An Open Letter to Kuma the Shiba Inu:

Dear Kuma,

Why do you sniff and lick the carpet? You are starting to make me wonder if there is something secret hidden underneath.

Dear Kuma,

When we are on walks, why do you shove your nose into the ground and snort? Is a a secret remedy for clearing sinuses?

Dear Kuma,

What is it about rustling plastic bags that makes you so suspicious? Are the bags whispering evil things?

Dear Kuma,

…..We love you.

Signed: Quentin & Sheryl

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

We have recently been looking to buy Kuma a personalized dog collar and tag, you know, to make it official . Being the artists that we are, we are looking for something that is a bit more individual than the typical dog collar. Here’s one company we’ve found that we like. We may have to order, but we think it would be worth it.

African Dog Collars from “The Kenyan Collection”

Maybe soon we will have some photos of Kuma sporting the Kenyan Collection. But for now, here are some recent candids.

In the meantime, enjoy you President’s Day ( If you’re lucky enough to have the day off). Time for me to drink some tea, get some rest, and try to get better. Later.

Kuma’s teeth are dropping like flies!! Last week at puppy class Kuma lost his two top puppy fangs all in a span of about 5 minutes. It happened during a rowdy play session with an energetic border collie. All of a sudden we heard a pin drop and then realized it was kuma’s teeth. No one was happier to see those fangs fall out than us. At the end of class all the puppies got ice cream, this provided Kuma some brief anesthetic after a rowdy play session.

We are slowly getting Kuma to try a little raw cuisine. For Superbowl Sunday Kuma enjoyed a little bit of raw beef mixed in with his “Taste of the Wild”. He wolfed it!

Kuma is a party animal! He LOVES to play! He plays very rough! This turns off some dogs, but others are down for the rough-housing. Shiba owners, what is the best way to make sure a puppy learns that different dogs require different intensity levels during play? Is this just typical puppy naiveness that will just run it’s course?

Kuma is getting older and we are seeing more and more of his Macho-Shiba mistique. His adult teeth are coming in, his shoulder are becoming more broad, and he is becoming more and more confident, and marking his territory (only outdoors so far. Thank God!) . And that means!!!…..Dun, dun dunnnnnnnnnnn!!……..neutering in the near future.

Kuma. loves. the. snow. Even more than chasing birds!

His mouthiness has decreased considerably, though he has his moments.

Soon we will be making the dreaded appointment. Yep, almost time for Kuma to be neutered. He is just a week over 5 months, we figure we might is well do it earlier rather than later.

Puppy Class

Kuma normally is a star student at puppy class, but this past week something strange happened. We were practicing loose leash walking/coming when called. He did fine when we practice this on his regular leash, he would come when called and get a treat. But, when the trainer switched Kuma’s leash with a 15 foot leash Kuma was VERY hesitant. He would not walk by himself with the long leash on. EVEN WITH TREATS PUT ON THE GROUND 10 feet in front of him. He walked fine on it when we held it and walked with him, but he refused to walk otherwise. The trainer said she was baffled. Any ideas??

We recently bought “The Furminator”. WOW! Money well spent. Its hard to tell in the before and after pictures, but Kuma looked completely different!

BEFORE

AFTER

And this was Kuma just before he knocked all that stuff over. A fireplace gate, a box, a vase, another vase filled with change, and another box. We still don’t know how he did it. Any ideas???

Snaggletooth

PELE

Kuma and Koa. BFF’s.

  Koa, exhausted after a play session.