Season's Greetings

Season's greeting from my little family to yours~ Happy Holidays everyone!

Christmas Preparation

These pictures were taken a week ago when we were preparing our Christmas decorations:

Can we help?

Can I rip it to pieces??

Can I get out now?

Happy Birthday Chloe!!

 

Happy first birthday of My very own Chloe. Got some nice gifts for her, bacon and peanut butter flavored bone treats, some new toys, a cake, salmon oil and the Comfort zone which I'll do a review on a later post.

Maru wants a share with the goodies.

Ok so she doesn't know how to blow her cake.

'dis feelz warm, wat iz it?

They love the cake!!

Happy birthday again to my very first dog, Chloe, who gives me so much joy every passing day.



Taking over Long beach



Last saturday we went to the Annual Naughty and Nice Shibas - Naples holiday Lights walk. It was held at the city of Long beach in the very small Naples island. It was a perfect night for a walk, perfect weather, the views are awesome, seeing all the houses full of eye catching Christmas lights and decorations.

I didn't get to take a lot of pictures cause it was already dark and I hate using the flash. Who can take great pictures if you have two leashes in one hand carrying two overly active dogs and a big camera on the other hand.

Christmas shibas! i didn't get their names though, there were like thirty or more shibas who participated. Shibas are taking over Long beach!

Not a decent picture, but the only picture I took with the two of them together. 

Her name is Chibi, four month old Shiba puppy, she was the youngest to attend besides Maru who is seven months. Her looks kind of reminds me of Chloe when she was still a puppy.

Picture of the attendees, its really hard to take photos in the darkness of the night.

It won't be too bad to try using the flash, but I still don't like it.

Its Masako and Winnie from A Winnie day. They were the ones who hosted the event and hosts most of the shiba events we attend to.

Masako Got Goodies for all the Shiba attendees. Thanks Masako!

Neutered Dog

The cone of shame is no fun at all!

I had little Maru Neutered more than a week ago. I've been thinking it's about time and due to a couple of reasons too. He's already over six months already, he's humping Chloe more than usual, he have been over active, a lot of pent up energy and being overly anxious around other dogs especially female ones. I'm hoping for a behavior improvement after the whole process.

Then again with the drastic question, Why do this to the poor little dog? I have my reasons which I had explained thoroughly already when Chloe was spayed back then, see Spayed Dog. Maru have two incisions, where he got neutered and one in his abdomen. He had an umbilical hernia since back when I got him so we got it fixed too.

Scratch more plz???

Due to the cone of shame, he won't be able to pick on his surgery sites but then he wont be able to scratch his head too, poor little one.

Plzz let us play now??

I also have to separate the two furballs within two weeks until the stiches are removed, because Chloe will definitely pick on the surgical sites instead of Maru if they were to be left alone together. So Maru has to be crated to keep them separated. No play time together for them in the meantime.

As of this time, I haven't seen any improvements yet, he is still the active dog that he is. Compared to Chloe back then when she was spayed who acted sickly, Maru acts like nothing happened. I guess I should be happy for that. Though I haven't taken Maru outside yet to meet other dogs since the neuter, I hope to see some changes in due time.

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

To all our readers, followers and all our Shiba friends and Shiba lovers out there, Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. We have lots of things to be thankful about but I'm especially thankful for my two shibas for being with me all this time.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Wut'z wid d fish? I thought ther' waz Turkey?? bring it out plz?

Can't wait for 'd turkey, let'z go wild!!

Pray for Toshi

Toshi is the second dog from the left. By the way, the first dog is my Chloe.

Last Friday, our little Maru got neutered (I'll get to that story soon), and when I was picking up Maru from the vet, I met the couple whom I always see on shiba meetups and picnics. They own those three shibas on the picture above.

This post is for Toshi a twelve year old shiba. It came to my attention that he has a brain tumor and is scheduled for surgery tomorrow, Monday. The couple and myself is asking for everybody to pray and wish for Toshi to have a successful surgery.

We surely would want to see that smile again..

Poop Strike

We are used to going to walks thirty minutes after their meals and Maru does his potty break outdoors at the same time. I still have a certain section in the apartment where the puppy pads are located in case I'm not home and Chloe still does her job on the puppy pads, she's so used to it that she won't ever potty outside.

These past few days, Maru seems to be on poop strike. He is totally messing up with his potty training. We still go to our routine walks, but all he does is sniff things out. Sometimes we're out for nearly an hour already but still no poop from him. Even at home, he won't poop on the pads and prefer the carpet to be a good place to do his job. Great.

I can't seem to find a reason why he's doing this, we don't have a big change going on (not that i know of) and we are really following our daily schedule. Puzzling, I should think a different approach on this.

Beware, for I will poop on your carpet! -Maru

Dog Trainer

We've been out for awhile again due to crazy work schedule, but anyways, There have been questions  through email that I chose to address at this post. Did my dogs get formal dog training?

Yes. 

My dogs did receive training from a professional dog trainer. With some researching via the internet, I found this company that's fairly close to my place. It's quite pricy because I chose to go with the private lessons where the trainer comes to our place and train the dogs. They do some pupy classes too and some activity training for the dogs (agility, flyball, etc). If in some way you're interested, here is a link to their website: Dogpact located in the city of Long beach.

If by some chance you're in another place or location, you can go to The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT). Use their search system to locate a professional dog trainer near your location (that's how I found mine).

Chloe with Nikki Myers our dog trainer

Nikki in action.

 I'm learning how to Roll!

Can I get a treat now?

Is it my turn yet?? I want a treat now!!

Happy Halloween!!

I dressed up my pups for halloween! Too bad we were not able to go to the Annual Shiba halloween party organized by the Shiba Club of Southern California due to my work. But anyways, this will be a good photo shoot opportunity for me and the furballs (maybe only for me).

Sporting the Cowboy Costume:





Chloe Seems not too happy about wearing a costume.





It seems okay with Maru though.

Now with the Scarecrow costume:



Really now? Get this off me please?

You got your picture, Can I go now??

I must admit that this whole costume ordeal is not that fun for either of the dogs. Chloe is freaking out when I'm trying to put the clothes on her, especially when I touch her paws (the paws are off limits for her), then she won't move an inch when the thing is on her. Maru is a bit tolerable, he's the kind of dog that has little resistance, which means once I grab a hold of him, I can do anything with him. He just got a bit impatient in the end and won't stay still for the picture to be taken, maybe because I have treats on my hand.

Anyway, even if they're not too happy about the whole thing, at least we see these cute pups in such adorable clothing even for awhile. What would be a good costume for next year?

I can't see a thing, Get thiz thing off me! oh, a treat inside! ~yum yum~     ......silly dog!

Home Sweet Home

We miss this pillow. itz time to snoooze.

I finally got back from my trip out of town. Only five days had past and I was really excited about seeing them again. When I picked them up from the boarding care, they greeted me with a lot of kisses and airplane ears. It was really a heartwarming reunion.



Empty House

As I came home tonight from work, there were no dogs who eagerly greets me as I open the door. I placed my two loveable pups on a boarding care yesterday because I'll be out of state for a few days and I obviously can't take them with me. Though it's only been less than a day, it really felt weird and awkward coming home and not seeing my furkids around; I don't hear any whinings and barking, no pups jumping at me, no furballs following me whenever I go trying to trip me, no overactive dogs chasing each other around, no poop to clean, no mess, no ripped out papers, no creatures constantly staring at me observing every move I make. It just doesn't feel right. My place doesn't feel like a home and it seems really boring and empty without them. I miss them already.

It's only been eight months since I first got Chloe and incorporated her in my household and five months later, Maru came as well. My lifestyle have undergone a drastic change since I got the pups. I feel that the once carefree person that I am gained more maturity, a stronger sense of responsibility and I learned how to use my time more productively. Maybe its because I know that someone depends on me and needs me in order to survive, even though in the shiba's mind, they think that I'm their personal servant.

In the past, I never really expected myself being what i am right now, a pet lover. I just fell in love with this breed, with my pups and their craziness, and at this moment, I can't really imagine myself without my two furkids.

(an exerpt from someone who misses his dogs)

The topic went in too deep, maybe I should discuss these further in another post.

Getting Along

A clip from way back when Maru was still new to our household:



Maru~ stop chasing me
Chloe~ let's play, let's play
Maru~ leave me alone, give me a break!
Chloe~ no fair, come out from under there, i can't fit
Maru~ looks like i'm safe under here........ awww, c'mon, how persistent is she?

(and by the way, that tear on the drawer was Chloe's doing)

Sleepy Head

I iz sleeping and resting to wreak havoc once again.

~Maru

Shiba Pack Walk

At last we're back! I haven't been active with my posts here due to some problems with my laptop.  Last Sunday, We went to another Shiba meet up organized by Masako from A Winnie day. This pack walk is a great oportunity for Maru now that he completed his immunizations to get socialized and play with other dogs.

All the dogs were on leash, and we walked for two miles roundtrip around the park. Maru did well for his first shiba meetup or rather first dog socialization. He is not snarky with other dogs and was willing to make friends, He just barks when someone tries to snarl at him, but seriously, who would not right?

Hurry we'll get left behind!

It was a nice to see  the members, some new people and different shibas as well. Here's a video to end this post:

Puppy flashback III : Sleeping places

 

         
         

I iz tired so I sleep anywhere I wantz, got a problem with that? this iz my place after all.

Chloe sleeps anywhere she likes, be it the cold floor, the carpet, on the sofa, on my bed, even on top of me! She totally ignores her dog bed, well, as long as she is comfortable, thats's fine with me.  

I find these old pictures of little puppy Chloe really cute looking. To look more fasccinating as it is, I tweaked the photos a little with a polaroid image make Poladroid. The application is free so it's worth a try, the photos came out decent though, what do you think?