Misaki was almost my dogs' friend. Good job, girls!

Misaki is doing fine at her new home.

There are a couple of more videos of Misaki and my dogs while she was here so I will post them here.

Misaki fetching a toy



When she first came to our home, she was shaking. We wondered if she was scared or cold.
The shaking stopped on the 2nd day already.
By the middle of the 2nd day, she had started gathering the soft toys in the house and nesting up.

There was still tension between my dogs and Misaki. They looked as if they would snap at each other if anybody made a wrong move, so I had to watch them closely.
They did actually snap once but I was right by them I could stop them quickly.

She kept adjusting to living with us quickly and we didn't see any shaking anymore.




By the 5th day, they had stopped worrying about the others and started opening up to each other.
In the video above, Anko, our wimpy German Shepherd mix, tries to get Misaki to play with her.

It's amazing. Once they understand the other dog is not a threat, they invite him/her into the pack immediately.
If we had had more time with Misaki, she would have started really interacting with my dogs, especially with Anko.

When you introduce a new dog to your other dogs at home, give them at least 4-5 days to decide whether they are compatible or not.
Watch them closely during this transition period as most likely they will snap at each other and fight. It's perfectly normal because they don't know each other yet, and that's how dogs express themselves. After a few days they will get used to having the other around, and start interacting, and possibly playing. This is what I have learned from my experience.
Do not give up on a new dog in only one day!
Way too soon!

On Misaki's adoption day, we took her to ICARE's adoption event to hand her to her new family. We put her in the crate while we waited for the adopter's arrival.
Misaki started shaking again.
I'm sure now she doesn't remember shaking in the cage or crate, or at the shelter, ....and never needs to.

Misaki the Shiba-Inu, going to a new home tomorrow!

It happened very quickly for her, and it's wonderful that she has found a new home.
Of course, she is a great dog. She deserves a good family to live and share her life with.
I'm confident the family will like her and enjoy her like we have the last 5 days.

We gave her a new name - a cool Japanese name. Misaki.
It's spelled 美咲, it means "blooming beauty".
It's a not-that-common but well-heard name for Japanese girls in Japan..
I love the sound of it.

Here are some more videos of Misaki.

Waiting for the chicken


Chicken is ready!!!


Misaki walking


Soft toy collector

Shiba-Inu for adoption!

OK, so dogs need new homes will never end.
I hope one day it will but realistically probably not within my lifetime.

We got a new dog to foster. This time it's a Shiba-inu, a tiny Japanese dog that looks just like a fox.

She was rescued from a shelter by a member of ICARE dog rescue. Apparently her owner got her with a purpose of breeding, then the AKC rejected her for "not having the right tail".
So what did the owner do?
Went ahead and drop her off at the shelter.

Shiba-inu is one of Japan's 6 designated Natural Monument dog breeds. They are ancient, have lived with the people in Japan as long as everybody can remember. They have been popular in other countries these years, too, yet, they are not that commonly available in the United States.
You would be paying hundreds of dollars if you buy them from pet stores and breeders.

So for those facts alone, makes you wonder how someone will just dump a Shiba-inu at a shelter. She could have sold it and got some money back. How about petfinder.com and craigslist?

I look at the dog, and see the distinctive look, the unmistakable look of a Shiba-Inu.
WHY?
Well, for now let's put the WHY part aside, and onto the info.

I have had her for 2 days and this is my observations by far.

• Must be young - the way she walks and behaves, tells me she is still young
• Shots current - got the shots at the shelter
• Spayed - very recently spayed just before she got out of the shelter. Healing well
• Potty trained - goes outside. So far no accidents
• Cool affectionate - Looks kind of distant but follows us everywhere quietly
•  Clumsy with other animals - I stil don't know this for sure (of course we met yesterday), but so far, she is acting bold and blunt with other animals I have, which are 2 dogs and 2 cats. She walks into them without hesitation and makes my dogs growl and my cats hiss back at her. Maybe she is very young, and doesn't know the rules yet. Anyway, I don't see aggression from her so she is probably still learning. 
• Stubborn - when she doesn't want to move, she wouldn't budge. The Japanese dogs are know for their stubbornness
• Eats well - enjoying both dry/wet food I give her

WATCH HER VIDEOS

Watch her move!


Now watch her eat!


If you are interested in meeting the dog, she will be at ICARE's adoption event on this Saturday (2/5) and Sunday (2/6).

Mark your calendar because there are also other wonderful friends waiting for their forever families.

MEET YOU THERE!!!!