Shanna, Nikko’s forever home mom, emailed us to let us know that Nikko is the most fantastic dog ever. She said he is super intelligent and learns commands quickly (with treats of course!).

They live in Williamsburg and he has a back yard that he just loves to hang out in. He is a bit leash aggressive and is choosy about his canine friends but he has one best friend, Leonard. Nikko and Leonard share the back yard and absolutely love each other.

Like many shibas we’ve met, he hates taking baths and lets everyone know with the “shiba scream.” But once the bath is over, he loves being towel dried.

Now that the weather is getting nicer he loves to lay in the sun and relax in the yard. Nikko is also talented; he has learned to deshell endamame but is not sure what to do with lobster.

Nicco was adopted back in June and has been having a great time with his forever family. We received this photograph of Nicco playing in the snow that fell last week in NJ. He looks happy and healthy!

Nikko has been coming out of shell and can be a super sweet and loving dog. He’s warmed up and relaxed in his foster home. His foster mom has nothing but great things to say about him and loves that he will walk over with a toy in his mouth to her asking to play tug of war.

He still pulls when he walks on a leash but his foster mom is working with him on this and thinks it is because he gets very excited to explore and sniff things in the outside world. Nikko has been described as a teenager and sometimes tests the waters to see what he might be able to get away with but overall he’s a good dog and very cute.

Nikko knows some commands and is learning more and more everyday. He does need to work on his manners when meeting someone new or seeing other dogs. He sometimes barks and tries to lunge at other dogs and has a tendency to jump on other people.

Keep checking back to read more about Nikko.

Kit aka Clay is having fun with his foster dad, Rain. Kit and Zucca are now being fostered together and it’s helped Kit learn some good behaviors like going into his crate without a fuss. He also has a friend to play with and seems very happy.

Kit’s gained some weight and his fur is getting softer and improving. However, a few weeks ago he had to go to the vet because he was shaking and became ill. We found out he has an infection called Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever which is transmitted by ticks. Kit was showing some of the symptoms such as lack of appetite, fever, and stomach issues. He’s now on antibiotics for about 30 days to help clear this up. Otherwise, he’s doing well and Rain loves him very much. He described Kit’s personality as curious, fun, and fantastic.

Kit used to have anxiety issues if his foster dad left the house for a few hours but with Zucca around that’s no longer an issue. His foster dad has noticed though that Kit doesn’t listen to commands as often as he used to and he wonders if maybe Kit is too distracted with Zucca around. Rain is working to constantly reinforce the commands and on leash walking. Kit pulls on the leash still so that’s a work in progress. Overall, Kit is doing well and has a very caring foster dad.

Keep checking back to see how Kit is doing!

Ashitaka is doing very well with foster mom, Molly. He’s still aloof, cautious, and gentle but as the days progress he’s trusting her more and more. Sometimes he still gets very nervous but he’s learning to trust a little more each day. She’s still working and reinforcing basic obedience. From what we have been told most of Ashitaka’s slow but steady progress is due to trust issues. The more he trusts the better he responds overall.

She is building trust with him more and more everyday and watching him slowly come out of his shell. Ashitaka is a good boy but very very nervous and shy in new places and situations. He also tries to steal food off the tables and Molly is working with him to not do that. When Ashitaka finds his forever home, we hope they are patient, calm, and work with him everyday to help him become the great dog he is.

He also loves cheese!

Nikko has been doing well at his foster home. He still does not get along with dogs but is fine with cats. He likes kids and adults and doesn’t show any aggression to anyone. he loves to be petted and rubbed. Everytime his foster mom walks in the house he has a huge smile. Nikko likes to sleep on the bed with her and cuddles with her on the couch when they watch tv.

Nikko also doesn’t have any problems being left alone in the house, he’s house broken and doesn’t destroy anything. The only thing he chews on is paper if he finds some low enough for him to grab. Otherwise he can be trusted alone.

When they go out for walks and exercise, Nikko gets very hyped up and wants to zoom around and play. In the house he’s very mellow and barks sometimes when he’s looking out the window and something catches his eye. He listens very well in the house, but outside if you call him to come to you, he tends to be so transfixed on other things that he doesn’t listen very well. His foster mom is working with him to understand that he needs to listen all the time.

Nikko is making good progress!

Ashitaka has been slowly progressing. He’s still cautious around new people and situations and can still be growly and possessive with toys around other dogs. He’s friendly to other dogs when there’s not an item that’s worth anything around. When Ashitaka finds his forever home, we hope they keep working with him to improve his manners and teach him to not be so possessive over objects.

Ashitaka is not aggressive towards people, and loves children. He can become defensive if a dog comes over to him with too much hyper energy and gets in his face. He has been known to growl and may try to fight.

He’s learning his basic commands but still doesn’t always Come when he’s asked to. He tries to steal food from the table and counters… but his foster mom is working on breaking him of this habit. He’s not shy in new situations but can be overly cautious and somewhat aloof. He’s still not entirely sure of what this world has in store for him.

He’s waiting for his forever home to help him feel safe, secure, and become a happy, healthy dog.

Nikko is almost a year old, neutered male, and has tri-color markings. He’s still a puppy in spirit and because of that exhibits a lot of silly puppy behaviors and needs to learn manners. He pulls on a leash and is easily distracted by squirrels, movement of any kind, and only seems to pay great attention to you if you have a treat. This is all very puppy-ish and very “I want to explore the world!” sort of behavior.

Nikko would need a home where a good routine was established and rules and boundaries were created to help him become a good canine citizen. He does know how to sit on command and loves people and attention and thinks those squeaky toys are the best thing ever.

From what we’ve seen Nikko is good with small children and good with cats, as long as the cat is confident enough to hold his/her own ground. Otherwise, Nikko’s prey and play drive may torment another pet in the house. Nikko needs a lot of exercise to help work off the pent up energy that a puppy tends to have. Shibas are athletic and agile and need a good routine to stay in shape and burn off energy.

Please keep checking back to learn more about Nikko.

Jack has lost a few pounds since his last update and his foster dad, Walter, has been working with him on his leash training. We did find out that Jack has a bit of arthritis in his left hind leg which could contribute to the fact that Jack isn’t always game for a long walk.

However, Jack has become more affectionate and has become accustomed to a good schedule. When it’s time for bed, Jack goes into his crate and lays down. He’s also not as reactionary when he sees another dog on the street. He will still snap at some of them, but does not pull towards other dogs anymore.

Walter is working with Jack everyday to help him get better with learning basic commands such as sit, come, and to stop begging for people food. Jack also sometimes bumps into Walter when they are walking and almost gets a little underfoot. Overall, Jack is making good progress and his exercise is limited but it’s helping him become a healthier and happier dog.

This past weekend in NYC, it rained a lot! The hurricane’s leftover oomph came this way and gave us a lot of wind, soupy thick humid weather on Friday, and then Sat rain… lots of rain.

We didn’t experience too much damage from fallen trees or garbage cans rolling away, and it seems Clay had a good time walking in the streets during the downpour. His foster dad told us that they went for a walk and Clay was totally fine walking in the rain. He hops over the deep puddles but if he can’t hop he will trudge right through them. Clay is also very intrigued by the water that flows down the gutters to the drains. He tries to snap at the reflections of light that dance across the top. His foster dad described it as a dog who is trying to catch a fish. All in all, Clay is adjusting very well to his new foster home and we’re very happy to hear it!