Can a Shiba be Trusted?

I spent Sunday with my family. It was my mom's birthday and we decided to have a BBQ. Since the house is in a wooded area with no neighbors in sight, I decided to let Simba be free and off leash. This is one of his favorite things in the world. He prances around and smells everything. Yesterday he even ventured into the woods, which immediately made me nervous because there are a lot of deer that he would undoubtedly chase. But Simba ran freely and then came back within a matter of minutes.

When the grilling began he was so totally transfixed that he did not move a muscle. He sat nicely right next to the meat and hoped that something would fall to the ground or his consumption. Even though Buddha was equally as mesmerized by the platter of meat; I couldn't trust him to stay. He seems to have less concern for coming back if he is off leash and he is always looking for squirrels.

The risks outweigh the benefits of allowing dogs to go unleashed, at least in my perspective, but I can say that I love seeing the look on their faces when they have a few moments of unrestrained bliss! Maybe if I move to a state that a) doesn't have a leash law and b) has wide open spaces for the dogs to roam c) and my dogs can be trusted to come back ....maybe, MAYBE then I will let them walk around without a leash.

Death Of A New Doggy Bed

I was so excited to replace one of the old doggy beds that the pups had been using. The colors had become dull and it wasn't much of a bed anymore. On several occasions I had bought expensive beds for the dogs and only one of those beds has survived thus far. This time I found a very classy looking red bed that would match with the home decor. The boys seemed to be adjusting to the bed so I left it in the living room for them to lay in and woe and behold I come home to a shredded bed and two guilty looking dogs. Were they giving me a hint? Was the bed THAT hideous? I'll never be sure but I'm not buying another dog bed....at least not for a while ;-)

Puppy Love

The pups are always eager to see us when we return after a long day of work. It seems that even the special frozen treats that I make for them every night do not hold their interest for too long. The Dog Whisperer would not be happy because upon entering the doorway, my pups jump up on me. Buddha howls while Simba flattens his ears and make funny noises. Simba then proceeds to bite at my clothes. They act as though they have been alone for weeks without food or water. Quite the contrary! I do everything I can to make their day by day experience a pleasant one. I concoct elaborate treats, I take them to the dog park so that they can run, I give them toys to keep them entertained, leave the TV on for good doggy movies and even leave the windows open so that they can hear the outside world.

Alas, the pups miss their pack at the end of the day. I'm sure that being alone in a house all day is worse than going to work all day.... I take that back. They can have my job and I will have theirs! ;-)