Show Scene: Western Washington Cluster

6 months ago, I entered my very first pointed dog show with my very first show dog, Ike, a Shiba Inu as most of you know. I had taken handling classes for a few months by then and gone to matches, but was still a horrible nervous wreak. 6 months later, I returned to the same venue as a (slightly) more experienced handler, a year exactly from the time I had watched my first dog show in person. I believe the differences from that day 6 months ago to this January show are profound. I'm not saying I'm great at it or anything, but at least this time (hopefully) I looked like I knew what I was doing a little more. Well, I managed to attract a fan and fellow Shiba newby anyway who was kind enough to share these pictures of us from last month...And please ignore my giant gams, it's all the camera angle I swear.

Ike looks so naked while he stands at attention. He was totally out of coat.

Ike says, "Pick me! I'm a good boy."

Ike is Winners Dog in the best of breed lineup, his brother Mr. Jones (bred by Leslie Engen) is to my right

Weekly Shibatudes: Shibas at Work

We've been a little down here this last week, our miss Peach went back to her mommy in the country for a while to blow her coat and take a breather from big city living. We didn't have much time to be sad, because we have a new beautiful girl in her place here for training. Ike is in pig heaven with all these gorgeous females falling into his lap. Beebe would rather pounce on them and play dirty, but these country girls just don't play like that, and don't understand her big city ways yet so we have some snarking every now and again followed by time outs.

New little cousin is quite a gal, and was very well behaved at work (I take my dogs with me). People must think we run a Shiba daycare on the side by now. She has also enjoyed hanging out with big cousing Ike and Beebe during their lessons, and was even joining in on some Agility which really helped her confidence. As an awesome bonus, we were able to have some 1:1 private training on focus exercises and calming techniques (with Beebe's very favorite trainer using positive techniques that have so greatly improved all of my dog's focus and attention and ability to tune out stresses). She suggested using a little clicker training, positive name association with a very high value food item (chicken livers-eww) and "watch me" commands.

We all spent the day today at the fairgrounds in Shelton for another show, followed by a visit at grandmas house. It was beautiful weather, hail, rain, high winds, thunder and lightening with some noisy flapping tent canopies to top it off. What more could a bunch of reactive dogs want in an outing? Needless to say, we wrapped it up early and made a very short day of it following Ike's Reserve win against the amazing Specials dog. Upon arriving home, Ike and the others quickly undid my half hearted grooming attempts by rolling in a pile of regurgitated Crow worms! Thanks Shibas!

And baby makes three...

What a busy last few weeks. We have been graced with the presence of Ike's little sister, Peachy. She has been a most welcome little house guest, and is of course, very captivated by everything Ike does "monkey see, monkey do". Ike has been quite the gentleman in return and Beebe was a suprisingly tolerant hostess, which was contrary to what I have always been told about two females living together. She really has exemplified what being a Canine Good Citizen means (for a Shiba).

Ike was the best older brother for Peachy, he really showed her the ropes in the show ring over the last few weeks and about how to behave on lead and for the judges exam. Peachy took all of this to heart by taking home a basket of toys and gifts and a huge rosette for Best Puppy on her very first time in the ring! We were all shocked at how she turned it on and I am especially proud of her.

Having to juggle the three of them at home, at shows, and on walks has brought me to several important immediate conclusions about any future dog ownership on my part. I need a bigger car, I need property, I refuse to ever own a fully carpeted home again, and I need to find a way to be my own boss. Two dogs is very easy for one person, three dogs is a stretch. More than three...I have a lot of focusing work to do in the next 2-3 years if that's where my goals really point.

Post Show and Lessons Learned

For those of us lucky enough to live with dogs, how many times do we find ourselves saying, "Wow, I really learned something today." That couldn't have been more true this entire weekend. Here I am prancing around the ring, and none so gracefully, with little Ike looking splendid but seemingly bored, and generally indifferent. Why does it appear that he is only just tolerating this instead of enjoying it? Why doesn't he seem enthused like all the other dogs to be here? Does he not have a show temperment? Why can't he hold still on the table?

Out of breath, sweaty forehead, hair flying everywhere and in disheveled frumpy chalk covered dog show suit that won't stay up with second place ribbon in hand, I pose these exact questions to one of my dog show mentors for the weekend. She tilts her head for a moment like a Shiba when you say "Cheese", and then demands that I give her my dog. Uh oh, did I just lose my dog priveledge with my general ignorance?

Reluctantly I retrieved Ike from his "house", and the instant the lead touched Cheryl's fingers, he was a different dog. He smiled, he wagged his tail. She gaited with him and he was the one prancing, not the handler. She lovingly said as she peered into his eyes "Ike, you such a good boy!" and whispered other sweet nothings that only his little ears could hear. His little neck formed such a graceful arch as he proudly showed himself off to his new favorite person and all his muscles strained to hear more of her sweet, sweet words.

While Ike was floating, Cheryl looked over at me, my jaw on the floor, and said, "This dog knows what to do. You just have to talk to him. And don't be so tense, he will feel that." She was absolutely correct. This dog is 2 years old. This was not his first time at a show, but it was my first time showing him. The handling classes were for my learning, not his! I haven't been letting him think for or enjoy himself, I've been all stressed out trying to make him do it a certain way when he already knew how. He is a college graduate/PhD of show training being forced to repeat elementary school! Of course he wasn't really having a lot of fun with me! I need to learn to surrender to the Shiba and learn some of that smooth talking. Sorry buddy!

Ike, you really taught me something today. Wow, I was schooled by a Shiba!

A little more about us

We live in the Shiba Inu friendly Puget Sound region of Washington state and are fortunate to have several great, reputable breeders in residence who work closely with various breed clubs and Japanese experts in the improvement and preservation of this wonderful breed. Why I chose NOT to utilize one of these breeders in the purchase of my first Shiba, is one of my greatest failures as a dog owner.

It wasn't from lack of education, either. As an experienced dog person who had worked professionally with Shiba Inu before, I had also seen the terrible results of bad breeding first hand. I am terribly disappointed in myself that 1 Shiba bitch puppy, the very first Shiba pup I had ever seen, was able to sway my resolve and cause my hand to pull out my check book on the spot.

2 years later, Beebe has undergone multiple procedures for treatment of allergies, an immune deficiency, demodex, papillomas, and behavior problems. Looking back I realize she is incredibly fortunate to have come into a home that can provide the care she needs and cover the high costs of her medical care.

The second time around, I was gun shy but I did find the right second dog, Ike. Thank you Leslie Engen at San Jo Kennels! I think this boy is my doggy soul mate. It took over a year of interviewing, e-mails and looking at dogs on multiple occasions before I found the best match for us. He was not what I started out looking for, but he is just what I needed.

Stay tuned for updates on Beebe's formal Obedience and Agility training, and Ike's adventures in the show ring.