(Ottawa Dog of the Week for April 6th/09)

“My partner and I have recently purchased our first home and started our family with a dog. We are the proud owners of Kami, the queen of Shiba. Kami was born on September 21, 2008, we got her on November 28th, 2008 and she is now 5 months old, and weighs in at nearly 15 lbs; almost too big for our laps. The average weight of an adult female Shiba is approx. 20 lbs., with the males averaging closer to 25 lbs. My partner wanted a small lap-dog and I wanted a rough and tumble playmate and after much research, we determined that a Shiba Inu was the dog for us.

Not recommended for first time dog owners, the smallest member of the Japanese Spitz family retains the mentality of their larger Akita cousin’s and they have a spirited boldness about them. Their affection, loyalty and submission must be earned through mutual respect as they are extremely independent. Despite their high prey drive, alpha behavior, and dense coats of fur, Shibas still do well indoors and as a compliment, they are very clean animals.

Shiba’s are energetic athletic dogs that love to fight, play, and run wild. Strangely enough, Shiba’s are also quite content to entertain themselves and can sleep through just about anything whenever they are bored. Kami loves to go outside and has become accustomed to walking with a harness, after testing the axium of, “never trust a Shiba off-leash”. Kami is a calm social girl, that loves to meet and greet other dogs and challenge them to see what they are made of.

Kami is often told that she looks exotic or like a fox and sometimes people do not believe that she is a dog, and neither does Kami. Kami is very affectionate and trusting of people, but she does not invest any time in them unless they are deemed worthy. Kami is a quick learner when the outcome of obedience is a favorite treat. However, Kami is extremely smart and attempts to train her owners to bend to her will.

Kami loves to eat but is developing a very selective appetite as she becomes more familiar with different foods. Kami accompanies her owners on outings whenever possible as she enjoys exploring new worlds and seeking out new smells. Kami has been caught several times in the yard trying to dig her way back to Japan, and has torn apart several small trees and shrubs. Shibas are well known escape artists and as a result, Kami cannot be left in the yard without supervision. As a matter of fact, Kami will always test her owners to see if “no” really does mean “no”, especially when their backs are turned. Kami will often run away when she is being testy so her owners cannot reprimand her. Kami is very alert and aware of her surroundings, even when she appears to be sleeping. Kami understands human emotions and is actually quite a drama queen in her own right.

Kami is a joy to have, as she is always happy to see Daddy and very capable of keeping Mommy content and busy while Daddy is away, so Mommy is less bored and lonely. As challenging as she can be, Kami has rewarded us with her charming personality and become a constant bright spot in our lives. I never imagined that I would be so attached to a dog, especially one who seems get along just fine without me, but I guess that is something that just makes us work. Kami has previously been featured on the Ottawa Dog Blog as the cover girl for the “Ottawa Shiba Meetup Group” on facebook, and as a result, she has been acquainted with other Shiba’s and their owners who frequent the site. Kami is thankful for your support and is looking forward to the spring and more opportunites to socialize with her pack.” – Kami’s People, Lee and Mai

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