Our Shibal Inu

Howliday Recap

2012-01-26T22:08:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year everybody! Apologies for my lack of updates. Here's a little recap before kickin' off the year with new web comics.
Last month, Kit and Betsy received and opened their Secret Shiba presents:

Super thanks to Sumo and dearly departed Kicho. Sending shiba hugs to your awesome human!

I also left them presents to open for Christmas while I was away in Korea visiting Natto:

Now here's to looking forward to more Shibal Inu antics!

rider.

2011-12-09T19:08:00.003-05:00

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There have been lots of requests for 2012 Our Shibal Inu calendars. Bad news is, I wasn't able to have time to come up with one. Good news is, Kit landed himself the cover of NYC Shiba Rescue's 2012 calendar! You can order this great calendar featuring shiba inus who have found fantastic forever homes. Proceeds go towards funding the rescue. I ordered two :) The year is almost over! Get ready with the NYCSR 2012 calendar!

Is your shiba in this calendar too? Holla to all the other NYCSR alums!

happy turkey day!

2011-11-24T23:05:00.000-05:00

[shot by Ve]

Kit, Betsy and honorary Shibal Inu, Henri wish you a happy turkey day!
Gobble gobble ya'll~

2011 Holiday Cards

2011-11-08T12:22:00.004-05:00

2011 holiday greeting cards are available in the Etsy shop! They'll come in handy if anybody is participating in this year's Secret Shiba gift exchange :D

Don't forget! A portion of proceeds are donated to the NYCSR!

nite shiba.

2011-11-03T09:00:00.000-04:00

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Last month, I dog-sat Kit and Betsy for a whole week while Rain was in Hawaii. Kit is a fantastic alarm clock making sure I was up in time to feed him before work.

At 5am, I'd see Batman's silhouette popping up from the edge of the bed.
"Awake yet? No?"

And then again at 6am.
"How about now?"

And again at 7am.
"Now?"

homage.

2011-09-20T09:00:00.004-04:00

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Last week, Natto celebrated the Korean autumn festival of Chuseok. It's basically Korean Thanksgiving, lots of food but with paying homage to the ancestors:

(Photos shot by Jin.)

Shio's Tip #3.

2011-09-13T09:00:00.002-04:00

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Shio's tip #3: Aloof is cool as referenced in Shio's blog.

Betsy and Kit got to hang out with Shio and Suki's owner, Jonathan Fleming last weekend! This is what happens when you get guys with fancy cameras hanging out with very good looking Shibas:

Shio humors the pawparazzi.

Check out Shio's post on our afternoon hang out!

good life.

2011-09-06T09:00:00.000-04:00

A very belated Happy Gotcha Day to Kit!
Here he is very handsome wearing his present:

I was trying to give him a James Bond look since he's all white but he looks more like a Chip'N Dale dancer ready to show off his pink bits :p

Super thanks to Hoshi Shiba for shopping link!

Kit also received a squeaky steak toy for his birthday:

Shio's Tip #2.

2011-08-23T09:00:00.000-04:00

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Tip #2: We are drama queens with a Shiba scream as referenced in Shio's blog.
I've never ever heard Betsy scream. She's a tough girl. But I've heard Kit scream. Big baby...

Q: If you had a human job, what would you do?

2011-08-16T09:00:00.003-04:00

Check out this story of the first shiba inu joining the Okayama Police Department!
There are many occupations that would befit our Shibal Inus.

Kit can be any of the following:
Club bouncer, personal wake up caller, dishwasher.

Betsy:
Baseball catcher, spa facialist (as she likes to roll around in mud and poo), sous chef.

Natto:
Playwright, detective, Pulitzer prize winning author, luchador.

What human occupation would your dog be good at?

Shio's Tip #1

2011-08-09T09:00:00.002-04:00

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Shio the shiba was very kind enough to offer some tips for first time and potential shiba inu owners. Did you know he revamped his whole blog so it looks super cool? If you have any questions about owning a shiba inu, feel free to visit his site! There are also many bloggers on the right you can check out too!

Tip #1: Don't mess with the paws as referenced on Shio's blog.
Kit, Betsy and Natto are pros at "Nice to meet you" paw shake and they don't mind having their paws touched. But I know many shibas don't like it.

Do your dogs mind having their paws touched?

Donation to ARK UPDATE!

2011-08-08T09:30:00.005-04:00

Hi everybody!

Back in March, many Shibal Inu readers purchased comic strip prints as part of a fundraiser to help pets in need after the terrible tsunami and earthquake hit Japan. Proceeds were donated to the Animal Rescue Kansai (ARK).
I just received an email from the founder of ARK, Elizabeth Oliver, and wanted to share with everyone:

-----
Dear Gina,

I am so sorry to be late in writing to say THANK YOU for your wonderful donation. This is just to let you know the current situation and what your donation is being used for. We are sending out regular updates so our supporters can follow our continued efforts.

We experienced the Kobe earthquake in 1995 and in that one year took in 600 animals, many of those animals lived out their lives at ARK, up to 10 years. That experience has helped us this time although the scale of the disaster is enormous, compounded by the tsunami and the threat of radiation from the crippled nuclear plant. Kobe is only two hours drive from here but Tohoku is in the north of Japan, a day's drive away, this hindered too by lack of petrol. Before the 20k zone was closed we had two boys from our staff up there rescuing, visiting local government offices for radiation screening, and then meeting up with volunteers from our Tokyo office. The animals were then taken to Tokyo Haneda airport and flown to Osaka Itami, where we pick them up. As of 29th May, 197 dogs, 17 cats, a guinea pig, rabbit and a masked love bird have come in here. Once at Osaka ARK, they are processed fairly quickly by our resident vet; de-wormed, vaccinated, blood tested for heart worm, microchipped and neutered. We send details of the animals with photos back to the local authorities to try to find owners. Already several have found their owners and those will be boarded are ARK until they are in a place where they can take their pets back.

Japanese Government allowed one or two family members, after 8th May to enter the 20k zone to collect personal possessions. When this was announced the government said they would not allow people to take out pets or animals of any kind. We put together a petition in Japanese and English and a wonderful volunteer even translated it into French. 77 organisations in Japan and another 350 organizations around the world signed it and individuals all around the world printed it out, signed it and sent it to a group of Japanese officials. After the petition campaigns from ARK and other animals welfare groups and a protest in Shibuya they announced that they will be allowing owners to take out their pets and that any animals found left in yards and homes to be brought out by officials. They did pick up some of the animals but the numbers were so low it hardly makes a dent on the amount of animals needing rescue. The government arranged a team of vets to go into the zone to rescue animals, however these are not trained or experienced rescuers and the outcome was a meager 20 animals rescued and they are not planning to attempt another rescue for months. What is needed is for animal rescue groups to be allowed in to catch the loose animals or we will surely have a large feral population within a year as most of the animals are not spayed or neutered.

So you can see it is quite a lengthy process. We promise to board all these animals for free as well as giving all veterinary treatment and care for free. If we have no contact from owners or can't find, after three months, the animals become the property of ARK and can be put up for adoption. With all of this the intake of non-earthquake animals has not diminished in fact since so many groups are focused on the disaster animals many more animals are being brought to ARK. We will continue to work not only for the disaster animals but any animal we can help no matter the reason.

Find below our latest update. We will keep you up to date as the situation progresses.

Elizabeth Oliver ARK

-----
Thanks again for everyone's help!
If you'd like to continue to help support ARK in their efforts to save pets in need, you can donate here: http://www.arkbark.net/?q=en/node/2901

happy birthday rain!

2011-08-02T09:00:00.001-04:00

Happy birthday to Kit & Betsy's owner, Rain!

My favorite video clip of Rain and Betsy as originally posted here:

Here's a far superior home movie shot a few years go by Ve when all three of the Shibal Inus were still together. Her dog, Henri, is an honorary Shibal Inu:

the three little shibas.

2011-06-29T23:18:00.006-04:00

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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!

Canine Cocktail Pawty Flier

2011-06-06T15:00:00.005-04:00

Check it out! I made a flier for the Canine Cocktail Pawty that's coming up next week:

Am very excited as Betsy and I will be attending! We are looking forward to meeting Snickers and Emmie the Super Dog! I'm also contributing some Shibal Inu goods in their goody bags. Won't you come and pawty with us?

For tickets and detailed information, visit http://www.caninecocktailpawty.org/

Canine Cocktail Pawty!

2011-06-03T16:07:00.005-04:00

Hey dudes!

First off, many many apologies for lack of posting! New comics will be up soon. Don't worry! It's certainly not due to lack of ideas. Shiba Inus provide endless inspiration for strips, especially these three knuckleheads. I've been away in Nashville, Tennessee where I made friends with Stella and Buckley the cats.

[Stella and some shoes - Nashville, TN]

[Buckley the scardy cat - Nashville, TN]

Please don't tell Kit and Betsy I made friends with cats. Very important lesson learned: I am very allergic to cats. This is a shame as Stella was very much like a dog and would roll over on her back for belly rubs. It also doesn't help she is very soft, plush, and irresistible to pet (please note Stella's excellent post on "Tums Rubbin").

Please stay tuned for new strips!

Secondly, are you aware Snick the Dog (whose owner is the founder of the NYC Shiba Rescue where Kit and Betsy are from) is hosting a Canine Cocktail Pawty to raise funds for Hike for Our Heroes? What a great way to meet other shibas and benefit such a great cause! I'd certainly love to meet Emmie the super dog! She's been helping her owner walk across America to raise funds for families of soldiers. If you can't make it out, please do consider making a small donation!

Hope everyone's staying cool!

rebetzel.

2011-05-06T09:00:00.003-04:00

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Second part of fairy tale series. I saw this photo circulating among the Twibas (Tweeting Shibas) awhile ago which inspired today's strip:

heh heh heh~

Btw, you can follow Kit, Betsy and Natto on Twitter @Our_Shibal_Inu
Also have a Facebook fan page as well!

betsy & the pea.

2011-04-22T10:20:00.005-04:00

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Betsy has been hogging all the dog bed cushions lately:

Donation to ARK!

2011-04-13T14:16:00.005-04:00

Hi everybody!
Just wanted to thank everyone who participated in my fundraiser!
Donations have been sent to the Animal Rescue Kansai (ARK) today.
Your very generous donations came to a grand total of...

* drum roll *

$508.78

This comes out to be ￥41,646.

I hope everyone enjoys their prints and Shibal Inu goods.
You are all heroes! *round of applause*

I'll be continuing contributing portions of future sales to the NYC Shiba Rescue.
Thanks for caring about our animal friends here and overseas!

Tsunami-surviving dog rescue

2011-04-01T18:38:00.004-04:00

Tsunami-surviving dog rescued after three weeks at sea:

I saw this video via Kaiju's Twitter feed. This dog was super lucky. I can't imagine what I'd do stranded for three weeks at sea. There's still time to pick a prin t! 100% of all proceeds from everything in the store will be donated to ARK to benefit animals from the Japan earthquake and tsunami. Pick-A-Print will end on April 12th!

--- EDIT ---

After rescue, the dog was reunited with its owner!

happy birthday michelle!

2011-03-23T09:00:00.002-04:00

Happy birthday to Natto's owner, Michelle!

["You gonna finish that?" - Williamsburg, NY]

My favorite video clip of Michelle and Natto:

pocky.

2011-03-18T13:02:00.006-04:00

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My friend, Tony, returned from Japan a couple weeks ago (right before the earthquake and tsunami). He brought back candies that are only available in Asia.

For example, green tea Kit Kat:

Mango Hi-Chew:

and cola flavored Mentos:

My favorites are those Japanese gummy candies:

And of course, Pocky.

Kit and Betsy's favorite snacks are homemade dehydrated pork jerky and marrow bones.
This is the dehydrator used to make their jerky:

What are your favorite human and canine snacks?

pick a print!

2011-03-15T20:42:00.006-04:00

Hey dudes.
In light of the terrible earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan, I'm announcing a fundraiser.

It's time to pick a print!
Between March 15 - April 15, 8.5"x11" Shibal Inu comic strip prints will be on sale at the Etsy store for $15 each.

Your choice of Shibal Inu comic strip will be printed, signed and numbered.
Please note your choice of print in the shopping cart before proceeding to check out.

During this time, 100% of all proceeds from everything in the store will be donated to ARK to benefit animals from the Japan earthquake and tsunami.

Also, check out the ASPCA's steps to prepare your pets for emergencies!

Your support will be appreciated!

handsome.

2011-03-14T22:25:00.003-04:00

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I'd like to get Kit a bow tie.
Here are some Etsy stores I've been looking at:
Pecan Pie Puppies - http://www.etsy.com/shop/pecanpiepuppies
Big Paw Collars - http://www.etsy.com/shop/bigpawsaints?section_id=7465663
Rover Dogs - http://www.etsy.com/shop/RoverDog?section_id=7299189

He will hate me... but oh will it be funny.

thoughts & prayers.

2011-03-11T22:12:00.002-05:00

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

doppelganger.

2011-03-11T00:02:00.004-05:00

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Have you guys ever seen the Japanese commercials for SoftBank?
They're kinda strange but pretty funny. I think they're ads for cell phone plans.
The featured family consists of a dad (the dog), mom, son (black dude) and daughter.
I can't decide which is more impressive: the talking dog or the black dude speaking in Japanese.

hachiko statue.

2011-03-08T09:00:00.002-05:00

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I don't mean to offend. This really is what Kit would most likely do if he ever visited the Hachiko statue in Tokyo... or with any monument for that matter :p

hachiko bus.

2011-03-06T22:23:00.003-05:00

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My friend, Tony, took this photo of the Hachiko bus on his recent trip to Japan.
Saw this article about the cause of Hachiko's death via Shiba Inu Hawaii:
http://www.komonews.com/news/offbeat/117241763.html?ref=guiltypleasures

Also, Shiba Inu Hawaii needs help donating supplies to rescued puppy mill dogs!
The rescued dogs also include shiba inus.
Check out their video here:
http://www.kitv.com/video/27034153/detail.html

Kit as William Wallace.

2011-02-13T21:24:00.004-05:00

Here is Kit as William Wallace:

This was taken a few years ago on a cabin trip to upstate New York. Kit, Betsy, and honorary Shibal Inu, Henri are going to another winter cabin trip this weekend! It's gonna be a snow weekend blast. Will be back with more Shibal Inu adventures!

Happy Presidents Day!

bone fairy.

2011-02-09T09:00:00.002-05:00

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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.

2011-01-31T09:00:00.001-05:00

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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~

2011-01-13T12:03:00.004-05:00

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

And the winners are...

2011-01-11T00:00:00.008-05:00

[Not pictured, Natto, because he is in Korea - Shibal Inu HQ]

Thanks everyone for participating in my birthday plush giveaway! I had a great Wii birthday pizza party. Kit insisted on getting the best view by sitting in front of the Wii sensor bar.

Enough chatter. The moment you've been waiting for... the winner is... wait for it...

Congratulations Nik i! You'll be receiving a plush Betsy!

Due to such great participation, I also chose two runners up to receive a set of 6 new Shibal Inu birthday cards soon to be revealed:

Congratulations lalabloopbloop and Alissa!

Winners please send mailing address to shibal (dot) inus (at) gmail (dot) com.
Your prize will be in the mail shortly!

As for everyone else, thanks so much for all the birthday well wishes!
I do intend to have some plush up for sale via Etsy.
New birthday greeting cards will be up soon as well.
Will make sure to keep everyone posted!

Shibal Inu Plush Birthday Giveaway!

2011-01-03T09:19:00.005-05:00

Happy New Year everybody! Hope everyone has had a super holiday! As you can see from previous posts, I spent my break from work figuring out how to make plush shiba inus. I think I've got it down pretty good:

[Plush Kit & Plush Betsy's head - Shibal Inu headquarters]

My birthday happens to be this week! So I'll be kickin' off the new year by giving away your choice of plush Kit, Betsy, Natto or Nova. Will post pic of complete set ASAP.

Please note, these plush Shibal Inus are not intended for dogs, cats or any other animal including toddlers under the age of 3 as there are small parts.
If your pets are anything like Kit and Betsy, they will love it too much to the point of destruction.

To enter, please leave a comment of which Shibal Inu you'd like!

I will use www.random.org to draw the winner.
Please note: one comment per person.
Entry deadline will be January 10, noon EST.

GOOD LUCK and Happy New Year!

bone 2.

2010-12-30T20:34:00.004-05:00

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Kit is twice the size of Nova. I always thought Nova didn't really have canine etiquette. When I took her to the dog run, she made her rounds, greeted all the people, and ignored all the dogs. Maybe she is socially retarded in the canine world as she always seemed more interested in people than dogs. So it was good to hear she is communicating and standing her ground when Kit came to bully and take her marrow bone. After being snapped at by Nova, Kit backed off with a sad bashful face.

*** Get ready for the new year! There are only two 2011 Shibal Inu calendars left! ***

mm-hmm.

2010-12-25T23:30:00.003-05:00

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In real life, Nova surprisingly hates sweaters. It's been super cold out and I tried to get her wear one her owner left. She hates it. Nova will run away from me if she sees the sweater in my hand.

Hope everyone had a great holiday!
Kit and Betsy opened their Christmas gift. After watching Mac the shiba inu play with his Kong Wobbler, I decided to get one for Kit and Betsy:

You'll notice Mac plays with his Kong Wobbler very nicely. Kit and Betsy play with utmost animal desperation and urgency.

* * * BTW! There's only a week left 'til the year ends! Why not get a 2011 calendar now on sale for $10? * * *

Plush Natto.

2010-12-25T16:59:00.002-05:00

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

Plush Kit.

2010-12-25T14:12:00.004-05:00

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

I'm getting there.

Plush Betsy.

2010-12-22T16:38:00.003-05:00

Stitch-A Inu!

2010-12-20T21:36:00.004-05:00

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:

vocab.

2010-12-18T18:10:00.001-05:00

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I watched a NOVA documentary called "The Science of Dogs". It featured a border collie from Austria named Betsy who had a vocabulary comprehension of 300+ words. Shibal Inu Betsy only has a vocabulary of 2 words: "studio" for the photo studio she and Kit sometimes run around in and "Gina". It appears "Gina" doesn't really mean me. "Gina" seems to mean someone exciting is at the door. If you say "Gina" to Betsy, her ears will perk up and she will look expectantly at the door even when I'm sitting right next to her in the room.

Michelle tells me Natto now knows the names of all her family members. I tried to teach Betsy "toy" and "bone" to expand her vocabulary (woah, flashback. Am I turning into my overachieving straight A enforcing Korean mom who sends her kids to S.A.T. after school academies?) with no luck.
Anyone got any suggestions?

big bed.

2010-12-14T22:48:00.004-05:00

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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:

Shop Update! Totes are here!

2010-12-13T16:03:00.004-05:00

Shibal Inu totes are here!

Betsy + Kit + Natto + Nova = Our Shibal Inu
We *heart* our f*#%ing dogs.

100% cotton tote printed with soy oil based ink for all your shopping & toting needs. Each hand colored by me!

* A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the NYC Shiba Rescue (http://nycshibarescue.org)

toy box.

2010-12-11T22:37:00.003-05:00

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.

Cyber Monday SALE!

2010-11-29T12:08:00.001-05:00

The only good kinda Monday!
Today take 20% off all items in the Etsy store!
Use coupon code: SHIBAL20

Holidays are near! Time to send off greeting cards to all your friends!

What is Nova thankful for?

2010-11-22T21:10:00.004-05:00

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invisi-dirt.

2010-11-21T23:45:00.003-05:00

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Kit and Betsy like to gnaw on marrow bones as a snack. It helps keep their teeth clean and keeps them occupied. It's funny to watch them try to bury it.

FNL.

2010-11-08T09:00:00.002-05:00

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"Friday Night Lights" is one of my favorite shows. I think it's Kit's favorite too. I love Tami Taylor. If you have a Netflix account, the first three seasons are available on instant view. You can also watch clips and recent episodes on the show's site.

Anyways, I know it's not Thanksgiving yet but I like to be prepared for the upcoming winter holiday. This year's Shibal Inu holiday card is now available at the Etsy store! Last year's design is also available:

(2010 Shibal Inu Holiday Greeting Card)

(2009 Shibal Inu Holiday Greeting Card)

As always, a portion of the proceeds will go towards helping support the NYC Shiba Rescue!

Jack-o-shibal

2010-10-31T23:21:00.004-04:00

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?

2010-10-19T22:42:00.004-04:00

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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!

2010-10-13T09:00:00.005-04:00

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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!***

hunt.

2010-09-28T20:38:00.005-04:00

(click to view larger image)

Zuko has got some awesome pictures of shiba inus hunting over on his blog.
If Kit and Betsy went hunting for wild boar, it would most likely look something like this:

How can you take those fluffy tails seriously?

attack.

2010-09-27T21:58:00.006-04:00

(click to view larger image)

Turns out Betsy may actually be afraid of flies. She's been found hiding in the bathroom from flies that made their way inside. I'm told today, when taken to Rain's photo studio, she stopped playing with Kit as soon as a fly appeared. She hid under a table. I wonder why she would be so afraid of them! Betsy was so good at catching them too. She must've wanted to get them before they got to her. Although now she just hides from them.

deer.

2010-09-16T23:51:00.005-04:00

(click to view larger image)

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]

sand.

2010-09-14T22:02:00.004-04:00

(click to view larger image)

Took Kit, Betsy and Nova to the beach over Labor Day weekend. Betsy loves to dig through the sand:

squeak

2010-09-01T09:00:00.004-04:00

(click to view larger image)

I got Kit a squeaky football for his Gotcha Day. Been watching a lot of Friday Night Lights. I think Kit is very much like "Smash" Williams. He's not as fast though because Betsy got to his football before he did:

As you can see, they LOOOOOOOOOVED it. I think because the ball also squeaked when it was released. It didn't last very long though as Kit and Betsy managed to tear the ball apart and eat the squeaker.

Kit's Gotcha Day DONATION!

2010-08-31T23:15:00.003-04:00

woOhoO!
Thanks to everyone who participated in my interactive fundraiser!
As of noon today, I received a total of 38 comments wishing Kit a happy gotcha day.
Kit appreciates all the well wishes! He is certainly one happy dog.
This means I'll be donating a total of $38 to the NYC Shiba Rescue.
I wasn't able to reach my goal of $50 but I hope this little bit will help shiba inus in need.

If you'd like to make a donation, please visit:
http://nycshibarescue.org/donate/

Be a hero!

baggage.

2010-08-28T23:41:00.003-04:00

(click to view larger image)

*** There's still time to participate in Kit's Gotcha Day interactive fundraiser! I just need 17 more comments! Be a hero! Please help other shiba inus! ***

Shibal Inu 1 Year Giveaway Winner!

2010-08-25T12:28:00.006-04:00

Congratulations Jen!
You'll be getting a framed digital art print of "iPad" :D

Please email me at shibal.inus (at) gmail (dot) com with mailing address.

A little bit about me:
I graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Industrial Design. I now work as a toy designer for a company based in New Jersey. I like to draw. I like to take pictures. I like to make things. I like to bake. I currently do not own any pets but one day hope to have my own shiba inu :)

Thanks everyone for participating and reading my little web comic!
Here's to another year of shiba shenanigans :D

*** By the way, there's still time to help me with Kit's Gotcha Day interactive fundraiser for the NYC Shiba Rescue! I'm less than $20 away! ***

Happy Gotcha Day, Kit!

2010-08-19T22:00:00.002-04:00

[Happy to be got - SoHo, NY]

Today is Kit's gotcha day!

A couple years ago, Kit was brought into the NYC Shiba Rescue by Animal Care and Control. Poor dude was found wandering the south Bronx. It was okay though because a little bit later, he found a great forever home where all his shiba demands are met. As Kit was found as a stray, his actual birth date is unknown but it's okay. We'll be celebrating his gotcha day! Instead of a giveaway for Kit, I'd like to do a little interactive fundraiser for the rescue group who saved both him and Betsy. I'd like to donate a total of $50 to the NYC Shiba Rescue by the end of the month. You can help by leaving a comment on this entry wishing Kit a happy gotcha day!

1 comment will equal $1 for me to donate.

Participating in a fundraiser couldn't be easier!
Please help me raise my goal of $50.
I know it doesn't seem like much but a little bit can help make a difference and I hope it'll encourage others to give a little too.

If you like, you can make your own donation too:
http://nycshibarescue.org/donate/

Please note, 1 comment per person.
Please also note, while more than 50 comments are welcome and a great show of support, my goal will remain at $50.
Fundraiser entry deadline will be August 31, 2010, noon EST.

Click here to view Kit's rescue page and here to view Betsy's rescue page.

OMG! SHIBAL INU 1 YEAR!

2010-08-18T12:00:00.006-04:00

[Me + Shibal Inus waiting for treat - SoHo, NY]
L-R: Honorary Shibal Inu Henri, Nova, Kit, Betsy and Natto.
Shot by Ve.

Howdy everyone!
This time last year, I started doodles of my friends' shiba inus: Kit, Betsy, Natto and Nova.
They've brought big joy to my life and I'm glad I can share bits of their funny quirks with you.
I really do appreciate all those who read my little web comic.
I didn't think I'd be able to carry on this long but these four monsters seem to provide endless amount of material.
Hope I'll be able to continue drawing cartoon strips and bring out some more chuckles.

Here's a little explanation behind the title of the web comic.
According to urbandictonary.com, the definition for "shibal":
"It is a Korean word used mostly in place for the word "fuck" and "shit" in English when something goes wrong. Not to be confused with the verb "fuck." Sometimes it is used as a prefix to some swear words such as shibalnom and shibalsekki."

Our Shibal Inu = Our Effing Dogs

This is clearly not a web comic meant for children. The drawings may look cute and clean but sometimes the dogs' language can be quite foul. Considering all four dogs are raised by Korean owners and all have crazy personalities, the title seemed appropriate.

Here's a funny video of a Korean teacher explaining English swear words:

Skip to 4:18 for "shibal".

As a big "thank you", I'll be giving away one signed digital art of your favorite Shibal Inu comic strip framed in this lovely IKEA Ribba frame:

To enter this giveaway contest, leave a comment and let me know which is your favorite Shibal Inu comic strip!

I will use www.random.org to draw the winner.
Please note: one comment per person.
Entry deadline will be August 25, 2010, noon EST.

Good luck!

*** Make sure to check back for details of an upcoming fundraiser on behalf of Kit! ***

ball.

2010-08-17T09:00:00.003-04:00

(click to view larger image)

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.

2010-08-09T09:00:00.001-04:00

(click to view larger image)

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

shop update.

2010-08-08T17:52:00.004-04:00

I spent the weekend making button pins for the Etsy shop:

My very awesome friend, Laura from Prismera, was nice enough to let me use her button making machine. She even made a little video of the button making process:

needy.

2010-08-05T09:00:00.002-04:00

(click to view larger image)

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."

happy birthday rain!

2010-08-02T09:00:00.004-04:00

[They walk the walk - Washington Square Park, NY]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KIT & BETSY'S OWNER, RAIN!

xxx.

2010-07-26T09:00:00.006-04:00

(click to view larger image)

Kit's sexy poses:

[Ladies come and get it - SoHo, NY]

shoe.

2010-07-22T19:03:00.007-04:00

(click to view larger image)

I should've known better than to leave a leather sandal laying around:

[It wasn't me - SoHo, NY]

I'm really glad I don't own a pair of expensive Christian Louboutin's or Jimmy Choo's. If this happened to them, I'd sit there... and cry... and cry...
I have a feeling Kit knew he was doing something bad because he had the shoe long enough to do a lot more damage than he did. Why is it always your favorite shoe? They know... THEY KNOW!!! At least the strap didn't break and it's still wearable :p

By the way, just finished a Shibal Inu 2011 calendar:

You can pick up your 365.25 days of Shibal Inu at the Etsy shop.
Also, your favorite furry pals are also on Facebook. Do a search for "shibal inu" and you should be able to find them.

hygiene.

2010-07-15T09:00:00.003-04:00

(click to view larger image)

Shop Announcement!

2010-07-14T10:14:00.006-04:00

Hello everyone!
Greeting cards featuring your favorite Shibal Inus are now available on Etsy!
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the NYC Shiba Rescue: www.nycshibarescue.org.
Kit and Betsy are both from the NYC Shiba Rescue.
I'm sure all four dogs are happy to give back and help out their fellow shiba inus in need.
Thanks for all your support and reading Our Shibal Inu!

[Spread Shibal Inu love - via Etsy.com]

Natto's birthday giveaway winners are...

2010-07-12T12:12:00.012-04:00

Congratulations Kouki! You've won a night time walking reflective leash by Ollydog!

And for our runners up:

Hooray Carina and Ting! Both will be receiving a Shibal Inu greeting card variety pack which will include two of the cards in the previous post and two 'Thank You' cards (total of 10 cards).

Winners please send email with name and mailing information to shibal (dot) inus (at) gmail (dot) com.
Your prizes will be mailed shortly!

A big thank you to all who participated!
Your support for Shibal Inu is truly appreciated :D

Also, thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions on a thank you card! Here are a couple pictures of what I ended up doing:

Will announce as soon as cards are up in the Etsy shop!

Just a reminder...

2010-07-11T22:38:00.005-04:00

Just a reminder:
Only ONE more day to enter Natto's Birthday Giveaway!
I'll also be choosing two runners up to receive a Shibal Inu greeting card variety pack!
GO! GO! GO!

a sneak peek.

2010-07-08T20:40:00.003-04:00

For friends not feeling well:

For a job well done:

For birthdays:

For just because:

I'm hoping to have these puppies ready and up in my Etsy shop by the end of the month. Will certainly announce as soon as they're up!
Now all I need is a good "thank you" card.
Any suggestions?

shrink 2.

2010-07-06T23:02:00.006-04:00

(click to view larger image)

Natto is referring to the incident in this photo:

[Natto's run in w/ local Korean gansta. Photo by Jin - Seoul, Korea]

That little girl is no joke. Look at that concentration. That solid as a rock stance. Don't mess...

Silly me, I meant to end Natto's birthday giveaway on July 2nd but I guess my finger slipped on the keyboard and typed in 12 instead. My little mistake is your benefit! There's still time to enter Natto's birthday giveaway! Go! Go! Go!

daydream.

2010-06-30T23:13:00.005-04:00

(click to view larger image)

Don't by shy! There's still a few days left to enter Natto's birthday giveaway!

Natto's birthday giveaway!

2010-06-25T19:50:00.005-04:00

[Natto taking care of business. Photo by Jin - Seoul, Korea]

I think Natto is one of the happiest dogs in the world. He is definitely not the alpha type but life is always good. He is exceptionally well behaved and well trained. There are times when he is wacky and times when he is stoic. What can we say? He is complex dog with thoughts too complex for us to understand.

Today is Natto's birthday! I felt bad when I heard he got a blinking collar for Christma s to wear during his night time walks in Seoul. I'm not sure how effective the blinking collar is but it's certainly embarrassing for any owner to put on their dog. I'm sending him a blue reflecting nightlife leash from Ollydog to use instead:

I bought it from Happy Paws in SoHo, NY.

In honor of his birthday, I'll be giving another one just like his away! To enter Natto's birthday giveaway contest, leave a comment and wish Natto a happy 3rd birthday!

I will use www.random.org to draw the winner.
Please note: one comment per person.
Entry deadline will be July 12, noon EST.

GOOD LUCK!

fly.

2010-06-24T22:08:00.004-04:00

(click to view larger image)

What I've been up to lately:

world cup.

2010-06-16T23:51:00.002-04:00

(click to view larger image)

Guess which team the Shibal Inus are rootin' for at the World Cup?

[Korea fighting! - SoHo, NY]

dirt.

2010-06-15T09:00:00.005-04:00

(click to view larger image)

Kit, Betsy and Nova headed up to Roxbury for a weekend cabin trip. Kit and Betsy found deer poo in the woods and rolled around in it. They were FILTHY... SO SO FILTHY but sooooooooo happy! Nova was the only clean one.

[SO DIRTY!!!!!!! - Roxbury, NY]

katsu.

2010-06-07T09:00:00.004-04:00

(click to view larger image)

grass.

2010-06-02T09:00:00.004-04:00

(click to view larger image)

Betsy was at a park a couple weeks ago. After running around, she found a shady cool area with freshly mowed grass... and promptly rolled around in it. Check out her grass stains:

[Turning into Incredible Hulk - SoHo, NY]

ice cream.

2010-05-25T09:00:00.003-04:00

(click to view larger image)

Don't it make you feel guilty when dogs watch you eat?

stamp.

2010-05-17T22:27:00.009-04:00

(click to view larger image)

Did you know the United States Postal Service has new stamps featuring shelter pets?

You can also make personalized stamps. Check out this one of Kit:

Betsy's birthday winner is...

2010-05-16T23:05:00.005-04:00

Hooray Melissa! You have won a Louie the Lobster rope toy from Jax & Bones!

Due to a big response, I've also picked two runners up:

Yay to our TX friend and Peter who will both receive a set of 10 Shibal Inu birthday greeting cards!

Winners please send email with name and mailing information to redcraftworks (at) gmail (dot) com.
Your prizes will be mailed shortly.

A big big thank you to all who participated!
Your support and love for Shibal Inu is truly appreciated :D

birthday cake.

2010-05-10T09:00:00.008-04:00

(click to view larger image)

[Birthday cake - SoHo, NY]

Okay okay, video may be cheesy but it's got the following awesome things: cake, presents, shiba inus, and Sufjan Stevens.

Betsy had a quiet birthday over the weekend. She and Kit had birthday cake from Buttercup's Pawtisserie located in Park Slope, Brooklyn. She opened her birthday present like a pro and played with her new rope toy all afternoon.
I think next time, I will try and make a dog birthday cake instead of buying because holy moly, that itty bitty cake was expensive! Did some research and found a few recipes online that seemed simple enough. Many include ingredients like carob. What is carob? And where can I find it? Is there a particular brand bakers use?

Don't forget, only 5 days left to enter Betsy's Birthday Giveaway Contest! Don't be shy! :D

Betsy's birthday giveaway!

2010-05-08T09:00:00.003-04:00

It's Betsy's birthday today! This feisty ginger headed Taurus turns 2! Betsy's favorite game is fetch. This game never ceases to bore her as she is the fetch champion. For her birthday this year, she is getting a Louie the Lobster rope toy from Jax & Bones. Rope toys are awesome. Not only do they provide fun for your dog, they also floss their teeth!

[Louie the Lobster - rope toy of fun]

In honor of her birthday, I'll be giving away 1 Louie the Lobster rope toy just like Betsy's gift. To enter Betsy's birthday giveaway contest, leave a comment and wish Betsy a happy 2nd birthday!

I will use www.random.org to draw the winner.
Please note: one comment per person.
Entry deadline will be May 15, noon EST.

GOOD LUCK!

*** Shout out to Shio the shiba where I found these rope toys in the first place :D ***

arrow.

2010-05-06T09:00:00.003-04:00

Can you see the arrow pointing at Kit's butt hole:

Thanks to Ting for great beach suggestion! Took Kit and Betsy to the beach at Fort Tilden last week. Learned that Kit cannot be trusted off leash as he ran off to check out abandoned houses nearby. Here are some other shots from the morning:

[He enjoys long romantic walks on the beach - Fort Tilden, NY]

[Rolling around on something smelly - Fort Tilden, NY]

[Happy face - Fort Tilden, NY]

[Kit & Betsy both licked this... gross - Fort Tilden, NY]

work out.

2010-05-03T09:00:00.004-04:00

Natto's gained a little weight due to too much love from Michelle's mom. So to encourage some indoor exercise (as Seoul doesn't have dog parks), I sent him a cat toy. Natto likes cat toys.

Auntie Gina's awesome gift that lasted 5 whole mins. from michellemin on Vimeo.

I've been watching Jaime Oliver's Food Revolution. I totally support eating fresh foods and buying local produce, even for dogs. Kit, Betsy, and Natto are all on a natural food diet. They don't eat processed dog food.

Here's Michelle's recipe for home made dog food which yields enough for about a week:
- dozen eggs hard-boiled, peeled and mashed
- 2 cans of tuna or salmon
- broccoli boiled
- two cups of brown rice
- peas and carrots
- freshly chopped parsley

Mix all together and voila!
Please feel free to adjust the recipe according to your preference!

Do you have any suggestions for unprocessed dog food? What do you feed your dog?

squirrel.

2010-04-29T09:00:00.003-04:00

Kit and Betsy got a new toy over the weekend. Ever hear of Hide A Squirrel?

[Defeated by squirrel - SoHo, NY]

kit vs. zombies.

2010-04-26T17:42:00.007-04:00

Having an addictive obsessive personality is sometimes not a good thing, especially when you got a hold of Plants vs. Zombies. It's a strange concept. Plants vs. zombies? How random. But how FUN! So here is Kit, our sun basking sunflower vs. zombies. I'm scared if he were human, he'd be a juice head tanning addict a la people of the Jersey Shore.

Here are some Holga camera shots of Kit and Betsy from a couple weeks ago when the weather was stellar. Kit loooooooooves the sun:

[Sunbathing @ Columbus Park - Chinatown, NY]

[Handsome profiles - Battery Park, NY]

And here's a shot of Henri, the happiest Malshi in the world because he is a shibal inu (effing dog) too:

[Pre-neuter smile - Chinatown, NY]

PS. Shibas for a good cause! Help support a shiba! Cortez of I Am Shiba is doing his part and needs your help! Click HERE.

squeak.

2010-04-22T09:00:00.005-04:00

q: where were you before your forever home?

2010-04-19T09:00:00.001-04:00

Am back from an action packed vacation in Peru!
You can read about highlights from the trip on my personal blog throughout the week:
http://www.run-parallel.blogspot.com/

vacation setting.

2010-04-12T09:00:00.000-04:00

iPad.

2010-04-05T09:00:00.004-04:00

Got a chance to fiddle with Rain's new iPad that came out this past weekend. There is a sketchpad app which is sort of fun. Only crummy part is not knowing where the point is since you're using your fingers. It's very much like virtual finger painting.

[Shibal Inu on iPad - SoHo, NY]

Yes. That is a google eye on Betsy below. The sketchpad app has a brush that makes google eyes. I'm not sure why an artist would need such a brush but there it is.

[Betsy w/ google eye - SoHo, NY]

pep talk.

2010-04-02T09:00:00.009-04:00

[Old shot of Nova w/ an Eeyore which is otherwise known as bunny - Dallas, TX]

We're about to get some stellar weather this weekend.
Hope everyone will be out enjoying the sun 8)
HAPPY EGG DAY!

hi rocky.

2010-03-28T18:46:00.003-04:00

[Not a boxer. Photo by Ve - Brooklyn, NY]

Rocky is a rescue dog currently under foster care in Brooklyn.
He is looking for a forever home!
For more information about Rocky, please click here.

*** UPDATE ***
ADOPTION PENDING! YAY!

tanning.

2010-03-25T21:58:00.006-04:00

Kit loves sun bathing. We had some fantastic weather last weekend. He spent the whole afternoon enjoying the sun.

[Yap - SoHo, NY]

happy birthday michelle!

2010-03-23T23:21:00.004-04:00

[Best buds - Williamsburg, NY]

Happy birthday to Natto's owner, Michelle! :D

And the winner is...

2010-03-19T12:03:00.004-04:00

Congratulations Veanne! :D
Thanks very much to those who participated!
Your love for Shibal Inu is greatly appreciated :)
There will be more chances to win freebies this year so check back for more giveaway contests.

You can print your own cards by clicking the picture link below:

Print 8.5"x11" paper, cut and fold in half to spread Egg Day joy.
Enjoy!

Egg Day Greetings.

2010-03-12T01:22:00.010-05:00

Howdy! Easter is near. Wouldn't you like to participate in an Easter greeting card giveaway?
I'll be giving away a set of 10 Shibal Inu Easter greeting cards. Cards will be printed on quality card stock and will include envelopes.
All you have to do is name your favorite Easter treat under the comments. Kit and Betsy love Pegatables. They even have carrot shaped kinds to fit an Easter theme! Natto really likes those twisted raw hide treats. I personally prefer marshmallow Peeps.
I will use www.random.org to draw the winner.
Please note: one comment per person.
Entry deadline will be March 19, noon EST.

Good luck! :D

Our Shibal Inu

Howliday Recap

rider.

happy turkey day!

2011 Holiday Cards

nite shiba.

homage.

Shio's Tip #3.

good life.

Shio's Tip #2.

Q: If you had a human job, what would you do?

Shio's Tip #1

Donation to ARK UPDATE!

happy birthday rain!

the three little shibas.

Canine Cocktail Pawty Flier

Canine Cocktail Pawty!

rebetzel.

betsy & the pea.

Donation to ARK!

Tsunami-surviving dog rescue

Tsunami-surviving dog rescued after three weeks at sea:

happy birthday michelle!

pocky.

pick a print!

handsome.

thoughts & prayers.

doppelganger.

hachiko statue.

hachiko bus.

Kit as William Wallace.

bone fairy.

earmuffs.

smell ya later~

And the winners are...

Shibal Inu Plush Birthday Giveaway!

bone 2.

mm-hmm.

Plush Natto.

Plush Kit.

Plush Betsy.

Stitch-A Inu!

vocab.

big bed.

Shop Update! Totes are here!

toy box.

Cyber Monday SALE!

What is Nova thankful for?

invisi-dirt.

FNL.

Jack-o-shibal

Q: What are you dressing up as for Halloween?

mini husky!

hunt.

attack.

deer.

sand.

*squeak*

Kit's Gotcha Day DONATION!

baggage.

Shibal Inu 1 Year Giveaway Winner!

Happy Gotcha Day, Kit!

OMG! SHIBAL INU 1 YEAR!

ball.

cicada.

shop update.

needy.

happy birthday rain!

xxx.

shoe.

hygiene.

Shop Announcement!

Natto's birthday giveaway winners are...

Just a reminder...

a sneak peek.

shrink 2.

daydream.

Natto's birthday giveaway!

fly.

world cup.

squeak