I am in love!

Today, we went over to visit our neighbor and I got to meet their new puppy Kai. She is the friendliest, goofiest, best girl I have ever met.

Even though she is not a Shiba, she plays like one!

My Best Friend Kai.

I wanted to invite her home to my pack but I suppose she already has a lovely family.

I am going to go over and play with her everyday!

Maybe I should get her something special – flowers, chocolate flavored bones, promises I don’t intend to keep?

[Note – Regular chocolates are poisonous to dogs.]

Actually, I am going to go over now and wait by her door. Maybe I will catch a glimpse of her through the window.

Wish me luck!

Shiba Wisdom

Friends are like melons; shall I tell you why? To find one good you must one hundred try. ~~[Claude Mermet]

Kai and Sephy sitting on a tree ...

Today I got to go to an awesome place called the SPCA.

There were many dogs there and many interesting smells. There was also a nice, enclosed play area where I got to romp around in an off-leash format.

A very happy Shiba Inu after a visit to the SPCA.

This play area had many balls, frisbees, ropes and interesting objects strewn about, so I had lots of fun.

It wasn’t long before I saw this really hairy dog called Zen.

His face had some similarities with a Shiba, which means that he is quite handsome; although not as handsome as me.

A handsome hairy dog called Zen. But not as handsome as me!

True to his name, Zen was very calm, so it was a challenge to get him to play. In fact, for some incomprehensible reason, Zen just wanted to be with the 2-legged ones.

Everybody knows that 4 legs are superior to 2 legs! And a Shiba Inu is the most superior of all.

Anyway, I was not about to give up, so I did my best to get Zen to relax and acknowledge my Shiba-awesomeness. I jumped up on him, I ran around, I play-bowed, I did my air-butt move, I humped him on the side, back, and front. Ultimately, Zen realized what a cool dude I am and started romping around with me!

True to his name, Zen was very calm, so it was a challenge to get him to play with me.

Den Female says that I was a pest and Zen played with me a little in the hopes that I would leave him alone; but I know better.

Everybody realizes that I am totally AWESOME … eventually.

I just need to apply my legendary Shiba persistence and everything always works out in the end. 😀

Shiba Wisdom

If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again!

Everybody realizes that I am totally AWESOME … eventually.

I have been visiting this interesting place that has lots of dogs around. Most of the time there are many interesting, fun friends to play with.

Sometimes though, there are some dogs that really don’t want to interact with me.

Everyone should love to play with a Shiba, especially a Shiba like me!

I really don’t understand this.

Everyone should love to play with a Shiba, especially a Shiba like me!

I try to tell them this, but sometimes they get annoyed and try to tell me to get lost. But I keep trying.

I don’t want them to lose out on this golden Shiba opportunity.

I don’t want them to lose out on this golden Shiba opportunity.

Today, there was another Shiba at the park. He looked like me but he was very small so I was very curious. At first he was in the small dog area but then he came over to where I was, presumably to pay homage to me. After all, I am bigger and better.

A Shiba Inu's awesome aspect is a wonderful and terrible thing.

I went over to greet him, but the little Shiba got all snarky with me, growled at me, and showed teeth. I suppose since he is so small, he might be a bit fearful of my awesome aspect.

I went over more slowly and tried to greet him again. He got all snarky again and Den Female and Pungent One came over and stopped me. This happened a few more times and I decided to give the little Shiba some alone time before my next approach.

After about 15 minutes, I figured the little one had probably calmed down, so I put on my best face and went over to introduce myself. The little punk actually had the audacity to come at me with teeth bared. To calm him down I simply sat on him.

Here I am sitting on my sister Shania. She likes being close to greatness.

I thought I handled it pretty well and with minimal violence but then all hell suddenly broke loose. The 2-legs that belonged to little Shiba came charging over, shouting and wildly waving their arms. One of them actually dared to lay hands on my royal body.

I was shocked at his stupid behavior.

Lucky for him, Pungent One came over and stopped his stupidity before I could unleash my ninja Shiba moves.

Runty’s follower walked away but kept on yipping. At that point, we thought it best to leave little Runty and his sidekicks to their yipping and yapping.

Shiba Wisdom

If a little dog is uncomfortable being with larger dogs, it is best to keep him in the small dog area where he can have more fun.

Never grab an unknown dog, especially a Shiba, unless you want to get bitten – ROAR!

Never grab an unknown dog, especially a Shiba, unless you want to get bitten - ROAR!

It has been many weeks and I have had many battles with Female-that-Walks-Dogs.

I am definitely wearing her down.

The Dog Walker Saga - Part 3

Today, I tried the screaming maneuver in front of my house. Den-Female seemed a bit worried. I sensed that she was thinking of not letting me go. But then Female-that-Walks-Dogs picked me up and loaded me into the moving den.

Onto the battlefield!

When we reached the wooded area, I went through my usual repertoire of ninja moves. I could tell that she was losing her cool.

The Shiba Scream - A big favorite in my repertoire of ninja moves.

But wait … what is this device?! Suddenly she put this metal chain around my neck. It was very painful when she snapped this *new* metal collar.

I decided to play it cool and again lull her into a false sense of security, but she did not take it off. I suppose 2-legs are not always stupid. Worse, Female-that-Walks-Dogs did not take me home but made me stay with her all day. Then she took me to *her* den.

Is this to be my new life?!

NOOOOooooooo. Save me Shiba Gods!!

Save me Shiba Gods!!

Luckily, after a bit, Female-that-Walks-Dogs took me back to *my* den. After this horrible day, I never had to go with her again.

Whenever I saw her in my neighborhood I made sure to let her know that I wanted her gone!

The Gods must have answered my prayer. The Shiba Gods are powerful!

Shiba Wisdom

Note from Den-Female:
Prolonged use of choke chains can injure your dog. This is especially true for Shibas because they have short tracheas. Calling a choke chain a *humane* choke chain does not change its nature, or its risks.

I stopped dog walking sessions because I did not want the walker to use a choke chain on my Shiba. In addition, his behavior was getting worse because he was practicing bad behaviors during his walks and the walker was not able to effectively control him without the choke chain and muzzle.

A much happier and well-behaved Shiba after we stopped using physical aversive training.

Female-that-Walks-Dogs is here again. Today I will show her who is boss!

Everything progressed as usual, but suddenly, Female-that-Walks-Dogs took out this *thing* that she put over my mouth so that I had to keep it closed. I couldn’t bite and I couldn’t scream.

I decided to behave really well so as to instill a false sense of confidence in Many-Dog-Female.

Unfair!

I must open a store to sell these things except it would be for the 2-legs. See how they like it.

I decided to behave really well so as to instill a false sense of confidence in Female-that-Walks-Dogs. It worked! After walking a bit in the wooded area, 2-legs took the *mouth thing* off.

FREEDOM!!!

So I let go my most piercing, shrill, scream. It was quite beautiful. I liked it so much, I let go another one, and then another, and so on. Female-that-Walks-Dogs was very startled and embarrassed. She tried to make me stop by doing the leash snap thing. I persevered!

My Shiba spirit cannot be defeated!!

Shiba Sephy singing for his supper.

VICTORY!!!

Shiba Wisdom

Shiba screams are wicked powerful. Must remember that for future use.

Shiba screams are wicked powerful. Must remember that for future use.

It was very exciting today. A female that smells like many dogs came to visit.

I followed her around everywhere because she had such an interesting scent. Then, lucky me, she loaded me into her moving den where I got to meet five other friends!

The Dog Walker Saga - Part 1

Some of them didn’t like me very much – I think they are just jealous of my Shiba-ness. I’m not worried – if I pester them enough, I’m sure they will come around.

After a little while, the moving den came to a stop and we found ourselves in a nice wooded area. I was very excited and wanted to jump right out and run around and play. However, the dog-smelling female stopped me and jerked my collar really hard.

This collar jerk thing is getting REALLY annoying. First my followers, then this new female. Do they have classes where they teach all 2-legs this silly maneuver?!

Shiba Sephy exploring a nice wooded area.

It was an epic battle!!

Next time I will have to sell tickets. Finally I decided it would be more interesting to explore the new wooded area so I gave up the ghost. This battle may be over … but the war has just begun.

This battle may be over … but the war has just begun.

Shiba Wisdom

Punishment may work initially, but eventually it just becomes annoying. My Shiba spirit is too strong to be defeated by silly forceful maneuvers.

Today I was loaded up and brought to where the white coated lady lives.

I was all ready to fight her AND all her Amazons, but they were giving me treats so I tolerated their company.

Suddenly I felt wozzy.

Shiba Sephy recuperating after being neutered.

Those sneaky, sneaky females!

HELP!!! I am losing consciousness … need chicken soup.

Now I sleep with my back against the wall so the white lab coat lady can't sneak up on me!

Slowly I awaken.

Something seems different.

Yikes! – I have this stupid thing around my neck (see first picture). I feel itchy, wozzy, and yucky.

White coated lady really sucks.

Wait a minute … something else is missing too … NOOOOooooooo!!

Wait a minute … something else is missing too … NOOOOooooooo!!

Shiba Wisdom
I don’t miss them. They just got in the way!!

[Note from 2-legs: Neutering prevents some health issues down the road and can help with mounting and some forms of dog aggression. However, spaying and neutering can also slightly increase the risk of certain types of cancer.]

Walking has not been very fun lately.

Both the Pungent-One and the Female in my pack have started to jerk my leash during walks. Sometimes this happens very often.

Walks are more fun without the constant pain in the neck.

It is painful especially when the Pungent-Male does it. When the-Female one does it, it is merely annoying. I am getting really irritated by this.

For now, I will give them the benefit of the doubt. They seem pretty clueless and do not know any better. But this cannot continue indefinitely – ultimately, I am going to have to show them the error of their ways.

It is exactly behavior like this that makes 2-legs strange, incomprehensible, and untrustworthy.

2-legs do not understand that if I wanted to, I could also use aversive techniques on them, and I am much better and more accurate at applying my bites than they will ever be.

I am much better and more accurate at applying aversive techniques than 2-legs will ever be. Look at my teeth!

If they do not want me to bite them, then it is only fair that they show me the same courtesy.

But 2-legs is only 2-legs. They are slow to learn, so I will give them some time.

Plus, they give me cheese … For the sake of cheese I will be patient, use small words, and speak very slowly. I will go now and have a dream about cheese … ummmm CHEESE.

Shiba Sephy dreaming about cheese.

Shiba Wisdom
Dear 2-legs,

You have thin skin, weak legs, and small teeth. You cannot run very fast, are easily hurt, and have weak, inaccurate bites. In a fair physical fight, you cannot win. So why do you choose this way of fighting?

I have been doing some reading on 2-legs and I know you have big brains and can do some things better than I can – like make cheese! If I were you I would focus on brain and cheese skills.

If you choose to fight, and force me to fight back, then everybody will lose in the end.

If you choose to fight, and force me to fight back, then everybody will lose. If you give me trust and respect, I will also return in kind.

I really hate bath time.

Initially the Pungent-Male tried to lure me into the cold and small space with cheese. I like cheese – but even cheese is not good enough to make me go into the cold, wet place.

A fun Shiba bath in the great outdoors and based on a chasing game.

After the cheese strategy failed, the Pungent-One carried me in. Then, the Female-One came in and poured water all over me!!

She is not very nice today. 🙁

Dogs baths are much more bearable in the great outdoors.

Then, there was white funny smelling stuff, and more water, and I don’t know what else because I must have passed out from the sheer awfulness of the experience.

At the end, I remembered shaking water all over the male and female – they deserve it!!

Shiba Wisdom
It is scary to have water and funny smelling white stuff put on you in a confined space.

Maybe 2-legs should consider doing this in a larger, more open, space?! As you can see from the pictures, I’m fine playing water chase games and don’t mind having a bath as a side effect.

A dog bath is more fun while playing water chase games.

I got to meet a really cool 2-legged one today.

So far most of the 2-legs I’ve met have not been very impressive. Most have erratic energy that reflect fear, anger, or frustration.

My own 2-legs have gotten a lot calmer since then. I am a good 2-legs trainer.

This dog trainer, however, is very different. Straight away I could sense that this one has an air of authority. When he tried to put a new thing around my neck, I put up a big fuss, but this one just held onto me and was very calm and unafraid. Sensing this I calmed down as well,… the neck thingy may not be so bad after all.

My male and female pack followers were also around and they seemed to also get calmer after a howl and yip, noise session with the Yoda-like 2 legs.

Afterwards, we all went for a walk and it was a lot of fun. I also got to practice my SITs and since I am so good at it I got a lot of cheese – yummy!

Shiba Inu Sephy pretending to be a model citizen.

Finally, the Calm-One picked me up.

In general, I hate being picked up by 2-legs because that seriously curtails my freedom. Also I don’t really trust the 2-legs not to drop me – after all they are inferior with only 2 legs.

Everyone knows that –

4 legs goooooddd, 2 legs baaaadddd.

So, of course I showed my displeasure by squirming and showing teeth. I also put my teeth near Calm-One’s neck just to see what he would do. But, strangely, he just remained calm throughout. I started to relax as well.

Being held by Calm-One was not too bad after all.

Shiba Wisdom
Wtih us dogs, it is all about inner energy. We can sense what you are truly feeling so you cannot pretend. To really make a difference, you must change your inner energy and true self.

Really, we should get paid a lot more for all the self-help lessons we give 2-legs!

Really, we should get paid a lot more for all the self-help lessons we give 2-legs!