyward. I thought she had some type of stroke on top of her old injury flaring up, or maybe her little chicken brain just can't work when it's upside down.

Anyways, she was quite pathetic and unable to fend for herself. The other hens started picking on her too. Knowing that she was going downhill, I placed her in a chick brooder with a heat lamp and hand fed her chick mash, corn and suet, hoping she would turn around. The next day she developed an audible pneumonia and could only lay on her side with her wings stretched out. I began to see she was suffering, and I started making preparations to euthanize her, but had a bit of a moral dilema in regards to how it should be done.

She is a pet afterall, doesn't lay, and I have always made special efforts to keep her safe and fed above the others, or lend her a little helping hand if she couldn't quite make it to a perch. It didn't seem morally "right" to slaughter her, so I opted on humane euthanasia at the vet the following morning, giving her one more night to turn around.

Imagine my suprise when I walked into the coop the following morning, and saw Kitty standing upright at the feeder and waterer drinking and eating on her own. Even when she was near death, she never gave up. She wouldn't just lay there waiting for death and quietly slip away. She made every effort to cling to life even if it ment dragging her body across the coop floor to peck my feet so I would pick her up. She is the embodiment of the term "plucky," and has safely secured a permanent place in my heart, not the table.

Kitty, the morning of her miraculous recovery.

Nesting

2011-05-19T17:54:00.000-07:00

Ordered a box of great puppy plushies, squeakies, fuzzies, and rope toys to send with future puppies so they will have something that smells like home. This is all a year away from now at least, but my breeder/mentor says it's important to provide puppies with toys that have different textures and shapes from an early age to help with brain development. Let's just say I am getting a head start on one of the (potentially) smartest, most well adjusted, genius Shiba litters out there.

Annual Auburn Petpalooza featuring Shibas

2011-05-19T06:45:00.000-07:00

It's the time of year again for the Petapalooza, this Saturday at Auburn's Game Farm Park, from 10-7pm. The Seattle Flydogs will be doing live demonstrations, and there will be a ton of other troops and vendors offering cool premium dog freebies. Free is good! Come see Beebe, Ike and Farrah as they entertain the crowd and show everyone how good Shiba Inu are at Flyball.

Booger

2011-05-08T02:39:00.000-07:00

That's the best word to describe Farrah right now. I gave all the dogs new chew hooves this evening. Within minutes, this is where they all ended up. It's clear that a certain little fur person thinks she is pretty high up on the totem pole. What a booger.

Ike says: "Look what she did Mom. Make her give it back."

Farrah's First Hunt

2011-05-06T07:21:00.000-07:00

Firstly, this was such a pretty little batch of eggs I had to take a photo of them for comparison. The dark red egg is from one of the Cuckoo Marans. Cool huh?

Now here is a little Farrah brag:

The rain has flushed some worms to the surface and the moles are going to town. The four shibas have been stalking the little mole habitrails which are now only inches below the duff layer where the worms are. They flushed one to the surface and Farrah took the honors, making this her official first hunt. She really wanted to eat it, but I wasn't sure if it had been poisoned or not, so no mole meal for her this time. She is such a little prey drivey stalker/huntress which I love. What a good girl!

Buying Farm Fresh and Local

2011-05-03T04:51:00.000-07:00

I think I'm done buying chickens this year.

Yesterday I visited a local small farm, Filbert Acres Farm, inquiring about their rare Buckeye chickens and Copper Marans. I bought 10, which brings the fowl total to 28 chickens. Firstly, I love this farm's mission:

'We are exploring organic certification. For now, be assured that our land has not seen chemical pesticide or fertilizer use for more than a decade. It is our conviction that we have a responsibility to farm sustainably.'

Sadly, a large portion of their Filbert grove had been cut down last week due to blight. It was sad seeing these 60 year old trees as piles of limbs, and I realized that this was a large part of the farm's income that had suddenly been lost. Farming is damn hard work and the payoff is small, and breaking even is a cause for celebration. I won't go so far as to say that what I have can be considered a farm at this point, but I very much feel the price of things these days.

Anyways, I'm signing up for their CSA share as this is the type of farm that I want to support. I feel more connected and linked with the communtiy when I buy local instead of from Safeway, and that gives me warm fuzzies. So do these:

The Java hens are growing fast. Last night they were perching
and pecking like old pros. They are about 2 weeks at this point.

The new additions hatched on Friday. These are my sweet
little Black Copper Marans, and yes, their legs are feathered
already! There is a Buckeye in their somewhere, and possibly
more to come in the next few weeks. It kind of sucks having
different age groups in the brooders, since it will be harder
integrating them due to size and pecking order, so I may wait
to add more chicks until these are out of the brooder and more
independent.

Shiba Playdate

2011-04-27T01:33:00.000-07:00

Recap of the play date last weekend with friend Pam, and her Penny and Eli. After a good romp, we all went to the Puyallup Farmer's Market for a nice walk. I scored some apples for 10c a pound, which went to the chickens and bunnies. Fun times for all.

Ike: Please can I go inside, I just want to ~~eat~~ look at them.

Penny and Eli

Eli checks out the chickens and junk pile

I dropped an egg accidently on purpose

Blurry Grym tail, but check out the look on Ike's face as he
guards his prize egg

Poofy puppy buns!

Finally a group photo. Woot!

Learning About Quarantine from Craigslist

2011-04-26T03:41:00.000-07:00

I added three adult laying Cuckoo Marans hens to help fill some of my egg requests. I bought them off of Craigslist and was really excited about having some Marans running around. Well, they have chicken lice. I mean, they are flippin infested. Now, parasites are not uncommon in poultry, but it's still gross. I noticed the critters (unfortunately) after the purchase when I was unloading the hens at home.

Thankfully, they were in their travel cages at the time, so they have not come into contact in any way with my flock. For the record, my own hens are beautiful and clean and parasite free, and I want it to stay that way. I am mindful about keeping everything clean and tidy for them as possible. I put out new hay/timothy grass every week in the nesting boxes, and they get a new layer of pine shavings litter about once every 3-4 weeks. The coop house itself stays fairly clean since they spend most of the day ranging outside and having natural dust baths.

Back to the Marans, I immediately dusted them, ALL the chicken bedding, roosting areas and nest boxes with poultry dust, and re-inspected my own hens. I handle my hens everyday, but try to do a more thorough feather check about once a month. Chicken lice are not a risk to people, dogs, cats, rabbits, etc. They only live on chickens.

The new hens are now in quarantine, which really is best practice regardless of any known issues. They are setup in the unused outdoor covered dog kennel, in a covered ex pen, and there they shall remain for at least 30 days. While they are in quarantine they will also be prophylacticly treated for coccidia just in case.

Moral of the story: Craigslist is pretty cool, but I should have bought these birds as chicks from a certified hatchery or CLEAN breeder. I tell you, some of the backyard chicken setups I have seen lately are appalling, but so were the human dwellings and land, so, I hope not to repeat this same purchasing mistake in the future.

Happy Easter for Chickens and Shibas

2011-04-24T17:20:00.000-07:00

Being that it is Easter, and spring fever is in abundance here, it was only fitting that I ended up bringing 8 more chicks home to the flock. These are special chicks, and are the first heritage breed to take residence on my little homestead. They are week old Mottled Java chickens, and are generally very rare, and have a very interesting history as far as chickens go.

Java's are supposed to be an excellent table bird. They are listed by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy as threatened, which means there are less than 1,000 breeding birds in the United States, and 5,000 world wide. They are an efficient dual purpose bird, with a good feed to weight ratio, but may not be as hardy in colder weather as the Buckeye. I guess my quest for the perfect dual purpose, large egg laying, good meat weight, attractive, friendly, calm, hardy and thrifty chicken breed has officially begun.

Here is a good comparison chart listing stats on each breed. Dual purpose heritage breeds I will be investing in the future, are the attractive jumbo egg laying, large meaty Delaware, the Buckeye, and the flashy olive colored egg laying Copper Marans. I'm also interested in Jersey Giants for their large size and jumbo eggs.

The new Java's. They are very cute and sweet and seem to
be doing well in their hutch under the heat lamp.

This hutch is covered on several sides to help retain heat.
Hatchlings are susceptable to drafts until fully fledged. They
must be kept seperate from the larger hens to avoid being
pecked to death.

The Shibas know there is something interesting inside.

Shiba Hobbies

2011-04-22T18:04:00.000-07:00

Old favorite hobby: Chicken Watching

Even older favorite hobby: Quail Watching

New favorite hobby that is so much fun Inus have to wake Mom up in the middle of the night with "roo roo roo" and "eee eee eee" which sounds like the noises they make when they REALLY have to go, really badly, but then they don't because they just wanted to sprint like crazy dogs to the pasture to enjoy this wonderful new hobby: Rabbit Watching

Spot the Inu

Cottontail

Flopsy

We're hunting wabbits

More bunny watching (Mopsy in hutch)

Introducing Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail (it's been done, I know). I decided before I invest a lot in real rabbitry and keeping production backyard meat bred rabbits, I ought to try with some generic bunnies to see if I can keep these alive. The large meat breeds like the white New Zealand, can overheat easily, and given that they are so large and so domesticated with 0 survival instinct, that practically guarantees a life in a cage. I'm not a big fan of keeping things in cages, which is why I no longer have domestic quail. I think it will be charming to release some wild quail eventually however, but no more domestic birds unless I can devise a way to let them range while keeping them safe from predators.

That said, I'm sure you can see that these bunnies are in a hutch, with a covered run. That's for their safety (the Inus), of which they lack any instinctual fear. They get grass time in the mornings in an ex pen, or fresh veg, whichever I have time for. Eventually, if they make it thru summer, I would like to cover my chicken run and release them into the coop. I'm pretty sure they will still be killed or escape. Domestic rabbits are really at a total disadvantage when it comes to survival, and I think there are hardier, easier to keep smallstock that are just as useful for meat or charm and less work to maintain. Anyways, these bunnies will not (intentionally) become food. I like them too much and they are very sweet.

Caucasian Ovcharka and Border Collie Mix for Adoption in Washington

2011-04-19T02:18:00.000-07:00

Can anybody explain to me why mixing these two types together is in any way an improvement on either breed?

This is the second "CO mix" I have seen comming from Eastern Washington. The first was a Shiloh Shepherd/CO mix, and boy was that a doozy of a dog in terms of liability. Honestly, I'm not convinced that I see any CO in this dog. There seems to be some CAO markings, but to me he looks like a large BC/mix thing. Whoever is getting these grand ideas, over there in Eastern Washington, to breed their CO with herding dogs, STOP IT! All this litigous country needs is a hyper vigilant, stranger wary, powerful guardian dog with the drive, brains, speed and energy of a herder.

A Veritable Smorgasbord

2011-04-11T01:53:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Tacoma Boys, for sending me home with a free 30 lb goodie box of fresh organic greens for my hens. This will last through the week, and the chickens love it. Their Friday and Saturday goodies were grass and weeds from the yard, with a large pile of dirt clods and nightcrawlers to kick around. Chickens have modest needs and will eat almost anything that is green or wiggly.

Hypothyroid Shiba Inu and Coprophagia

2011-04-10T07:32:00.000-07:00

Beebe eats her poo (coprophagia). I thought she had outgrown it, but yesterday, right in front of company, she immediately turned around after eliminating and started lapping at it, right in the middle of a play date with 5 other Shibas and Grym. Gross.

Popular dogma indicates that feces eating is the result of boredom or hunger. High protein food may also be suspect. I think lack of sanitation in the whelping area is also a factor for this behavior. When people with dogs from pet stores and puppy mills report it, I admit that I am quick to label that as a cause of this disgusting behavior.

Most people know by now that puppy mills generally lack proper sanitation, or anything remotely acceptable in the housing and care of young pups, and many petstores as well. These poor environments counteract the dogs' natural desire to avoid soiling in its bed due to constant crating over its own waste and the lack of space for proper elimanation habits to form outside. There is quite likely an element of boredom and hunger involved in these case.

To note, the breeder Shibas who have stayed with me have never done this. Ike is horrified of his poo and will bury it like a kitty does. They were raised in a loving, clean, healthy and stimulating environment indoors with nearly unlimited access to spacious outdoor freedom. Beebe however, did come from a classified ad, and I'm sure there is a behavioral component to her coprophagia, but I'm wondering if it also may be from her hypothyroid. Interestingly, here is a blogpost from some friends regarding their Akita and some of his medical issues, including hypothyroid and coprophagia (feces eating).

I don't think boredom is an issue with Beebe. It's my feeling, that she does this because she is hungry. She is always hungry, which is par for the course with hypothyroid dogs, but she's overweight so I can't feed her all that she could eat. So, my question is for any other hypothyroid Shiba Inu owners: do your dogs do this too and did it get worse or better when on thyroid meds or with increased amounts of food?

Spring Cleaning: Bowls for Inus

2011-04-09T10:17:00.000-07:00

Spring cleaning time for Inus. I have been organizing their gear, getting rid of stuff they don't use. After counting more than 30 dishes, I realize I am opting for function over looks. I like buying the stainless steel bowls these days for ease of cleaning. The cute little kitty size decorated ceramic bowls just aren't practical any longer, although their water bowls are ceramic so they don't dump them. I don't buy plastic bowls either, and other than water dishes, I don't leave bowls out past their feeding times.

For puppies, I am using the shallow puppy pans. For the adult Shibas, I buy the 1 qt stainless bowls with flat bottoms. Beebe, who is a horker, gets the eat-slow bowl (pictured on your far right). I use crate pails (also on your far right) for overnight in expens and traveling.

Worst purchases: fancy (expensive) ceramic bowls that I drop and break the same day, bowls with detachable rubber rings on the bottom that Grym ends up chewing, anything plastic which gives the dogs acne, and cat or 1/2 qt size bowls which Farrah likes to carry around and chew. I feed twice a day and wash bowls in hot soapy water after each use.

Upcomming spring cleaning posts: collars, leashes, toys, treats, beds and crates. I will go over what I have used, what works, and what were some big wastes of dollars.

Inus at the Beach

2011-04-07T16:42:00.000-07:00

We went for a little beach walk at Dash Point, true to our Northwest roots, in the rain. Not much to add, so on to the photos. Ok I lied, I want to add that walking 4 dogs is much easier once they braid their leashes together. Now the pictures:

Hobby Farming, Choosing Heritage Breeds

2011-04-06T03:39:00.000-07:00

Please forgive the increase in posts related to hobby farming. My dogs are all happy and fit, except Ike has had a bought of painful acne/folliculitis on his chin that I noticed late overnight when he was rubbing his muzzle with his hand. It's probably from the puppies always licking his mouth as an appeasement gesture. Poor guy is really embarrassed by it and he gets a quick trip to the vet in the morning. Also, Farrah has graduated Level 1 puppy class, and will be trying for her CGC soon.

Back to hobby farming, I'm laying out some landscaping options and I see that I definitely have enough space for 2 pigs for meat, a calf for meat, and 2 goats for milk based on their recommended space requirements. I think the ideal setup is having 1-2 meat animals each year, and keeping a smaller milk producing animal that will not be used for meat. Here is a good livestock guide for hobby farms. This will involve more time and management to keep things clean and in order, and there will be extra cost for vetting and feed, so this will take some time to actualize.

They should all be hardy and thrifty enough to survive outdoors. Size is important. It would also be ideal if these animals can all share the same paddock, which will make it easier on my electric bill this coming winter so I don't have to heat 3 separate outdoor areas. However, after further reading, I don't think swine are the safest animal to run with goats or chickens. They may eat them if not attended.

Here are some animals I am considering: Berkshire pigs, the Mulefoot Hog, the smaller, but much rarer Guinea Hog, and another smaller hog, the Ossabaw Island Hog. I think the Berkshire, although much larger, will be the easiest to find. I really like these little Dexter cattle, and here are some heritage goat breeds good for rural homesteaders, along with additional reasons for choosing heritage breeds. I like the Nigerian dwarf, which is a good milker.

The Backyard Homestead

2011-04-05T01:00:00.000-07:00

@ Inu Baka-I took the Shibas for an outing to Del's today, my local feed and seed, which has been my chicken supply depot. I bought a really neat book, The Backyard Homestead:

Apparently all you need is a 1/4 acre, which could produce, if in the right climate and with the correct care:

1,400 eggs
50 pounds of wheat
60 pounds of fruit
2,000 pounds of vegetables
280 pounds of pork
and 75 pounds of nuts

The book has lots of neato layouts and dimensions needed to help give us visual learners a better idea of what to build and where. There is also schematics for those on 1/10th of an acre, which is probably nearer the size available for most of those who live in a larger city. I have hope that on 1 acre, I can at least put up some raised beds and raise a pig or two, or have a couple small dairy goats. Heck, that is more than sufficient space to raise a calf or lambs for meat as well depending on grazing. The dogs would still have enough open running spaces if I lay the beds and paddocks out cleverly. Oh, and my new favorite term now is "Rural Homesteader".

Follow-up for Available Shiba Inu in Rescue near Seattle

2011-04-03T01:48:00.000-07:00

I am temporarily fostering a sweet little 3-4 year old Shibamo near Seattle. He is likely mixed with American Eskimo, but is definately part Shiba Inu. He is a neutered cream named Kodi and he is looking for his forever home. He was picked up as a stray with his little dog friend. He is very sweet with people, and loves nothing more than to cuddle on my lap. He plays nicely with my dogs, and had a great little playdate this afternoon with my Shibas, my CO, my mom's Pom, and a pit/shepherd mix. He is fine with children and other dogs, and is quiet overnight if he has one of my dogs with him. He is a very busy guy, and becomes anxious if he can't be with me, but he is settling down as he gets used to the routine here. He walks well on the leash, and is doing better with crate training, prefering the vari-kennel to the wire crates for overnight. The wire crates are too noisey and exposed for his taste, so he really settles quickly in the enclosed crates that are more like a den. He looks like a Shiba, but has more of an Eskie temperment. He would do best in a home where someone is home most of the time, or is able to take him with on a ride. He does great in the car in a kennel. Please email me if you live near Seattle and want to offer your home for this sweet little guy:
Here is his new courtesy listing http://www.eskierescuers.org/animals/detail?AnimalID=3331242

Special Announcement, Grym has a Brag

2011-03-31T03:11:00.000-07:00

Grym Esquire, Caucasian Ovcharka, has become the third dog in my home to officially earn his CGC, or Canine Good Citizen. Grym is 11.5 months old, so this has been a great early birthday present. He is a confident, well socialized, well rounded dog that I can take anywhere, and he was pretty much this way from the get go thanks to the hard work of his breeders. They chose a very chill, confident male for me, who has turned out to be a great match for the lifestyle here.

Grym being an excellent boy at the CGC test

Grym standing pretty for the camera

So, why am I so excited about him passing this test? There are a lot of stupid people out there who love to just walk up to a strange dog (especially fluffy dogs who look like bears) and make it accept their unwanted hugs and pets. There is a lot of bias towards large dogs who look tough, who are certain breeds, and no matter what stupid, invasive or cruel thing a total stranger does, the dog is expected to tolerate it or be punished. Grym is my "can take anywhere" dog. I mean, he's really, really good and reliable in public. I don't want him to be punished for doing what he was bred to do (protecting his family). So, just in case, here's proof that he is well behaved and can follow basic obedience commands.

Flyball News and Pack Updates

2011-03-27T17:40:00.000-07:00

Exciting news from the pack: Beebe and Farrah made the long journey north to Canada in our brand new SUV to participate in the Seattle Flydogs flyball tournament in Cloverdale, BC. Beebe was a champ. I can not complain in any way about her performance. She averaged just under 7 seconds for each run, and ran about 30 races thru the day which is a lot of hard sprinting for a small dog. It is a team sport, so although her individual performance was outstanding (only 2 incompletes), the team was not awarded as many points as there were new dogs running and with that went quite a few overall no-scores. As a team, we aim to always get a time, but some newer dogs like to skip jumps or interfere. Oh well, better luck next time :)

Not exactly speed racer, but I am going to take the tortoise and hare approach here. She is accurate and reliable, so the speed will come later. We get no points for incomplete runs or fouls, so I would rather have a slower time than no time. She is 9th in breed rankings for points, and is in third place for points in active dogs (not retired or inactive). She seems to really enjoy it, and was thrilled to work for a brand new pen light. She got a long rub down and massage when we got home, and ate like a champ too.

Farrah had a blast. I bought a new fur tug and she went to town with it while ringside. She was not bothered by the crowd or noise at all, loved all the attention and new dogs, and did some dead ball retrieves for the tug. I have really high hopes for her in this sport, and she is a real speed demon, much faster than Beebe so I hope she turns out.

The boys stayed home with Grandma while the girls were away. They are all much quieter and comradely when the girls are out.

Grym is SOOO good with our new fellow, and they are the same goofy age which is entertaining to watch. The new lad has become Grym's personal cleaner fish and just loves to wash his face for him.

They all get along really well. It makes management much easier, so I am grateful to their respective breeders for sending me some nice temperaments and great dogs in general to work with.

This is Dedication

2011-03-24T06:51:00.000-07:00

"Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these courageous couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."

Goodies for the Chickens

2011-03-22T16:49:00.000-07:00

I bought some organic food pellets for the chickens, but I also want them to get as much green stuff as possible, since they can't range where the dogs go on the lawn. A good solution suddenly occured to me when I was at my local green grocer/deli, Tacoma Boys. They make a lot of their own goods, and source organically from local farms. I asked for any green stuffs passed selling date or left over from their kitchen prep. This is what they were awesome enough to give me FOR FREE!

Zucchinni, cabbage and apples. They have a few other people who take the bruised fruits/veggies for their animals. So, not only do I absolutely love this store, now I can get FREE organic goodness for my little flock.

I chopped up some cabage heels, strawberries and apple cores to make the mix more yummy for them.

I turned down the free onions. In general, avoid giving your hens onion or garlic as it will taint the natural flavor of the eggs. Same applies with egg storage. I don't refridgerate my eggs, but I am careful not to store them in the onion or garlic basket since they will absorb the odor. However, if you have fresh herbs that are good in omlettes, you can put them in a paper sack along with the morning eggs for a day, and this lends a very gentle flavoring to an already delicious home grown egg.

Available Shiba Inu in Rescue in Seattle

2011-03-21T07:02:00.000-07:00

These guys are available thru Seattle purebred Dog Rescue:

http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/18835198

http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/18651338

Laughter to Tears in 0:27 Seconds

2011-03-16T12:42:00.000-07:00

You don't have to know Japanese to understand this video of a loyal dog who refuses to leave it's companion. This is something that can be appreciated, respected, and honored no matter what culture you come from.

Continued: Would You Take Your Dogs With You?

2011-03-16T05:02:00.000-07:00

"So you say that you are getting a divorce, moving to a place that "doesn't allow pets", and are going to "have" to take your pet to a pound?! This woman has been through a 9.0 earthquake, is hungry and cold...she STILL HAS HER DOG!"

So very glad this older kid is in safe hands, and wasn't left behind.

Would You Take Your Dogs With You?

2011-03-14T03:12:00.000-07:00

This photo of the tsunami aftermath really, really gets to me. I'm glad this little guy made it out ok.

James Harriot and Day Care Vaccine Dilemma

2011-03-11T19:50:00.000-08:00

I'm sipping tea and watching James Harriot's "All Creatures Great and Small," and I began thinking about this little dilemma we have, Farrah and I. Firstly, when I was growing up, I totally wanted the James Harriot experience. This involved living in a little stone cottage in the country with my family and animals, doing my best to help them while being self sufficient in the old country style. I feel very lucky, looking back, to find myself basically there, but there are still quite a few things that I haven't been able to work out on my own.

Farrah is enrolled in puppy classes at a nearby training center that is affiliated with the Tacoma HS. I really, really like this center and their training philosophy. I have taken 4 classes there so far with Grym and Farrah, and I can honestly say that this puppy training experience has been wonderful. I mean, I am learning new things every week, where-as at our old dominance/alpha facility, I felt like I was taking steps backwards.

Farrah has been approved for daycare, but she is required to have a bordetella vaccine in order to attend. I don't routinely give this to my dogs, as I like to keep vaccines as minimal as possible (and as required by law). I also don't think it's worth giving, I don't think she needs it, and I don't want to over-vaccinate my breeding bitch. Part of my issue is also safety. I trust the staff, but it would be horrible if a strange dog mauled her and that prevented her from being shown and bred.

The dilemma is, do I give on these points in favor of socializing and exercise? I'm home all day as it is, and she does socialize at the classes we attend about 2-3 times a week. Lest we forget, she does have a pack of 4 other dogs at home to learn from, in addition to the play dates she gets with her Shiba friends Penny and Eli, and outings to the pet friendly stores. She does get plenty of exercise each day playing with the other dogs here and zooming around the acre. This was pretty much why I wanted a pack and some land, so I wouldn't have to rely on dog walkers and daycare. Is it worth it to give her the vaccine so she can get 1 extra day a week at a daycare?

For your viewing pleasure, a photo album of a day in the life of my Shibas, and their Shiba friends on a playcare day:

Penny and Farrah

Eli, Farrah and Beebe

Eli

Grym and some curly tails

Checking out fences

Beautiful sunny day in the back 40 by the shop

Penny

Farrah checks out the new chicken coop

My gardner

Ike and his favorite Auntie Pam

Butt sniff chain

Ike likes laying in the grass and taking in the view

Penny and Eli drool over the chickens

What do you think or what would you do? Are there benefits or cons that I am overlooking? Fun question: what would one of James Harriot's clients say about dog daycare?

No More Anonymous Comments

2011-03-09T11:10:00.000-08:00

Much thanks to the idiot anonymous poster who said, "your both bad" in response to this post,

http://2naughtyshibas.blogspot.com/2010/11/ot-other-lindsay-tompkins.html

You know where you can stick it. Maybe you'll find a dictionary while YOU'RE at it.

Brushwood Dogs

2011-03-08T03:14:00.000-08:00

"We are hunting wabbits."

Hmmm, why is it that Shiba Inu are sometimes called the Little Brushwood Dog?

Thankfully, everyone has nice white plumage so mom can see them better when they explore, even Grym the honorary Shiba.

I have been clearing debris like a mad woman with the intent to keep them safe from being poked by sharp sticks, or eaten by lurking raccoons. Instead, all of the country critters and their extended families have decided to move in to the giant brush pile that has resulted from the clearing.

She's in there, somewhere.

And the dogs just think that's swell.

Ike's bleached bottom

Ike is hunting

As long as I don't catch any giant talking rats named Nicodemus stealing my electricity, I think a wood chipper rental can wait until sometime this summer. To conclude, a shot of Grym, wisely enjoying the groomed portion of the property.

The Sugar Shack

2011-02-28T19:52:00.000-08:00

Farrah's first season is over with thank Dog, and her virtue remains intact. Ike was incredibly protective and watchfull of her, and never let her out of his sight, even to eat, for about 3 days during her receptive period. He guarded her so closely, I found him curled up on the linoleum in the middle of the night shivering but refusing to go sleep in his dog bed which was across the room. To drive the point home to me, when I came back in from folding fresh from the dryer dog blankets, I saw this:

Ike guards the Sugar Shack

I caved, and moved his dog bed next to hers. Does this mean I'm an enabler? He crawled in right away.

"It's like there's a wall between us."

He stayed like that for three days, and would only eat if it was where he could see her at the same time. I think he really likes her :)

Misconceptions About Shiba Inu Temperment

2011-02-27T03:27:00.000-08:00

An Australian Shiba Inu breeder with horrid manners stated "if (aggression) is what people are saying should be in the breed then how do you show them and promote them to the public as a friendly breed."

Since when should people breed to change the standard to fit what they want? This is an aloof breed, and aggression is not to be tolerated, so whoever said "aggression should be in the breed" is wrong, just as an overly effusive dog is not correct temperment either.

It should be pointed out that soft temperments and "aggressive" dogs lack Kan-i, which is roughly, as I am no expert, a Japanese concept of balance, confidence and presence. It is the breed temperament and characteristic attitude that differentiates them from other breeds. Soft temperment and aggression is not correct temperment.

So, Shibas should not be aggressive, and nowhere in any of the standards is it mentioned that they should be friendly. Therefore, how does "promoting" them to the public as a friendly breed when they are more known for being reserved, do any service to the breed and keep them from being confused with Golden Retrievers, or service dogs? (I really have to shake my head and finger at breeders who bamboozle new owners into buying a Shiba as a service dog, by the way)

Seriously, if trying to represent the quality of Shibas in Australia, their breeding and their breeders, why tell someone who is questioning and trying to have constructive dialogue to go "eat shit" and "go fuck themselves?" Bad form, Snowstar Shibas, bad form.

Support Home Grown!

2011-02-23T01:30:00.000-08:00

I'm toying with the idea of making my own chicken food mixture using organic materials only, direct from the farms they were raised on. A big bag of processed organic pellets is about $35, so I guess that would be like feeding Solid Gold or something higher end like that. That gets me thinking about feeding raw (produce) instead of pellets and scratch. Pellets are very convenient, but I know the birds crave insects and fresh greens (and sometimes meat-they snuck up onto the patio where the cow hide is drying and ate ALL of the muscle and fat scraps I had stripped off.) I can't wait for the Farmer's Markets to get back in gear, but until then, here is a great place to look for local producers. They even ship:
http://www.localharvest.org/

This pretty much sums up how I feel about growing food animals:
http://blog.rollingdogranch.org/rolling_dog_ranch_animal_/2011/02/humanely-raised-pet-food.html

Farms-womanship Skills: Butchering

2011-02-18T10:59:00.000-08:00

I grew up on a gentleman's farm on 7 acres about 45 minutes from Portland, Or. We had goats for clearing brush, a few rabbits, and a good variety of turkey, geese, chicken, ducks, and pheasant for eggs, eating, and firstly because they were beautiful animals. We thought of them as pets, they had special names and places, but it was always understood that they were there for a more practical purpose, and it was always a hard choice for me when it came to slaughtering any.

I was in charge of all the animals for the most part, from beginning to end. Those were good lessons in self reliance and sustainability. Good lessons about knowing where food comes from and about the satisfaction of a hard days work, doing for oneself and triumphing under adverse circumstances.

I have wanted to have some of that back in my adult life (the satisfaction, not the adversity). So I bought an acre with a distinctly "farm" feel. Anyways, I feed raw for my allergy dog and have been raising quail and chickens keeping in line with my beliefs about humane rearing and clean eating. A good friend who also feeds raw proposed going halvsies on an organic reared 80 lb bull calf from a dairy which was offered on her raw feeding list for $25. What a deal!

The catch: it was whole, as in entirely unprocessed, and very cute. Soooo, the task of butchering fell on us, but thankfully it had already passed away at the dairy farm. I took quite few photos of the dogs enjoying the scraps next to the cow, but looking back at them, I think there are enough certifiable loonies "in Shibas" who would use it to claim I am "sporting" at the expense of an animals life, rather than working to better their lives. I'd like to know what they think the kibble they feed is made out of and how they think the animals that go into it were treated (and if they took all their meds)?

The carcass halved, ready for quartering.

It took about 2 days from beginning to end. I know that's a laughable time, but this was the biggest animal I have processed so there was definitely a learning curve. The weather has been chilly so we hung it on the patio in the outside utility room by the heel tendons. I let it hang overnight untouched on the first day so it could stretch and the rigor let up. It took a few hours to skin, starting with circumferential incisions around each limb, the neck, and at the anus, then a full cut up the middle.

I sawed the front legs off and those go to the dogs. I then removed the head, which also went to the dogs, and slowly worked the hide letting gravity help, trying to keep it intact. Hopefully we can find some way to turn it into raw hide for the dogs to chew since taking it the taxidermist will be too spendy. Here I learned the value of a good sharp skinning knife. I'm glad for the inheritance of several from hunting relatives.

Gutting took the least time, but it was the most psychologically daunting, after the initial cut (cute brown baby cow). Again gravity helped. I made a clean cut around the anus thru the muscle, thru to the pelvis and all the way to the neck. Naturally the guts rolled out and it was just a matter of severing the anchoring ligaments, being careful not to nick anything.

I saved what I wanted, everything will be used aside from the bladder and intestines. It all looked healthy and it smelled like a healthy beef. I used a bone saw to split the carcass down the middle from pelvis to neck down the spine. Once in two separate halves it was then quartered just under the ribs. From there I divided up portions and got lots of great chew bones. Next time I do this, I want a meat grinder to make a grind for the dogs.

I did not wear gloves for any of this, and my mantra thru the whole thing: it's for the dogs. It's safe to say I have a far better understanding of the lives and deaths of animals bred for food, and more people need to experience things like this.

The Nihon Ken Blog

2011-02-17T03:27:00.000-08:00

Here is a great blog on the 6 native Japanese dog breeds. Here is the Shiba link, featuring yours truely, Ike himself, as the pin up. He's very flattered and it's all going to his head.

More Good Reasons to Spay and Neuter

2011-02-16T08:12:00.000-08:00

Day 15 of Farrah's first heat cycle. She is close to ovulating based on the color of her fluids and the boys' sudden urgent desires to be right next to her. Ike and Grym are eating well and SUPER affectionate, but they have developed a sudden level of crazy energy and bravado that is frankly impressive. Ike has become extremely vocal and annoying, and Grym is a drooling knucklehead. They have demonstrated some equally impressive peeing contests around the yard, and my poor plants are taking the brunt of their displays.

Puppy acts completely normal, a bit tired at most, so it's the boys' reactions to the girls in season that further complicates owning intact dogs of both sexes. They are all rotated regarding yard times. When the boys are out, Farrah gets free run of the house with Beebe. The kitchen is her little palace I am calling Fort Lockdown (crate behind xpen behind baby gates). I'm trying to keep her down time as enjoyable as possible by giving her lots of bones to chew, taking her on outings and having friends over.

Farrah enjoyed a reprieve from the boys attentions
and went shopping with us at our favorite local hardware
store. Naturally, we bought some dogwoods.

Lucky Dogs

2011-02-15T12:08:00.000-08:00

Super excited! We have a big, as in BIG suprise for the dogs that will arrive tonight. I will now leave you all with this image to guide your guesses:

New Projects for Naughty Shibas

2011-02-12T17:11:00.000-08:00

We struck a deal with some fence guys to start work in the back yard. They will build a double gate entry (grins), and run a new pass of 6 foot cedar down to the back of the property line in the area where the coyote are comming in and where Grym is testing to get to them. I will reuse the horse fence and keep it to line the inside of the wood to prevent digging and chewing. The running total for the fence work is about 10k which included some very nice custom welded gates.

A bit extreme? Here's the old fence, which is woefully inadequate. The coyote had just made an appearance in broad daylight. Grym had just chased it off and was fairly agitated still when I shot this with my camera. There is just brambles behind the fence at the very back of the property, something that the varmints are finding very hospitable apparently. Grym's solution has been to jump this in the mornings and try to flush them out.

My valid concern is the neighbors lab/mastiff who is also one additional 3 ft fence jump away. They both have a passionate hatred of each other, and not from my lack of socializing attempts. I brought Grym to meet him several times when he was a puppy so they could get used to each other, but the mastiff is just an asshole in my opinion. That would be a nasty encounter now given their respective sizes, but so far I've been nearby when he tries this and the neighbor dog has been kenneled. By the way, each of my neighbors dogs have gotten into my yard multiple times before the fencing went up because their yards are not enclosed and the dogs are left to freely wander, so this really needs to happen for everyone's safety.

The part I am really excited about, is the "play" run that we will build for the Shibas from the front yard back to the new double gate. I'm glad we kept the 6ft roll of chain link, because that will now become the border for the Shiba agility area which will also serve as a seperate place for puppies to play. We also bought some red stick dogwoods, laurel, and lavender to keep it pretty. I'm looking for a few Japanese maple and cherry trees to lend a Japanese flavor, and some Russian Sage so Grym isn't left out :)

For All You Orijen Feeders, READ THIS!

2011-02-10T02:48:00.000-08:00

Read this blog post about Orijen and concerning nutrient levels courtesy of Desert Wind Hounds blog. Read the comments too, there is a ton of information there about misconceptions of food allergies and grain free diets. It's important to evaluate WHY a specific dog should start a unique food like this, which is why I'm posting this here. I truely believe a dogs' diet should be based on their individual needs, not breed, and not because it's popular.
I do think Orijen is a well made product and it really, really helped Beebe when I was first dealing with her crazy allergies. It was a great starting point that helped prompt me to feeding raw and learning about the importance of researching what you feed. I fed Orijen to my first two Shibas, and then switched to the lower protein variety Acana when several things started happening.

Firstly, they became horribly gassy, secondly, they became extremely thirsty on this food which is a sign of stress on the kidneys and liver, which I later learned was from the highly concentrated amounts of dried protein in the food. Thirdly, I observed elevated liver and kidney enzymes after starting this food.

So, before feeding this food, please stop and think why the particular dog should have this instead of a more traditional kibble, home cooked, or raw: Is the dog truely allergic or intolerant of grains based on allergy testing and diet trials? Is the dog's kidneys/liver in great working order based on bloodwork? Is the dog out of the puppy stage (very high levels of calcium and phospherous)? If yes to all of these, Orijen is probably a good choice among many equally good choices of diet. I sincerely believe at this point however, that the best grain free diet is total raw, or something well formulated with lower protein like Acana.

Two is Sometimes Better Than One

2011-02-07T03:22:00.000-08:00

As a rule with Shibas, I tend to agree that they go well in pairs. The exception, however, is puppies. Trust me, from personal experience, avoid the temptation to add a second puppy while puppy the first is still in training pants (<9 months). Yes, they tire each other out which is great, but here is a list of not so great things:

Similar birth ages = multiple geriatric pets passing away around the same time = compounded grief and end of life medical expenses back to back
Potty training regression, x2
Twice the furniture destruction
1st year is most expensive, now double it
For the lazy owners, now you have two bored puppies that can drive you nuts
Lack of time or money to take both pups to the proper classes or to provide them both with proper training will result in...regression of basic manners

Under 9 months is puppy's infancy thru adolescent phase where they require a great deal of "mom" time, learning basic skills, and socializing. 9-24 months is an equally important mental maturation phase where a dog/human team would work on refining manners, refining training skills, learning precision in tasks, and a great time to work a dog earnestly in some sort of competitive hobby like Rally, Agility or Flyball to get them addicted to working and learning. Dividing attention among too many young dogs makes these things way harder to accomplish.

In our pack, the older dogs have a set of skills and behaviors that they have learned from even older dogs, which makes them great pack members and house pets. The integration of a new or very young dog into this structure becomes super easy. The new puppy learns from the adults where to pee, how to behave in a group, what's ok to lay on, how to eat together without stealing or fighting, and how to share toys far quicker and with greater lasting effect than what I could teach them. I can only imagine how it would be without an older, reliable dog to step in and school the pups from time to time. A Lord of the Flies scenario is what comes to mind.

1st Season

2011-02-05T15:32:00.000-08:00

Time to celebrate. Farrah has started her first season (heat), and it isn't as bad as I thought. She's doing a great job of staying clean on her own without bitch britches, and all the dogs are getting along well. Grym is a little obsessed with her, so they have contact thru the fence only currently due to his size and puppy boisterousness.

We're going on day 4. She is going to stay with her auntie breeder on day 8 ish, or depending on if Ike begins to show a peaked interest. She has seperate spaces for her girls in season whereas my dogs are all together except when I'm gone, so it's best she goes where she can be on her own to avoid any injuries. If she did stay here, days 9-21 ish would be full lockdown. Historically, Ike stops eating and starts whining, tries to get outside every 30 minutes and acts ridiculous whenever there is a girl in standing heat, so we don't want to have to deal with that again anytime soon.

Ike and Farrah sittin' in a tree...next to my clean laundry

Ike has made it his duty recently to be her constant companion and for the first time since she has come home, he has invited active play sessions (instead of just putting up with them), as has Beebe suprisingly. They are all very silly, very happy cheeky dogs right now.

Farrah's First Nursing Home Visit

2011-01-31T14:22:00.000-08:00

We went for a nice walk near an old military base. The dogs are getting very good about walking on lead in a bigger group. It was an enclosed area, so I let Beebe drag a leash. Farrah is so full of herself with so much drive, she caught the end of Beebe's lead and took big sister for a walk instead. She was obviously very proud of herself.

A Veteran's hospice/dementia care hospital was at the end of our walk. Farrah made her first guest appearance with some of the disabled soldiers. They were all happy to see such a pretty and well behaved little pup and they gave her pieces of chicken I brought with me. She made a beeline for one young gentleman who was just settling in on his first day in the nursing home. You could see he was a bit down and unsure of everything. His face lit right up and I was super pleased with her. She really showed some self control and only jumped up a few times, no mouthing, no grumbling, but always with a constant wag and licks. No pictures for privacy reasons, but I got to see a wonderful side of her today and at 5 months old, I would love to keep up this type of work with her as she grows. Grym gets to go next :)

Shiba Conformation Spam

2011-01-21T17:23:00.000-08:00

Handsome Ike. He self stacks and has a perfect front.

We all like playing fetch here.

Side movement shot of Farrah...and a stick. I'm really excited

to get in the ring with her.

Farrah is making great progress and self stacks very nicely.

She has great movement, even when she's chewing a stick!

We REALLY love fetch.

Ike has great movement, too.

The girls share really well.

Puppy always wins in the end.

My pet Shiba, Beebe. Her coat looks great on raw and grain

free. Her tail set is very low and she has a roach back, among

other things, but she's a great worker.

Where Beebe Came From

2011-01-17T19:17:00.000-08:00

@ Okami's daddy: Beebe was my first Shiba, and my first pet while living on my own. I bought her off a Northwest Source online ad from a very nice private home. Her mother was purchased from an infamous local backyard dog dealer named Clarissa Cope in Arlington, WA. Trust me, there is a lot more to this unscrupulous person that is just appalling. They (her mother and she) sell mostly ACA/APRI Shibas after being kicked out of AKC Shibas. She often has online ads offering teacup mixes, designer mixes, and shibas/shiba mixes, frequently under alias names, but usually the phone numbers are traceable so I know it's her. She usually offers really (ugly) dogs at way inflated prices listing them as "rare" or "unique" due to mismarkings and faulted colors.

Beebe's sire, this sesame fellow above flirting with her mommy, had AKC "papers". Their happy union was the result of a mutual handshake agreement reached at a meetup from what I can tell. When I first saw him, I thought he was very handsome and nice, but then again, I really, really didn't know much about Shibas then. Don't laugh, I honestly thought because the breed was rare, that it wouldn't matter if I got one out of the paper since the "show" world had not had time to "corrupt" them and cause poor health. I was soooo way off, it's embaressing.

The breed was in terrible shape when it first came to the US, and it has only been thru the focused efforts of past and present breeders (breeders meaning the reputable people who imported dogs at great cost, formed the breed clubs, helped push for AKC recognition and who trialed and errored and selected to improve health and temperment), that the breed has survived after near extinction in post war Japan. Like it or hate it, the breed IS improved and genetic diversity has increased, as has better health and temperment because of the work of people in the show world. Now, many won't agree with me and will cite the very obvious poor health, temperments and lack of conformation of the unfortunate Shibas coming from backyard breeders and puppy farms.

I agree that those people (I can't even really call them breeders) are not interested in improving the breed and have harmed it, but the real BREEDERS are constantly striving to make progress in spite of that. There have been and always will be shitty breeders in every breed, and the unfortunate reality is that dogs will end up in puppy mills, even rare breeds. Hopefully the many great breeders/enthusiasts who are out there never give up caring about the breed and will keep showing, or else all that will be available is the largely unhealthy mill/byb shibas, and wonderful dogs like Ike will disappear forever. Like AKC or hate AKC, the people involved are the best people to support if you love the breed.

Here are some pictures of Beebe's mommy. She was a pretty cute puppy and very sweet tempered and pretty as an adult. Her owner was very nice and well intended and I do not hold any bad feelings towards her. I see a lot of Beebe in both her parents.

The above photo is one of my only surviving puppy pictures of Beebe. I was intent on not getting head over heels enthralled with her just because she was a Shiba and a puppy, I didn't want to become one of those people who got google eyes whenever someone mentioned the breed. So I didn't take many pictures and now I regret it.

This was her nearing 6 month-ish to 1 year picture. This was the time when we all started noticing that she was not really a healthy dog (allergies, mange, immune issues and temperment problems). This was when I also woke up and got with it, and started doing real research into the breed. We entered our first training classes way late in her development. In my arrogance, I felt I knew enough about dogs and had watched enough Dog Whisperer to know how to teach her to be obedient. The Cesar Milan dogma I tried with her resulted in a very unhappy dog and owner, several dog bites and a very unpredictable dog. I had been consdering dumping her with a rescue. I firmly believe that Dog Whisperer training helped ruin my puppy experience with her and this is why I will never endorse his methods.

This is also when I joined some online Shiba forums and began seeking advice from reputable, prominant AKC breeders. I was pointed to an outstanding behaviorist with lots of breed experience, who recomended positive training based on current research (as in, no alpha/dominance bs). She became a different dog and I became a better person. This is when I fell in love with her, and this was the start of a sometimes frustrating, but immensly rewarding journey into AKC, Obedience, Rally, Agility and Flyball.

Here's Your Complimentary Giardia

2011-01-13T05:55:00.000-08:00

That should be included on the purchase agreement for people who buy their dogs from puppy farms online. Maybe pet stores too.

I'm not saying that good breeding and show homes don't have health issues or the rare parasite issue, especially where natural wildlife abounds or if there are dogs being boarded, but it's almost presumed that dogs from mills will come to their new homes with said nasty bugs, "prolly from the breeder's well water". Yet people don't seem bothered enough to be deterred from purchasing, especially when they are on an instant gratification free for all. Credit card + no common sense + lack of knowledge + no desire to learn = people who will just go and do it again because they have to have it now.

Maybe it will discourage people from buying from unholy puppy mills if their dog comes with a certificate that says, "I have luxating patella, and a wicked case of adult onset allergies that will require years of intensive management. I am $2500 and all of that money will definitely not be used to improve my parent's living conditions or to treat their diseases." I doubt it, then they would be "rescuing" it. I think it's safe to say I learned my lesson with Beebe, but it's upsetting to watch so many people fall into that trap repeatedly.

Zoomie spam and Hare Today Order

2011-01-07T16:47:00.000-08:00

Early morning zoomies with Beebe, Ike, Grym and chickens. Puppy was on the patio.

Our Hare Today order also came in. I am very pleased with the quality of the products, although shipping was expensive.

A good variety of ground whitefish, pinky rabbits, turkey, rabbit
chunks, chicken feet, and fish skins.

The HUGEST turkey drumsticks, for Grym of course!

Pinky Rabbits

Rabbit chunks

Fish skins

Beautiful, happy girls

Ike Is Being a Naughty Boy

2011-01-06T05:40:00.000-08:00

The other night I thought I heard Puppypants chewing on something forbidden, like antique wood furniture, so I ran to where the Shibas had congregated in the living room. Ike, my perfect little man, was happily gnawing on my antique chest.

This is VERY old photo of him at 1.5 years. His devilish good
looks and charm really help him to get away with near murder

I have no idea what possessed him. He is not a chewer and has never been destructive. He is a nibbler more than anything, especially with plush toys, which were all littered near him in abundance. Here I was blaming big Grym for digging holes to China in the flower beds, but I caught Ike mud handed recently. And, on Sunday, he was sitting in my lap and just casually lifted his head up and started nibbling the top of the antique butler table right in front of me.

Firstly, I have almost NEVER had to tell Ike the "no" word. With great hesitation and guilt, I said "Ike, no, that's naughty" after catching him mid nibble. Oh boy did he have a melt down of silly rolling on his back, aroo-rooing, doing a million zoomies in tiny circles around my feet, and all kinds of crazy nonsense that had me in stitches. Seriously, how can I be mad at that?

I think this was an example of nibble-tory drift, but I am wondering if he just doesn't feel VERY young, good, happy and healthy. He is the king of his castle, he gets awesome food, he gets tons of running and fresh air on the property and lots of chances to hunt for rodents. He is surrounded by two beautiful Shiba women and a giant groveling servant puppy who seek to appease his every whim. He also commands an army of human subjects who literally provide him with the food off their plates.

Even if he has regressed a bit with his manners, I am thrilled that all the dogs seem to have really benefited physically and mentally with the move to the new house. I just wish he would leave the antiques out of it :)

Chicken and Rice, or Another Misleading Blog Title

2011-01-05T02:42:00.000-08:00

I had some leftover brown rice from dinner, so everybody got a little on their food. The Shibas enjoyed it.

The chickens enjoyed it too! They appreciated the extra moisture as the air has been a little dry recently.

Grym had a little taste and a raw, fresh, chicken egg. Now that he is becomming a big boy, he wears a goat bell so that I can hear where he is given that he likes to explore the bramble patches looking for rodents. He has a few more shows comming up, and he is looking very handsome and bearish.