Niko - Our Shiba Inu

'Bye lil Bud Bud

2012-01-29T23:48:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow will mark the one month anniversary of the day Ed, I, and many others said good bye to Niko. I have thought long and hard of whether I would write this post and how I would go about it. It pains me to write about it but I want to do it in honor of our beloved best friend.

We were spending the week between Christmas and New Year's at Ed's parents. As I've mentioned in other posts, it truly was Niko's favorite getaway spot. He was familiar with the endless acres of land, the house, and family. In the car rides up, when we said "Grandma and Grandpa's!" his head would pop up and eyes would be alert to look out the window. His tail would wag with excitement as he jumps out of the car to greet everyone and go explore.
The "come when called" command was always a challenge for Niko. Although we had him leashed when we were in urban areas, we made a conscious decision to allow him off leash opportunities in what we believed were safe conditions. Ed's parents house was one of the places because of the open land of fields and woods. Niko had spent a week full of play, treats, and time with family, including Ed's nephews who adored Niko. In fact, the day before his last, Niko was tired out from spending hours playing with nephew Peter who is 6 years old.

On December 30, 2011, while Ed and I were still asleep, Niko was let outside to go to the bathroom. When called to come inside, he insisted on staying out. It was surreal to be woken up and told Niko was hit by a car and needed to be taken to the vet ASAP. We learned afterward that a lady was driving to work that morning. She caught sight of Niko and slowed down her car. When she saw that he was standing in the lawn by the flagpole, she accelerated, thinking Niko wouldn't move. For whatever reason, Niko darted out at the wrong moment and was hit.

After he was hit, Niko walked around the yard, probably in shock. The driver who was very upset, rang the doorbell to let us know. Ed's father picked Niko up and brought him inside. There were no visible injuries aside from a little blood on his hind leg. Niko walked into a bedroom to lay down. This was something he used to do when he wasn't feeling well and wanted to be alone. Once we found out which animal hospital was open at that time (before 8am), Ed wrapped Niko up in a blanket and brought him to the car. Up to this point, all of us thought he would survive due to the fact that he was able to walk and he wasn't visibly hurt. However, Ed was not optimistic when Niko didn't squirm when he was picked up. I sat with Niko in the backseat. I was silent most of the ride from shock and disbelief. I petted him, held him, and we looked at each other, communicating silently. The ride to the hospital was less than 10 minutes, but I could feel Niko slipping away. He moved his head towards the front of the car where Ed was. Ed petted his head; Niko was reaching out for one last contact with his Dad. Moments later, Niko took his last breath. It happened right before we reached the hospital. I say it was Niko's rebellious way of telling us he had always hated going to the vet. When we arrived, I asked for Niko to be taken inside just to make sure he was gone and the technician confirmed it. We brought Niko back to the house and there was no question that we would bury him in his favorite place. Niko is buried by the tree pictured here that overlooks the fields he used to run in and the woods in the distance is where we used to go hiking with him.

Niko was two and half years old. I feel very sad he was taken from us so quickly. We can't help but wonder if we did the right thing. I will say that Niko lived a very full life, had many experiences, and was loved by all. If we hadn't given him off-leash time, he wouldn't have done and seen half the things he wanted to. My friend Mona captured it well: "Niko was an adventurer and his parents accepted his free spirit." If I had to choose a favorite off-leash experience, it would be the time we went on the canoe/backpacking trip in the Adirondacks a few months ago. The trip was not possible if we did not trust him off the leash. I smile when I think back to how he sat next to me when we had to take a break from transporting the canoe. Off leash, Niko had free reigns to run off, but he chose to stay close to us and wait until we were ready to move again.

I had taken the following picture two weeks before NIko's fateful day and had planned on writing a post about this sleeping position. I like how he intricately crosses all four of his paws like that. I'd like to think that he's resting peacefully like so.

Even after a month had passed, we miss Niko every single day. Life is just different without him. We both have dreams of him now, when we did not when he was alive. I especially miss his soft fur and how he cheers me up on bad days. Writing this blog was more fulfilling than I had imagined when I started it and I'm happy it is there for us to reflect on our days with Niko. Through the blog, I found other Shiba Inu bloggers from around the world. You can bet I'll continue reading up on you guys and living vicariously through you.

I am concluding this blog with a few pictures from when Niko was a puppy to his last Christmas. And a list of the multiple nicknames we had for him: Niko Peeko, Bud Bud, Bum Bum, Bumblebutt, Pup Pup, and Foxy. Niko lives in our hearts forever.

"Merry Christmas!" says the Elf

2011-12-22T07:42:00.001-05:00

Niko has been very busy this Christmas season. Because....

he is Santa's Little Helper!

Check out those pecs!

Merry Christmas to all our readers. Thanks for keeping up with our blog and reading this year.

"Does this shirt make my butt look big?"

Naughty or Nice?

2011-12-14T23:41:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it is Niko's third Christmas this year. The Santa hat comes back out again and I put it on Niko as often as I can remember to. Compared to his first Christmas, he doesn't even notice the thing is on him now.

Niko is on the "nice" list this year. He is maturing more and more now and hardly causes us any trouble. We love him.

Thanksgiving Recap

2011-12-04T23:45:00.001-05:00

On Thanksgiving morning, Niko was chillin in Times Square, in a crosswalk. This was made possible because of road closures for the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade.We were on 40th street and off the parade route. We stood in an area that was less crowded and viewed the floats from a distance. As expected, Niko the country dog was a nervous dog in a big city. He stayed close to us, cowering from noises, manhole covers, and subway grates. When we stayed put to watch the parade, he sat quietly and looked around. We received many comments, questions, and requests to take picture of him. We even caught a lady videotaping Niko. Imagine that.

The weather was exceptionally nice for this time of the year. On Friday, we headed to Coney Island. I'm ashamed to say that I've never been to Coney Island in the decade that I lived in Brooklyn. Although a lot of shops and attractions were closed that day, there were many people on the boardwalk enjoying the weather. We walked on the beach as well and ventured onto a pier to watch people fish.

At the pier, Niko met a poodle in a sexy poncho. The caption for the "No Swimming" picture should be "Pffft, you don't have to tell me twice!" says Niko. Also pictured is Niko in front of Nathan's. We had an excellent time in NYC. After a short 36 hour period, we left town (to Niko's delight) to go to the country and visited with other family.

Shiba Shot Glass

2011-11-30T00:01:00.001-05:00

So much for not finding the Shiba Inu represented at specialty stores! My cousin Tracey was on vacation in Smithville, NJ and found a shot glass. Coincidentally, my last post was about how difficult it was to find anything Shiba related. This will come in handy when I take my cough medicine. Let the Shiba find continue...

We hope everyone out there had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. I will be posting about Niko's Thanksgiving adventures shortly.

Shiba Socks & Shar Pei Niko

2011-11-20T23:29:00.001-05:00

I had to go to Seattle for a few days last week for work. As excited as I was to see Seattle, I also missed home. Niko was in good hands with Ed and I received periodic updates. On the first two days, after Ed returned from work, Niko went up on his chair to look out the window anticipating me as well. Not exactly a Hachi story of a dog who looked for his owner everyday for ten years, but I'll take it anyway!

On my last day of the trip, we went to Pike Place. I found a store called Merry Tails that stocked all sorts of pets stuff. Normally, I don't hold out much hope at these stores in finding anything "Shiba Inu." To my surprise, I found a few items representing the breed. I couldn't resist and purchased a pair of socks. In case anyone's interested, they were made by Wheel House Designs. Next time I have to be away from home, I'll be packing this pair of socks to cope with missing Niko.

When I came home, Niko went wild with excitement. Instead of his usual tame self where I instruct him to sit before I greet him, he tackled me and gave me non stop licks and sniffs. It was great to see him again and let him sniff me out to figure out where I was. Last night, he joined me on the couch for an extended amount of time. Of course, I lured him with treats first, but the cool thing was that he stayed after the treats were gone. He laid on top of my fleece throw. Niko's face in the wrinkly throw reminded me of a Shar Pei:

What's in Niko's Bowl?

2011-11-03T22:33:00.001-04:00

The answer to that question is Blue Buffalo dry dog food. Occasionally, he finds surprises in his bowl. A great way to spice up his usual meal is to sprinkle on some cheese. Niko's food bowl is in the kitchen. Whenever a recipe calls for cheese, I sneak some of it into Niko's bowl before putting it back in the fridge. I had some freshly grated Parmesan cheese left in a container in the fridge that I've been slowly depleting by way of Niko's bowl. This cheese is especially aromatic and he LOVES it.

Niko oftens peeks into the kitchen when we're in there cooking. He stares me down to see if I share anything. His nose picks up scents of meat and cheese very well.

We noticed Niko's been munching down more food than usual. We attribute it to the colder weather and his survival instincts kicking in.

Snow Already?

2011-10-30T23:59:00.000-04:00

Much to Niko's delight, snow came super early this season. We headed up to Ed's parents this weekend (one of Niko's favorite get-aways). He loves it there because of the vast openness of country exploring and of course, being spoiled rotten by grandma!

We woke up to a very beautiful scene- snow covered fields and trees. We took a walk into the woods where Niko reunited with his passion for snow.

We allow Niko off the leash when we're here. He still needs work in the "time to go inside the house" department. Although we get nervous about it, we have learned to allow him this freedom. It helps that he does not go very far without us. He stays by the perimeter of the house and remains within eyesight most of the time. I'm happy to report that during this weekend, he came inside on command more times than not. Progress is being made.

A Day in Ithaca

2011-10-20T22:24:00.000-04:00

This is a post about an excursion from this summer that I never got around to writing about until now. My family came up for a visit one weekend and we played host. Niko welcomed them with open paws. The only other times they have seen Niko is when we go to Brooklyn, where he is not really himself. My brother Matt warmed up to Niko and got to experience the real deal during his visit.

We took a 45 minute drive to Buttermilk Falls State Park in Ithaca for a hike. Ithaca has many beautiful waterfalls and gorges, formed by glaciers. I often see bumper stickers and t-shirts that read "Ithaca is Gorges" and this picture Matt took on the hike proves it:

The hike was uphill most of the way and got a bit intricate in some areas. Niko was on his leash. The park was busy that day with plenty of visitors. He cooled off by slurping on the water from the falls along the hike. We saw other dogs going knee deep and sticking their entire head in the water.

It was a lovely day.
Niko enjoyed the ride and having Matt accompany him in the backseat. I get a kick whenever I capture a picture of Niko with his eyes closed, as pictured here.

Afterwards, we had lunch at the Commons and Niko fell upon some dog statues. He was confused and scared about them.

The First Hoorah of Autumn

2011-10-04T20:57:00.002-04:00

The weekend after our last hoorah of summer, we had our first hoorah of the Autumn season. The location was the Adirondacks, where the beautiful fall foliage was already starting to show. We were attending Ed's best friend's wedding at Inlet, NY. Ed had best man duties but we had plenty of free time to explore. We opted to stay at a "guided tent" at the inn the wedding took place instead of a regular room. Unlike our usual camping routine, we were "glamping" it on this trip. I borrowed that term from a show on I caught on the Travel Channel; it is a portmanteau for "glamorous camping". The tent was equipped with a comfy bed, basic furniture, heaters, a furnace, and it even had electricity.

We had a private bathroom a few feet from the tent that was luxurious for normal standards (double shower heads?!). The inn did not allow pets, but the groom got special permission for his dog, Cabela. We were asked to keep her in our tent the night before the wedding. Niko stayed at a pet friendly motel with Ed's brother.

Coincidentally, on the day of the wedding, there was a special event going on in the small town of Inlet (population of 400). The town was hosting an event called One Square Mile of Hope, an attempt to beat the Guinness Book of World Records for the most boats floating on a lake. It wasalso an event to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, for theCure for breast cancer research. We almost brought our kayaksto partake in the event, but didn't for various reasons. Fourth Lakewas right in front of the inn and we watched from the shore. It sure was a lotof people, a reported 1,925 canoes and kayaks. Congratulations,Inlet, for beating the world record!
A group of us decided to go on a hike that would take us to the top of a peak, in hopes of getting a birds eye view of the kayak and canoe laden lake. Niko and Cabela went along on their leashes. It was quite a challenging hike up the mountain. There was a light mist and the trail was muddy and slippery. When we reached the top, we were highly disappointed. There was a heavy fog and we couldn't see two feet in front of us, let alone the lake. We needed a rest, so we loitered there for a bit. Not too long into our break, the fog started to break. It was amazing to see the view in front of us slowly appear. To our surprise, most of the boats had dispersed by this time. We enjoyed the scenery anyway and I caught Niko sneaking a kiss with Cabela:

Cabela, Best Pet

After the hike, we separated Niko from his pal Cabela. Cabela had some important tasks ahead of her at her parents' wedding. She is an exceptionally well trained dog. She performed her ring bearer task right on cue and melted guests' hearts. At the reception, she held the basket during the dollar dance and didn't drop a penny. Cabela truly surpassed her title as Best Pet in the wedding party.

Although Niko didn't get our fullest attention this weekend, it still beat being home. Here he is sniffing the air and saying good bye to the good old Adirondacks.

See you next summer. We can't wait to return.

The Last Hoorah of the Summer

2011-09-25T23:13:00.000-04:00

Two weekends after Labor Day, we went on our last camping trip of the summer. It was bittersweet, as the months passed before our eyes too quickly. We returned to The Thousand Islands where we spent our first camping trip of the year (on Memorial day). The park was less crowded at this time of the year and the nights were cooler, with temperatures dropping to the 40s. However, with multiple layers of clothing, an insulated sleeping bag, and a nice fire, we couldn't complain. The weather was clear and sunny and we were happy about that. We brought our kayaks but spared Niko the misery and kept him from the water.

We noticed Niko being more interested in the campfire than previously. On past trips, he would sit a far distance from the fire. He would curl up in a ball and rest on fallen leaves or soft grass. This time, he approached the campfire when he was hungry. He finally discovered the business we call campfire cooking. Samplings of our food included roasted corn, hot dogs, burgers, pizza paninis, and s'mores. It might have been the colder temperatures too that drew Niko closer to the fire.
We took the same hike as we did last time and Niko found some living and not so living things. He was on the leash the whole time but his nose was sniffing things out. As soon as he smells something interesting, he would pick it up with his mouth. He finds things that we would never have noticed with our eyes. One particular specimen he did not want to let go of was a dead fish head, identified by Ed as a northern pike that was killed and feasted on by another animal.

Due to the fact that there were fewer campers this late in the season, we secured a prime campsite. Back in May, we drove around the park to look for the perfect location and took notes. Luckily this one was open when we made reservations. We were on a point that was surrounded by water on three sides. We were also high off the shore, on a big rock platform. Check out our view:

I'm also glad to report that I got zero bug bites on this time which is a big win. What a big difference from the typical camping trip I would return with swollen bites all over my limbs. We said goodbye to the summer, our kayaks, and equipment. Until next year...

A Pupcake

2011-09-19T23:26:00.000-04:00

Niko comes from humble roots (literally, an Amish breeder). He is not accustomed to fancy treats. Sure, I've made him treats before, but I presentation is not my forte. So, when my good friend Mona bought her dogs doggie cupcakes and shared one with Niko, it was special.
The thing had edible glitter! Glamorous, right?
Poor Niko, not being used to his very own cupcake, he didn't know what to do. He sniffed it but left it alone. I took the wrapper off and he licked the wrapper, as he is accustomed to eating crumbs and leftovers. It was only when i placed the cupcake in his food bowl that the light bulb went off. I might have to start instilling some culture in this hobo dog.

Mona is a talented cupcake baker herself. Check her creations out: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cupcakes-Love-Mona/124097940962872

Perfect Pose

2011-09-18T23:09:00.000-04:00

I decided to post this picture because of the way Niko's paws are positioned. It reminded me of a pose for a studio picture. Getting Niko to pose for pictures is a difficult task. He looks away too quick or I don't have my camera ready. He has an aloof personality. Unless....you have something he wants. In this particular instance, Niko was very interested in what I was eating. He held the pose long enough for me to grab my phone to snap the picture. This is his "I'll pose for food" pose.

Dog Show

2011-08-31T23:12:00.001-04:00

Our local Kennel Club hosted an AKC sanctioned dog show and it was open to the public. It was a three day event and we were able to drop in on the last day. It was held outdoors and of course we brought Niko along...you know...to show him what obedience really means.

We were hit with an air of silence and seriousness when we approached a prep area where the handlers and dogs line up to "show." We soon learned it was no joke and that people traveled far distances to compete in this show. There were dogs of different sizes, colors, and shapes.

We were dog show newbies and did not know what the judges look for. The competitions we watched were by breed size. The dogs pranced around in a circle with their handler one pair at a time, the judge gets a close look at the dog, lifts a leg or two, and they go back in a line. After all the pairs have taken their turns, the entire group jogs in the circle together one more time and lines up for the judge to look at the dogs side by side. Ribbons are awarded and the winners pose for pictures on a stoop. Like this beautiful Akita named Trader:

"where are the treats?"

Do you see any resemblances between Niko and Trader? Akitas and Shiba Inus are related breeds. When people see Niko, aside from the common "he looks like a fox" comment, people also guess if he's an Akita. Look at who was backstage checking things out:

All in all, it was an interesting first dog show. We do wish we caught some agility competitions. Maybe next year. We were reminded of how much work goes into training a dog in general, but to train for dog shows is a whole other level.
One last note, we caught Niko checking this broad out:
Sorry Niko, she is way out of your league and may be too high maintenance. You need to look for someone that likes to roll around in mud like yourself.

Fundraising Fun

2011-08-28T23:01:00.001-04:00

Niko went to his first fundraising event as part of last weekend's activities. We changed vets over a year ago to SPEAK Animal Hospital, which is a non-profit animal hospital. The staff is super friendly, prices are more affordable, and they had just renovated the entire facility. We attended the grand re-opening event to help their cause, let Niko meet new people and dogs. It was a well organized event with a live band, food, vendors, exhibits, facility tours, and raffle prizes.
On display were two beautiful alpacas. Niko didn't care much for them. In the last several years, alpacas have grown in popularity. I was educated by a coworker that breeding alpacas is a serious business. Not only are they cute and loving animals, they are making a name for themselves in the textile industry.

The best part of the event was watching the New York State Police demonstration. A police dog named Wheeler (a German Shepard) and his handler educated the audience about NY's K-9 Unit. We learned some interesting facts:

All NY State police dogs are named after fallen officers to honor them
The Canine Unit training facility is located in Cooperstown, NY
Wheeler and his handler were part of a team that searched for survivors and bodies at Ground Zero after September 11
Dogs can smell their handler's emotions change regardless of visual and verbal cues

We watched Wheeler search for hidden narcotics and "attack" a culprit. The obedience and intelligence of Wheeler impressed us very much.

"hmm...that dog's got some neat tricks up his paws"

We were glad we attended the event. I bought Niko his latest fashion accessory - a bandana that threads through his collar.

It is not very often I dress Niko up. He is more of a ruff and tuff dog, but this was for charity =)

A few days later, I received a phone call that I won a raffle basket. Even sweeter.

The Dog Park & Raised Fur

2011-08-21T18:38:00.003-04:00

In the area we live in, dog parks didn't exist....until now! A few months ago, we were at our local Petco and we saw a display table with volunteers raising money for a community dog park. We gave a monetary donation and forgot about it. The other day, I decided to do a search online on the dog park progress. What a nice coincidence, they had just finished putting up the fence this week and have the gates yet to put up tomorrow. We couldn't wait so we decided to take a drive and check the place out.
The fenced in park is very open with lots of space for dogs to run around and do their thing. They have 2 divided areas for big breeds and smaller breeds. We let Niko off the leash and he barely moved, giving us a confused look. We threw his tennis ball and he got the hint. He darted around playing fetch, enjoying the free space.
Not long after that, a few other dogs who were offleash came into the small breed section. Although they were larger dogs, they noticed Niko and came in our area anyway. Niko was outnumbered and smaller in size. One dog chased him and Niko chased back. We noticed Niko's fur patterns change very quickly and fur was raised like nothing we've seen before. My limited knowledge of reading a dog's body language is: tail up and wagging means happy and confident; tail down means scared.
I was able to snap a few pictures and review the transition from happy/confident/playful to scared/nervous.

Niko was alone at this time. Tail up and fur on his shoulders raised. He is alert and chasing the ball.

Then came the larger dog who chased Niko. Notice Niko's tail is curved way down and his back looks like we shaved him and gave him a mohawk. This was only minutes after the other picture:

The owners of that dog tried to call her name but to no avail. She just wanted to play with Niko and was not a threat. But Niko was very timid when 4 dogs came in all at once. He growled and the other dog did back away. We were on hand to stop a fight if needed, but it didn't come to that.

Happy as a clam again.

We give the dog park 2 paws and 2 thumbs up all the way. We are happy the community approved the project and it is something a lot of people and pets have been waiting for. There is even a creek by the park for dogs to swim in and cool off. We took Niko there as well and he was about 2 inches deep in the water. Not bad, Niko.

The Lonely Sunflower

2011-08-17T23:26:00.000-04:00

Giant sunflower stalking Shiba Inu:

At last year's state fair, I picked up a free packet of sunflower seeds (for growing, not snacking purposes). I planted the seeds by the stairs to the deck in the spring. Patiently, we waited for the stalks to come up and the plant is taller than us, towering over the deck. So far one flower is open and it is bigger than my face. Niko doesn't seem to notice this behemoth of a flower because it is not within his eyesight.

Swimsuit Season

2011-08-14T23:56:00.001-04:00

Although life jackets aren't exactly the same as bathing suits, Niko seems to have shed some pounds for the summer. When we first put the suit on him in May, we felt how snug it was. There were rolls around his neck. Last week, when we put it on him, not so snug. He has shed a ton of fur earlier this summer. I didn't think Niko was a image conscious pup, but maybe he knows about pictures of him ending up on the internet and shiba tabloids.

When he was at the vet in July, Niko weighed in at 29lbs, which, according to the vet, is a healthy weight for him. She even said he was muscular which we found funny. She called him a "G.I. Joe" dog after we described some of the activities we do with him. We feed him Innova dog food and today, switched to Blue Buffalo to try out. Niko doesn't clean his food bowl out when we fill it in the mornings. He tends to eat and finish his food at night. We give him scraps sparingly and conscientiously. He definitely longs for scraps by quietly staring cutely at us, but we only give him pieces of meat and cheese. For treats, we give him beef jerky made for dogs and sometimes doggie biscuits.

The Long Anticipated Canoe Trip

2011-08-10T00:38:00.001-04:00

After months of contemplating, planning, and worrying about the canoe/backpacking trip to the Adirondacks, we did it. This was different from the other camping trips we have done in that we were miles from the car and had to use a canoe and our legs as the mode of transportation. Our biggest worries: bears.......and..........Niko jumping out of the canoe and flipping us and all our stuff into the lake or river. The second worry was more plausible and risky (in our minds). We started getting Niko acclimated with his life jacket months ago.

Snapshot of what we brought

We had to be very selective in what we packed to limit space and weight. Kibble, leash, life jacket, and a tennis ball was Niko's allowance. For ourselves, we packed dried food, tablets to treat water for drink-ability, warm clothes, sleeping bags, fishing poles, and a canoe carrier.

We launched at Long Lake and had an 8 mile paddle to our first night's humble abode: a lean-to. Lean-to's are wooden shelters provided by the park and is on a first come first serve basis. It was an alternative to bringing a tent.

Niko was in the middle of the canoe on his own. I was anxious during the first 30 minutes, fearing he would jump out. With some coaxing and readjustment of his front paws, we avoided mayhem. He quickly got the routine down. He was alert and looking from side to side a lot. There were lots for Niko to see: biplanes that took off and landed in the lake, ducks, loons, turtles, and even fighter jets that were doing some test flights.
Niko did make noises at times when we were near land. We took breaks and got out to stretch and check out different areas. To our amazement, there were times when he knew we were getting ready to go back into the canoe. He would come to us and willingly let us place him back inside it. The second morning, I picked up his life jacket and he automatically sat down to let me put it on him. It was as if he was ready to check out the next place on the route.
We had a waterfront site to ourselves the first night. Niko was off leash and discovered every corner. Ed caught fish and cooked it up with a fuel burner and mess kit. It complemented our instant noodles very well. Of course we shared the fish with Niko. He likes fish very much. Before I can stop him, he gobbled up a raw minnow that was laying on the ground (gross, Niko!)

After the first night, we packed up and went back into the lake to head toward Racquette River. Here, the scenery changed from the vast openness of a lake to a woodsy, enclosed, and curvy river. The current helped us move along easier which was nice because we were tired from the first day. We approached a waterfall area where we had to get out and go on foot to our next lean-to.
We took the sign and broken canoe hanging on the sign very seriously!

The portage (canoe carry between take out from river and relaunch) proved to be challenging. Although we had a carrier to wheel the canoe with gear inside it, there were steep inclines and rocky areas. We met others in the path and commiserated on how tiring it was. At this point, Niko uncharacteristically barked at people. It was probably due to being in a new surrounding and the need to protect us. During the portage, Ed and I were slowed down by the weight of the canoe. Niko ran ahead to "scout" the path and would circle back. At this point, I think he knew the canoe was part of the "pack." He stopped whenever he heard the canoe on wheels stop. We ran into trouble about 3/4 into the portage. We had a flat! We had to stop for Ed to patch the tire. Niko was very good, considering we had other things to worry about. He never ventured out of eyesight and sat near us most of the time. After the mishap, we continued on and found a lean-to for our final night's stay.

The rest of the trip went smoothly. Some random final remarks:
1) We saw some amazing scenery.
2) Niko may not be a water dog, but he is a canoe friendly dog.
3) No bear encounters. Boy scout Ed craft-fully sealed our food in a bag and tied it high up to a tree far from our campsite.
4) Niko enjoyed being off leash in the wilderness, but the poor toads that he chased did not
5) Niko learned how to find drinking water by going to the shore.
6) Niko is very dexterous when hopping across big rocks in the river.
7) We all did some soul searching on this trip and bonded.
8) Niko went into a coma for 2 days after he arrived home.

Heat Wave

2011-07-24T23:33:00.000-04:00

For the entire month of July thus far, we have been sweating through a heat wave. Niko's feeling the humidity and high temps because he is extra sluggish and borderline depressed. He plops down in front of the fan. He lays in what Ed calls "dead deer" position very often. We give him an ice cube once in a while to lick, chew, and ultimately to cool off.

To help us all deal with this heat, I offer this piece of advice: think back to cooler days and place yourself in that picture. Feel the cold and crisp winter air. It's the power of mind over body. For Niko, imagine the cold snow under your paws, buddy.

Toys aren't interesting when it's super hot outside : (

This Little Piggy Went to a Roast

2011-07-12T23:52:00.000-04:00

Ed's brother and wife threw a pig roast party last weekend. We helped, attended, and enjoyed it. Niko was a guest as well. He wouldn't have missed it for the world (Uncle Rob had promised him some pig knuckles prior to that day). We slept outside in a tent the night before. The day started at 4am when the guys got up to prepare the 100 lb pig. I kept Niko in the tent and we snoozed until sunrise. As soon as the sun broke, Niko was up and I let him out of the tent. I continued to snooze and was awaken by the sound of Niko being put back into the tent. He was being punished for getting caught with a baby chickadee in his mouth and violently shaking it. Ed caught him in time and set the bird free (it survived). I wasn't around to see this, but Ed said the bird sounded just like his squeaky toys.

Later that morning, Niko also chased the host's cat up a pine tree. Niko was definitely mischievous that morning. The cat also survived Niko.

Niko was kept off leash the whole day. I gave him breaks from the outside by letting him in the house to cool off. There were times he even approached the door voluntarily. When the pig was ready, Niko was given an ear to chow down on:

He lingered by the table where they cut the cooked meat. He picked up scraps that dropped to the ground. There were children at the party who were drawn to Niko as well. One kid spent 30 mins trying to loop a glow stick necklace around Niko and succeeded. It was helpful to spot him out in the dark since he was on the loose.

Looking pretty fly for a Shiba

It was a fantastic day and Niko is still exhausted from all the excitement and yummy piggy goodness.

Japanese Maple Tree

2011-07-06T23:11:00.000-04:00

In the dog days of summer, Niko slows down his usual active self quite a bit. He makes every effort to find shade when he's outside. He has some common sense. On this very sunny and hot day, he found shade under our Japanese Maple Tree, which I never see him do. Japanese dog, under a Japanese tree.

Keep in mind shibas wear a fur coat all year round and they feel the heat much more than tank top and shorts wearing humans. Make sure your dog has shelter and water.

The Gulpy

2011-06-29T22:26:00.003-04:00

The Gulpy or a similar water bottle for dogs is a great thing to have when we're out and about with Niko.

We spotted a fellow camper last summer with one and was quite impressed. Then we saw it at TJ Maxx and picked one up. It is a water bottle with a trough that flips open for water to be dispensed in. When Niko is done drinking, I flip the tray back and there's even a clip to attach the bottle to your pants.

The Gulpy is very helpful on longer walks, hikes, and also car rides. Before getting it, we had to pour water into our palms for Niko to drink from, which got messy and was a hassle. And he doesn't always drink when we offer him water. If he is thirsty, Niko slurps the water right up and whatever he doesn't drink, we discard. In hot weather, Niko gets hot and thirsty way faster so we have to make water available more often.

I've seen them sold at most pet stores and amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Star-Kyjen-Gulpy-Dispenser/dp/B001SL42R2

Serenity Area

2011-06-26T23:37:00.000-04:00

Before

In the backyard, I have a small part that I've converted into my "serenity area." It started off with a pine tree, 2 big smooth rocks, and a barrel flower pot. I found myself enjoying using the big rock as a seat to chill out. I plant colorful flowers in the pot.
Last year, I dug out a small area in front of where I sit and placed stepping stones, mulch, and various plants. I put in plants that are supposed to spread and crawl around the stones, and also plants that are nice to touch (silver mound). There is also a bird feeder by the pine tree. It's a nice spot to sit in and throw the ball for Niko to catch. It quickly became my resting spot after doing garden work. When Niko sees me working on my vegetable garden, he usually knows it's not playtime. But as soon as I get a drink and sit down in the serenity area, he runs up with his tennis ball. I can also look over at my vegetable garden to reflect at the hard work I put into it.

Lately, when Niko is outside by himself, I would spy him in my serenity area. Thankfully, he does not dig in that area or eat the plants. I've found him quietly resting on the mulch and it makes me feel good that my little project is benefiting Niko as well. I still think he is the reason my plants don't get eaten by rabbits and other animals (Niko the scarecrow).
There are some very nice gardens designed just for pets out there. Niko and I are both envious. If you are thinking of doing an area for your canine friends to hang out in, be sure that all the plants you choose are not toxic to dogs.
Here's a photo I found of pet gardens:

http://realestate.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=24141147

Murder Mystery

2011-06-22T23:23:00.001-04:00

Out in the backyard, we have a tether system for Niko to spend time outside without running away. It is a zip-line that runs from the deck to the bottom of the hill. A cord that Niko is hooked up to is attached to it and it runs up and down the hill. I spend a lot of time out there doing gardening stuff and Niko is sure to be out there with me. He enjoys being outside and is well behaved. When we're inside, he oftens stands by the door indicating he wants outside time. We leave him out there 15 mins at a time for him to do his potty business, especially right before bed time.
The usual process goes this way:
1) We walk out the back door onto the deck
2) Attach the cord to Niko's collar
3) Niko stands in front of the baby gate and stares out earnestly
4) We open the gate
5) Niko runs down the steps (once after it rained, Niko ran so fast he slipped down the stairs like a wild cartoon animal)
6) Niko darts to all four possible corners to sniff out his friends (I can only speculate they are bunnies, squirrels, chipmunks, and birds)
7) We check on him from the window from time to time and he's usually resting on the grass like a lazy cow (see picture)

Well, one morning, we found a dead and mauled up chipmunk on the grass near the deck. It was a fresh kill. We can't conclusively say it was Niko who did it, but the evidence is stacked against him, As seen in the Killer Instinct post, Niko has plenty of practice with this crime. I've seen him chase chipmunks around the yard, but they outrun him before Niko runs out of tether line. One final argument is that Niko's breeder told us that Niko's father would kill and bring him back woodchucks. This Shiba Inu might look cute and harmless, but you do the math.

Between this occurrence and the raccoon encounter (I didn't think to sanitize the food bowl the raccoon ate out of), I was worried that Niko might have been exposed to rabies. He is up to date on his vaccinations, but I was still concerned. I looked up symptoms online and observed him for a few days. The online references I found said the infected animal starts to act erratically. We laughed at that because Niko has his crazy spouts of energy at random times so it'd be hard to tell. It's been over a week now and we think the coast is clear. Niko is healthy. However, the question about the chipmunk remains, "who dunnit?"

Raccoon Follow Up

2011-06-20T23:42:00.000-04:00

This is a short follow up to my recent post about our run in with a raccoon. A week after the incident, Ed's dad came upon two raccoons in the woods. He found them nesting in a rotten tree. Since I didn't have first hand photos in the last post, I thought I'd show them here:

I can't help but think they are cute after seeing these pictures, changing my mind about them being criminal Niko food Thieves. Interestingly, they do have bandit eyes like the typical robber haha.

Pet Armor Plus

2011-06-13T23:42:00.000-04:00

If you're like us, you probably don't like the high premium price of Frontline flea protection medication. Great news, I learned there is now a generic version with the same active ingredients: Pet Armor Plus. http://www.petarmor.com/
Frontline's patent expired, making this possible.
We bought a box at Walmart for less than $15 for 4 doses. Pretty sweet huh?

"A Raccoon Ate My Food!"

2011-06-12T23:31:00.000-04:00

http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/006/cache/raccoon-eating_676_600x450.jpg

We packed up and went camping again for two nights at a county park about an hour away. Our neighbors from the next campsite who were there the previous night warned us about raccoons not being shy or afraid of coming near them. With that, we put the garbage in the park provided receptacle, wrapped up our food and placed everything in sealed coolers and bins. We had a skunk scare last summer and didn't want to take any chances. Silly us, Niko's food bowl had a small amount of kibble in it and we left it out. It did cross my mind to put it away but we didn't think raccoons would be interested.
Once we got into the tent for the night, Niko was restless, which was out of the ordinary. He usually finds his spot(a blanket), curls up, and calls it a night. I couldn't tell if it was the noisy neighbors or wildlife that kept him awake this time. He just wouldn't go to sleep. He stayed by the tent door trying to wait for a chance to get out. Finally, when I was trying to fall asleep, I heard a noise. It sounded like Niko munching at his food, except Niko was in the tent and not by his food bowl. We quickly put our glasses on, found the flashlight, and opened the tent window screen. Ed's eyesight is a lot better than mine, so he got a good look at the raccoon. I only saw a dark mass by the food bowl, but I heard it enjoying the snack. Ed said it was a chunky one. There wasn't much to eat, so the raccoon wasn't around long; plus we made some noises to let it know we were awake. I suggested we bring Niko out to walk around the campsite so the raccoon knows who he's dealing with and perhaps be too afraid to come back again. So, Ed took Niko to check out the crime scene. The bowl was empty and Niko sniffed it. Niko definitely knew he had 4 legged company because he pulled towards the trees and sniffed around a lot.
They returned to the tent and we thought we were set for the night. My thought was that the raccoon now knows there's a shiba inu guard dog on site. They better stay away.
After just a few minutes, I heard another noise. What could it be? All the food in the bowl was eaten. My hearing must be as good as Ed's eyesight because from just listening, I quickly determined the raccoon got a hold of the tote bag that I put Niko's things in: toys, poop bags, and container of food! Ed directed the flashlight to the picnic table from the inside of our tent. I didn't have enough time because I was scrambling for my glasses. Ed confirmed that the stinking raccoon was dragging the tote from the table and down the hill into the forest. Such excitement! With Niko on leash, Ed jumped out and chased after the animal. It let go of the bag 20 feet out. What an incredibly brave and smart raccoon; the food was in a sealed container inside the tote. We walked into the woods out of curiosity. Ed found the raccoon with his flashlight, it made up to a very tall tree and stayed there. All I saw were its eyes reflecting from our flashlight. Throughout this ordeal, Niko didn't bark which I was surprised about. The following day, Niko ate every ounce of food we put in his bowl within minutes. This is very odd because he isn't usually quick to eat kibble and waits until late afternoon to polish all his food. We think he had a sense his food source was threatened. Or now that he knew someone else coveted his food, it was more appealing to eat. We refer to our visitor as Niko's friend, "Cooney" or "Coonster."
According to National Geographic, raccoons are nocturnal, very dexterous with their front paws, and eat just about anything. For the record, they eat Innova dog food.

Same Place, Different Season

2011-06-09T23:22:00.000-04:00

We returned to the park we went cross country skiing many times this year. It's hard to believe that it was the same place because the park looked completely different without the snow. White was replaced with lush green. This state forest area is great in the winter and summer. There are multiple trails for skiing and hiking. We let Niko off the leash here. It is also very secluded. With our kayaks and Niko in tow, we arrived at the park on a hot, sunny, and humid afternoon.

There is a pond in the park we wanted to kayak in. Niko was actually in it last time. Well, he was on it because it was frozen and he had no idea it was a pond.
We wanted to get Niko more acclimated in the kayak and this was another round of practice. We first took a walk on one of the trails. With him off leash, he ran ahead and back over and over again. The intent was to let him run out his energy so he has less energy to be kayak/water-anxious.

We had the pond to ourselves the entire time. This turned out to be a great condition for Niko. He was a lot calmer and I was able to get out into the water as well. I usually play lifeguard on shore, anticipating a wet shiba frantically escaping Ed's kayak. Halfway through, we moved him into my kayak and I enjoyed having him be my passenger. The pond was calm and quiet except for ducks and birds. Niko watched the wildlife and basically observed while being paddled around. It was very hot and sunny and we got out after an hour. I scooped water in my palm for Niko to drink from several times.

When we were packing up, Niko crawled under the car for shade and the cool stones probably felt nice.

Great progress for Niko on the Kayak!

I'm Afraid of No Snake

2011-06-02T23:23:00.004-04:00

On Saturday, we visited the nature center in Wellesley Island State Park where we were camping for a few days. A nice volunteer recommended a very scenic hiking trail but warned us it may be muddy from all the rain from the previous 2 weeks. We took Niko along with us and were tempted to let him off leash. We decided against because of signs forbidding it, the muddy areas, and other hikers on the trail. The picture above is taken at the lookout point which was breathtaking. It got very warm and humid which explains NIko's tongue sticking out for picture perfectness.
In hindsight, it was good NIko was kept on a leash. We found a deer carcass that was mauled up and bloody. Niko would have totally gone to it for some sniffing and snacking. Also, at one point during our walk, NIko lunged off the path at something in the grass. Although it was well camouflaged, we quickly saw that it was a snake. Niko wouldn't let up on it and kept poking his head toward it everytime the snake moved. The snake reeled its head back at Niko too and even opened its mouth to show teeth. It was a scary moment but exciting too. We pulled Niko away and I snapped this picture before moving on:

I can't imagine what would have happened if Niko was off leash and had free reign to lick, bite, play with, or bark at the snake. I shake my head when I think of how Niko is fearful of the wrong things (like water) but is brave around the real dangers (such as a snake and skeletons). Niko showed the same interest he usually has around tiny living things that move. There was a bumble bee that lingered around us most of the weekend and Niko chased it and snapped his jaw at it like a frog countless times.
Camping was a lot of fun and Niko was great at nights in the tent. He didn't make a sound and was pooped out tired when we turned in every night. I laid down a beach towel by my side and showed him where to lay down the first night. On the 2nd and last nights, he automatically went to the towel, circled around it to pat it down, and settled in. It was great cuddling with him because we don't get to do that at home due to his usual aloofness and preference to not snuggle. I felt him shaking when it was cold one night. I put part of my blanket over him and he nuzzled against me. During the wee hours of the morning, I tried to remember to cover NIko's head lightly with the blanket. This is to keep him from noticing the light filtering in from the rising sun and to allow us all to sleep in. On the last morning, my attempt didn't work because Niko weaseled his head out of the blanket and as soon as he saw daylight, he went towards the zipped up tent door. I reached outside for the tether and attached his collar. When i saw the sunrise, I didn't mind being up at 4:30 at all. I took a few pictures, made sure Niko had access to his food and water bowls and went back in to snooze a few more hours. Niko was quiet and sat peacefully outside listening to the birds chirp and probably snoozed a bit on the soft woodsy ground. It was a perfect weekend.

He Licks Us for Us

2011-06-01T23:54:00.001-04:00

We had our first camping adventure of 2011 over Memorial Day weekend. There is so much to recount about the trip that I will break things out into at least two posts.

"Is this your idea of fun?"

The car was packed to the max which meant Niko's usual sprawl on the entire backseat was reduced to 1/4 of it.

Remember the life vest we bought Niko a few months ago? It was finally time to test the waters, pardon the pun. The week before, we brought out the vest and did some clicker training with Niko and the vest. Every time he approached the vest, we clicked the clicker (a training device) and gave him a treat. He quickly learned that good things happen when he touched the vest with his nose or paws it. We also put the vest on him for practice runs. He didn't mind wearing it as much after a few times.

Hmmm...

At the Thousand Islands, NY, we stayed at a waterfront campsite and brought our kayaks. We put the life vest on him and he was a little hesitant to get off his butt. We walked him around with it on and let him lounge in it.

It was funny seeing Niko in the life vest because it created rolls around his neck, making him appear to be a chubby Shiba.

We eventually put him in the kayak. Ed slowly paddled out while holding on to Niko. He relaxed a little as they floated
away. However, when they approach shore again, Niko got anxious and made attempts to put his paws up, ready to jump ship. Unlike last year, Niko did not escape and jump into the water. If he were to jump, I was hoping he wouldn't swim away from our campsite, because across the bay in the distance was Canadian land. (Niko didn't apply for his passport yet)

We were able to do 2 trial runs with Niko. Our goal is to teach him that staying in the kayak = not getting wet. And not getting wet is Niko's only wish. We feel that this was a good start and will try to phase him into a kayak rider soon enough!

(paws on paddle ready for action or to jump?)

So, "what's with the title of this post?" you ask. Niko has an obsession with licking things dry. Mostly himself and us. Typically, if my hand or face were wet and I reach towards him, he would lick me dry. I often do it on purpose. After baths, he compulsively dries himself. What's interesting is that every time we came back from kayaking without him, he ran toward us and proceeded to sniff and then lick our wet feet and legs for several minutes. It feels nice and we think it's funny and weird all at the same time. This habit is probably related to his aversion to water and feeling the need to make it go away. That, or he was just very thirsty.

Niko Turns Two

2011-05-30T23:34:00.003-04:00

They grow up fast, don't they? Although we didn't meet Niko until he was about 8 weeks old, we acknowledge the time frame he was actually born, which is late May. We got him a few gifts, including a big smoked bone, a Kong Wubba toy, and 2 stuffed duckies.

a random retro Niko pic

Now that he's two years old and phasing out of his "puppiness," we've been commenting at what a great dog he is. In our opinion, he is low maintenance, fun, and adorable. His personality is a lot of fun to observe and he causes us hardly any trouble at all.

Around this time of the year, we reminisce of the time Niko came into our lives. We had a lovely long weekend at the Thousand Islands in NY. Details of the trip will follow in the next few posts. We got a chance to go back to the campsite we stayed in 2 summers ago. I was able to re-take a photo of Niko in the same position he was in when he was a puppy. I put the two pictures side by side for comparison. His tail is a lot fluffier and his body is filled out more now, making his ears appear less abnormally big.

Socialization and Being Recognized

2011-05-24T00:06:00.003-04:00

Over the last weekend, by chance, Niko had a lot of socialization time. Socialization is introducing your dog to unfamiliar things they may be shy toward and helping them adapt and ease their fears. It is also about exposing your dog to new people and dogs so they learn how to act appropriately with proper etiquette. Objects to socialize dogs to can range from people on bikes to the sound of a doorbell.
There was a large community garage sale that spanned many streets and we took Niko along for the walk. There were hundreds of people on foot. Shiba Inus are not common dogs in our region, so Niko receives a lot of attention. There were a few people who recognized the breed and some said he looked like the dog in Hachiko the movie based on a true story. That movie is about an Akita dog, but I have read that they filmed with Shiba Inus in the puppy scenes. It was good socialization time because Niko met a variety of people who asked to pet him. We are very proud of his behavior. He remained very calm and allowed friendly pets and rubs; he even wagged his tail to show his appreciation. We met a few dogs and their owners too.

While walking on a street, we were stopped by a woman who asked us, "do you ski?" We gave her confused looks and she explained she recognized Niko from when she went cross country skiing. We confirmed it was us skiing at the same park a few months ago. She continued to rave at what a unique and beautiful dog Niko is to her friend. That encounter put a smile on our faces...that Niko is sort of a local celebrity. I heard my comments like "look at that dog!" and "just like a fox!" all throughout the event.

We live in a region where dog friendliness is not a top priority. We don't have a lot of outside eateries where we can bring Niko and dog parks are a rarity too. If you are in the same boat, you might be interested to know that a lot of home improvement retail stores are indeed pet friendly. When I found out Lowes allows dogs insides, I started bringing Niko along on those shopping trips. On the first trip, he was apprehensive and shy. His sniffer was all over the place. When we took him last weekend, he was more of an observer. He looked at what we did and observed things going on around him. If you want to do this with your dog, make sure he/she is on a leash and is potty trained. We must respect stores who are kind enough to let us bring in our pets. Know of other common stores who are pet friendly? Please share!

"Um, what aisle is plywood in? I want to build a doghouse!"

Although this weekend's activities were not as physical as say a hike in the woods, Niko was exercised in a different manner and he ended up being pretty tired by Sunday night.

P/S: we are rather hopeless that Niko will ever be socialized to baths though...

Coffee Run

2011-05-15T22:36:00.003-04:00

We went to a Starbucks drive thru window with Niko riding in the backseat. Being that it was a nice day, we rolled down his window so he can sniff the air...and look cute.

As the barista was handing us our drinks, he noticed Niko in the back window. He pointed to Niko and said, "and you are the cutest thing ever." He also asked us if he was a shiba. Kudos to the dog savvy barista. He asked us if Niko would like a treat, freshly made whipped cream. We couldn't refuse it of course. Niko enjoyed every lick of it. What a nice gesture on behalf of Starbucks and a fun time for Niko. We'll work on getting free coffee for us humans next time (wink).

Someone To Come Home To

2011-05-01T23:12:00.001-04:00

The best part to the end of a work day, especially a rough one, is seeing our furry friend at the window waiting for our arrival. This is also the time of the day Niko gives us the most affection. The longer he doesn't see us, the more licks and leg brushes we get.

Niko's chair is placed by the front window. He spends a lot of time napping on it, hiding underneath it, and propping himself on it to look out the window. When we leave him home, he watches us drive away. When we come home and he senses we're back, he pops his head up. We have neighbors and friends who tell us they have seen Niko in the window when they drive by. He loves to observe; the window is like a tv set.

He doesn't bark at everything that goes by the house. He does however, growl at things that are out of the norm. Such as cars stopping by the curb, strange people approaching the house, and squirrels on the lawn.

Being outside is even better than just looking out from indoors. Here's a picture from this weekend at Ed's parents property.

I must say that it is Niko's #1 vacation getaway. He gets super excited when we say "going to grandma & granpa's!" and when we approach, he sniffs the air from the car window in excitement. He loves it here because we let him go off leash and he has plenty of room to run around. He gets a good workout from all the running and exploring. It always takes him a day to recover from the activity after we return home.

If you haven't already and love shiba pups, check out this shiba inu puppy cam: http://www.ustream.tv/sfshiba

Crime Scene Investigation

2011-04-11T23:30:00.002-04:00

(WARNING: graphic picture at the end of this post.)

It was a nice day on Saturday. Ed's main hobby is fishing. Since a nearby creek was stocked with trout recently, it was a good time to take Niko and tag along. I bought an ice cream cone and struggled with it in one hand and Niko's pulling leash in the other. As Ed got set up to do his fishing thing, I took Niko for a walk along the creek. It was a lot of brush, dried up tall grass and leaves from last year, some muddy spots, and some holes in the ground (homes to furry friends I am sure). Being that it was new ground for Niko and that there were plenty of smells, Niko was hippity and hoppity. He hops around in different directions, sniffing things out. I generally do look at what he sniffs if he insists on doing it for more than a few seconds.

Niko pulled towards one area and sniffed around a bit. I looked closer at what he was interested in. What I found made me take a step back and pull Niko away. It was a skeleton of an arm!

My first thought was, could it be a human arm? It was rather small (the length of 2 or 3 leaves). After the initial shock, I took a closer look. With a sigh of relief, I saw there was short fur near the fingernails. The nails were pointy and sharp, like an animal's. I was a little shaken up seeing that, but at the same time, proud of Niko for finding it. Weird, I know. We walked on and when we turned around, Niko found the arm again. It is easy to miss with the human eye since it is camouflaged by the leaves. After Ed was done fishing, we went back to the area to look at it. Since he has more experience in watching Discovery channel than I do, his expertise was helpful. (My knowledge of animal arm skeleton is limited to chicken feet at dim sum and pig's feet in stews.) He laughed that I thought it could be human, but admitted that in the picture, it does look human. But given the size and its shape, he concluded it was more like a possum or muskrat. To ease my worries, I googled the skeleton of both those animals and was rest assured. It was an animal bone.

This was an exciting adventure for us; playing Scooby Doo was fun. Niko proved that he has a good sniffer. Let it be known, he solves mysteries for a few licks of ice cream.

http://www.ux1.eiu.edu/~shmalehorn/images/muskrat/index.htm

Yummy Ice Cream!

The Last Bit of Snow

2011-04-05T23:48:00.004-04:00

Two weeks ago, we had our last significant snowfall. It was unexpected and unwelcomed by most people, as they are looking forward to Spring. Niko doesn't mind one bit. We took one more trip to a nearby state forest where we go to cross country ski. It was a good outing with Niko being off leash while we skied.

We came upon a tree that was worked on by beavers. Niko approached it to admire their work:

"..hmm reminds me of what i do at home to furniture"

Beavers are amazingly hard workers known for building dams as their habitats. They also have the same mate for life. **end of sidebar**
Close to the end of our trail, we stopped by a frozen pond. We played fetch with Niko and a tennis ball. This is the only time Niko would voluntarily go into a pond, so the joke's on him!
He was very good at coming back with the ball.
Look how far he went:

One more thing to note is that I fell many times due to icy snow. When Niko was near me when it happens, he would stop to look at me and sometimes came to sniff me. He waited a little before moving on again. Very seldom does Niko show affection and I'll take every hint of it when I can.

Water Safety: Sink or Swim

2011-03-22T21:49:00.007-04:00

Anyone who knows Niko knows that water is not his favorite element. During Niko's first summer, when we introduced him to the kayak, he did okay. We didn't let him touch the water; we just put him in the kayak and rowed away. He was very curious because he sniffed and looked around.

Four Months Old

Fast forward to his second summer (last year), we did the same thing. This time, Niko jumped ship! It gave us quite a scare but to our surprise, he swam to shore very quickly. We learned that he can swim.

1 Year Old

But, we're not going to take our chances. We are contemplating doing a camping trip where we have to kayak and hike to our camp site this summer. In preparation, we bought Niko a life vest. We are months away from camping season, but we want to be sure he's ready :)

To his confusion, we put the vest on him at home. Of course, he's not a fan. We plan to do this every so often so he gets used to wearing it. He doesn't know it, but it's for his own good. He loves the outdoors and this is one sacrifice he'll have to make.

We have seen little backpacks for dogs to carry on their backs. Maybe Niko will have to pull his own weight on the camping/hiking trip by carrying his food and water. Just kidding, we won't do that unless he balloons up to the size of a husky by summertime.

"Ugh, I look like a banana"

Relief for Japan Challenge

2011-03-18T11:49:00.000-04:00

http://shibainus.ca/japanese-dog-owner-earthquaketsunami-relief-challenge/

Niko's Prey (Killer Instinct)

2011-03-14T23:58:00.002-04:00

I have seen Niko go through enough furry toys to make some important observations.

He picks up his prey by the head with his mouth of course. He shakes his head violently with the poor animal in his mouth. This is to knock it unconscious. Next, he works on the eyes. He doesn't give up until the eyes of his prey are gone. All his toys are eyeless. With the eyes gone, he's now found a hole where he proceeds to take the stuffing out. Depending on the quality of the toy, it could take him a few minutes or a few hours to get to this point.
After this, he may let go of the toy or we take away to try to make the purchase last more than a day. When he comes back to it, he chews the head pretty good. Often, if we get to the toy, the head is unrecognizable and the tail is almost untouched.
The animal pictured on this post is a squirrel.

Vital organs missing

Looking innocent
Perhaps it is in his nature to know how to "kill" in order to survive. Shiba Inus have a history of being bird hunting dogs in Japan after all. Interestingly enough, Niko was out in the yard on the tether yesterday. I looked out the window and saw a live squirrel hopping around. I went outside to check on Niko because he always lunges toward squirrels to chase them. I found him up on the hill by the deck cowering back and looking at the squirrel. Not so vicious after all, are you Niko?

Snow Excitement

2011-03-06T22:18:00.000-05:00

Wink

We are approaching the end of the winter season. Fortunately for Niko, we are still getting tons of snow every time we think there is no more. The white stuff gets the little guy very excited. He is extra bouncy and playful. He prefers to have someone to play in the snow with him. Every time he sees me gathering snow in my gloved hands, he runs up to me, fixated on the snowball. He likes to chase the snowballs we throw and he also likes when we gather snow in our arms and throw it up in the air. When Ed tried to build a snowman, Niko barked at the ball of snow that was being rolled around. The snowman didn't get formed because of Niko's dislike of it. He also dislikes the inflatable snow tube. He chases us as we slide down the hill, but when we walk back up with it, he barks.

Niko jumps a lot higher when we play in the snow. I think it's a combination of his excitement over snow and the soft landing from his jumps.

Kangaroo pose

More Chewing

2011-02-28T22:52:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Niko, we now have a second way to get our tissues out of the box. I feel like NIko is chewing stuff more lately than when he was a puppy. He is 3 months shy of 2 years old. It could be the freedom he has to roam the entire house when nobody is home. He gained that privilege about six months ago.

On some days, I hide treats in different locations to make his day a little more interesting. He likes finding "treasures". Like the time we placed a tennis ball by a tree in a park and walked him there the next day for him to find the ball all on his own. I bury durable waterproof toys and bones in the deep snow out in the backyard. Niko keeps occupied this way and things are extra special to him when he discovers them on his own. With Niko, I think mental exercise is as valuable as physical exercise.

Giddy Up, Horsie

2011-02-21T22:40:00.001-05:00

While Niko was enjoying a yummy treat, I put a tug toy on his back. Minutes later, I was surprised to find it was still on his back. He must have been too distracted with the treat to notice he was wearing what looks like a saddle.

So, we gave him a passenger. He trotted around long enough to allow me to snap pictures.

When he found out about the baggage he had on his back, he threw his passenger.

The Westminster Dog Show

2011-02-16T22:38:00.003-05:00

The Westminster Kennel Club had their Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York this week. Although I wasn't there, I found a cool article in the NY Times today. It is an interactive article displaying pictures of 102 of the best of breed winners. I was delighted to see it was alphabetically listed by breed so I can scroll to Shiba Inu. Click on this link to see the winning Shiba:
Thunder the Shiba Inu
What a perfect dog!
My knowledge of dog breeds is veeeeery limited. I often fake nod when people tell me their dog's breed. This article is helpful because scrolling through the breeds, I recollect some of the names and now I know what they look like.

Here's a random picture of Niko chillin' from last weekend:

A Shiba Shredder

2011-02-07T22:57:00.000-05:00

Protect yourself from identity theft by investing in a Shiba Inu.

I learned something. Just because I've left newspaper on the coffee table out dozens of times and Niko didn't do anything to it, doesn't mean he won't decide to do so all of a sudden. I wasn't mad, but amused at how tiny some of the shreds were. Glad he found something to do while he was alone. When I went to clean up the mess, Niko went into his cave as though he knew he did something wrong.

My cozy slippers have also fell victim to Niko's shredding skills. My left slipper is slowly turning to a size 7 from a size 8. Do we yell at him when we find stuff he destroyed? No. Because it's the humans' fault for leaving things out to tempt him. Then again, he hasn't destroyed anything that made us that mad yet...

I'd say the most valuable thing he chewed on was a photobook I made Ed for Christmas. It wasn't worth a lot of money, but it had sentimental value. I was out of town when I found out and wasn't thrilled to hear about it. He chewed the cover but the pages were still in tact.

I look at it this way, when Niko's alone, he misses us. He chews my slippers because he smells my stinky feet. That is touching. And newspaper....that's just fun to chew I guess.

Cross Country Skiing

2011-01-31T23:13:00.000-05:00

About a year ago, Ed and I took up cross country skiing. We are still very new at it, having gone less than five times. Last winter, we didn't even dream of bringing Niko with us. We wouldn't have available hands to hold his leash and he was a flight risk. However, over the summer, Niko gained our trust and proved to be alright off leash in remote areas. Sure, he isn't great at name recall, but he always comes back....eventually.

A coworker recommended a national forest nearby that has great trails for cross country skiing. We were impressed by the scenery and there were many trails to choose from. Another plus was there was no charge to use the trails and dogs were allowed. We swooshed around in our skiis a bit and Niko was indifferent to the extra baggage attached to our feet. He was more interested in the snow apparently. We held on to his leash until we got into the trail a little bit, away from the parking lot and road. We let go of his leash but decided to keep it attached to Niko's harness. We were testing new waters here and wanted an easy way to get a hold of him easily.

The experience turned out better than I expected. Niko stayed close and if he went exploring, he came back very quickly. The best feeling was when I lagged behind, he would run to the back of the "pack" to check on me. Once he saw I was moving along, he'd run back to the front to Ed. I may be looking into it more than I should, but I think he has an inner instinct to protect and guard us. He does this on hikes with bigger groups of people as well; running back and forth and accounting for everyone.
We came across a pair of nice elderly ladies who were also skiing. They were delighted to see Niko. Niko was friendly to them, but barked at a solo skier who went on by. It was a fun time for all of us, but for Niko especially. He hopped in and out of the deep snow; buried his head in it; and covered 3 times the distance we humans did from all the running. When it was time to leave, we were able to corral him by way of a tennis ball. Niko was pooped out on the car ride home:

Bath Time

2011-01-24T22:25:00.001-05:00

Niko's bath time means torture for everyone involved. Torture for Niko, us, and anyone who can hear his piercing barks within a 1 mile radius. We feel terrible for him and can't understand why he hates getting a bath so much. As soon as that water touches him, he yelps, scratches and does everything he can to get out. It's a two person job. Over time, we learned a few things to make the ordeal a little better. For example, we used to fill the tub up 3 inches deep so we can scoop water. Turns out Niko fares better without having to stand in any water. He also barks less if I hold the shower head close to him like a massager as opposed to spraying him with water.
He acts adorably post bath time though. His sad and hurt looks really tug at the heart strings. When he is released from the bathroom, Niko runs around the living room and hits up his favorite spots. He rubs against the rug and couch as if to ward off the evilness that is water. He licks his paws, legs and any other body part he can reach dry. He is very spastic and shakes off many times. After all this, our hearing is worsen, Ed's arms are scratched up, and we dread the day we have to give him his next bath....

Solitary Niko

2010-12-16T21:34:00.001-05:00

Most of the time, Niko is within eyesight. He hangs out in the living room the most. On occasion, we would not see him for a while and have to look for him. There are times he seeks solitude in his room. The other day, he stayed on his bunk long enough for me to snap a few pictures. I promise, I was not punishing him. He went to the corner all on his own. Maybe he was mad at us for something?

Is it a cat?

Nope, just a shiba

"Namaste" says Niko

2010-12-10T00:08:00.000-05:00

Niko the Shiba Inu gave $20

DECEMBER 9TH, 2010

"Namaste."

I am happy to say that Niko just gave his first donation to a charity. Yay. Namaste Nepal is a charity set up by my friend Joe who recently took a trip to Nepal. He is raising money to help a school buy land to build a playground and new building. It is an inspiring story how he fell upon this unplanned endeavor. Check out the widget I just added to read about this cause. Namaste: "The Spirit within me recognizes and honors the Spirit within you."

First Signs of Winter

2010-12-07T22:49:00.000-05:00

I was never a huge fan of winter weather. Niko's excitement over snow definitely makes me more cheery to see winter arrive. This weekend, we got our first significant snowfall. Niko was sooooo excited to see the lawn covered in white. I wonder if he remembered it from last year. As soon as he got outside, he truly frolicked in the snow and couldn't get enough of it. He hopped around, buried his head in it, so much fun to be had. I can't believe dogs can withstand the direct contact with snow. Niko didn't mind the cold at all. Niko's no water dog, but he is a snow dog.

It was a busy weekend because we also put up the Christmas decorations. I had to get Niko's Santa hat out. It's the only piece of clothing I've gotten him because he's fussy about outfits. Last year, he ran away whenever he saw me coming with it. He was more tolerable of it now. He kept it for awhile on without a fuss.

What's a tree doing inside the house?

Thanksgiving Stuffing

2010-11-29T22:44:00.001-05:00

We hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Niko enjoyed some stuffing, but not the traditional kind that goes with turkey. This toy lasted only 2 hours before it was put to rest.

To The Tennis Courts

2010-11-21T23:01:00.000-05:00

Off leash time for Niko is the best time for Niko. He gets to run fast and hard and exert his energy. He is at his happiest when he goes off leash. Without a fenced in yard and the danger of cars make off leash time a rare occasion. I subscribe to the Dog Trainer's podcast and a very good tip I got from her is to find a fenced in vacant tennis court to take your dog to. The weather in upstate NY has turned rather chilly, so tennis fans have put away their rackets for the season. Although, last week, we had exceptional warm weather and Niko and I were bummed to find people playing tennis. Anyway, ever since the first time we let Niko off least at this these courts, he gets very excited when we go in the direction of the park. He pulls and hyperventilates from the excitement.

On the walk to the park, we make sure Niko eliminates so he does not do it in the courts. We play tennis here too, so we respect the courts. Also, as dog owners, we must be courteous and mindful and not ruin a good thing for others. With the shorter days, it is a challenge to get Niko outside before dark on weekdays. Here's a picture of Niko taken with my phone as the moon is rising:

We toss a tennis ball around over and over to play fetch. I tried jogging the perimeter of the courts and Niko outruns me of course. It's amazing how fast Shibas can run. Very fun to see him gallop like a horse. He has pretty good brakes too. Tennis balls are good and reliable toys for Niko. He never gets tired of it. They are cheap and he chews threw them if we leave them around.

When we first brought Niko home last year at 8 weeks old, he was very shy. He shook and trembled for a day or two. We bought him a few toys and were dismayed when he didn't show interest in any of them. We even worried that we chose the wrong puppy out of the litter: "What's wrong with this one, he doesn't play!"

On his second day, I took out one of our tennis balls and rolled it around. Right away, Niko stared at it and chased it. It was a big moment for us because he showed his playfulness for the first time. The tennis ball was Niko's official first play thing. Here's a picture from that 2nd day. He could barely fit the ball in his mouth at the time.

Behind Bars

2010-11-15T23:59:00.000-05:00

We took an overnight trip to the Philadelphia are on Saturday and had to figure out a place for Niko to stay. Our options at home were limited because places don't open on Sunday and we wanted to be able to pick him up on Sunday. I did a little research and found Wagsworth Manor in Malvern, PA. What a delight to first read about the place and then to actually visit it. In our small town, we don't have "pet resorts." Our jaws dropped at the nice accommodations this place had. There was a pool for training and recreational swimming. The facility was immaculate and we couldn't help but admire everything.

Compared to Niko's one other kennel experience, this one takes the cake. Niko was fearful when we walked in, but the staff was very friendly. They took him on many potty breaks and we prescribed individual play time. The dogs are separated by size and there are dividers between each "suite." The amount of barking was minimal and there weren't any of the usual smells of a kennel. We saw many workers cleaning different areas of the facility. The outdoor play areas were big and grassy. When we picked up Niko, he was happy to see us. Compared to the last time where we found him foaming at the mouth(from the stress and anxiety of neighboring barking dogs), Niko was well rested and acting himself when we found him at Wagsworth.

Niko's stay was 24 hours long and we knew he was in good hands. We were given a report card during checkout which I thought was icing on the cake.

Cheap Toy

2010-11-04T23:47:00.000-04:00

When we went to Mexico earlier this year, the resort had great accommodations and niceties. One of which was leaving towels folded into cute animals. One of those towels mysteriously ended coming home with us:

We kept it in its original form for months as a memento of the trip. As we have discovered months ago, Niko reacts in a jealous way when we show affection to animal like objects. Ed took this towel bunny and started to pet it and Niko jumped at him to get to it. It may be the eyes too that captures Niko's interest.

I took the pipe-cleaner off and replaced it with a rubber band before I handed the bunny to Niko. The sticker eyes didn't last long. The rubber band came off and I had to think of something else.
Here's what we got:

I rolled the towel from one corner to the another diagonally and then tied a knot. The ends resemble ears and I drew eyes on the head. Niko likes to chase it, chew it, wrangle it with his mouth and shake it until it unravels. He continues to play with it when it's a regular towel. We would take it and tie it up again for him. This is by far the cheapest toy for Niko.

Pumpkin Playtime

2010-10-28T00:19:00.001-04:00

Headless horseman costume? This is as close as we'll get to Niko wearing a costume. (Chuckle chuckle)

That's Niko sticking his head into a plastic jack-o-lantern my friend Nichole got for him. Last year, Niko was fearful of this thing. When I brought it back out this year, he showed some anxiety. Then it hit me, it's the face that he was focused on. I have noticed how fixated Niko becomes on objects that have a face. With any stuffed animal we give him, it's the head/face that is annihilated first. Actually, the eyes fall out and then holes are bitten through the head until it's not recognizable.

I turned the pumpkin so that the face is turned away from Niko and I put toys and treats in it. He hasn't growled at it since even when the face is visible. This pumpkin also turned out to be a great storage bin for Niko's toys.

I learned of a fun game from The Dog Trainer podcast and modified it with this pumpkin. Her game entailed a few empty yogurt cups and hiding a treat under one or all of them. Then, let your dog tip the cup over to get a treat. I flipped the pumpkin upside down and hid small toys and treats over and over again for Niko to "find." This is one of many ways to entertain a dog.

I think pets in costumes are super cute. However, Niko is skittish and doesn't enjoy wearing articles of clothings or accessories. It was a lot of work making him wear a Santa hat/kerchief around his neck last Christmas. When Niko suspects anyone coming at him to give him a bath or to put clothes on him, he goes into "catch me if you can" mode and it's nearly impossible to get him.

Don't you dare come near me with a costume! Argh...

Notice how he's curled up under his cheetah chair. He's in this position a LOT. We'll be watching TV and not hear a peep out of him for 30 minutes. Then, out of no where, we would see the chair move up, down, or tilt slightly. When he gets out, he sometimes get stuck and moves the chair with him a few inches. It's like in the cartoons when a character hides under the rock and the rock moves slyly.

To see a Shiba in costume, check out Shio the Shiba!

Apple Thief

2010-10-23T16:30:00.003-04:00

Niko has been a backseat passenger ever since he got too big to fit in my lap comfortably. He is very quiet and un-excitable in the car. He likes looking out the window but isn't fussy at all. He has the whole backseat to himself most of the time.

We went to a local apple farm to pick up some apples. I put the bag of apples on the floor of my seat up front. We stopped to grab some lunch. When we returned to the car, Niko wasn't in the backseat. He was on the floor up front. It was a funny sight because it was so unexpected. He must have been curious over the sweet aroma of the apples. He just had to discover what it was. I found a hole in the bag (even thought the bag wasn't tied up). I found an apple with a bite mark on it. All is well, as I had planned to make oat apple crisp dog treats for him. I used that apple he picked out as part of the ingredients.

I let Niko stay up front for the ride home. It was fun an interesting having him look up at us at a different angle.

Bite mark on an apple. Niko?

Autumn Hike

2010-10-18T23:32:00.001-04:00

The rain all week long meant Niko had to stay indoors except for quick potty breaks. On Saturday when the sun came out, Niko and I took the opportunity and went over to a very beautiful place called The Glen. It is less than 5 minutes away by car. There are a few trail heads and I chose one that goes along a creek. The autumn scenery was very nice to take in.

The creek was running and we had to cross it a few times. It was at most an inch deep, but I tried my best to step across rocks to avoid wet feet. Since it was so secluded, I let Niko off the leash. As I have mentioned in other posts, Niko hates water. This summer he made baby steps by approaching ponds slowly to drink out of them. One other time, I had to drag him on the leash to cross a shallow part of a river with me.

On this particular hike, Niko showed some courage. Maybe it was because he was off leash and the excitement of discovering the place overshadowed his fear of water. As I carefully stepped on rocks to cross the creek, he trotted over the shallow water like a natural and a bit like a showoff!

We came to a small waterfall and I paused to take some pictures. Niko darted around the wooded area behind me. He would disappear and then I would hear leaves rustling and see the ball of energy charging down the hill.

After that, we continued walking uphill. Niko marked his territory every chance he got. He must have known my directional skills are horrible when I'm in a place with no street signs or buildings. And since Ed wasn't with us, there was a chance we'd get lost. It reminded me of the story of Hanzel and Gretel when the ingenious kids left crumbs to find their way back. Except, Niko didn't have crumbs. So, he had to keep drinking water.

On the way back, I stopped and found a spot by the same waterfall to take a break. I did some reading and snacking. It was so nice to have the waterfall in the backdrop and to listen to the natural sounds of the water. To my surprise, Niko went down the hill, drank some water from the bank, and stepped onto what was the top of the waterfall. It sounds dangerous, but he was OK since the water is very shallow and not strong enough to pull him into the waterfall. He crossed to the other side and went up another trail. I saw him pause to see if i was coming. When he realized I was seated by my tree and not going anywhere, he came back to me. Of course, my gourmet platter of cheese, crackers, and pepperoni made coming back to me more motivational.

Crossing the top of the falls
It was a good time and Niko loves being off leash. It was another small milestone in his progress with water. In his own pace, Niko got his paws wet. It was cool to see him do this. I won't expect him to go swimming on his own anytime soon though.

Where's Niko?

2010-10-17T22:27:00.001-04:00

Not very often does Niko get to run off leash. I love this picture because he is camouflaged. His face shows he is so happy, being able to run free and explore.

Niko in New York City, Take 2

2010-10-12T22:55:00.001-04:00

Niko is somewhat of a celebrity to my "peeps" back home in NYC. Every time I visit, relatives and friends ask if Niko is coming along. His last trip was eye opening to say the least and we didn't venture out of Brooklyn. Right after we got out of the car, to my surprise, Niko went to the bathroom right on the concrete sidewalk! His city senses must have told him grass is a rare sight where we were and he shouldn't wait. When he wasn't as desperate to go, he would wait until we reached the one patch of grass we have to walk a long block to; it was like clockwork, same spot everytime.

At my parents' home (which is relatively small in comparison to what Niko is used to), Niko was very timid. He once again found his bark/voice. Fortunately, the barking did not carry on outside. It must be enclosed spaces that he does not like.

During this trip, Niko had the opportunity to meet his Aunt Tracey for the very first time. It was a meeting that was long awaited for by both parties. Tracey has gotten Niko toys before and is an avid reader of the blog. With patience, Tracey gained Niko's trust and quickly became friends. Niko really needed those rubs on the head because he was feeling homesick =)

I took Niko for walks and to parks as much as possible. For the first time, I took Niko with me into Manhattan. I didn't want to take my chances with the Subway, so I drove. As usual, he did very well in the car. He napped and looked out the window as I drove through the crazy midtown traffic. On foot and paws, Niko quickly learned how to wheeze in and out of the swarms of people with me (I held the leash tight and short). He followed my stops and go's. It certainly helped that he wanted to stay close to me in an unfamiliar world. We went to Central Park where we met up with a bunch of friends and children. It was a beautiful Fall day and it seemed like every New Yorker took advantage of it and was at the park.

I finally drew the conclusion that Niko is extra tolerant of kids. After seeing him with different sorts of adults and kids, he always sits peacefully as kids come up to him to say hello, play, and pet him. He was totally calm even with a group of 3 to 5 kids all excited to meet him. If it were a bunch of adults crowding him like that, Niko would surely run and hide. It must be the short size and playfulness of children that Niko connects with. I personally like seeing kids' faces light up and it's super cool when Niko's the reason behind it.

As cool as NYC is, Niko prefers the slower pace of his suburban neighborhood. We give props to all the shibas (like Shio and Kit & company) who call NYC their home. For now, we will live vicariously through these City Slickers by reading about their adventures!

Niko taking it all in...

Cheetah Chair, Check!

2010-10-05T22:39:00.004-04:00

Almost a year ago, we picked up a small arm chair that was in good condition for Niko. It became one of Niko's favorite spots to hang out at home. He uses it to prop himself up to look out the front window, take naps, even as a den/cave under the chair.

All this use took its toll on the chair, especially Niko's tender loving chews...

It was time to either let the chair go to crap or bring it back to life. We chose the second option. We went to the store to look for some fabric. I like the feel of flannel so we found a leopard print piece. With zero upholstering experience, we bought a few yards of the fabric and a staple gun.

I wasn't sure how Niko would react to such a drastic change to his beloved chair. So, I made it a slow transition. (I also didn't get enough fabric so we had to wait a few days to complete the project)

"hmm...you guys sure about this tacky print?"

I laid the cloth out on the floor for Niko to sniff it out. After a few moments, he chased it like any old toy.

As you can see, i only had enough fabric for the top half of the chair. The thing was half complete for a week but I think it was a good way for Niko to ease into the change. Here he is, in his "cave." He's very territorial about this space; he growls if you try to invade his space when he wants to be left alone.

Here's the finished product:

Why, hello there. Want to join me?

We call it the "Cheetah Chair" and its very fitting because as most Shiba Inu owners know, these dogs have some feline qualities. In fact, Niko sometimes climbs on this chair very slowly and gracefully. It reminds me of a recent show I saw of tigers going up on their pedestals.

Don't Waste That Egg Yolk

2010-10-03T16:42:00.002-04:00

I always found it annoying when recipes call for egg whites or egg yolks only. I would throw out the other part of the egg. This time, when I used up the egg white and had a yolk left, I fried it scrambled style and served it to Niko. I have heard egg yolks are good for dog's coats. Niko thought it was a good way to add some spice to his kibble.

A Tight Squeeze

2010-09-20T22:49:00.000-04:00

Niko enjoys playing fetch with tennis balls. We throw it from where we are sitting and more often than we'd like, the ball would roll under a cabinet. Niko always try to get the ball out on his own. The little guy is very persistent. At times, his entire head is under the cabinet. After a few minutes of trying, you see him staring at the ball obsessively until one of us gets the ball out for him. He sometimes resort to a quick bark to get our attention.

Skating Buddies

2010-09-10T07:53:00.001-04:00

Taking Niko with us when we go rollerblading is a great workout for him. He can keep up with us when we skate. And when we feel a little lazy and slow down, Niko would run ahead and pull us to help us out. When he is pulling, we chant "mush, mush!" It is a lot of fun and we shorten the leash when other people are around. We get lots of comments and smiles.

Chicken Nuggets

2010-09-02T23:45:00.000-04:00

We bought a dehydrator and I found a recipe book that had a section on making pet treats. I found one that required only 3 ingredients - water, sweet potato, and ground chicken. This was very easy to make. I cooked everything up, blended it, shaped the mush into little rectangles and placed them in the dehydrator. I let the thing go for 6 hours and presto, out came these hard, crunchy treats that resemble chicken nuggets. What's great is they can be stored at room temperature for weeks and in the fridge for months!

While I was doing all this, Niko seemed to know it was a special treat for him. Perhaps it was because I was doing this after dinnertime and he knew it was out of the ordinary and I couldn't be cooking again for us humans. Niko stayed in the kitchen the whole time looking at what I was doing. He sniffed the air and watched the stove. I gave him some cooked chicken along the way.

Niko didn't get to taste test the finished product until the next morning, but I think we have a winner! These are great because they are healthy, nutritious treats that can take the place of Niko's regular food. I can train him with these treats without feeding him unhealthy stuff.

Placing the nuggets in the dehydrator

Final product

Sushi, No Chopsticks Required

2010-08-22T23:13:00.000-04:00

Keeping in mind that Shiba Inus originate in Japan, I am mindful to share my sushi with Niko.
I have read that seaweed is good for their coat (not sure if it's true). Surprisingly, Niko likes fish. Raw and cooked. In fact, a few months ago, when Ed was fishing, Niko stole a tiny minnow when we weren't looking and chomped it down. He has a wide ranging palette. There isn't much he doesn't like to eat. Food is the key to Niko's heart.

Books for Sale, Not the Dog

2010-08-18T23:14:00.003-04:00

We went to a small festival and parade this past weekend. When we approached a book sale, Niko scoped out the only shady spot--underneath the table of the book sale.

Nobody Leaves This Building Without Me!

2010-08-15T22:54:00.000-04:00

When Niko thinks we are going outside, he quickly follows us to the door. Even when he is tired, he doesn't want to lose any chance of going outside. He blocks the door by laying right in front of it. As an extra measure, in the picture, he laid on top of my flip flops. He'd surely wake up if I have to put them on to go outside.

He would make a good jail-keeper, wouldn't he?

A Prince On His Throne

2010-08-11T23:38:00.002-04:00

This is a picture from our camping trip at the Adirondacks. On our campsite was a tree stump that Niko climbed up to and rested. It had a good vantage point. He was able to see the lake and keep an eye on the campsite and scope out possible food scraps.

This was a unique camping trip in that it was very secluded and the site was accessible only by boat or by hiking trail. We usually camp at places where you drive your car up to. Since Niko is afraid of the water, transporting him by kayak was not an option. He gets veeeery skiddish when he is near water. So, Ed loaded my kayak with our supplies, tied it to his kayak and rowed to the site. Niko and I walked. It was a half a mile hike, not bad at all. We did that several times to get to different areas of the park for activities.

At the ranger's office, there were signs about bears and precautions on how to avoid bears. We had that in the back of our minds. Niko's very sensitive to his surroundings and barked when he sensed strange movements or noises. If there were any bears around, I think they would have stayed away because of Niko.

When we are in the wilderness like this, Niko is in his element. He absolutely loves camping and has a good time digging holes in the ground, sniffing out bugs, and howling like a coyote at random times.

Scarecrow Niko

2010-08-08T22:23:00.000-04:00

In the backyard, I have a small vegetable garden that is near and dear to my heart. Lots of time and care have been put into it. The process started in mid March when I started seeds indoors. The garden itself doesn't have protection in terms of fencing.

Earlier this summer, a neighbor who is a very experienced gardener marveled that my green bean plants were unharmed. He said rabbits love green beans and they'd be able to get to mine easily. I took my chances and didn't install a fence. This week, the same neighbor reported of groundhogs eating his cucumbers and traps didn't work and he had to fence them off.

Luckily, it is now August and my garden has been unharmed by any sort of rodents (knock on wood). We think it is mainly due to our unintended scarecrow, Niko. He spends time outside by the garden a lot and chases chipmunks, rabbits, and squirrels whenever he sees them. One time, out of no where, I heard him growl quietly. I looked up to find a deer crossing the backyard. The deer didn't think twice about coming near my garden.

Our scarecrow doesn't stay outside 24 hrs/day. The usual suspects probably smell him when they come near and stay away. Thanks to Niko, we are able to enjoy home grown veggies. Thanks, buddy!

Turtle and the Niko

2010-07-28T23:38:00.004-04:00

We rescued a turtle from the side of the road one day to put him in the woods away from traffic. But before we took it to its new habitat, we brought him inside to meet Niko.

Niko's got a knack for sensing what's different. I bet he'd be great at those games where you look at 2 very similar looking pictures and you have to pick out what's different. As slow moving and inconspicuous as the turtle was, Niko was bothered by it right away. He probably smelled it. Niko barked at the turtle and sniffed it. The poor turtle stayed in his shell. We didn't keep the turtle inside very long, we spared them both the torture. The turtle was brought to the woods and Niko stopped barking.

Frisbee

2010-07-20T23:21:00.000-04:00

Niko's got a new outdoor toy. It's a frisbee with a whole in the middle. He loves fetching it. He also likes holding the thing in his mouth, run, around, and toss his head back and forth like with his other toys.

At times when he does this with the frisbee, it flips over his head and on his neck. The first time it happened, it was so cute and funny. The frisbee landed around his neck like a necklace. Niko was stuck and couldn't get it off and it drove him nuts. He eventually shook it off him. I was able to snap a few pictures the next time it happened. He looks like an act in a three ring circus.

Niko. Jealous?

2010-07-14T22:53:00.000-04:00

I might have mentioned it before. Niko is not a cuddly dog. He only shows affection when we come home after not seeing one of us for more than a few hours. He'll spend maybe 30 seconds to greet and lick us. That's about it. Oh, there's also when we have food. He would stare us down until the food is gone.

Sometimes we wonder if he even likes us. Would it make a difference to him if we gave him away? Would he miss us? Probably not.

I found a furry toy (a woodchuck?) that is stuffing-less. Great idea since Niko, like most dogs, is infamous for ripping the stuffing out of his toys. This thing became his favorite toy in no time. When Ed got his hands on the woodchuck, he held it on his shoulder and made "meowing" noises to be funny. In an instant, Niko became alert to the sound and barked. He lunged at the toy and gnarled and gnawed at it as if to kill it.

After that, we experimented with a few things to see the cause of this reaction. The meowing sound really gets to him, even if we're not holding the woodchuck. It explains the time I held a cat on my lap and Niko growling. We then tried talking to the toy like it was Niko. We said endearing things we usually say only to Niko. Boy, did that get to him! He didn't want us talking like that to anyone but him. Ah- ha! Niko does like us. Well, he's a jealous dog, to say the least.

Yoga

2010-07-10T12:12:00.000-04:00

For those who have practiced Yoga, you may be familiar with the downward dog position. It's one of my favorites. It is often referenced as a dirty joke in movies whenever Yoga is present.

This Yoga move is based on a stretch that dogs do. Niko is a pro at downward dog position. When he wakes up in the morning and whenever he feels the urge, he stretches his front paws out in front of him, sticks his butt in the air and it gives his spine a good stretch. He also goes into this position when he plays or chews a bone. It is similar to the play stance, where his behind is lowered and his tail wags as he looks on to another dog or whoever he wants to play with.

I Dream of Niko

2010-06-29T23:58:00.002-04:00

The other night I had a peculiar dream. We were on vacation in a dry, arid place like Santa Fe. Niko was off the leash and we were walking down a street with adobe buildings. I lost sight of him for a bit. I rounded a corner and came upon a dozen or so Shiba Inus all looking up at me. In the dream, I had a dilemma of identifying which Shiba was Niko. They all looked very similar. I don't recall the rest of the dream, but I hope if I ever lose Niko in a crowd of Shiba Inus, that I'd be able to sniff him out.

The Adirondacks (trust restored)

2010-06-22T00:01:00.002-04:00

We were invited to The Adirondacks this past weekend and had some unique lodging. It was a reconstructed silo turned cabin. The cabin faced a decent sized lake and Niko got to hang out with our friend Ryan's dog, Cabela, a 2 year old black lab. They met half a year ago when Niko was smaller. They had a fabulous time together. Cabela is the best behaved dog I've come across. Ryan takes her duck hunting and Cabela knows how to fetch the game. I witnessed her carry a piece of firewood from the back of the cabin to the fire pit in front. She is a great influence on Niko. Niko's training is lacking when compared to Cabela, but Cabela's discipline was motivation for me to do more training with Niko this summer.

This trip was also a milestone for Niko. For months now, after a few runaway incidents, we haven't let Niko off the leash outside any kind of barrier. The Shiba Inu breed is known to be independent and the wandering type. The property was on a private lake in the woods, with very little traffic. We were on a dead end road next to a neighboring cottage. With Cabela's influence, we let Niko roam free during daylight. The first several times he went off, we held our breaths. I learned not to chase after him because that would make him run even more. After discovering the neighbor's property up the hill, he'd jog back down to see us. We even took 2 hikes with him off leash. There were several unnerving times when he'd go down a path we didn't plan on taking. We would slow down and continue on our way without Niko. Eventually, we would hear the jingling tags on his collar and he'd come trotting back to join us. The sound of him in the distance was a great relief each time. Our trust in Niko has been restored (for now).

The bugs were out especially on our hikes. Niko would walk ahead of us and out of nowhere, plops down and snaps his jaw to kill the flies that were buzzing around him.

Niko once again had an excellent time in the outdoors. He was active from morning till night and at times even tired out Cabela, who is twice his size and full of energy herself.

Niko Greets Joe Anonymous

2010-06-18T11:37:00.000-04:00

joesroadtrip.com came to town this week and Niko was eager to meet my good friend Joe, who is a fellow blogger on my "blogosphere".

Joe is 3 weeks into his adventure and his blog has quite a following. Tune in every so often to see where he's going to pop up and read about his 3 month long journey.

A video of Niko is featured on his latest blogpost:
http://joesroadtrip.com/2010/06/18/days-18-and-19-great-people

Joe - Thanks for the Niko exposure. He may become viral on the internet thanks to you!

A Fox in the Woods

2010-06-13T23:28:00.001-04:00

We went camping this weekend for the first time this year. The last time we went, Niko was still very young. On this trip, Niko enjoyed the hike around the 1 acre lake, but did not like the lake itself at all. He is still not a water dog. Ed took Niko out on his kayak and we thought he would stay inside it to avoid jumping into the water. Not far from shore, Niko couldn't take it anymore and jumped out of the kayak. He went under water for a second and emerged out of the lake and quickly doggy paddled to where I was standing on the shore. It was quite a funny thing to watch. It's interesting how most dogs instinctively know how to swim.

To our disappointment, Niko's learned to bark more and more lately. Granted, he only barks when he feels there is real danger. Unlike home, camping means we don't have four walls and a door protecting us. At night, we sat around a campfire. Niko barked at people walking by on the main road and people going through the woods to get to the lake. He even barked at a pair of ducks who decided to come close to our site. Fortunately, he slept peacefully in the tent. So peacefully that he did not hear whatever came by and ate half the bread we left in a soft cooler. Those sneaky chipmunks, raccoons, and/or ducks???

A natural bed made of leaves. Quite cushy for Niko

Note: To the grammarians out there, I originally wrote "doggy pedaled." I had never written that phrase and had my doubts. I learned (from the web) that it is actually "doggy paddle" to my surprise. To me, it should really be "pedal" because you use your feet to pedal. Yes, "pedalboat" makes more sense to me than "paddleboat."

Hey You, Squirrels!

2010-06-09T23:57:00.003-04:00

One of Niko's favorite pastimes is to sit in his chair by the front window. We recently put a bird feeder that you stake into the ground right in front of the window with the intent to attract pretty birds for Niko to watch. A bird lands on it....once in a while. Lo and behold, some very opportunistic squirrels have discovered the feeder.
Niko's quick senses noticed the rodents right away and jumped onto his chair to watch. One squirrel even learned to balance on a bush to get to his meal.

Country Dog Meets Big City

2010-06-06T22:47:00.003-04:00

The road trip Niko and I took was to Brooklyn, NY. Although he stayed at a kennel for a night in Queens a few weeks prior to this, he didn't really have a chance to explore the city. So this was Niko's first real experience in a big city. I was a bit apprehensive going on this trip with Niko. Mainly because he is used to living in a rural area where there are lots of greenery and it is less populated. With his history of running off and independent nature, I was extra cautious in making sure he was leashed up properly with his harness and there was no way he can get loose.

The stay in Brooklyn was an eye opener for Niko. It overwhelmed him and he was a different dog. He was very shy around new people and cautious on our walks. The poor thing didn't know how to go to the bathroom on pavement! I took every opportunity I had to take him on walks. The closest patch of grass (about a square foot) was 2 long blocks away. As soon as we get to grass, he did his business. It's funny to see how programmed his mind is.

The first night when I took him out for a walk, I envisioned what it was like to be Niko or someone being in NYC for the first time. I experienced it with him and noted all the stimulus he is not used to. Typically, at 9pm back home, we see stars, an occasional car driving by, and we hear the sound crickets. In Brooklyn, even though it was 9pm, there were people walking about, buses humming along, cars whizzing by, kids up to know good at the street corner, and in the distance, the subway train chugging along the tracks. I took it slow and didn't force Niko into anything he wasn't comfortable with. When he stopped and refused to go in one direction for whatever reason, I'd go in a different direction. There was so many new scents for him to sniff too. What's interesting is after one walk, he was able to sniff out the door to the apartment we were staying at. Every time we came near it, he'd pull to go towards the door as if he was telling me "OK, I've had enough for one walk, I need to process all the new things I just saw." Niko is no city-savvy dog like Shio!

A nice walk along Sheepshead Bay and Manhattan Beach Dog Run/Park.

There were some major positives that came out of this trip. I introduced Niko to my family and he was well received. Niko was clingy and protective of me. Not once did I have to worry he would run off. Being in a new environment made him stay very close to me and it was nice to be that safety zone for him. Also, Niko and I went to a dog park for the very first time. We actually went to 2 different ones and it made me wish we had one in our neighborhood. It's a great and affordable way to socialize your dog with other dogs and run out their energy. Overall, this experience was another one that helped Niko be a well rounded dog, working towards the goal of socializing him to new things. It was fun and exciting and overwhelming all at the same time.

When we arrived home, Niko was back to his old self in no time. He rolled around in the grass and sat peacefully in his usual spot in the backyard observing the quiet simple life of the country.

Road Trip

2010-05-31T23:29:00.001-04:00

This Memorial Day Weekend, Niko and I took a road trip on our own for the first time. I put him in the backseat with his doggie bed and brought a "diaper bag." Although I don't have kids, I now know what it's like to pack a diaper bag. I have a designated canvas bag that I use to put all the essentials for Niko whenever we go on a trip. I had a plastic container for water during breaks and plenty of poop bags. Niko is a great travel companion; he is not fussy at all and it's awesome to look back at that cute mug of his. He gladly listened to my bad singing and loves looking out the window and smelling the air outside. Here's a picture I took when I was a passenger on a different trip. I didn't know, but his ears are floppy in the wind!

The car ride was approximately 4 hours long each way. It's really nothing compared to the 3 month road trip that my good friend Joe is taking. Joe just kicked of his second road trip this weekend and I am psyched for him. Be sure to check out his whereabouts this summer at http://joesroadtrip.com/
His blog is linked on my blog, so be sure to check for updates on his whereabouts this summer!

Best Buds

2010-05-24T23:55:00.001-04:00

There's a Wheaton Terrier named Vito who lives next door who is a few months older than Niko. They met early on when Niko was a peanut compared to Vito the elephant. Every time Niko goes out the front door, he looks over to see if his friend is outside. They pine for each other and have a blast playing together. Vito and Niko chased each other around in the yard, shared a bowl of water, and a shady spot next to the deck.

The few times that Niko got loose from his leash & collar, Vito was a great aid. Most of the time Niko runs away to look for Niko. We're able to corral Niko back because of Vito.

Here's a "before and after" picture of last summer vs. this weekend:

Fresh Baked Treats

2010-05-20T00:43:00.002-04:00

I like to think of myself as a Do-it-Yourselfer. Cooking and baking happen to be hobbies of mine. I got the idea in my head to make homemade dog treats. A quick google search brought me to very simple to gourmet-ish recipes. I decided to try something simple and found this peanut butter treat recipe:
http://www.all-natural-dog-treat.com/peanutbutterdogtreatrecipe.html

I had all the ingredients in the pantry: whole wheat and regular flour, oil, and peanut butter. As soon as I opened the peanut butter jar, Niko trots into the kitchen with his nose in the air, sniffing out the good stuff. The recipe was easy to make and I had fun with Niko by my side, waiting patiently for his very own treats.

I found a Christmas cookie cutter and did my best to reshape it into a bone shape. They're not perfectly shaped, but Niko doesn't mind!

I'm always wary when I shop for dog treats, what with all the preservatives and chemicals that are used. Making homemade treats is great because I know exactly what ingredients I'm using and I save a few bucks. Without having to go to the store, I baked 2 dozen treats tonight. I can't wait to try other recipes and giving Niko healthier treats.

P.S.: My curiosity got to me and I did taste a small crumb of the treats. It tasted like whole wheat bread with a hint of peanut butter. Not too shabby.

Niko Turns One

2010-05-14T16:49:00.000-04:00

Niko turns 1 yr old sometime this month. We're unclear on the exact day he was born, but it was closer to the latter part of May 2009. We talk about the day we got him all the time and it's been a great first year. It is hard to notice the changes day to day but they are pretty apparent when we look at older pictures.

We recently came across a picture taken by someone else of Niko on the day after we brought him home from the breeder. Finding this picture was like finding a treasure:

Fist Pound

2010-04-26T23:08:00.000-04:00

Forget the too common "handshake" trick. Our latest trick with Niko is the "fist pound." It was the easiest trick to teach Niko. He's very dexterous with his paws. I held my fist out when he was sitting and he raised his left paw to touch mine. I don't even have to add a cue word. It's fun to say "fist pound" to him though.

A Cub in the Den

2010-04-19T20:33:00.000-04:00

For awhile now, we stopped crating Niko at night. At first, he slept on the rug in the bedroom. Then I found a nice size doggie bed that fit perfectly in the closet. We cleared some space and Niko now sleeps in the closet! It sounds funny, to stick him in the closet. But we keep the door open and it makes sense because he's out of the way and we don't risk stepping on a shiba by accident in the dark.

The bed in the closet makes for a nice cozy den for Niko.

Interesting Niko fact: he doesn't like to jump on the human bed. Lots of dog owners have trouble getting their dogs off their beds. We have the opposite problem.

Bird and People Watching

2010-04-08T22:31:00.000-04:00

To Niko's dismay, the snow is gone. The warm weather allows him to be outside a lot more often. We tether him in the backyard with a long cord. There's much to see and do. He has dug 3 holes so far. He likes to play catch with a ball and a frisbee. He also likes to sit and observe everything that is going on. Yesterday, Niko watched the neighbor's kid drive his mini hummer around the backyard. I am pretty immune to the sounds of birds but seeing Niko's ears perk up and his head turning round and round make me aware of the birdies. Shiba Inus have a history of being a bird hunting breed.

Happy March Madness

2010-03-21T23:19:00.000-04:00

The Furminator

2010-03-19T22:36:00.001-04:00

Alas....Niko is shedding his first coat ever. I don't know much about dogs before Niko and I'm learning everyday. Shedding dogs shed when the weather gets warming because they get rid of their winter clothes.
In the last month, chunks of fur just fell off Niko as he brushed against anything. I'd pinch and puffs of fur came off without me pulling. The shedding brush we had wasn't effective. The bristles must have been uncomfortable because Niko would squirm away. Finally someone recommended The Furminator. I googled it and was shocked it costed over $30. My hair dryer didn't cost that much. After a few bids on Ebay and resisting temptations to vacuum Niko, I won one for $10. We tried it out and the thing works like magic.

Before I made the purchase, I found this great demonstration video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXIA0QiaW-8

Peek-A-Boo

2010-03-11T18:25:00.003-05:00

Playroom

2010-03-01T23:13:00.002-05:00

Niko is 10 months old now and we've been crating him whenever he is left alone at home. We were on the fence about letting him run loose after reading about the damage that Shibas can do when left alone. Namely, stories of the mischievous Kenji! We did some trial runs by leaving Niko out and about when we ran errands for an hour at a time. We usually found Niko on his chair looking out the window or by the door and no damage. It was like he didn't know what to do with all the freedom. Filled with guilt, uncertainty, and distrust, Ed set off on a project. He bought pieces of wood, found an old door, his toolbox, and voila -- Niko's very own playroom.

Next to the bottom of the ramp is Niko's crate (not pictured), which remains open as a familiar resting place. The platform/roof of the doghouse is high enough for Niko to look out the window. Since introducing Niko to this set up, we made a few modifications, such as lowering the steepness of the ramp. Ed also had to apply duct tape for better traction on the ramp. I gladly donated my college flannel bedsheets for the inside of Niko's house and my old comforter for the roof.

On the first day, Niko was apprehensive about going up the ramp. I had to lead him up with peanut butter. The inside of the house is very cozy (I can sit comfortably in there) and I love hiding in there for Niko to find me. It's now been a week and Niko is very comfortable with his playroom. He goes up and down the ramp on his own and on command for a treat. It's neat to hear him go up the ramp when we're out in the living room and when we go to check on him, he's sitting and looking out the window.

So far, the damage is minimal and worth it. Part of the wood on the base is chewed on, which was expected. Unfortunately, we found teeth marks on the window sill. We moved the structure a few inches away from the window and it seems to have deterred additional damage. Niko appears to be happier and he is less hyper when we come home. With the extra room to stretch his legs and chase his tail during the day, Niko gets tired earlier in the night which we are thankful for. All in all, the playroom is a great solution to a Shiba's need for activity.

Hello Shadow

2010-02-22T00:24:00.001-05:00

Lately, on our walks, us humans would walk on the pavement and Niko hops in and out of the banks of snow by the curb or on people's lawns. Niko can't get enough of the white stuff.

Weekends are nice because we get to walk Niko in daylight. Yesterday, on our walk under the bright sun, I noticed Niko was moving as though he was chasing a ball, except there wasn't one and we were just walking. It turns out that Niko's shadow was showing prominently in the snow and that's what he was chasing. He was running and stopping in an attempt to catch his shadow. This brought back memories of when I was little and I learned about my shadow. I tried my hardest to step on my shadow's head, but to no avail. For the time being, I will let Niko continue thinking his shadow is as fun to chase as his tail.

The picture above was taken at a park over a frozen pond. This is the only way to get him in a body of water because he freaks out at unfrozen lakes, rivers, ponds, and the bathtub. If he only knew snow is really water!

A Friend His Own Size

2010-02-16T22:59:00.000-05:00

Niko spent a day at our friends' house for a day recently. They have a toddler named Owen and he got along with Niko famously. Here are some of the adorable details we were told...

Owen put the leash on Niko and walked him around the house multiple times. Niko was fooled into thinking he was going outside. Owen didn't let Niko bully him, especially when it came to food. Niko, the lunch money stealer stole a marshmallow from Owen. Owen chased Niko and got the marshmallow back. Yay for Owen! The two tired each other out and are already asking for the next slumber party.

The Red Balloon

2010-02-15T21:36:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I got the idea of getting a helium balloon for Niko because he is entertained by anything that moves. I first got my hands on a free latex red balloon from a store with their logo on it. To my dismay, the thing popped within minutes of reaching the ceiling. Niko had half a minute of enjoyment.

Valentine's Day came along and I bought a red heart shaped mylar balloon for $1. This one is still alive after 4 days. However, Niko does not seem to like it as much as the other one. I think it's the shininess and he is intimidated by it. Sometimes he acts like the balloon will attack him and he barks ferociously.

Other times, the balloon is so far above his line of sight, he chases the ribbon as it bounces around. Go figure, he plays with dogs twice his size, but a balloon brings his fangs out.

Termites?

2010-02-06T15:04:00.001-05:00

One of the coffee table legs have marks on it. It could be termites, it could be inconsiderate house guests, or maybe aliens leaving a message? The verdict is still out. We hope Niko can solve the mystery. Look at his sly innocent face.

Other items that have mysteriously incurred some damage: shoes, sandals, slippers, rug...

Niko's Vacation

2010-01-30T14:12:00.000-05:00

¡Hola! We are back from vacationing in Mexico for a week. We minus Niko, that is. No pity for Niko, though. He spent the week with Ed's parents, which sure beats Niko's usual humble abode. The house is bigger, there's 60 acres of land (about 59 acres more than what Niko has at home), and his pal Sandy, a yellow lab.

The feedback we received was that Niko's very independent, active, and fun. As with most Shiba Inus, Niko has a tendency to wander off and is very curious, especially when he is outside. His ability to come when called vanishes once he is out the door. Due to a scare during Christmas where Niko went off on his own into the woods, we are all hesitant to let him off the leash. Sandy on the other hand, is a great role model, she runs to you when you call her.

Mr. S tried different techniques to allow Niko lots of outside time while looking out for his safety. He connected Niko to Sandy with short leash. He also tied Niko to objects that would slow him down a little, such as a paint can. The paint can didn't slow Niko down at all. A bucket and PVC pipe were also employed. Here's a picture of Niko and the PVC pipe. The pipe made it easier to spot Niko out in the wild.

Being away from Niko for a week was tough, but knowing he was in good hands and that he was on his own little vacation definitely helped. His experience is way more fun compared to his usual routine of being crated while we are at work. It was a great feeling greeting him when we returned. He greeted us with a ton of excitement and wagged his tail and let us give him lots of smooches and hugs.

The Igloo, a cool abode

2010-01-18T23:52:00.001-05:00

One of the most common breeds Niko gets mistaken for is the husky. The resemblances are there- the curly fluffed up tail, pointy ears, the intelligent facial expression, and brave stance. Huskies are arctic dogs. As such, Niko now has an igloo as a dog house. He enjoys it very much. He huddles in it, digs, and graciously backs out with his hind legs.

Dogspeak

2010-01-10T23:50:00.000-05:00

Lately, Niko's been crying wolf. Perhaps it is his affinity for snow that makes him want to go outside all the time. He shows signs that he wants to go outside by standing up and touching the door with his front paws and points his nose to the door knob. There are times when he sits on the welcome mat, guarding the door so that he would not miss an opportunity when the door opens. At first, whenever this happens, we would leash him up and take him outside, thinking he needs to go potty. Well, not quite. A lot of the times, his goal is to run around and play with the snow once he's outside.

Having said that, we don't let him out every time he goes by the door unless it's been a couple of hours since his last potty break.

Sidenote: Niko sleeps in his crate in a spare bedroom. In the morning, he lets the world knows he's awake and ready to get out by digging/scratching at the gate. His digging action causes a noisy rumbling noise. I prefer this noise over barking or yelping.

During the middle of the day, I heard that rumbling of the crate noise. I thought to myself that it was strange because we didn't put Niko in the crate and he almost never goes into the crate when it's not bedtime. I go look at what's going on and Niko is in the crate scratching. Next, he runs down the hallway and goes to the door. Ah hah! He found a way to tell us, "I'm not kidding this time, I really do have to go potty!" Sure enough, he did his deed as soon as he was outside. Niko learned that scratching the crate causes us to give him attention and letting him out of the crate. I don't think this was a coincidence because he's done the scratch-the-crate-alert twice this weekend and both times, he kept his word/scratch.

Cleanup Dog

2010-01-06T00:01:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year to all. As many of us make resolutions to exercise more and eat healthier, I want to say that having a dog sure helps. The obvious reason is that you have to take your dog out for potty breaks and walks, requiring you to go outside no matter how cold it is.

Having a dog also means having a shadow whenever you're eating...for me at least. Every time I eat, Niko drops whatever he's doing and sits patiently, waiting for scraps. He bats cleanup for me during meal times. Which means, as soon as I feel full, I stop eating and give the rest to my buddy boy Niko. This helps me eat lighter and makes Niko a happy dog.

Niko is also a part-time dishwasher. His appetite also aids our dishwashing process. Give any dish that has a light layer of sauce or hard to get out scraps to Niko and he will lick it clean for us. It's amazing really. Today, I made a yummy tuna casserole that left me with a glass pan with gooey Campbell's cream of mushroom soup. Niko spent a good 10 minutes on it and there was not a smudge left! Who knew? Having a dog also helps me be greener because I save water by skipping the pre-rinse step of washing my dishes.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-22T00:13:00.001-05:00

It's the holidays and Niko's doing a great job spreading cheer. We had many guests yesterday and Niko was in charge of shoes and coats. Just kidding. He guarded the door and made sure each person was greeted, sniffed, and if they are lucky, licked. I didn't hear him bark once and he was very friendly with the little ones. Surprisingly, Niko kept his Santa hat on for a very long time. It was a nice Santa kerchief made for dogs. I think he was too overwhelmed to notice it was even on.

Niko's made a nice resting area under the tree. As you can see, the 'n' ornament is for Niko and the bottom part of the tree is bare to keep it shiba safe.
In this pic, you can see Niko's beautiful wood carving skills on the table leg too.

Niko got a rubber football wrapped like a piece of candy. The Santa hat looks more like a superman cape here.

We wish everyone a happy and safe holiday! Ruff!

Happy Holidog

2009-12-17T07:45:00.000-05:00

Rewarding Good Behaviors did a holiday special on their website and Niko is featured:
http://rewardingbehaviors.com/pages/?p=210

Niko was neutered a few days ago. We dropped him off in the morning and picked him up after work. When we arrived, he was zonked out in the kennel. After we completed the paperwork and turned around, he was awake with his tail wagging at the gate. It was a heartwarming reunion and we gave him lots of hugs and kisses.

Niko is recovering very nicely. Since he is a smaller dog (22 lbs), his stitches were smaller. He was sluggish that first night but bounced right back the next day.