What my Shiba has taught me.

/

Trust is earned. Fight for what you want (treats).

Fight against what you don't want (baths).

When you see/smell something you like, throw your whole body weight into it.

Always stare blankly at an incredulous request (cuddling).

If you think someone is going to take food out of your mouth, chew faster.

If someone has wronged you, let the world know by screaming like you are being tortured.

There is no displeasure that can not be communicated with the whale eye.

The vacuum is the frenemy.

Shio's Teenage Angst

/

Teenage angst. That what we call Shio's little fits. However, he's been acting up and out more so now than usual. We chalk it up to the move but only time will tell.

Most of his acts of defiance fall into these categories:

- Barking in circles at people outside and inside the dog run

- Possessiveness over holes dug in the dog run

- Going into barking fits when he hears other dogs anxiously barking

- Fights arisen by he and another dog each asserting themselves as top dog

- Issues with people walking in and out of our new home (as he always had while in our old home)

For the most part, we've been able to pin point the sources of his frustration and catch the warning signs before his anxiety gets the best of him. He has adjusted well to the new home itself but he's still a skeptic when it comes to everything outside.

We'll need to take baby steps.

In the meantime, if anyone has helpful advice for assisting dogs in adjusting to new homes we're all ears!

Meeting Kicho

/

On Tuesday morning, I braved the rain to meet Alice and Kicho at the Barnes and Noble located in Union Square. My saying that I braved the rain is nothing compared to Alice's bravery to loving her beautiful Shiba, Kicho. Kicho sat quietly in her bag as Alice began to share the story of Kicho's life. Strangers passing by commented on how beautiful and healthy Kicho looked. They inquired about her breed and size. Kicho sat like a model canine citizen as they pet her face and looked into her eyes. Little do they know that Kicho has a very rare congenital heart disease.

Every day we meet dogs on the street that bring a smile to our face as they goofily walk by or jump on us to say, "Hello!" Very few will touch your heart and inspire you daily in their will to live, love and be loved.

Thank you, Alice and Kicho, for inspiring us all.

Drop by puppypiranha to read all about Kicho and her furbro, Sumo.