Pucker Up!

Every dog owner loves a good doggie smooch every so often, but little do most of us know that our lovable pooch can actually transmit several diseases.

Dogs that tend to scavenge while out on walks or out doing their business are far more likely to pick up bacteria from items that they find on the ground and transmit them to their owners or other animals that they may come into contact with throughout the day.

Dogs that come into contact with large amounts of other animals or bugs are also highly likely to carry diseases that could be harmful to humans or other animals. Other animals, especially in areas where diseases besides rabies are less regulated by local authorities. In areas where pets are required to have more vaccinations, this is less likely to be a problem, but it should always be taken into account.

Typical doggie kisses are fine as long as you keep a close eye on your pooch to make sure he/she isn't picking up any gross little pieces of food, feces, or other foreign matter and eating or playing with it. It's also a good idea to give your pooch a drink of water beforehand just to keep his/her breath in check as well.

The old adage "A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's" is not necessarily true, but with proper action, you can prevent your pet from spreading many diseases to you and keep your healthy, affectionate relationship thriving.

Bull-Toes!

     Every dog has a favorite bone that they love to chew on. Marou's new favorite bone is actually a cow hoof that we bought from our local pet boutique as a treat for being good while we were out in town one day. He has thoroughly enjoyed his new bone, and it has lasted him quite a while for a chewing bone. 

     The Issue with giving any dog a bone to chew on is to constantly watch them while they are chewing it, as ingesting large amounts of bone can cause digestive upset resulting in possible vomiting. The uncooked, unbleached bones are better for dogs, as they don't splinter as easily and they aren't treated with the harsh chemicals that the bleached bones are. Cooked bones tend to splinter very easily, and this causes digestive problems as well as possible bleeding in the digestive tract.

     Organic bones and cow hooves are a great treat for almost any dog, and they can be filled with spread such as Kong's Stuff'n or your choice of wet dog food and frozen to make an almost irresistable treat for any pooch. 

     After your pooch finishes cleaning out the bone or hoof, politely take it from them, rinse out any residue, and pat dry to save it for later use.

     The main downside that we have found to giving your dog organic bones (and probably any bone) is the smell. Our house smells like a pasture when we give Marou his cow hoof to chew on. We haven't found any way to avoid the smell, but we only let him chew it for a few minutes at a time, so it doesn't get too bad.

     Lamb ribs make a great substitute to avoid the smell associated with hollow bones and still give your dog a neat treat. Good ones will come with just a little bit of meat and fat scraps on them, which dogs seem to love to gnaw and pick at for hours, and after the meat is gone, the bone can still be used as a chew toy because of the oils and scents left behind. Extra care must be used with any rib bones, as they tend to splinter easier than thicker bones. They are also easier for your dog to break and swallow, so monitoring his/her ingestion of the actual bone is very important.

Deer antlers are another type of bone treat that seem to get dogs super excited. The good ones will have a decent amount of marrow in the center that your dog could spend hours trying to get out, which is a blessing when dealing with dogs who like to get destructive when bored. Marou will chew on the antler as long as we will let him and never get bored of it because he gets just a little bit of reward with every bit of effort. He has spent countless hours chewing on it over the time we've had it, and he still runs right to it as soon as we bring it out for him.

No matter the type of dog or bone, the important thing is to always pay close attention to them when they are chewing. Any dog can be potentially hurt by a stray bone splinter or shard that gets lodged somewhere it shouldn't be, but, if monitored properly, a bone can become your dog's new favorite treat.

Power walking

Walking is a critical part of any dog's life, but it can also be a huge nuisance if your pup doesn't understand who's the boss.

To emphasize this, it's necessary to start as early in your dog's life as possible. This way, no matter the potential size of your dog, they are conditioned to not resist, or in some cases to not resist as much.

The methods to this range from fairly simple to extremely complicated, and everyone has their own way.

We have tried multiple training methods to get Marou to behave on a leash, though most have had little effect other than making him mad or irritating him.

First, we tried to stand still until he quit pulling on the leash, but all that did was frustrate him and tire us out. He also got choked a lot by his harness from all of the pulling and jumping to get away. This startled everyone around us and worried us because we didn't want him to hurt himself. 

Next, we tried using slight leash tugs, and that had some significant results. This didn't give us any results at first, but as he has matured he has responded better to it. It's very important not to tug or jerk too hard on the leash, as doing so may choke your dog or even cause serious irreversible damage depending on the harness or collar used.

We've also tried simply picking Marou up and bringing him back inside when he doesn't behave, but we had little result with this, as he just got mad and got into trouble and destroyed some of our things.

There are many more methods than what I've posted here, and there are new methods created all the time, so everyone will have their own opinion.

Wiggly Hugs

Marou has recently hit "doggie puberty" and with it has come the phenomena of humping and leg lifting. The leg lifting hasn't really been much of a problem because he knows everything inside is his territory and there's no contest for it, so he only really marks outside.

The humping or "Wiggly Hugs" as some of Josie's friends have dubbed it, has been a little bit of a nuisance because he doesn't like to just stop. He does it constantly until either he gets tired or something else catches his attention.

We have partially succeeded in redirecting the behavior to another object (a throw pillow), but getting rid of it is going to require getting him neutered, which we are hoping to wait until right around his first birthday to do.

Puppy Paw-dicure

Some pups have problems tolerating yeast in their food or dietary supplements, and this can cause them to have yeasty or "frito" smelling feet. This can cause them some annoying itching and irritation. They may chew on their paws or rub them on rough surfaces to attempt to ease the itching. 

This can cause them even more problems such as broken nails that could be extremely painful or cuts and such on their pads. This can result in an infection that may or may not go away on it's own.

We had a problem with this, and we searched all over the internet for a solution. This biggest suggestion was to change foods, but even then the smell and itching continued, so we had to take other measures.

Josie found a simple solution to soak a pup's feet in to alleviate the smell and itching .

It consists of:

1 tbsp peppermint per gallon water

1 cup distilled vinegar

Soak your pup's feet in the solution for 10-15 minutes no more than once per day. Repeat as needed.

When we used this with Marou, we didn't use the vinegar because we didn't have any on hand, but the solution worked great without it. It only took a few soaks to relieve his itchy feet, and they haven't been a problem since.

Social Networking

Socializing Marou has been a large part of our lives since he arrived in february. We have done our best to expose him to as many people and animals in as many situations as possible to help him establish a friendly demeanor. The trick has been not to just openly expose him to everything, but to expose him and reward him for good behavior while disciplining for unwanted behavior.

As a result, he has become a not-quite-model citizen, but he is quite well behaved. We are still trying to break him from jumping on people, but we have socialized him to the point that he doesn't bite or bark unless his prey drive is triggered. He does like to "talk" to new people, though, and they love it.

He has the usual "look-at-me-i'm-cute!" Shiba attitude, and since he's unique in this area, people absolutely adore it. 

Patiently Waiting to Go Outside

Ruff Housing

As a Shiba Inu, Marou can be very aggressive when excited or startled, which can be fun for people who like to be rough with their dogs or to train them as guard dogs.

The Shiba Inu is not the kind of dog i would care to make into a guard dog, though i do like to do a little rough housing with him from time to time as a reward for good behavior or using the potty outside.

I have to be very careful so as to not get hurt badly or hurt marou in the process, as he is a little guy and he bounces very well.

Josie and I have been pretty diligent about teaching him to calm down when we accidentally get him a little too excited. It's always helpful to have a 'safe command' (to make the dog stop/sit down or lay down) for rough play just in case your pet gets a little too aggressive, especially in larger canines.

Comes in different colors and works wonders for keeping pups occupied

Marou's Day Out

A few months ago we decided that it was time to take marou to his first big social event. The event was called "Bark In The Park", and it was hosted at our local recreational park by a few vendors and charities. There were kiddie pools to keep the dogs cool.

Marou was extremely excited to see all of the other dogs and people. So much so that he relieved himself in the middle of the path. It took him a while, but he got accustomed to all of the action and had a blast meeting other dogs and people.

We also signed a petition to hopefully get a dog park in the area.

Cuddlebug

Shibas are known to be an independent breed, though some are known to be affectionate. Marou can be the biggest cuddlebug i've ever met. He can't stand to be without josie or myself around for even a minute, and if we are in separate rooms, he will run back and forth to check on both of us.

His favorite spots to nap are all right next to Josie and I, and a lot of them are on us. He loves to cuddle up next to Josie when she lays down, and as a puppy he would lay on top of us to nap or just to relax. 

We have no idea why he is so cuddly, but we wouldn't change it for anything.

Maybe he's the 1 in a million.

The Fox and the Toad

One of Marou's favorite outdoor activities is to stalk small animals and bugs. The amusing part is when they stop running away from him and move toward him. I would never think that this 20 lb dog would be startled by a 3 oz toad that is less than 2 inches tall. He will hop like a bunny when startled by even the smallest prey.

After a few minutes of hunting, Marou usually gets bored and goes about his business and proceeds to relieve himself/mark his usual territory.

As amusing as it is to see Marou hunt, Josie and I have to keep a good watch on him because he has already had an intestinal infection from eating/drinking something that he found on the ground.

While the sport is fun, safety must always come first.

Another Day At The Races

Every Shiba Inu owner has heard of the famous "Shiba 500", where the dog will run in circles around a set area as fast as he/she possibly can, and many are fascinated by it and the fact that there hasn't been a confirmed cause for the behavior. Some owners report bowel movements or the presence of treats as triggers, but there has been no definite cause.

Marou's favorite time to run his Shiba 500 is when we return from a prolonged absence or when we get down on the floor with him and play rough. 

He has been known to run his Shiba 500 as many as four times in one day, but his average is only about once a day.

Start Your Engine!

Training Diaries - Verbal Commands

Verbal commands can be some of the simplest training you will ever have with your Shiba. Verbal commands must be strictly enforced to have any success.

First, give the command followed by an example or some assistance if it is a more complicated command. Make sure to reward the pup for the successful completion of the command, and do this every time. This is imperative for successful memory.

Marou, like many Shibas, didn't need much assistance or too many examples due to his intelligence. He has picked up the majority of our commands fairly quickly, though he does still like to ignore us from time to time if it will interrupt his fun.

Next, when you think your pup has learned to do the technique alone, withdraw any assistance and stop giving any examples. Upon successful completion, reward your pup well, and always be sure to do this to emphasize the priority of these commands.

In Marou's case, this was the harder step due to his whimsical nature and reluctance to pay attention for more than a few minutes. 

It may take a little while for your pup to catch on, but after the first couple of commands, it seems to become easier for them to learn new commands. The earlier you start, the quicker and easier this will be and the more receptive you will usually find your pup.

Marou laying on his back waiting for a belly rub

Training Diaries - Potty Training

Potty training is the focus of every puppy owner. Some pups take only a few days or weeks, and some take as long as a few months. I've even heard of some people that were never able to  potty train their pups.

Thankfully Marou is absolutely repulsed by his own waste, so potty training was as simple as taking him outside when he showed any signs of needing to relieve himself. Save for a few incidents and some extenuating circumstances, he doesn't relieve himself inside at all.

The first step was to acquaint Marou with his harness and show him that it was not bad or scary. This was simple: we just fed him a few pieces of kibble or training treats that we had on hand as we put his harness on him. Getting accustomed to it took him a little while, but now he wears it like a natural.

Next, we showed him where the door was and taught him that it leads to outside (where he should relieve himself). This was accomplished by many short trips outside when there was any suspicion that he had to go. He caught on fairly quickly and began to sit by the door when he needed to go. If he needed to get our attention he would paw the door or "speak" to us until we acknowledged him.

Josie did an amazing job teaching him where the door is and how to show us that he wants to go outside.

He's by no means a model citizen, but his compliance with the training has made life so much more pleasant and a whole lot easier.

Picky Eater

I'm sure we've all dealt with or seen them at some point, but picky eaters can be an unnerving ordeal to overcome. There are many tricks out there to do exactly that: trick your pup into eating, but if you're like me and the large community of pet owners who treat their pets like their children then you want to do more than trick them. You want to make sure they actually enjoy what they're eating.

The simplest (sometimes not quite so) method is to change foods until you find one that they like. This can cause many unforseen complications though, so many owners choose to add in supplements or oils to mask the food's flavor. Josie and I will mix certain dog-healthy foods like plain greek yogurt or plain mashed sweet potato with his kibble to entice him to eat it.

There are different ways to get each pup to eat what they may not like or want but is good for them, and you may just need to get creative. Always check to see if foods are bad for your dog before trying any of them, though.

Bath Time Contenders

Love it or hate it, bath time is an important part of every person's and every animal's life.

As it is a very important time, Josie and I decided to try a variety of shampoos to attempt to find the best for Marou. We tried a number of shampoos, some of them even semi-home made, and we've found that they're not all the same. Most of them aren't even close to each other.

Our least favorite and probably the least affective was Sergeant's Oatmeal Flea and Tick shampoo. It cleaned him quite well, but it didn't last very long. Within 2 or 3 days, his fur was oily and he was itchy all over again.

Our next attempt was with Hartz Whitening Shampoo. The smell was quite nice, but it did not clean him very well. He would appear oily and be itchy as soon as he was dry. This necessitated baths almost every other day just to keep him remotely clean and comfortable.

Next Up was Kong Maximum Revitalizing Shampoo. It has a nice, mild Tea Tree/Mint scent, and it is soap free and paraben free to minimize skin irritation. This shampoo does an excellent job of cleaning Marou as well, and he stays quite clean for up to 5 or 6 days after each bath. He has almost no itching when bathing with this product, which is a definite plus.

Our final product, and our personal favorite, is Cain & Able Peppermint/Tea Tree Conditioning Shampoo. Made from a soft soap and all natural ingredients, it is very gentle on even the most sensitive skin. The scent is a mild but powerful Minty, Tea Tree that persists for days, sometimes even a week, after a bath. This shampoo does an amazing job of cleaning Marou, and he stays clean for up to a week with only 1 bath.

There are more shampoos that we would like to try in the future, and we will post our thoughts about them then, but we will keep a bottle of the Cain & Able around as our "Go-To" shampoo.

The Great Pillow Caper

One of Marou's newer habits (which we have somewhat expected) has been to steal any pillow that he can get his paws on. If Josie or I leave our spot, it's his. If we leave our pillow, it's his forever. 

We have affectionately nicknamed him our little pillow thief. We even had to give him a little pillow of his own just to be able to keep ours.

Marou Thoroughly Enjoying His New Pillow

He loves his new pillow and plays with it daily. He still occasionally steals our decorative pillows from the couch because they're the same color as his, but even then we can't be mad at him because it's just so cute to watch.

Along with stealing pillows, he has developed a habit of hiding our socks and shoes in awkward places. I found one of Josie's walking shoes under the couch and the other in his bed.

I've found my socks anywhere you can imagine, and hair brushes beware!

California Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food

Marou has a very sensitive stomach and a yeast allergy, so we tried a variety of different food brands before finding one that he could actually eat without complication. Recommended by our local pet boutique owner, California Natural Grain Free Kangaroo & Red Lentils is specifically designed for dogs with sensitive stomachs. At only 21.0% protein, it's perfect for dogs who can't handle the large amounts of protein found in finer foods such as Acana and Orijen but who still need a little bit more protein than some big name brands can offer.

The Kangaroo and Red Lentils formula was our first venture with this food. Marou loved the food and had no complications whatsoever. He does get bored of the flavor easily, so we've decided to try the other flavors in hopes of keeping him interested in the food.

The Venison Meal formula has succeeded in keeping him interested, and he loves it just as much as the Kangaroo and Red Lentils. With a different amino acid profile, transitioning to this food helps keep Marou's sensitive stomach from rejecting his food.

We plan to try other varieties of California Natural to ease his stomach and keep his diet regulated. For anyone who has a pup with food allergies or a sensitive stomach, I can Wholeheartedly recommend the grain free California Natural Line.

Home Made Toys

Josie recently got creative and decided to make Marou some home made toys, so $10 and 20 square yards of fabric later she had made Marou a plethora of toys that have lasted him quite a while.

One of his favorites is actually modeled after a cat toy that he stole from a friend's kitten during a play session.

Cat Toy Recreation

Stuffed Bone Shaped Felt Toy

Another toy idea that she had was made from an old white t-shirt. She cut it into strips and tied them in knots to make a neat little tug toy that Marou can't get enough of.

An alteration of that is to put a soda bottle inside of an older, high thread count pillow case and tie it closed with a firm knot. As with all other toys, be sure to watch your pet when he/she plays with this as it contains plastic that can possibly choke them.

With a little sewing skill, some fabric, and an idea or two you can make your pup some unique toys that they'll love for a long time.

Just let your creativity run wild.

Arrival

My wife and i had decided that we wanted to adopt a Shiba Inu around the beginning of the year. We searched through a few places and did our homework on the breed before finally finding a puppy we liked and contacting a breeder that we thought seemed like a good choice.

We immediately fell in love with our puppy (who we have named Marou) when we saw his picture. 

We decided then that we would have to get him.

All of the arrangements took approximately a month, but on February 27 around 7:30 p.m., we went to the airport to pick up our new best friend.

Scared, Excited, and just plain restless, Marou endured the ride home only to jump out of the car as soon as we arrived at the apartment. A 15-minute game of chase consisting of Josie (my wife) and I chasing an 8-pound puppy around a crowded parking lot. After the commotion ceased, Marou, tuckered out, stopped to relieve himself resulting in his recapture by Josie and I.

We got him back inside with some food and water since he hadn't eaten all day due to his flight from South Dakota. 

After the excitement of the day, Marou was fully tired out and ready for some good old rest and relaxation. Little did he know that there was plenty more to come.

Breed Introduction - Shiba Inu

The Shiba Inu is not a breed for the faint of heart, as training one can be a nightmare if not done early and correctly. The Shiba needs a strong willed trainer willing to always be stern and confident in his/her decisions.  Like most dogs, they can sense any insecurity or doubt, and they will be openly defiant if any of this is present.

The Shiba is a very mischievous breed, and this often shows, especially when bored.

Not everything about the Shiba is negative or frustrating. The Shiba has a definite "one-of-a-kind" personality that is larger than life.

With their foxy cuteness and "big-cat-in-a-small-dog-body" personality, the Shiba Inu will make a unique and unforgettable companion.

What? I Didn't Do It!