# One Lonely Shiba = a Mess on the Level of a "Breakup Song Video" "The Shiba is not clingy by nature, but when you are upset, she will be there for you. If you are busy or preoccupied, your Shiba will leave you alone." This is a quote from Laura Payton's book Shiba Inus: A complete Owner's Manual. Ms. Payton is wrong, or at least not 100% right. (Yes, I know each… ## Thread In Shiba Inu · started by santuzza · 9 replies - **Category:** [Shiba Inu](https://nihonken.org/community/c/shiba-inu) - **Forum:** [Nihon Ken Forum](https://nihonken.org/community/) ## santuzza · 2009-01-05T04:58:43.000Z "The Shiba is not clingy by nature, but when you are upset, she will be there for you. If you are busy or preoccupied, your Shiba will leave you alone." This is a quote from Laura Payton's book Shiba Inus: A complete Owner's Manual. Ms. Payton is wrong, or at least not 100% right. (Yes, I know each dog is an individual. I'm writing this because I read the whole 'independent, aloof' bla-dee-bla a lot - a whole heck of a lot - and it really had me expecting a different experience from a shiba - something I could handle with considerably more ease.) Perhaps Tosca hasn't read Ms. Payton's book or, perhaps, I have a spaniel with pointy ears and a curly tail. I have been a busy and very distracted woman recently. In addition to hosting visiting family members for several days (one of whom was a child, i.e. not Tosca's favorite company) and the obligatory holiday gatherings, I have had six performances in eight days and have been getting back obscenely late because I am also a single, Twenty-three year old who's enjoying a bit of end-of-year partying. I've had fun. Tosca has had enough, it seems. These last three days I've had performances (and post show drinks and food) and Tosca hasn't taken it too well and has been acting up. It started with random barks and escalated to what happened today. I left at 11:30am. Before I left, I had been laying in bed, trying to sleep as long as possible (got in at 3:30am last night) when Tosca all of a sudden got really cuddly. I hugged her a bit and then began to seriously ponder getting going when she laid on her back across my stomach like a shiba safety belt and started to whine. I talked to her for a bit before moving her, getting ready, and leaving after a few minutes of play and bringing her upstairs to my parents. I received a call at about 11:30pm from my father letting me know that "the dog's acting weird" and I need to fix it. You could hear her barking in the background and, after my father said my name, she started screaming. I'm not at my best today because I just found out that a friend has HIV and there is going to be an announcement made next week after our show's run ends regarding "the future of the company" which has a tone far too ominous for my liking, especially in this economy. I got home at 12:30 am to an ecstatic dog. I talked with my father a bit about the day's events and managed to make some sort of peace with them for now. Then I went down to my apartment. It looked like there'd been a burglary. Books, DVD cases, papers, clothing, anything you would expect to find in a living room or bedroom was all over the floor. Nothing was chewed, shredded, or otherwise destroyed, but it was just everywhere. Apparently, they'd tried crating Tosca, but it "didn't go well". All of the mess happened post-crating. I guess I can see where she's coming from. She wasn't 100% comfortable with strangers in her house. She didn't really relax and wouldn't play and be her usual self. Since the family went back home I haven't spent many waking hours with her. Don't get me wrong, we've had hour walks and play sessions, but we haven't laid around and watched movies together like we do sometimes. I haven't had time to carry her around the house singing to her. Our last tug-of-war with her rope toy was last week. We barely romped in this latest snowfall and, since it was so small, it's mostly gone now. I think I've neglected my angel, but it's been eight days. You'd think this "independent" and "aloof" shiba would allow me eight days. Now these are not my usual habits. In fact, after next week's shows (just 2) I'll have six weeks off before we finish the last two shows of the '08-'09 season; tickets are already sold, so the company is still around until May, at least. Anyway, that's not the point; the point is that I tend to, and will be, home a lot more than I have been. I know I've been busy, but was that really cause to trash the place? There seem to be a lot of perspective Shiba Inu owners who've recently found the forum and I'm glad to say that I finally have some sound advice to give. DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ. I'm not saying 'don't research': research all you can. Do your reading. Read as many credible articles and such as you can find, but don't take it as set in stone. Even if you've seen the word "aloof" or "independent" 58 times, you may wind up with one like my Tosca. This, of course, goes for any breed traits. There's always an exception to the rule. ## ljowen123 (moderator) · 2009-01-05T05:30:16.000Z Ah, the understanding dawns from Jazz's insane crate attack. My dog is a lovely dog who doesn't do well with other dogs, but lives a pretty comfy life. I work on M, T, Th, F - I devote much of my free time to her with the exception of church - if I could figure it out without her getting freaked over Brian's guitar, I'd probably be taking her there as well. My brother is home during the day on M & T - sleeping, but Jazz lays in the bed with him during this hours. His weekend is comprised of Th & F, so he is playing with Jazz during this time. I was on Christmas break from the 23rd until this past Friday, the 2nd. I'm gone for 3 hours (I was only working 6 anyway) when I get a call from my brother...who is at home, with Jazz screaming. Of course, it doesn't help that I then had 2 days off again. I'm thankful that my brother has taken off M & T, because I think we may have more drama soon. It sounds like Tosca and Jazz are very similar in the nature of the world revolves around them. I'm just glad we are back to our normal schedule this week - maybe that will help. ## cmmookie · 2009-01-05T14:10:30.000Z "It sounds like Tosca and Jazz are very similar in the nature of the world revolves around them." Haha. Isn't that the motto of all Shibas?? :) ## Sangmort (moderator) · 2009-01-05T14:16:30.000Z lol! It could be worse Nancy, at least you didn't get...VENGEANCE POOP! lol :) ~ ## ljowen123 (moderator) · 2009-01-05T14:28:55.000Z Ahh, true! You know you've done something to HRH when there is venge poop. ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2009-01-05T14:32:16.000Z Its true - that every dog is different. I feel confident adopting out Hanzo to someone with zero shiba experience because he is so unlike the other shibas I've lived with that he'd make just about anyone who wants only one dog a happy family. He's just like 'a dog', you know? Will listen to commands for food, will cuddle with you, happy to get harnessed up for a walk, hasn't met a person he doesn't like, just a happy go lucky crowd pleaser! But my two, someone without shiba experience would need to load up on the xanax before taking them on! They are crazy and fun and absolutely true to the breed in most aspects. Your advice is right on - research to see if you measure up to the breed as a whole and be prepared for a whole lot more with your individual dog! About Tosca specifically - is she bored? Does she have anything that holds her interest while you are gone? Like toys or a kong? How long of a walk does she get before you leave for a while? These seem to lessen the destruction from an anxious or bored dog. ## DizKaiMo · 2009-01-05T17:48:16.000Z Heh...reminds me of my research on shibas. I expected a puppy who was fearful of people and possibly random objects...instead, he loves everyone he meets. He channels golden retrievers or something. :) ## _dlroberts · 2009-01-05T19:46:14.000Z Wow Nancy, sorry to hear about Tosca's antics. She sounds like a typical Shiba to me. Mine aren't clingy although they don't like it when I leave. I think what Tosca is reacting to is not necessarily your absence, but the change in her routine. Neither Lucy nor Joey react well to changes in their routine at all. Joey stops eating and Lucy refuses to listen to commands. There are a few things in their routine that I jump through every hoop possible to avoid changing, and just about everything else I intentionally vary as much as possible to keep them guessing. For example, when I was insanely busy leading up to the December 23rd paper deadline, I was frequently staying up until 4:00 or 6:00am (or even not sleeping at all) but their morning walk always happened by 9:00 no matter what. They still got fed at the same time, walked at the same time, went for potty breaks at the same time. And they dealt with it like champs. It sounds like your hectic schedule doesn't necessarily permit the same regularity for Tosca that Lucy and Joey enjoy, so it may just be something you want to work with her on. Even if you have the time and are around, vary her schedule a bit on a daily basis so when you are busy it doesn't feel like as much of a change for her. Just a thought, others may disagree with me. ## santuzza · 2009-01-06T03:36:18.000Z I went out of my way to keep basic things (feeding, walking, ect...) at the same time each day even while I was running around like a nut. I have noticed that Tosca isn't a fan of not having her daily bit of affection. If I'm ignoring her too much, she'll go and tip over a waste bin or something. This morning I woke up to her climbing up onto and curling up to sleep on my back. I moved her, rolled over, and then she snuggled up close and put her head on my shoulder and went back to sleep for about a half hour or so while I read. She been bringing me toys more than usual as well. I do find it hard to believe, but I think I've been missed by my furry friend. Either that or I have a Labroshiba and was unaware of it until now. ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2009-01-06T12:30:50.000Z She really wants your attention! Hanzo does this all the time when we spend time with just him, no dog likes solitude, not even a shiba. I think Dave has a good point, if you can't regulate your schedule, it makes sense to get Tosca used to a mixed up schedule as well, as long as there is some one on one play time and cuddle time (which is seems she really depends on). --- **Navigate:** [Forum home](https://nihonken.org/community/?format=md) · [Sitemap](https://nihonken.org/community/sitemap.xml)