Zuko and Other Dogs: On-leash update

A year ago, I was writing about our troubles with Zuko being growly on-leash. We went to some classes and learned a things like how to properly meet and greet other dogs and we talked with the folks who spend time with him at daycare. We made some progress.

Once we moved, we saw even more progress.

"Who me? I iz a good dog!"

Over the past few months, the incidents of him lunging and growling at other dogs have been very rare and ALWAYS start with the other dog lunging and snarling first. As most Shiba owners know, they think they are a big dog and won't back down from a rude or aggressive dog. So I've been watching the body language of other dogs much more closely and I have become less concerned about Zuko's. Out in the parks, it still tends to be two types of dogs that cause issues: small yappy dogs who lunge and snarl at everyone and everything, and the big dogs who just like a challenge.

The small yappy dogs actually seem to humor Zuko a bit. He's almost tolerant - to a point. If they get too close he'll snarl back. The big dogs are more interesting - they see Zuko and they will stop, stare and focus on him. Clear warning signals that I now know to look for.

Any time I spot a potential problem, I immediately go for the treat bag and start doing "look" with Zuko. I keep him to my left and the other dog to HIS left - meaning if he's looking at me, he can't see the other dog. I use to always shorten the flexi-leash as I did this but I've noticed an odd thing in recent weeks - Zuko will sometimes naturally fall into a heel position when a big dog shows up ahead of us on the trail. I can't be sure, but it seems like he has started to associate "big aggressive dog up ahead" with "Zuko gets yummy treats, hang out next to mom". Now I keep the leash slack but I have the trigger finger ready in case the other dog lunges (see above: Shibas don't back down from a fight).

We had one pretty nasty case recently and frankly - it was 100% the other dog. We were out front with Zuko and he was tied up on a long leash to avoid he disappearing after a cat or a squirrel. He was in his driveway, being chill when another dog who was off-leash came BOUNDING up to Zuko before we could get the owners to call the dog off. Zuko was impressive - lots of big body language and fierce  snarls and huge Shiba teeth flashing. My husband and I both barely reacted - we could see that Zuko was putting on one hell of a show, but he wasn't making contact with the teeth. The other dog got the hell out of there as fast as possible and the owners gave us some pretty nasty looks. In our opinion, they were at fault. They let their off-leash dog charge up to another dog on his own territory. Idiots.

This weekend we head to Shibapalooza. At the recent very rainy, very cold NorCal Shiba picnic, we had to scurry under some cover. I didn't hesitate to bring Zuko in to the shelter and he (of course) snarled at Sinjin. Once. Then they all just stood there wet and miserable as only Shibas can look when they aren't getting their way.

So, I'm feeling pretty good about Shibapalooza and about Zuko behaving like a Prince and not a monster!

-- Zuko's optimistic mom

Zuko @ Work

Zuko is a great office dog. He's pretty mellow and doesn't jump on anyone and rarely barks. Only if you are really weird is he going to bark at you (yeah - looking at you weird lady who decided to creep up on him). He's gotten better with other dogs while on-leash and we've gotten better and noticing which dogs are going to be an issue in an on-leash meet and greet.

Zuko supervising his hudad at work

Until today, Zuko could go to work with his hudad (human dad). The small dot com company was always super dog-friendly (there is even another Shiba there) but they were bought by a big Silicon Valley company a few years ago. And as with all acquisitions, the mother ship started enforcing their rules, finishing up with enforcing the "no dogs" rule, effective today. 

Luckily for this budding Shiba CEO, my work is still hip and cool (even though we are also in the process of being bought by a ginormous company). Our open office workspace (warehouse) freaks Zuko out and he tends to be a real scaredy-cat. 

"Not hiding under desk, I iz protecting mom!"

And then there is just random weirdness such as this:

"Please explain to me why there is a dinosaur on the wall. Anyone?"

But in general, he is still the perfect office dog. I leave him at my work spot without his leash attached, tell him to "wait" and walk over to the kitchen. He can see me the whole time until I turn into the kitchen to get some coffee or whatever. I come back out and he's still sitting there, at my work spot, watching for me. 

The folks at work love him and everyone wants to pet him - but, being a true Shiba CEO, no one gets that honor. Not even my real CEO - Zuko snubbed him. (If I don't get my bonus, I'll know why and Zuko will be eating Puppy Chow instead of his expensive raw diet mix - ha!). Of course, this also means most people don't even know he's there at all - which is a good thing in a work environment. 

Finally, here is his official Shiba CEO stance on meetings and conference calls:

Zzzzzzz....boring....zzzzzz

-- Posted by Prince Zuko's dedicated worker bee

Visit from Taro!

Hi everyone! Prince Zuko here. My hooman haz been "working" too much lately and just now haz time to type up how PAWESOME it wuz when Taro and his pack visited us!

Shiba Mind Control at work: Give us cheeze

On his blog, Taro has shared lots of pics and stories, so I'm just gonna write about my three favorite things:

1) I luv the beach but it wuz even better with my little bro Taro! Notice the matching gait on us in this photo. Yeah, we are awesome.

Running with Taro on the beach

2) Photoshoot with my half sisfur Suki and her hudad (thanks for the new word, Kaiju!) and humom. We drew a crowd and it wuz hard work but we gotz tons of treats and BACON afterwards! Noms! You can the full post here. Jonathan is a pawesome photographer and clearly picks good things to photograph (like Shibas).

Behind the scenes at Shiba photoshoot

3) Last but not least wuz just hanging out, being chill with my brofur Taro. See us being good Shibas and sharing chewies?

Brofurs

Mom sayz I was a good brofur and host. Taro and I shared treats, water and toys with no problem. Except that one incident with the wonderful tug-of-war toy but hey, boys will be boys, right? 

Nite-nite (passed out Taro in car)

-- Posted by Prince Zuko!

Rescue Shiba needed for Photoshoot!

Hi everyone! Prince Zuko here. Been awhile, but I've been busy working on my modeling career and visiting wif my furiend Taro (@_tar0_ )! I haz lots to tell you about, but first: I iz modeling for Project Dog (@projectdog) this weekend and they still need to find a rescued Shiba in the San Francisco Bay Area for their book project. So if you want fame and glory like me, Taro and Suki, please visit Project Dog's website and submit your info!

Suki, Taro and me!

-- Posted by Prince Zuko, Shibas R' Us Modeling Agency

Hiking with the pup

Let's go already!

Zuko loves going hiking with me - the more uphill the better too. He knows when we are about to go hiking and he will circle and circle me. One day, he finally just gave up (with a huff) and sat by the door watching me to get ready.

The Bay Area has tons of hiking, though not all allow dogs (even on leash) and we are working our way through  many new (to us trails). However, with the dry season approaching, there are now also some big risks on the trails.

Poison Oak

"Leaves of three, leave it be". Try explaining that to a Shiba. Dogs can be effected by it, but can also pass the oil to their people - and we react much more strongly. 

Foxtail - not of the cute ShibaFox variety

Then there are foxtails. These are all over in the Bay Area and as they dry out, they can be deadly to dogs. They rapidly embed in the skin and typically need to be removed by a vet. There is risk of them getting in a dog's nose and causing major surgery, even death. Shibas' have such thick fur, that Zuko seems to have some protection from these. I have found a foxtail on him but it hadn't managed to work it's way through the masses of Shiba fur to his skin. Meanwhile, I've had one work through the netting in my running shoe and hurt like hell. 

Thistles

And then there are the thistles. These are also wildly abundant and common. They don't seem to pose much risk for dogs unless they frolic in them or try to eat them. The bigger issue is for the humans. Zuko tends to like to pee on them. 

Zuko has gotten solid enough at recall that there are times I wonder if I could hike with him off-leash. Here is the scenario that stops me: 1) Zuko gets the zoomies in field of foxtails then 2) runs through a big patch of poison oak only to 3) get stuck in a patch of thistles. I have to dive in and save him then 1) head to the hospital to get a cortisone shot for the poison oak and 2) have a foxtail dug out of my leg and 3) get antibiotics for the infected thistle scratches I have. Meanwhile, Zuko is having a good nap on my bed and shedding on my pillow. 

-- Posted by Zuko's sarcastic mom

Kitty!

I met a kitty last night on my pack walk. Not a stinky kitty (skunk) but a real kitty. This one was happy to see me and play "chase" and "hiss and growl" with me. That is how kitties how love, right?



-- Posted by Prince Zuko (why iz mom laughing at me?)

Shibapalooza and Twiba Meet-up

Shiba mind control is an amazing thing. Zuko has been working on me for months to plan a trip for Shibapalooza in SoCal.

"All that Shiba mind control really wore me out!"

And now it is happening. Of course, I know nothing about SoCal so I'm gonna need some help here.


First things first:
Where is Shibapalooza? I have joined the meet-up group but I am pending approval. This is the info I have currently:

Anaheim, CA 92807 - USA

Saturday, July 16 at 10:00 AM

Here is my big concern: Zuko is reactive with other Shibas on-leash and word has it Shibapalooza is usually held in a park and no off-leash. After he meets a Shiba off-leash, the issue is over and they proceed to just ignore each other. So I am hoping the #Twibas going to Shibapalooza can meet-up before (or the day after) and relax and hang out a bit. Taro the Shiba also suggested getting together and renting a portable dog run for the event. 

Huntington Beach has been suggested as a good place to meet up and Shorebreak Hotel was suggested as a possible place to stay but I am thinking a tad bit more budget conscious since gas prices seem to be going up and up!

So - all you West Coast Twibas who want to meet-up - let's figure it out! Twiba Meet-up 2011 (the West Coast version).