Meet Mystie who is a 13 -14 year old shiba mix surrendered to NYCSR because her owners are moving to a retirement village. Mystie is a sweet, smiley girl who is shy around new people.

Mystie loves to be brushed and likes to play with balls but has trouble walking on non-carpetted and non-skid floors. She is a bit heavy, weighing about 50lbs and could use a few extra walks to help shed some of those pounds. She loves being petted and receiving attention from people. She isn’t a fan of being crated and may protest. She also does not like small animals and may tense up or try to chase them. Her former owners told us she is good with other dogs.

She’s our first new foster dog for 2012 and we can’t wait to learn more about her and find her a new forever home!

Rounder aka Henry is doing very well. He’s trusting his foster family more and more as the days pass and has even allowed his family to pick him up! He was a little unsure of it but allowed it without protesting. It’s great to hear that Henry is adjusting.

He still likes to rip paper if he gets his paws on it and sometimes rips up the wee wee pad. His foster mom, Mandy, told us she’s working on curbing this behavior. He’s progressed a lot in the last month. He’s not as fearful of things like he used to be and is calmer when meeting new people and checking out new places. Still apprehensive, but doing MUCH better. He now knows that he will not be hurt.

Henry is still not super friendly with dogs but he’s not aggressive; he stands there and waits for them to pass him or go away. However, he’s good with children and is becoming more and more affectionate as he becomes more trusting.

Mandy told us, “I have now been able to put the leash on him with very little fight. This is a great thing as it was always a BIG problem I’ve had. It used to take me 1/2 hour, then 15 minutes, and now 1 minute! I just have to use a harness that do not require looping through the legs.”

She even sent us a video of him playing:

This month’s update for Saya is written by one of our very own volunteers, Jenn. She visits Saya frequently at Country Haven Kennels and has first hand experience with watching Saya transform into a gentler Shiba. Here is Jenn’s update on Saya’s superb progress so far:

Saya is a wonderful and high energy Shiba Mix.  Originally she was very cautious as she met new people, but her experiences with strangers have all been positive during her stay at Country Haven Kennels and she seems like she is letting her guard down.  Once Saya has met you, she will remember you and will run up to you tail wagging and doing her adorable Saya dance.

Saya is a high energy dog who LOVES taking long walks through the County Park.  This is by far her favorite thing in the world, well except for food.  Saya loves her food – any kind of food.  If you want Saya to do something, reward her with a yummy treat.  Saya has very little interest in toys and would prefer running around with her human than playing fetch or chewing on a plushy.  Saya is so motivated by food that she can tend to guard her food bowl because she doesn’t want anyone to take it away from her.  Saya is just starting obedience training, so this will be one of the areas that will be addressed.  She is such a quick learner, that we believe once she realizes that the food isn’t being taken away forever and she will get it back, that her guarding will settle down a bit.

Saya is all smiles when she's outside on her leashed walks!

Saya can be dog reactive, so she will need to be in a home where she is the only dog.  During her stay at Country Haven Kennel, Saya has been on several walks a week with another NYCSR dog Ren.  At first, they had to be walked with a considerable distance between the 2, but now Ren and Saya can peacefully walk together side by side with little or no incidents unless they bump into each other.  Saya also recently participated in a group walk with about 10 other dogs.  It seems that when she is comfortable with her leader, she puts her trust in that person and is able to walk nicely with other dogs.  She may never be the dog park kind of dog, but for someone who enjoys long walks and the outdoors, Saya will be the perfect companion.

Due to Saya’s food guarding and high energy level, we do not recommend Saya in a home with small children.  It would also be wonderful if she were placed in a home that had a fenced in yard for her to run around and with someone that will continue her obedience training.  If you are looking for a dog that is not necessarily a snuggler, but can be your running/hiking/walking best friend, Saya is your girl.

Jenn has also included a video that showcases Saya’s natural personality. Notice how Saya is able to work out her Shiba 500 sprints even in the small lobby space? She would surely love a home with a fenced yard to run around!

Ren has been with NYCSR for almost 2 months now and has begun training with Marissa at Above and Beyond Dog Training. He is progressing quickly and is participating in individual and class instructions. He has mastered some basic commands, but not all. Ren is so smart that we expect he will be completing at the top of his class.

In addition to basic obedience, Ren is being worked with to understand that not everything in the world is his. When he gets something that he treasures, he tends to guard the object to prevent it from being taken away. Marissa is using techniques to help Ren understand that he doesn’t need to guard. Good things happen if he doesn’t guard and Ren is a quick learner.

At this time, we aren’t entirely certain how Ren is with other dogs. He tends to ignore those he “knows” and is familiar with, but can be reactive to unfamiliar dogs. We will continue to work with him on this. He has not been tested with cats, but his prey drive and high energy level may be too much to have him homed with a cat. Until more conclusive tests can be done, we do not recommend Ren live in a home with other dogs, cats, or small children.

Ren’s trainer also told us that Ren may have had some previous agility training. Or he is just naturally inclined to master the feats associated with agility. Because of his talent and high energy level, Ren would be a WONDERFUL dog for the agility enthusiast and we would love to see Ren placed with a family that will continue his obedience and agility training.

As you can see from the video Ren is very playful and amuses himself when he has an audience. He also likes to play catch and tug, but sometimes gets over excited and has to be calmed down by stopping play for a bit. He loves to go for long walks through the neighboring park and does quite nicely on a leash.

All in all, Ren is a great dog that needs an experienced and active home committed to continuing his training and possibly including agility training as part of his repertoire. If you are an agility enthusiast and are looking for that winning dog, look no further then Ren.

Smokey is having a great time at his foster home with foster siblings and mom, Jenna. He’s in great shape and his fur and skin have improved radically. He’s adorable and loves being snuggled. When Smokey wants attention and some affection, he will hop up and ask for it with a look on his face that melts Jenna’s heart. She told us he’s irresistible and loves to be around people.

Smokey also likes play with the other dogs in the house. His best buddy is her shiba, Suzuki but he can also play by himself and likes to chase and catch bouncy balls. His favorite game is to take a ball, drop it off the couch, chase it, catch it, and then carry it back to the couch and do it again. He doesn’t play with toys with people though. He prefers to play alone with another dog if there’s a toy involved. He wants pets, snuggles, and love from people.

Smokey is learning his basic commands and sits and stays very well. He’s also walking nicer on a leash as the days go by. The other day Smokey tried to jump up on Jenna’s counter and sometimes tries to steal food from tables and counters. It was the first time he ever did that and she’s teaching him to not do it. Smokey likes food and eats very well. He also gets treats when he comes in from being outside and when she leaves.

He’s a great dog who is loving, fun, and is looking for his furever home. Will it be yours?

Rina had a great holiday season and celebrated the days like any shiba should – in a big warm fluffy bed!

Rina is happy and has become quite affectionate. She gives kisses and is incredibly sweet according to her foster mom, Judy. Sometimes Rina is stubborn and sometimes she also does the Shiba 500 and runs up and down the house at top speed. Judy told us that Rina hasn’t had too many major changes other than becoming a more loving and cute dog. Health wise, she’s doing great and loves going for car rides and traveling.

Judy took Rina to see Santa so she could tell him what kind of dog treats and toys she would really like and she gave Santa a big shiba kiss when she was done whispering in his ear. Everyone commented on how beautiful and pretty Rina is when they met her after she saw Santa. Rina enjoyed all the attention and was friendly with everyone she met. It was a big day and she did wonderfully! We’re very proud of her.

When it comes to eating, Rina is getting better at waiting and sitting till she is told she can eat. She used to be pushy about wanting to eat and rushed over to the bowl. She’s now learning to wait for the signal that it’s ok to chomp all the food down. She’s also getting better at knowing commands such as stay, sit, and walking on a leash without tugging as much. She also comes when she’s called and has become much better with staying when asked to stay. She used to be impatient but she is improving. Judy told us that Rina still isn’t a fan of “sit and stay” but it’s gotten better.

Overall, Rina is an excellent dog and likes her foster home, likes the people she meets, and is having a fun winter. She still isn’t a fan of meeting other dogs so she would be best as an only dog.

Musashi has won over the hearts if his foster family and will soon be adopted! We are thrilled. They are working with Musashi to help him lose some weight since he’s about 32 lbs and could slim down some. His stitches were removed from surgery and his ear mites are now gone. He’s getting healthier and definitely has become a happy dog.

Kevin told us that Musashi is friendly, affectionate, and likes having his ears and chest rubbed. He is also very good about going into his crate and spends time in there with the door open when he wants “alone time.” Musashi still doesn’t always come when he’s called but he’s a good boy and likes to go for walks. He’s become a master at walking with a loose leash and rarely tugs or pulls. He’s still shy of new people and doesn’t approach them with excitement. He’s hesitant and needs to come around on his own.

Musashi still doesn’t show much interest in toys but he does like chewing on rawhides and going for walks about 3 times a day for about 10 to 15 minutes each time. He’s not allowed to run, jump, or play as per the vet’s orders. He would probably love to play and jog around a little but until his hips seem to improve and he is limited.

He has shown no signs of aggression and is a gentle, quiet dog who loves to walk and roll around on the grass. He’s a great boy and we’re happy to know he’s found his forever home!

Brian and his big happy Shiba smile!

Let’s put your hands together for our foster Shiba, Brian, for losing 1.25 pounds in the last month! He now weighs 20.75 lbs and is healthier than ever! Our foster family lets us know that the condition of Brian’s fur has also greatly improved since our last update! In our last update we described Brian as a quiet and calm Shiba. After several weeks of fostering, we find that Brian continues to be as sweet as the first day he came to live with his foster family.

Like most Shibas, it took a little time for Brian to warm up to his foster dad, Roy, but now they are best of friends. Brian will trot up to Roy and paw him for attention. If he doesn’t receive the attention he deserves, Brian will let out a few adorable “Chewbacca type yodels” to vocalize his desires. Now that Brian and Roy trust each other, they enjoy each other’s company to the fullest. Brian will greet his foster father with utmost excitement when he sees Roy walk through the door! If Brian senses that they’re heading out for a walk, he becomes extremely happy. Brian loves long outdoor walks and will even jog short distances during them. When indoors, they chase each other around the living room while carefully navigating their way around furniture.  Both of these activities has helped him drop some of his excess weight. Brian can be left with free roam of the home while humans are home without feeling the need to “redecorate” any furniture or shoes that are laying around.

Even though Brian loves his long walks, this otherwise mellow Shiba is reactive when on his lead. Brian is fearful of  fast cars whizzing past him while he’s waiting at an intersection or loud vehicles that roll by him during walks. His fear makes him react to this by barking loudly at the cars but distracting our little Shiba by turning him around and walking away from the traffic helps eases the tension. A few delicious treats don’t hurt either! Roy has also noticed that Brian will react to other dogs at a distance during walks by barking at them because he hasn’t learned how to properly greet them while on leashed walks yet. Brian knows how to approach and be approached by other dogs in dog runs but Roy is working with Brian on proper leash greeting etiquette by walking with other dogs that Brian is already friendly with or training with treats.

Check back frequently for more updates on Brian!

Rounder has been named Henry and responds better to it. So from here on out, he’s Henry.

Henry’s foster mom, Mandy, told us that he’s been doing well. His fur is all fluffy, thick, and the bald spot he had is now gone. He’s also warmed up quite a bit to her. Henry has become friendlier and is even trying to test his limits with her. He wants to see what he can get away with and has become more vocal with his wants and needs. Mandy can now hug him, touch his paws, and has gained his trust. At times Henry is still aloof but he’s definitely changing.

When they go for walks, Henry still puts up a struggle to get the harness on and is weary of new paths and territory. He gets nervous in new places but has seemed to trust her. Everyday she takes him a little further and further away from the house on their daily walks and he’s slowly becoming more comfortable with seeing, sniffing, and walking in new places.

Mandy told us that he also recently hung out with some kids. When the kids became too much for him, he didn’t show any aggression. Instead, he put himself in an area where the kids wouldn’t bug him too much, under a table. He stayed there and showed a lot of self-control. This is a great sign of his confidence level growing. A dog that takes himself out of a stressful situation often means that there is a good amount of confidence. He didn’t need to prove himself or fight back out of fear. He simply, walked away. We’re very proud of him.

True to his shiba nature, Henry screams. But he only let his shiba scream out when it’s bath time. It sounds like he’s being tortured but he lets Mandy bathe him and didn’t try to fight back. He only screamed to let her know that he didn’t think he needed a bath. She did learn that Henry likes to rip up papers and has made sure he doesn’t get his little shiba paws on any more newspapers and mail.

We’re very happy to know that Henry is getting better with new situations, new places, and adjusting at a great pace with his foster mom. Now to find him a forever home!

Rina’s foster mom, Judy, told us recently that Rina’s fur is improving and growing in after her summer cut. She is looking healthier and fluffier, which is great, since winter is here. Rina is also comfortable with Judy and has become a very friendly and playful dog in the time she’s been fostered. Judy describes Rina as lovable and cute.

Judy learned that Rina loves food. At meal time, Rina loudly lets Judy know that she is waiting and hungry! It’s one of the few times that Rina is vocal. Judy has been working with Rina at meal time and asks Rina to sit, stay, and wait before she can nom nom nom the food down. She’s allowed to eat after she’s sat quietly for a few seconds and calmed down a little. She’s reminding Rina to listen and have good manners and not try to dominate or be in charge of meal times. So far it seems to be working. Rina doesn’t “stay” for a long time but it’s better than that it was. She used to dive for the bowl and eat it way too fast.

Rina has a strong food drive and one time grabbed a bag of bagels off the counter and bit through the bag. Judy was able to take the bagels away without any problems and has been working with Rina to not jump up on the table or counter surf for food or scraps. Overall, Rina is great and has been learning what she can and cannot have, play with, and eat. She is also preparing for the holidays and has a spiffy new hat!