Day 2: Mikeyba Saves The Planet

 

Today I woke up Mikey-ba  in his crate at 7:15 and immediately took him out.  He rewarded me with robert and moses!  I rewarded him with mozzarella.  So everyone's happy. He ate most but not all of his breakfast (1/4 can of V+SP with no kibble mixed in-- I just want this guy to EAT!!). On a second brief walk around 8:15, he did robert only.

We're working on "sit".  He's slowly getting it, but only if I have a treat in my hand.  Empty hands?  No sit.  Shibas really do demand their salary when they earn it!  Mikey-ba is basically saying "show me the money!"  (His movie references are a few years out of date. We're working on that too.) 

Seriously, Mikey?  This movie was like 10 years ago.

A few times he came up to me and did a sit, unrequested. I believe he was trying to wrangle treats out of me.  Who's the trainer here, buddy??  Today I introduced tiny bits of hot dog, which he loves, of course.

Mikey-ba and Panzer the cat continue to ignore each other. 

"I'm ignoring him as hard as I can."

Panzer seems less nervous.  He had only one tiny spit up today (so far).

Tomorrow I go back to work, so today I want to them separate like they will be tomorrow.  The plan is give Panzer the dining room, bedroom, and kitchen, and give Mikey the living room.   There's a window between the living room and the dining room that Panzer can jump through.  But Mikey loves to sleep on the rug in the dining room.  I hate to deprive him of it.  

Mikeyba is happy on the rug.  Notice Panzer safe on the table.

Also, locking him up in the living room only will prevent him from patrolling.  I don't want to do that. Patrolling may be his anxiety- reducing behavior, but at least it reduces his anxiety!  I'll see how his patrolling looks today. 

(Later) The separation worked out fine.  Panzer joined us a couple of times through the window and went back to the other rooms at other times.  When they were in the living room together, they firmly ignored each other. 

"Still ignoring..."

Panzer seemed in a fine mood.  Mikey-ba seemed fine as well. I tried to keep things low- key since tomorrow there will be no distraction all day except for the mid- day walk.

1 pm walk: Mikey-ba did both robert and moses!  What a good boy. Mozzarella party! This was a really long walk.  Probably too long for the little guy. But it was beautiful and sunshine-y, yet quite cold, so I'm guessing perfect shiba weather, given their heavy coats.  He walked on grass for the first time since he arrived, and I think he loved it.  We had to move on, though, because the sign said Dog Free Lawn.  (The sign's picture even looked shiba- like: pointy ears, pointy snout.)  

He gets compliments and questions on every walk.  He didn't snap at any dogs and was good as gold today.

6 pm walk: 1 robert, no moses.  Mikey-ba earned many bits of hot dog.  After we returned, I opened the living room door to end the separation.  Mikey did pace through the apartment a couple times, but mostly spent his evening curled up in his bed, sleeping or just sitting.  He ate a little more than half his dinner. To entice him to finish, I dropped a few bits of cheddar into the remaining portion, and brought him the bowl.  He ate a little bit more, but he still didn't finish. I took all food and water away at 8:45.  

(Later) Getting ready for his pre-bedtime walk.  He's asleep in his bed!  I hate to wake him but I know it'll be worth it.  

10:45 walk.  No robert, no moses.  But it was super cold!! Let's hope he has no accidents overnight.