I Am Shiba.

More IHasAHotDog Shiba Puppy Pics!

2009-07-16T03:33:00.000-07:00

The Zen of Shiba Sleeping

2009-07-13T08:32:00.000-07:00

Belle-chan is The Zen Master of Sleeping.

While her locations vary, the goal is always the same.

3 . . .

2 . . .

1 . . . z z z z . . .

There is little regard for where Belle-chan decides to doze.

She merely does.

The ultimate opportunistic moment. That Guy is Asleep. The blankets are warm. Stealth is key to sneaking into this spot undetected.

On top of, or underneath . . .

She always finds her spot.

I, of course, am the ever vigilant Shiba of Guarding.

Except when I am waiting for the MailMan and The Sunbeam strikes me down.

No One can Resist the Power of the Sunbeam.

I Am Shiba. I Sleep Therefore I Dream of Squirrels and Scoops of Ice Cream.

What Is It That Makes Us Special?

2009-07-06T07:34:00.000-07:00

The Woman loves the slope of Our necks and ears. She finds that look to be artistic and elegant, and relates Us to looking like fine bred Arabian Horses.

That Guy likes the fact that We are active watch and guard dogs. He knows that the house is in good hands when He is away.

They both like that We love to walk and travel well. We do not embarrass them with bad manners.

Their friends love the fact that We are not "in their face" dogs. Yes, We bark when they arrive, and then We continue about our business unless We see a need for Us to become involved. Human conversation is boring unless it includes petting Us. This seldom happens while Humans are eating.

I Am Shiba. What Do You Like About Shibas?

Obedience Class, Day 1

2009-06-30T04:11:00.000-07:00

"You have a breed of dog who is independent and uninterested in what you have to say. You have to become the most important thing in your dog's life for that moment to get her to listen to what you are asking."

That was what came out of the lesson regarding how That Guy and Belle-chan are going to learn how to work together.

In our class, the following was present:

1 Shiba who attempted to kill any dog that entered her personal space bubble
1 Golden Retriever who sniffed my butt
1 Weimaraner/ Vizula mix who figured out how to leap onto the table to grab the treats.
1 One Poodle mix who never stopped barking
1 Mixed breed who looks like an evil dog that lives down the road from us but is about 8 years younger

and of course, myself, who watches it all with the stoic calmness that all Shibas should bring to an public event.

The big issue with Belle-chan for the day was to help That Guy find ways of getting her through being distracted by the other dogs. She has to practice being focused on him (That Guy pointed out that none of the dogs were focused on their People but as was pointed back, yes, but their dogs are not attempting to take command of the entire room). The solution became a Greenie, which we let her chew for a few minutes, then took away, then allowed to chew again, rinse and repeat. Her attention was focused on that, and then JL when he was holding it.

So we need to buy the really HUGE ones in order to keep her occupied.

There were some interesting reminders for The Woman that came out from the class:

1. Don't repeatedly call your dogs name or give the same command. Say it once.

2. Reward immediately.

And it quickly became apparent that She sucks at remembering to use the clicker to mark out behaviors but we know what she wants anyway.

But most importantly, we are a breed that shall remain independent. You have to work to become the most important thing in our lives, not vice versa.

I Am Shiba. I Am The Calm Amidst The Storm.

The Hot Dog Party

2009-06-28T05:32:00.000-07:00

This is Belle-chan and our youngest visitor to the party completely intrigued with the movie, "Toy Story."

Where was I?

Guarding the Hot Dogs!

I Am Shiba. Three For Me, One For You.

2009-06-25T05:28:00.001-07:00

I Am Shiba. And I Approve This Message.

Master of the House

2009-06-24T05:16:00.000-07:00

It has been rainy, gloomy weather nonstop for days here in the Northeast. So The People have been having their cocktail hour indoors, chatting around the kitchen table. The Woman keeps the doors and windows open as well as the fans on to help the air circulate because the humidity is often so high that her glasses fog up for no reason. Condensation is our friend for the next few months.

So we are all enjoying our luxury time of conversation, when I hear something suspicious. Very suspicious. I call attention to this, and Belle-chan immediately sounds the alarm, running to the front door. I follow. The noise is not a cool noise. The People move to the Front Door to see what we are barking at, but there is nothing.

As they turn around, The Woman points out that the Backyard Light has turned on (meaning that movement took place in the backyard).

Something is up.

Cocktail hour resumes, and about three minutes later, The Woman says to That Guy, "The Local Police Dog Team is moving through our backyard."

Red Alert. Shields Up. Set Phasers on Disintegrate.

So The People close up the Doors and look out the Windows to see what is happening. Police Officers are trambling through our shrubberies (must remember to sniff this out later!) and the Dog is in Hot Pursuit.

So about 30 minutes later, The Household decides that more beer is required and The Woman and I leave to go visit the local liquor people. As we walk toward the car, we see three Police officers walking back. One is completely out of breath. They explain it had been merely an exercise drill. The out of breath policeman says that he heard us as he went by (well, yes, of course, two Shibas in full alarm is not a sound to be ignored!). The Woman recognizes one of the police officers, greets him and . . .

then I see Him.

The Police Dog.

He is loose, holding the scent marker bag.

We lock eyes.

Now, here I need to digress. Recently, an email was sent from Alice, my trainer and soon to be Belle-chan's torturer:

Belle is more than likely still adjusting and I am sure Cortez may be very subtly bullying her. Cortez is an expert at using eye contact and posture to let other dogs know to clear the way for "the king." I have witnessed his amazing use of these almost invisible to the trained eye canine communications.

Did I mention that the Police Dog and I locked eyes?

We both stop. We both stare. And I am not going to back down. He is 10 feet from my yard and about 20 feet total from me. He Shall Not Pass.

For seconds, we stood there staring, and then the Police Man called the Dog to return. He did not. We continued to stare. The second call, he ran back to his Police Person.

Wimp.

The Woman calls me to the Car so that we can leave and I watch the Shepherd move down the road. As we drive past, I notice him peeing on a telephone post that Belle and I both mark.

My agenda for this morning? This situation will be rectified immediately with our morning constitutional.

But I will have you all note: the Police Dog Backed Down First. I Still Reign Supreme.

I Am Shiba. I Am K-9 007. Licensed to Kill.

Obedience Class

2009-06-22T04:52:00.001-07:00

Today starts Belle-chan returning back to school. That Guy and her are going to learn how to better communicate.

The Woman and I will be attending just so that we can have a chuckle or two.

I Am Shiba. I Have Been There, Done That, and Got the T-Shirt.

Today, It's Official

2009-06-08T14:47:00.000-07:00

Belle-chan and I went to the Town Hall today and got our dog tags.

$8.00 per dog.

Belle-chan is now officially a Licensed Resident of the Town of Manchester, #615.

We can now roam the streets legally.

I Am Shiba. I Am #614.

Ying and Yang

2009-06-03T07:04:00.000-07:00

How can two Shibas be the same, and yet so different? How can such a breed have such fundamental differences and yet strong similarities?

I am Shiba. I exemplify what all Shibas should be. But allow me to point out some things.

#1
I eat my food delicately, eating one kibble at a time. I wait patiently for my food to be served, preferably with nice additions to make it a pleasant dining experience.
Belle-chan inhales her food so fast that I don't think she tastes it or notices if a pill was added. She cares not what is in her bowl; she just eats.

#2
I sit quietly and wait for the food to be served.
She is so excited at feeding time that she can hardly contain herself and sit for more than 10 seconds. Belle-chan can't stop bouncing, acting like this is the first time she has been fed in 48 hours.

#3
When The Woman is cooking, I lie in the hallway, watching her and wait for my offering. When The People have dinner, I lie quietly in the corner, waiting for them to finish that last glass of wine.
Belle-chan can not keep away from The People when they are around food. Staying away from the table while The People eat is impossible.

#4
I don't wag my tail. Display of emotion is an attempt to please people.
Belle-chan never stops wagging her tail. Everything to her is a happy, positive experience. She is the Valley Girl of Shibas.

#5
Add to this, when The Woman and That Guy return home, I would approach, politely greet, and resume my duties.
Belle-chan jumps around, licks, wags her tail, and actually seems happy to see them, even when their arrival is not related to our feeding time.

Her enthusiasm is most distressing because now I have to pretend to be happy to see The People or miss out on a petting experience. Sadly, the people seem to enjoy her enthusiasm and encourage it!

#6
I sleep in my crate. I sleep in spots where I guard The Woman. I sleep in the sun by the screened front door.
Belle-chan sleeps wherever she feels like. This morning, That Guy found her asleep on the bed after breakfast. She sleeps on the couch. She sleeps on her blanket. She sleeps in crate. She sleeps under That Guy's desk. She sleeps on the bathroom bathmat!! She has no shame on where she sleeps.

#7
When we walk, Belle-chan keeps her nose to the ground to smell for squirrels.
I keep my head held high on walks, using sight to find my quarry.

However, we do share some similarilites.

#1 We both lift our legs to pee.
#2 We both will mark the backyard but we will not eliminate unless we are on a walk.
#3 We both announce visitors or necessary neighborhood issues of note.
#4 We both don't like small, barking dogs.
#5 We both feel the need to protect our people, although I am a watcher and she is the barker.
#6 We both think that all squirrels should be exterminated.
#7 We both like cheese, hot dogs, and potatoes.

So, while we are both Shibas, she is so 90210 despite her championship Agility titles (she probably flirted with the judges!) and I remain the dignified canine who expects worship over affection. Belle-chan banks on her cute looks to maintain her position in society; my Shibaness is what will always keep the kibble in my bowl.

I Am Shiba. Fortunately, opposites attract, even with Shibas.

Tell Me That Is NOT A Shiba ?!?

2009-05-29T03:06:00.000-07:00

This morning The Woman turned on her internet and found several articles regarding Puppy Mills. This was the first one she read.

Shiba in a Puppy Mill

This next one is a raid on the largest puppy mill to date.

400 American Eskimo Dogs

Here we have some good news! Some teens rescued some dogs from a puppy mill in Michigan and are attempting to find them new homes.

Teens Rescue 41 Puppies

And in Chicago, there was another puppy mill raid:

70 dogs Rescued

The video that accompanies this story does not show the extremes but again, points out that the recent craze of "designer dogs" makes for a fertile ground for fast money making.

The following is an amazing long but informative article about puppy mills and designer dogs. Just reading the first page is enough to make any purebred, carefully lineaged Shiba gag.

The Modern Kennel Conundrum

There comes a point where we have to ask ourselves in the case of a designer dog, are we designing the dog to the benefit of the human race or merely making dogs to meet the needs of a single individual? As the NYT points out, men don't want "poofy" dogs, so Puggles become the designer breed of choice; women are making dogs into fashion accessories so we can assume that ideals such as house and obedience training are out the window.

Between Puppy Mills and the desire for a unique dog that meets your individual needs, we will never stop the overbreeding of dogs because we need to tailor make a dog for everyone who wants one. The remainders become disgarded, unadoptable, or merely classified as "mutts."

If one goes on Petfinder, there are a number of dogs listed under Shiba Inu but actually are most likely mutts. But because they are red, or have a curly tail and prick ears, that must obviously be the foundation breed. Most likely it is not. Most likely, it just looks like it could have been a Shiba, just like any dog that is black must have come from a Labrador.

Shasta

Chadwick

Jindo, the 50 pound Shiba

It is sad when the breed that I am gets mispresented just so that others can show off that they have a Shiba.

On my final note of this tirade, let me tell you about a woman I encountered at the park one day. She had a Lab/Shepherd puppy (a common mix up this way), but the woman added, "and a little bit of Pit." The Woman questioned the other woman about this, and She was told, that the grandmother of the puppy was 1/2 pitbull (and that is assuming that the breeder in that case correctly identified what a pitbull is!) But the interesting part of the conversation was that the talker kept emphasizing "the little bit of Pit" while ignoring the whole Lab/Shepherd mix which in and of itself, makes a fine dog. It's like calling yourself Native American when the Native American introduced into your family line was back in 1850.

Puppy Mills, Designer Dogs, and Fashionable Statements about what your dog is nothing more than fulfilling your own ego trip. At least those of the Shiba People who have carefully selected their opinionated furball don't do it for fashion. Shiba People own Shibas because they are paying for the sins of a past life, and have to relive this one with a Shiba in order to be ready for the next.

I Am Shiba. I Am The Higher Reincarnated Step.

Is This Normal or Obsessive? You Decide.

2009-05-23T06:24:00.000-07:00

Like all animal owners, The Woman tends to be a tad excited about being a Shiba Inu companion. But let us examine just how excited The Woman is about being a Shiba companion. You decide if her position in society and reflection of enthusiasm is within normal standards.

First, you get a Shiba. That would be Me. You obtain your first Shiba because you think "OMG, this dog is really cool! It's like owning a cat! I have owned cats so obviously I will do well with this dog!"

Then you realize that Shibas are not exactly like cats, are definitely not Border Collies, and decide to do some research. This requires purchasing a few books.

And a new vacuum cleaner.

No household is complete without the token Favorite Animal calender of Cuteness. However, The Woman is not satisfied with just ordinary run-of-the-mill calenders; she has to import her calenders from Japan. That is, after all, where The Real Shibas are.

And because these calenders cost three times more than an ordinary PetSmart run-of-the-mill calender, she saves them.

Then she starts reading other websites and forums, and discovers really cool shiba things on these forums. On the Misanthropic Shiba there was an ad for a stuffed Shiba that was written entirely in Japanese. Well, we have our Japanese Calender Connection so The Woman sends Our Japanese Calender Connection the ad, and asks, is it good quality, price, can Calender Connection find it, etc.

Her $45 birthday present:

And, of course, with Ebay, you find cute trinkets that youjusthavetohaverightnow!

Now comes the fashionable wear. If anyone is looking for cool Shiba T-Shirts, Cafepress is a great place to start. That Guy can always find good Christmas presents for The Woman in this catagory.

And the originality of the T-Shirts is often outstanding.

And one can not forget car accessories. While it first started with a Half-Life bumper sticker that said Dog Is My Co-Pilot, other things get added as time goes on.

And then there are friends who always keep their eyes open for "Shiba Items of Interest." This hat was found by a co-worker who knew that TheWomanjusthadtohavethisrightnow!

My dog therapy bag is a Shiba bag, displaying three Shibas while carrying all my needed items to provide my volunteer work.

Finally, the ultimate item is added to the required Shiba items:

The Second Shiba.

So the question remains. Is this normal behavior on the part of a human companion to the Shiba Inu or is this merely the signs of a lost soul caught up in the consumerism of obsessive-compulsive Shiba Inu collecting, and therapy is required?

I Am Shiba. I Think Most Humans Are Wierd Anyway.

Fidelco Walk, May 16, 2009

2009-05-16T06:54:00.000-07:00

Can you say "Let's invite every single German Shepherd in the surrounding area to one place and let them all march together?"

That is what the walk was this year! Over 100 German Shepherd puppies in training, 50 German Shepherd dogs in training, and over 15 actual Guide Dogs walking the path through Manchester Community College. Plus, a number of German Shepherd owners brought their own dogs to be a part of the crowd so there were easily over 200 German Shepherds of all shapes, colors, and sizes gathered together on one lawn.

I was The Only Shiba. As it should be. Little Miss Disaster was left at home since she thinks that German Shepherds are mere obstacles to be subdued and eliminated while I recognize that every dog has a job to do.

There were some interesting breeds present. There were two Gordon Setters, as well as a number of Irish Setters. There were several Siberian Huskies and 4 Klee Kai which The Woman found amusing as they resemble little miniature Siberian Huskies. The Woman appeared very interested in this breed, however, they are not Shibas and Shibas shall remain within this house. I walked next to a Miniature Pinscher who, like myself, started in the back of the pack and by the time we finished, we were way up in the front.

I like to lead, not follow.

There were the Labs, the Golden Retrievers, a few Pit Bulls, and one very slobbery English Bulldog. There was a Black Great Dane (I could take him) and the local Rottweiler Rescue Group was present. In fact, there were a number of Obedience Groups and Rescue Groups walking with their own colors but once again, I marched to my own beat.

I wore my coat of Bolton Veterinary Hospital Allan's Angels, and even had questions asked about my duties as a therapy dog. Uh, hello, I do therapy? I present myself and people automatically feel better about themselves and their situation? The Woman seems to think that there is more involved, but she hardly understands what it is that I actually do.

So the weather was good, the dogs polite and I was worshipped by the masses. I was only asked once if I was a Corgi, and as there were several Corgis present, I think that answer was fairly obvious.

No.

I Am Shiba. I Am A King Who Walks Among The Kings.

(The Woman notes: Thank you all for your donations. Together, we earned $240 dollars which will pay for a puppy in training for between 4-6 months.)

(Cortez notes: And trust me, those puppies need all the training they can get! The little imps tried to sniff my butt!)

Sidekicks

2009-04-26T07:45:00.000-07:00

I have decided to make Belle-chan my sidekick. This way, I don't have to do as much work as in the past and yet, I can reap the benefits of being all that is Shiba. Furthermore, it makes me look better.

For example, yesterday, The People took us on a very nice hike in the woods. Belle-chan barked and offered to attack the following:

1 Black and White Akita
1 Very Obese Golden Retriever
1 Blue Tick Hound
1 Pit Bull That Was Jogging With Its Person
2 Small Furry Dogs of Unknown Origin
Several hikers Who Just Happened to be on The Same Path as Us

and while she did all this, I merely sat back and watched. The People implemented "training techniques" in their attempt to dismiss her very unladylike behavior (most of the dogs, she was merely telling them, Hey, I am a Champion, Are you a Champion? No? Then Get Outta These Woods Now- They Are Mine!) which, in my opinion, Belle-chan has all rights to brag about her Alphabet Soup.

So what is nice about having a sidekick is that She does all the work and I get all the Glory. She chases off all other dogs in the Name of the Shiba, and I get to be The Commander of Shibas because Belle-chan is too busy to notice my subtle leadership takeover.

Plus, with her asserting our Shibaness, everyone thinks that I am so well-behaved. It's a nice change. That Guy has decided to nickname her "Little Miss Disaster" because of her ability to cause complete chaos in such a serene wood.

Does this look like a dog who can conquer the Earth without subtle suggestion and assistance?

I Am Shiba. Having a Sidekick Is Cool.

Cuteness Personified

2009-04-22T06:46:00.001-07:00

So Belle-chan has been here a few days now and it does not seem like she is leaving anytime soon. This is okay because The People are giving us lots of treats to help our "adjustment period."

Belle-chan tends to get excited when a). there are treats; b). a leash is jangled; c). there are treats and d). anyone walks into the kitchen. She also appears happy to see people in the morning, and actually wags her tail! As I am not a morning Shiba, I find this enthusiastic attitude shameful. I had The People trained to calm sedateness in the morning hours; now we have a small furry rubber ball bouncing off the walls.

She does, however, mellow out with time. Belle-chan is quite taken to the couches as I have no interest in them. I think she is enjoying not having to share the space.

And if anyone thought that Shibas do not look like foxes, well, this picture might change your mind:

I Am Shiba. This Is Not As Bad As I Thought.

Introducing Belle!

2009-04-20T05:10:00.001-07:00

It appears that The People think I needed a New Roommate, so They have invited Belle to come and live with Me. As to not confuse our faithful Readers, that is Belle on the Right. I am the one with the completely paranoid look on the left.

Belle comes from Nozomi Farms, and has many letters of the Alphabet that follow her name.

On our morning constitutional, she saw squirrels and barked at a neighbor. The neighbor fortunately just laughed but it appears that the Little Girl is quite informative regarding any activity during our walk.

Here is a picture of her winning something. Please note that the ribbon is bigger than her.

I am actually rather intrigued about having a room mate. While she has been here less than a day, we are already sharing the house together. She does silly things like get on the furniture and follow The People into the kitchen.

I shall have to teach her through example on how to behave.

I Am Shiba. What Was One Is Now Two.

Rex

2009-04-19T09:08:00.000-07:00

While many of us have already heard the story of the Colorado Shiba named Rex, I am posting his donation site in case any reader has not, and wishes to help the Colorado Humane Society with his care.

Rex's Donation Page

This is a very sad story, as are all cases of animal abuse, but the insanity of this particular case is beyond comprehension. We can only hope that Rex is able to find a nice, quiet forever home and learn how to be a Shiba without pain.

I Am Shiba. Namaste.

The Forgotten Story

2009-04-15T03:25:00.000-07:00

The Woman, in all her busy-ness, forgot to rely the following story. I think that it is important that this story be told because:

1.) It shows how well trained I am.

2). It shows how helpful The Woman is.

and

3). It proves that above all, I am Shiba.

Last weekend, we were walking our morning constitutional when we came across a Mother walking her little Yappy dog while pushing a baby stroller. While Baby was tightly strapped into the contraption holding it hostage, Yappy was, of course, on a flexi-lead and running around enjoying himself.

Then He saw me.

Then He became furious, barking madly, running all around the stroller, barking, and carrying on, despite His Person's pleas to calm down. The Baby starts to cry, and the chaos gets worse.

Suddenly, the Baby stroller tips over and The Woman turns to address the commotion.

I am put into a Sit/Stay and The Woman runs over to help The Mother untangle her dog from the stroller, and get the stroller back upright. Yappy never ceases to stop barking at me, tossing challenges left and right, but I merely sigh and shake my head at the ridiciousness of such a silly barking monstrocity.

The Woman stays to make sure that Mother, Baby and Yappy are all okay. Mother is saying that she is going to head home because the situation was not working; the Woman offers her sympathy (without her normal lecture of why she hates flexi-leads) and turns toward me as so we can resume our walk.

It is, at this moment, that I realize something very important.

There is no one holding the other end of the leash.

The Woman is in front of me, walking toward me, politely calling my name, telling me what a good boy I have been.

I accept the challenge.

Immediately moving into a play stance, I then turn tail and run as fast as I can down the roads. The Woman starts to chase me and then gives up. I am faster than the wind, the blood of the cheetah could not have given me more inspiration to run with the glory of all that is free. Tongue hanging out and leash trailing behind me, I run by all the neighbors working in their yard, who politely point out to The Woman as she walks by, which direction I was headed.

Smartly, She figured I was headed to one of two places: Home or The Nature Center (my personal park).

Home was closer.

When She got to our front door, I was standing there calmly, looking at the door like I always do, waiting for it to open so that I might enter. I have always despised the fact that our Front Door does not open and close at my Will.

So she is standing on the steps looking at me. I turn and look at her, wondering if she was going to open the door, and as she continues to look at me, I ask the simpy question:

What did you expect? Actual Obedience?

I Am Shiba. I Do What Motivates Me At That Moment.

We Lost to a Porteguese Water Dog!

2009-04-12T04:08:00.000-07:00

Introducing . . . . Bo!

As the American Kennel Club describes them:

Temperament

An animal of spirited disposition, self-willed, brave, and very resistant to fatigue. A dog of exceptional intelligence and a loyal companion, it obeys its master with facility and apparent pleasure. It is obedient with those who look after it or with those for whom it works.

Summary Statement
The Portuguese Water Dog is spirited yet obedient, robust, and of unexaggerated, functional conformation; sure, substantially boned and muscled, and able to do a full day's work in and out of the water.

These dogs are considered to be one of the most energetic yet gentlest of the hunting breeds. They are ranked 62 in breed popularity (ironically Shibas are 63) and I am sure will give the girls an active playmate. While not a rescue dog, it is a dog from a reliable kennel -- the other advantage of getting an older puppy is that it is housebroken and already partially trained. Senator Edward "Teddy" Kennedy owns three of them, and his trainers appeared to have assisted in preparing the dog for its new home.

While not a Shiba, it is a good choice as this is a hardy breed, not overly popular and hypo-allergic (okay, so they don't want fur all over the White House-- geesh!- just buy a good vacuum cleaner!)

Our plans for World Domination of the Free World have been abated at the moment. We are going to have to rely upon Plan B. We must convince that beautiful wife of Prime Minister Sarkozy that she needs a Shiba. We would only make the supermodel look that much better.

Anyone for roadtrip to Paris, France?

I An Shiba. I Could Learn to Like Escargot.

Walking at 7 AM

2009-04-10T04:34:00.000-07:00

This morning I needed a walk. Not a 9 AM after The Woman is caffienated and starting her day; not at 8 AM when she is more awake and has found her glasses. It is 7 AM., and I want my walk now.

Fortunately, Those People were awake enough to read the signs as I stood by the front door with my nose pointing directly at the crack that gets bigger when The Woman turns the handle. Stupidly, they asked me if I wanted to go for a walk? Could I have made my message any more obvious?

But The Woman even admitted it was a nice walk. While a brisk 34 degrees F, I shook and fluffed my coat into place, and marched down the path. We opted for the long morning walk path rather than the short morning walk path as compared to the hour long morning walk path vs. a hike or heading into the woods. This walk takes me by Sundance the German Shepherd's house and I must always remind him that I live in this neighborhood too. It also gives me time to find where that Akita on the corner is doing his constitutionals so that I can remind him also that I still live around here.

The Woman noticed that while the Juncos are still flittering about, there were plenty of Cardinals and Robins out playing in the fields and on people's lawns, and the Finches were just starting to arrive at the feeders. Many neighbors had daffodils in full bloom in their yards and like ours, a number had their tulips emerging from the ground. Lawns are starting to turn green again, and the early morning landscapers were getting a headstart this morning, finding dead branches and trimming overgrowth.

I found an empty plastic bottle which I promptly picked up and brought home. Those People are really into recycling and are constantly picking up litter. I like to do my part when I can and am not embarrassed when people point at me as I walk home carrying their trash.

I Am Shiba. Spring Has Sprung.

Fidelco 2009

2009-04-06T16:53:00.000-07:00

Well, the time has come for each of us to do our civic duties.

The Woman has donated her time the last few Fridays to several Special Olympic Events. She even washed the uniforms after the kids got done playing basketball with ten other schools.

That Guy will be walking to earn money for Cancer Awareness. I would join him on this walk except for two things: it is at 4 am. that he is choosing to walk and no dogs are allowed. His donation site is That Guy's "Relay for Life Fundraising Page" That Does Not Allow Shibas to Participate Not That We Would at 4 AM Anyway.

And myself? I will be walking for Fidelco on March 16, 2009 to once more raise money and awareness for all those working German Shepherds. If you care to sponsor our walk, please feel free to donate a few pennies to our secure webpage, The Woman's Fund Raising Page.

So though I know that money is tight and kibble is becoming more expensive, we feel it is our civic duty to donate to the less fortunate. While I support the work of my fellow canines and The Woman supports the work of her students, That Guy supports early morning workouts.

Hence, we will see him for breakfast at the more reasonable hour of 8 a.m.

I Am Shiba. We All Walk For Life, Each In Our Own Way.

The Fame We Deserve

2009-03-31T02:43:00.000-07:00

I have always found Land's End and L.L.Bean catalogs irritating. All those Labrador and Golden Retriever dogs and puppies demonstrating how the quality of products and clothing as so outdoorsy, that you just want to go out and beat up a few ducks (or at least chase them, chasing them is kinda fun too!) But I will bet you that any of the dogs used by these catalog have never been bitten by a flea, let alone seen one.

But in comes this company:

http://www.canineauto.com/

Finally, someone see the advantage of using Shibas in Advertising. We know how to ride in cars. In fact, we know how to tell our people how to drive to particular destinations that we enjoy. But safety issues aside, we know how to make any product just look good.

Aren't you ready to rush right out and purchase one of these just because The Shiba looks so darn good?

I Hope that The People don't think that Belle and I are going to need one of these! This kind of close contact might be disturbing. People may believe that I actually like her or something.

Now this is something that I could definitely "get in to." (Shiba pun, I can be so funny sometimes).

All these fabulous products modeled by dogs who truly understand the meaning of utility, car rides, and "if you leave me behind, I will destroy every television remote in your house faster than I can eat a bully stick."

I Am Shiba. We Are Photogenic.

How I Am Mistreated

2009-03-30T16:20:00.000-07:00

So it is looking more official that "Belle" will be moving into our household around April 20th. All persons involved have been corresponding back and forth, discussing everything from what thickness of blanket she requires to her ability to perform a constitutional on demand (she is *such* a show off!)

Just look at this excerpt from one of the letters:

"Belle does great on just about any food. Just make sure she doesn't get
too much as she will put on weight very quickly. She is very polite
about bones (if you take one away from her she just watches you
quizzically (waiting for you to hand it back to her)). She does not
"guard" anything (food, toys, attention) from people HOWEVER she will
zealously guard just about ANYTHING from other animals. If she had a
bone and Cortez or one of your cats tried to take it from her, she'd
probably attack and show no mercy. I would recommend feeding the dogs
separately (Belle is used to eating in her crate), and allowing them to
have treats only when one of you is there to supervise (ie, don't leave
the dogs together unattended if they have pig ears or greenies, etc).
She regularly eats chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, tripe, fish (salmon,
mackerel, and tuna), eggs, duck, rabbit, yogurt and all sorts of veggies
with no issues. The only product I avoid with her is "Performance Dog
Blend" (made by Oma's Pride) - it's a high calorie, very high protein
beef/tripe/trachea mix with added vitamins specifically designed to
boost a dog's energy level and it seems to give Belle the shakes and
jitters (like someone who's had too much caffeine). I also don't ever
feed corn to any of my dogs because so many Shibas have allergies to
it. Until a couple years ago, my dogs (Belle included) regularly ate
Innova EVO (made by the same company as Cal Nat) whenever we traveled,
and as a young dog (for the first couple years of her life) Belle ate
California Natural, so I'm sure she'd do fine on it. "

I am 8 years old and still eating California Natural! Obviously, I should have been moved up to higher quality stuff ages ago but These People I live with obviously never got That Memo.

I Am Shiba. Things are Going to Start Changing Around Here *Before* Belle Arrives.

Cortez and The Lord of the Rings

2009-03-14T14:16:00.000-07:00

Cortez: okay, let me get this straight. I am supposed to join a group of Hobbits and escort them to Rivendell to meet Elrond. Okay, that is cool. I like hiking.

* * *

Cortez at the Shire.

Omg, they serve second breakfast here! I am so in!

* * *

What do you mean we have to leave the Shire, Gandalf? They have second breakfast here!

* * *

Cortez in Bree.

This guy smells like he rolled in squirrels. He's cool. I say, let's bring him along!

Oh, I am sorry but there appears to be some miscommunication. I don't carry a pack. Get a pony!

* * *

Cortez on Weathertop.

Ummm, hello! I am trying to sleep here! Oh man, where the heck did Frodo go now? That Squirrel-smelling Guy always gets so pissed when we lose Frodo.

* * *

Cortez in Rivendell

Nice place you got here, Elrond. I will take your bed to sleep in- oh yes, Arwen, scratch my belly- it's okay.

* * *

Cortez crosses the Mountains.

HELLO! I am getting snow inbetween my toes!

* * *

Cortez enters Moria.

HELLO! It's dark in here!

* * *

Cortez finds Lothlorien.

Nice place. Lots of trees. Got any squirrels?

Cool Mirror of water you got here. Excuse me for a second while I grab a drink.

* * *

Cortez in Fangorn.

I can pee here. I can pee here. I can pee here. Wait a sec . . . why are all these trees following me???

* * *

Cortez meets Saruman.

You are a bad man. Oh Cool, a stash of Hobbit potatoes. Could you cook these up for me? I like them fried in butter.

* * *

Cortez goes to Rohan.

This place smells funny. I don't like it.

* * *

Cortez fights in Helm's Deep.

You think your bad-ass? You orcs still use peepads at your wizard's door! Yea, and your mamas still use pee pads too! Yea, you run away! I kicked your butt before Gandalf got here!

* * *

Cortez arrives at Minas Tirth.

The only tree to pee on is Dead? I am supposed to pee on a dead tree? Oh, that is so wrong.

* * *

Cortez meets a Nazgul.

Yea, and your mama uses a pee pad too!

Nazgul: No man can kill me!

Ha! Not only am I not a man! I am Shiba and I am neutered! I bite your ankle and make you fall flat on your face! Now, send that Oliphant over here, and I will take him too!

Legolas is such a show off . . .

* * *

Cortez at the Gates of Mordor.

Hmmm. I smell hobbits. Better follow them. I could use a second breakfast.

* * *

Cortez at Mount Doom.

Allow me to explain the following. The Shire is Mine. Weathertop is Mine. Rivendell is Mine. The Mountains are Mine. Moria is Mine. Lothlorion is Mine. Rohan is Mine. Minas Tirth is Mine. Mordor is Mine. Ummm, I think that Ring is Mine too.

<>

Well, that was stupid. You dropped it in the lava. You got any other toys to play with?

No?

Got any treats?

No?

What the heck are we doing here!!??!!

The Conclusion:

The Shiba moves back to the Shire after helping to cleanse the area of all corruption, and establishes the essence of all that is Shiba. The Tree? It is His. Bag End? It is his. Frodo gave it to him when he went West.

Cortez:

Wait! There is a Road Trip and I can't go? NOT FAIR!!!!

I Am Shiba. Tolkien Needed More Shibas, Less Cats.

Wait A minute . . . !

2009-03-08T06:19:00.000-07:00

So, I am ready for a Road Trip. This means comfortable riding in the Mustang. Imagine my surprise when I find out the reason behind the Road Trip.

Excuse me?

The People are considering allowing another Shiba into our home. Full-Time!

Yesterday's road trip took us to the scenic town of Manchester, New Hampshire (2 and 1/2 hours of traveling to see a town as with the same name as ours?) We arrive at a place that immediately causes me to Code Red.

It is a kennel.

We drove 2 and 1/2 hours to take me to a city with the same name as where I live to put me in a kennel? Oh, this is not amusing at all! I panic. I wait for the moment when The Woman uses the restroom; I attempt my escape when The Woman takes her turn, but alas, there were other dog people around and they knew enough not to let a Shiba out the door.

Damn them!

But after a bit, we move into the back of the kennel, and its not a kennel but rather an agility trial.

(if you look closely in the upper center of this picture, you can see Belle's tail as she moves through the jumps. That Guy got yelled at for using a Flash. It appears that one of the rules of Agility Trials is no flash cameras. Fortunately, we were neither shunned nor arrested on the spot).

I know about these Shows. This is where people come and adore me. This is good. Code Red decreased to Code Green within seconds.

I allow myself to mingle among the masses.

So after a few minutes, we are introduced to the Agility People and Their Agility Pack.

One particular dog, Belle (upper right top), is being considered as a possibility for moving into our household so that she can keep That Guy company in his basement while I guard The Woman upstairs. Okay, this has possibilities. At least she won't be using my food bowl and lying in all the best spots in the house.

What do you mean she is allowed on the couch? I am not allowed on the couch!

So Belle and I got to meet and greet. We both ignored each other with a cautious eye always turned. All The People said that this is a good thing because we a). did not bark, growl or attempt to kill one another on sight, and b). did not bark, growl, or attempt to kill one another on sight. We were even loose together in the same pen and did not bark, growl or attempt to kill one another on sight.

I thought I was being a gentleman. Turns out, being polite means that in April, Belle may be venturing down to our house to spend a week to see if everyone can get along, and I can learn to share my space. Well, as long as she does not touch my squeeky toy Squirrel, everything should be fine.

It is my squeeky toy squirrel! She will have to get her own squeeky toy squirrel if she wants one.

I Am Shiba. I Am Going to Have to Learn to Share. Yuck.