Posted in dog shows on 04/14/2008 12:35 pm by nikkoth
Well we’re back from Harrisburg. I’m still exhausted and recovering but glad I went.
Mashi took first in his class both days and Saphira took second and forth in her classes. Alyssa’s dogs showed well but didn’t take home any points either. We are so proud of Mashi and Ariel though. Both showed happy and eagerly and in the end we could ask for nothing more. They both showed tails up and with happy grins. Both see to be getting more and more confident in the ring.
My shibas, along with Alyssa’s and Jody’s participated in the Meet The Breed portion of the show. Thanks Jody for inviting us to participate. So many people met our dogs and socialized with them. I got to show off some of Mashi’s obedience heeling and tricks and shocked so many that a shiba could actually do those things. I even taught Jody’s shiba to sit for the first time. The dog is 4 years old. I handed out a lot of breed information and talked to two people interested in breed adoption. One even brought her daughter to come meet my dogs and will be filling out an NYCSR adoption application soon.
On Saturday Alyssa and I played Non Sporting Group Uno. Two games and about 45 minutes later we were laughing our heads off and our sides hurt. I really need to pick up a copy of the game.
Now for the unimportant whiny ranty shit.
First of all, if you see someone pulling a crate dolly filled with crap - “MOVE!”. Don’t look at my stuff and then continue to stand in the middle of the walk way. Also move your dogs. I really don’t want to hit you or them. Its nice when you move but don’t then leave your dog in the way. Also don’t cut me off because you think I might be walking slower then you. First of all I’m not and second, when I hit the brakes to avoid running into you, the dolly hits me, and it hurts.. alot.
Next, I always forget how petty so many dog show people are. Not all of them mind you, but too many of them. Is it that people with no social understandings chose dogs to be their friends or perhaps they are just inept, but I am always so shocked at how ridiculous, clueless and vicious so many people are at these shows. Now don’t get me wrong, everyone involved with any animal is different and all of us have big personalities, but please, some of them need to learn social cues.
Finally I wanted to say that while above I vented about bad show people. I also want to say that some of the best people in the world are dog and/or show people and I am so grateful to have the in my life. I made new acquaintances this weekend as well as educated a lot of people.
Well, my dogs are exhausted and so am I. Time to unpack, put the new ribbons away and take some time to relax and cuddle with my gang.
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Posted in vet on 04/09/2008 05:05 pm by nikkoth
Today was vet day. Haiku, Saphira, Mashi and Tracker. All at the vet together… and no one got into a fight. I guess that makes it a win. However $350 poorer is still a lose.
Now everyone is up to date for at lease a year if not more for the older dogs. Lepto free 3 year Distemper shots are a wonderful thing.
Saphira decided that she was not going to sit back and get her bordatella. After about 10 minutes of wrestling between me, the tech, and the vet, plus a muzzle, we finally prevailed. Well, am we all were covered in shiba snot. Everyone else did great. Now I just want to sit back and take a nap… but no. I have a home visit to do for a possible adopter and then pick up Kiera because her foster mom won’t be home tonight.
Then maybe some time to rest… maybe. I have a feeling the shibas will have a surprise of some kind to welcome me home.
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Posted in education on 04/08/2008 01:50 pm by nikkoth
As much as I enjoy rambling on, I want to make some constructive entires in this blog. I need to think of some topics I can flush out in a reasonable amount of time and then get them up. Hopefully I can think of something interesting while I am at Harrisburg.
If someone would like to have a topic addressed, just ask and we can talk about it.
Some topics I am considering entries about:
Dog Reactive Dogs
Resource Guarding
Definition of Aggression and Dominance
Shaping
Breaking the Language Barrier
Traveling with Your Dog
more to come.
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Posted in shows, website on 04/07/2008 12:40 pm by nikkoth
Well Friday I leave for the Harrisburg show. I still have a ton to do. Mostly because I have done almost nothing to prep. I am crates to find and clean, soft crates to clean, clothes t pack, dogs to wash and so much more. It will be fun though. A well needed break for a few days. Mashi will probably be a jittery mess for a little while, but he will deal. Saphira will love it, she is such a diva. She lives for this. I can see her super big grin as I write this.
I finally remade my website this past weekend. I really like it. It looks a lot more serious and functional then it used to. It has a lot of information I have been meaning to post and room for all the things I have forgotten. Now if I could just get my thoughts organized I could add so much more content.
Anyway here is a easy link to the website:
Kihaku Shibas
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Posted in Ginger, fostering on 04/04/2008 07:58 pm by nikkoth
Ginger is my new foster. She is a tough girl with a challenging past but she is a good girl. When she got here she looked for a way out. She wanted to return to her family badly. It took about a day for her to start to move on and accept her new home. Yesterday she decided a game of fetch with her tennis ball would be a blast. We had quite a nice time. Today her new game is to attack the waterfalls in the yard.
She is still getting used to life with other dogs. She does not growl as much but she is still uncomfortable around them. She will work with Haiku but it will take a lot of positive experiences to get her to start to like other dogs. That doesn’t matter though. She is such a wonderful dog and I am glad to help her start a new life.
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