If you were a Shiba, what would you rather?

santuzza

I thought this might prove to be a fun topic - a Shiba's (or Nihon Ken's) view of life. Initially though, I have a serious reason for starting the tread. After that we can have fun with it and I hope we do.

Okay, so I might be actually adopting my Tosca on Sunday. I couldn't be happier, but I'm faced with a problem - I need to bring her from the city to my house. It's an hour and a half train ride and then twenty minutes to my house or about two and a half hours by car. It's just going to be me picking her up. I know how crazy Grand Central can be, but I'm nervous about trying to drive around the city by myself. I'm sure my four-legged passenger will be made more unsettled by the jumpy, swearing weirdo behind the wheel. Either way it's rough on little Shiba nerves but, if you were a Shiba, how would you prefer traveling.

The dog herself is pretty relaxed, especially if you happen to be petting her, and is friendly with everyone but babies and small children. She not as neurotic as some of the Shibas I've heard of.

Sangmort

Car, especially if she's nervous around children, which I'm sure they'll be enough of on the train. Plus, the train will be much more hectic, people being loud, doing tons of stuff, coming and going, crying babies, etc.

Though I might be biased as I really really hate the train! So unless she's used to the train, I'd go with car.

Just had a thought, by train...do you mean subway? Or an actually train? If it's a subway / metro than the above, if it's a real train than take the train...


If that made sense ~

santuzza

For clarification, I'm talking about the MetroNorth commuter train line. Sunday evenings tend to be less busy than most days - twenty-somethings and thirty-somethings coming home from their weekends and such.

Nekopan

I would say train. Less travel time for Tosca is probably better, and easier on you because that way you don't have to drive through the city.

dlroberts

Can you actually take her on the train? When I lived in NJ, dogs were not allowed on the commuter rail (NJTransit).

To confuse matters, I would totally vote for car. I know it will take longer, but 2.5 hours in a car is not a long amount of time for an adult dog (especially when the alternative is 1:50). The important benefit of the car is that Tosca won't be overwhelmed by 10s-100s of people and smells. Once she enters the car, she'll be in a safe place that has only your and your close acquaintance's scents. I would be hesitant to take a dog I had no relationship with on public transportation. Tosca won't have had time to develop trust in you, and therefore you may see some uncharacteristic responses to social situations. Further, on a train, you are basically captive. If she needs a break, is overly stressed, or just isn't handling the situation as you'd like, then on a train you will have a much harder time adjusting your plans to suit her needs.

If you're worried about driving in the city by yourself, do you have a family member or close friend that can come with you? Perhaps you can hire a car service? IMO, the train would be an absolute last resort.

santuzza

Maybe CT is just more dog friendly. :) I did ask the conductor and he said that the policy is that a dog can ride the train as long as they are on a leash or in a carrier. Neither of these situations is ideal. I'd use a carrier (no, not one of those silly dog bags) on the train if I had to. She'd be in one in the car as well for safety. I just want the lesser of two evils at this point.

santuzza

On a slightly unrelated note, as I sit here satiating my PMS craving for boneless buffalo wings I realized that I may have to find a more covert way to go about this in the future. I have a sneaky feeling that, given a choice between sleeping the night away and trying to steal delectable bits of chicken, a shiba would be at my feet, possibly in my lap, saying "Hey, pass the bleu cheese dressing, lady!"

tsukitsune

hmmm buffalo wings.

honestly, if you can find a nice carrier, I would say the train, keep her confined so as not to be touched and prodded by kids or other passengers, but all the way you talk to her, say her new name, say it nice and sweet and talk to her to comfort her. Sherpas are nice carriers: http://www.petsalley.com/dogdelta.asp

Thats how we brought Kitsu home, well in my car - not a train - in an airline crate in the car, a 3 hour ride from Philly, PA to Scranton, PA. We talked to him the whole way, and I'm pretty sure that he knew his name by the time we got home.

KFontaine04

My sister used to take her dog on the Metro north all the time to come from NYC to visit me in Boston ( I would pick her up in CT) and the dog slept the entire time, even with the stops and noises. It is a very nice ride for a dog actually...Take the train, that way you can devote all your attention to her and not have to worry about cars, people, traffic lights, and other road hazards that can distract you.

Kaddy

I'm biased because I hate driving and I KNOW I would be a basket case trying to navigate the streets of NYC. I would say train for the reasons above - you can devote all of you attention to her. I remember taking the train back to PA all the time when I was touring there - if it's anything like that one on a Sunday night, I think you can find a nice secluded spot for you and your new baby to bond on the way home.

... and now I want buffalo wings... wish Buffalo Wild Wings delivered... /sigh

sunyata

I think the train is a good idea. It will keep your stress level down, and therefore will hopefully keep Tosca's down too. Since it is a Sunday, it should not be too terribly crowded or noisy. Good luck, and make sure to take loads of pictures!

santuzza

I'm picking Tosca up in less than 36 hours. (No, of course I'm not counting down or anything. ;D) I'm getting the stickers and tags off of the stuff I got for her train ride to her new home. The list includes:

A carrier - for keeping her stress levels down.
A carrier pad - to make her ride as comfy as possible considering she's essentially riding in a plastic box.
A fully-loaded poo bag dispenser – self explanatory, I think.
A treat dispensing soccer ball - to keep her occupied on the ride. I stuffed the treats in well so they take quite a bit of work to dislodge.
A blanket - if she gets really restless I can cover the crate partially a give her a chance to settle. This may prove especially useful in the car when she's in back and I'm in front. Also, it can get pretty chilly around here at night now and the wind just whips through the train station. If it's windy, I may cover the crate if it's a longer than usual walk to the car so she doesn't get too wind-blown.

I don't think I'm missing anything. Let me know if you have a suggestion. Be prepped for pictures!

KFontaine04

Good luck!

tsukitsune

I think you have it covered. She shouldn't be wanting food or water right away so you are set.
CONGRATS! I'm SOOO excited for you! and Tosca!

dlroberts

What about a leash and collar? The poo bags work better if you're pickup up poo off the grass or concrete and not out of the crate. :-P

Congrats! I'm looking forward to the spam.

tsukitsune

I'm pretty sure NYCSR gives you the leash and collar they have been wearing, but better bring one just in case!
And a name tag - although I think they inherit that as well.

santuzza

I left Tosca with my parents for the first time when I went to sing. She was an absolute angel. Everything is in one piece. But I think she may have been up to no good all the same. She is not allowed at the top of the bed - my pillows are my own and I don't let her near them. The bed was made when I left. The question is: If you were a shiba, where would you sleep now that your person is gone?

ljowen123

On the pillows! Jazz isn't allowed on my pillows either, but she'll creep up to them all the same. She's even pulled a blanket over them and then laid down on them.