@Calia Loa was such a sweetie when we visited Brad's to pick up ChoCho. Ahi was SUPER excited to meet us! So excited that I had to hide behind Jeff because she jumping all over me LOL Loved them both!
Today, TK set out to prove he had some merit as a hunting dog:
He's also going to be doing nosework with me. I was going to do this class with London, but I think it'll be good bonding time with Takoda. London gets nice, long city-walks with me for his "thing".
if i had to get a different breed other than japanese akita, Takoda has inspired me to get a Shikoku. Of course, if i can add another dog to my household, why not a japanese akita, i don't think i could ever get a different breed. But love Takoda!
@ttddinh - I looovvve Kaiju! He's one of my favorite Shikoku. I used to follow his old posts like a creeper. :B
@jellyfish - Thank you! I can't take any credit for how he turned out, but he's great! I love what a sense of humor he has and how forgiving he is. I'm so happy to have him in my home~.
As we speak, London is playing this "game" with London where he's been using the monkey and tossing it around in front of him so London will jump up and become interested in the monkey. Takoda then abandons the monkey and runs to London's bed and yanks one of the toys in London's hoard to play with. London realizes he's been fooled, checks his toys, gets mad, and Takoda rinses and repeats.
They've been doing this for the last half hour. Takoda is amused. London is tired.
@Crispy - TK is playing a game that mine play all the time. Must be a good shikoku tactic to get the toy that they really want!
And shikoku love the head shake "kill" to stuffed animals! And if ever exposed to a real hunt of small game, it is a very effective technique. Mine both hunt ground hogs on occasion so all that practice with toys pays off.
@Edgewood - Haha! Yeah, he really likes to fill his downtime by forcing London to "play" with him.
TK started his gentleman's training today! I live in a pretty quiet area of my city, but I figured... there are a lot of college kids bound to be walking about early in the morning so I could use them. We ended up meeting a lot more people than I thought we would.
Stranger 1) Male. Middle aged. Had a backpack. Takoda didn't notice at first, but pulled toward when he had passed us. I moved on without results. Stranger 2) Male. Elderly. Had a cane. Takoda noticed, gave me eye contact but wouldn't focus. He pulled toward the man and I moved on without praise/reward. Stranger 3) Two women. Twenties. Talking. Takoda noticed, gave me eye contact, but couldn't focus well. I rewarded him for giving me eye contact (three times in a row - small rewards). He did not pull toward the women. Stranger 4) Female. Twenties/Thirties. Smoking. Takoda noticed, gave me eye contact and focused on me when I asked him to sit. I rewarded (five times in a row, small rewards). He did not pull toward the woman. Stranger 5) Surprised us! Female. Thirties/Forties. Came out of a doorway and around a corner right after we had finished with Stranger 4. Takoda stayed in his sit until she had passed us. I gave him three more small rewards for staying in a sit. Stranger 6) Three men. Twenties/Thirties. In fluorescent vests. Takoda did not pull toward them, but was interested. I got him to focus on me, sit and down. I rewarded once for the sit and twice for the down. When they left, he pulled some, but gave up quickly. Stranger 7) Two men. One elderly, in a wheelchair. One middle aged. To my surprise, Takoda was not interested in these men at all. I rewarded him with praise for eye contact. Stranger 8) Female. Twenties. Walked passed us. Initially, I'll admit I was a bit nervous because this was the first person I allowed to pass us on the same side of the street. Takoda did well in his sit and I rewarded him through her passing us just to keep him distracted. Stranger 9) Male. Twenties. This man was obviously trying to approach Takoda at first, but he seemed to realize that he was in training when I took Takoda off the sidewalk. Takoda noticed him, but didn't care very much. He looked to me when I asked him for eye contact and sat without much care for the man passing us by. The man lingered a bit to watch Takoda, but didn't say anything and moved on. Takoda did not pull toward him. Stranger 10) Male. Twenties. Had a small dog who pulled toward us. I had Takoda in a sit and giving me eye contact for a second before he realized the dog was there. After that, he popped up and started this... strange... whine-cry-bark. I walked away from the dog and owner until Takoda stopped reacting and asked him for eye contact again. I rewarded with praise as the dog walker had already gone by that point. Stranger 11) A small girl and her mother. They didn't approach Takoda (who sat and gave me eye contact when I asked him), but did ask about him when they saw him in training. They moved on after that. When I realized Takoda was beginning to pull toward them, I walked in the opposite direction to keep him from focusing on them.
He is now VERY tired. He drank a lot and promptly found a place to go to take a nap. I'm actually really pleased with how he did today, especially after THE INCIDENT (dun dun dun). He is constantly surprising me with how smart and receptive to direction he is. I'm so used to my thick-headed London.
I also got to discover a lot about Takoda today. I think a person's energy has a lot to do with how he reacts to them. He does very well with calm, collected individuals... which makes sense, but it's incredible how sensitive he is to a person's energy and body language - even people he's never met.
I agree with you regarding the person's energy and the dog's reactivity. If I am very calm and Eevee gets off-leash, she doesn't move. If I begin freaking out, she bolts.
My trainer also believes in a person's demeanor when training. She suggested to use a leather leash instead of a nylon leash because dogs can feel the tension and calmness of your behavior and is more susceptible to be calm as well.
@Crispy -- yes, shikoku are really willing to "follow the rules" as long as they know what the rules are. As you detailed above, by slowly teaching him that the "rules" are to quietly focus on you even if something is of interest, they learn to control their impulses. They can learn to focus on you very intently despite very large distractions, as long as you build up the ability to focus gradually.
More of Takoda hanging out. This is the "activity hub" of my household, I guess. London's bed and toys are right behind the couch, so this is where the dogs end up playing. Takoda has his own bed and his own toys in my room, but he prefers London's, of course.
I had to cut the video short at the end because I didn't like how stiff London was, so I had to intervene with some distractions.
@Zinja - I haaate nylon leads. Not only are they uncomfortable (for me), but I find they get damaged easily and exactly what you said - I feel like they feel tense all the time. I use braided leads (like the ones made for horses) for my boys. I like leather, but it's a pain in the ass to break them in. ...and thank you! I figured my signature needed updating.
@Edgewood - I haven't been able to get out with Takoda again for a good training session (it's really awful at work this week), but I'm looking forward to it! He's so clever and easy to work with. It'll just be slow, steady steps until he's ready. I'm still really impressed with how he did on the first go. He's been great with my coworkers now, too. He did growl and "punch" at my roommate when he came in last night, but my roommate is hardly ever home and he woke TK up out of a dead sleep. He was fine once he realized who it was.
@Trzcina - I knowwww! TK is pretty charming. He's really just something else. His personality couldn't be better for my household... and it doesn't hurt that he's handsome, too!
@cdenney - We've always marveled at how long London's tail is. When he was a pup, it would literally drag on the ground between his sloppy posture and how long it was. We thought he'd grow into it. I guess we thought wrong. ,:3 It looks a little ridiculous.
I love the new pictures and videos Takoda is so cute! I wish I was able to make it to the Wisconsin meet up when Calia and gang went I wanted to go, but things came up.
Luckily I got to meet a very beautiful shikoku when I went up anyways so I'm happy.
I'm sorry about the teeth rock chewing might been the issue or crate I dunno.
I had a cat with missing teeth was found off the streets, but he loved humans so I think someone dumped him in country. Poor guy was so thin when we first got him ticks all over him.
I hope see more pictures of Takoda and London too.
@Kuma123 - Yes! Much! He's eating about a cup and a half a day (1/2 cup, three times). London gobbled up all of his food one day. Now he won't let the portion he "wants" sit in the bowl. He'll scarf it down while London is eating in the other room.
TK went to the vet today. She was more worried for ME than him. I was really surprised with her behavior toward hin. I'd always had good experiences in the past with this vet... but I think his appearance and the fact that her tech had been bitten not too long ago by an Akita kind of set us up for a bad experience. They would not cooperate with me on anything. I think TK beeds another vet. Jessica recommended someone I'm going to try next.
Comments
Today, TK set out to prove he had some merit as a hunting dog:
He's also going to be doing nosework with me. I was going to do this class with London, but I think it'll be good bonding time with Takoda. London gets nice, long city-walks with me for his "thing".
@jellyfish - Thank you! I can't take any credit for how he turned out, but he's great!
As we speak, London is playing this "game" with London where he's been using the monkey and tossing it around in front of him so London will jump up and become interested in the monkey. Takoda then abandons the monkey and runs to London's bed and yanks one of the toys in London's hoard to play with. London realizes he's been fooled, checks his toys, gets mad, and Takoda rinses and repeats.
They've been doing this for the last half hour. Takoda is amused. London is tired.
And shikoku love the head shake "kill" to stuffed animals! And if ever exposed to a real hunt of small game, it is a very effective technique. Mine both hunt ground hogs on occasion so all that practice with toys pays off.
TK started his gentleman's training today! I live in a pretty quiet area of my city, but I figured... there are a lot of college kids bound to be walking about early in the morning so I could use them. We ended up meeting a lot more people than I thought we would.
Stranger 1) Male. Middle aged. Had a backpack. Takoda didn't notice at first, but pulled toward when he had passed us. I moved on without results.
Stranger 2) Male. Elderly. Had a cane. Takoda noticed, gave me eye contact but wouldn't focus. He pulled toward the man and I moved on without praise/reward.
Stranger 3) Two women. Twenties. Talking. Takoda noticed, gave me eye contact, but couldn't focus well. I rewarded him for giving me eye contact (three times in a row - small rewards). He did not pull toward the women.
Stranger 4) Female. Twenties/Thirties. Smoking. Takoda noticed, gave me eye contact and focused on me when I asked him to sit. I rewarded (five times in a row, small rewards). He did not pull toward the woman.
Stranger 5) Surprised us! Female. Thirties/Forties. Came out of a doorway and around a corner right after we had finished with Stranger 4. Takoda stayed in his sit until she had passed us. I gave him three more small rewards for staying in a sit.
Stranger 6) Three men. Twenties/Thirties. In fluorescent vests. Takoda did not pull toward them, but was interested. I got him to focus on me, sit and down. I rewarded once for the sit and twice for the down. When they left, he pulled some, but gave up quickly.
Stranger 7) Two men. One elderly, in a wheelchair. One middle aged. To my surprise, Takoda was not interested in these men at all. I rewarded him with praise for eye contact.
Stranger 8) Female. Twenties. Walked passed us. Initially, I'll admit I was a bit nervous because this was the first person I allowed to pass us on the same side of the street. Takoda did well in his sit and I rewarded him through her passing us just to keep him distracted.
Stranger 9) Male. Twenties. This man was obviously trying to approach Takoda at first, but he seemed to realize that he was in training when I took Takoda off the sidewalk. Takoda noticed him, but didn't care very much. He looked to me when I asked him for eye contact and sat without much care for the man passing us by. The man lingered a bit to watch Takoda, but didn't say anything and moved on. Takoda did not pull toward him.
Stranger 10) Male. Twenties. Had a small dog who pulled toward us. I had Takoda in a sit and giving me eye contact for a second before he realized the dog was there. After that, he popped up and started this... strange... whine-cry-bark. I walked away from the dog and owner until Takoda stopped reacting and asked him for eye contact again. I rewarded with praise as the dog walker had already gone by that point.
Stranger 11) A small girl and her mother. They didn't approach Takoda (who sat and gave me eye contact when I asked him), but did ask about him when they saw him in training. They moved on after that. When I realized Takoda was beginning to pull toward them, I walked in the opposite direction to keep him from focusing on them.
He is now VERY tired. He drank a lot and promptly found a place to go to take a nap. I'm actually really pleased with how he did today, especially after THE INCIDENT (dun dun dun). He is constantly surprising me with how smart and receptive to direction he is. I'm so used to my thick-headed London.
I also got to discover a lot about Takoda today. I think a person's energy has a lot to do with how he reacts to them. He does very well with calm, collected individuals... which makes sense, but it's incredible how sensitive he is to a person's energy and body language - even people he's never met.
My trainer also believes in a person's demeanor when training. She suggested to use a leather leash instead of a nylon leash because dogs can feel the tension and calmness of your behavior and is more susceptible to be calm as well.
btw: I like your new signature, @Crispy!
They are fun dogs to train!
More of Takoda hanging out. This is the "activity hub" of my household, I guess. London's bed and toys are right behind the couch, so this is where the dogs end up playing. Takoda has his own bed and his own toys in my room, but he prefers London's, of course.
I had to cut the video short at the end because I didn't like how stiff London was, so I had to intervene with some distractions.
@Zinja - I haaate nylon leads. Not only are they uncomfortable (for me), but I find they get damaged easily and exactly what you said - I feel like they feel tense all the time. I use braided leads (like the ones made for horses) for my boys. I like leather, but it's a pain in the ass to break them in. ...and thank you! I figured my signature needed updating.
@Edgewood - I haven't been able to get out with Takoda again for a good training session (it's really awful at work this week), but I'm looking forward to it! He's so clever and easy to work with. It'll just be slow, steady steps until he's ready. I'm still really impressed with how he did on the first go. He's been great with my coworkers now, too. He did growl and "punch" at my roommate when he came in last night, but my roommate is hardly ever home and he woke TK up out of a dead sleep. He was fine once he realized who it was.
Somehow, this thread makes me want a Shikoku. Someday maybe... haha.
@cdenney - We've always marveled at how long London's tail is. When he was a pup, it would literally drag on the ground between his sloppy posture and how long it was. We thought he'd grow into it. I guess we thought wrong. ,:3 It looks a little ridiculous.
Luckily I got to meet a very beautiful shikoku when I went up anyways so I'm happy.
I'm sorry about the teeth rock chewing might been the issue or crate I dunno.
I had a cat with missing teeth was found off the streets, but he loved humans so I think someone dumped him in country. Poor guy was so thin when we first got him ticks all over him.
I hope see more pictures of Takoda and London too.
I like to call this the "My Shikoku Ken Doesn't Sit Still". I'm sure you're familiar.
He's got such a silly look in some of those pictures, I love it. And the white snip on his muzzle is adorable.
I've wondered about his markings. Most Shikoku have solid faces w/o the Irish white. Is that the preference? Maybe @Edgewood knows?
NIPPO standard:
http://www.shibaweb.com/japanese.htm
NIPPO judging resolution:
http://www.shibaweb.com/judging.htm
Okay for urajiro (called white markings in the translation) but no to white spots for the medium-sized Japanese breeds.
It does add a good amount of character, though.
I've kind of been a fiend for the dramatic blur.