She’s doing a great job coming out of her shell. Instead of hiding in or under shady places now, she is ready to meet the world with her bad ass Shiba self. I originally thought she would be okay with meeting new people but she’s more Shiba than I thought. Goo Goo will duck away from being pet by a stranger like Shio! She’s much more comfortable in our local dog run too. Still no playing with other dogs but she’s running around and exploring the space and is much better at walking with me while leashed.

We’ve given her a bath as well. She doesn’t like baths but is very good about tolerating them. No Shiba screams or scratching to climb out. Same temperament at the vet’s office.

Bath time for Goo Goo!

She’s also successfully learned two new commands: ‘Sit’ and ‘Paw’. More training will come as she becomes more comfortable.

Goo Goo also loves playing with Shio. They run around in circles in our living room and uses our furniture as a jungle gym. Our jumbo sized ottoman has become their personal wrestling platform.

Goo Goo has grabbed hold of Shio's forehead!

Playing with Shio

Goo Goo really enjoys following me around everywhere in the apartment. Shio will now follow her while she’s following me so I constantly have a Shiba train when I walk around.

Our favorite nicknames for her so far are Lady Goo Goo, The Goo-ster, and Goo Goo 2S.

This girl is awesome!

Smiling for the camera!

We arrived at the park and walked up to the Great Hill.

He looked to his right.

He looked to his left.

Back to the right for another looky-loo.

And stood around some more.

Then went to his favorite protest position when I tried to get him to walk around.

Driving in the fact that he refuses to budge by being dead weight.

It’s true. Our Shiba is a diva. A royal diva pain the the… well, you know.

Then it finally dawned on me. My favorite thing about Shio is that he is unapologetically and brutally honest about everything. I know that dogs aren’t built with the mental capacity to lie but it’s utterly refreshing to know that there is always someone in your life that will always be honest. If Shio wants food, he will follow that little bite of food that you’re holding in your hand with desperate eyes. If he wants you to play he’ll play bow, wag his tail and play bark despite how tired you feel. If he doesn’t want you to hold him, which he never does, he will take all the might in his four paws to push you away and escape.

Now, it sounds like Shio is a very selfish little fur monster with no regard for the way that any one else feels but isn’t that great? He’ll never say, “I’m FINE” and have us guess whether he’s really “fine” or just saying it. We know that he always want to eat and play or when he wants to be left alone. I think we all need honesty like that in our lives.

So what’s your favorite thing about your dog(s)?

But he does not enjoy getting caught in the rain.

He does not like it.

It’s THAT time of the year… the time to gorge ourselves on booze, food and presents galore. It’s also time for the “best of” countdowns!

Counting down our favorite moments on this blog from 2010:

10. The size of Shio’s ego vs. reality

9. Bath time!

8. Any video of Shibas frolicking in knee deep snow is a winner. This one is our personal favorite.

7. Remember when Shio resisted walking here? And here. And here. The list could go on and on…

6. …Oh wait – the list does go on! More of Shio’s leash walking protests here, here and here. Last one here. Phew! That was a lot.

5. He loves us! Proof that Shio really really loves us!

4. The day that Shio became a real city slicker with his first subway ride.

3. Crimped fur-do.

2. Who’z in da house? Jersey Shore in da house. *paw pump*

1. A Sephora experience unlike any other you’ve witnessed before.

We enjoyed the beach so much that we went back a second time that day! My niece, Lucas, Shio and myself caught the beautiful sunset next to the TWA Flight 800 memorial on the beach.

My niece adorably wrote the dog’s names in the sand:

Here they are standing next to their names:

We let the dogs run around but when we reached crowded areas, we leashed the dogs back up. My niece is a natural at walking two excited pups down the beach’s shoreline! See the memorial’s flags in the background?After a long and fun day, Shio passed out at home!

Did someone forget to tell you that I’m a Shiba?

I always get my way.

Loves,

Shio

I think he does this on purpose to drive me batty!