Barrett Shikoku and Shiba Inu's: September 2012

'Archie is one years old! It's hard to believe. He is very much the same personality wise as he was as a puppy. Archie is very cautious of new things, like when we are playing fetch and the ball rolls into an area he doesn't often go to (like under the kitchen table) he will take his time getting it, or he will just get me to grab it for him lol. It's so silly the things that scare him. House shaking thunder doesn't bother him but if the windows are open in the house and a breeze comes through and creaks a door he will shake and hide between me and my boyfriend. He also doesn't like the vacuum cleaner, or baths which is unfortunate because one of the things he loves best is cow poop (as you can see in one of the pics I attached).

He is still very friendly towards people and dogs. He will play with other dogs all day to the point of exhaustion if we let him (which by the way makes me want to buy him a puppy friend lol). He recently let a ten year old carry him all over the place which was surprising because he would never put up with me doing that but for her he just let her do it. It must be an instinctual thing, he's always been good with kids without me training him to be.

Archie is a very smart dog. He knows the specific names of his toys, he knows approximately when my boyfriend gets home from work, and he knows the meaning of lots of words and phrases like bed time. He's also has a trait unusual to shibas: he comes when he is called. That being said, I still don't let him off leash in the city because he has no fear of vehicles which is weird. But at my parent's place he is free to roam around the property. Archie is very loving, but in his own way. He isn't cuddly like a lap dog, although he does lay on my feet all the time, but is more like my shadow. He follows me around the house every where I go. If I'm doing laundry he follows me downstairs, if I'm cooking he is in the kitchen. Even if he is sleeping he will get up to move wherever I'm going. He's a great dog for living in the city too. All my neighbors ask me if he is capable of barking because he is so quiet. I can't remember the last time I heard him bark. He makes huffing noises sometime when he gets excited or nervous, but rarely does he actually bark. The other day I accidentally locked him in the basement for 5 hours because he wouldn't even bark or whine to let me know he was down there. I eventually realized he was down there when I heard him lie down by the door. But when he knows we are going for a walk he gets really excited and makes some strange noises.

Archie is the center of attention wherever we go. If I had a dime for every time someone says he looks like a fox I would have enough money for another puppy lol. It's funny, everyone asks what breed "she is" or what "her name" is which really annoys my boyfriend (he makes a point of buying him "manly" colored collars and leashes).

He's not a picky eater, nor does he eat alot. He eats like a bird, one mouthful at a time whenever he wants and he never overeats. Maybe that was the key to his good growth. He is pretty big for a shiba inu. he weighs 25.6 pounds without his winter coat and from front paw to shoulder is over 18 inches tall. He is super healthy too, no allergies or anything like that and he has never been sick.

Watching him grow up was so much fun for us. He brings us so much happiness every day and I can't thank you enough for trusting us with one of your puppies. I hope you keep raising shibas for a long time because Archie is a great example of how good breeding and early attention during puppyhood makes for a good looking, well behaved, and socialized dog with a great personality. Thank you!

Lisa, James and Archie.'