I want to go see it!!! The puppies are so adorable!
You can see the movie trailer on You Tube here. Warning: It is sad. You might cry. I cried and I didn't think I would.
A Tale of Mari and Three Puppies
There's a new Japanese film about Shibas. It is based on a true story about how a Shiba mom and her three puppies survived the 2004 earthquake in Yamakoshi Village. You can read about the original story here. The movie website is all in Japanese, so I don't understand it, but there are a few cute pictures.
I want to go see it!!! The puppies are so adorable!
You can see the movie trailer on You Tube here. Warning: It is sad. You might cry. I cried and I didn't think I would.
I want to go see it!!! The puppies are so adorable!
You can see the movie trailer on You Tube here. Warning: It is sad. You might cry. I cried and I didn't think I would.
Harness Training
In less than a week, I've been successful in training Loki to accept the harness. He used to be aggressive when we tried to put the harness on, so this is how I trained him out of it.
I hand fed all of his meals and each meal was a training session. I progressed gradually with baby steps. (By the way, this is a step-in type of harness.)
He still hates it, but at least now he is no longer aggressive. Without the aggression issue, we can then move on to making positive associations with the harness on. In particular, the harness means we are going for a car ride, which often means we are going to the dog park.
I hand fed all of his meals and each meal was a training session. I progressed gradually with baby steps. (By the way, this is a step-in type of harness.)
Step #1: I put kibble around harness on the floor and let him eat without me around (But be careful that the dog doesn't chew on the harness.)
Step #2: Just like Step #1, but with me sitting next to the harness.
Step #3: I ask for his paw with the harness laying harmlessly on the ground. Treat for offering paw without retracting it right away.
Step #4; I pick up the harness and put it through my arm, then ask for his paw. Treat for offering paw and shaking 5 times. No retracting allowed.
Step #5: I pick up the harness and put it through my arm, then ask for his paw. Treat for offering paw and shaking in such a way so that the harness hangs off of his leg rather than my arm. No retracting allowed.
Step #6: I pick up the harness and put it through my arm, then ask for his paw. Then I use my other hand to lift up one side of the harness as if I were going to put it on. But I don't actually put it on.
Step #7: Just like Step #6, except I do both sides. So I do lift up both sides of the harness as if I were going to put it on. But I don't actually put it on.
Step #8: I put the harness on completely. I leave it on for 2 seconds and then remove it.
He still hates it, but at least now he is no longer aggressive. Without the aggression issue, we can then move on to making positive associations with the harness on. In particular, the harness means we are going for a car ride, which often means we are going to the dog park.
Harness
I ordered a harness for Loki primarily as a doggy seat belt for car rides. Unfortunately, he hates it with a passion! He can be aggressive when we try to put it on. Then, when he finally does have it on, he is depressed. He lies down and refuses to move. If he does move, its with his tail between his legs. We kept the harness on for awhile, hoping that he would just get used to it.
I hand fed Loki his breakfast this morning, because he was too depressed to eat. Funny enough, I took advantage of the situation and started teaching him a new trick - crawl. It was the perfect new trick for him, because he wanted to lie down & not get up at all (even sit was near impossible). I'm not sure that he "gets" the new trick yet. But I was able to get him to crawl without a food lure & only use my hand gesture as a cue.
After breakfast I took him for a quick walk with the new harness. Lastly, we went for a photo-op in the car. Doesn't he look good in blue?
I bought the harness & car restraint from Champion Canine Designs. The product is very well made and of good quality materials. I would recommend it based on the product itself. However, I found the customer service to be severely lacking. It took me a few weeks between the time I ordered it to the time I actually received the product. I emailed them with no response & I called only to be told that the voice mail box was full. Nevertheless, even though I never heard back from them, I did finally receive the product.
I hand fed Loki his breakfast this morning, because he was too depressed to eat. Funny enough, I took advantage of the situation and started teaching him a new trick - crawl. It was the perfect new trick for him, because he wanted to lie down & not get up at all (even sit was near impossible). I'm not sure that he "gets" the new trick yet. But I was able to get him to crawl without a food lure & only use my hand gesture as a cue.
After breakfast I took him for a quick walk with the new harness. Lastly, we went for a photo-op in the car. Doesn't he look good in blue?
I bought the harness & car restraint from Champion Canine Designs. The product is very well made and of good quality materials. I would recommend it based on the product itself. However, I found the customer service to be severely lacking. It took me a few weeks between the time I ordered it to the time I actually received the product. I emailed them with no response & I called only to be told that the voice mail box was full. Nevertheless, even though I never heard back from them, I did finally receive the product.
Loki'sThanksgiving
Yummy yummy! A treat like this only comes once a year.
We only gave it to him for 5 minutes, but what a wonderful 5 minutes they were. (We didn't want him to really start gnawing on the bones.)
We only gave it to him for 5 minutes, but what a wonderful 5 minutes they were. (We didn't want him to really start gnawing on the bones.)
Holiday Shopping
We all went Christmas shopping at a dog-friendly mall in LA, Westfield's Century City Mall. It is an outdoor mall and many of the stores there welcome dogs. We saw lots of other people with their dogs - so cute! One jewelry store (Iridesse) even held an event trying to help rescue dogs. They had a few dogs in their store wearing "Adopt me" signs, and the store was also donating some amount of money to the rescue organization for every customer purchase.
It took awhile for Loki to get used to the crowds of people. It was a bit of sensory overload for him.
Of course our gorgeous & cute puppy got lots of attention! One lady even approached us to ask for stud service! Our little guy is neutered, but he still looks like a stud muffin.
Then for a few minutes, I went into Victoria's Secret while Yun took Loki to browse in Tiffany's.
And you wouldn't believe what happened next. While Yun was talking to a saleslady, Loki decided that right smack in the middle of Tiffany's was the perfect place to poop. Of all places, he chose Tiffany's!!!
Despite not being able to discern what is an acceptable pooping spot, he was able to figure out that shrubbery was the correct place for peeing. He was great the first two times peeing, then the last time, he peed on the Christmas tree. It's hard being a pup. All other trees are acceptable for peeing, why not this one as well?
Lastly, Loki even got to taste some Pinkberry! Pinkberry was (and still is) very popular dessert in LA. They just opened up a store in the Century City Mall, so we went to check it out and see what all the fuss was about. The frozen yogurt part of it got Loki's seal of approval, but not the raspberry topping. (Okay, I know, technically, it's not frozen yogurt, but that's what it looks & tastes like, so that's what I'm going to call it.)
It took awhile for Loki to get used to the crowds of people. It was a bit of sensory overload for him.
Of course our gorgeous & cute puppy got lots of attention! One lady even approached us to ask for stud service! Our little guy is neutered, but he still looks like a stud muffin.
Then for a few minutes, I went into Victoria's Secret while Yun took Loki to browse in Tiffany's.
And you wouldn't believe what happened next. While Yun was talking to a saleslady, Loki decided that right smack in the middle of Tiffany's was the perfect place to poop. Of all places, he chose Tiffany's!!!
Despite not being able to discern what is an acceptable pooping spot, he was able to figure out that shrubbery was the correct place for peeing. He was great the first two times peeing, then the last time, he peed on the Christmas tree. It's hard being a pup. All other trees are acceptable for peeing, why not this one as well?
Lastly, Loki even got to taste some Pinkberry! Pinkberry was (and still is) very popular dessert in LA. They just opened up a store in the Century City Mall, so we went to check it out and see what all the fuss was about. The frozen yogurt part of it got Loki's seal of approval, but not the raspberry topping. (Okay, I know, technically, it's not frozen yogurt, but that's what it looks & tastes like, so that's what I'm going to call it.)
Thanksgiving
We had Thanksgiving at our place this year. It was Yun's first time making Thanksgiving dinner & it was scrumptious! Loki got to eat various scraps of turkey including the yummy organs. Yummy!
To better accomodate our guests, his exercise pen was cut in half for the evening.
Belly rubs from Mike!
To better accomodate our guests, his exercise pen was cut in half for the evening.
Belly rubs from Mike!
Turkey Day is coming!
Wow! A big frozen turkey! Yummy!
After Loki licked all over the plastic packaging, he curled up next to the turkey and just watched it. He's been staring at the turkey ever since we brought it home. He's so funny.
After Loki licked all over the plastic packaging, he curled up next to the turkey and just watched it. He's been staring at the turkey ever since we brought it home. He's so funny.
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