A Winnie Day

When you know it's right

2011-12-11T19:54:00.000-08:00

Thor

Kiba

Sometimes when doing rescue, it is hard to determine if the potential adopter is the right one. Sometimes it is a gut instinct. Sometimes it can be a bunch of coincidental "signs" that seem to tell you that it is the right one. And sometimes, the potential adopter can provide the Rescued Shiba more than you ever could, whether that is more time, more training, more love, more exercise and more leadership.

Luckily, both Thor and Kiba found "more". As much as they needed their owners, their owners needed them. Within a week, both of them found loving homes (with awesome vacation homes too)!

Good luck boys. We will miss you both but we know that you will have amazing lives. Enjoy,

POW!

2011-12-03T13:28:00.000-08:00

The "rescue" phone lines have been ringing off the hook. It's probably been the busiest we've ever seen it - but we currently have five dogs in foster care. YES, five dogs!

Kiba - male, approx. 6-8 years old and weighs 23 lbs. Neutered and current on vaccines. He's a super sweet boy that enjoys hanging with Winnie and going for walks. He's a great dog, but needs some work as a result of some anxiety issues. Bad weather, and being separated from his peeps tends to stress him out.

Scarlett - Frankly my dear, she DON'T give a damn! Actually, she's a regal gal that is pretty active for 13 years young. She is spayed and current on vaccines; weighs 20 lbs. She enjoys long walks and running around goofing about outside.

Thor is 10 years old and weighs 23 lbs. He is an adorable guy that can be a bit shy, but he opens up to you quickly and is such a cute goof!

Pepper is approx. 10 years old and just came into rescue with us. He was found in an abandoned building in Los Angeles. If he is your dog, please please CONTACT US!

Miss Addie continues to heal (she's a very slow healer) and is not yet available for adoption. This cutie is about 1.5 years old. She's a gorgeous gal with amazing markings. She's super sweet but hasn't been socialized much, so she gets easily spooked.

If you're interested in any of these cuties, please let us know. Our hope is that they have warm loving forever homes for Christmas...

Shiba with Separation Anxiety

2011-10-28T09:35:00.000-07:00

Meet Kiba. He is one of our latest foster Shibas. He's a cute boy that does a cute trick.... "beg" or "wave"...

As adorable as he is, he also has a bad case of separation anxiety. He'll howl, cry, jump from two story balconies, climb fences and run away. In the past few weeks that we've had him, we've been correcting him if he starts to get anxious. He's also been enrolled in doggy daycare so that he isn't really ever "left alone" and he can begin to socialize with other dogs. When we leave, we give him bully sticks and treats to keep him occupied.

Finally, when we leave - we don't make a big deal about it. We turn on the classical music and quietly leave without any big ceremony. When we come home - we don't acknowledge him until he's settled down. Only when he's calm (and after we've taken off our shoes, changed clothes, etc), do we say "hi" to him to let him out.

Other than this, we're tapped out on ideas... I guess we just need to keep working on it and hopefully over time it'll get better. If any of you have dealt with it, feel free to comment and share your tricks!

Thanks, and Kiba thanks you, too!

When the rescue stories intersect...

2011-10-14T13:28:00.001-07:00

I have been meaning to write about this story, because it's not too often that our paths criss cross. I mean, LA is a big city, and there are a lot of Shibas and Shiba owners out here~ but we recently had two Shibas in our care and they both found amazing forever homes.

Lady is a sweet cream Shiba, thrown from a car and taken to the shelter from a person who witnessed the horrific thing. She was kept at the shelter but time was running out and she eventually was released to rescue. The kind rescue helpers at Mission Viejo contacted us on her last day and we immediately posted her up on Petfinder and AdoptaPet. Well, within hours, someone fell in love with her and she was quickly adopted.

Zeus was an owner surrender that came to us and was a total sweetheart. This easy going senior was such a pleasure to have and fit in everywhere. He enjoyed being out and socializing, he was cool hanging out in the backyard... He also lucked out and found a wonderful home after a few months of our foster home(s) troubleshooting his diet and getting him to lose a few pounds.

Well, not too long ago, I received an email from Zeus's family and was so touched:

"Yesterday I was in Palm Springs in a fancy pet store and asked the clerk something when a little Shiba stuck her head around the corner of their counter. She was small and looked around 2 years old. The woman said she had just adopted her a few weeks ago and added "can you believe someone threw her out of a car window?" I knew immediately it was "Lady" and she was also adopted from {Saving Shibas Inc}! "Lady" looks wonderful, healthy and happy. She had just had dental work done and was doing great. They were told she was 8 or 9 but I doubt she's more than 2 at the most. Very healthy looking now. She has also found a good home through your organization.

Thank you again for the wonderful work you all do."

We love our adopters and we love the happy endings. It's what keeps us coming back for more...

Physical Therapy - Leg Exercises

2011-10-14T12:56:00.001-07:00

One of the best parts of rescuing Shibas is the amazing network of friends that you begin to rely on. I feel so blessed to have met some wonderful people; people who are willing to share with you best practices, tips and tricks and just lend an ear.

One of these people is NYCSR's Jazzy and her foster mom. To read more on Jazzy (aka Jasmine), go here: http://nycshibarescue.org/2011/04/jasmine-incredible-supporters/. Jazzy and her foster mom took a few videos of their leg exercises to show us how it's done so that we can begin doing a few exercises for Addie. Just so that they are available, we thought we'd share them here...

Thanks Jazzy, thanks NYCSR and thank you Jazzy's foster mom!

How much do they shed?

2011-10-07T17:05:00.001-07:00

Addie (post surgery& shaved) still has a lot of fur to give up....

Duke is loving life

2011-10-03T22:54:00.001-07:00

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Another Shiba in Need

2011-09-08T05:57:00.001-07:00

Meet cute little Addie. She is a beautiful black and tan Shiba, from Las Vegas. Animal control officers picked her up after she had been hit by a car. Wonderful volunteers brought Addie to Los Angeles from Vegas and our surgeon will perform her surgery tomorrow. She has a broken leg and will need a plate to hold together her leg together.

This cute gal is a trooper and hardly cries. We would appreciate your donations, support, and well~ wishes. For updates on Addie, click below

http://igg.me/p/41272?i=shlk

The Duke

2011-08-31T22:17:00.000-07:00

Today was his last appointment and Dr Morgan was impressed by how well he behaved and how good Duke looks now. He is all ready for his new home and they cannot wait to have him join them. Cheers to foster homes and their families for putting up with so much while the rescues heal, rest, learn better manners and transform into great Shiba family members.

Zeus continues to improve on his elimination diet. I think a baseline diet was determined - BEEF! To read about Zeus's progress, check out http://rescuingshibas.blogspot.com/

Wine tasting with the family

2011-08-22T21:33:00.000-07:00

We stayed in a pup tent

Portia and Doc stayed on leashes

All the humans drank...

Even Duke got to come!

A busy but good week....

2011-08-19T08:34:00.001-07:00

We are excited to announce that beautiful, energetic Charlie found a home. We miss you sweet boy!

Since his departure, Winnie now gets to use the tricycle and really enjoys this contraption!

And, we had our fastest rescue come through. Poor Lady was thrown from a car and left on the streets. Someone saw the whole thing and brought her to the shelter. Not even 12 hours from posting her on our site, someone fell in love with her and had to have her. Best wishes to Lady for a long and happy life.

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Location:A busy but good week...

So far, so good

2011-07-24T08:30:00.001-07:00

Duke, our latest foster, is resting and doing well. The doctor said he should only have short leash walks to the backyard to potty.

We will have to find some ways to keep the guy occupied. Please let us know if you guys have tips. We have lots of bully sticks, bones, Kongs to fill and Nina Ottoson toys. Anyone else have ideas?

We are also about 1/4 of the way to our goal for Duke's surgery. Please spread the word and donate, if you can. Thanks!

Veterinary Care & Update on Duke

2011-07-21T23:17:00.001-07:00

Our latest foster "Duke" is a sweet Shiba boy. He had dislocated his hip over two and half weeks ago and required surgery to place the hip back into place. While we called several different vets that we use consistently, all of our vets said that they commission out "bone" related surgeries to surgeons. And, if the surgery was too difficult, they wouldn't even let their surgeons do the operation. They would recommend a specialty animal care hospital. Enter "Advanced Critical Care Veterinary Specialty Center" at the City of Angels Medical Center.

I have always heard wonderful things about this facility from friends, family...but this was my first experience at the 'Cedars Sinai' of animal medicine. The facility is divided into various sections based on the type of services required: cancer ward, critical care ward, dermatology, etc...

Duke's doctor is Dr. Oliver Morgan. He is friendly, explains things well and is wonderful with follow up phone calls. Although the services may be expensive, City of Angels is a top notch facility, with highly qualified doctors handling your family member's health care concerns with expert professionalism.

Animal medicine is amazing.....

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Sweet Duke

2011-07-18T22:07:00.001-07:00

It has been awhile since our last post. It has been crazy hectic lately and raining Shibas. In a short period of time, we have had some happy stories like Mei finding her forever home and Zeus being safe with our rescue; some hopeful stories of owners wanting to make things work with their Shibas and learning some training tips; and the heartache of a cute Shiba that we will miss dearly.

There seems to be no end in sight with the rescue work. Sadly, I guess we will be busy for some time....

Our latest rescue story is of Duke. He is a sweet, beautiful, four year old, neutered male Shiba Inu. His family has incurred unexpected medical expenses and things were financially pretty tough. Unfortunately, Duke also suffered an unexpected injury and now needs to have hip surgery. Based on a few different discussions with animal care centers, we are mentally preparing ourselves for an expensive surgery to make Duke the happy, carefree and playful guy he once was.

Here are photos of Duke, in happier and healthier times. Depending on how things go, we may be setting up a fundraising for Duke's expenses. In the meantime, Saving Shibas Inc is setup on paypal for donations. Please check out our website: Donations Page

Much thanks....Duke sends his love, too....

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Ando

2011-05-22T15:21:00.000-07:00

We're so happy to be a part of a longtime search for the "right" male Shiba to join Uni's world. Ando found an awesome forever home & a cute sister too!

Search Dog Evaluation

2011-04-18T22:41:00.001-07:00

Our latest foster, Charlie, had his big day with the search dog evaluator. After filming short video clips of different scenarios and sending it off to the capable trainers and recruiters at National Disaster Seach Dog Foundation (NDSDF), the day to meet Lyz came. I was a nervous wreck. Charlie was his brilliant, energetic, charming, lovable, bold, focused and determined self.

After an exuberant "Hi! How are ya?" greeting session with Lyz, he met her dog and then immediately focused on her backpack of toys. A rope toy with tennis balls was thrown in a bushy steep hillside covered with fallen leaves and branches.... Immediately, Charlie went in after it on a long lead. After a few times, Lyz began to extend the time before she let him go in. Each time, it was a focused "fetch" after the toy.

Next, she tested him by turning him around and waiting before sending him in. First, a wait of 15 seconds, the next time a 30 second wait. Each time, focused and deliberate, he trotted in with purpose. In a shushed tone, she explained that some Labs go bounding in but can quickly lose focus. Charlie did the exercises "methodically", with determination but not in a great hurry.

Finally, it was the difficult part. We were asked to cover his eyes and not let him see where she hid the toy. As she walked back down to us, she yelled to let him go... He headed right up the hillside, through the bushes, right where the toy had always been. Unfortunately, this time it was NOT there... Lyz whispered to us that this time it is up a bit higher. He headed back to us to see if we tricked him...then he decided to sniff the ground where Lyz was walking and he headed up past the brush. He must have spotted the toy because he dived right into a thick area and came crashing through with the toy! There were a few more tests completed on agility (walking on a stone wall, walking on a steel grate,etc.), which he accomplished with ease.

He did incredibly well at the evaluation. Lyz liked what she saw and felt that he was worth further evaluation with one of their trainers. Charlie is now living with one of the trainers. They will evaluate him further with different people, different dogs, children, and do more training for the next week. He will also go on to medical evaluation and have X-rays performed to be sure his bones and joints are good.

I really believe that Charlie will enjoy training with them and will love the "work".

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Search Dog Candidate Testing

2011-04-03T11:44:00.000-07:00

Our latest foster dog, "Charlie", is an exuberant guy. A playful pup, approximately 8 mos - 16 mos old. He is an energizer bunny that can keep going and going. He is uber-friendly and will say hello to anybody, and wants to play with almost every dog that he comes into contact with. With all of his energy and need for an active lifestyle, it's been a bit difficult to get him into the right home. After being evaluated by our dog trainer, the words "Search and Rescue (SAR) dog" were uttered... What?!? How can this mix-breed from the shelter compete with the highest level of SAR dogs... Well, after a few inquiries, and lots of research on the internet - some of the best SAR dogs are pound puppies. They come from the herding and working breeds.

Charlie definitely has Australian Cattle Dog in him - possibly some Doberman/Min Pin or even Kelpie. He's a gorgeous dog with a tenacious love for his toys.

We got a list of evaluation criteria for SAR dogs. We filmed it and think he did alright! Fingers crossed that one day this rescued pooch can rescue others...

Tug and Touch test:
Toss the toy to the get the dog excited and play with the toy. Pat the dog to build excitement.
Outstanding: Bites down harder on the toy, gets more excited, won't let you have it
Acceptable: No change in behavior when touched
Unacceptable: Drops toy
DEAL BREAK: Hackling or aggression

Tug and Touch Test

Sudden Movement test:

Outstanding: Dog isn't startled; he's curious and interested in the object

Acceptable: Dog is startled, but proceeds to investigate the object

Unacceptable: Dog runs away

DEAL BREAK: Attacks the umbrella

Sudden Movement Test

Sound Sensitivity

Outstanding: Curiosity!

Acceptable: The dog is startled, his tail stops wagging, his body is rigid!

Unacceptable: Dog takes ff, hits the deck, becomes inert or won't come back

Sound Sensitivity

Toss & Spin - 30 second delay

Outstanding - the dog RUNS enthusiastically to the toy, maintaining a 2-3 minute hunt for it

Acceptable - the dog RUNS to the toy, maintaining a 1-2 minute hunt for it

Unacceptable - the dog heads off at a moderate speed to where the toy landed but loses interest on the way

DEAL BREAK - Wanders off in any direction with little enthusiasm

Toss & Spin

Happiness is...

2011-04-02T20:45:00.001-07:00

Having a warm place to rest your head... Have a wonderful life Lili.

It's Official - Rescue Announcement

2011-03-23T22:35:00.000-07:00

Life just got a bit more complicated. Why? Well, there's a myriad of reasons:

I've gone off the deep-end.
I wanted to horrify Winnie.
To fight off laziness by increasing my workload three-fold.
I didn't enjoy my free weekends.
I didn't need a personal life.

What happened that resulted in sheer madness? The Shiba Inu rescue thing - well it's now a legitimate 501(c)3, California corporation. A non-profit organization, run by volunteers with no compensation whatsoever, all for the love of the Shiba.... Fittingly, we were "approved" by the IRS on Valentine's Day. We're officially "Saving Shibas Inc." - a group in the "business" of saving Shibas that are in distressed situations, in shelters and at the risk of being put down.

It has consumed a lot of my blog-time, as there's still so much to do. Getting setup as rescue partners with all of the local (and not so local) shelters within Southern California is no easy task. Thank goodness I am organized and I'm sorta 'puter savvy. It sure helps that I have understanding friends who support and provide assistance, an amazing "board of directors", a supportive and effective dog trainer in my corner, and the kindest veterinarian who is so accommodating. (I couldn't have done it without them...!)

Now, it's on to the hard stuff... Saving Shibas!

Official Saving Shibas Inc. website
Facebook page
Adopt-a-pet (Southern California)
Adopt-a-pet (Nevada)
Petfinder

6 Ways You Can Help Animals In Japan - The Daily Treat: Animal Planet

2011-03-16T22:26:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile we have posted, but we have been devastated by what has happened to the people and the animals of Japan over the past week. There are several ways you can help. Check out the link below.

If you are in Japan, they need foster homes and rescuers. If you are not in Japan, they need funding. Although food, blankets and crates are needed, due to shipping and freight being negatively impacted by the triple crisis (earthquake, tsunami and nuclear fears), monetary donations are most appreciated.

Pray for Japan....

6 Ways You Can Help Animals In Japan - The Daily Treat: Animal Planet

Want!

2011-01-30T19:17:00.000-08:00

If anyone has recipes for grain free dog treats, please feel free to send them over! Shiba cookies!!!!

Odie is looking for a home ...

2011-01-21T08:28:00.001-08:00

I was recently contacted by a Shiba Meetup member who's family member is suffering with a terminal illness. She needs to rehome her cute chihuahua-cocker mix, Odie.

He is already neutered but needs to find a new home quickly...

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Finally! Grain free biscuits

2011-01-10T16:06:00.001-08:00

Winnie tested and Winnie approved!!!

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Dog park corrections

2011-01-09T12:13:00.000-08:00

New Shiba owners frequently have the best intentions at the dog park, but forget to "step in" to reprimand bad behavior. I don't believe it is necessary to yell and make a scene, but sometimes the best thing you can do is just walk around the park and walk in between dogs that might seem "heavily engaged" in fight/play. I especially do this when one of the parties is a pup and their tail is down.

Yesterday, we had our 3rd anniversary Shiba Inu meet up at the Huntington Beach dog park. Although most dogs were great, a few dogs were a bit too "intense" for me and made me uncomfortable. So, I did have to step in a few times to lighten the intensity. Kudos to some of our members who do this and do an excellent job of watching their pups. Attached is a video from yesterday...

A little brag about Winnie, at the 1:08 time mark, she goes in and also breaks up some activity with a rambunctious Black and tan Shiba.....

Do you police others at the dog park? And, if so, what techniques do you use?

Ho hum...it's a routine...

2011-01-06T21:15:00.000-08:00

I have a routine for my Shiba and any dogs that stay with me. The routine is pretty simple. But a day in the life of Winnie looks like this:

7am ish - morning walk
7:45 ish - breakfast
Noon- play outside, brushing,etc...
6pm ish - evening walk
7pm - dinner

She has the run of the house, access to outdoors via a doggy door and every now and then gets treats, but the routine rarely changes. Our fosters and guests love it and really enjoy the regularity of it all.....

Do you have a routine?

Offleash Shibas

2010-12-27T15:35:00.000-08:00

Recently on the Dogster Shiba forum, the topic of off-leash Shibas came up. It comes up from time to time, and it's a controversial one for me. Practicality and previous history proves that you should never do it, because Shibas are bolters, because Shibas are intelligent, and because Shibas are independent thinkers. They know that they'll have more fun if they were loose. They know that they can outrun you and they know that you'll come chasing after them in a frantic panic. What they don't know is that if they hit a car or a car hits them, that they may not live through that experience.

Very early on in our training with Brian, he had told me that if I worked hard enough with Winnie that I too could get her to obey me off-leash. I laughed hysterically. He told me that we could work on it, and eventually I'd have her off-leash right by my side. So, we began our training. We used a long 30ft laundry line and practiced in a wide open area. If she got more than 20 ft away from me, I'd call her back. He didn't call it "recall", but instead he used the words "brain washing".... Brain wash to get her to come back to me, using verbal commands - no tugging on the lead. In fact, she shouldn't even know that she's on a lead... Once we had that down pretty good, we went to the dog beach where we practiced more... Then on to the trails.... Sure enough, we finally are off-leash, brain-washed with the words "stay close" and "come"... and she is an amazing little trail companion.

Although I'm sure she'd stay right by me even on city streets, I can't do it... Because I just can't risk her getting hit by a car.... Been through that nightmare before, and it's not a good experience.... It took a few months of constant training, yummy treats and some frustration, but we're in a good spot now...

Off-leash shibas? Yes, it can be done. Is it recommended for all Shibas? No, definitely not.

New Shiba blog

2010-12-20T21:23:00.000-08:00

Earlier this year, in a well coordinated effort amongst six people, a cute creamy in need found her way home. She is well loved and in a wonderful home. Meet Uni, and this is her blog...http://myshibaisadiva.tumblr.com/

Need Christmas ideas for the pooch?

2010-12-12T09:29:00.000-08:00

How about some "intelligent" interactive toys? Although they are a bit pricey, the Nina Ottosson toys have been so much fun for Winnie. It's amazing how smart these Shibas are and how quickly they learn!

They are pretty durable (no chipped pieces or gnawing on the toys), they always seem to be "fun" for the Shibas and it stimulates their mind. Y'know what they say - a bored Shiba is a bad Shiba....

Here are two videos of Miss Winnie playing with her two different toys:

Look who's lovin life!

2010-12-10T09:25:00.000-08:00

Fonzie deserved a good home with people who adored him. He deserved to be spoiled rotten - having a nice warm bed in the home, being chauffeured to fun places and just having a great time every moment he had.

He finally has all of this!

Shiba Socialization

2010-11-07T11:09:00.000-08:00

Having fostered a few rescue Shibas, I've seen quite a few poorly socialized Shibas out there. Sadly, these Shibas are great dogs, if only their previous owners did a better job at introducing their dogs to other people, places, noises, situations - these dogs may be "model" dogs without any bad habits.

Exhibit A: Fonzie.
He's a beautiful boy with so much potential and is a loving sweetheart of a Shiba. However, he will never eliminate on walks (only in the backyard), he bolts at a loud car passing, he nearly has a heart attack when he sees or hears a motorcycle, he shakes uncontrollably on street corners, goes crazy at the vacuum cleaner, and has incredible prey drive with anything moving (this includes curbside dirty drainage water, fallen leaves, squirrels, cats, etc.). Thankfully, he now continues to move on walks (he used to freeze, shake and bolt, in that order).

The Nihonken Shiba Inu Forum is a great resource for Shibas (and other Nihonken breeds). They've put together a great list of things to introduce to your Shiba. The better socialized, the better your Shiba can cope in new surroundings, new situations and new sounds. Since we are so accustomed to all these things, we think nothing strange of the sounds, places, and smells.

And, as a treat for socializing your Shiba, go out to eat with your Shiba too! Check out http://diningdogs.com/site/ for restaurants that are dog friendly!

Improvements

2010-09-25T08:57:00.000-07:00

Fonzie has hit the one month mark, and we're happy to report some improvements! He's barking less, playing sporadically at doggy daycare and went for his first hike. About 70% of the time, he's good on the leash. The remaining 30% - something will set him off (bus, beeping trash truck, construction down the street or a leaf) and he'll pull you in a direction that you didn't think was an option.

And we're still finding out more and more about him as we go too. He has crazy prey drive - he found a California King Snake on our hike, just like this one pictured here....

While hiking with our canine hiking group, Fonzie was the first to see the snake and didn't even think twice to stop "going for it". He may definitely need some snake aversion training....!

Fonzie is quickly turning into one cool dude with a crazy social calendar. He's off to a Shiba meetup this afternoon and possibly a future visit with the dog groomer.

Pennies from Heaven - A Bark-a-holic's Story

2010-09-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been 3 weeks and a day since Fonzie has been with us. He's a gorgeous boy and a sweetie of a dog. But of course, there's a "but" coming... While he's quite skittish outside of the home and afraid of every noise, he is a tyrant at home and tries to bully Winnie, bully the bird and even tries to bully me! Every noise can set him off into a barking frenzy - and in the past few weeks, I've tried everything to get him to stop - utilizing Rescue Remedy, massages, and various "operant conditioning" techniques (ie - spray bottle, quick jerk of the leash, "blasting" with a phone book hitting the floor, covering his xpen with a blanket and then removing it when he stops barking....). Sadly, all of these techniques have had limited to no success, until the 'can with pennies' trick. I've heard so much about the 'can of pennies' and with some dogs - it works great. Most dogs - not much luck. Fortunately for me, it works like a CHARM on Fonzie!

For more info on Operant Conditioning, check out this link - they have great examples of the different methods:

Operant Conditioning, Part 2

I have had a breakthrough with this boy - and there have not been any barking frenzies in over 24 hours since the introduction of the 'can of pennies'. I've converted a large Arizona Ice Tea can into my miracle worker. It has about 15 pennies inside of it, with the top taped off. (Nobody needs pennies flying around!) When Fonzie goes into a barking frenzy, the can is hidden behind me and rattled until he stops. (He NEVER gets to see the can and *hopefully* doesn't think that I have it.) I tell him "NO" sternly until he stops, and once he stops - I stop rattling the can and PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE for his quiet. These two acts are known as "Positive Punishment" (adding noise & sternly saying "no"), and "Negative Reinforcement" (removing the noise & telling him "Thank you" for his quiet). Fingers crossed that it keeps working and helps keep the home more quiet with less bullying.

To help him with his fear & skittish behavior, he has been on a socialization tour like no other! Last week, he went to a professional groomer for the first time and met a few people at the pet store. He came out looking beautiful and smelling fantastic! He has also been going to doggy daycare and is slowly coming out of his shell there too. He participates in "chase me", but is still a bit reluctant to play & wrestle. Hopefully sometime soon he'll start participating with the other dogs there. As scared as he is, he's always very excited about going to doggy daycare and happily hops out of the car to go there - so at least he thinks he's having fun there (even though we all know he could be having more fun than he's already having)!!!!

This past week, we revisited the food truck alley (gotta love the latest food truck craze in LA!), and he got to sample some yummy hamburger sliders from the comforttruck and fried chicken from buttermilktruck. Although he was still skittish, he was much better the second time around.... Oh boy! Did he ever enjoy the snacks from the truck, too!

Wish us luck - we're meeting a few families today and hopefully Fonzie will find his forever home soon....

Fonzie's First Week Diary

2010-08-28T07:59:00.000-07:00

Hi, I'm Fonzie. I'm currently staying with a "foster" family and a sweet, spoiled female Shiba named Winnie. GOSH, she has it GOOD! I can't believe how they treat her, cause this is not anything that I've been used to. She lives inside the house and has a doggy door so that she can go in and out. Where I last lived, I was in a dirt field in 100 degree weather, hiding underneath a boat for shade. They didn't even have water for me. They said I barked too much and that I was aggressive with their dog. That's when my foster people came and got me.

This past week with them has been really crazy. I've been doing all kinds of things that I have never done before and they've taken me to different places almost every day! Every day starts out the same, I wake up and go for a walk. My tail is usually down and I get very scared about being near cars, hearing strange sounds and being outside. Foster mom says that I'm getting better though. Then we get home and they give me really good food - sometimes with mushy buffalo meat, but I just like my food plain and dry. I'm told it's still pretty fancy stuff- it's called Acana Grasslands. It tastes pretty good, but I don't like eating from a bowl. I'll knock it all over the ground in my xpen area and eat it slowly . Although Winnie gives me lots of space, I'm afraid she'll somehow get it and eat it all, so I growl just to let her know I'm keeping tabs on her.

Foster mom has also been taking me to a place each day called "doggy daycare" where there are a ton of really nice dogs playing and playing all day. I have been sitting in the corner watching, but just yesterday - I had some breakthroughs as I started to approach dogs to sniff and played briefly with another one!

Some of the other places that I've been to this past week have been the Kogi BBQ truck, Office Depot, new veterinarian's office, pet supply store and the grocery store. Foster mom says that socialization is going to be very important for me, so she's using a training tip that she got from one of Winnie's old trainers. "50 new faces, 5 new places" a week....

I wonder what's in store for me next week?

The Nervous Shiba

2010-08-27T07:37:00.000-07:00

Fonzie is a sweet and loving 3 year old black/tan male Shiba. This beautiful Shiba loves to romp around in the backyard and play “chase” with his toys. He is shy/aloof around most dogs, but has dog-dog food aggression. He is house trained but extremely skittish on walks and will try to escape and/or bolt when frightened. He needs a forever home that is willing to work with him to be a more confident dog. Due to his limited socialization and insecurities, he does bark when left unattended or left outside. As a result, he’d do best in a home kept as an indoor dog with access to a doggie door and a backyard. Fonzie will not go to the bathroom on walks, and will require access to a backyard. Fonzie is not good with cats or any other animals, nor would it be suitable for him to be in a home with children under 10 years of age.

Applicants experienced with this breed are preferred. Fonzie weighs 23.2 lbs and is up-to-date with routine shots, micro-chipped, house trained and neutered. Fonzie is located in Long Beach, CA.

Just last night, I worked on Fonzie's write up and after thinking about his traits and doing my best to honestly describe him, it became glaringly obvious what I knew but was somewhat in denial about. This is one shy and nervous Shiba. He probably wasn't socialized at all as a pup. Shopping carts, pebbled walkways, ladders, gardening crews - these are all of his "frightening" things. Until about 20 minutes ago, the area in yellow highlight was a true fact. Fonzie would sometimes pee but never poop in public, until he watched Winnie and decided it was safe to participate, too. With a little time & a lot of social interaction, perhaps the write up will change drastically...? Congratulations Fonzie! To the baby steps in gaining confidence....Cheers!

Pet Microchip Lookups

2010-08-20T19:28:00.000-07:00

A new visitor has joined us for a few days. "Fonzie" is an owner surrender that was poorly neglected in the heat. He's been cleaned up, updated on shots and ready for a new home. He's quite a handsome devil.

Apparently he's been micro-chipped and I'm having some trouble finding out how to have it updated~

If any of you have tips, let me know...!

Pet Microchip Lookup - Powered by AAHA

Shiba pup? Chinese wolf pup?

2010-08-15T21:34:00.000-07:00

The resemblance is uncanny, but don't be fooled. These are Chinese wolf pups!

動物園始めました。 : 子チュウゴクオオカミ　２

Lost Dogs - How to Find Your Lost Dog - Fido Finder�

2010-08-14T10:11:00.000-07:00

Lost Dogs - How to Find Your Lost Dog - Fido Finder�

10 Lessons from Ben (Winnie's brofur)

2010-08-04T23:04:00.000-07:00

He may not wag and lick your face, but he's happy to see you (really, he is)!
Veterinarians sometimes just don't know~ Ben was only given 3 years to live as a puppy, due to his malnourished state. He lived a long, yummy, walk-filled 16 years.
No matter the age of the dog, always keep the trash can lid secure and never leave cookies out.
You can teach an old dog new tricks.
There is such a thing as a one-person dog. (Ben only adored his rescuer, my sister, Tomoko.)
Walks and baths can bring a shy guy out of his shell.
Raw dog food does wonders for canine health and longevity.
Waving a leash is the most powerful form of communication.
You don't need a clock when you have a dog. They'll let you know when it's time to go out, when it's time to eat, when it's time for a walk, and when it's time to wake up.
Even old guys like bully sticks.

Sleep peacefully...

Benjamin (aka "Ben", or "Benjamin Button")

Shiba Mistaken for Coyote Gets Released in Wild

2010-07-23T09:18:00.000-07:00

Dog Mistaken for Coyote Gets Released in Wild

Former Fosters - An Update

2010-07-18T12:08:00.000-07:00

This past week I heard from our lovely Caylee (my very first foster). She is loving her new home. She has sufficiently trained her new servants. Now whenever there is a little bit of stuffing coming out of a toy, she has them prompty fix it with a needle and thread. They have also decided to take her to training so that they can better understand her needs and for 3 weeks, under a watchful eye of a trainer, things went well with training! The family is "an empty nest", and they dote on Caylee like she was a child. She loves it there and couldn't be any happier!

Meanwhile, in other news, Hiro (formerly known as Kona) had us over for his 4th birthday party. He looks marvelous with his fur all grown in and he had a grand birthday party!

Dog waits outside Boulder court as Abby Toll gets 30 days in jail for taping him to fridge - Boulder Daily Camera

2010-07-10T12:15:00.000-07:00

Justice for Rex (now Yoshi), as Abby Toll (aka wicked woman) who taped him to a refrigerator goes to jail for 30 days and is sentenced to 3 years probation.

Dog waits outside Boulder court as Abby Toll gets 30 days in jail for taping him to fridge - Boulder Daily Camera

diningwithdogs.com

2010-07-01T19:40:00.000-07:00

Now that we're officially in our summer season, what's better than dining al fresco with the pooch! Finally, a great little website with all types of tips on where to dine with Fido.
diningwithdogs.com

Truly Dog Friendly � Truly Dog-Friendly Trainers

2010-06-27T08:56:00.000-07:00

Recently came across a list of dog trainers & behaviorists. There are even some recommends for Canada!

Truly Dog Friendly � Truly Dog-Friendly Trainers

Shiba Stories....

2010-06-10T21:47:00.000-07:00

Someone from Animal Planet contacted me asking if I knew of any good stories about Shibas... He'd like to hear our stories so that it can be featured when they air us on their show. If you guys have any stories to submit, please respond via our Shiba Meetup Message Board. He's looking for some good material to use - and there's so much that's interesting about them- they're pretty clean, they rarely stink, they do the Shiba 500, they have a distinctive 'scream', some yodel but they all have a mind of their own....

Feel free to cross post the link too!
http://www.meetup.com/LA-OCShibaInu/messages/boards/thread/9247007

Rescues & Why They Ask What They Ask

2010-06-04T21:45:00.000-07:00

Here's a great article on rescue groups explaining why they ask all those damn questions.... It may seem rude, intrusive, and lacking in importance - especially to someone who just wants to help by rescuing a dog, but there is a method and a reason for all the questions.... And, this article explains it all....

Those darn dog rescues with all of their rules and questions - what gives?

2010-2011 Dogster Shiba Inu Calendar 2 from Zazzle.com

2010-05-31T15:56:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a cute calendar featuring a few of our dearest Dogster Shiba friends, look no further!

The 2010-2011 Dogster Shiba Inu Calendar is now available. (Month 1 is June 2010!)

A portion of the proceeds goes to various regional Shiba rescues.

2010-2011 Dogster Shiba Inu Calendar 2 from Zazzle.com

Brusha Brusha Brusha

2010-05-31T09:53:00.000-07:00

It seems that Winnie is allergic to all fowl (chicken, duck, turkey, pheasant, etc.)... It was great when she could handle duck and turkey because I would be able to just feed her a duck or turkey neck and her teeth would be sparkling white without a gray or yellow spot on them...

However, with the recent all-fowl allergy, no more necks to keep her teeth shiny and bright. We've now resorted to teeth brushing. Thank goodness she likes the flavor of the tooth paste. It's been a slow process but each time we're brushing a little bit longer and I don't have to treat her as much for sitting still.

We have 3 different toothbrushes, but it seems the best one is the finger brush. It allows me to get right in her mouth at any angle and it doesn't seem so "strange" and intrusive to her. Good Winnie - for allowing me to play "dentist" with her...

Winnie meets Kaitlin

2010-05-15T18:45:00.001-07:00

Twenty Year Anniversary & Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-08T08:59:00.000-07:00

This Sunday is Mother's Day and marks the 20 year anniversary of being owned by Shiba Inus. It was twenty years ago when we received a strange phone call on Sunday morning from a Japanese friend of my father's. His words were "I'm here with the puppies. Please come and pick them up!" We had no idea what we were in store for. We had no idea that puppies were coming. We had no idea what to expect with Shibas. My uncle in Osaka has always owned a male Shiba and always gave it the same name. In fact, I think he is on his 5th version of "Taro". This is all that we knew of Shibas. That they were good looking dogs - did well in the cold climates of Japan, were strong dogs and could survive living outdoors and were extremely popular in Japan.

That Sunday, we drove out to a nearby hotel and picked up these two little furballs. A male "Waka" and a female "Tama". Both were impeccably bred and shared the same sire, a Nippo Grand Champion winner.

"皇錦号-秦野川口荘" was how his name was written on the puppies Nippo papers...

Just recently, I was able to find a video of him winning the Nippo Emperor's award... It's pretty grainy and hard to see him in this video, but pretty cool nonetheless.

Tama & Waka's Dad video but pretty cool nonetheless!

Pictured above Nicole (sister's friend) carrying Tama, and my sister carrying Waka.

So, on this Mother's Day, I'll give my shiba a great big hug for the twenty years of joy this breed has given me. Happy Mother's Day - and yes, Furbabies count!

Interactive: Southern California dog-friendly hikes - latimes.com

2010-05-04T07:44:00.000-07:00

<small>Interactive: Southern California dog-friendly hikes</small> - latimes.com

Speaking for Spot :: Help Paying for Veterinary Care

2010-04-23T10:22:00.000-07:00

I came across this website that lists a group of various non-profit organizations that assist with medical care for animals. A helpful resource for anyone who is having trouble taking care of their pet, or doing rescue.

Speaking for Spot :: Help Paying for Veterinary Care

Great Shiba Comics

2010-04-04T10:03:00.001-07:00

We recently learned about these great Shiba comics...

Kona finds a home...

2010-03-26T20:40:00.000-07:00

I've had Kona for a little over 3 months and he was such a joy to have in our home. He became great friends with Winnie, listened well and was one of the best fur house-guests that we've had. Although I would have loved to keep him here, he often times stared at the parrot like it was lunch time. Perhaps it would've worked out, but it probably would have required a lot of work and training to make all the animals in the home love and trust one another.

So, the search for Kona's forever home was not a hurried one but an inevitable one. Well, the love bug found his new home, with a fun little Shiba sister who adored playing with him. I know he'll do great here - the people love him and had all of his necessities all prepared for his homecoming. They had even purchased Benadryl!!!!

All the past Shibas that I've helped find homes were all good, happy endings. For the first time, this one is a bit bittersweet.

Good luck, Kona. We will all miss you, and you're always welcome to come by for playdates.

Sniper!

2010-03-20T18:44:00.001-07:00

Snake Avoidance Clinic

2010-03-17T20:54:00.000-07:00

For our local Shiba friends, there is a snake Avoidance Clinic for Dogs Saturday May 15 and Sunday May 16 2010, presented by the San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Quail Unlimited, at the Sierra Madre Dog Park 8am to 5pm, $65, by appointment only.

For an entry form email sgvqu@onebox.com or call 866-206-9070 extension 6715, and leave a message with your mailing address

Almost ready....

2010-03-06T19:26:00.001-08:00

Kona is Cone Free!

2010-02-26T21:33:00.000-08:00

Almost two weeks after his neuter, and he's a happy camper!

Nom~nom~nom

Belly's looking better...

Deshi Dishes with Winnie

2010-02-26T16:26:00.000-08:00

This morning, I opened up Winnie's Dogster mail and found that Deshi (one of many Shiba Dogster friends) had wanted to interview Winnie!

We love our Dogster Shiba friends. If you haven't checked out the site, it's great! The people have a lot of wonderful experiences and advice to share. It's a great network of folks there... So, on to the interview...

Tell me about your name and how you got it. Also, what nicknames do you have?
At my breeder's, I was known as "Takara", which means treasure in Japanese. But, when I came home, mom didn't think I really responded to the name. I was a real rascally puppy and would sit in a defiant pose with my back curved - much like Winnie the Pooh. There was some "concern" with my aunties since they thought Winnie T Pooh is a male, and well - I definitely am a girly girl... So, my other "namesake" is Winnie Cooper from the TV show "The Wonder Years".

My nicknames can vary from "Pooh Bear", "Pooh", "Miss Winnie", "Little Girl" and "Winnster".
Your mom organizes a shiba meetup group. Do you like getting to meet all those other shibas? What is the most exciting meetup you've gone to?

I don't really care about any of the Shibas that always seem to flock around me whenever I go anywhere... What is this "meetup" you speak of? However, I really enjoy meeting the people and if there are kids there - that's the best part! I love playing with the little kids! I think the best Shiba Meetup was when we got to go to the Southern California Shiba Club Shiba picnic party. OMD! There were hundreds of Shibas there!!!!

What is your favorite toy to play with? Do you destroy your toys?

This week, my favorite toy is a little squeaky rubber soccer ball. (The squeaker just died this morning - I think our foster bit down too hard on it.) I'm very good with my toys and don't destroy them - the fosters, they are always messing things up and mom has to throw them away because she says they make a mess everywhere. Oh well, at least she keeps bringing home new stuff - so I'm always having a new favorite. Guess that makes me fickle! See--- such a girly girl!

Does your mom ever dress you up in clothes?

OH NO! That's a big NO-NO! I will never ever ever wear anything other than my big fur coat that I was born with. Seriously, I will fight her if I had to wear something... I enjoy being "au naturel"...

What is your favorite kind of chew treat?

Bully bites. They really satisfy any time of chewing need for me. Mom gets fancy by bringing home all different kinds of chewies, but bullies are best.

Where is your favorite place to go for walks? Tell me about some of the sights you see there.

Well, mom likes going hiking in the Angeles National Forest - so we've gone on quite a few trails up there. It's so quiet, clean and pretty. I used to really hate the stream crossings, but now I really look forward to them. Every now and then, I fall in and get a bit upset about it - but I still love going hiking. We are usually gone for a good 5 hours - mom packs my lunch with us and we get to picnic up there too! That's the best part! Sometimes she lets me off leash and so I've chased a few squirrels, chipmunks and lizards up there, too...! I also saw some deer and lots of birds - but I've never caught anything YET.

Do you get bathed and have your nails trimmed at home or do you go to a groomer?

Depending on what mom's got going on - sometimes she will do my nails and give me a bath. She said that she likes it better because it's not so stressful for me. I will panic and cry when I get dropped off at the groomer, but I do come back looking gorgeous (if I do say so myself) and smelling great! Mom lets me dry in the sun without the loud dryers, and I enjoy that part the best after a bath. The yucky "expression" thing - well, mom said she just can't do it right, so the vet or the groomer will do that job... grrrrrrrr....

Where is the furthest place you've been away from home on vacation?

The furthest we went has been to a city called Los Osos, CA - which is in Central Cali, near wine country. Mom really enjoys her wine. We got to go on a family trip so it was 8 humans and 6 dogs!!!! All in one house! OH BOY! Was that fun!!!! We were all very good and didn't get into any fights - but my crazy Frenchy cousins - Doc and Portia had a few "accidents" in the home. I (of course) was a perfect Shiba angel...

What is the naughtiest thing you've ever done?

I haven't been naughty in a very long time, but I was a real "nightmare" when I was a pup. (Those are mom's words.) I just didn't like to have anything around my neck, and I sure didn't want to have anyone try to control me or tell me where to go and where I couldn't go. Hmph! So, whenever that collar and leash came out, I'd try to take a chunk out of anything to stop that from happening. Mom had to take me to see a very special man who helped me understand why this needed to happen and why I needed to cooperate. I haven't been naughty since....

Where do you sit when you go for car rides? Do you enjoy going for drives?

I sit on the center console - in the thick of it all... I am a copilot and must make sure that the pilot doesn't mess up. And, if she does mess up, I'm right there - ready to jump in and make it all better. I used to hate the car, and I used to get sick everytime I got in. Mom tried everything from ginger cookies to dramamine... She eventually started on some herbal calming drops and stopped feeding me before a car ride and I soon would just fall asleep in the car. Now, I'm very calm and don't get sick at all. I've always loved car rides, but now I really love them since I don't get sick.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with the dogs on the shiba forum?

I just wanted to let everyone here know that I think we are all so lucky to have some warm, loving homes with forever humans to spend our lives with. We are a very special breed and not many people would put up with our crazy antics and quirks, so I just wanted to share that I think we all lucked out... Be appreciative of your humans - let them cuddle you for a second, or give them a stingy kiss on the nose... They deserve it...!

Day 34

2010-02-18T20:22:00.000-08:00

This week was a big week - Kona got neutered, and finally has hair growing on his entire face!

A Hiking We Will Go....

2010-02-18T06:34:00.000-08:00

Kona - After the 1st Month

2010-02-11T20:59:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a month since we've had Kona. He's looking better and better each day - but I really think there are certain areas that he really enjoys licking and it's slowing down progress in those spots. He's been weaned off all of the meds, and hasn't been on them since last Saturday. So, we can get him up to date on his vaccine boosters tomorrow and then it's to a neuter appointment on Monday.

Since he's been feeling better, he's been starting to show his true colors and we've learned about a bad habit of his - he apparently wants to attack every car that passes us on our walks...! So, I've had to dig down through my notes when I had training with Brian Lee (www.caninecounseling.com) and have been applying some techniques to Kona. I'm hoping to get this bad habit in check - it would be awful if he ever got loose and decided to chase after a car! I'm already starting to see some progress with the training, so hopefully it'll get under control soon.

Better or the Same...?

2010-02-02T22:47:00.001-08:00

I can't seem to tell anymore if he's getting better or worse or is the same?? Let me know what you guys think...

Winnie's 3rd Birthday

2010-01-31T10:04:00.000-08:00

All she wants is the foster to share her toys....

14 Days Later

2010-01-29T17:29:00.000-08:00

The 'Wean off' Period

2010-01-26T20:26:00.000-08:00

I'm nearing 14 days with Kona and the heavy duty medicines that he was placed on by the shelter have really done a great job with getting control of Kona's allergies. (He has been taking Prednisone, Keflex and Ketoconazole.)

Although the vet had advised that his condition is chronic and that he may be on Prednisone for his entire life, I'll be trying to wean him off of it to see if his allergies can be controlled by providing a good diet of fish-based proteins. Although he's been pretty itchy lately, it's hard to diagnose if it's just part of the healing process or if the lowered Prednisone dosage is negatively impacting his allergies. I suppose only time will tell - at least he's not scratching too hard and I haven't noticed hair loss.

His skin continues to feel more and more smooth, and the elephant leather skin is only in certain patches where his legs meet his belly. He seems to really enjoy his "massages" with Sulfodene and is slowly accepting that the oil helps him heal. Red patches have disappeared and tiny little hairs are starting to grow in, too!

Kona's 1st Smile!

2010-01-24T12:16:00.001-08:00

Less leathery skin, and a bit more hair has him smiling...

Some improvements!

2010-01-20T21:41:00.000-08:00

Allergic Dog

2010-01-19T21:56:00.000-08:00

I'm not a vet, nor did I get any help from my vet when I suspected a food allergy for Winnie. However, whenever I tell anyone that I found out what her allergies are, vet techs and doctors always ask "how did you find out"? Well, it wasn't easy. It took diligent documentation for at least 3-6 months before I noticed a "trend" with her foods and which ones seemed to make her more sick. This list includes basic concepts when I analyzed Winnie's diet, and what I intend to do for Kona.

Although Kona is getting better on his allergy medicines (prednisone, ketoconozole and keflex), it's sad to think that he may be a chronic case that will never get better without medicines. So, for now, we'll stay with the medicines until he's better and in the meantime try to work out his allergies with improved foods.

Here's a list of various tools that I used to get me started:

Research ingredients for dog foods. Check out http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/showproduct.php?product=2302&cat=8 for details on what's in your pets dog food. Pay special attention to the first ten ingredients listed. Make note of what they are and make note of when you start the new food. (Be sure to introduce the new food gradually - there are lots of different methods discussed on "elimination diets". Do your research!)
Use a calendar to jot down what you feed. Pay special attention to when you started a new food (new protein source). Include treats, food (canned, kibble), etc. Try and keep the treats and canned and kibble all within the same protein source. (i.e. - Duck kibble, then stick to duck strips for treats, and duck for canned.) Then jot down any significant changes in stool, scratching, stomach issues (if any). I usually saw results within the first 1-2 weeks of switching, however most "elimination diets" recommend at least 6-8 weeks of the same food to determine results.
Your breeder - use them! Contact them and ask them if their dogs have any allergies. If so, what are they allergic to? Or, just ask them what protein source they predominantly feed... Find out about litter mates to see what they're eating. Common Shiba food allergens include: chicken, wheat and corn.
I'm a firm believer in indigenous diets. Shibas are a Japanese breed and typically do well on fish. As such, I feel better about feeding Orijen Six Fish, Wellness Core Ocean, and Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream.
Weruva Marbella Paella - to stay on the "ocean" based diet, try Weruva Marbella Paella. I haven't met a dog that didn't like it...
Treats - remember to try and stay within the same protein. Shibas in Japan love dried anchovies (called "Iriko" in Japanese). These dried anchovies can be picked up from any Asian market. I give them as treats - and they are great because they are rich in calcium!
Another tasty treat are these kangaroo tails. You can get them at BestBullyStick.com. Kangaroo is considered a "hypoallergenic" treat since it's such a rare protein source for many dogs in the U.S.
Supplements - I love Standard Process Canine Dermal Support. It's easy to mix in just a small amount with your dog food. They have never been "turned off" by the addition of the supplement. Another supplement that I have but don't always use is sea kelp. Many others have sung the praises of it for allergies.
To help control the itchies and soothe raw spots, I use Aloe Vera gel. I store the gel in the refrigerator - and just dab it on with a cloth.
For more severe itchies, I use Sulfodene.

And, finally - for possible mange treatment and to take care of fleas, I use Revolution. It seems to solve any and all possible causes for the itchy skin.

Kona - Day #4

2010-01-18T09:43:00.001-08:00

4 Days later, we have just a little bit of hair growth...!

Quick Timeline:

Photo was taken at Agoura shelter:

Photo taken on his first day:

Photo taken on day 4:

Bringing home Kona

2010-01-15T13:31:00.000-08:00

Today, I helped break little Kona out of jail (the Agoura shelter - which is actually, a pretty nice shelter). We had some drama - his previous owner who surrendered him was there visiting him because she knew we were coming. It wasn't too bad of a meeting, and I felt bad for her as she was just in tears. She wanted to know if I would keep in touch with her - my answer "No". She asked if there was a website she could visit to see his progress - my answer "No".

Kona did great on the drive home. He whimpered quietly at first, but settled down. When he was quiet, he got a dehydrated cheese treat... CHEESE! Then it was time for a long walk around the neighborhood and then straight into the bath when we got home. Again, some whimpering, but he settled nicely in the tub. After that, it was some yummy Orijen Fish, a kangaroo tail to munch on and some water.

Kona is quietly sleeping in a crate right now. I sure hope we can get his skin allergies in check. It looks painful just to see him...

Tobey (formerly known as Tomo)

2010-01-14T21:38:00.000-08:00

Tomo was recently placed in his new home and is really adapting well. He's started to play with toys, too! He seems to have come a long way since his pull from the Carlsbad shelter.

A Southern California Winter

2010-01-10T17:14:00.000-08:00

We had our New Year's Shiba Inu Meetup at the dog beach today. It was a warm 70 degrees today and absolutely gorgeous out.

While many Shibas back east are digging in snow, we had sand!

BAD RAP Blog: Fostering: Drive in the slow lane for dog/dog intros

2010-01-04T19:23:00.000-08:00

Wow... I never thought there was anything out there about step-by-step dog introductions, but I stumbled on a great blog that gave great tips on fostering.

"Slow is Gold"....

BAD RAP Blog: Fostering: Drive in the slow lane for dog/dog intros

Caylee's Christmas

2010-01-04T07:41:00.000-08:00

I recently got an email from Caylee's new owners and it sounds like it's a match made in heaven. They are smitten with their gal - and had a wonderful Christmas.

Doncha love happy stories!?

Tomo & Winnie

2009-12-20T11:20:00.000-08:00

Tomo is our latest foster boy. He's a really cute senior Shiba.

Winnie was teaching him "fetch".

Merry Christmas everyone!

2009-12-17T07:15:00.001-08:00

Top 10 Things for a Shiba

2009-12-02T23:05:00.000-08:00

We recently rehomed a pretty Shiba to a very sweet couple, which inspired me to write a Shiba "wishlist". Although she went to a Shiba-experienced home, there were some items that they were happy to get when she went to them. Apparently, there is so much that is changing in the canine world, and I helped open up their eyes to an expansive world of canine goodies. This list is for you, Miss Caylee. May you find great happiness and love in your new furever home.

Caylee's Shiba Top 10 List

Medium sized, dual door crate (perfect for any area, since there are two doors that can be utilized!)
ZiwiPeak Deer Hooves (these kept her busy for hours!)
Taste of the Wild dog kibble - Pacific Stream (I suspect she had some type of food allergy, so to get her to stop scratching, TOTW is where I usually like to start them off.)
Squeaky toys (we ended up with a bunch of holiday toys for her - 'tis the Season!)
Chuck it Balls (These are the BEST balls available. They are bright, so they don't get lost easily, and they are sturdy and maintain their bounce. They are fantastic! Not to mention, they are pretty much indestructible.)
Sherpa Crate Bed (nice, soft, and comfy... She loved to sleep in her crate with her soft bed.)
Leather lead 5/8 inch wide and matching rolled leather collar - Like many Shibas, she had a tendency to pull a bit on walks. So, why punish your hands with an uncomfortable lead?
Plato Smart Dog Pet Treats - Duck, Kangaroo, Salmon (and Chicken if you're not allergic)
Flea "Bite Me" plush toy - I don't know why she liked it, but she did. It's so ugly, it was cute.
The Taz-Lab fold up silicone bowl

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

2009-11-25T22:27:00.001-08:00

Wishing you all a very happy holiday.

Lost and Found Shibas

2009-11-20T10:36:00.000-08:00

There have been so many times where my Shibas (excluding Winnie) have made a bid for freedom. I feel so sad to hear about Shibas that get out and aren't reunited with their owners. There aren't many shelters that recognize the Shibas (they often get them confused with Pomeranians, Jindos, Akitas, etc.) So, it's important to go to the shelters and look for yourself, or check their websites for photos!

Breed rescue organizations such as Shiba Inu Rescue Association (SIRA) has a few lost/found Shibas posted on their site.

Pet Safety Blinkers Red And White Flasher - Dog Supplies

2009-11-17T23:04:00.000-08:00

The other night, we went to a Shiba Inu Yappy Hour meetup and saw that a few dogs there had some flashy lights on! It kinda freaked out Winnie since all she could see is the flash coming towards her, and since she's so fond of the laser light toy..... Well, needless to say, she was quite intrigued by a laser light flashing her way....

With the sun setting earlier and our "dark" walks at night, it might be cool to pick up a Pet Safety Blinkers Red And White Flasher.

Shiba Inu Wallet

2009-10-25T22:11:00.000-07:00

The Midwest Shiba Inu Rescue is doing their Shiba auction (on Ebay) to benefit the rescue work they do for Shiba Inus. Up for auction, a very adorable wallet created by our favorite custom leash/collar/harness creator Mixie (at rawdogleather.com).

This red Shiba Inu wallet was inspired by Miss Winnie! There are a ton of other great shiba items up for auction...! Your support is always welcome.

MSIR - 133 - Shiba Inu Wallet--Red - eBay (item 220500269048 end time Nov-01-09 07:17:18 PST)

Dog People? Non-Dog People?

2009-10-09T07:40:00.000-07:00

Winnie's a bit skittish when there are people coming over to the house, but even when we're out and about - she's sometimes very happy to see some people and will bark nervously at others. Can our Shibas tell who's a dog person and who's not a dog person? So far , it seems that she can sense a non-dog person and will do a little dance and short barks at them. For dog-people, she greets them with wags, playbows and short barks...

Any of you other dog owners seen anything like this?

A first time for everything...

2009-09-03T21:56:00.001-07:00

First time in a hammock...!

Los Angeles fire map: Tujunga, Mt. Wilson, Glendale, La Crescenta, Acton, La Cañada -- latimes.com

2009-09-02T22:21:00.000-07:00

Our favorite hiking trails are on fire.... Hoping that all the firefighters are safe and we don't lose anymore of them~

Los Angeles fire map: Tujunga, Mt. Wilson, Glendale, La Crescenta, Acton, La Cañada -- latimes.com

Posted using ShareThis

The Visitor

2009-08-23T20:55:00.000-07:00

Awhile back, I decided to help out our local Shiba rescue by fostering a cute male Shiba mix puppy. Quite the rambunctious fellow, and quite nippy - he proved to be a handful for everyone in the house including Winnie. She was a trooper and did her best to be a consummate hostess, but if he got near the bedrooms she would snarl at him and if he decided to jump up on the sofa - she would also voice her anger at him. (And really, I couldn't fault her for that at all - she was making training easy!)

Well, the pup (aka "Foster Boy", "Koji", "Drama King") went to his first forever home about a month ago with all the warnings that could accompany a Shiba puppy. The nipping, the rough-housing, the jumping, the Shiba scream, using a firm hand, escape artist... etc. All of the warnings were countered with "just like a puppy", "it's going to take some training", "we know all about raising a puppy", and "sounds just like our daughter"! Well, after a month, poor Koji didn't work out for this family and he pretty much extended his stay there. They were desperate to be rid of him and returned him back to the rescue. We'll never know what happened while he was there, but he came back with a terrible rash-like, hair loss condition and a ton of flea bites.

It just so happened that it was time for him to be neutered. (The neuter appointment at the low cost clinic was approximately one month and a half long wait, but well worth the wait. After paying a total of $61.00 for the neuter, ecollar, pain meds and a micro-chip - who can hardly complain?!?) So, this past weekend, "Drama King" was with us for his neuter appointment and also met his new family. We are hoping that he finally has found his perfect home.

ps- his nickname "Drama King" comes from his behavior while at the vet's office. He probably made his Shiba ancestors proud with the bloodcurdling screams he produced.

CANINE NATURAL HEALTH DIET RECIPES - Chinaroad Lowchens of Australia -

2009-08-18T21:32:00.000-07:00

I love to cook and came across a few great looking dog-food recipes on this Lowchen page... One of these days, I'm going to have to give them a try...

CANINE NATURAL HEALTH DIET RECIPES - Chinaroad Lowchens of Australia -

A nice compliment

2009-08-08T10:26:00.000-07:00

Well, I thought I'd never say it, nevermind ever hearing it from others, but last week on our pack-walk with the California Canine Hikers, a few of our group members said that Winnie was a "model" Shiba. They liked how she was calm and stoic when meeting other dogs.

I am still S.H.O.C.K.E.D.

Heatstroke & dogs

2009-08-02T13:23:00.000-07:00

We apologize for the many recent health related posts, but it's been a warm summer in Southern California and we thought this was an excellent article that was distributed from our Canine hiking group:

Dog Heatstroke Survival Guide
Know how to treat and prevent this dangerous condition.
Robert Newman

What is heatstroke?

In simple terms, heatstroke occurs when a dog loses its natural ability to regulate its body temperature. Dogs don't sweat all over their bodies the way humans do. Canine body temperature is primarily regulated through respiration (i.e., panting). If a dog's respiratory tract cannot evacuate heat quickly enough, heatstroke can occur.

To know whether or not your dog is suffering from heatstroke (as opposed to merely heat exposure), it's important to know the signs of heatstroke.

A dog's normal resting temperature is about 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Once a dog's temperature rises above 105 degrees, physiological changes start to take place, and the dog begins to experience the effects of heatstroke. At 106 to 108 degrees, the dog begins to suffer irreversible damage to the kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract, heart and brain.

If a dog is experiencing heatstroke, you may observe excessive panting; hyperventilation; increased salivation; dry gums that become pale, grayish and tacky; rapid or erratic pulse; weakness; confusion; inattention; vomiting; diarrhea; and possible rectal bleeding. If the dog continues to overheat, breathing efforts become slowed or absent, and finally, seizures or coma can occur.

The amount of damage a dog sustains when stricken with heatstroke depends on the magnitude and duration of the exposure. The longer and more severe the exposure, the worse the damage will be.

What to do

1 Pay attention to your dog. Recognizing the symptoms of heatstroke and responding quickly is essential for the best possible outcome.

2 Get into the shade. If you think your dog is suffering from heatstroke, move it into a shaded area and out of direct sunlight. Apply cool water to the inner thighs and stomach of the dog, where there's a higher concentration of relatively superficial, large blood vessels. Apply cool water to the foot pads, as well.

3 Use running water. A faucet or hose is the best way to wet down your dog's body. Never submerge your dog in water, such as in a pool or tub - this could cool the dog too rapidly, leading to further complications, including cardiac arrest and bloating.

4 Use cool - not cold - water. Many people make the mistake of using cold water or ice to cool the dog. When faced with a dog suffering from heatstroke, remember that the goal is to cool the dog. Using ice or extremely cold water is actually counterproductive to this process because ice and cold water cause the blood vessels to constrict, which slows blood flow, thus slowing the cooling process.

5 Don't cover the dog. One of the keys to successfully cooling your dog is ensuring the water being placed on the dog can evaporate. Never cover an overheated dog with a wet towel or blanket. This inhibits evaporation and creates a sauna effect around your dog's body. Likewise, don't wet the dog down and put it into an enclosed area, such as a kennel. Any air flow during the
cooling process is helpful in reducing the dog's body temperature. Sitting with the wet dog in a running car with the air conditioner blowing is an ideal cooling situation.

6 Keep the dog moving. It's important to try to encourage your dog to stand or walk slowly as it cools down. This is because the circulating blood tends to pool in certain areas if the dog is lying down, thus preventing the cooled blood from circulating back to the core.

7 Allow the dog to drink small amounts of water. Cooling the dog is the first priority. Hydration is the next. Don't allow the dog to gulp water. Instead, offer small amounts of water that's cool, but not cold. If the dog drinks too much water too rapidly, it could lead to vomiting or bloat.

8 Avoid giving human performance drinks. Performance beverages designed for humans are not recommended because they are not formulated with the canine's physiology in mind. If you can't get an overheated dog to drink water, try offering chicken- or beef-based broths.

See a veterinarian

Once your dog's temperature begins to drop, cease the cooling efforts and bring the dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Your dog's temperature should be allowed to slowly return to normal once cooling has begun. A dog that's cooled too quickly may become hypothermic.
Even if your dog appears to be fully recovered, the veterinarian needs to check to determine if the heatstroke caused any damage to your dog's kidneys and liver. The effects of heatstroke can continue for 48 to 72 hours longer, even if your dog appears normal.

William Grant, DVM, a veterinarian for 20 years and former president of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association, has treated hundreds of cases of heatstroke, ranging from mild to fatal.

According to Grant, the most common cause of death following heatstroke is disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (blood coagulating throughout the body), or DIC, which can occur hours or days after the heatstroke episode.

DIC can also be caused by pyometra or septicemia, but Grant says heatstroke is the most common cause. "Once a dog develops DIC, it may bleed in the thorax, abdomen, nose and intestine," Grant says. "Once the blood-clotting factors are consumed, there is an inability of the blood vessels to prevent leaking; the condition is almost always fatal." For this reason, follow-up veterinary care is essential following a heatstroke episode, even if your dog seems to be completely fine.

Prevention is the best medicine

The best treatment for heatstroke is prevention. Especially during the summer months, it's essential to be aware of the potential for heatstroke. Knowing the signs of heatstroke, and taking the necessary steps to prevent it, will ensure your dog can have a safe and active life year-round.

Tails Of The City : Preventing dog bites to kids

2009-07-31T07:08:00.000-07:00

Tails Of The City : Preventing dog bites to kids

Struvite Crystal Prevention

2009-07-29T20:47:00.000-07:00

Well, the tests have come back and it seems that the UTI is often a result of a different underlying problem. We found that she has two different types of bacteria which has caused the UTI. (The two are Acinetobacter and Corynebacterium.) So, Winnie will be on antibiotics for the next 30 days! The urinalysis proved that she has high alkalinity in her urine, which can make her prone to struvite crystals (which could also lead to bladder stones). Struvite crystals consist of magnesium, and phosphorous.

After doing lots of research on the internet, there seems to be a lot of information out there on urine alkalinity and so much of it seems to conflict...? Ugh!!! I guess at some point I need to take a look at Winnie's snacks and meals to see if any of the different proteins are too 'heavy' in magnesium, ammonium or phosphates and perhaps eliminate/reduce them.

Thankfully our vet has advised us to not change her diet to special kibble at this time. He thinks it may be manageable without changing her diet drastically. It seems we can continue on our usual rotational diet of raw and high quality kibble. The only thing that our vet has suggested is a 1/2 tablet of 250 mg Vitamin C a day.

It seems the key is to keep fresh water and encourage her to drink and urinate often. This seems to be so difficult with her, since she typically doesn't drink a lot of water and even with a doggy door, she holds her pee until her walks.

I also picked up some pH strips to test her urine and see how we're doing on the vitamin C and added acidic foods (i.e. - I've decided to rotate tomatoes, cranberry powder or fresh berries). So far so good, her urine is now in the high end of the normal range.

We'll keep monitoring to see how this all goes...

Urinary Disorders

2009-07-25T11:21:00.000-07:00

Winnie has been having signs of another UTI (second in 2 months), and so we went to the vet again. Preliminary prognosis - too much alkaline in her urine. We're still waiting for the full urinalysis, but it seems she might be forming struvite crystals. Looks like we may have to alter her diet some.

Urinary Disorders

Weight Chart

2009-07-17T07:49:00.001-07:00

A few months back, some of our Dogster buddies were tabulating our growth from puppyhood to adult.

It's a question that comes up often, so I thought I'd post our findings. This chart hasn't been updated with our newer Dogster friends - but if you're willing to share, just let me know in the comments section and I'll be happy to update it.

Foster Boy's Update

2009-07-16T21:19:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a bit of a hectic week for our first foster boy. We've tried out a few names for him - "Buddy", "Gen" (short for Genki), "Koji" and "Pup One", however none of them were ever responded to. Either he hated all of these names, or he just doesn't care about what we have to say to him! (lol)

Although he looks a lot like a Shiba and he definitely part Shiba, I think he may be part Miniature Pinscher. He is incredibly agile, with lots of spring in his step and is FAST!

Yesterday I took him to a nearby animal clinic for his round of shots. Since we weren't sure if he had his puppy shots, we went for the round of puppy shots and also included rabies. Much like a Shiba, he had the most incredible Shiba scream that embarrassed the S.H.I.T. out of me because he carried on for 2 whole minutes and wouldn't stop screaming even after I set him down. Like a drama queen, he laid there on the ground like we had chopped off his legs... RARRRHHOOOOOOO, RARHOOOOOOO, RARHHHOOOOOOO, RARHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! The vet was nervous by this point and had asked if he was ok.... I had to console her by telling her that this was a Shiba breed thing and not to worry - he was fine, but just wanted to tell the world that he didn't like this experience AT ALL!

The rest of the drama for the week has been good drama. We met a few families - but we think we've found the right home for little foster boy. We're keeping our fingers and paws crossed that it all works out and that by Saturday, he'll be in his new forever home.

The House Guest

2009-07-12T22:56:00.000-07:00

Well, it was inevitable and bound to happen. I decided to foster a dog for a week, until the Southern California Shiba rescue folks could get this poor pup to Northern Cal. So, for a week we'll be having a cute black/tan male with us.

He's a very sweet young male Shiba. He's pretty submissive and lets Winnie boss him around. She's got a few lessons to teach him. "Mine", "Don't Touch", "Give that Back" and "That's Not Yours".... He's a pretty fast learner.

4th of July - Part II

2009-07-06T22:38:00.001-07:00

This year to get away from all the noise that accompanies the 4th of July festivities, we decided to get ourselves to a fireworks free zone and did a BBQ picnic up in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. It was so nice because we didn't hear one piccolo pete go off, and all we heard were some great tunes on the iPOD.

It ended up being 8 dogs, 10+ adults and a bunch of BBQ "neighbors" who came to hang out with our group. Winnie ended up with a small fan base of children too!

Of course, as we were heading home we did hear a few fireworks going off, but we went for a drive until later at night. Once we got home - the music was turned on in the house, the air conditioner was turned on ("white noise") and we fell asleep to Nirvana's "Come as You are"... Last year we tried to "fight it" by desensitization-fireworks CDs. It didn't work out well for us, so this year, we ran away from it. All in all, it was a success! Winnie had the shakes for about 10 minutes, but didn't pant at all.

Uh oh... That Time of Year Again

2009-06-27T13:09:00.000-07:00

We're bracing ourselves for the firecrackers, the piccolo pete's and loud booms. Yup, the Fourth of July is upon us, and there's no hiding it from Winnie. I'm not sure if the neighborhood is "practicing" - but a few nights ago, there were some sounds that set Winnie off into a frenzy of shivers and heavy panting.

Even with the fireworks CD on every day to desensitize and armed with herbal relaxation drops, the Fourth of July was extremely stressful for the poor pooch.

This year, we're going to try and see if hiding out in a firecracker proof community will be more relaxing. The Palos Verdes peninsula has always been a safe-haven for those canines that didn't enjoy the pyrotechnics. This year, we'll be firing up a BBQ, relaxing on lawnchairs and roasting smores with our canines.

Dodgers Dogs

2009-06-13T07:16:00.000-07:00

The spcaLA is hosting a Night with the LA Dodgers! You can buy tickets to watch the Chicago Cubs take on the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, August 20th at 7:10 p.m. at Dodger Stadium. Ticket sales help spcaLA care for the homeless and abused animals of Southern California.

To order your DISCOUNT tickets click on the "Dodgers Dogs" link above to be taken to the spcala site or call 323-730-5300 ext. 232. Tickets are limited, so hurry before they’re all gone! Also there will be a pre-game auction starting August 10th on eBay featuring Dodgers memorabilia. Also note that Right Pavilion tickets include all you can eat Dodger Dogs, nachos, peanuts, popcorn, Coca Cola products and water. Plus, you can purchase beer, ice cream, and candy!

Sadly, pooches should probably be left at home for the game.

Urinary Tract Infection in Dogs

2009-06-07T10:28:00.000-07:00

Last week, I decided to take Winnie in for what I suspected might be a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) or struvite crystals. Winnie had been holding her urine for only when we go for walks, and when we do go for walks, she'll try to pee/mark everywhere. More recently, she had been stopping on our walks and refusing to continue, or would look up at me while she'd pee. Just for my piece of mind, I decided to get her looked over by the vet.

Our vet decided not to do anything invasive to test her urine - he wanted me to get a sample the old fashioned way - by using a syringe and trying to "suck up" a sample before it soaked into the ground. This was no easy task - I took her outside of the vet's office and asked her to pee in a dirt area. Luckily, she squatted and did her thing. I moved in really quickly and successfully got a very small sample, mixed in with dirt and tiny rocks. I wasn't sure if it would be enough, but our vet took a look and ran a quick test. Sure enough, she had a severe UTI. I felt terrible that she had been suffering with this for awhile!

Luckily, she's going on her 2nd week of antibiotics and she seems to be feeling much better. She no longer looks up at me while peeing, she hasn't stopped on our walks, she doesn't mark as much and oddly - she hasn't been eating cat poop on our walks anymore. (Strange coincidence? Maybe... but so far, so good!)

We love our vet - and are so thankful that he's able to see us quickly, tries to find the least invasive way to work on Winnie and is so knowledgeable about all animals. I also decided it might be best to have a few "emergency" vets saved on my phone - just . in. case. Utilizing the link below, I was able to find a few emergency vets in our area. Click the link below to run a search near you:

The Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society -

Celebrity Shiba-- Ikkyu

2009-06-05T14:11:00.000-07:00

Just learned that Ichiro (Ichiro Suzuki) has a Shiba! Meet Ikkyu - he's adorable!

A Winnie Day

When you know it's right

POW!

Shiba with Separation Anxiety

When the rescue stories intersect...

Physical Therapy - Leg Exercises

How much do they shed?

Duke is loving life

Another Shiba in Need

The Duke

Wine tasting with the family

A busy but good week....

So far, so good

Veterinary Care & Update on Duke

Sweet Duke

Ando

Search Dog Evaluation

Search Dog Candidate Testing

Happiness is...

It's Official - Rescue Announcement

6 Ways You Can Help Animals In Japan - The Daily Treat: Animal Planet

Want!

Recommended reading

Odie is looking for a home ...

Finally! Grain free biscuits

Dog park corrections

Ho hum...it's a routine...

Offleash Shibas

New Shiba blog

Need Christmas ideas for the pooch?

Look who's lovin life!

Shiba Socialization

Improvements

Pennies from Heaven - A Bark-a-holic's Story

Fonzie's First Week Diary

The Nervous Shiba

Pet Microchip Lookups

Shiba pup? Chinese wolf pup?

Lost Dogs - How to Find Your Lost Dog - Fido Finder�

10 Lessons from Ben (Winnie's brofur)

Shiba Mistaken for Coyote Gets Released in Wild

Former Fosters - An Update

Dog waits outside Boulder court as Abby Toll gets 30 days in jail for taping him to fridge - Boulder Daily Camera

diningwithdogs.com

Truly Dog Friendly � Truly Dog-Friendly Trainers

Shiba Stories....

Rescues & Why They Ask What They Ask

2010-2011 Dogster Shiba Inu Calendar 2 from Zazzle.com

Brusha Brusha Brusha

Winnie meets Kaitlin

Twenty Year Anniversary & Happy Mother's Day!

"皇錦号-秦野川口荘" was how his name was written on the puppies Nippo papers...

Just recently, I was able to find a video of him winning the Nippo Emperor's award... It's pretty grainy and hard to see him in this video, but pretty cool nonetheless.

Interactive: Southern California dog-friendly hikes - latimes.com

Speaking for Spot :: Help Paying for Veterinary Care

Great Shiba Comics

Kona finds a home...

Sniper!

Snake Avoidance Clinic

Almost ready....

Kona is Cone Free!

Deshi Dishes with Winnie

Day 34

A Hiking We Will Go....

Kona - After the 1st Month

Better or the Same...?

Winnie's 3rd Birthday

14 Days Later

The 'Wean off' Period

Kona's 1st Smile!

Some improvements!

Allergic Dog

Kona - Day #4

Bringing home Kona

Tobey (formerly known as Tomo)

A Southern California Winter

BAD RAP Blog: Fostering: Drive in the slow lane for dog/dog intros

Caylee's Christmas

Tomo & Winnie

Merry Christmas everyone!