Jazz, A Tale of Royalty

Messing with the Dog

2011-01-26T13:00:00.002-05:00

I do my best to not interrupt Jazz’s schedule on anything. I also tend to keep things in the exact same spot to make it easier for her. Last night, I was reminded why. I decided to rearrange my bedroom. I live in a much smaller house than I did a couple of years ago, so there is a lot more “stuff” in my bedroom than what used to be. While I’ve gone through a lot of stuff – there’s still a fair bit that remains. As I pick up new hobbies or passions, my needs for space changes. My latest passion is sewing, so I’ve got to have a place to work and there is nowhere else in the house. I figured out how to rearrange all this “stuff” and add my large craft table (been in storage) into my room.

This required me moving my bed into a corner instead of in the middle of the room. Well, the Queen was highly upset at this. Add in the fact that this meant her crate and ottoman and pillows had to be moved – she was not happy. Every time I moved something, she softly woofed. Once I got my bed set back up, she jumped up on it and walked every inch smelling it. I don’t know what she thought happened to it, but it was pretty funny. Getting the large craft table into the house is going to be a process as it is too wide to go through any door. It’s this massive steel work table my dad got from “somewhere”. I painted it black eons ago and it is just perfect. It’s heavy and a pain to move – it is going to have to be angled through every door and the hallway. I plan to do this part this weekend.

The good news is that Jazz’s crate easily slides under this table (when I had this in my old workshop, aka the garage, Jazz had her large crate under there) with plenty of room for me to slide my chair under. The end of the table where her crate will be under is where I plan to place my storage containers for supplies. This will give her a designated place to be where she’s still really close but will keep her from being right under my feet.

Everything else in the room will shift because of this…maybe this means a few more items will go away. I’ve already decided to use my mother’s cedar hope chest as a bench on the side of my bed. It will be well padded with a pillow – I have a feeling Jazz will be using this as another perch. My bed sits high enough up that the Queen has a footstool to gain access to the bed – I’m hoping the chest will eliminate this need. When lightning and thunder abound, Jazz likes to curl up under my feet when I’m at my desk – now, the crate will be so close she can go in there and still see me – I think this will help a bit there, too. She will now have “official” spots in 3 different areas of the room. Even though her ottoman was in its spot, she refused to go near it – I don’t know if it’s because there was different stuff near it or if she wanted to make sure the bed didn’t move anymore.

Some dogs really freak out with changes – I know of friend of mine had problems with boxes. His dog got very upset anytime boxes came out in the house. Dogs are just a bit strange…

Frustrations

2011-01-18T12:04:00.000-05:00

Many times in my life, I am seriously frustrated. It usually is work-related which may mean I come home exhausted - mentally & physically. All I want to do is crawl under the covers, tuck my head in, and block out everything else. When you have a dog - this usually means you can't do this. The dog's needs come before your own. Unless your dog is some kind of empath - which I swear Jazz is. I'm fortunate to have someone at home with Jazz nearly all the time. She goes out when she has to, but we really try to keep her on a schedule.

Most nights when I come home - Jazz greets me on the carpet (15 feet from the door) as trained to do. Then she runs to her crate to find an offering worth her owner (it varies nearly every day), she runs this back to me, shows it to me, and then takes it and jumps on my bed with it. It is now my job to take it from her and toss it for her to catch. This can go on for a while or just a couple of throws - it depends on Jazz and her ability to read me. Last night, I was mentally exhausted - she pulled out her newest toy (a Christmas gift from her Secret Santa) and brought it to me. I tossed it a couple of times and then she tossed it off the bed. I sat down and she kept pushing at me until I was laying down and she was curled up next to me.

Twenty minutes later, I wake up from my short nap to find Jazz anchoring me to the bed by sleeping across my legs and to find that my attitude was much, much better. This isn't the first time she's done that and I'm sure it won't be the last - I'm just thankful she's in my life.

Snow, Snow, Snow...

2011-01-10T19:00:00.000-05:00

Well, for the second time in a very short time span, we have snow. Jazz likes snow (as well as she likes anything wet on her paws) when it is nice and soft. In another words, she's not a fan of the iced-up version we tend to get in the South. We got approximately 6 inches over the course of last night. Then it began, sleeting this morning so the snow on the ground got this great crunchy shell. This meant that Jazz got to have her boots on her front two paws - partially for traction, partially for the exposed skin due to allergies.

Sally comes for a visit...

2010-09-13T12:10:00.001-04:00

It's not often that Jazz gets to see Sally the Pug anymore. For a while it was a daily occurance...then it drifted down to weekly...and now, it's sporadic. A pipe burst the apartment where my niece & brother live, so that had to relocate everything so the complex could re-carpet. Sally came over and spent the night. Jazz & Sally's friendship had some bumps early on - much growling and snapping on Jazz's part and wounded pup looks on Sally's. Over time, Jazz began to tolerate and then to play with Sally. She's still a bit rough with Sally - even though Sally does a good job holding her own now that she's older.

Things that I noticed:

1. Pugs by nature of their smooshed nose are noisy breathers. Sally grunts like a pig and is a bit of a barker.

2. Jazz is extremely quiet in comparison, but when Sally began barking a lot, she added in a couple of quiet woofs - just in case they were necessary.

3. Jazz only likes to play on her terms - when she wants and how she wants. She was not fond of Sally initiating the play - I equate it to not bowing before the Queen before addressing her.

4. My bed is the most important place in the world to Jazz - she defended it from Sally while Sally slept in her crate during the night. Kid you not, she was at the edge closest to Sally and stared down at the crate all night.

5. When Sally broke the rule about laying on my pillows, Jazz turned into a tattle tale.

6. I love the non-smell of my shiba.

7. Walking two dogs that are not used to walking together is not always a great experience but is fun to watch.

Sally has gone back home, but I was glad to get to see her for a little while.

2010-08-18T09:41:00.000-04:00

These are the 4 shots in sequence.

Jazz & Photography

2010-08-18T09:33:00.000-04:00

I love to see pics of Jazz - that being said, I rarely photoshop her images. Maybe it's because I take so many. I recently had some downtime and took a photo that Angie Wheeler of Angie Wheeler Photography took and played with it. Basically, I started off with the original color copy, desaturated the area at 100% around Jazz. Then, I blurred the background quite a bit. After this, I smudged the photo to get some cool background. Then I dodged the highlights to bring out the green in the bench that I hadn't fully desaturated. I like the way it turned out - very groovy to me....

Dogs & Cars

2010-08-13T09:07:00.001-04:00

For a dog lover, I think one of the worst things you can do is to hit a dog with a car. Many times, there is truly nothing you can do other than stop and hope to find the owner. In my 20+ years of driving, I've hit 3 dogs. Each time, I've come away mad at the owner of the dog. One time, it was a black puppy on a night with no moon and no lighting. I had previously stopped at the house of the owner to give him back his puppies that were playing in the road. When I hit this one and took his poor lifeless body back to the owner – his statement was, "One less to try and find a home for, I guess" – that has stuck with me for the last 15 years.

Last night, I was driving home on a back road. Due to the curves, I was only going about 30 mph when I see a dog running toward the road. I begin to slow down and the dog turns around and heads back into the field. As I am nearing the area where the dog was at, he's nowhere to be seen. Then, all of sudden, the dog bolts out in front of me and I locked down the brakes. Thank goodness no one was behind me. The dog is pushed forward 20 or 30 feet, tumbling the entire time. He gets up and keeps running. I went to get out and the guy (who I assumed was his owner) yells to me, "he's okay, I'll take care of it."

My issue is – why was your dog loose. The county in which I live has a leash/fence law. It's a law that goes unattended as I run into off-leash dogs all the time when I walk the Queen. My biggest fear is Jazz getting loose – I have as many safeguards as I can to prevent it. Protect your dog – keep it within a fence or on a leash.

It's hot...really hot

2010-08-02T13:41:00.001-04:00

Summer is not my favorite time of year - it is simply too hot. This summer seems hotter than it's ever been (it probably isn't). I don't remember ever having this many 90 degree days in one (probably every summer for the last 10 years). Add in the fact that I have a dog who doesn't like the heat or the cold or the wet...and I spend most of my weekends indoors with the Queen. Her preference would be for me to sleep most of the day beside her, getting up to get fresh ice cubes for her water, a snack, maybe some dinner, and lay back down for a nap.

I totally get it - every time I go out the heat drains any energy I might have had....needless to say, the Queen and I anxiously await cooler temperatures so that we can be out and about a lot more...

from southern living

2010-07-30T10:26:00.001-04:00

While not a normal posting about the Queen, this is more a note on how to treat the Queen's handler...

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for hudson: from southern living

via Blue-Eyed Bride by Blue-Eyed Bride on 7/29/10

A few days ago I was going through all of the magazines in my house and tearing out things I liked. Recipes, home decor, articles. And then I filed them all away in page protectors and put them in binders.

I think I threw away about 35 magazines. I try to do this every year, but I always like to hang onto the issues of Southern Living magazine. When I was flipping through the magazines I found this great article and knew that Hudson would need to see it someday. Because someday he'll take a girl out for pizza and a movie. And someday he'll take a girl as his date to a football game– hopefully an SEC football game. And I want him to have an idea of what she may be expecting from him.

I thought I'd share it with all of you to share with your sons and daughters, if you haven't already.

If you're not a southerner you may not appreciate it the way I do, but I like it enough to put it on my blog. I like chivalry. I like to think of myself as independent, sure, but I also like chivalry. And I want my son to treat his future wife, girlfriends, dates, and friends the way that we've always been taught that a man should treat a lady. Especially in the South where traditions don't die easily.

15 Ways to Charm Her

Southern Living, July 2009

By Amy Bickers

"Want to impress a Southern girl? Just think "What would my grandfather have done?"

Number one: We still expect you to give up your seat for a lady. On a bus, at a bar, on a train. . . we don't care where you are. Unless you are at a restaurant and the only lady in sight is the one taking your order, stand up. Now.

On a recent Friday night at a bustling restaurant bar, two friends and I waited for our table to be called. The barstools were occupied so we stood patiently, sipping wine and chatting about the workweek. When a couple nearby stood up, another woman – who had been there less time than we had – swooped in, reaching across us to put her purse on the stool. This isn't the worst part. It's what happened next: Her male companion then slid onto the other barstool.

Hang on while I do a geography check. Are we not in the South? If ladies are waiting for a seat and you have a Y chromosome, do you sit down? No, sir. No, you do not.

We know modern life is confusing. The roles of men and women have evolved over the years. As Pink once sang, "Shorty got a job, Shorty got a car, Shorty can pay her own rent."

But come on, let's keep some things old-school. My late grandfather- he of the East Texas upbringing, U.S. Navy captain status, and Cary Grant good looks – would never have allowed a woman to stand while he sat. And if you want a Southern woman to love you, neither will you. So, men, here's a short list of things Southern girls still expect from you.

We still expect you to…

Stand up for a lady. Actually, this doesn't just involve chairs.
Know that the SEC has the best football TEAMS IN THE NATION. Big 12 fan? Hmm, perhaps you should keep walking.
Kill bugs. Delta Burke as Southern belle Suzanne Sugarbaker on Designing Women said, ". . .Ya know, when men use Women's Liberation as an excuse not to kill bugs for you. Oh, I just hate that! I don't care what anybody says, I think the man should have to kill the bug!"
Hold doors open. This goes for elevator doors too.
Fix things or build stuff. I once watched in awe as my stepfather built a front porch on the house he shares with my mother. He knew just what to do, cutting every notch, hammering every nail. The project was complete by sunset.
Wear boots occaisionally. Not the fancy, l-paid-$l,000-for-these kind. We're talking about slightly mud-crusted, I-could-have-just-come-in-from-the-field boots.
Take off your hat inside.
Grill stuff.
Call us. If you want to ask us out, don't text and don't e-mail. Pick up the phone and use your voice.
Stand when we come back to the dinner table. "Just a little half-stand is enough to make me melt," my friend Stephanie says.
Pull out chairs. Wait, that's not all. Scoot them back in before we hit the floor.
Pay the tab on the first few dates. "If you ask me out, you pay," Stephanie says. "If I ask you out, you should still pay." Listen, guys, it's just simpler this way.
Don't show up in a wrinkled, untucked shirt. Care about your appearance but not too much. Don't smell better than we do. Don't use mousse or gel. You shouldn't look like you spend more time in front of the mirror than we do.
Never get in bar fights. Patrick Swayze might look cool in Road House, but in reality, bar fights are stupid and embarrassing. You don't look tough. You look like an idiot.
Know how to mix our favorite cocktail JUST THE WAY WE LIKE IT. Fix your favorite too. Sit down on the porch (it's okay if you didn't build it), tell us how your day went, and we'll tell you about ours.

We'll leave the long list to the girl who falls in love with you.

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Lost your dog?

2010-07-16T12:35:00.001-04:00

I have lost a dog before in my life and it is very scary! These days it is easier to get the info out about your dogs. Here's a few suggestions:
1. Do not panic! Begin making a flyer that includes clear picture of dog, name of dog, height/weight/breed description. Make sure there is info on how to contact you - a reward is optional - people who are going to help will help regardless of a reward.
2. Call local shelters, animal control, rescues, and vets
3. Visit local shelters, animal control, rescues, and vets with flyer
4. Post it on local community boards, social networking sites, etc.
5. Make sure the microchip info is up to date - old phone numbers & emails make it difficult to track you down.
6. Get out there and look - your dog recognizes your voice.
7. Place an ad in the newspaper.
8. Contact the shelters, animal control, rescues, and vets again - they have different schedules and they may not be posting the info for everyone to find.

A new idea that I've just come across is this: www.lostpetcards.com
I don't know what the cost is, but you fill in the info and then can have postcards sent out to people within your zip code with your dog's pic on it - what a neat service.

A blog I truly enjoy!

2010-07-15T09:49:00.001-04:00

Our Shibal Inu blog just tickles me. I love the cards and they are now available on etsy - very cool.

Sent to you by LJ via Google Reader:

hygiene.

via Our Shibal Inu by gina on 7/15/10

(click to view larger image)

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I should have known better...

2010-07-03T12:23:00.001-04:00

I spend a ton of time being concerned with Jazz's well-being. I spend a ton of money on harnesses, collars, and leashes. Today, I gave Jazz a bath. She does really well with them so that wasn't a problem. She dried off and I thought it would be a good time to brush her out since she has been shedding so much. I decided to put her on just a collar to make it easier to brush. I grab the brush, put her on the leash, and head outside. We walk over to my Adirondack chair and I sit down. I go to brush Jazz and she is not at the end of the leash. Her collar is, but she isn't. Jazz is walking along the driveway being all frisky. She has on no collar, no leash, nothing. I immediately get up and run toward the door saying a word that means go to a specific space in the house. She trots right behind me and to her spot. I put on a harness and take her back out for brushing. All's well that ends well, I guess. Needless to say, I was a little freaked. Neighbors will be wondering when I got a second job shearing sheep as there are little balls of fluff everywhere.

Thunderstorms, Lightning, and Shakes, oh my!

2010-06-30T09:24:00.001-04:00

Jazz has issues with three loud noises - thunderstorms, fireworks, and guns. We've been working on de-sensitizing her on this, but the biggest problem arises due to the inability to predict thunderstorms and hunters. Fireworks are relatively easy to prepare for - usually the 4th of July & New Year's Eve. It's easy to dose Jazz with melatonin on those days. Hunting is easier than thunderstorms and I make sure she's dosed on opening & closing weekends. Living in the South means unpredictable thunderstorms. It also means you can have a little bit of thunder everyday.

Last night, we had a loud thunderstorm come through. Jazz crawled up into my bed, just trembling. With most dogs, I'd recommend never to cuddle as it only reinforces the behaviour you are trying to get rid of - but with Jazz, it's different. In about 3 minutes, she'd stopped trembling completely. The thunder was still rolling on and about - she was calmly curled up next to me and didn't jump once. She had no melatonin in her whatsoever. 2.5 years ago - Jazz would have trembled at every roll of thunder and kept trembling for an hour or so after. Now, she trembles at the start - I equate to a human jumping at being startled, but then she calms down. She calms quicker if I am home, but as long as there is a human in the house - she's good. Luckily for her, she is very rarely left alone.

She slept the entire night curled up next to me - a rarity of sorts. She tends to start off adjacent to me and move to the foot of the bed or onto her ottoman. While my desensitization to loud stimuli isn't complete, we have definitely made improvements!

Grooming...

2010-06-25T10:59:00.001-04:00

Jazz is relatively easy to groom. Every two weeks, we go to PetSmart to get her nails ground. Jazz doesn't walk on much asphalt or concrete to naturally file them down. In fact, when we lived on a road where we could walk on it, Jazz walked in the grass. She would walk on the road if there was mud or water on the side of the road, but then quickly get back off the road.

Shedding is pretty easy. We vacuum a lot. When it is her time to molt, we use the Furminator. We get enough hair to create another dog. One has to be careful with the Furminator because it is easy to over-brush and thin the hair too much. The moment I finish vacuuming, additional dust balls of hair show up – I don't know where they hide until after I finish vacuuming, but they are really good at it.

Summer is here!

2010-06-18T09:34:00.002-04:00

Well, summer is here - but that doesn't change much when it comes to schedules. The Queen sleeps in a little more during the week. I wish that I was independently wealthy and could be home more. Our electric bill rises dramatically to keep the indoors at the temperature that Jazz likes. Other than that, time keeps marching on and we keep chugging along.

We had a great trip to NC and a wonderful visit with friends. Jazz's photo shoot with Angie Wheeler was awesome! The pics were wonderful and I am still trying to figure out which ones to print. I hear there are plans for a forum NY meetup (http://www.shibainuforum.org/) soon - already trying to figure out how I can meet as many forum members as possible and see a bit of the area. It's been a long time since I was in NY.

Travelling with the Queen...

2010-05-26T15:13:00.003-04:00

Travelling with Queen Jazz is easier than one might think. She curls up and sleeps the whole way - only waking when the car has come to a complete stop. This pic was taken on our return from Raeford as we made a quick stop at Wal-mart to pick up a few essentials. This weekend, we'll be putting on some miles - 370 to Raeford, NC, 162 to York, SC and then back home to the ATL. We have crates, pillows, blankets, food, water, treats, bowls, leashes, collars, harnesses, poo bags, and more. Always take more than you'll need when it comes to your pet - especially food & water. There's no guarantee that you'll find the specialty food you feed in a small town.

The internet & Jazz…

2010-05-18T12:48:00.001-04:00

Years ago when I first got on the information super-highway, I never thought it would be what it is right now. A resource for finding information - sure, keeping in touch with email - great, making friends with people I’d never met because we had the same kind of dog - umm, no. In fact, until a couple of years ago, I would have thought you a little crazy to suggest it. I had a beautiful husky that passed away in 2003 and I was looking for another dog. I found the Shiba and was in love. After I found Jazz, I heard about a site called meetup.com and found out that there were groups of people with the same type dog that met at local dog parks….so, I tried it out. From there, a couple of friends introduced me to a forum that was just about Japanese dogs. I found hundreds of people willing to share their experiences about their dog and to help out other people just getting involved in the breeds.

This forum has helped me with food choices, training choices, and behavior choices. They’ve consoled me when things didn’t work out and encouraged me to keep trying. They’ve helped a member get a great start on her business. In 10 days, I’m going to be meeting up with several of them after a drive of 6 hours to get there. Last year, I drove to PA for a meetup. Several of my friends drove to WI (some 20 hours for a couple) to meetup with other forum members. I’m thankful for the people God has placed in my life…even if it is through the internet. Jazz has benefitted from it, too - without the internet, I never would have found her breeder and been able to bring her home.

My challenge for dog owners is to look for those forums - they can help out, but be aware, not all forums are created equal. Find those meetup groups, get to know people…after all, we only have a short time on this little planet.

Rotating Food

2010-04-07T12:23:00.002-04:00

I have found that many people do not consider the ingredients in the dog food that they buy for their dog. In fact, many look for the cheapest food out there. I’m hoping I can help convince you to look a little closer at the food you feed your pet.

Jazz has issues with grain - specifically, corn. When I got her, she had very little fur on her front paws. She came to me on Eukanuba Sensitive Skin. I began talking with many of my Shiba friends about the fact that her feet weren’t getting any better. The first thing mentioned to me was that Jazz might have a corn allergy. I began doing some research and found out that there are several lines of Shibas that have developed this allergy. I looked at the ingredients of what I had been feeding and while there was not any corn, she was still scratching and her feet looked awful. The formulation might work for dogs just diagnosed, but Jazz’s paws were callused.

I wanted something with a bit more protein.
Eukanuba Sensitive Skin (www.eukanuba.com) :
Nutrient (percent)
Crude Protein not less than 23.00 %
Crude Fat not less than 13.00 %
Crude Fiber not more than 5.00 %
Moisture not more than 10.00 %
Vitamin E not less than 140 IU/kg
Omega-6 Fatty Acids not less than 2.0 %*
Omega-3 Fatty Acids not less than 0.4 %*

After research & recommendations, I decided to try Solid Gold, Barking at the Moon (www.solidgoldhealth.com)
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein, min 41%
Crude Fat, min 20%
Crude Fiber, max 4%
Moisture, max 10%

The first thing I noticed was Jazz ate her food so fast! She really, really liked it. Based on recommendations from some great shiba pals, I also decided to begin a food rotation. The main reason is because of protein levels. I’ve also noticed that most dogs get “bored” eating the same thing day in and day out.

The next on the rotation was Innova Evo, Small Red Bites.
www.evopet.com
Crude Protein (min) 42%
Crude Fat (min) 22%
Crude Fiber (max) 2.5%
Moisture (max) 10%
Linoleic Acid (Omega-6 Fatty Acids) (min) 1.2%
Carbohydrates NFE (max) 15%
Vitamin E (min) 300 IU/kg
Vitamin C (min) 500 mg/kg
Omega-3 Fatty Acids (min) 0.4%
Docosahexaenoic Acid (min) 0.1%
Total Microorganisms (min) 90,000,000 CFU/lb

Calorie Content: 4,370 kcal/kg 527 kcal/cup

Small Red Bites are a staple on our rotation for a couple of reasons: Jazz always eats her Evo and it is easy to find local to me. We now rotate one bag of Evo in-between every other bag.

In the early days of rotation, I also picked up Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance. This was predominately due to it being a lot more accessible. At the publication of this blogpost, I could not get the website to come up so that I could provide the nutrition information.
www.naturalbalanceinc.com

Jazz was not as fond of the Natural Balance Dry Food, so I took it off of rotation. She loves the rolls and we use those as training treats because we can cut them up into smaller pieces.

The next brand that we use sparingly is Merrick’s Before Grain Buffalo. Jazz adores this, but it is not easy for me to find it local. When I drive into the city, I swing by one of the places that sells it.
www.merrickpetcare.com/store/before_grain.php
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein (Not Less Than) 32.0%
Crude Fat (Not Less Than) 15.0%
Crude Fiber (Not More Than) 3.0%
Moisture (Not More Than) 11.0%
Calorie Content:3581 kcal/kg (calculated)
One pound provides 1625 kcal of metabolizable energy (calculated). One cup (100 grams) provides 383 calories. (Caloric content calculated using Modified Atwater Method).

Our most recent addition to Jazz’s rotation is Earthborn Holistic’s Primitive Natural. This is carried by my closest supply store, so I am thrilled Jazz likes this. In addition, if you send your UPC’s to them, they plant trees. It’s a neat marketing gimmick and I send in my UPC’s - currently, they’ve planted 32,800 trees. Everytime, I have going in to my local store to buy this brand, there’s been a coupon attached to it.
www.earthbornholisticpetfood.com

Crude Protein, not less than 38.00%
Crude Fat, not less than 20.00%
Crude Fiber, not more than 2.50%
Moisture, not more than 10.00%
Vitamin E, not less than 200 IU/kg
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), not less than 0.10%*
Omega-6 Fatty Acids, not less than 3.30%*
Omega-3 Fatty Acids, not less than 0.55%*
L-Carnitine, not less than 15 mg/kg*
*Not recognized as an essential ingredient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.
5184 kilo-calories per kg 717 kilo-calories per cup

We have also tried out Acana’s Pacifica - Jazz liked it, but I haven’t found a great local provider yet. We are still on the lookout for a consistent provider. http://www.championpetfoods.com/acana/show-product.php?formulation=pfd

We tried Jazz on Orijen 6-fish, but chose not to continue because of the gaseous emissions from Jazz. It was unbearable and since she sleeps in my bedroom, it was simply easier to stop feeding her this than wear a gas mask to bed every night during the rotation. http://www.orijen.ca/orijen/products/6fishdogAnalysis.aspx
Crude Protein (min) 40.0%
Crude Fat (min) 18.0%
Crude Fiber (max) 3.0%
Moisture (max.) 10.0%
Calcium (min.) 1.5%
Calcium (max.) 1.7%
Phosphorus (min.) 1.2%
Phosphorus (max.) 1.4%
*Omega-6 (min.) 3.0%
*Omega-3 (min.) 1.2%
*DHA 0.7%
*EPA 0.3%
*Carbohydrate (max.) 20.0%
*Glucosamine (min.) 1200 mg/kg
*Chondroitin (min.) 900 mg/kg
Microorganisms (min.) 120M cfu/kg

Well, this is what makes up Jazz’s rotation - what do you do?

Bark & Giggle Boutique

2010-02-11T12:09:00.004-05:00

When Jazz and I are out and about, I get asked all the time about her collars, leashes, and harnesses. All of Jazz's collars & leashes come from Bark & Giggle Boutique (http://www.barkandgiggleboutique.com/) - if you can't find a fabric that you are just dying to have on the site (which is very hard to do!!), Pam will be happy to assist you in finding the perfect fabric. Her harnesses were by Puppia and they have done well, but Bark & Giggle has come out with a new Custom-Fit Harness that we'll be picking up this weekend. Jazz's was done in a custom fabric and ties in several of her new collars & leashes. Another friend of mine does the embroidery on her harness so that all know who the queen is. In addition, we have a dog park bag from Bark & Giggle that holds all the stuff we need at the dog park and we'll soon be purchasing one of the slings from Pam. We currently have a sling, but it is not near the quality of a B&G item!

Some may think this is blatant advertising for a company and I guess it is, but when I like a product, I want to make sure everyone knows it!! Next blog article will be about Jazz's food rotation and why I choose the foods that I do. In addition, I want to support small, local owned business that make an impact.

2009-12-30T11:03:00.003-05:00

Well, I'm enjoying Day 7 of vacation - I only have a few more days left. Jazz will be obnoxious by the time I go back to work. We've had a nice holiday together and I am really enjoying the time off from work & responsibilities. Jazz's secret Santa Paws sent some neat things - some sweet potato sticks, lamb jerky, and kong braided buddy monkey. Jazz has been carrying the monkey around everywhere! She's not much for toys, despite the huge box of toys that she has, but when she takes a liking to one, she'll carry it around until the thing falls apart from her misuse.

November is here

2009-11-09T13:41:00.002-05:00

Well, the holiday season is in full swing. Just slid past Halloween, next is Veteran's Day, then Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Jazz has been out and about lately - she gave pumpkins away before Halloween and has been seen hanging around in her sling at various events at The Orchard Church in Loganville, GA.

Recently, I exchanged Jazz's name in a secret santa paws gift exchange. It got me to thinking about the treats that Jazz gets. A fair amount of them are Nylabone. Her other favorites are Bison & Pheasant Jerky, Elk antlers, Pig snouts, and sweet potatoes. As with her food, treats are checked for corn ingredients - I'm always amazed at our corn sneaks into some of the most unlikely of places (jerky, for instance).

Recent Adventures...

2009-10-21T12:41:00.002-04:00

Well, we’ve done a few things since I last wrote anything down. On October 17th, we participated in a walk for a cure for Mitochondrial Diseases. Jazz hung around in the sling for four hours. She was loved on by a lot of kids and adults. We had several trains to go by, blowing their horn, and Jazz never reacted. She was an excellent ambassador for dogs that day!

On the 20th, we headed out to PetSmart for a costume contest. While Jazz did not win, she was very cute! She was beat out by an Aviator and a French Maid. She didn't growl at any dog that was there, but was not amused by 2 Jack Russells on a Flexi-leash....oh well, neither was I.

2 years ago today - September 29

2009-09-29T23:50:00.000-04:00

I was talking with a friend today and realized that it has been 2 years exactly since I picked Jazz up from her breeder. In honor of that momentous occasion, I've pulled some dates from the last 6 years that led me to where I am today.

September 28, 2003 – Beloved Husky, Torbin Vladimir of Gorky Park passed away in his sleep.
June 2004 – caught sight of gorgeous dog, called a Shiba, makes me think of a blond Gorky, wouldn’t it be nice to have a small version of a husky??
August 2004 – New house is finished, where will the dog area be??
February 2005 – Caught a dog show on TV, saw the Shiba again, must do more research on it, the Akita, and the Norwegian Elkhound.
September 2005 – I think Dad would deal better with Mom’s death if we had a dog. Start researching the Shiba, eliminated Akita due to size – I want the kids to easily be able to walk the dog, can’t find anyone local with an Elkhound to meet.
January 2006 – Maybe the time isn’t right for a dog, Steve just got a new job and I’m working crazy hours again, got to put it off again.
July 2006 – just spent the week with brother Joe, his Samoyeds make me long to have a dog in my life again.
September 2006 – Fall Ball has started, where could I fit in the time for a dog—I’m never home!
April 2007 – Dad wants me to find a dog – I told him I’ve found the breed, it’ll be a lot like Gorky, just smaller.
May 2007 – I’ll get the Shiba in Dad’s memory.
June 2007 – There are so many breeders, who do I pick? How do I know who has the best dogs?
August 2007 – got an email about a Shiba in Athens for rescue. Called Steve (my brother), he’s good with the plan.
September 2007 – emailed every Shiba breeder on the east coast that does rescue – maybe drive to OH to pick up a Shiba?
September 15, 2007 – heard back from a breeder in NC, has a Shiba that has a skin allergy and doesn’t like other dogs. All I have to do is drive to NC.
Saturday, September 29, 2007 – left house at 5 am to go pickup rental car from airport to drive to Winston-Salem, NC. Met with the breeder for 10 minutes and was on my way with my Shiba. Spent the drive talking to Jazz.
October 2007 - attended 1st Shiba meetup - Jazz has a few issues with other dogs - will have to work on this.
December 2007 - another Shiba meetup - met Rachael & Chad and Dave.
March 2008 - joined this crazy forum called Nihonken.org - switched Jazz to a grain-free food rotation
April 2008 - did Pet Parade with Jazz
May 2008 - did 5K with Jazz, learned about Melatonin
June 2008 - Jazz plays with Jake - only growls a couple of times
August 2008 - brought home Fletch, rehomed after 2 weeks - Jazz wasn’t upset, participated in local dog show
September 2008 - Jazz gets a new friend, Sally the pug, Jazz shows her stuff at several responsible dog owner days with local AKC clubs
October-November 2008 - several playdates @ Rachael’s - Jazz is doing better with Niko
December 2008 - Jazz snarls and nips Niko
January 2009 - met Brad & Jen, Pam & Tim
February 2009 - started working on noise aversion training, met Victoria Stilwell
March 2009 - got to see Jazz “play” in the snow
May 2009 - took Jazz to a Braves ball game, drove with Jazz to PA to meet Jen & John, Kristin & Chris, Kris & Dan, Joe & Dawn, Beth & Tom, Casey, Jenny & Jon, Steph, Jason, Pam, and a few more crazy shiba people
July 2009 - moved, Jazz dealt with it great!! Had a watermelon social at a local park - Jazz got lots of attention.
August 2009 - took Jazz to fair at church - she played and was unfazed by the loud music.
September 2009 - met up with Pam on her way through Atlanta - on way back, met up with Pam @Dave's for a great breakfast.

2009-09-05T18:04:00.002-04:00

We haven't posted much lately, but we've been pretty busy! There have been meetups, dog shows, photo shoots, a guest appearance and dinner with an out-of-town friend. In addition, Jazz has begun shedding, so there's been some extra grooming going on around here.

The meetup was a small group, but nice. The location - Camp Woof, Norcross, GA - was nice. They have a great store.

The dog show was fun, even though Jazz was unable to attend. There were some pretty shibas, but none came close to Jazz. LJ got to meet up with her shiba club, while forum members were gathering in Wisconsin. As much fun as the dog show was, she'd much rather have been in Wisconsin.

LJ borrowed a nice camera and took quite a few shots of Jazz - some turned out very nice - she needs to buy a dSLR very soon.

Jazz was a drawing card for a fair at the Church - lots of people stopped by for Jazz love.

Lastly, our friend Pam was passing through Atlanta and we got to have dinner with her - very nice. We're looking forward to doing this again real soon.

Flickr

2009-08-18T13:04:00.001-04:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Transitions...

2009-07-24T16:39:00.002-04:00

It was recently brought to my attention that I have been slacking on updating the Queen’s blog. Well, there’s been a lot going on and we are just now beginning to catch up.

Jazz did fairly well over the 4th of July. The occasional fireworks really did not freak her out, but the back to back ones really did. She took some melatonin, but it only goes so far. The following week, we moved. It wasn’t very far, but it did take us several days. I was really pleased with how well the Queen handled the move. We’ve had a few moments of despair…like realizing that her command of “carpet” doesn’t work when there’s no carpet on the floors. Over this last week, she’s picked up on the fact that “carpet” is that piece of a rug that’s 10 feet from the door.

We’ve had one major escape and one minor. The minor one happened when I wasn’t home and she just went out to the car. The major one had her going to the ditch beside the road to go to the bathroom. We had only been in the house a couple of days, so she had not yet designated a “bathroom” spot. I was at home when the major one occurred and I really freaked. As Jazz came back, she had this look on her face of, “Really? You thought I was leaving? Puh-leeze!”

Her “area” (crate, rugs, pillows, & blankets) were some of the first things set up. I think this was a major part of her being very clam about the transition. The house is still in transition, but she has settled in quite nicely.

The pic of her is from her nightly ritual of snuggling up to either a stuffed duck or her Freddy Frankenstein. It’s tough to get a shot of her, so this was taken with a camera phone - please ignore the general crappiness of the photo.

Feeding The Queen

2009-06-19T14:54:00.001-04:00

I get asked a lot about what I feed Jazz and why. I have friends who think I’m crazy for trying to find different brands of food for the queen and rotating them. After all, I fed my Siberian Husky "Kibbles 'n' Bit 'n' Bits" for 13 years and he was “okay”. I wonder now how much better he would have been or how much longer he would have lived if I had known then what I know now. Most “major” dog foods use ingredients that are not great for your dog. The consumption grade is far below human grade and some of the items shouldn’t be given to dogs at all. Jazz has a grain allergy, so we feed grain free foods. Some day, I’d like to go to a RAW model, but for now, this will have to work.

I am fortunate that I live close enough to Atlanta that I can pick and choose the brands to feed. Most of the brands I use can be found within a 15 minute drive – the rest I have to drive further. I will continue to search for better brands. The cost difference is negligible from one of the “major” brands to these better brands when you figure in the fact that Jazz eats less on the higher quality food.

Jazz’s standard rotation of food looks like this:

Evo’s Small Red Bites - http://www.evopet.com/products/default.asp?id=1491 – I usually buy the 6.6 lb because of the rotation. Jazz gets ¾ cup of Evo.

Merrick’s Before Grain – http://www.merrickpetcare.com/store/bg_dry_dog_food_66.php - Jazz likes the Buffalo and up next is to try the Salmon. Jazz gets ¾ cup of the Buffalo and would get the same amount in the Salmon).

Solid Gold’s Bark at The Moon - http://www.solidgoldhealth.com/products/showproduct.php?id=81&code=120 – Jazz gets ¾ cup of Bark at the Moon. We usually buy the 4lb bag.

Next to Try:
Acana Pacifica Dog - http://www.championpetfoods.com/acana/show-product.php?formulation=pfd – Jazz will get ¾ cup on this as well.

Evanger’s – I really wanted Jazz to try this, but I’m waiting on things to clear concerning the recalls.

Ones we’ve tried:
Natural Balance – Jazz likes, but it is not one of her faves – she eats this very slowly. We’ve tried a couple of different varieties. If I have gotten really low on food, I’ll pick this up because it is one of the few I can find in major pet supply stores. Then, the next time I’m in Atlanta I pick up the better food.
Orijen Fish – Jazz loved, but her gas was unbearable
Eukanuba Sensitive Skin – this is what Jazz came to me on – I will not feed her this ever again. Better quality, grain free food has made a massive improvement in her coat.

Supplementals:
Seameal Powder w/Flaxseed Meal - http://www.solidgoldhealth.com/products/showproduct.php?id=36&code=591 – Jazz gets this 3 times a week.

Fish Oil – we buy this from our local discount store in the vitamin section. We give Jazz one, whole capsule.

Best References:
http://theyarewhattheyeat.blogspot.com/
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/

http://www.dogfoodproject.com/

This week...

2009-06-18T12:25:00.000-04:00

What a week! My church just finished up Vacation Bible Camp and it was an absolute blast. Every day after work, I’d head over to my church to volunteer at VBC. You may be wondering what this has to do with the queen. Well, she was just not very happy at the idea of me getting home so late each night. Most nights when I come home, I chase her around a bit and then have a 10-15 minute snuggle time where she catches up on the love she missed during the day. When I came home this week, she went nuts whenever I walked in the door. I got spins and jumps and licks and snuggles! Well, I did every night except for Sunday night. That night, she simply ignored me because I left her at home after being together most of the day.

This weekend we have a Shiba meetup – my only concern is that it’s supposed to be in the mid 90’s – HOT! HOT! HOT! We look forward to seeing our buddies – it’s been a while since we’ve gotten together with everyone.

What would I do without Jazz?

2009-06-10T13:15:00.000-04:00

I truly don't know. Here's some background:

My Siberian Husky died in 2003 - I'd had him since 1989. My mom died in 2005. My dad in 2007. Mentally, I was freaking out. I needed something to help take care of - it's part of what makes me, well, me. I'd begun looking for a dog prior to Mom's illness, but I couldn't find the breed I wanted. I wanted a dog like my husky, but not nearly as big. I saw a shiba inu while in Piedmont Park and I fell in love.

I did a little bit of research about the breed and thought "When the time comes, this is the breed". With everything that happened from 2003-2007, I am amazed that I didn't get a dog sooner. They can provide so much healing for the soul. Halfway through 2007, I began looking in earnest for a shiba. I eventually found one through a breeder - she allowed Jazz to go as a rescue as long as I had her spayed. Originally, Jazz was a show dog, but was retired when it was realized that she had an allergy and couldn't be bred.

I drove 6 or so hours up to Winston-Salem to pick her up. In my excitement of talking with the breeder, I had neglected to ask her what the dog's name was. When she told me, I was very excited because I love Jazz music. Jazz rode home that day sleeping on my hand. Every day when I come home, I get an enthusiastic greeting. Jazz isn't super active - she sleeps a lot...even for a shiba, but the greeting I get from her everyday just thrills me.

When I laydown for just a moment, she snuggles up close to me - she knows that I need that recharge. I'm sure others feel the same about their dogs, but I know that every day of my life is better because she is in it.

Off Leash Problems

2009-06-08T11:17:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine recently had an altercation with an off-leash dog. He & his wife had the bigger dog (who was the victim of the off-leash dog attack), but had something worse happened than what did, I feel sure his dog would have been blamed. I have a reactive dog when it comes to any other dog. There are a few dogs that Jazz tolerates reasonably (for her) well. There are other dogs that she can’t stand the sight of. It’s not based on breed, gender, size or anything else that I can figure out, she’s just not big on other dogs. We’ve encountered off-leash dogs where I live which means that Jazz must be picked up – she really doesn’t like dogs just running up to her. She’s pretty formal and would like for the dogs to stand some distance away until she notices them and then slowly come to her. It may sound like I’m joking, but I’m not. I can’t count the number of times we’ve been approached by someone saying that their dog is friendly – they get my response of “But, my dog isn’t”.

After thinking about the off-leash problem, I began to ponder what the solution is. Do we ticket owners whose dogs are loose? Aren’t there already leash laws – doesn’t look like that’s working too well. Is it the dog’s fault that their owners just don’t care enough to train them and to walk with them on the leash? Should people have to pass a test to own a dog – prove that they aren’t stupid?

I’m not for more government – less is better….usually. In this case, I don’t know the solution. Just as there are problems with people breeding “designer dogs” [if you own a labradoodle, cocker-poo, etc. – please be advised, it’s a mutt, not a breed of dog], puppy mills, backyard breeders (ones who don’t do any tests on their dogs or show them, but try desperately to find owners for yet another oops! litter), people who don’t care enough about their pet to leash them need to be punished. Instead, you’ll hear the story of a pit bull in his yard that attacked a poor innocent lab – you won’t hear that the pit bull was fenced and chained & the lab was running loose, but just that a violent breed of dog injured America’s favorite breed.

I know that I obsess over my dog. I know that I spoil her. I know that I love her and she loves me. Because of this, it is my responsibility to take care of this dog to the best of my ability. This means – when I see an off-leash dog in an area where they must be leashed, I’m calling animal control. It means that I get to be the “bad guy” who won’t let your dog have the freedom “it deserves”. It means that I care more about your dog than you do.

Blogging....

2009-06-05T11:33:00.000-04:00

To Blog or not to Blog, that appears to be the question these days. I don't know how often I'll actually do this, but I'll at least attempt it. I've got friends that blog about some really great things - turns out they are great writers - I am merely sarcastic and a bit caustic at times, so not so sure if anyone will read these abstract musings.

I'm most likely to blog about Jazz. She's a beautiful red shiba inu who'll be 6 in July. She came into my life on September 28, 2007. She's a queen bee (to steal a nickname from KF) and she's feels that she is above most canines and some humans. She prefers to be held, fed well, and given jerky whenever she asks for it.

The photo I've attached was taken May 23 by Jenny & Jon at a recent meetup in Pennsylvania. I feel this is one of the best photos I've ever seen of Jazz and I've seen a lot! Jazz and I left late on Thursday night to stay with friends in Scranton, PA on Friday night. On Saturday, we joined several other Japanese dog enthusiasts for a picnic. It was a great day - Jazz even socialized with some of the dogs...until she's had enough. After that, she was carried about and enjoyed the attention she received from all. On Sunday, we headed home - Jazz spent most of her time sleeping. After all, it's the job of the chauffeur to safely deliver the queen.