It's very hard not to give in

So I did. After a few weeks of being in his new home, Kidou finally grasped the concept of "Wow, humans eat yummy things too!". Since then, he'd come over everytime I eat something. He would sit down real close to me and attack my conscious with his ADORABLE puppy eyes. I've read countless resources on dog behavior. All resources stress DO NOT encourage begging for food during dining time by giving the dog food. Easy for them to say. I mean, how can you resist a look like that? Whatever, Kidou's a good boy and never harassed or threatened me for food. He just comes, sits down, and patiently camps there until I finish eating. I can live with that. As a result, he'll often be rewarded with some of my food - of course, healthy things only, like low sodium cooked meats or cheese!

Kidou eats a lot

By that I mean he has an appetite for everything, despite just having a full serving of meal. He's interested in oranges, sweet potatoes, rice, and anything else I'm having for dinner myself. Maybe he's growing again? He's a teenager now. Speaking of teenager, the much feared teenage symptoms are here. Yesterday, I found a small blotch of liquid on the carpet. From deduction, it can only be his pee...man! Owning a puppy definitely isn't all cakes and rainbows.

Kidou's childhood photos and his family!

Do you see the resemblance? Daddy - Kyuudou Credit and source: http://www.godaikoso.com Mommy - Tamatsubasa Credit and source: http://www.godaikoso.com The babies - Kidou and Kano Credit and source: http://www.godaikoso.com I do have photos of a 4months old Kano but I will not post it unless I obtain the permission. She's a very lovely girl.

Kidou's first few days at home

I met Kidou at Yori's house. He was such an active, fluffy, amazing pup! He was definitely show quality except hes a little too small - but of course to me it's just extra cute :) His redness is pure and fierce, his urajiro perfect, his tail perkedand full. In my opinion, he looks prettier than any other shibas I've met. I was hooked. Surprisingly, Yori did not screen me. Perhaps emailing me and meeting me in person were enough for her to judge. She was right. Kidou will have a loving, well-off family for his lifetime, I promise. He was very excited on the car ride and very hard to control in the Petco shop when we were shopping. After getting home, he was very active yet somewhat anxious. However, he had a voracious appetite! He enjoyed heartily some Wellness kibble and fresh raw salmon for dinner. No, he did not like his "Petco Ortho Pad" - at least not in the way i hoped. The next day, he got into a depression which worried me sick! I almost got into a depression myself. He wouldn't eat, or go out, or poo. He would crouch down at the furthest corner of the room all dejected looking. I sought advice from Yori and forum members. Many told me it's normal for any puppy who just got to a new home. I suppose that makes sense. Day 3, still very depressed. Pooped once in the morning thank goodness. I figured that he's sad and SMELLY so I gave him a bath with the oatmeal dog shampoo. Except a few escape attempts it went smoothly. In the end, he licked himself through and through and.......guess what! He's no longer depressed! He's bouncy and active and playful again! Everyone gets cheered up by vanilla scent right? The bath did wonders to cure his depression. Since then, Kidou has been normal. He pooped everyday or every other day. I'm happy that he adjusted to his new home so quickly. Of course, I did a lot to help, such as doing things on the floor instead of on my desk so that I could be at his level, etc. It paid off! I'm so happy (and distracted) that Kidou is in my life now.

The importance of research and planning

How did I get my puppy? Like many, I knew nothing about what to look for when adding a new canine member to the family. I just wanted a puppy that looks cute and is active. So At first, I visited PetSmart and Petco hoping to buy a puppy "off the shelf". Turns out they don't sell puppies, or kittens for that matter. Hmm, weird and disappointing! I then google searched "shiba inu puppy" and found several promising websites, including kijiji, pattyspups, and nextdaypets. To my disappointment again, I couldn't find any puppies near my area. As clueless as I was, thankfully I still firmly believed in meeting the puppy before making a payment unlike others who, for whatever reason, are fine with shipping. I was stumped. Not able to find a puppy, I went into the obsessive research phase. That's when I learned the shocking truths about puppy mills, backyard breeders, and pet shop puppies. I was deeply concerned. Even if one's indifferent to the moral aspect of such businesses, it would still be better to go with a reputable breeder's puppy because of the vet bills one may save in the long run. I highly recommend reading the wonderful posts in this blog if you need more convincing. Research has changed me from a clueless newb to an educated, informed buyer. Now I look back, I shudder at the thought that I almost got a puppy from nextdaypets had one been available nearby. A puppy from such sources could lead to a legion of behavioral, genetic, and social problems. So please research and avoid making the mistake that I almost ended up making.