The Misanthropic Shiba

Archive for February, 2009

I’ve got a Google Alert for “shiba inu” up and running.  Before the Shiba inu puppy cam, I would get maybe one or two emails a week about Shiba stuff – mostly news stories where Shibas were mentioned and the occasional ad.  Now I’m seeing a huge increase in the amount of Shiba Inu stories coming into my inbox.  Most are advertisements for Shiba puppies, Shiba stud service, want ads for “$100 Shiba” or “Free Shiba Puppy” and the ever-present Yahoo! Answers queries about getting a Shiba and/or Shiba ownership.

Now, this could be because Google has become more efficient in its search techniques, but it’s funny that it seemed to begin at the webcam’s peak popularity.  My Google Analytics also shows a jump at that time and is still getting hits from the ustream.tv site where the puppy cam streaming feed is hosted.

The puppycam owners have been very careful to urge people to think carefully before bringing a Shiba into their lives and to only go to responsible breeders or rescues for a dog.  They also have not attempted to capitalize on their puppies’ sudden fame to make money for themselves; the only item they are selling is a puppy calendar, with all the profits going to Shiba rescue.

However it does appear that this puppycam has thrust the Shiba into the spotlight.  Whether this is good, bad, or indifferent, the Shiba is becoming more well-known.  Consequently, it is also more likely to be prey to irresponsible breeders, callous puppymillers and profit-run pet shops.

However, we can’t control how popular the Shiba gets.  We can only do our part to educate and, failing that, make scathing remarks about irresponsible dog owners should the occasion require.

Thoughts?  And check out this Cafepress.com store, where you can proclaim your Shiba allegiance as dating before the puppy cam.

If you want to put in your 2 cents about your Shiba’s behaviour and temperament, head on over to The Misadventures of a Shiba Inu and take the surveys.

Part I: Basic Information
Part II: Training and Socialization
Part III: Care (coming soon!)

If you’re looking for information on how to get two Shibas to get along, check out this blog; there is a lot of information about how Loki and Jujube’s owner deals with having two Shibas, dominance issues and training.

My boyfriend and I have a problem when we head down to Victoria.  We have so many friends we want to catch up with, it’s really hard to get time to see them all.  Last Saturday, we explored a unique solution to this dilemma:

Despite creating a Facebook event less than 48 hours before we were due to let Tierce strut his stuff on Dallas Road, which, in addition to being stunningly beautiful, is also one of the city’s off-lead dog areas.  Despite Tierce’s recent contretemps with other male dogs, he behaved himself beautifully around the many dogs who came up to say hello.

A number of the gang down on Fonyo Beach, just off of the Dallas Road walkway

Photo by Byron Lundstrom

It was an unqualified social success; about twenty people showed up!  I was so happy, because we haven’t had a lot of opportunities to see some of them.  We ended up at the Beacon Drive-in where we had a terrific time chowing down on hamburgers, fries and soft-serve ice cream.

So, if you visit places with your Shiba and want a way to catch up with them all, try announcing an official ShibaWalk and see who shows up.  This is also a great way to get together with friends on a daily or weekly basis.

Things I will remember for next time:

• I will have a defined starting point, turning-back point (if applicable) and end point
• I will state a time that we are getting together at a local eatery and whether or not dogs are allowed there (extra points, of course, for outdoor venues, but you can’t have everything in February)

This was not created by me, but as I have seen it in several places on the Net, I thought it would be entertaining for y’all:

The Shiba inu is a breed of dog that lurks among linens of Canadian households.  They have been implicated in the chewing of valuable objects and dragging items out onto the floor that they shouldn’t have touched.  If you think your home may be harbouring a Hidden Shiba, take a picture with a camera with flash capability.  The flash should cause the Shiba’s eyes to light up, alerting the homeowner to its presence.

Shiba Inus: The Next Big Thing?

It’s great to see a little more balanced overview of our breed!  I got this from Shiba Inu Spirit.

The only part I disagree with (in part) is this:

They’re Good with Children: Just ask our three-year-old niece. A sense of dread and fear struck us last Christmas when she grabbed Kody by the neck and proceeded to climb on his back for a “horsey ride.” While Kody shot us an expression of utter misery, he let her ride him, grab his ears and hug him without as much as snarling his lip.While Shibas sometimes have trouble interacting with other dogs, they are surprisingly gentle with children.

Well… While Shibas can be quite good with children, I wouldn’t advertise Shibas as a breed that a child could generally do this to.  But then again, I’m against allowing a child to EVER do this to a dog.  It can result in spinal and head injuries for the dog and a serious bite for the child.  I wouldn’t vouch for a kid’s chance with Tierce if it did this and I can’t vouch for the parent’s chance with me if they allowed it.

This one was yoinked from the LiveJournal Shiba Inu community