Her owners called her Sheba, but it seems that half the females we get in rescue are named Sheba or Foxy, so those names don’t usually last long if we can help it. She didn’t know her name, so we’ve changed it to Sofie (and started teaching it to her).

Sofie is a 6 1/2 month old bouncing baby girl. Her pictures make her look a lot bigger, but Sofie is little - weighing in at only 13.6 pounds. Although she is young and her previous owner did not train her, she has already learned sit, is doing well with house training and has adjusted wonderfully to her crate. We’ve only had her a few days, so this is great progress! She’s a smart girl. She has had her first vet check and was such a little lady. Even the doctor commented on how calm and happy she was, compared to other puppies he has seen. Don’t misunderstand, Sofie is 100% puppy; She loves running in the back yard and chasing the resident dogs, but she is starting to learn when they have had enough and backs off and lays on her bed waiting for the next “play time.”

Sofie is a very happy little puppy. She is thrilled when someone comes to see her and greets them with kisses. She makes a fuss over everyone and definitely loves people. She has shown no signs of any aggression toward children, adults, other dogs, with her food or with her toys. She has a healthy appetite and is eating well.

Sofie came to us with a urinary tract infection which is currently being treated, so she won’t be available for adoption until that is all cleared up and she has been spayed. And, well, to be honest, there is a good chance she’ll never be available because her foster humans are already thinking of adopting her themselves!

Posted on February 28th, 2008 by jenna
Filed under: Sofie | 8 Comments »

OK, first off, I have to say that the sound of two Shibas merrily destroying roasted lamb bones is almost as soothing as a stable full of horses chomping on their feed.

Today is Shay’s birthday. She’s THREE today. My special birthday present to her is… a brand new, wonderful, forever home! The main reason we’ve had Shayna as long as we have is because I took her off the available list over the holidays while I contemplated adopting her myself. It was a TOUGH decision because Snick and I are very attached to her and she’s clearly attached to us too. I finally decided that I’m too busy at this point in my life to give two dogs all the attention and training they need though. Shayna is sooooo affectionate, too; she needs a lot of loving from her humans, so I decided to find her a home where she would be LAVISHED with all the affection she could possibly ask for.

We’ve received a lot of applications for Shayna and one really jumped out at me a few weeks ago. After getting through the approval process, they came over this past weekend and spent several hours getting to know her. She was a little overwhelmed by all the attention and kept checking in with me, but she was definitely warming up to them by the time they left. I love that they understand it will take time for her to adjust to a new home and they’ve been asking me all the right questions about how to help her with the transition.

So, this Sunday I will be driving her to her forever family in NJ.

Happy Third Birthday Shayna. Snick and I will love you forever.

Posted on February 20th, 2008 by jenna
Filed under: Shayna | 2 Comments »

The results are in and, thankfully, Cinn is doing pretty well! He is Heartworm and Lyme Disease negative. His fecal was negative too. His thyroid condition is stable with the medication he has been on so he’ll continue on that. Cinnamon does have the very early stages of cataracts in his right eye. Also, Cinn has arthritis in his back legs and hips. Apparently he’s been functioning through his daily routine in pain. Because of his discomfort, it seems that he did not want to use his legs as much as he should have been able to and has, as a result, suffered some muscular deterioration in those limbs.

The wonderful staff at West Hills have put Cinn on pain management medication to encourage him to walk and run and play pain-free. With some time and patience, Cinnamon’s foster will be able to help him rebuild those muscles.

Cinnamon does have a very strong heart and clear lungs. He’s also been given medical clearance to be neutered. That’s scheduled for next week!

Cinnamon is a very special boy. We’ll have more updates on his progress for you as we get it!

Posted on February 20th, 2008 by zennia
Filed under: Cinnamon | 1 Comment »

Foxy, we hear time and time again, is just such an affectionate girl! She loves playtime with her humans and spending quality time getting love and attention. Her favorite toys are stuffed plushies. While she can be aloof towards and wary of strangers, after she gets to know a new person, they are fair game for playing or a rub. We have been having new people meet Foxy gently & slowly as to gain her trust.

She’s very good when left alone during the day and has not displayed any separation anxiety. She plays with her toys independently and has never been destructive. She’s not crazy about the crate but will go into it to nap (if the door is left open) or to pull out her bed. She is, however, fine in the crate in the car. We do not currently crate Foxy during the day, or night for that matter. She would love to cuddle in bed with you for the evening.

Foxy should definitely be an only dog in the home. She is still not 100% used to other dogs and sometimes will growl or snap if another dog comes at her too aggressively or quickly. Foxy has been introduced to other dogs and has been on playdates. She responds best to a calm and cautious dog. We have made some progress with her on this fear aggression but it’s a work in progress. With additional patience and time, she may be able to have more doggy friends in the future.

Posted on February 12th, 2008 by zennia
Filed under: Foxy | No Comments »

Look at that face! This beautiful boy is Cinnamon. He is 9 years old, up to date on his vaccinations, leashed trained, does well in the crate, and is housebroken.

He was surrendered by his owners as they could no longer take care of him. Cinnamon a very sweet boy that would do best in a quiet suburban home with a family that had experience with the breed. Cinnamon has had limited experience outside the home/area he grew up in.
He can be shy, quiet and independent, as many shibas are. He also loves being outdoors and running in the backyard. He will come to his humans to get a nice pet, scratch, or even a brushing!

So far he seems quite friendly with other dogs who are also quiet and calm. He also does well with a pet bird in the home. He is very well behaved when home alone, occupying himself and never being destructive. He is curious of new people in the home and looks to his human family to be assured that the person is ‘ok’.

Cinnamon has been taught several commands such as Sit, Stay, Come (working on that one), Wait, Off and No. He loves a snack or treat and will certainly work for one.

He is currently on Thyroid Medication which can be administered without incident. We have recently done bloodwork on him and are awaiting the results. Upon medical clearance we will have him neutered.

Cinnamon was such a gentleman during his transport. I was so impressed with how quiet and well behaved he was in the car. He let me pet him and give him a treat. If you are looking for a wonderful adult Shiba, Cinnamon is a love.

Check back soon for more updates on him!

Posted on February 7th, 2008 by zennia
Filed under: Cinnamon | 4 Comments »