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These are real Shiba stories and I don't change a thing except an occasional typo. |
Haku "Happy
New Year!"
This past New Year's Eve, I went to a party at some neighbors' house. The first thing I see when I walk in the door is this incredibly cute puppy. He was standing in the hallway and looked like a little red fox. But there was clearly something wrong with him: he stood there swaying slightly, with his ears half flattened, looking like he didn't know where he was. So I asked the hostess what was up with that dog, and she said that they had found him running around the neighborhood without a collar on. They were trying to catch him when he got hit by a car. So my first question after that was, "Did anybody think about taking him to the vet?" We have an excellent 24-hour emergency animal hospital in my town. It turned out the people at the party had been debating for over an hour whether or not to take him in for an examination. I said it was the only thing to do. Suddenly, as if to emphasize my words, he leaned forward and coughed up a few spots of blood. I said, "That's it, I'm pulling the car around and we're taking him to the vet." Half an hour later we were looking at his chest x-rays, and they were a mess. He had bilateral pneumothorax (air in the chest cavity on both sides), internal bleeding, and who knows what else - but at least there were no broken bones. The doctor gave him a fifty-fifty chance of living, and estimated the bill at anywhere from $500 to $2,000. Fortunately I'm blessed with a good income and I didn't hesitate to sign the papers to try and save his life. While I was doing the paperwork the nurse came out with a picture off the Internet and said our foundling was a pure-bred Shiba Inu puppy, around five months old. I had never heard of Shibas before, but I couldn't believe anyone would let such a great dog run around loose. We put up signs with pictures that same evening, celebrated the New Year, and said a prayer for the little guy. Two days later I was able to pick him up from the vet. He was making a rapid recovery. The doctor told me that according to the laws of my state, if no one stepped forward after five days of making an effort to find the owner, the dog would legally belong to me. Well, now I've had him for almost two weeks, and not a soul ever called to find out about him. I've named him "Haku" after the little boy in "Spirited Away" who turns into a dragon, is nearly killed and gets nursed back to health by the girl hero of the movie. He's now almost completely recovered from the accident, and is showing his true personality, which is loving, mischievous and feisty. He's already house-trained and knows about crates. Someone obviously put some time into training this dog, but then it seems they just let him go. Or perhaps he ran away from across town and the owners never saw our signs. In any case, the vet bill was almost a thousand dollars, so if someone wants him back they'll owe me some significant cash first. Even so, I'm not sure I would give him back unless the people seem like they'll take care of him and never let him escape again. He's already won the heart of my older dog, an eight-and-a-half-year-old Siberian Husky female named Penny. And of course he's won my heart, too. I'm taking him to work every day and he's so well-behaved that everybody is glad to see him. So that's how I helped
save a live
and start the New Year off right. I'm looking forward to years of
companionship
with this wonderful dog.
A great big Thank You to Ned for saving this precious little soul! |
Caesar
Caesar "adopted my boyfriend and me" when he was 9 weeks old. We weren't looking for a dog, but one look at the little brown ball of fluff and we knew that we couldn't live without him! After quite a bit of research on the breed, Caesar came home with us. In the year and a half
that we have
had him, I could fill a book with his antics. For now, I will let
you in on just a few. One such story happened one day when I was
in the shower. I didn't want to put Caesar in his kennel, so I
brought
him in the bathroom with me. When I got out of the shower, I
noticed
that the door was open, and Caesar was romping about the family
room.
I came out to find quite a large whole in the carpet. He was
picking
each piece of carpet out piece by
Another time, my
boyfriend and I
were both home one night. We had word magnets on the top part of
our fridge. My boyfriend noticed something on the rug. When
he picked it up, we found a half chewed H on the floor. He then
proceeded
to find an S and an A. No other magnets were missing, but we
think
he was trying to spell SHIBA!! We threw out the
Those are just some
stories from
our misfit, SHIBA! Let me end by saying that as I wrote
this,
our "little psycho" as we affectionately refer to him, has tried to get
outside to hunt some lizards that he spied, attacked our husky who was
quietly sleeping, and tried to dig his way out of the house through the
bath tub!! We love him dearly and continue to be amazed and
Thank you to Katy |
Kit
We call him Kit because he looks like a fox. He was just a little ball of cream colored fur in a pet shop when my daughter and first saw him. After holding him and watching him play, we took him home. He had a crate to stay in during the day, and a week later my wife came home with a border collie/lab mix. What a pair they make! Kit always had his crate clean, while the other dog had hers a mess. He always had a certain place for all his toys. He is still very clean. He hates a mess and always cleans himself. He is a hunter. He has
taken down
raccoons, possums, birds, rats..this dog is something! Hunts like a
cat.
Moves like a cat, and can even meow like a cat! He is fairly obedient,
coming most of the time. He likes his space and his solitude as well.
He
sits upstairs in the kitchen on his pillow and "beckons" his people to
come up there instead of him coming downstairs. He
He is moody, but exceptionally loyal. He never asks to be petted, he merely walks up and slaps you with his paw while staring right into your eyes as if to say " Why are you not petting me yet?". When I was sick he laid in front of the sofa where I was in fevers for 3 days and would not allow the other 2 dogs to come near me. He slept next to me, ate by me, and protected me. He screams so loud when getting his nails cut, he scares everyone in the vets office. Including the vet! He hates thermometers and runs from them. I love my Shiba. He is
confident,
friendly, protective, loyal, and he absolutely loves us with no
question.
He is smart, he is sly, he can be very sneaky. He is a creature of
habit,
does not like change at all. He hates when you laugh at him, he gets
embarrassed
when laughed at. He will not go to the bathroom when other dogs or
people
are watching him. He is amazing,
I will always love
him. My
Shiba.
Thank you to Keith |
Akiko
Our first Shiba arrived on December 29th, having been whelped in October. Immediately I learned that when I agreed to be responsible for the necessary "accessories" (bowl, leash, collar, etc.) I hadn't planned on a 6' wooden stockade fence for a 4,000 sq. ft. section of our yard. (We did this two days after we watched our little girl just walk right up the side of a 4' wire exercise pen). From January until the
first of
March we followed the advice of our breeder/handler and "socialized"
Akiko
at the pet stores, the malls, my mother's nursing home, my 19th floor
office
(where she immediately won 58
On March 19th, just six months and 6 days of age, she entered her first AKC competition. She did five shows in six days, went undefeated, took three "majors" and accumulated 15 points. All the time she was having the time of her life each time she entered the ring, my wife and I were simply trying to hang on and keep up. Our fellow Shiba owners, that had just welcomed us into their circle, were quite willing to see us get out of town the morning of the fifth show (they still had one more show on Monday that they could get some points if Akiko went home). Just a little over a year ago we had to put down our 21 year old Keeshond and vowed never to have another dog. We still don't have another dog. We now share time and space with an "INU". We have learned that there is very little resemblance between a "dog" and an "INU". All that we read, heard and were told about the challenges of owning an "INU" were grossly understated. (First, like cats, you don't own an INU . . . through their good graces, you are allowed to share space with them). Don't get me wrong. This has been the most wonderful experience we could have possibly hoped for. With an undefeated record in 5 shows in 6 days, we still haven't gotten our feet back on the ground yet. Each of the judges eluded to the "potential" of our rising star to "take us as far as we are willing to follow her". At 59 years of age I am totally rejuvenated and energized. My wife (15 years my junior) admits that she gave up trying to keep up with Akiko the first week we brought her into the house. We've been through the list of one-word traditional owner/pet commands. We now find that we simply have to utter a complete sentence and she comprehends and responds. We're just waiting for her to begin talking any day now. The only thing that she won't and might never do is come when called by her name. (She only comes when she gets good and ready). Lest I leave the
impression that
the infamous INU cannot be dealt with, let me dispel a widely told
Shiba
myth. Many owners will tell you and many books will alert you to
the fact that Shibas will not let you cut their nails. The first
time we tried it, I thought I was killing her. The next day, our
24 year vetinarian and two of his assistants could not restrain her and
threw in the towel after just two front toenails. Now, just two
months
Don't despair! She still yodels for a few minutes each night at bed time and each time we leave the house, placing her in her crate. The most fascinating part of her personality is that she demands and expects your full time attention every minute of every day. Whereas this would be an unreasonable demand from any breed of dog, it is a pure pleasure for the opportunity to spend every day with our INU. It is very true that the
Shiba Inu
"is not for everyone"; but, the fortunate few experience joys
that
the masses will never know.
Thank you, Ralph E. |
Vixen
We have a Shiba Inu purchased at a pet store (I don't recommend it) at 2 months of age. We (my daughters and I) had gone just to window shop and look at a English bulldog puppy that my daughter had fallen in love with. We were looking at beagles, Jack Russells and several others when we saw this adorable creature just watching us. Her expression reminded us of one of our cats, curious but slightly aloof. Then, we saw the sign that said "a cat in a dog's body". We made the mistake of taking her into one of the little playrooms. Once we touched her, there was no going back! We were in love. She is one of the red coated Shibas with a face like a fox (thus, the name Vixen, meaning female fox, Vixie for a nickname). She is full of spunk and is very attached to all three of us, especially me (mom). She has been a challenge to house-break but she is getting the hang of it and uses the doggy door most of the time. She did not do well in a kennel and we have given up on that. She likes to eat carpet and underwear so she is very expensive. We considered breeding
her but that
is too much work and expense and we are hoping that spaying will calm
her
down.
In many ways she is very
different
from any dog I have ever known, but I love her dearly and she loves me,
which is good for my ego!
Thank you to Natalie D., AZ |
Noodles
I grew up in a suburban home with an acre yard and two dogs. When I graduated from college and began work in another state, I moved into my first apartment by myself. It was a little lonely without my canine friends but I was concerned about the difficulties of keeping a dog in such a small dwelling without a fenced yard. Eventually I began searching the internet for a breed that might be willing to adapt to my lifestyle. I wanted a dog small enough to be happy in an apartment but strong and tough enough to join me on jogs. I was excited when I learned about Shibas since they seemed to be just what I wanted. I hoped to find a young adult who could easily make the transition. After several months I
was referred
to a local breeder who had a 2 and 1/2 year old red Shiba she had been
showing. 11 points on his way to his championship she had him
evaluated
and decided he wasn't turning out quite as she had hoped. She
began
looking for just the right person to adopt him and keep him as a pet. I
met him and knew he was the pooch
Noodles quickly became my buddy. He joins me at the office twice a week where he greets everyone and pleads to be petted. Seeing his fuzzy body and handsome face perks up our workday immeasurably. He is energetic, lovable, sweet, and a real character. On the days when he doesn't accompany me at work, I come home to find him wiggling with excitement at the door, I get a quick Shiba "kiss" and then he dashes back and forth in pure joy. He's a great running
partner and
loves to walk up to random folks and sit at their feet as if to say,
"Do
you see how cute I am? Do you want to pet me?!" He is extremely
well-behaved
in the house, never chews anything but his bone, never has accidents,
and
for the most part is very quiet. But like most Shibas, when nighttime
comes
and I want to sleep, he likes to do
Noodles' only drawback
is his "issue"
with other dogs. Whether it is based on fear or a simple need for
dominance I don't know, (I had him neutered) but he feels he must
attack,
or at least "get in the face" of every dog he encounters. Perhaps
he believes that he is a human rather than a dog. Dog parks and
off
-leash areas are definitely no-nos. But Noodles is happy to
He has the independence
of a cat,
the cunning of a fox, the face of a teddy bear, and he is most
certainly
my sunshine in the pouring Seattle rain.
Thanks to Allison F |
Yoshi
Yoshi, or 'Terror Bear" as I sometimes call him, is my three and half year old neutered male. From the get go Yoshi filled me with wonder. He was only 8 weeks old when he cruised into my life. The first night he stayed on the ground floor of my duplex in the entryway. There was not a mess of any kind when I got up the next morning. The second night however Yoshi took control of the living arrangement. I had a large black tomcat at the time and when the house got too quiet and I didn't see either puppy or cat I decided to go check things out. When I got down to the second floor as I passed my bedroom I saw that Yoshi had gone down to the first floor and brought up his stuffed bunny, then apparently he went back downstairs and drug up his baby blanket. He was lying on them under my bedside table. When he saw me he looked up at me, wobbled his little curled tail at me, jumped up on his toes and I swear he smiled as if to say, "This is where I will be sleeping from now on!" Yoshi and I now live on
a 10 acre
ranch and he is rarely tied up, but I learned early never to trust a
shiba
to stay close if left
Last July while on a trail ride on horseback in the high mountains Yoshi made me panic. It was very dry and the water was hard to find. We stopped to water the horses at a nearly dry and murky stock pond. Yoshi was very thirsty as it was hot and his coat is very thick. The water was not up to his standard and when we turned our horses further up the mountain Yoshi made the decision to turn back down the mountain and head back to the horse trailer. Three or four minutes after we rode away from the stock pond I turned to see where he was and I called. No movement, no sign, no Yoshi. I rode just a short way further while constantly looking back. Finally I told my companions that I was going to double back to look for him. My friend decided to go with me. When we rode back into the open area where the stock pond was there was no sign of him anywhere even though we called and called. Finally just shy of pure, full blown panic I let go with my piercing, shrill whistle. On a ridge about half a mile away I saw movement and called his name. Through my binoculars I saw it was Yoshi. He came running like his tail was on fire. I dismounted my horse and greeted him as his literally climbed up my jeans and into my arms. My friend remembered she carries a collapsible water bowl in her saddlebags, so I filled it with the water from my canteen. Yoshi drank the whole bowl. He stayed with the horses the rest of the ride, but I was evervigilant. We still ride on the trails and for the most part he stays fairly close, but now I tie a set of three sleigh bells to his harness so I can hear where he is. If I don't hear those bells for more than 30 seconds I give a low call. The sleigh bells don't disturb the horses, actually he is so small and quick compared to the other dogs that I think it helps the horses to know when his under foot so they don't spook. Plus I tie orange hunters tape on his harness after one outfitter asked me what I was doing with a coyote pup. One day last spring
Yoshi went nose
to nose with the big 1,000 pound mare that lives here. She was in
a stall when two of
Little nineteen pound Yoshi was sunning himself on the back porch when the mare and her new colt came around the corner of the house to graze. Yoshi was trapped against the sliding glass doors between the rails of the porch. The mare stepped up on the porch with her ears back, preparing to stomp him with her front hooves. Yoshi came up on his back feet, teeth bared, ears back and ready to take her on. My roommate heard the commotion and opened the door to get the mare away from the door and off the porch. He told me that Yoshi was all business and no back down. Some kind of understanding happened between those two animals that day because since that day that mare is fairly tolerant of him, she doesn't even try to run him down when he plays with her colt now. If you own a Shiba you
had better
be prepared to have them out think you most of the time. I can't
wait until I have a whole yard full.
|
Wiley
"Wiley" as we call him, has an interesting past. When we were looking into adopting a dog we didn't want just any dog, we wanted a "Cat-like" dog. We were a family with 3 cats and had never owned a dog. We wanted more of what we knew...what we felt like we could handle. After much research we decided on a breed called "Shiba Inu". Once we began looking into purchasing a pup we discovered that Shiba Inus are rather costly. I discovered a Shiba Inu Rescue online, the Northeast Shiba Inu Rescue, and posted our request for a young male dog less than two years of age but would consider an older dog that was "young at heart". To my surprise we got a response within a few hours we got a informing us that she had just received a posting from a women in NY state with a dog that sounds like a perfect match and attached the posting that follows: "To whom it may concern, I am a New York Wildlife Rehabilitator. In May 1998 I was brought from the DAC (Department of Animal Control), what was thought to be a coyote puppy. He had been hanging around a farm and was going to be shot by the farmer whose wife stopped him as he was too pretty to shoot. An Animal Control Officer box trapped him and brought him to me. After taking one look at him in the back of the truck, I knew he was a dog. After calling a few breeders and consulting a veterinarian, he was positively identified as a Shiba Inu. I contacted a local breeder and rescue and she said she was full at the present and suggested that I contact other organizations. He is buff in color. Long Coated. Approx. 18-22 months. Neutered 7/98. Vaccinated 7/98. Needs Rabies shot. He loves my other two dogs, doesn't mind my two children (ages 7 & 2), and likes the cats. He is stand-offish of strangers and is shy, but barks when people pull in the driveway or knock on the door. I feel that he was neglected or abused at one time. He was terribly hand and object shy. He has overcome all of this in a few very short months of being handled, groomed (loved having a bath and being brushed) and just bring part of a home where he had to fit in. I believe he will make someone a nice companion. The only thing yet to overcome is coming when called. You have to go catch him. He wants to but isn't sure whether to trust or not. He will now walk on a leash. He has quite a personality and plays a lot with his feet. I am glad they didn't put him to sleep. I can not keep him and would like to place him with someone who knows the breed. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, <the wildlife rehabilitator> (I won't mention her name without her permission) We immediately contacted
the rehabilitator
who wrote this posting and explained our situation and made
arrangements
to drive the 7 or 8 hours to Rochester, NY to pick up our dog. We
had been researching the breed
The poor little thing was so frightened and skinny my heart ached for him. His coat was a cream color and felt just awful, like dry straw. I assume from the poor diet and conditions he endured roaming wild, forging for food and trying to survive the hard winter months. The rest is more or less history. The Wildlife Rehabilitator had named him Wile E. Coyote as a joke since the officers that caught him had mistaken him for a coyote pup. The name stuck! When we had him for a year we weren't sure how much of his standoffish, aloof, skittish behavior was pure "Shibittude" (our endearing term for the shiba's "attitude") and were concerned that he will never "forget" his "past-life". We decided to get him a playmate and like I read in another's posting...."they are like potato chips...you can't have just one!" But we were very cautious about having more than one "prince" in the castle and prefer males to females, hence our dilemma. We decided to adopt a 7 week old male Border Collie from a Breeder. We figured if Wiley ever ran off what better to retrieve him then a herding dog!!!.....and you know what, it has come in handy many a time. Anyhow, back to the subject at hand, it was amazing how much "Shibittude" was dropped by the wayside at the introduction of a new puppy! Wiley, despite his gender, was the biggest "mommy" to that puppy you could ever imagine and he started doing something he had never done before....he started to beg for attention!!!! True to the Shiba the puppy was obviously and without question HIS and all his! Today he is nothing like the skinny, frightened little baby with the cream-colored straw coat we brought home in 1998. He is quite a different dog. He is a beautiful bright red and he feels like velvet to the touch. He, of course is King and ruler of his domain but he loves his family and his "brother". He lives for the mailman, walks to the park and the occasional "carried". He is always at my side or near my feet and feels no apprehension about approaching any of us outdoors. He is truly doing very well and it warms my heart to think of the difference we have made in this little dogs life. |
Leah
I have tried to own several dogs and have never had any luck. One of the most frustrating problems with them all was housebreaking them. Two months ago my new husband and I decided to get a dog. I was skeptical because of my past experiences. My husband won because I didn't want to have any more children. ( I already have four teenaged boys and they were all the "animals" I wanted to have!) We went to the pet store to get a small dog. I wanted a "Toto" type dog that would stay small and be a lap dog. All the terrier breeds were male. I had my heart set on a female dog because I'm already out-numbered. The salesgirl showed us the two Shiba Inus she had. We took them into the little room they have so you can get acquainted with your puppy choice. They were both very frisky but the one was just a little more friendly than the other. I asked if either was female. To my delight the friendlier one was, so we bought her. We named her Leah. We brought her home and the first couple of weeks were rough with the housebreaking. I got her to the point where she would go to the door, but she didn't know enough to bark. If no one noticed her at the door, we'd have an accident. The hardest time was first thing in the morning. When I get up, I have to go the minute my feet hit the floor. Leah was not patient or mature enough to wait. I was complaining to my husband about how frustrated I was becoming. He said, "She's just like a little baby. What did you do with your kids when they were little?" I thought about that for awhile and realized that they were in their crib in the morning until I took them out. That gave me time to take care of my own necessities. Well, puppies can't go in cribs, but they can go in cages at night. After talking to a dog training friend of mine who agreed with the caging at night, I purchased a cage for Leah. She didn't like it very much at first. She whined for about five minutes the first few times she was put in it. However, it is the solution I was looking for. She no longer has accidents first thing in the morning. She patiently waits for me to do my morning business and then I take her outside to do hers. Occasionally, she still has accidents in the house, but not as often as she used to have them. Usually it's because she gets excited when we have company. I hope she outgrows that. Anyway, Leah has become a part of our family, but most importantly, she's become a part of my heart. I didn't think a dog could do that. It just proves what a special dog she is. She's smart and playful and just the right size. My boys wouldn't have liked a terrier very much anyway. They can get a little rough when they're playing with her because she's not this fragile little thing. She's got spunk. I started to write to you because I read the letter on your web page about the shiba inu that slipped out of its collar and ran away. Leah has slipped out of her collar several times. Crafty little thing isn't she?! We thought it was the choker collar, so we got a nylon collar for when we put her on the run and kept the choker for when she's on the leash. However, she out-foxed us with the nylon collar too. One day I put her on the run, then I left to run some errands. When I returned Leah was gone! Her nylon collar was still attached to the run. I began to panic. Thank God my boys were home and they caught her running down the street. I asked the vet what we should do. She said to try a harness but to be careful she doesn't get tangled in it. Maybe some of your readers, or you, have a suggestion? Now that she's a part of my heart I'd hate to lose her or worse have her get hit by a car like the dog on your web page. I'd appreciate any input anyone could give me. Please e-mail me at <msixofhearts@gateway.net>. Thanks. |
The Roc-man
I have a 5 year old B&T Shiba, Rocco (or, as we normally call him The Roc-man), who I got from rescue place when he was two. We had a little adjusting to do, but on the whole we go along pretty well (which is more than I can say for the cats & Roc-man). I moved to a rural area
about 4
months after I got him, where there are lots of foxtails in the area so
I would constantly have to stop our walk and "clean" them out of his
coat
(which was not an easy job).
LRJ |
Rocky
"Rocky" came to us by way of an animal shelter in Yokosuka, Japan while my husband and I were stationed there. He and his brother had been abandoned on the street and the Japanese police placed him in the animal shelter on the Navy base hoping he would be adopted. My daughter was a volunteer at the shelter and was the only one that Rocky would let near him. The bond between the 2 was immediate and he is definitely "her" dog. We moved back to the U.S. in August 1999 and was afraid that the transition would affect him, but luckily so far he is adapting well to American life. My daughter has joined
4H with Rocky
and last week at his 1st competition, he placed 3rd in obedience.
We could not have asked for a better companion for our daughter.
Sharon MT Vernon, WA |
Makia
We got our shiba when he was 2 months old. He just turned a year in August and he is certainly a handful! Although for all he gets into, he can be the cutest little guy! I can relate to the story of the shiba who has chewed the window sill, (ours has)...he has also shredded the front of a new couch, chewed a hole in the carpet, dug a hole in the drywall of our laundry room wall (since he's now back in his cage at night and very happy). We went on vacation in August and had to kennel him. We actually missed chasing him around the house and getting him out of whatever he had just gotten into! He's very independent
(loves to
chase our poor kitty) and certainly has a mind of his own but I
wouldn't
trade him for anything!
Cindy & John |
Dede
Our six years old Shiba, Dede, came to us through referral. We were thinking about getting a dog when one of our friends told us about the Shiba Inu he had just gotten. My initial reaction was "What is a Shiba Inu?". After some extensive
research we
called the breeder we had been referred to and told her we wanted to
see
some puppies. She told us about the puppies she had available and
continued
to tell us also about this wonderful retired champion named "Devil in a
Red Dress". Not wanting to turn her into a puppy machine
Dede is a wonderful
addition to
our family. The breeder was right about her temperament and we also got
a dog is so loyal and loving. We love taking her for walks especially
at
night because it is fun watching her track rabbits that run around the
neighborhood. Dede is truly the queen of the household and only
occasionally
"screams" at the kitties when they get in a 5' radius near her bone. We
love her so much and only wish sometimes that we would have been able
to
have the first 6 years with her.
Tammy W. |
Taber
We bought our dog from my brother-in-law who breeds them in his kennel. My husband saw Taber and picked him out when he was 2 days old. He was a beautiful white shiba the only one in the whole litter. When he was 8 weeks old my daughter and husband brought him home. He was so adorable. I used to let him outside and sit and watch him play. He was so fat and cute and I loved the way he would pounce after the leaves blowing in the wind or just running around the yard. He could almost get lost in the grass he was so small. Although he was adorable we found his personality to be very stubborn. I never thought we would get him housebroke, and the chewing! He chewed everything. The coffee table, dinning chairs, books and he absolutely loved shoes. I wanted to get rid of him many times but then I would see how he played with our daughter and I knew I couldn't do that to her. He is a very fun loving dog. He has a great spirit and loves to play. I used to punish my daughter for dragging her toys into the living room and leaving them. I would have dolls and Barbies from one end of the house to the next. Then one day I sat on the sofa and watched. It wasn't my daughter making the mess it was Taber! He helped himself to her toy box and drug one toy out after another. Then after the floor was a complete mess he would go from one doll to the next flipping it in the air by the hair. He has knocked down pictures, knocked over glasses, he was a little monster. We just recently found out too, how protective he is. When strangers come over they are not allowed to walk around the house. He absolutely loves them when they are sitting down but the minute they try to get up to use the restroom or get a drink he makes them sit back down. We have to escort them around the house otherwise he will act like he is going to nip them. He has never bitten anyone nor do I believe that he ever would. He just believes this is his home and he wants to keep it protected. I work third shift and sometimes I don't know if I can get into the house. He will bark and growl at me until I say his name and them he calms down. Taber is a great dog. We love him very much and he is a great part of our family. We love playing with him. He gets so excited it makes us laugh all the time. We would be completely lost without our dog. I would recommend this
dog to anyone
who wants a dog that is completely loyal and is fun loving and a
protective
family dog. Taber is the son we don't have. He really acts
like our child. We have caught him teasing our daughter just as
she
does to him. I guess they both deserve what they get.
Needless
to say the fight between dolls has finally ceased. Taber now has
his own Barbies and his own dolls. He will even get them for you
if you ask where his babies are. What a great dog to own.
The Hill Family |
Ammadeus
I will never forget the day I found Deaus. It was March of 1999. I was at the mall and decided to stop in the pet store to check on some ferrets I had seen there a few weeks before. As usual, I looked through the window at all the puppies for sale, remembering the conversation I had the night before with my family about how I will never own a dog. I was proud to be a ferret owner and wanted nothing to do with a dog. Imagine my surprise when
I saw the
most beautiful black, brown and tan fur ball quietly looking my way
with
these big almond eyes, pleading to me to take him home. The store clerk
really wanted to let him out and
After spending five hours debating whether or not I should actually buy him, Deaus got a new home. I will never forget the hour drive home. He instantly curled up in a ball and slept on my lap all the way home. I am so blessed to have a dog like Deaus. He is great with his sisters (two ferrets) and plays with them all the time. He is so crazy and adorable and so gentle with them that it is hard to believe that he could harm anything or anyone. Although the first few months were filled with constant "accidents"...like ruining my landlords new rug with pee and poop....or ripping my mothers rug up while trying to dig himself out of the room (Do Not Ever close a shiba in a room with carpeting!!!), his loyalty and love has made it more than worthwhile! I will never forget the day he played Houdini and escaped out of his crate while I was at work. He had managed to squeeze through an opening he created that could not have been more than 3 inches high. When I got home, imagine my surprise when I found him waiting by the door with this sly grin, waiting for his mommy's response. This is something special that a shiba inu possesses. He is sly, funny, cuddly, hyperactive and lazy, loyal, loving, silly...i could go on forever. I hope that by writing
this, someone
considering a shiba inu will read it and decide that this is definitely
the greatest breed of dogs around!!! I have gone on enough...a mothers
pride in her children could
G.C. |
Little Angel
We found our Shiba and fell in love at first sight . She is a handfull, but we will deal with whatever she does She has climbed out of the puppy central pen hubby so carefully built. Now at 12 weeks she has run of our house. She is housebroken already to our surprise! We have a cat that has to get used to having a dog under foot . She also can open and close her crate. I bet we are in for some great puppy antics!!!!! We love our Little Angel!!!!! |
Cody
Hi, We just got a shiba, we are in love already with him, he is so sweet, he is sesame colored and his name is Cody, what a sweetie we trained him in 2 weeks, what a great addition to our family. Ellen N. |
Binkie
We have a shiba Inu that we just adore. His name is Rocks but we have given him the nick name of Binkie. Many people think that I have really flipped my noodle when it comes to the subject of Binkie Bear. I tell everyone that he is a genius. The story started when
we were all
tucked in ready to fall asleep and the Bink Miser decides he wants to
play
with his throw toy. Well I had, had enough of hearing him chew on the
toy
and sick of hearing it fling
Well, I laid back down
and I heard
a different noise. When I turned over I saw that Binkie was opening the
night stand drawer with his teeth! Well, of course I woke Johnnie up
and
declared that the Binkster was a genius!!!!! And told everyone that I
know
too. So don't let the name fool you. Binkie is a lot smarter than you
might
think. that's my story and I'm sticking to it. We love Rocks the Binkie
Bear!!!!!!
H. |
Meiko
Our Shiba who we adopted as a rejected Show Dog (Bad Teeth) quickly took over our family, she made sure that our Large Husky knew who the Boss was. Meiko is a smallish female who is very aloof around other dogs and doesn't make friends with dogs easily but she just loves people and children. At Dog Park, she prefers to visit with the owners rather than the other Dog's. Like most Shibas, Meiko
prefers
to sleep in bed with us and gets annoyed if we move around too much
disturbing
her rest. She also has a strange habit, after a walk of coming into the
House and turning into a whirling Dervish running up and down stairs,
up
and under beds and finally running back out the Doggy
We have found her to be
the perfect
little companion and a great Chick Magnet. I've offered to rent her to
my single friends for picking up young ladies. All the neighborhood
children
come to our house to see Meiko and play with her. I think this breed is
the cutest and most lovable pet's one could find.
Marty and Linda, Aliso Viejo, California |
Kiawah
I have had my Shiba, Kiawah, 3 years. He is male and red like a fox. He has the greatest personality, if only human friends came this great. He loves kids, loves his Mom, and for the most part has been the best family addition I could have ever picked. He can be determined and
strong
willed when he wants, but if you stay on top of that, he succumbs to
your
wishes. He is very loving and if something is bothering you or hurt he
is the first to notice. He is fun, happy and a very loving pet.I
encourange
anyone interested, to take the plunge.
E.C.B. |
Aeon
My Aeon was a kennel dog until her owner became ill and could not take care of her any longer then she was turned into rescue. I drove almost four hours each way to to make her mine, or I should say I drove four hours there to pick her up and she drove the first 50 miles back home then she got hungry and took my Doritos to the back of the Durango. There, she proceeded to eat them one at a time from the bag. After that, she decided it was ok for me to drive as long as I was closely supervised and we made the trip home. I was not warned she had severe allergies and mange mites which had bared her entire stomach and this cream skinned dog's tummy was a black leather from all the scratching. The poor baby would wake up each morning with her eyes almost caked shut. It was a sad sight. She was nothing like the regal shiba I had expected. But I was sure I could fix that! I had been warned she had always been a kennel dog and may or may not take to housetraining. Not a problem! My little girl took two tries through the doggie door and that was that. What was a problem or more aptly described as a heart wrencher was at night she would come to me to take her outside and show her where her kennel was even though she had the full run of the house and yard and an indoor crate. The first night, I cried. Aeon's temperament was unusually quiet. Ok, let's get real. All she did for the first six months was sleep and itch. But, somehow, she still managed to instill into my other dog a deep respect for shibas and she became top dog rather quickly. We have had Aeon now for about 15 months. She is a different dog now. The eyes are clear and bright. Her skin is again supple and fully furred. And she hates her crate. Forget sleeping outside. This little girl requires a soft place to lay her head preferably on her own bed as she hates to share. She is still quite most of the day but first thing in the morning, she is a little spitfire. She runs full speed through the house (commonly known as a Shiba500) then comes to me with her butt in the air just daring me to chase her. By the time we reach the doggie door, she is doing a shiba dance tossing her head at me and wiggling her butt. She still keeps my other dog in line even though he is more than twice her size. When she has had enough, she shows him her teeth and he knows he is in trouble. That usually does not stop him and she is quite capable of putting him in his place. Aeon is our little queen. She is six years old and very much the regal lady I had hoped for. After knowing her, I will always have a shiba. They are the most addictive dogs--correction, a shiba is not a dog. They are better than a dog. They are SHIBAs. Ask me sometime about
the shibas
I have provided foster care for. . .now there is a book!
Thanks to Aeon's mom, Betsy, for this great story. [Posted March. 8, 2001k] |
Anya and Tasha
My first experience with Shibas was in a pet shop where I worked a couple of years ago. We had several quiet but pudgy and not very cute Shibas who seemed to be pretty unremarkable to me and one, adorable but insane little sesame. We named the sesame Turbo and tried for six months to sell her. We finally sent her back to the breeder unsold. She beat up every dog we tried to put her with, huskies, other shiba's, even a St. Bernard! We showed her to a woman wearing a skirt once and she thought the skirt was a great toy. She grabbed on with her teeth and began swinging herself around like Tarzan! The lady was not impressed. Now that my partner and I have our own two Shibas, I wish I had brought Turbo home for myself. I'll bet she would have turned out to be a very cool little dog. My two girl's Anya and Tasha are very, very special little girls. Tasha, our cream, was eight weeks old when we met her in the pet shop. She was sleeping in the window and looked all sweet and white and lumpy. We asked to meet her and the Clerk returned with a squirmy, screaming little fuzz ball trying her darndest to get down and play. We played with her for hours and finally decided that she just had to come home with us. She's turned out to be an irreplaceable part of my life. We were going to name her Taz but thought she was just too cute and needed a pretty girls name. We should have named her Taz. Anya, our red sesame, is
a special
story. I first met her in the same pet shop where we found Tasha when
she
was eight weeks old. I loved her instantly and wanted more than
anything
to bring her home. We were already tapped out from buying Tasha and
didn't
really want to purchase another shiba from a pet shop anyway. I left
and
thought about her a lot and finally put my name on the waiting list at
the local humane society for a purebred Shiba Inu. A few months later
they
called and said they had a 7 month old red sesame female who would go
to
the first person on the list to get there. We raced down to the
We met her and thought she was the most beautiful shiba we'd ever seen. When I looked closer I realized it was the very same shiba puppy that I had met in the pet shop a few months before! It was fate. We adopted her and breathlessly waited until it was time to bring her home. We have been rewarded with a wonderfully sweet and surprisingly loving little lap dog. The two girls have very different personalities but also lots of identical characteristics. The best way I've ever heard a shiba described was a macho little stud muffin whose favorite word is "MINE!". That definitely describes both of my girls. Tasha though, is a tom boy, she runs with the big dogs and can hold her own against any dog. She absolutely adores kids. If given a choice she'll choose to play with a kid over a dog any day. Anya on the other hand is a princess who'd rather stay close to mommy and grace her subjects with a single kiss on the cheek if they'll kneel down to her level. She'll calmly allow a child to pet her and will gently put her feet on their shoulders to give them a kiss but I don't think she'd tolerate much play from them. When it comes to feeding time the princess (Anya) gets first choice and Tasha may have the leftovers. But fetch with mommy is definitely Tasha's game and Anya just tags along and tries to steal the toys. I could, and frequently
do, go on
and on about the girls and how wonderful they are. There's so much to
tell
about Shibas, they're like potato chips, you can't have just one.
Thanks to Anya and Tasha's mom for this great story. [Posted Sept. 17, 2k] |
Rocco
We got Rocco 11 months ago. My husband and I had wanted a dog but could not get one until we got a house. We got a little house and as soon as we moved in I started asking for a dog. I wanted a little dog and he wanted a big one, so we were having a hard time finding one we both wanted. We were looking through the paper when he saw an ad for a "Shiba Inu", curious to see what it was he read on. It was described as a miniature akita. Well he had just told me that his grandpa had an akita when he was younger and that he would like to have one of those but it would be too big for our house. We called the phone number for this dog we could hardly pronounce it's breed and set up an time to go look at it. As soon as we saw him I told my husband we had to have him. The guy told us that he did not know a lot about him because he had only had him for about 2 weeks, he had gotten him from a friend. He did tell us that he had been a house dog while living with this friend so he should be ok in the house. We brought him home and we were not prepared for what kind of week we were about to have. We had bought a cage for him to stay in while we slept, he would bark and whine the whole time he was in there, he chewed the bars of the cage. He also went to the bathroom all over the house, chewed our window seal, and ripped up the back of our loveseat. I had had it with him and was about to get rid of him after 2 days. He acts as if he has been abused so I'm sure he did not know how we were going to be towards him. Well we stuck it out and
he still
is not perfect but I could not imagine not having him. He still
tears
up papers and phone books so we just have to keep them put up, but he
can
now roam freely through the house. He sleeps with us every night
and takes up more than his share of the bed but that's OK.
Thanks to "Candy" for this story of forbearance and love. [Posted Sept. 17, 2k] |
Shina
and
the seal?
Shina, our female Shiba Inu, is 5 months old. She likes to run on the beach and we can be found there most days. Yesterday, I stood looking toward the water from the beach. I saw what I thought was a baby seal. Cooing sounds attracted the seal toward us. She and Shina locked eyes and as Shina ran the beach looking for a way to get near it, the seal followed in the water. Shina found an outcropping of beach rock and stood one step up. At this point I realized that our new friend is an otter. It was over two feet long. It flipped itself onto the first step of the outcrop of rocks which is covered in wet seaweed. The otter teased Shina by wiggling on its back on the seaweed. As Shina stepped down to where it laid, the otter slid in the water taunting Shina to enter. Shina retreated to the second rock and the otter followed by resuming her place on the first rock. At times their noses
almost touched
as they strained toward each other. Shina wagged her donut tail rapidly
but this was as close as they would get. After about a half hour our
little
otter friend swam away.
Thanks to Jack for this amazing story! [Posted Sept. 15, 2k] |
D.C.
My daughter named her Shiba D.C. because she got him when she went to an indoors competition in Washington D.C. and he went along. We were driving in Estes Park, Colorado when a car pulled in front of us and stopped, blocking our movement. We were somewhat startled when a man got out and rushed back to our car and motioned for me to roll down the window. I cracked it a little and he said " I bet my wife that you have a fox in your car. Is that a fox?" I told him that he lost the bet and that it was a Shiba Inu. When he was smaller we
would let
him run loose in the field and we would see him playing with the foxes
in the field.
|
YOSHI (a
different
one)
I started Yoshi in Beginning Obedience, and I had not been using hotdogs in my training. The trainer decided to use him as the example dog for the class in teaching heeling. She showed him the hotdog and he was VERY interested in it. He followed her like there was no tomorrow! Once she stopped and
rewarded him
with a small piece, he couldn't decide whether or not he liked it after
all. He mouthed it and spit it out several times. He would
nose it as it lay on the ground. He would also paw at it, and
then
pick it up again. The trainer turned to me and asked if he had
ever
been
After several minutes he finally decided that he DID like hotdog after all, and proceeded to lay down on the ground before eating it. He got that really happy, glazed expression on his face like he was in heaven, and it was the best thing he had ever had! This set off the class again, and had everyone laughing at him. After that you couldn't separate him from the trainer with even one sheet of paper. He was stuck to her like glue! When it was my time to work with him again, and all I had to offer was what I normally used, Yoshi gave me this LOOK that you could tell meant 'What's this???!!! Where's the HOTDOG?!?!?!' and then he looked back at the trainer! I gave in for the next
sessions
and bought some hotdogs.
Thank you, Leah for this great story. [posted June 23, 2K] |
TAZZ
Tazz is his name!!! When we first brought him home, it was understood that he would sleep on his blanket, and we in the bed. For many days, he tried getting on the bed to sleep, and I would correct him. Needless to say, he got frustrated at me and as soon as it was bedtime, he would race in the bedroom before I did, and would do his duty on my bed. Apparently if he
couldn't sleep
on the bed, neither could I. This lasted for a week, or until I
ran
out of sheets. Finally I let him come on the bed, and he's been
sleeping
with me every since. (and I kinda like it because he loves to
cuddle
with me all night.)
Thanks to Tanya for this wonderful and funny ( now) story. [Posted June 14, 2K] |
JUN
I am a Japanese and once had a shiba-dog named "Jun" because she was born in jun. My family all loved her and sometimes take her with us in the forest to search for mushrooms and herbs. One day, we took my dog to the forest and while we were searching for some mushrooms. My mother was lost her way in the forest and for about an hour we called her but there was no answer. At last I said to my dog
"Please
search for my mother" but I didn't think she search my mother because
She said "When I lost my
way and
wandering in the forest, the dog came up to me and lead me out of the
forest".
Thanks for my dog we could reached home before evening.
Thanks to Yasushi for this heartwarming story. [Posted June 14, 2K] |
FOX - A Rescue
About 10 days ago, while walking our Pharaoh Hound and Miniature Dachshund at 6:00 a.m. in the park across from our office, my wife and I found this little red dog tied to a tree, almost strangled to death, without food or water, or any sign of an owner. All four of us took an immediate liking to this cute creature who was SO hungry and SO thirsty. It was obvious that he had been abused, because he was so scared of even the slightest gesture with one's hand. We had no idea what
breed he was,
but he needed help. We named him "Fox", cleaned him up and had
End of story? -- Not quite! Exactly one week later, while walking the three dogs and passers-by admiring the three beauties, Fox managed to wiggle himself out of the collar and escape. For three days and nights we searched, but could not find him. Since a number of people had spotted him, we knew that he was still in the area. We were exhausted and close to throwing in the towel! Then, yesterday morning, Animal Control contacted me with the news that a dog matching Fox's description had been picked up by a good samaritan after he had been hit by a car. I raced to the Animal Hospital and found Fox severely injured, but alive! The x-rays indicated multiple fractures on the pelvis and external abrasions, but no apparent internal injuries. One of the best
veterinary surgeons
in the country performed surgery on Fox today and implanted a plate in
his pelvis. The prognosis is very good and we will most likely
take
him home tomorrow for healing,
God Bless You, Gerhard and Rosemarie [posted June 29, 2k] Update on "FOX"! He went home on Thursday before the 4th of July Week-end and is doing fine. He won't be able to run around for at least a month but the prognosis is all positive. Note: FOX's story is an example of what happens commonly with rescued Shibas. They are usually shy and frightened, and at the very least, cautious and aloof. Being half-feral anyway, they will almost always try to escape at every opportunity and need to be carefully supervised for several months. When they finally realize that your home is their home as well, they become very loyal to their new family. |
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