I don't know what behaviorist you're going to, but I know most of them in our area and by far the BEST and most educated is Katenna. Call her, tell her you know me, she is brilliant but also no nonsense. http://www.bestbehavior.net/katennasbio
@jessicarabbit - Thank you! She looks fabulous. I'm going to email her today.
@jellyfish - TK always looks his most impressive when he's focused. In this case... it was the neighbors who he has come to associate with beef jerky (they always offer some - they make it for theor dogs.
@jellyfish - My neighbors are AWESOME. They deal with me being crazy all the time and are still super nice. I live in a really nice neighborhood - or... at least... the people are all dog-lovers.
Ha ha! I used to get that with mine all the time- people would ask if Juno was Reilly's puppy. Or if Rei and Sage were the same breed and was I going to breed them. (Reilly is mortified at the very idea...)
I love TK's classic shikoku expression- "What? This IS my happy face! You don't like it? Come over here and say that..."
My friend kindly photoshoooop'd one of the "dud" pictures I didn't show (but uploaded on FB). Now London doesn't look as derpy. Takoda looks just as focused/I-will-cut-you-if-you-don't-love-me-ish.
And for added "derp" factor...
This is our life on a Saturday evening with nothing left to do in the day.
@WrylyBrindle - Poor Sage! He's very handsome! Don't be mean, Rei! But yeah, I always think that it's a little ridiculous/lol'able when people ask. It's happened quite a few more times than I thought it would, considering their huge size/shape differences.
One time somebody asked me if Conker was Juneau and Sasha's puppy... "Really? They don't look ANYTHING alike. Besides, these two are both girls, and spayed, so no, they can't have puppies."
TIL... Takoda has no shortage of courage... and sometimes, apparently, I think it's sort of hilarious when London gets "what's coming to him" (payback is never pretty, London).
AKA, here, have a video of a Malamute getting bayed/humiliated by a dog a third its size.
@sjp051993 - I should have stopped Takoda a little sooner than I did, London was pretty emotional about it... but he's also a drama queen and as soon as we got inside and upstairs, the tables had turned and London was trying to get TK to play with him (but TK is iffy about playing in the house). I think London feels "safer" inside the house and Takoda feels like he has more breathing room outside.
Ha, funny video. Kuma loves to bark at the shikoku girls to get them to play too. Must be genetic. But they seem to all take it in stride whereas London things this Shikoku is crazy!
@Edgewood - London doesn't like that he can't catch Takoda. He's just a brat. I shouldn't have found it as funny as I did... but... I mean... it's a little funny. It makes me wonder how well he (and Kuma!) would do on an actual hunt. He has a lot of guts, that's for sure!
@Trzcina - He LOVES tail-grabs. He's such a little punk. If a dog isn't giving him the attention he wants, he always goes for the tail! London knows it and keeps his tail close (or up). It worries London SO much when they get crazy outside.
I kind of love my punky little Shikoku...
@cdenney - "But mom--MOM, look, look, I was just playin'. It's cool--we're cool."
@GrayJJ - He has an overabundance of personality sometimes! Is Grayson a Shiba? We have a few Shiba at work who LOVE the bigger dogs and it reminds me of what TK does here. They're all a riot.
Haha Bella is same way When they play chase Saya runs circles around her.
Saya did same thing to a malamute at the dog park. The malamute was walking around growling and making vocalizations at everyone. Saya barked at him and stuff.
I knew of a shiba at the dog park who did tail grab too must be a NK thing to do?
Saya never grabs tails except for Dink's. She'll grab Bella's leg to initiate play sometimes.
@WrylyBrindle - He's really good with Parker (the foster pup), you're right! There are a few times where I have to intervene because TK is pushing boundaries with him, but not often. He'll go up to Parker waving a sock or that monkey around like "HEY, hey you, rip this up with me! It'll be GREAT!"
I was actually really surprised with how well Takoda did with the foster dogs I've introduced him to so far (I had a very timid Aussie before Parker since I've had TK in the house). I thought he was going to be a pain in the ass with other dogs in the house, but he's always just good-spirited and trying to get them to play with him.
@WrylyBrindle Thanks you~! There are SO many ways that he really shines! We just have to get over this stranger hurdle.
We have an appointment with Katenna (@JessicaRabbit recommended) tomorrow morning. I didn't think TK needed a reactive dog class and Emma in Franklin only does the reactive dog classes anymore, I guess (so the owner of the facility told me... and was a little weird about it).
I'm very excited.
I contacted my "mentor" about his behavior and she thought Jessica's referral looked amazing, but also said that it sounded like he was more fearful of people than he really let on (I figured he was fearful, but she's thinking he has some intense fear and anxiety issues happening). She said that, depending on what Katenna says, I might want to look into an anxiety aide (medication/thunder shirt) while he's in training. All solid advice, I think.
did you speak with Fran? she's a bit of a toad. Dont take it personally- she's just a speedbump. I think you are going the right way with Katenna anyway!
@WrlyBrindle - Yes, Fran. She was a little... she wasn't rude... but she was very off-putting and unsettled me a little.
Thank you! I'm sure TK will do great. I'm very interested to see what she'll say about him and to find out what she sees that I missed.
I think I'm going to do a bike ride with TK in the morning couple of hours before our appointment. I don't think focus will be much of an issue, but as think that if he's chilled out with running-around time and had a nap before the session he might be a little less anxious.
I'll update afterward, for sure. I'm always blabbing about him anyway.
Sage and I took agility class with Fran's husband teaching, but between runs Sage couldnt sit around with the border collies staring at him and was freaking out. He came over and asked us to go outside, and when we came back to the room later, in the way of consoling me (i guess) he said Sage was reactive because "it's his breed- they are all like that, from the Akitas down to the Chins" (No they aren't, and chins have nothing to do with NK...) so by recommending Emma earlier, I should be clear that I am in no way recommending that barn in general! Though they are positive-reinforcement trainers, they are kinda snotty and poorly informed abotu some things. It's just where Emma has class. Sorry you ended up getting Fran on the phone... ugh...
@Edgewood - I can absolutely see the similarities between Kuma and Takoda (in appearance) when I see Kuma in pictures. I'm really curious to see how similar they might be in temperament, though. I think Takoda's differences are all in how he was raised, from what I've heard so far of Kuma. I feel like they're two sides of a coin.
@Losech - London is the fun police in my house. I don't think he trusts Takoda 100% with "his" (London's) puppy - so he feels like he has to intervene to make sure the puppy is "okay" or safe. I translate it as "hey--hey you, coyote-guy! That puppy is adorable and innocent--you stop it! Stahp it now!"
Comments
http://www.bestbehavior.net/katennasbio
@jellyfish - TK always looks his most impressive when he's focused. In this case... it was the neighbors who he has come to associate with beef jerky (they always offer some - they make it for theor dogs.
"Awwww, it's a husky and its baby!
I love TK's classic shikoku expression- "What? This IS my happy face! You don't like it? Come over here and say that..."
My friend kindly photoshoooop'd one of the "dud" pictures I didn't show (but uploaded on FB). Now London doesn't look as derpy. Takoda looks just as focused/I-will-cut-you-if-you-don't-love-me-ish.
And for added "derp" factor...
This is our life on a Saturday evening with nothing left to do in the day.
@WrylyBrindle - Poor Sage! He's very handsome! Don't be mean, Rei!
But yeah, I always think that it's a little ridiculous/lol'able when people ask. It's happened quite a few more times than I thought it would, considering their huge size/shape differences.
One time somebody asked me if Conker was Juneau and Sasha's puppy... "Really? They don't look ANYTHING alike. Besides, these two are both girls, and spayed, so no, they can't have puppies."
Takoda has no shortage of courage... and sometimes, apparently, I think it's sort of hilarious when London gets "what's coming to him" (payback is never pretty, London).
AKA, here, have a video of a Malamute getting bayed/humiliated by a dog a third its size.
"Don't you bite my tail!"
So funny. Takoda looks like he's having a grand time. London looks like "...What's your malfunction?"
Reminds me of how Grayson always play-bow and bounces around big dogs, trying to get them to play lol
@Trzcina - He LOVES tail-grabs. He's such a little punk. If a dog isn't giving him the attention he wants, he always goes for the tail! London knows it and keeps his tail close (or up). It worries London SO much when they get crazy outside.
I kind of love my punky little Shikoku...
@cdenney - "But mom--MOM, look, look, I was just playin'. It's cool--we're cool."
@GrayJJ - He has an overabundance of personality sometimes! Is Grayson a Shiba? We have a few Shiba at work who LOVE the bigger dogs and it reminds me of what TK does here. They're all a riot.
Haha Bella is same way When they play chase Saya runs circles around her.
Saya did same thing to a malamute at the dog park. The malamute was walking around growling and making vocalizations at everyone. Saya barked at him and stuff.
I knew of a shiba at the dog park who did tail grab too must be a NK thing to do?
Saya never grabs tails except for Dink's. She'll grab Bella's leg to initiate play sometimes.
New video - Takoda loves playing tug with the new foster puppy.
London, on the other hand, likes to yell at them from the couch.
I was actually really surprised with how well Takoda did with the foster dogs I've introduced him to so far (I had a very timid Aussie before Parker since I've had TK in the house). I thought he was going to be a pain in the ass with other dogs in the house, but he's always just good-spirited and trying to get them to play with him.
There are SO many ways that he really shines! We just have to get over this stranger hurdle.
We have an appointment with Katenna (@JessicaRabbit recommended) tomorrow morning. I didn't think TK needed a reactive dog class and Emma in Franklin only does the reactive dog classes anymore, I guess (so the owner of the facility told me... and was a little weird about it).
I'm very excited.
I contacted my "mentor" about his behavior and she thought Jessica's referral looked amazing, but also said that it sounded like he was more fearful of people than he really let on (I figured he was fearful, but she's thinking he has some intense fear and anxiety issues happening). She said that, depending on what Katenna says, I might want to look into an anxiety aide (medication/thunder shirt) while he's in training. All solid advice, I think.
did you speak with Fran? she's a bit of a toad. Dont take it personally- she's just a speedbump. I think you are going the right way with Katenna anyway!
Thank you! I'm sure TK will do great. I'm very interested to see what she'll say about him and to find out what she sees that I missed.
I think I'm going to do a bike ride with TK in the morning couple of hours before our appointment. I don't think focus will be much of an issue, but as think that if he's chilled out with running-around time and had a nap before the session he might be a little less anxious.
I'll update afterward, for sure. I'm always blabbing about him anyway.
anyway! Onward and upward!!
@Losech - London is the fun police in my house. I don't think he trusts Takoda 100% with "his" (London's) puppy - so he feels like he has to intervene to make sure the puppy is "okay" or safe. I translate it as "hey--hey you, coyote-guy! That puppy is adorable and innocent--you stop it! Stahp it now!"