PRODUCT REVIEW: Gentle Leader Martingale

I think I've mentioned Kitsune's distaste for the Gentle Leader head halter before.  "Distaste" is a mild word, actually.  He loathes it.  I've never seen a dog freak out the way Kitsune freaks out with a head collar on.  He simply refuses to reconcile with it, and if you happen to leave it in a spot where he can see it, he will try to steal it and then chew it into little bits.  It is worth mentioning at this point that Kitsune is not a destructive dog.  He never chews anything but his own toys, and even those toys that are meant to be chewed last him a long time.  He has never chewed up any of his leashes or neck collars, so the fact that he destroys Gentle Leaders is significant in illustrating just how much he detests the things.  The Gentle Leader head collar we currently own is number 3.  I kept buying them because they do work when a dog will consent to wear them, and I labored under the mistaken belief that given enough time with one, he would eventually relent.  Silly, silly human.

About a month ago while I was at work, I was taking a harness off of a dog and noticed it was a Gentle Leader brand.  Well.  News to me.  Turns out, Gentle Leader is making new "Easy Walk" harnesses with the  leash ring squarely in the middle of the chest.  Same premise as the head collar, it still thwarts the forward motion of pulling, but easier for some dogs (like Kitsune) to accept.

I immediately went to the pet store I used to work for and looked for them.  They didn't have them, but PetSmart down the street from my house did.

I dithered and couldn't make up my mind to buy one until yesterday.  Then I finally did it.  Today, having nothing better to do, I put it on Kitsune.

We had one initial Shiba Scream as he was trying to bolt down the stairs and realized he couldn't bolt anymore.

After that, he walked calmly with the harness on.  He would not, however, poop in it.  He looked like he really wanted to poop, but each time I thought for sure he was going to, he changed his mind about it.  I'm sure that will come with time.

I left it on him when we got back in the house, so he can get used to the feel of it.  Hopefully the next time we head outside, he'll do a number two.

All in all, we are much pleased with the Gentle Leader Easy Walk harness.


This never would have happened in a head collar.

Gentle Leader Easy Walk Harness:  Shiba Seal of Approval.

Camping With Shibas

Back from my camping trip, hullooo out there in teh interwebz!  I hope you all were warmer and happier than I was this weekend, but that doesn't seem likely because I was freezing and happy as all get out for most of it.  I'm like my dog:  I relish the cold weather.  I get frisky and sleep better.  Cold is good.  Let's all move to Baffin Island and call it a job well done.

I tell people we took the dog camping and the universal reaction is a raised eyebrow and "Oh yeah?  And how did that work out for you?"

Shibas make camping legit.  No, really.  You're not really roughing it unless you have no electricity, a roaring fire, and a primitive dog sitting just inside the light of it.  Pleading with his eyes for marshmallows.  So he can thrash them around, pounce on them, thrash them some more, and "kill" them for 7 or 8 minutes before he finally eats them.

Yeah, it's like that.  As Kitsune fiercely dispatched the first marshmallow, my SO calmly asked me, "What the hell is he doing?"  My only answer:  I dunno.  You get the Shiba in the woods and apparently they feel the need to kill everything before they eat it.

They also feel the need to defend the new home-place from every comer.  This isn't the first time we've taken Kitsune camping.  The first time we went to Cherrystone, VA in the summer and the hot Shiba dug himself many cool, damp sand den places all over the campsite, and enjoyed lurking under the car to dart out and scare passerby silly.  This time, I forgot that we no longer have a tie-out stake and upon arriving at the campground, discovered that dogs are not allowed to be attached to any posts, poles or trees currently existing in the campground.  Well, now what?  Luckily enough there was a huge (seriously HUGE, about 60 pound) log at our site, and I just wrapped a leash around that.  He still managed to drag it around some, but it slowed him down significantly enough that he couldn't terrorize the entire state park.

Kitsune sat there next to his log and made us feel like we were really surviving.  He was quiet until the sun went down.  Then some other doggish camper came walking by in the night being towed along by some large-ish whitish colored animal, and mine started sounding the alarm.  Of course, dogs began to answer all over the campground, reminding me of the barking phone-tree scene from 101 Dalmatians.

"Now look what you started," I told him, and he quickly glanced at me and then back out into the night, chuffing for that last word in.  He barked a few more times at people walking by.  He really got started when the guy in the next campsite over would raise his voice.  Most of the time that guy was talking in a normal tone of voice and I couldn't hear him at our campsite.  I'm sure Kitsune could.  Every once in awhile, he raised his voice pretty loudly and very suddenly, and his tone would get sort of hostile, and Kitsune would go berserk.  When Kitsune is truly concerned by something like that, it's very hard to settle him down.  Shibas take commands like, "Quiet!" with a grain of salt anyway, but when they're certain that life and property may be in jeopardy, there really is no stopping them.  With the people just walking by who needed to be warned, telling him, "Hey.  They're allowed to be here.  Enough," is all it takes to bring him down from brass section to piccolo solo.  With the guy in the next campsite, Kitsune just launched an all out verbal assault.  Shock and awe, baby.  That'll show him.  He won't think about coming over here with that tone.

Putting him in his crate in the tent settled him down pretty good for the night.  He let off one more tirade at the guy in the next campsite, and was quiet for the night.  For the most part.

Around 4:30 in the morning, I had to pee really bad.  It was really cold, about 39 degrees, and I did not want to get up and go trekking across the campground in the dark to the bathrooms.  As I laid there in the dark trying to talk my bladder out of exploding, I heard a subdued yodeling howl that dissolved into the chirping noises dogs only make when they're dreaming.  Even sleeping Kitsune is not a quiet dog.  Finally I decided to get up and just go already.  When I came out of the bathhouse, there was some guy waiting for me.  (This always happens to me.)  His friends and I were probably the only people awake in the campground and in the course of talking to me he offhandedly mentioned, "Yeah I just heard someone's dog whimpering and howling.  It probably needs to go out."  I almost giggled because I know what he'd heard was Kitsune's dreaming noises.

Kitsune gets progressively better as he adjusts to new surroundings.  The next night there was much less barking at the random people.  The guy who freaked Kitsune out was gone and replaced by two other guys and their kids, and these guys didn't suddenly and loudly become annoyed in the course of a conversation, so Kitsune didn't suddenly and loudly bark as much.

He did decide that his collapsible bowl needed to be killed, and this sparked a Shiba 500 around the 60 pound log that was so comical my SO almost spit his cigarette out of his mouth.

He also laid down by the campfire, curled up so tightly, and in such a heat efficient manner.  He had his head resting on his pads so they didn't get cold, and he was balled up so close he could put his nose under his tail, so his nose didn't get cold, either.  Shiba tails are not very long.  Making himself small enough to put his tail over his nose was pretty impressive.  Kitsune likes to curl up in the house but I've never seen him really bed down like that before.  I told him, "Now you're prepared for a snowstorm," and he pointed an ear in my direction.

We sat around the campfire, drinking fire warmed apple cider with cinnamon sticks in it, talking and eating and watching the Shiba, until we were tired and had no more wood.

Bliss.

The Dog In My Profile Pic

The dog in my profile picture is Inari's Blame It On Kitsune-san, a five year-old Shiba Inu. Although they are becoming fairly popular, thanks in part to the current popularity of all things Japanese, most people I run into still don't know what a Shiba is. Everyone who sees him, however, becomes enamored of him. It is not an uncommon occurrence for me to be taking him for a walk and have someone stop their car in the middle of a busy road to ask me what breed he is. When I tell them, the typical reaction is, "A what now? What's that a mix of?" (Thank you, designer dog craze.)

The Shiba Inu is an ancient Japanese hunting breed. They performed the job of a sighthound, scenthound, spaniel and terrier. All in one neat little 20 pound package. It's no wonder the AKC had no idea what group to put them in when they finally recognized one of the world's oldest dog breeds in 1992. As of right now, they are considered Non-Sporting, which is a shame, as they are one of the most sporting breeds you're likely to find. In fact, mine caught a groundhog the other day. While on a leash. Take that, Dachshunds! Don't worry, I made him let it go. No harm was done.

They have quite the prey drive. Never trust a Shiba off leash. If it moves, they'll chase it. To whatever end may come. If it left a scent trail, they'll follow it, at high speed. (And when I say high speed, I mean HIGH speed.) No matter what size it is, when they finally chase or track it down, they'll want to kill it. This is a dog that was used to hunt bears. Yes, they are only 20 pounds and at the max, should be 16.5 inches at the shoulder. Size is not an issue. The bigger it is, the harder it falls thinks the Shiba. If it hurts, they do it again. Double the intensity. Their agility stat is off the charts. You have to have the reflexes of a Border Collie and the instincts of a cutting horse to get your hands on one that doesn't want to be caught.

I once read that if the Shiba could learn to utter one word of English, that word would be "mine." As it turns out, this is the Truth. Everything in the world belongs to the Shiba. He will never be convinced otherwise.

I've heard it said that Shibas are so clean, they avoid walking in puddles and mud. Mine must have missed that particular gene, because he thinks nothing at all of tromping through the gloppiest mud or trotting briskly through chest deep flood waters, but balks at the bath tub. He does spend a lot of time licking himself in the manner of a cat.

They have a double coat. They shed a lot. (Think Siberian Husky.) If you're going to get a Shiba, just do yourself a favor, bite the bullet, and buy a Furminator and a really substantial vacuum cleaner at the same time. Both are expensive, but you won't be sorry.

Shibas are VERY smart, but this intelligence does not mean they are easy to train. They were bred to work very independently of humans, and independent they are. They will not perform endless repetitions of "sit" or "down" for you. You will probably have to get creative to obedience train a Shiba Inu, because they will very creatively find ways around what you are trying to teach them, while simultaneously learning by mere observation of the cats that sitting on the kitchen counter is perfectly acceptable. (True story.)

Shibas can be dog aggressive. Kitsune does not like dogs running up to us. A friendly dog off-leash that charges us in expectation of warm welcome is in for a very rude awakening, and hopefully just a snap. And again, size is not an issue. He will take on a much larger dog with no thought of what the consequences may be. A dog that approaches calmly and with the proper respect is sure to have a better reception with the Shiba. It's important for prospective Shiba owners to realize that once there is a Shiba in the house, you need to think very long and hard on what other dogs might come after. A dog with the same dog aggressiveness and unwillingness to leave a fight, but twice the body mass, may be ultimately deadly for the Shiba. (Shibas and Akitas cannot be safely kept in the same house for this reason.) Shibas are "Death before Dishonor" personified.

They have more wolf behaviors than other breeds that have been modified more. One example: The Long Stare. This is something that wolves do that most dogs do not do. (Siberian Huskies and Malamutes are other exceptions.) The head drops very low, the body is very tense and still, and the eyes are fixed and staring. This is an aggressive posture, reserved for enemies. You've probably seen it in pictures, it makes for a very arresting photo of a wolf. It gives you goose bumps when you see your pet dog do it in front of you. Also like wolves, Shibas may not give any warning that they are about to attack if they are really serious, and the threat is a stranger.  There is no growling, the hackles will not be up, there will be no showing of teeth. Just that eerie long stare, and then they go for it. If you're looking for normal dog body language, the Shiba may take you very much by surprise. Just a heads up.

A note on the Shiba Scream. Shibas scream. Just so you know. If you're a prospective Shiba owner, this is useful information. I was aware of the Shiba scream before I brought my Shiba home, but I wasn't fully aware of what the Shiba scream is. It sounds like a woman being murdered. No exaggeration. Shibas tend to scream at anything they think is unjustified impingement on Shiba Rights. This may include putting a leash on the Shiba for the first time, putting a Gentle Leader on the Shiba, or trying to clip the Shiba's nails. Knowing that it sounds like a woman being murdered and that you will be concerned that your neighbors are going to call the police and report a domestic disturbance the first time your Shiba emits a Shiba Scream, you are still unprepared for the Shiba Scream. It will make you jump. The intensity and volume are just amazing out of such a little animal.

A note on the Shiba 500. Shibas are dogs of incredible energy. Unless the Shiba is getting a two mile run every day, they will do a Shiba 500 around your house at least once a day for adult dogs, sometimes more for puppies. This is a burst of high speed running amok that can happen at any time. Sometimes it seems entirely unprovoked, other times something as innocent as a human sneeze brings it on. The Shiba will uncurl it's tail, drop it's back end, and a maniacal gleam enters their eyes as they proceed to run laps as fast as they can around your living space. A Shiba 500 lasts.. until the Shiba decides it doesn't want to run anymore. They can corner really well, but in tight quarters they will go horizontal on your walls or furniture. This is also no exaggeration. It might be a see-it-to-believe-it thing, but it's true. It's actually pretty funny as long as you have no fragile, expensive antiques or Italian leather couches.

My Shiba is a big talker. This is something I was unprepared for. Everyone mentions the Shiba Scream, but nobody tells you about the Shiba Yodel. My dog yodels in the morning when I'm coming to let him out of his cage, he yodels when I'm about to feed him, and if I say something to him, chances are, he's going to yodel back at me. I thought, since it was never mentioned in anything that I'd read, that perhaps my Shiba is just more vocal than others. But after discovering some insane man in the Netherlands who has about 10 and watching his YouTube videos, I found out.. they're all that way. The best thing about the Shiba yodel is their glorious sense of timing with it. Kitsune's yodels are often the punchline to a very funny joke, and delivered with killer precision. A well-timed Shiba yodel can have you laughing so hard you cry.

My fiancee swears that our Shiba is a Japanese chaos spirit sent here to teach him the art of patience. Kitsune thinks he's a slow learner.

I never knew my life was dull until I brought home a Shiba Inu. Now I can't imagine life without one.

For more information on the Shiba Inu, please visit these websites:

National Shiba Inu Club of America

National Shiba Inu Rescue

Shiba Sports dot com

A Tale of Two Dogs

One was the best of dogs. One was the worst of dogs.

Two Shiba Inus, brothers, went to live with their new families on the same night. Both families were non-dog households until the Shibas. Both families had one child. Both children were boys, the same age, a few months apart.

A few months later, the Shiba owners ran into each other. They compared notes. One family said their Shiba was great. He never chewed the furniture, he loved his kennel. Except for some submissive urination, he was easy to housebreak. The dog got along great with their son. The cat was another story, but it wasn't a big deal. The other couple described their dog as a nightmare. He could not be crated or he would howl until released. If he wasn't crated, he went on destructive rampages through the house. He had destroyed a couch, two dining room chairs and one leg of the dining room table. They had tried to keep him confined in a bathroom and he destroyed the flooring and walls. Their son was afraid of the dog, and the dog knew no commands and seemed completely unable to be trained.

How did two littermates end up with such drastically different lives?

The only difference between the two is that in one household, someone was home with the dog virtually all the time. In the other, both people worked 8 to 10 hours a day, and the dog was alone for that time. One family had unlimited time to spend with the dog, the other did not.

The lesson: Good dogs aren't born. They're made. And it takes time. (A whole lot of precious time.. you know you were thinking it, too.) Time is the most valuable thing you can spend, right? If you're getting a new puppy, invest your time in the dog. You will never be sorry that you did.

This is a true Tale of Two Dogs. It's the tale of my Shiba Inu, Kitsune, and his brother, Bear.

If you and every member of your household is out of the house for 8 hours a day, maybe you should look into adopting an older dog. A dog can't be potty trained on that schedule, let alone learn any manners. By the time most people realize that, they've already got a monster of their own making on their hands.

Many people think this can be worked around via the use of doggy daycares. In some cases, it can. It still requires an investment of time (and a monetary investment, most doggy daycares aren't cheap) on the part of the owner. Why can't someone train a dog for someone else? Because dogs aren't dumb. Just because I can get a dog to listen to me doesn't mean it will listen to a damn thing anyone else says. Dogs, like children, know who they can put one over on and who is going to make them tow a line. They act accordingly.