Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Everybody...Boy I realize now how long it has been since I have posted on here, when I think about all the news I have to share.

Hoshi and Shiba are doing very well in our new home. We had the fence installed right away, and they love having the freedom. It was a bit of a learning experience for us however. They still need a walk, even if it's just a little one, every day. Over the winter Hoshi went through a horrible poop-eating phase that was VERY messy and took us a lot of effort to break him of it. Now he wont poop in the yard, we have to minimally take him down the street to do that. Amazing how much these dogs like to keep their space clean. Shiba will use the yard, she has one little corner where she always goes which makes for easy cleanup. (Note: Hoshi is discriminating enough not to eat Shiba's poop)

It's funny, they treat the yard like it's just another room in the house. The weather has been so nice, they spend all day out there sometimes. It's good to have because they don't seem to get as many ticks on them out there as the do from our walks on the street. Hoshi especially likes the stone patio, which I think will be a godsend for his seasonal allergies.

Most of our free-time has been consumed with home-improvement projects. We did a full overhaul of the kitchen which is nearing completion finally. We also did work to two of the bedrooms and one of the bathrooms. Phew, we are tired and broke! Fortunately Shiba and Hoshi haven't minded much since they have been enjoying their new digs and outdoor space so much.

My last bit of news is that our family is growing! We are expecting our first baby, due date is July 27th. It's a girl. I'm not sure if Shiba and Hoshi are aware of the changes that will come. I think they will be ok and accepting of her, but I worry a bit about Hoshi being a little too interested in baby's toys. My hope is the summer heat will make them both lazy enough for a fairly smooth transition.

Well that is all folks, hope everyone is doing well and has a lovely Spring!
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My crew includes Shiba and Hoshi the Shiba Inus; Aurora, Seneca, Murtle, Rainbow, Sunshine,Raindrop, Diggy, Gimlet, and Luna the Leopard Geckos and José the Rosy Boa.
Shiba's Dogster Page
www.dogster.com/?154312
Hoshi's Dogster Page
www.dogster.com/?197019

What lovely and good news! Congratulations!!!

Sounds as if your shibas are happy in their new surroundings. The patio should be a great place for a nap in the sunshine.

A baby sounds like fun, Mom. Could we get one?
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Anne, Bill, and Murphy

Congrats on the upcoming addition to your family!

Artemis would never poop in our yard.

I'm glad you were able to break Hoshi of his poop eating. How unpleasant--especially given how much shibas like to lick their people (at least mine does)!

Home improvements are the best (and the worst in terms of the upheaval they cause). . .

Hi Meg and congrats on the upcoming family expansion. Sounds like things are progressing well with the new digs. It had to be fun watching Hoshi and Shiba romp around the yard for the first few times not being tethered on a leash. The poop eating could be a problem... I've caught Beni and Keiko before but I go out everyday to clean the yard. The winter is the hardest when most of it is hidden under the snow. You are right about the dogs needing to be walked even though the fence is up. I take the three stooges for almost daily walks even though they all love the yard. You'll have to put up a pict or two of the two in the new yard.
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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

Thanks Bob! It sure was great to watch them. Shiba takes advantage of the space a lot more than Hoshi does. It was completely worth the expense to see her happiness at getting a daily race around the yard. The funny thing in when they play fight in the yard, their "arena" is always the patio, as if going off the patio is "out of bounds". I'm always saying you have the whole yard, use it! But they are funny buggers.

I do have some photos and videos I can post, I'll try to get around to it this week sometime.
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My crew includes Shiba and Hoshi the Shiba Inus; Aurora, Seneca, Murtle, Rainbow, Sunshine,Raindrop, Diggy, Gimlet, and Luna the Leopard Geckos and José the Rosy Boa.
Shiba's Dogster Page
www.dogster.com/?154312
Hoshi's Dogster Page
www.dogster.com/?197019

Yay Meg, that is awesome news about your family!!! And baby Meg is coming! How awesome. How do you think the dogs will do? I bet they'll be great. My 2 were never socialized with kids and they love Gwen and Penelope. Other kids they take a while to warm up to still.

In other news Niko like poopcicles, yes only frozen dog poop suits his discriminating palette. We just pick it up every day to eliminate the issue.

Avari does now poop in the yard, but really out of default - because since having 2 kids they are walked a little less and in the yard a little more, when i walk them I swear they each poop 3-4 times to make up for the missed days! lol
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Alicia,Owned by 2 Shibas, Niko and Avari, 3 cats, Miss Kitty, Mr. Grobbles and Al E. Cat and 2 beautiful daughters, Gwen and Penelope

I think Hoshi and Shiba will be pretty good with her. I plan to use a carrier on walks instead of a stroller, so she'll be "up high" a lot of the time. I'm hoping that will dive home the distinction that she is human and part of the family. Cesar Milan suggests bringing home the placenta for the dogs to sniff before baby comes home...but apparently even his wife wouldn't go for that LOL.

My biggest concern is when baby is old enough for toys that Hoshi will try to grab them from her and she will cry. Hoshi is pretty grabby as it is. We're trying to work with him on that, but we're still going to have to pay special attention and keep an eye on him. Shiba is so gentle these days, I have no worries about her. For years I have made a point to "manhandle" them a lot, and put them through the sort of torture that a child might. (Ear pulling, hugs around the neck etc) Shiba's breaking point usually results in her digging at a blanket but her bite inhibition is really good. Hoshi's breaking point manifests itself as a Shiba 500.

My parents said their dog got very territorial over my brother and me when we were babies and my grandparents tried to visit. Shiba and Hoshi are good guard dogs but I don't really see that happening with people they know to be family.

Ohh, I thought at first Hoshi was only going for poopsicles, sorry to be gross but I once caught him gobbling it up only seconds after it came out the other end once! UGH!
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My crew includes Shiba and Hoshi the Shiba Inus; Aurora, Seneca, Murtle, Rainbow, Sunshine,Raindrop, Diggy, Gimlet, and Luna the Leopard Geckos and José the Rosy Boa.
Shiba's Dogster Page
www.dogster.com/?154312
Hoshi's Dogster Page
www.dogster.com/?197019