Recap of this week:
Farrah got her final OFA exam and the films look “Good”.
We got some good walks in this week, and although the weather has been very cold and foggy, we did get a nice photo. I think this would make a pretty water color, and that’s just what I have planned for it:
A video of the dogs being silly before dinner time:
New Shiba Sports chat tonight approximately 4:30 pm PMT. Feel free to drop in and share stories of your sporty Shiba adventures:
It was a great show weekend. I saw some nice dogs and got the chance to mingle with good people. This AM was also a good but nippy 24 degree walk with our Golden Retreiver friends, Oliver and Morgan. Farrah also had her OFAs and was a very good girl.
Friday was a rescue transport day for us, and a spur of the moment trip to Portland. It’s always a pleasure to lend a hand to Shibas 4 Life rescue, and I wish these 2 girls all the luck. They are very sweet and will great pets. They were relinquished due to owner disability and seem very well socialized and behaved:
Rainey and Bria are available for adoption via Northwest Shibas 4 Life Rescue
Here are some interesting links for the week:
http://caninechronicle.com/current-articles/we-are-not-judging-statues/
http://dogknobit.com/2012/12/29/is-the-dog-fancy-at-a-tipping-point/
http://baddogagility.com/category/visual-dictionary/
For the agility people!
http://www.dogemate.com/
WTF! This is pure craziness right here.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/my-puppy-my-self/201102/unified-dog-theory-xi-bold-new-prescription-training-puppies-dont
This one threw me a little. There are valid points, and the main message I took from it was age appropriate material and socialization are more important than learning obedience. Don’t micromanage and let the puppies be puppies.
Shiba Sports Chat tonight at 5pm till whenever. I will discuss the articles listed above!
http://www.chatzy.com/59207017935229
Shiba Sports Chat is tonight at 5pm until whenever:
http://www.chatzy.com/59207017935229
I will be hosting chat from Flyball practice with the Seattle Flydogs, and Beebe, Ike and Farrah will be with me. For starters, topics will include “Offleash Recall” and “Building Working Drive” in Shibas.
In honor of tonight’s chat, here is a video and spam of our morning hike with some offleash Beebe action:
Geek warning! We passed a place in the hike that was very marshy and it reminded me of the Dead Marshes in Mordor from Lord of the Rings:
Don’t forget, tonight is Shiba Sports Chat at 5pm PMT (
http://www.chatzy.com/59207017935229
)
Please feel free to drop in with any questions. Topics will include “Wrapping up the training of 2012″ and “Obedience Platform Building”.
Don’t know what Obedience Platforms are? Here’s a good video:
These are a new wonderful positive tool I was introduced to, to help with precision heeling, go-outs, fronts, and body awareness. These are different from Agility travel planks, which focus on teaching and proofing 2 on 2 off contacts, although they look similar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vj49YAtJFA
The premise is to highly reward the dog for chosing to get on the platform. Clicker training would work well for this, but verbal markers are also good. Eventually, whenever the dog sees the platform, they go running to stand on it. If you watch the video, you will see how this can be shaped into snappy finishes and straight sits, as the dog quickly learns where in space it’s body is, and that it doesn’t want to fall off the sides. This is 100% positive reward, and is quite a leap from the traditional obedience classes offered when I started out, which is why I think this is a great method for teaching Shibas (and all dogs). No leash corrections needed, and in fact, there is no leash at all!
Anyways, my training center had a Platform Party and I made a special set for Farrah:
Farrah “helps” cut the foam and yoga mat pieces to her size. We went with a pink and purple and argyll theme. Use spray glue to afix the matting to the foam board.
Next, select a fashionable base color of duct tape. Farrah of course, chooses pink. It’s easy to wrap the tape around. Make 2 passes so no foam shows.
Pink, purple and grey argyll. Sort of an East meets West thing with a Japanese dog. It’s matches her Hello Kitty collar.
Velcro, with fancy argyll pattern, holds the two halves in place for travel.
Farrah’s was the smallest. Those on the end are for Newfoundlands.
We love our new platforms!
Blurry iPhone picture aside, Farrah and Moose the newfie are super in love.
Ta dah! We are on our way to perfect heeling and straight fronts.
I upgraded! This blog will still remain active, but now you can see updates on my blog, from my new site, at www.masakadoshiba.com
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from us to you!
Oh, and hooray about that whole Armageddon thing, lol.
10/12/2012
What involves pigs, hunting and dogs?
Truffles!
I’ve been keeping a little secret. I have been learning the art of truffle hunting with my Shibas and Kai over the last few months. I have definitly become a fungus fan and the Pacific Northwest hosts it’s own special variety of truffles which rival the traditional Italian truffle in fine dining. This region also boasts some select wild edible mushrooms that people are having luck searching for using dogs, and the season for fungus finding is now upon us.
I’ve been working with Beebe and Farrah (Shibas) and it seems as of now that Beebe is the best and most keen to it, and of course is the most seasoned and experienced dog, so I expected this. I did some research on how truffle dogs are traditionally trained, and enrolled in classes. I began with simple retrieve games using a hollow ball with scent inside, and then feeding and praise with retrieves and successful finds in the yard. Then I started burying it in duff (the strata that truffles like to fruit in) in wooded areas and under the pine trees in my yard.
This week in class, Beebe located her first real truffles in duff boxes and became the world’s first truffle hunting Shiba. I am super proud of her. She definitly knows the scent and what to look for and has a good work ethic, so it will be up to me to keep her exposed to the scent and searching in various environments, and make sure it’s rewarding for her.
Next week we hit the woods and setup some hides under the trees rain or shine. Regardless of our success with finding any wild edibles, it’s a great excuse to get outdoors and enjoy nature with a trusted companion. This breed can be so versatile!
This thread will document our mushroom and truffle hunting progress.
http://masakadoshiba.wordpress.com/truffle-hunting-with-shiba-inu/
There are two adult male Shiba Inu available for placement to screened and approved homes where they can be loved and spoiled. They are show champions who are retiring and are currently living with a reputable AKC breeder.
About these boys: they are gorgeous and well socialized stable adult males. They can play with any other dog without issue and are extremely sweet and social. They are 100% health certified with OFA and completely healthy. Breeder requests a contract prior to placement.
We want the very best homes for them, where they can be spoiled and get their daily walkies and enjoy their own couch and toys. Please email inquiry to masakadoshiba@hotmail.com with detailed information about yourself and your living situation.
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