Jazz's 5th Birthday

edited July 2008 in Shiba Inu (柴犬)
Today is Jazz's 5th birthday. She's been with me since September 29, 2007. While I've had several other dogs, I've only had one other that I've been as attached to as Jazz. I've shared my story elsewhere about how I came to get Jazz - it started with seeing a guy in Piedmont Park who had a shiba in March 2004 - six months after my beloved husky died. From there began research on the breed and searching to find more shibas. The more I saw, the more I fell in love. After my mom and dad died, I needed someone to take care of - to help fill such a void in my life. Enter Jazz.

Jazz isn't the typical shiba - she's very calm, loves humans, wants to be snuggled with, and does her best to find someone to pick her up. At the dog park, she'll be found nearby - it's rare that she wanders too far. She'll keep looking back to make sure I'm still around. Because of Jazz, I have made quite a few new friends. There's the meetup group and this forum, not to mention pretty much everyone I meet when we are out walking together.

I am blessed to have such a loving dog to come home to every day. I've created a slideshow of her first nine months with me - I hope you enjoy it.


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Comments

  • edited November -1
    LJ, that is awesome! You two were meant for each other, she needed you as much as you needed her - that is a beautiful thing!
    Happy 5th birthday, Jazz!
  • edited November -1
    Thanks! I agree completely about us needing each other - she's been the perfect addition to our family.
  • edited November -1
    AWW!!! Happy Birthday, Jazz! Love the slide show, too!
  • edited November -1
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JAZZ!!!!! You're doing such a great job with her LJ. You're both very lucky to have each other in your life. :-)

    Love the "Its tough to be me" photo!
  • edited November -1
    Thanks!

    I know - isn't she rotten?
  • edited November -1
    Happy Birthday to Jazz!

    Love the slide show. Jazz is lucky to have found you, and you are lucky to have found Jazz. It's always great when things work out so perfectly.
  • edited November -1
    Awwww that was the sweetest slide show - it actually made me kinda teary!

    Jazz is adorable, and I love all the photos you have of her in hoodies, especially the strawberry hoodie. I feel like you could sell greeting cards with that photo.

    Happy birthday Jazz!
  • edited November -1
    Thanks! I get kind of teary, too - knowing how well things worked out for us.

    Those fashion shots were for my nephew's county fair where Jazz competed in the Best Dressed category. Other than bandanas - I don't tend to dress her up. However, there is a Braves game in September that I might break out the baseball jersey for her to be in at the game.

    As far as the slideshow goes - that was done on photobucket, using shots I threw together from the last nine months. Once you've created the slideshow, go back into the album, and you can generate the HTML code just like when you post a picture. I figured it take up less space than all the photos being thrown up there.
  • edited November -1
    Jazz: You are a real ambassador for all Shibas!
    H bday star
  • edited November -1
    Thanks, Patty!
  • edited November -1
    Happy birthday Jazz! She is such a pretty girl.

    It is so wonderful that you have such a good bond. That she got a second chance from you, and also the rescue that helped bring her to you is awesome!

    Give her a big "sheebie" hug (LOL)
    Snf
  • edited November -1
    It is wonderful that you two found one another. It's apparent, the love is mutual.
    She is an adorable girl and it's just great that you are socializing her as often as you do.
    Happy Birthday. Jazz
  • edited November -1
    Happy B-Day Jazz!
  • edited November -1
    Happy Birthday Jazz!
    Continue to be that cool lady you are!
  • edited November -1
    SnF - Thanks! I got her directly from the breeder as a rescue. I drove just under 6 hours to pick her up. Vickie released her to my care after speaking with me and signing a spay/neuter contract. Jazz is a former show dog and was not bred due to the allergy that she has - her socialization after she left the ring three years ago is what has caused a lot of Jazz's issues - she was around very few dogs and spent most of the time in a small kennel. I'll give her a big hug tonight - she's getting a pupcake tonight for her birthday.

    dd= Thank you - we are constantly working on her issues with other dogs - we have high hopes for her as a therapy dog!
  • edited November -1
    oh ok ...there is a family near hear I see at the dog park that "adopted" one of Viki's males that I think got returned later in age. Anyway this boy is really good tempered and very handsome also.

    I see the similarity between Jazz and the boy at the park!

    Snf
  • edited November -1
    I thought I'd load a vid from this past weekend where you can see Jazz's cuddleness:


  • edited November -1
    Happy 5th Birthday Jazz!!!
  • edited November -1
    Wishing Jazz an awesome Birthday! You two are the perfect match for each other. Great slide show too, Jazz is such a cutie.
  • edited November -1
    Thanks Romi & glacier!
  • edited November -1
    I was talking with a friend today and realized that it has been 1 year exactly since I picked Jazz up from her breeder. In honor of that momentous occasion, I thought I’d pull a few memories from my journal to share.

    September 28, 2003 – Beloved Husky, Torbin Vladimir of Gorky Park passed away in his sleep.

    June 2004 – caught sight of gorgeous dog, called a Shiba, makes me think of a blond Gorky, would be nice to have a small version of a husky.

    August 2004 – New house is finished, where will the dog area be??

    February 2005 – Caught a dog show on TV, saw the Shiba again, must do more research on it, the Akita, and the Norwegian Elkhound.

    September 2005 – I think Dad would deal better with Mom’s death if we had a dog. Start researching the Shiba, eliminated Akita due to size – I want the kids to easily be able to walk the dog, can’t find anyone local with an Elkhound to meet.

    January 2006 – Maybe the time isn’t right for a dog, Steve just got a new job and I’m working crazy hours again, got to put it off again.

    July 2006 – just spent the week with brother Joe, his Samoyeds make me long to have a dog in my life again.

    September 2006 – Fall Ball has started, where could I fit in the time for a dog—I’m never home!

    April 2007 – Dad wants me to find a dog – I told him I’ve found the breed, it’ll be a lot like Gorky, just smaller.

    May 2007 – I’ll get the Shiba in Dad’s memory.

    June 2007 – There are so many breeders, who do I pick? How do I know who has the best dogs?

    August 2007 – got an email about a Shiba in Athens for rescue. Called Steve, he’s good with the plan.

    September 2007 – emailed every Shiba breeder on the east coast that does rescue – maybe drive to OH to pick up a Shiba?

    September 15, 2007 – heard back from a breeder in NC, has a Shiba that has a skin allergy and doesn’t like other dogs. All I have to do is drive to NC.

    Saturday, September 29, 2007 – left house at 5 am to go pickup rental car from airport to drive to Winston-Salem, NC. Met with the breeder for 10 minutes and was on my way with my Shiba. Spent the drive talking to Jazz.

    From that point on, Jazz burrowed her way into my heart. I can't imagine not having a shiba in my life, for the rest of my life. Through Jazz, I came to terms with the deaths of my parents, the loss of a fiance, and the deaths of two of my friends. Through Jazz, I've met wonderful people that share my love for this breed. Thank you guys for reading this long post!
  • edited November -1
    How special. Very touching!
  • edited November -1
    Awwww....YAY Jazz!
  • edited November -1
    I just watched the video. It didn't look like her tail was very curly. Is it usually curly? Just wondering! :)
  • edited November -1
    Her tail isn't very curly at all. It is very rare for it to curl into a full circle. I think that's why I love shibas with a tightly curled tail.
  • edited November -1
    is her tail a bit more... stiff? Hachi has a very thick, but not flowing hair thick - like stiff hair thick tail and she curls it very loosly just touching her back, never in a circle though.

    Everytime I see a Jazz pic or video I see so many similarities (the good ones!!) in Hachi!
  • edited November -1
    Her tail hair is stiffer than the rest of her fur. Her tail curl reminds me more of a husky than a shiba.

    Thank you! I think Hachi is pretty neat, too!
  • edited November -1
    Awww, LJ, that's a beautiful story. I'm so glad you found Jazz. :-)
  • edited November -1
    Interesting. I've heard people ask about DOUBLE curled tails. Never saw one of THOSE before!
  • edited November -1
    Dave - thanks...I'm pretty happy I found her too.

    Katie - There's a guy in our meetup group with a shiba named Ella - her tail has to be one of the tightest curls I've ever seen. It looks like a cinnamon roll.
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