the three little shibas.

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This is the last of the fairy tale series. Happy to announce an upcoming new series starring Shio the Shiba! It'll be a good reference if you're considering to be or are a first time owner of a Shiba Inu. Betsy and I got to meet Shio and his person, Ting, at the Canine Cocktail Pawty a few weeks ago. They did not care to be friends but you know shibas... is cool~ is cool~

[L-R: Shio & Betsy]

Wsup to Anouk! And Luna, Emmie the Superdog & Snick! Was very nice to meet such fine shibas!

Last Saturday was Natto's 4th birthday! I'm told he celebrated in Korea with some fish cake and beef bones. Here he is in what looks like food comatose:

[One heppi mung mung eeh - Seoul, Korea]

Happy Birthday Natto!

betsy & the pea.

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Betsy has been hogging all the dog bed cushions lately:

thoughts & prayers.

Praying for earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan.
Hoping everyone will be all right.

bone fairy.

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Here is Kit trying to fall asleep despite excitement over visit from the bone fairy:

Kit tends to whine and cry with his bone in his mouth if he can't find a place to "bury" it.

*Shop Update*
I made a big plush Betsy which is currently listed at the Etsy store.
I'm planning on making both big and mini size plushes of all four Shibal Inu characters.
They will be listed as I make them so please make sure to check back into the store!
By the way, check out prize winners The Firefox Girls making friends with Betsy Firefox!

Also, have adjusted quantities and pricing on greeting card sets and totes are for sale at a reduced price.
Get 'em while they're hot!

earmuffs.

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[One beer = free Kpop earmuffs = tormented soul - Seoul, Korea]

Michelle sent this picture of Natto recently. Korea gets super cold and it's good to know Natto is staying warm.

smell ya later~

[Plush Betsy #1 ready to go to Hawaii - Shibal Inu HQ]

Plush Natto.

He looks the best out of all of them so far.

Plush Kit.

I adjusted the pattern to make the plushies look more like shiba inus instead of foxes:


I'm getting there.

Plush Betsy.

Stitch-A Inu!

Just a little break. I bought a fox plush pattern via Etsy awhile ago in hopes of making plush Shibal Inus. The whole thing was written in Japanese! So I had to wait until I had the time to figure it out. I made a practice shiba inu head tonight.

Here is Betsy's head minus eyeballs:


Meanwhile, Rain is still perfecting dog beds for Kit and Betsy:

big bed.

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While dog sitting for Kit and Betsy a couple weeks ago, Kit made it very clear he wanted to sleep in the people bed:

"Pretty please?"

When I gave him a very firm "NO", he waited until I fell asleep so he could sneak in:

"I'm pretending I'm sleeping. You are SO gonna fall for this."

Betsy didn't care and slept on her new bed:

toy box.

Rain got rid of Kit and Betsy Ikea beds because they were old and smelly. This gave him opportunity to practice using an old skool Singer sewing machine he ordered and sew up some nice dog beds. Turns out, the foam he used to stuff one of the beds was too dense and uncomfortable for the shibas to sleep in.

This is what ended up happening:

Betsy insisted on sleeping in the cardboard toy box like a homeless person. Makes me wonder how long it took her to make this bed considering she does THIS.

Jack-o-shibal

Hope everyone had a great Halloween! Oofah~ I've been busy! The toy company is wrapping up developing new toys for next year and I've had other personal projects taking up some time.

I'll give you a sneak peek (a little treat, if you will) of one thing I've been working on this week:

Aw yeah! Shibal Inu tote bag!
Am crossing fingers hoping this will happen. Will keep yous posted.

Forgive me. The cartoons will be back. I do my best to post once a week. If I skip one, I'll end up doing two the next.
For now, I'll at least leave you with this:

Whoever made this jack-o-shibal is super super awesome! What's better to scare the trick-or-treaters away than a hungry shibal inu clutching his growling tummy? Don't mess with a hungry dog!

Q: What are you dressing up as for Halloween?

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I do not think dogs need clothes and doggy sweaters unless it's for functional purposes. Like the time I knitted Betsy a sweater because her undercoat hadn't grown in time for cold weather and she was shivering during walks (Sweater FAIL btw. Betsy hated her sweater). Although I think costumes can be fun when done in tasteful manner. Rain won't let me dress the dogs up for Halloween though. Otherwise, Kit would be superman and Betsy would be Robin Hood as done by Shio.

Speaking of knitting, I went to the Duchess County Sheep & Wool Festival with Nova's owner Jenni and my friend Laura this past weekend. We got to see sheep dog demonstrations! I learned that border collies are total OCD workaholics. They are happiest when all their sheep are gathered and in order. What super smart and well behaved dogs!


[Workaholic at work - Rhinebeck, NY]


[It's been a long day - Rhinebeck, NY]


[OMG they lemme hold one. Shot by Laura - Rhinebeck, NY]


[Look out world. Almost ready to put sheep in order - Shot by Laura - Rhinebeck, NY]

I don't think the Shibal Inus would make very good sheep dogs. Kit would just bark at the sheep. Natto would try to play with them. Betsy would take a sniff and roll around in their poo. Nova would not go anywhere near them.

mini husky!

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I dog-sat Nova this past weekend. We went on a road trip up to Providence, RI to visit the alma mater (RISD holla~). Most people had no idea what a shiba inu was. A lot of people thought Nova a mini husky. Many have not heard of shiba inus. They don't seem as popular as they are in New York. However, we did meet a three year old tan shiba inu on our way to pick up some lunch. Nova wasn't interested in making friends. Neither was the other dog. She did say hello to all the humans around her.


[Walking north of Thayer. Shot by Laura - Providence, RI]


[Nova & her bunny. Shot by Laura - Providence, RI]

Nova got something stuck in her teef:

[Shot by Laura - Providence, RI]

My non-attempt to play chase with Nova:

[Shot by Laura - Providence, RI]

When Nova was at home while I was at work, I used the iCam app on my iPhone to keep an eye on her:


Being a shiba is tough, man.

*** Wsup to Taro! He's giving away Shibal Inu button pins which are now sold out on the Etsy store. There's still some time to enter and win! Hurry! Go! Go! Go!***

deer.

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Took Kit, Betsy and Nova on a cabin trip getaway last weekend. I really don't understand Betsy's obsession with poop. Neither of the other dogs were as equally fascinated. Once released into the dog pen, Betsy managed to find old poop from previous dog visitors and rolled around in it. While on a long leash outside the pen, she found deer poop and rolled around in that also. She had to be washed twice.


[Video shot by Jenni]


[Basking in the sun - Bethel, NY]


[Shade chaser - Bethel, NY]
Look at that innocent face. You wouldn't be able to tell she rolled around in deer poo.


[Maxin' & relaxin' - Bethel, NY]


[You take this side, I'll take that side - Bethel, NY]

ball.

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Seriously, this can't be comfortable:

[Betsy had a long day - SoHo, NY]

I bet she'd rather be sleeping on something like this:

HEX Tennis Dog Bed via www.hughhayden.com

cicada.

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[Conversing w/ cicada. Photo by Jin - Seoul, Korea]

needy.

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Kit would be the world's worst boyfriend. He is needy and always wants to be petted. If he's bored, he'll wander over, rest his chin on your lap or poke his nose under your hand until you pat his head.

If I'm petting Betsy, he will come over...


butt check her aside...


and take her place to be petted.


One belly rub is never enough.

"It's okay Betsy. I love you too."

Here is Kit's eharmony profile picture:

"My crossed paws show my sophistication."