The First Snow of the Season 10/29/2011

ugh.

My Guardian Shiba

Bristow is not allowed upstairs, yet tufts of hair and glimpses of him scurrying away when I unexpectedly exit my bedroom let me know that he sneaks upstairs every night after I go to bed. I’ve been meaning to get a pet gate but have not had the time to do so. Now it’s become a little pastime of mine to catch him in the act. After getting busted once and then being summarily placed in his crate for the remainder of the night, Bristow now sneaks downstairs before I get up, using my alarm as his cue to return downstairs. I know this because he was caught unawares on an alarm-free Saturday morning.

I’ve starting sleeping with the door open to catch him in the act, but he doesn’t come up on those nights. Yesterday, with my door open his jingling tags alerted me to his sneaking up the stairs, seeing into my room through the open door and then very quietly, very slowly turning around and creeping back down the stairs. Clever dog. He knows he’s not supposed to be up there.

Later that night, I woke up around 3 Am and saw him sleeping at the top of the stairs. Busted! I snapped two pictures with my camera phone. When I went into the hall, not even to shoo him away, he sat there, gave me a, “well you caught me,” look and then slowly got up and went downstairs. At that point, he may as well have stayed. Clearly, there’s no stopping him.

I’m not sure if it’s a protect-your-master-thing or if he’s scared to be downstairs alone at night that drives him to come sleep near me. I haven’t decided if I’ll get that gate or just tacitly allow him to continue sleeping upstairs. Until then, I’ll just keep vacuuming up those tufts of hair.

Bristow Returns!

Bristow survived his trip to the kennel and was very happy to be home. He's been on his best behavior too since I got back.  He was treated with a trip to Valley Forge National Park which resulted in my new favorite picture of him.

Love this shot of him eating the grass!

He's ready for his close up in this shot.

And here is the rare looking-into-the-lens shot.

The Trip Winds Down

Cruising through the Midwest we tried (unsuccessfully) to capture each Welcome sign.  Illinois might want to invest in one. West VA was a blur and we missed PA completely. Oh well, We'll always have Missouri.

 St. Louis

 and then over the Mississippi River into Illinois.

Indiana was in there before Ohio which went  all out with it's welcome.

And then a blip through West Virgina.

4 States, 1 Day

We started the day  in New Mexico, ended it in Missouri and in between crossed through North Texas and Oklahoma. Had no idea Oklahoma was so pretty.We kind of fell in love with the state which ie very green and peaceful and the people are so nice.  Tomorrow, St. Louis and beyond.

We made the assumption that this giant cross in Texas was indicating that a church was in the area!

Windmills in Texas just past Amarillo.

Apparently, my dog, Bristow, will always have a place in Oklahoma.

This is Oklahoma and the whole state was just grreen like this and no evidence of weeds.  Didn't see one dandelion anywhere!

Me and DMC at the Missouri Welcome center, which is the cleanest rest stop either of us have ever seen--Eat off the bathroom floor clean.  We were quite pleased by this.

A Journey of A Thousand Miles...

We left L.A. at midnight drove all night and in the morning stopped by the Grand Canyon before continuing on into New Mexico. Words are inadequate so here's a few pictures:

My first view of the Grand Canyon.

Me, DMC and the Grand Canyon

DMC posing at the edge of the rim.

Trying to pretend like I'm not scared to be standing at the edge of the rim.

Arizona is really beautiful and when you cross the border

 into New Mexico you feel as if you've walked right into an old western.

 

The scenery is just like what you see on screen.

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Meanwhile, my dog, who would have loved running around up here, is stuck in a kennel....:-(

California Here I come

On a cross-country trip from California to the East coast, I had to put Bristow in a kennel for the first time.  It was way more traumatic for me than for him I think though, bristow was very scared at the kennel and I hated to leave him . But he'll be okay.  So while Bris is safely tucked away I'll borrow the blog and use it for my drive across the US with my niece.

so this is day one: arrived in the sunshine state and hanging with DMC.

Pink Paws

Sometimes Bristow's left front paw appear to be very pinky and it makes me wonder if there's a problem, but he's not paying it undue attention nor is he favoring it, so I think he's okay.

He won't let me get too close to his feet though so when he lay down with his feet clearly facing me and my camera within arm's reach I figured my zoom lens could be put to good use for a better inspection.

The Funnies

See what happens when you leave Bristow alone while you take a shower? I had just brought in the Sunday paper and (stupidly) left it, you know, on the table. I found it minutes later all shredded up and Bristow sitting innocently on his bed. At least it was only the comics section that took the brunt of the damage. Guess Bristow's not too fond of Fred Basset.

Who Needs A Paper Shredder?

I came home from work the other day to find that Bristow had decided to help me with my junk mail. Introducing Bristow, the Canine Shredder!

Biting the Air

Bristow has developed a new habit. Let's call it a compulsion. He's been biting the air. It started not too long ago and he's doing it more and more frequently. Not sure what it's all about. Maybe he's protesting the lengths I've gone to to keep him off the sofa!

Bristow vs. the Vacuum Cleaner

Bristow apparently doesn't like the vacuum cleaner. I usually have to put him in his crate when I vacuum but this time I left him out, thinking that maybe he had gotten used to the machine. I was wrong.

Black and White

Bristow is ridiculously photogenic in color and in Black and White.

A Trip to the Park

i took Bristow on his first visit to Ft. Washington State Park today where he shadow danced with himself and later took some time for contemplation.

Bristow Takes a Tumble (video)

Walking Bristow at the Marina this evening, winds were high, the water was very choppy and Bristow was especially adventurous. He kept venturing further and further into the rocks and this time he came back with the remains of something. Standing at the edge he was so into his find that he tumbled head over heels off the edge. After the "OMG, I almost lost my dog!" gasp I could not stop laughing at how funny his little flip was.

Cute Pics of My Dog (Feb 2011)

Bristow's vacation pictures because I can't resist!

Like a Baby with Keys

Bristow has a bunch of toys. Nice toys. good toys. But one day I was crushing water jugs for the recycling and guess what I discovered...no toy beats the joy of chewing on an empty plastic bottle!

Road Trip!

I've had Bristow for a few weeks now. I had a scheduled trip to Florida planned and decided I didn't want to be separated from Bris so soon after I'd adopted him. So...Road trip! Bristow did very well in the car and is enjoying his time in the south very much.

Here, we are at South of the Border in South Carolina where Bristow had a satisfying meal break!

What’s in a Name?

It's been a few weeks since I've posted, but much has happened as Boyah and I have gotten to know each other. First off, after some concerns that a 6-year-old dog is too old for a name change, I decided to go ahead and do so. Boyah just wasn't flying with me. So, say goodbye to "Boyah" and hello to Bristow.

Bristow knows his name and responds to it when called and even with the occassional slip-up from the few people who first met him as Boyah, he still responds to his new name. However, Bristow's consistency at coming when called needs some work, but this is more a trait of the breed than a lack of understanding on his part. He is just selective in many areas, especially hearing! "Bristow come. Bristow...come. Bristow COME!" Bristow walks away.

Picture: Bristow at the marina in Florida.

January 25, 2011 - Day 1 with my dog!

First time laying eyes on Boyah.

Operation Shiba Inu is underway! At first I couldn't get him in the car and the vet tech at the shelter had to come out and coax him in, but once in the car, Boyah burrowed into the back seat and then eventually started to warm up to me. Here are some pictures from our first day together. I particularly like the one where he's licking his face and looking very wolfish!

Unfortunately, he had a scare at the house moments after arriving. He knocked over a TV tray and it freaked him out. Now he's terrified to return to the spot where it happened, which sadly, is the space in between the living room and the dining room where his crate, food adn water are. He stubbornly refused to go into his crate despite his being thirsty and hungry. I eventually moved his bowl outside and the lazy thing didn't even stand up to eat. He just shoved his face in the bowl while still lying down.

moments before the fateful scare.

The corridor of terror. He's hanging back unwilling to make the return trip.

refusing to go into the crate for food and water.

Boyah is always ready to go outside. We've gone on our first walk and then just hung out in the front yard. He's real good about wiping his feet on the doormat. When I say to him, "wipe your feet," he really does!

Snow Dog!

Peeking around the sofa to intensely stare at me eating.

Curled up at the foot of the stairs

Comments are welcome. Especially those noting how cute he is!