tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18917127688698728892024-02-07T05:50:32.648-08:00Eat Play LoveShiba Inu Maya and FamilyMayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.comBlogger161125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-43351536086430717342016-11-02T17:43:00.000-07:002016-11-02T17:43:02.243-07:00Maya's Allergies Under Control and Lessons Learned<div>
It's been a while since I posted here. The good news is, Maya's allergy has been under control for the past year. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cone free in the middle of summer!</td></tr>
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I have been asked under several occasions for tips on dealing with allergies. I'd like to share some of our experience through this whole ordeal. </div>
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Elimination food trial is a good start to rule out food allergies. There are no real scientific way to test for food allergies, but <a href="http://www.glacierpeakholistics.com/alternative-allergy-testing-for-dogs.html" target="_blank">Glacier Peak</a> (<a href="http://www.shibainumaya.com/2013/06/glacier-peak-allergy-test.html" target="_blank">Maya's results</a>) and <a href="http://www.hemopet.org/hemolife-diagnostics/nutriscan-food-sensitivity-intolerance.html" target="_blank">Hemopet</a> has "sensitivities and intolerances tests" which may be worth trying. I'd suggest using raw rabbit as main protein for the trial. <br />
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If the allergy is not food related, then you'll need to look into environmental allergens. Blood test (<a href="http://www.shibainumaya.com/2012/02/allergy-test-results.html" target="_blank">Maya's results</a>) or skin test (Maya's <a href="http://www.shibainumaya.com/2015/06/skin-test-results-and-atopica.html" target="_blank">experience</a> and <a href="http://www.shibainumaya.com/2015/06/skin-test-details.html" target="_blank">results</a>) could help find the cause, and the vet can prescribe custom made allergy shots or oral sprays for immunotherapy treatment. This is the only possible way to really "cure" allergies. Unfortunately, for Maya, neither test was conclusive, so we tried <a href="http://www.vetrespit.com/" target="_blank">RESPIT</a>, which uses the common allergens in the area. After a year, it seems to help with her fall allergies, but not for spring. <br />
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If immunotherapy doesn't work or is not a possible solution, then there are two different types of medicine, Atopica and Apoquel. Sadly, both may cause long term side effects. Maya is currently on Atopica and so far it has been effective. Between the two meds, we opted for Atopica, because it has been out on the market for longer. Apoquel will be our last resort if somewhat Atopica fails. With a good understanding of Maya's seasonal routine, we were able to keep her dosage very low.<br />
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There are also many holistic methods you can find online. They may or may not work. Some are worth trying, but do keep the exceptions low. I have had my fair share of high hopes and big disappointments. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqeH2nVGT0Z3f72ojxw6TGfBnVNc6pXMIDTH6jhTdYaLPLNREBkTPFW0Jjt9Af3bVoTKuOEcKUjw0yQ_0fjXKyAOkLp1qkp926Eg3EludehHLTxAIhDbVEJsmPsDaqTBSGt5UPbqziJU0/s1600/IMG_7879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqeH2nVGT0Z3f72ojxw6TGfBnVNc6pXMIDTH6jhTdYaLPLNREBkTPFW0Jjt9Af3bVoTKuOEcKUjw0yQ_0fjXKyAOkLp1qkp926Eg3EludehHLTxAIhDbVEJsmPsDaqTBSGt5UPbqziJU0/s400/IMG_7879.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She still made a small scratch mark on her face this year</td></tr>
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And a few lessons I learned along the way:<br />
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<li>Whether it's food allergy or not, keeping a healthy digestive system is important. Digestive enzymes and probiotics are helpful. Check the poop daily and try to keep it firm. <br /><br />Maya had very soft poop throughout her puppy days. The vet told us it's common for puppies and she'll grow out of it. It never gotten better till we switched her to raw. I often wonder if I had fed her better when she's young, perhaps things will be different. Well, I'll never know.<br /> </li>
<li>Use flea repellents. Monthly flea meds only works when the dog is bitten, which is too late. Repellents lower the chance to even get bitten. I make my own using this <a href="http://www.shibainumaya.com/2014/09/upgrading-homemade-flea-repellent.html" target="_blank">recipe</a>.<br /> </li>
<li>Be careful with open wounds and infections. Open wounds lead to infections. Infections increase the itchiness. Increased itchiness causes more scratches. More scratches lead to more wounds. And the bad cycle goes on, extending the itchy duration beyond the allergy season. More than once, we had rely on steroid and antibiotics to end this bad cycle. This year with Atopica keeping her itchiness under control and not causing infections, we realized she was itchy for a much shorter period of time than before.<br /><br />For yeast infections, we found the Zymox products helpful. (See <a href="http://www.shibainumaya.com/2014/04/go-away-ear-infection.html" target="_blank">Maya's ear infections</a>.) For bacterial infections, we used Douxo AntiSeptic Mousse (the mousse is a bit hard to apply though, I would suggest using a different product with same ingredients). You may need your vet's help to determine weather it's bacterial or yeast infection. For a long time, we thought Maya has yeast infections, but it was actually bacterial.<br /> </li>
<li>Keep a detailed journal. Write down meds taken, food eaten, activities, places visited and "itchiness level". We were able to conclude Maya's allergies is seasonal from our records, and also adjust her Atopica dosage accordingly. I use Day One app on my iPhone to keep <a href="http://www.shibainumaya.com/2013/08/maya-journal.html" target="_blank">Maya's journal</a>. </li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We hope no other dog ever has to suffer what she did</td></tr>
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Disclaimer: The information above is solely from my own experience. Please do your research before trying anything someone suggested online and consult with your vet. </div>
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Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-36619302204703990012015-07-16T23:07:00.000-07:002015-07-17T10:59:31.213-07:00Teeth Cleaning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yesterday, Maya had an appointment for anesthesia-free teeth cleaning. </div>
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In general, she has pretty clean teeth, except for her silver tooth (see the <a href="http://www.shibainumaya.com/search/label/Fractured%20Tooth" target="_blank">story about her fractured tooth</a>). Maybe she chews with that tooth less, or maybe because the texture is different, it somehow always has plaque built up on it. A few months ago, I also noticed a chip in her other premolar. Although it looks fine, I really do want a profession opinion. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipr8l5yDG78w8IiXvfnH7DDCBSFKIgi-HEvaDvlWhAktU5eKKGu6RF9a2nAbpocH_nL1MRhrxeZrGv_wQWYPzZWjAzO9RWE3wRAYf4LdMQ2NPOzAdFAAN6JC-avOCYm7SgyODQRZ7n7j0/s1600/IMG_0914.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipr8l5yDG78w8IiXvfnH7DDCBSFKIgi-HEvaDvlWhAktU5eKKGu6RF9a2nAbpocH_nL1MRhrxeZrGv_wQWYPzZWjAzO9RWE3wRAYf4LdMQ2NPOzAdFAAN6JC-avOCYm7SgyODQRZ7n7j0/s400/IMG_0914.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maya's dirty silver tooth before the cleaning</td></tr>
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I have a few options, an office visit to the pet dentist will cost about $100+, which the doctor will likely suggest a teeth cleaning, which will be another $800+, and run the risk of putting her under anesthesia. Another option is to try the anesthesia-free teeth cleaning, which costs $175, and includes a checkup by the vet. If the cleaning isn't needed or not suitable, I will only need to pay $25 for the vet visit. Price-wise and risk-wise, it's a no-brainer. </div>
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However, I also heard that the procedure could be very stressful and painful for the pet, so we need to take that into consideration as well. Since Maya has always been good when I brush her teeth and the spots that needed cleaning is limited, I believed she would be able to tolerate it. </div>
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On the day of the appointment, after filling out some paper work and briefly going through her broken tooth and chipped tooth issues, Maya was taken to the back of the room and I was told to come back in 20 minutes. When I came back, I was surprised to see Maya wrapped in a towel, lying calmly in between the hygienist's legs. She wiggled a bit once in a while, but no signs of struggling or trembling. When it's done, she jumped right up and greeted me with a wagging tail, so I guess she was fine. Not a great experience, but at least not traumatizing. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">During the cleaning</td></tr>
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After the cleaning, we got some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that besides the chipped tooth I noticed, Maya actually chipped like 10 teeth. We know she's a heavy chewer, but we didn't expect it to be this bad. The good news is that the chips are all on the surface so nothing harmful as long as we prevent further damage. Well, no bones for her anymore! They also said I did a pretty good job keeping her teeth clean, and the super expensive sliver tooth was nicely made. </div>
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Overall, it was a good experience and the price was reasonable. I hope I can keep up with the cleaning and pay extra attention to the silver tooth, so we no longer need this type of service. If she ever do need teeth cleaning again, I will definitely pick this over putting her under anesthesia. However, I still want to point out that this may not be suitable for every dog. Especially those who don't like to be handled, hate teeth brushing, or have lots of cleaning needed. </div>
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Anyways, very proud of my little girl! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Her silver tooth after cleaning</td></tr>
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<br />Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-55496709277890048882015-06-16T16:50:00.000-07:002015-06-16T16:57:01.604-07:00Skin Test DetailsSince a few people asked about what was included in Maya's skin test. Here's a copy of the test results. There are quite a few 1s and 2s, but the vet said those are fine.<br />
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF03efdm53L6BRKLuTq7agXLrYPFB9W2w3-FTX9FPVYF_XE9GE3ub-6oxNpGP3mLtjTw72MRvYFTpF3oPmDJ5RsdvIkQSNJAp8PpxdDhEYk1VSUyJEE2M0lmlujuKIx8lngUZQ8Xv4qRg/s400/Medical_Records_-_Google_Drive.jpg" width="186" /><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZ9kSNpnF3W1sT9PGA9q6sZmf2Or0AAhN-WvuVxBxFE2QX2cQ63uRsb1hM3yp9dNGdLLiAxpDkypEr8C8zcBl02BGUwfY7qyKSV0LVoR9CsI1ZeygrAIC7f8vGlR1ft7RQ5MsoHcT-vk/s400/Medical_Records_-_Google_Drive2.jpg" width="175" /></div>
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On the bright side, the patch of fur that got shaved off is growing back in. If I didn't mention it myself, no one actually noticed it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3X4Id5CHIe9Wc6bSMY4UbQPQzZ6uPpLYLqhyphenhyphenH5CN0pN0YFN88YhwIqDx3xozTPsyNKrfdybbf260amAG6maAEfNwHHBAp4BRi-gMKls_X3Cie-UkP-gYVC60s6d7L32I6Xt6oD0dv-E/s1600/IMG_0636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3X4Id5CHIe9Wc6bSMY4UbQPQzZ6uPpLYLqhyphenhyphenH5CN0pN0YFN88YhwIqDx3xozTPsyNKrfdybbf260amAG6maAEfNwHHBAp4BRi-gMKls_X3Cie-UkP-gYVC60s6d7L32I6Xt6oD0dv-E/s400/IMG_0636.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-79464619634621510302015-06-10T00:20:00.000-07:002015-06-10T00:20:41.409-07:00Pet Insurance - Year 2This is a follow-up post to my previous one about <a href="http://www.shibainumaya.com/2014/01/pet-insurance.html" target="_blank">pet insurance</a>. Sadly, it's not as positive.<br />
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After a year without any claims, Maya's 2nd year premium increased from $580 to $793. I was really shocked when I saw the quote, especially since Maya wasn't even 5 years old.<br />
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A nice Shiba owner, who originally recommended PetPlan to us, helped contact their customer service and voice our complaints. They were quick to respond, but said there was nothing they can do to lower the price unless we pick a plan with less reimbursement level. Well, that kind of defeats the purpose, right?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDZ7xVGnvYX5EM06oOWJ-zQlq5sJ3FayzrEATKWkzJuRwhQ5CUapujTtuxaYISJh0jYqCBqvIxAZ8LbXrMtGNrkgimL6VLZlmpufud58UG25rWeGeVBOHVq6PYF48qodPZP0_T9D9ZHg/s1600/IMG_0625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDZ7xVGnvYX5EM06oOWJ-zQlq5sJ3FayzrEATKWkzJuRwhQ5CUapujTtuxaYISJh0jYqCBqvIxAZ8LbXrMtGNrkgimL6VLZlmpufud58UG25rWeGeVBOHVq6PYF48qodPZP0_T9D9ZHg/s400/IMG_0625.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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After some debate, we still paid the high premium. Since we got some discounts the first year, I hope the big increase is just a one time thing. If the price keeps going up at this rate, I will seriously have to reconsider whether it's really worth having the insurance. We'll see in a few months.<br />
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To be clear, I have read posts online about which insurance will be "worth it", as in whether their expected "return" will be more than the money they paid. Like I mentioned in my other post, insurance companies are not charity and they are here to make money, so for most of us, it will never be "worth it", and I am totally fine with that. If Maya can grow old without ever needing to file a claim, I am totally fine as well. What I don't like, is the steep price increase that caught me by surprise. Perhaps if the insurance company can lay out a price projection for next 10 years, I would have been a much happier customer.<br />
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Anyhow, Maya was not impressed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzsNk1pb5qGWg3h8M4O8IB02eeBYN-STeWSe1ZN-6xfzI_PzjHVpakcC1ovC0rJTMp0eJooptJZW__S8KQ15fY77Z9FPV-1hfCCXKf33wf_m8uK8wJlzeuHFXYRm4o_sFA-bPGEzOCCqA/s1600/IMG_0578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzsNk1pb5qGWg3h8M4O8IB02eeBYN-STeWSe1ZN-6xfzI_PzjHVpakcC1ovC0rJTMp0eJooptJZW__S8KQ15fY77Z9FPV-1hfCCXKf33wf_m8uK8wJlzeuHFXYRm4o_sFA-bPGEzOCCqA/s400/IMG_0578.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Link to my previous post: <a href="http://www.shibainumaya.com/2014/01/pet-insurance.html" target="_blank">Pet Insurance (Jan. 10, 2014)</a>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-58725040957392492092015-06-08T19:20:00.000-07:002015-06-16T16:50:35.929-07:00Skin Test Results and AtopicaAfter the round of <a href="http://www.shibainumaya.com/2015/03/revisiting-dermatologist.html" target="_blank">steroid and antibiotics treatment</a>, Maya was feeling much better. Around mid-April, we took Maya back to the dermatologist for an allergy skin test. Well, that was one of the fastest way to waste $$$$$. 20 minutes after they sedated Maya and shaved off a patch of her beautiful fur, the result came back all negative. So we were back to where we were 3 years ago.<br />
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Customized immunotherapy is no long an option. As for <a href="http://www.vetrespit.com/" target="_blank">RESPIT</a> (another type of immunotherapy that uses
general allergens in the area, so no need to pin point the allergens
causing troubles), the doctor thinks that's just adding random allergens in Maya's
body, and blew off the idea. Then, she denied giving us Apoquel. She said the meds hasn't been out long enough and there could be unknown side effects. Somehow I feel like she said so only because she was out of stock.<br />
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Once again, Maya was put back on <a href="http://www.us.atopica.com/" target="_blank">Atopica</a>, which I hate. The possible <a href="http://www.2ndchance.info/atopica.htm" target="_blank">side effects</a> really worries me. However, on the other hand, I need to consider her quality of life. Pure holistic treatment was not taking us anywhere, and we just couldn't let her suffer anymore. It feels giving in and taking the easy way out, but we've spent 3 years trying to find something that works. How many more 3 years will she have to let us "experiment"? <br />
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So far, Maya's on Atopica once every 3 days for almost 2 months. She has been doing well, but May and June were always her "good months", so we'll have to wait till August to see. Meanwhile, I still haven't given up on finding a more natural approach. And hopefully, the "good things" we are providing her and the good mood she's in, can help combat some of the negative effects of the drugs. <br />
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<br />Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-21389023892574091142015-03-20T12:23:00.000-07:002015-03-20T12:23:42.028-07:00Revisiting the DermatologistDue to various reasons, we decided to give the dermatologist another try. The one we went to 3 years ago is the only one in this area, so we didn't have much choose, but we did pick a different doctor this time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij65MiHwWUHR-jprSmK9etU0s6UUvosNZC_rVPG09VFUbRRDc9SaY3WIlUdojUPmmzL98bLK5u-Bcw5LI2JIe7zG0GjKlTQnpPenEGMavgBKB4OUokzzr8tNvNfoinGE_CAC38qxF0CU4/s1600/IMG_9927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij65MiHwWUHR-jprSmK9etU0s6UUvosNZC_rVPG09VFUbRRDc9SaY3WIlUdojUPmmzL98bLK5u-Bcw5LI2JIe7zG0GjKlTQnpPenEGMavgBKB4OUokzzr8tNvNfoinGE_CAC38qxF0CU4/s1600/IMG_9927.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Before we headed over, I have two plans in mind. One is to put Maya on <a href="https://www.zoetisus.com/bmst-minisite-apoquel/index.aspx" target="_blank">Apoquel</a>, a new drug that seems to have helped many itchy dogs, but was out of stock due to high demand as soon as it came out in 2013. Two is to start Maya on <a href="http://www.vetrespit.com/" target="_blank">RESPIT</a>, a sublingual immunotherapy that targets common regional allergens and doesn't require allergy tests.<br />
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Well, of course nothing went as I planned. Apoquel is still out of stock till April, and even then, they are not guaranteed to have enough supply for new patients. As for RESPIT, the doctor thinks the success rate is low by just targeting random allergens. She suggested us to do a blood test or skin test first to identify the causes and customize the immunotherapy to Maya's needs. Since we've already done a pretty <a href="http://shibainumaya.blogspot.com/2012/02/allergy-test-results.html" target="_blank">useless blood test</a>, I wanted to go straight for a skin test.<br />
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Unfortunately, unlike blood test that can be done right away, Maya can't do the skin test now. We have to get Maya's itchiness and infections under control, or the result will not be accurate. So we were sent home with steroids and antibiotics again. Great! To make things even more interesting, she can't do her skin test while she's on the steroids either, so we need to put her on the meds for 2 weeks, take her off for another 2, then do the tests. Nothing can be done till a month later, and whether she'll be itchy again when she's off the meds is unknown. Uhh!!<br />
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Oh well, at least for now, the meds did stop the itch and she's out of her Thundershirt. It is kind of nice that we can all sleep through the night.<br />
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<br />Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-21157600913746994902015-03-11T00:09:00.000-07:002015-03-11T00:09:08.557-07:00Bad BehaviorsA few days ago, when we were in the elevator, Maya stuck her head in the grocery bag, smelling the meat, the fruit, the yummy Cheese cake. For a split second, I thought about stopping her. This is not a behavior I normally allow. Then I questioned myself. Spring allergies has been brutal and she has been so uncomfortable in the past two weeks. Why take away this little happiness?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0pZlxAXQWZolF1moR6z_QbODcwrobYXilSMfY99LYso5m3EHwFATBFGzj1_DIu_mK5VgEnc5xFKfXXmT-oWyhp7pcPRPIbAlrpMKfQpWTWcFdrhYGEShv0CMF3p70qbkH97tSvh4_RU/s1600/P1030821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0pZlxAXQWZolF1moR6z_QbODcwrobYXilSMfY99LYso5m3EHwFATBFGzj1_DIu_mK5VgEnc5xFKfXXmT-oWyhp7pcPRPIbAlrpMKfQpWTWcFdrhYGEShv0CMF3p70qbkH97tSvh4_RU/s1600/P1030821.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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I noticed I have been letting her get away with some mischief lately, especially when she's sick. When she's pulling on leash, she won't be sitting in the middle of the street scratching. When she's begging for food, she won't be noticing the tingling sensation on her butt. When she's chewing on my blanket, she won't be licking her own feet. I believe a dog deserves all the happiness in the world. If only I can figure out how.<br />
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We will be going to the dermatologist again next week. Hopefully, we will find better solutions this time. Wish us luck.<br />
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<br />Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-36513570412222148762015-02-23T00:34:00.000-08:002015-02-23T00:34:38.075-08:00Happy Chinese New YearNo, I haven't forgot about this blog. :)<br />
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It's just that the longer I haven't posted, the more I want to say, and the harder I can finish my writing. Believe me, I tired many times and have lots of half-finished drafts queued up.<br />
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So for now, I decided to keep things short and sweet.<br />
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Wish you all a happy Chinese New Year! 恭喜發財!!<br />
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Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-46950588424280235102014-09-15T18:32:00.000-07:002016-11-02T16:42:54.621-07:00Upgrading the Homemade Flea RepellentI have been making my own flea repellent for quite a while, using rosemary tea, lavender oil, and eucalyptus oil. So far, it seems to be effective, and I was actually able to stop giving Maya Comfortis for a few months. I was never a big fan of the prevention meds, whether it's edible or topical, as they are all some sort of poison to me. Especially with Maya's out-of-whack immune system, the less burden the better. (This is my educated decision. Please do your research before following any advice read online.)<br />
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Recently, I read about the product <a href="http://www.natural-wonder-pets.com/natural-flea-control.html#ingredients" target="_blank">Tripe Sure Flea Control</a> and the <a href="http://www.natural-dog-health-remedies.com/essential-oils-for-dogs.html" target="_blank">benefit of peppermint oil and cedar oil</a>, so I decided to do some upgrading. Hopefully, this can continue to keep Maya flea and tick free without using any harsh products.<br />
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Upgraded Homemade Natural Flea Repellent:<br />
<ul>
<li>Rosemary Tea: add 2 cups of hot water to 1 hand full of rosemary leaf. Wait till it cools to room temperature and filter out the leaves.</li>
<li>Lavender Oil: 10 drops</li>
<li>Eucalyptus Oil: 10 drops</li>
<li>Cedarwood Oil: 10 drops</li>
<li>Peppermint Oil: 10 drops</li>
<li>Graveolens Oil: 10 drops (Edit: 11/2/2016. New addition to the recipe. Recommended by a fellow dog owner to repel ticks.)</li>
</ul>
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I put it in a spray bottle and spray on Maya's back and legs before going out. Sometimes I had to explain to people why she's all wet when they pet her, but it makes her smell nice too. It is also a much cheaper option as opposed to the prevention meds. The rosemary leaves and essential oils could probably last us many years.<br />
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdvKGnxcbn5yNlQ89xf5ku3oM7UOwoHIhcd97Ytpa4lHZ3ggvzkMGlIo8rsVzmOkLBjt9EPanCIzpQxgy6UHjJsW46AJPkyLu5sOKY9ldAymbAPK1FSkyP3v6OvHtd6UqocoKZM6iExw/s400/blogger-image--1813910540.jpg" width="400" /></div>
Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-36989361292936881732014-08-19T18:16:00.000-07:002014-08-19T18:16:08.246-07:00Cone HeadJust when I thought things are getting better... She actually took it better than I did. I was the one throwing a tantrum. Sigh.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7WO8QeCqct0rfVQG3P_mMIXftcJn3ZS1Exiii8oE-bgtvcnc2zcIJl2g-0OUbilgkT0QYHXr-DL0Ugo6lzEUbo1R8IDElJdfIPhmIH-YMCJaN2cCgw573JiSvo2OWCoA4_ufcMbQD7c/s640/blogger-image-979630062.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7WO8QeCqct0rfVQG3P_mMIXftcJn3ZS1Exiii8oE-bgtvcnc2zcIJl2g-0OUbilgkT0QYHXr-DL0Ugo6lzEUbo1R8IDElJdfIPhmIH-YMCJaN2cCgw573JiSvo2OWCoA4_ufcMbQD7c/s400/blogger-image-979630062.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYapBI9iGI7qrQ3a3bPt9gI8riHdpnHotYrTBaZOiWvzeCZRUyzcjk-6roZsgVQktW2rau9zsAceKE5viu0RaBy2rrtGOvOJiVfjtxJPXRIZxUKFx_jpJqg3R2aGbRsdKCu1_WwwoabuU/s640/blogger-image--41655898.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYapBI9iGI7qrQ3a3bPt9gI8riHdpnHotYrTBaZOiWvzeCZRUyzcjk-6roZsgVQktW2rau9zsAceKE5viu0RaBy2rrtGOvOJiVfjtxJPXRIZxUKFx_jpJqg3R2aGbRsdKCu1_WwwoabuU/s400/blogger-image--41655898.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-48476831535228214962014-07-01T21:53:00.000-07:002014-07-01T21:54:15.276-07:00Doggie SocialOver the past few months, we've been having fun going on walks, meetups, and parties. I started to learn what type of meetings works for her, what kind of dogs she likes, and what environment makes her feel more comfortable. Here are some highlights of her busy social life.<br />
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Weekly walks with Maya's BFF Tachi. Since we live close to each other, sometimes the moms will go out for an early evening walk during the weekdays.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaI8bC1JCpPldtqSrBaj82qZ8dY9y0db9JOB_4kKB2Gs1uhVHpzQctYacvilHLLdYQ7RwU41KbFj0BDu1OkRqr6Swxt-O-GGuOZ8WzssrIua7j78nnWiHhTIToXlCyjuSdC39TOsIRnAI/s640/blogger-image--1997446756.jpg"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaI8bC1JCpPldtqSrBaj82qZ8dY9y0db9JOB_4kKB2Gs1uhVHpzQctYacvilHLLdYQ7RwU41KbFj0BDu1OkRqr6Swxt-O-GGuOZ8WzssrIua7j78nnWiHhTIToXlCyjuSdC39TOsIRnAI/s400/blogger-image--1997446756.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Taking over Stanford University with Shiba Inu and Akita friends.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dYyaH36KMOG8E-44bef4ydVm804ZZWiGvF22MmCyoUDLs43O-E5SnFpmFQePEoShUVwKwbCryf00k8L3udTxRwXuUQjWzeUo5-EiQmV9cKmXHek3q7241LOrJL-iYJciAzHku8JCo3E/s640/blogger-image-1104112873.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dYyaH36KMOG8E-44bef4ydVm804ZZWiGvF22MmCyoUDLs43O-E5SnFpmFQePEoShUVwKwbCryf00k8L3udTxRwXuUQjWzeUo5-EiQmV9cKmXHek3q7241LOrJL-iYJciAzHku8JCo3E/s400/blogger-image-1104112873.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/demondogzuko" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Zuko and Autumn</a><span style="text-align: left;"> also need some space on-leash, so we kept our distance and enjoyed the walk together.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gwKumk5P92yxFVTrshVG446Z8tyeaN-IJCsTvrPSaRBM_MuKBqAOhAiZtNLK78sv4JvKzwY4bk1oSAqrHh9hvtHItKPtUMngty35kI0xvCo3RpiW-dwllOjHmD0Li_e0krSKT9lLSvY/s1600/IMG_6592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gwKumk5P92yxFVTrshVG446Z8tyeaN-IJCsTvrPSaRBM_MuKBqAOhAiZtNLK78sv4JvKzwY4bk1oSAqrHh9hvtHItKPtUMngty35kI0xvCo3RpiW-dwllOjHmD0Li_e0krSKT9lLSvY/s1600/IMG_6592.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Once in a while we go into the dog park when it's less crowded. However, she rarely plays in there.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SeG35_vadqQY6OMCPS1oII3azXWN7guRGiWEwPWF7E-geYVIH4v5YcUwam7WMTr2WxTqTEW25KbN8nOAP9nAnuJZij_VdlEOjV_jyammff2xH1a0iDJ1nT9pXeW4Mru9LvN4dfMh-Xg/s640/blogger-image--998538053.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SeG35_vadqQY6OMCPS1oII3azXWN7guRGiWEwPWF7E-geYVIH4v5YcUwam7WMTr2WxTqTEW25KbN8nOAP9nAnuJZij_VdlEOjV_jyammff2xH1a0iDJ1nT9pXeW4Mru9LvN4dfMh-Xg/s400/blogger-image--998538053.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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She likes <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CaspianTheDog" target="_blank">Caspian's</a> company. He may be small in size, but he knows how to play rough!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvZcxmkikwAaeZoK1z-v4eCIoFQJPLJpBdfQ6XRGD2mS2t5YB_BFHfWGe_mDtxNZ3ShGD13X8EFNgW6DvFA3Y21cjuZ6zIqjNvvNiZnqIfM3vMLOeEsnwfWuZSDW-1BQg_4salesIJM0/s640/blogger-image-660336921.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvZcxmkikwAaeZoK1z-v4eCIoFQJPLJpBdfQ6XRGD2mS2t5YB_BFHfWGe_mDtxNZ3ShGD13X8EFNgW6DvFA3Y21cjuZ6zIqjNvvNiZnqIfM3vMLOeEsnwfWuZSDW-1BQg_4salesIJM0/s400/blogger-image-660336921.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Maya has a weird relationship with 12 years old DonDon. The first time they met, Maya was still an annoying 4 month old puppy. She tried to jump on DonDon, and he gave her a firm "NO". Ever since then, Maya somehow just adores him and tried all her tricks to get him to play, but he pretty much just ignores her.<br />
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UgSj-uB9ojTwSnfjuoWwJO7_GOFz_oboTPa20k11EKU7-xUW_xJJcdzH4mdjTgzSibQjlXuY1prvNCLU7HVRjjSY-99eHQyRf4rkPdmSufvkCsxnzoaxg3hBeQZGTH4oKF9PqWgPg9w/s1600/IMG_6736.JPG" width="400" /></div>
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We also started to participate in a weekly Fort Funston Shiba walk group. This is a magical place for Maya.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-9bN0TJyYO3oIKrH81PC56Qv9ardLMLyXV4H6XdLY405PS74bl1PdUc2xIKgTBZbA9mA_aRZeR-YxAibsMnRfFQKHTtoOIgzMbE3_iS54LWvt6WFuaD6YGk6lQsIF8dhLsWKPLNH5ic/s640/blogger-image--1394133474.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-9bN0TJyYO3oIKrH81PC56Qv9ardLMLyXV4H6XdLY405PS74bl1PdUc2xIKgTBZbA9mA_aRZeR-YxAibsMnRfFQKHTtoOIgzMbE3_iS54LWvt6WFuaD6YGk6lQsIF8dhLsWKPLNH5ic/s400/blogger-image--1394133474.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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During one of our walks with Tachi, we also met <a href="https://www.facebook.com/coconutyama" target="_blank">Coconut</a>. Coconut is a bit younger and too jumpy for Maya's liking, so she was growling at Coconut when they first met. After a long walk, they were doing great next to each other.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3fECEYNU35qr_YU6ToEirIrD8suLFqPmGJdVzOYgmVwxPRC4cVXPZy8YL4Ou1Vo5ZlL8d9fe88vx8IgMVsYqECUaK9DH1SAkY3G3p18l27LS_lsWNdYZAz8sfdBh5YsYOCbTzMCpbsg/s640/blogger-image-527486835.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3fECEYNU35qr_YU6ToEirIrD8suLFqPmGJdVzOYgmVwxPRC4cVXPZy8YL4Ou1Vo5ZlL8d9fe88vx8IgMVsYqECUaK9DH1SAkY3G3p18l27LS_lsWNdYZAz8sfdBh5YsYOCbTzMCpbsg/s400/blogger-image-527486835.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We were also happy to see another fluffy Shiba, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tira" target="_blank">Tira</a>, at one of the meetups.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhs5waTRnY8mBhjp_mnuyPRljjF9npZWo9hptTAe5nBuhnQ3ulfAiJAiCvyK30wTIfa73tIGcmQ8eEccEb7NcIWKK7jA3HKvmkz5Fl4UH4uJVT8cz7JyaBJIL2_eLBzPVM6qgJoqdy9k/s640/blogger-image-881993525.jpg"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhs5waTRnY8mBhjp_mnuyPRljjF9npZWo9hptTAe5nBuhnQ3ulfAiJAiCvyK30wTIfa73tIGcmQ8eEccEb7NcIWKK7jA3HKvmkz5Fl4UH4uJVT8cz7JyaBJIL2_eLBzPVM6qgJoqdy9k/s400/blogger-image-881993525.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Occasionally, we run into another neighborhood Shiba, Musashi. I was a bit reluctant to let them meet on leash, but he was a good boy and left Maya alone when she growled. While I was talking to Musashi's owner, Maya started to sniff around with him, peacefully in the same space. Ever since then, Maya's always excited and happy when we run into each other. I jokingly say that she has a secret crush on him!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigx_zfGNeXhKDctnGmOyKUoD5KddOJIsUsZaiYp0N_TbDSSALvLccneYYcdpA6tDOV0_Zc4UyvrXwIqM5BDW8BDWOQ37bVGZg5-Cz5PrkYTalD44uLjaI6zKkcFK56q0oDvDWh6b-ISSg/s640/blogger-image--1338617304.jpg"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigx_zfGNeXhKDctnGmOyKUoD5KddOJIsUsZaiYp0N_TbDSSALvLccneYYcdpA6tDOV0_Zc4UyvrXwIqM5BDW8BDWOQ37bVGZg5-Cz5PrkYTalD44uLjaI6zKkcFK56q0oDvDWh6b-ISSg/s400/blogger-image--1338617304.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A very special meetup was with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/actaeas" target="_blank">Actaeas</a> and the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tiffytiru" target="_blank">Ti Family</a>. Their owners live in Southern California, but also came from Taiwan. We "met" each other online via social media. They came to the Bay Area for a weekend road trip, and we got to meet them at the beach. More awesome shots of the meetup can be found <a href="http://vsufx.blogspot.com/2014/05/out-door-del-monte-fort-funston-beach.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://tiffytiru.pixnet.net/blog/post/43417264" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3YbImMYafcXoINao9f5gAdpdIOL2u5CkNuxwuym0ojinqTk3tvqm2Vlq5k5ZDzoENlZnK_tHc0doSa67XQOCxF_BDP2XoavLPMybhiSPbhEhaHXz6ZeQSX_sXoBuTHrhXY-ZPewbHKY/s640/blogger-image--1745193677.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3YbImMYafcXoINao9f5gAdpdIOL2u5CkNuxwuym0ojinqTk3tvqm2Vlq5k5ZDzoENlZnK_tHc0doSa67XQOCxF_BDP2XoavLPMybhiSPbhEhaHXz6ZeQSX_sXoBuTHrhXY-ZPewbHKY/s400/blogger-image--1745193677.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Another awesome meet, was with my junior high school friend, who brought her two dogs, Tumi and Poggi, from LA. We knew each other for a long long time, and I followed her doggie posts since they joined the family, but this was the first time I met them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-p91UGww7yqmT99e9CI2eHPjr03d4850JDFDQImV0OIe3LetWkWU4zBA8NiVgLl6PFz0hrv_4Rme__GlR2jj572aIezUGwBI_pFlQ-2X6x0llDBnfXGaGMkywswILR9R67yLbp4vef4M/s640/blogger-image-524800754.jpg"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-p91UGww7yqmT99e9CI2eHPjr03d4850JDFDQImV0OIe3LetWkWU4zBA8NiVgLl6PFz0hrv_4Rme__GlR2jj572aIezUGwBI_pFlQ-2X6x0llDBnfXGaGMkywswILR9R67yLbp4vef4M/s400/blogger-image-524800754.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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At the end of spring, Tachi also came to stay with us for a whole week while her owners went on a vacation. (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.737842999601475.1073741831.163622777023503&type=3" target="_blank">More photos here</a>.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Eb_9FT5EDfaSBjtd04akQ2xoncJAfTkkwrUB-iV-MwQ_6TKqFWa3u_abcdvfqdiXutxtsW16pMQp7NsJsI-dQJFx-8-b_OATPTrzOFR63IN0RNYt1JUXHmm2LKnY4-nLMxZjd4vEqkM/s1600/P1010855.JPG"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Eb_9FT5EDfaSBjtd04akQ2xoncJAfTkkwrUB-iV-MwQ_6TKqFWa3u_abcdvfqdiXutxtsW16pMQp7NsJsI-dQJFx-8-b_OATPTrzOFR63IN0RNYt1JUXHmm2LKnY4-nLMxZjd4vEqkM/s1600/P1010855.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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We took Maya and Tachi to the annual Shiba Party. To be honest, it's more of an event for the humans than for the dogs. I'm glad I got a nice playpen for Maya, so she could have her own space while I chatted with other owners. (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.737083416344100.1073741830.163622777023503&type=3" target="_blank">More photos here</a>.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvo3a37yPTESsbVfFoOSs84RQmLnNrdE5__ed_YPkXGaeZr5U7AQMJgTm1f554NKuec7Yz-l14WrIZo5-7SXDg26lG6UJBGOkzxZ3XBbIWLSZpJY6xaG8Wz8hhrjIW-w8R-iKXh0RcE6Q/s1600/P1010676.JPG"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvo3a37yPTESsbVfFoOSs84RQmLnNrdE5__ed_YPkXGaeZr5U7AQMJgTm1f554NKuec7Yz-l14WrIZo5-7SXDg26lG6UJBGOkzxZ3XBbIWLSZpJY6xaG8Wz8hhrjIW-w8R-iKXh0RcE6Q/s1600/P1010676.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Last but not least, we had a "long coat meetup" with 5 fluffy Shibas and 2 fluffy Akitas. Long coat in both breeds are due to recessive gene and a fault in the breed standards. Nevertheless, they are great pets and super duper cute! There were groups of people taking pictures of them everywhere we went that day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6u30Ee93HNf0EoMBxZNhxJSBeayRV50n3aRbFqk0SFiBTNgvW7KjYmZXN1gNmxtgPEl5RjWPIpE07iwNRYGOsEeXRBfc8umwp9i4Mqeo7wbl2pdNxpJ9ZruyUgGN3HWlSO4utyd6tWI/s640/blogger-image-900775747.jpg"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6u30Ee93HNf0EoMBxZNhxJSBeayRV50n3aRbFqk0SFiBTNgvW7KjYmZXN1gNmxtgPEl5RjWPIpE07iwNRYGOsEeXRBfc8umwp9i4Mqeo7wbl2pdNxpJ9ZruyUgGN3HWlSO4utyd6tWI/s400/blogger-image-900775747.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I am a shy person in general. I usually feel uncomfortable meeting strangers, or hanging out with a big group of people I don't know well. I would never have imagined myself actively doing any of this. Because of Maya, I was able to meet lots of wonderful dogs and their humans. I hope she enjoyed the events as much as I did.<br />
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Starting this year I decided to make some changes to my expenses report. Since I've already been tracking my spending in a spreadsheet, copying out the data directly would be a much easier task than re-typing everything. Presenting the numbers in a table format also helps with viewing and comparison. Hopefully, this will be informative to my readers as well.</div>
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<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" dir="ltr" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #ccc; font-family: arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup><col width="140"></col><col width="65"></col><col width="65"></col><col width="65"></col><col width="100"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 17px;"><td style="font-weight: bold; padding: 0px 3px 0px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">JAN</td><td style="direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">FEB</td><td style="direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">MAR</td><td style="direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">2014 TOTAL</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;"><td style="direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Food</td><td></td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$124</td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$163</td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$287</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;"><td style="direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Vet & Medical</td><td></td><td></td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$133</td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$133</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;"><td style="direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Supplements</td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$26</td><td></td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$34</td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$60</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;"><td style="direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Treats & Chews</td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$30</td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$14</td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$17</td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$61</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;"><td style="direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Grooming</td><td></td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$13</td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$11</td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$24</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;"><td style="direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Accessories</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$0</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;"><td style="direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Toys</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$0</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;"><td style="direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Daycare & Boarding</td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$35</td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$450</td><td></td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$485</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;"><td style="direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Travel</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$0</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;"><td style="direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Training</td><td></td><td></td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$203</td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$203</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;"><td style="direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Miscellaneous</td><td></td><td></td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$4</td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$4</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;"><td style="font-weight: bold; padding: 0px 3px 0px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;"><td style="direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">Total</td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$91</td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$601</td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$565</td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$1,257</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 17px;"><td style="direction: ltr; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;">YTD Total</td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$91</td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$692</td><td style="padding: 0px 3px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">$1,257</td><td></td></tr>
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<b><u>Food</u></b></div>
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In the food category, most of the expenses went to the Honest Kitchen, including 2 boxes of 10 lbs Zeal and 1 box of 3 lbs Preference. We also got some frozen fish fillets, fresh vegetables, juice, beans, and a can of fermented veggies. </div>
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I wasn't really planning to purchase from the Honest Kitchen in March, but because I left a few items in my shopping cart, they started to send me coupons. At first it was 5% off, then they offered 10% off. I was a sucker and fell for it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIP3SKWw8ycN2GH_xlOehp1X6XnifApDiZL6M_x-rURZUQlWDoL-g-4h9zJ94dEjpHy72jKxnLZh7RquqRZ8NaTXvYdLsvs61e5JFmGRdPvB377jpVtzCDW6-AGMnAzKGvXq3HKdb-Vw/s1600/IMG_6166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIP3SKWw8ycN2GH_xlOehp1X6XnifApDiZL6M_x-rURZUQlWDoL-g-4h9zJ94dEjpHy72jKxnLZh7RquqRZ8NaTXvYdLsvs61e5JFmGRdPvB377jpVtzCDW6-AGMnAzKGvXq3HKdb-Vw/s1600/IMG_6166.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><u>Vet & Medical</u></b></div>
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Despite her face healed up nicely, Maya still continued to chew on her feet, lick her vulva, and was troubled by ear infection through winter. As spring approaches, we noticed that she started to scratch her face more often as well, so we had another appointment with Dr. M.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VLBfOE6rM6e_faaciu1IReqp316IMgMMVDMAVf6rfa9nWrJ-IB4bRWwurCnTOtm7lHYGoY84XTGE9D1vpKzcbBrXnjhY8nvs5pvShd-vcNmSdhfcr7Oz6oFrqMfCImmdJHo5nJHvmjg/s1600/IMG_6478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VLBfOE6rM6e_faaciu1IReqp316IMgMMVDMAVf6rfa9nWrJ-IB4bRWwurCnTOtm7lHYGoY84XTGE9D1vpKzcbBrXnjhY8nvs5pvShd-vcNmSdhfcr7Oz6oFrqMfCImmdJHo5nJHvmjg/s1600/IMG_6478.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Besides the vet visit, we also purchased a bottle of Zymox Otic ear solution and a tube of Zymox topical cream. So far, I've been pleased with the result. She stopped shaking her head in a day, and it smells/looks much better in a few days. The frequency of her licking her feet and vulva has greatly reduced as well. (Read more about them in the <a href="http://shibainumaya.blogspot.com/2014/04/go-away-ear-infection.html" target="_blank">Ear Infection</a> and <a href="http://shibainumaya.blogspot.com/2014/05/and-itchiness-begins.html" target="_blank">Itchiness</a> posts.)<br />
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyvXAZ-FVuka6i6xTBvM0ArG9uy9HTyqJt5KkWqYEbgQUKnd1uPmY_zOK3oSeixwDx2MC6JG_6rEH9aGVwMIdWX0JLkhSt4j9_vbvb_xizMaoHjbADy1puYG8aR6GMRSPtiC0wKk-39s/s320/blogger-image--1002928610.jpg" width="240" /></div>
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<b><u>Supplements</u></b></div>
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For supplements, we got Maya a few different types of probiotics and digestive enzymes, as well as a bottle of THK Perfect Form. Keeping her digestive system healthy has been an important part of combating her infections, and the supplements definitely helped.<br />
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EVCFfHddeQEjNZhjTW1IaHjn9P2qOhmCG1tDcuAzk5aV9TYCt_pNeqvltfQMFSBun0jTEENbO1SyQTSBlcX73REtyKbkt2hf0Zczexi_TCIMXGIr9MP863G4HHDpi0PTlP5Gl28zZOI/s400/blogger-image--2119556075.jpg" width="300" /><br />
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<b><u>Treats & Chews</u></b></div>
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I got Maya a box of Salmon Skin Bones. I wish I have known about this sooner! It lasts much longer than a bully stick, and is made from Maya's very few "safe" ingredients. I do have to be careful and leave her alone (while supervising in range). One time I was brushing her when she was chewing on it, and my hand got too close to her mouth. She was afraid I would take it from her and chocked herself by swallowing the whole end piece. Luckily I remembered the first aid video I watched and helped her puke it out, but it was really really scary! </div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZClmAPNz7HqXo1dhZ5c_2NBRMPSsnycnf9Y-uaBjbwCso9-tGd-rAN92Fg6snen8jkFvbx58-0zWalI_J-ZdDq60tKX_ZpFfnkx3vXvvVTuzapy-qW68gE0GF2aUYjOdrnqUXvWaRCk/s400/blogger-image-154749119.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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I noticed Maya's teeth starting to have tartar built up since we switched her off raw. I got a bag of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001P3PR54/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001P3PR54&linkCode=as2&tag=eapllo-20&linkId=5I2TUEBSSPLTWMJF" target="_blank">C.E.T. Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews</a> in hope that it can help with the situation. However, I still haven't been giving it to her as frequent enough to tell the difference. </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfhis6O8J8I4kFYcF5DyHAyJrG2BYsgVkDenmcj3v0ot3QRpX4wNezhDmyo115y82udGkL_5eoOcYeSeqgCITbr5RfqWuqLqhKrv4AJXoYKkUvhw3pwVlW8tXCPjxDrcUKzKWrFlbj1A/s400/blogger-image--1793425224.jpg" /><br />
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Besides the chews, we also got a bag of Wellness Pure Rewards and a bag of Real Meat treats.</div>
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<u><b>Grooming</b></u><br />
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For grooming, because Maya's "little white skirt" was touching the floor and getting in the way of her poop, I had to trim it down again. Last time I used regular scissors and was bothered how there seems to be a straight line through her butt. For my own satisfaction, I got a pair of thinning scissors. Looks better?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0p8LCHqEojbk7xrT0_HfQGQvYoGElIU8vh6BLDvda-448vQgDDz2bIPq0lHLEVxm4Kh1vmKu0cZ37_4I76rGIgZFVi1pPUD0G855d5ghorzOnBdJYQYeBctxGYkzJE5wDlfB2RpuAOU/s1600/Bg5AO9QCcAAYv4a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0p8LCHqEojbk7xrT0_HfQGQvYoGElIU8vh6BLDvda-448vQgDDz2bIPq0lHLEVxm4Kh1vmKu0cZ37_4I76rGIgZFVi1pPUD0G855d5ghorzOnBdJYQYeBctxGYkzJE5wDlfB2RpuAOU/s1600/Bg5AO9QCcAAYv4a.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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I also took Maya to the groomer for a nail trim. I used to take her to Petsmart for nail trims when she was a puppy, but after a few visits, she got so scared of the place and even peed out of fear when I tried to get her into the room. Ever since then, I've been doing her nails myself. However, I am afraid to hit her quick, so I always only cut off a little bit, and trimming her dew claws is super hard. After hearing good reviews of this place, I decided to take her in for some professional help. Well, the groomer said her nails were short, so she didn't take much off, so I guess I was doing it right and probably won't need to come back for another few years. Since I heard her whining and crying and being a drama queen while I waited outside, I gave an extra dollar tip to the groomer for not complaining. (After being in the US for so long, I'm still not sure when tipping is necessary... Is it for this type of service? Is one dollar enough?) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1A7HUOIj5TFz13gZVa2-jHrJxDiUSFdN7JVtDyd11oAONNLvUT0WX-5vmCJwF8OHG-QZJHiZyNxwUr0LBN2J6J0DZ1klqVvzLs1GzHnwcvcdu2ZXkJBKtKtwTQHfxzBOyWaArLqK95bQ/s1600/IMG_6358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1A7HUOIj5TFz13gZVa2-jHrJxDiUSFdN7JVtDyd11oAONNLvUT0WX-5vmCJwF8OHG-QZJHiZyNxwUr0LBN2J6J0DZ1klqVvzLs1GzHnwcvcdu2ZXkJBKtKtwTQHfxzBOyWaArLqK95bQ/s1600/IMG_6358.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u><b>Daycare & Boarding</b></u></div>
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The biggest expense thus far is for the 8 nights Maya stayed with the <a href="http://shibainumaya.blogspot.com/2014/02/doggie-daycare.html" target="_blank">doggie daycare</a> while we were<a href="http://shibainumaya.blogspot.com/2014/03/chinese-new-year-adventures.html" target="_blank"> in Asia for Chinese New Year</a>. We paid for a 10 nights package, so we still have 2 more remaining for future use.<br />
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwl2SKRcHC36NTDj_loWLu5WEltKMDVid-ZBRa1aJA8xEq7OFdJl1ZrwYyu7YUqkEo96ZeNbw4a7DMzM4ta280aOakbynosABBs5DSI7KdbkrX8ItWUlCg-gfvCETs-nJfCNLW0vvce3E/s400/blogger-image-1032090043.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<b><u>Training</u></b> </div>
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While we faced some <a href="http://shibainumaya.blogspot.com/2013/11/agility-training-challenges.html" target="_blank">challenges with agility training</a>, we are not giving up. We went back to Agility 2 and worked our way back to Agility 4 again. She is doing much better after I decided to take it easy. She still walks "elegantly" through the courses and occasionally embarrasses me in front of the whole class (such as refusing to move till another owner offered a different treat), but I still enjoy going to class once a week to have some bonding time with her. A gift card I got helped reduce some of the cost for the classes.<br />
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjNAPpAhZeSpk_j9Ma_h5rW2PkSjGZM-Gs50eOa5pUKUjwum-bna0c5ErO2HPX7ESEIkJisCSgfODjeIZHUp6H1qHO27DB7tD3BfynsGw7szAJ5D_QPBNzkQ5OPpib7EZH8ga8x0QEfs/s320/blogger-image--836120575.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<b><u>Miscellaneous</u></b> </div>
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As for the Misc category, I got two <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B5133PC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00B5133PC&linkCode=as2&tag=eapllo-20&linkId=4KLFSNOAWSZK5DAA" target="_blank">Squeeze Dispensing Bottles</a> to bring aloe gel with me on the go for Maya's hotspots. I had been using small travel jars, but often found myself contaminating the remainder by my dirty fingers. Squeeze bottles work much better.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIFA3HdjbemnuGUEOFgyrqnjQw3r1ubQA-CuOIbv1t8lyE28k6O4V9b6L3j2a-5rfzFvDvpug2iOOqtGcg79N85xAhQZEhtr9uAjvoy4z9_2yz6E3vneEly-WcCQhQJYA5UiL0zgVYj_o/s400/blogger-image--1321334907.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-82981457010327233082014-05-12T12:01:00.000-07:002014-05-12T12:01:55.451-07:00Happy Easter<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I never really cared about Easter. I'm not Christian and it's not a holiday. But this year was a bit special, as <a href="http://shibas4life.us/" target="_blank">NW Shibas4LIfe Rescue</a> put up a photo / video contest. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcd9YjX8hz9BzrFPUNh1w6On0Fhzx9OQmO6hAvRLmjApM2U0IWWUeEhEEWq8D2nMU9EmilsdlZk6oeQcYaltjsHFhVIWhl1s63m0tNs45rrsBAlCKnWAd94sAxu9UuzQdQAtT1p2_T7Y/s1600/1607072_10152127623113801_506919486878693101_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcd9YjX8hz9BzrFPUNh1w6On0Fhzx9OQmO6hAvRLmjApM2U0IWWUeEhEEWq8D2nMU9EmilsdlZk6oeQcYaltjsHFhVIWhl1s63m0tNs45rrsBAlCKnWAd94sAxu9UuzQdQAtT1p2_T7Y/s1600/1607072_10152127623113801_506919486878693101_n.jpg" height="400" width="331" /></a></div>
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I thought it was a good chance to make use of Maya's new trick, "put your toys away", which she learned at <a href="http://www.zoomroomonline.com/belmont-dog-training.html" target="_blank">Zoom Room Belmont</a>. I got a small bag of Easter eggs at the grocery store and dug out an old basket. Thanks to Sakura the Diva Dog, who gave us a rabbit toy for <a href="http://shibainumaya.blogspot.com/2013/12/merry-shibamas.html" target="_blank">Shibamas</a>, our theme is now set.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoC9MvAdy_VPxZ5xku_4PFbHGrQa8cUouhaCLUIVLQt1iQIdF0pMHA5r32053v62xboeQ9uYUjIOAzjZCdPMBd1cgv_mTl41aprqufpEIyt5glMvDsB0YaIDD5zKkK8KDGfgMEU7-Hako/s640/blogger-image-858674234.jpg"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoC9MvAdy_VPxZ5xku_4PFbHGrQa8cUouhaCLUIVLQt1iQIdF0pMHA5r32053v62xboeQ9uYUjIOAzjZCdPMBd1cgv_mTl41aprqufpEIyt5glMvDsB0YaIDD5zKkK8KDGfgMEU7-Hako/s400/blogger-image-858674234.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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When we started to practice, Maya was a bit confused about what I want from her, and ended up putting her front legs inside the basket. I took the opportunity and actually made her climb in the basket herself for another photo contest! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFHTvUkr0qRBid9SH5pp71rKhF-h4Wbw6AL6ZnsmBSAvCyvy4mFMhIeoLK9Ktjf-Lob0xwIltvTJ9JkiWEA1NiQXzp2tN0FwRt0VYKxMvoBPrFfh6V3eL6U2ifcVSTAFqd0ShZtJeqeY/s640/blogger-image--477743003.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFHTvUkr0qRBid9SH5pp71rKhF-h4Wbw6AL6ZnsmBSAvCyvy4mFMhIeoLK9Ktjf-Lob0xwIltvTJ9JkiWEA1NiQXzp2tN0FwRt0VYKxMvoBPrFfh6V3eL6U2ifcVSTAFqd0ShZtJeqeY/s400/blogger-image--477743003.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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A few NG's and broken eggs later, I got the footage I wanted. Then with the help of iMovie on iPad, the video is finally ready!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/c1KlJ90MemE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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I was really honored that we were chosen as the winner for the "Eastah Egg Hunt" video contest, and thrilled that they sent us a lovely Shiba blanket as the prize. It was a fun experience making our training extra rewarding. I also got to teach myself how to use iMovie to edit videos and LINE camera to doge-fy photos. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHW7v8IGCJxPJIi5XJozlUvFH34-C3-DAz5ZJnPg1YIjjyOf6Tdajk62xusoEqdCPRRtKqHnZpjEC6jbpFbQzgiPr7EWzA14JAunv3gv9vzdlWh7D1n6h_42tVKp2O-6RxEt0wjkhP5IQ/s640/blogger-image--831929095.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHW7v8IGCJxPJIi5XJozlUvFH34-C3-DAz5ZJnPg1YIjjyOf6Tdajk62xusoEqdCPRRtKqHnZpjEC6jbpFbQzgiPr7EWzA14JAunv3gv9vzdlWh7D1n6h_42tVKp2O-6RxEt0wjkhP5IQ/s400/blogger-image--831929095.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Contest and Easter aside, <a href="http://shibas4life.us/" target="_blank">NV Shibas4LIfe Rescue</a> is a wonderful rescue that provides long term care for Shibas until the end of their lives. Please help support their good cause. Every bit helps!<br />
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Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-19023908827797953412014-05-08T21:31:00.001-07:002014-05-08T21:31:25.559-07:00And the Itchiness Begins...<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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It's spring again. And the itchiness begins... The wounds on Maya's muzzle that finally healed up in February, started to show up again. We have been giving her 1/2 Benadryl in the morning and another 1/2 in the evening. It seems to have some effects, at least keeping the itchiness "manageable". She is usually itchier in the morning, probably because the effects of Benadryl faded.</div>
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As much as I wanted her to not itch at all, realistically, my goal for this year to prevent secondary infections. Last year, her conditions dragged much longer than the allergy season, because of getting into a bad cycle of infections, itchier, steroids, weak immune system, more infections, itchier, antibiotics...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_q_H582XaEWDwLzgIb1YtllB3N4wIoKM7jUucSyY0SILUfTRZT2QQE-LessTNwgIhVj1LB6-04JgJe0ahsXqWAbSl-nmfG9QVZd_WoYmRxaZzpPwGqAmnBad8tySjw9Uy-93CcTXUsw/s400/blogger-image--676147409.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4/8/2014</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrD4Rk1LxvPt51hr-R9SOOGMh0qqwQ4zVO69qjD3dO186Zr74QcJt8r79X1kUIhZcXle-lS9EOTX-2o_bCX2K7ttclJIAcwCTkoPIk98bJ3AwvTOC1PkeulDjseL-B5VZ77S7-T362Ug/s640/blogger-image-1947286626.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrD4Rk1LxvPt51hr-R9SOOGMh0qqwQ4zVO69qjD3dO186Zr74QcJt8r79X1kUIhZcXle-lS9EOTX-2o_bCX2K7ttclJIAcwCTkoPIk98bJ3AwvTOC1PkeulDjseL-B5VZ77S7-T362Ug/s400/blogger-image-1947286626.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5/1/2014</td></tr>
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To combat the infections, I have been using <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001K35IW6/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001K35IW6&linkCode=as2&tag=eapllo-20" target="_blank">Zymox Topical Cream</a>. So far it has helped reduce Maya's licking on her paws and vulva. I got both versions of the cream, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001K35IW6/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001K35IW6&linkCode=as2&tag=eapllo-20" target="_blank">with</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002UUV1OC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002UUV1OC&linkCode=as2&tag=eapllo-20" target="_blank">without Hydrocortisone</a>. The one with Hydrocortisone seems to be more effective, but I'm worried about side effects for using long term and Maya licking it off. I use the one without on her muzzle and the other one on her paws. I also apply before going for walks, in hope that she won't be able to lick it off. Her vulva is no longer swollen, so I only apply the no Hydrocortisone cream when she shows signs of licking. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqmxcV-jn14qW1W0-xevaViXGblard_xrTJQGhuUpD6AfXB4YfIE0vFZRXesw7aWvbLCx83FD0lKhiXJIO9u0PSu9B6BaA7bDkIU5nx7RN-Jms87XnTL12A94FW3vIpgq90_EAlDEHHw/s640/blogger-image--455088930.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqmxcV-jn14qW1W0-xevaViXGblard_xrTJQGhuUpD6AfXB4YfIE0vFZRXesw7aWvbLCx83FD0lKhiXJIO9u0PSu9B6BaA7bDkIU5nx7RN-Jms87XnTL12A94FW3vIpgq90_EAlDEHHw/s200/blogger-image--455088930.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3/28/2014</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAl_s-TMZkWOtIRpavK7x_E5S2itMEpL4YxIOL5YYhKk_mtx-mody-55sdfIm0y1bMKuQmjk3n9ItFEBFG7K8gMe14Cv-ZF7fQC_xFY2IFi35bK4GiXMsN-Skg1qdRe_LUgK8VadeYrLo/s640/blogger-image--893548935.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAl_s-TMZkWOtIRpavK7x_E5S2itMEpL4YxIOL5YYhKk_mtx-mody-55sdfIm0y1bMKuQmjk3n9ItFEBFG7K8gMe14Cv-ZF7fQC_xFY2IFi35bK4GiXMsN-Skg1qdRe_LUgK8VadeYrLo/s200/blogger-image--893548935.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4/21/2014</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHnLlog_n1J9gD8CKe7ZVroxW2PY3tSgsjGjkiwqtbKXgXhJFVnjA3Zo-8nMi8iuS8J1FjoYp-WeRHGYANGUR5yvE_gTRTz3mZJ2cOLVMdSOni-rZLkt0q7lR8JMfgW1NnnbodXTvxxU/s640/blogger-image-1093922559.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHnLlog_n1J9gD8CKe7ZVroxW2PY3tSgsjGjkiwqtbKXgXhJFVnjA3Zo-8nMi8iuS8J1FjoYp-WeRHGYANGUR5yvE_gTRTz3mZJ2cOLVMdSOni-rZLkt0q7lR8JMfgW1NnnbodXTvxxU/s200/blogger-image-1093922559.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5/8/2014</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHnLlog_n1J9gD8CKe7ZVroxW2PY3tSgsjGjkiwqtbKXgXhJFVnjA3Zo-8nMi8iuS8J1FjoYp-WeRHGYANGUR5yvE_gTRTz3mZJ2cOLVMdSOni-rZLkt0q7lR8JMfgW1NnnbodXTvxxU/s640/blogger-image-1093922559.jpg"></a></div>
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Fingers crossed that this treatment will continue to work on her.</div>
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Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-12366262731799791182014-04-07T21:55:00.000-07:002014-04-07T21:55:45.517-07:00Go Away Ear Infection!Ever since Maya had an <a href="http://shibainumaya.blogspot.com/2013/08/ear-infection.html" target="_blank">ear infection in her right ear last August</a>, it kept coming back again and again. I tried using the Panalog ointment her vet gave me and the Mal-a-Ket wipes, but the problem never really went away.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JeWtu4aO7CibVsNswXXrCaSbTNFlavdOH3lAH-o2uNLibCY-2KEuyKgmiG1GllI29wdA-5bTY_WbVh4VXgvsmJOEreJS-1yY4e0lmbM9a7Q1XgbbmacbjZZfsxxvZ6fs4Pe6z2vcDuk/s640/blogger-image--69608716.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JeWtu4aO7CibVsNswXXrCaSbTNFlavdOH3lAH-o2uNLibCY-2KEuyKgmiG1GllI29wdA-5bTY_WbVh4VXgvsmJOEreJS-1yY4e0lmbM9a7Q1XgbbmacbjZZfsxxvZ6fs4Pe6z2vcDuk/s320/blogger-image--69608716.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10/2/2013</td></tr>
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In December, she went through a round of antibiotics, which cleared the infection on her face, but shortly after she's off, I started to notice her tilting and shaking her head again. From her pictures, you can clearly see that one of her ears is bothering her.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgURXrItPOUIvZ59nRBQ3g-q0RB_zEqyUzllaY7IbegHgjZOXS6AVD3kEFMJ_vI1Y2dIFQ0JhMlGW1ipdm_k8z68tMM5NZlmhmzlZ2DsN6hqV9bdkh-EysUE-oJiAwS7VH9IqWUPIv4wc/s640/blogger-image--788098669.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgURXrItPOUIvZ59nRBQ3g-q0RB_zEqyUzllaY7IbegHgjZOXS6AVD3kEFMJ_vI1Y2dIFQ0JhMlGW1ipdm_k8z68tMM5NZlmhmzlZ2DsN6hqV9bdkh-EysUE-oJiAwS7VH9IqWUPIv4wc/s320/blogger-image--788098669.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10/23/2013</td></tr>
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During our last appointment with Dr. M a few weeks ago, she looked into her ear and said it's all swollen. She believes another round of antibiotics might be necessary, or it'll never clear up. But before going there, she suggested us to try out <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0025YOJXS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0025YOJXS&linkCode=as2&tag=eapllo-20" target="_blank">Zymox Otic Ear Solution</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH57sWg6w2Yp3VpE3QQZdB1qxHZMO_trmHSp0L1l4mihsUAOib0cdzQjFGC0PSEV7gnvwFJARUjz46Mhhq1wQQGQEIvSXGfVtP-hwwWIKeCM3is_AZq0qFoOLpSfEd0SB6qDAq_5bkw54/s640/blogger-image-2141561027.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH57sWg6w2Yp3VpE3QQZdB1qxHZMO_trmHSp0L1l4mihsUAOib0cdzQjFGC0PSEV7gnvwFJARUjz46Mhhq1wQQGQEIvSXGfVtP-hwwWIKeCM3is_AZq0qFoOLpSfEd0SB6qDAq_5bkw54/s320/blogger-image-2141561027.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12/21/2013</td></tr>
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According to the doctor and the product description, the solution includes some enzymes that "eats" the bacteria and yeast. After reading all the positive reviews, I decided to get a bottle right away. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInXEiB4gknxM_WWiEj_g306kLrXcPMtXmPGc_Wikdany4oWus5VK9zUfyhI9r1Z2ousaL_f6J6MXCJ6HOEjCY6KwTYAqJtkbPMweKZJO3t2JkjMBVc2OyUHaDPoAiX2ZYHErk8gWv7o8/s640/blogger-image--890681922.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInXEiB4gknxM_WWiEj_g306kLrXcPMtXmPGc_Wikdany4oWus5VK9zUfyhI9r1Z2ousaL_f6J6MXCJ6HOEjCY6KwTYAqJtkbPMweKZJO3t2JkjMBVc2OyUHaDPoAiX2ZYHErk8gWv7o8/s320/blogger-image--890681922.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2/20/2014</td></tr>
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I have to say, after trying so many products on Maya, I kind of got used to the disappointment when something doesn't work as well as other people claimed. Well, this is the first time I experienced something "magical"! She certainly wasn't pleased when I squeezed the fluid into her ears and made a mess with oily hair around her ears when she shook it out. But within a day, she stopped scratching her ear and tilting her head. I used it daily for one week, then twice a week ever since. Her ear is smelling much better and the color is getting close to the healthy one.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IEkb1jMy6Abk5xuGlcPUUUsmN66drWF8ZOxIDZ7_jPACz4GAM_MC7gupG-rKkVoaKDeERYJBQqjZOZOfRZ19ePHo-Wa5iAIJ1dFMvyVwY2NlPXTyZm327xTG5pwMwCbu7OFTavO6Kig/s640/blogger-image-612384918.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IEkb1jMy6Abk5xuGlcPUUUsmN66drWF8ZOxIDZ7_jPACz4GAM_MC7gupG-rKkVoaKDeERYJBQqjZOZOfRZ19ePHo-Wa5iAIJ1dFMvyVwY2NlPXTyZm327xTG5pwMwCbu7OFTavO6Kig/s320/blogger-image-612384918.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1/18/2014</td></tr>
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I really wish I knew about this sooner. It could have saved us lots of headache and maybe even the not-so-helpful trip to the vet. I'll definitely keep a bottle in hand from now on. Ear infection, please don't come back ever again!<br />
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXRCSND2GYRDCMmcjptJAqW4rrwWShrJ1xuKSp0OmZsucyVhN35WwAyv9HYKlolk9eyIMs_50CEDmFzh9pBNsLMx1kOq-HwSBzVCW0k00mHW0-jGhzv7vFx55kTe9HsCzUcskDl2uz_0/s1600/blogger-image--1002928610.jpg" width="240" /></div>
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After spending 10 Chinese New Years away from home, this year we finally decided to take two weeks off and head back to Asia for the celebration. Of course one of the biggest challenge is to leave Maya behind. Fortunately, Tachi's family kindly offered to look after Maya for a week, and the <a href="http://shibainumaya.blogspot.com/2014/02/doggie-daycare.html" target="_blank">doggie daycare</a> was available for the other.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If only we can bring her with us</td></tr>
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Thanks to Tachi's parents for not only taking a good care of her, but also sending us lots of pictures. She sure had a good time hanging out with her Shiba friend.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictures we got from Tachi's parents</td></tr>
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Besides the photos with Tachi, we were also surprised by the videos of Maya with their guinea pig Sam. I pretty much held my breath while watching them. </div>
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Once Maya headed to the doggie daycare, she was pretty much off the radar, so we had to find comfort elsewhere, including visiting a neighbor's Shiba Inu, Kuruma in Taiwan. She's a shy girl and usually hides when people look at her, but I did manage to make myself interesting enough to come close for a picture, despite her tail still pointing down.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shy Shiba girl Kuruma</td></tr>
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Besides Taiwan, we also took a short trip to Hong Kong. It's not my first time there, but it's the first time I noticed that there are no dogs in the city at all. The only "dog" I found was on a poster in the subway stations. Ironically, a Shiba Inu pooping on the street.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnR6q2z2c_PMETuDY9L8Z00Osg80t6c2EetdBqAKw3X8Yauzn4t8zu1Kb5eFPCo0m7ea2vgcBFZXoJLrm__1t6XbWYQL7L5OfWjY9xDFvYW5FOLAIO0Fduz3IvK5wEMciIs2jxIKOIYQ/s640/blogger-image-2073968527.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnR6q2z2c_PMETuDY9L8Z00Osg80t6c2EetdBqAKw3X8Yauzn4t8zu1Kb5eFPCo0m7ea2vgcBFZXoJLrm__1t6XbWYQL7L5OfWjY9xDFvYW5FOLAIO0Fduz3IvK5wEMciIs2jxIKOIYQ/s640/blogger-image-2073968527.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poster in Hong Kong subway stations</td></tr>
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On our way back to the Bay Area, like our <a href="http://shibainumaya.blogspot.com/2012/12/our-journey-from-taiwan-with-13-dogs.html" target="_blank">previous trips</a>, we were able to help out the rescues in Taiwan to bring back another 14 dogs to their new forever homes. There's always a dog that gets to me and this time, it was a Golden Retriever named Brian, who was skin and bones when his foster parents found him on the streets. I can tell that the family was so attached to him, but were willing to let go, because they think he'll have a better life in California with more space to roam. It was hard watching them say goodbye.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLr9YDucxy4IwytkgokiQDvF3mWBP0fJK_EQgisF9JcybvhYl5-7Ci0WI-hd98yIFqFNZCie6sO2sWlqE1wBegzeEuDqBnHvZ0VPmqjLmvLiFRykkdfm7zEPEFgxROqSB2vSVmnaQtQEQ/s640/blogger-image-990428445.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLr9YDucxy4IwytkgokiQDvF3mWBP0fJK_EQgisF9JcybvhYl5-7Ci0WI-hd98yIFqFNZCie6sO2sWlqE1wBegzeEuDqBnHvZ0VPmqjLmvLiFRykkdfm7zEPEFgxROqSB2vSVmnaQtQEQ/s400/blogger-image-990428445.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Taipei airport getting ready to head back</td></tr>
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On our flight back, there was a small hiccup. Our flight landed at 8:30 pm, two hours later than scheduled, and we were supposed to pick up Maya before the daycare closes at 9:00 pm. We came up with a great plan to have Maya's daddy rush off the plane as soon as it stopped, literally running past all the passengers before they had a chance to stand up. By the time I retrieved our carry-ons, passed the super long line at customs, collected our luggage, gathered the dogs, rolled them out, and handed them to the local volunteers at the lobby, Maya's daddy already took the taxi home, drove to the daycare to pick up Maya, and was only minutes away from picking me up. Team effort! (He was still a few minutes late. Thanks to the daycare staff who was willing to wait for him. We would have been very sad if we weren't able to pick up Maya that day.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKToJiUN3B2jvXf8KSJjd9oO8Fv1tCJHJ-JkTNc-rQLzKjamvB_rgWZLFy-BLKENwiQPAGBtZ_stg-pb46OMzYvP7-aGStEXy1HrpA5ZrIMF4yHUgDUb99HuTFnFFqXgwumstRouqmYY/s400/blogger-image-1865164614.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maya slept for two whole days</td></tr>
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We were all exhausted after the trip. Maya pretty much slept for two full days while we jet-lagged for an entire week. She smelled like doggie daycare when she got back, but we waited a few days to give her a much needed bath, because we didn't want us coming home to be a negative experience (maybe I was over-thinking...) All-in-all, it was a great trip and we were really happy to see all our family and friends. Wish everyone a wonderful Year of the Horse! 新年快樂!馬年行大運!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe66L2I3FOzzqU8U3ZCpPoAw-uZu5mA-MVeSzinQyhNKjqozGkYDkA6bNw170J6EDAQ-fdrbnOguSCXxA7pCEMdhyrJqxKVFXMFjBGADnuGskyDbDwonu62hkvbRu-TuajibhMsuVecaM/s640/blogger-image--1096356281.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe66L2I3FOzzqU8U3ZCpPoAw-uZu5mA-MVeSzinQyhNKjqozGkYDkA6bNw170J6EDAQ-fdrbnOguSCXxA7pCEMdhyrJqxKVFXMFjBGADnuGskyDbDwonu62hkvbRu-TuajibhMsuVecaM/s400/blogger-image--1096356281.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Totally not happy about the bath</td></tr>
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Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-20738912190577407252014-02-28T19:50:00.000-08:002014-02-28T22:02:56.023-08:00Doggie DaycareSince Maya started to have some <a href="http://shibainumaya.blogspot.com/2013/09/behavioral-issues-when-greeting-other.html" target="_blank">greeting issues</a>, I have been trying to find better ways to socialize her with other dogs. Lucky, another Shiba Inu owner recommended a daycare that "gets" Shibas and Maya was able to pass their evaluation last September. After a few months of struggle with her health issues, she's finally out of the cone, got her new "quick release" collar, took the required Bordetella vaccine, and was ready for her first day of school in mid-December.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ycp3KmLEs09lTPMt8oJ0oLcR7YJHd_0b9U3up77xZBBljmddnD2V_T-WuDOO0A92gA4KPf7mqpDD3CwfnvCwBO2iUjF6h6gnRoR7LjwduVcyMSwvjK5sUkkHOVtzY2LzlKZ19WOXOwk/s640/blogger-image-1459323281.jpg"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ycp3KmLEs09lTPMt8oJ0oLcR7YJHd_0b9U3up77xZBBljmddnD2V_T-WuDOO0A92gA4KPf7mqpDD3CwfnvCwBO2iUjF6h6gnRoR7LjwduVcyMSwvjK5sUkkHOVtzY2LzlKZ19WOXOwk/s400/blogger-image-1459323281.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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When we arrived at the daycare, the owner/trainer walked her into the room while I watched over the counter. She growled a little at the dogs that came close to her, but didn't snap or lunge. The trainer took her leash off, and after peeing on the carpet (how embarrassing) she sort of settled in.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/a5k0FmnAGjY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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That evening, Maya's daddy went to pick her up and was greeted by a different trainer. When he asked how Maya did, she gave him a long sigh and a big head shake. She said Maya basically growled at every dog coming close to her, got angry when any other dog received a treat, and even got mad when she accidentally walked into another dog herself... Uhh! </div>
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Being super concerned, I wrote to the owner to ask for more information the next day, and got the response:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Maya does not like dogs brushing next to her, so she will show teeth and growl. She tends to go after dogs who sniff her as well. She did not play with dogs but she also was not in a corner. Maya laid around with the group as a typical Sheba would.<br />
<br />
I am willing to have her keep coming in for half days for her to be more comfortable and you as well. She does needs to be socialized more, I believe."</blockquote>
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Well, at least she's not expelled.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfdUr2TZY6Qyd3yuQdylHZDHn1n3CYNzNIBYqqOEO_Y6iBxivUvvxVdX68K3UxdJR40dAXwknqyMGS60YoHffWEtYKd7zuWofJTrCveM5TMeUPpfTUdt2901mrXJFgPkmNm14pDIP7tE/s640/blogger-image-2102804006.jpg"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfdUr2TZY6Qyd3yuQdylHZDHn1n3CYNzNIBYqqOEO_Y6iBxivUvvxVdX68K3UxdJR40dAXwknqyMGS60YoHffWEtYKd7zuWofJTrCveM5TMeUPpfTUdt2901mrXJFgPkmNm14pDIP7tE/s400/blogger-image-2102804006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Two days later, I took her to the daycare again. At the end of the day when I picked her up, I got some surprising good news. I was told that she only growled at one dog throughout the day and "he probably deserves it". Whew... Since then, we continued to take her there for half day (6 hours) daycare once a week and heard nothing but positive comments. Earlier this month, she even stayed there for a full week while we traveled to Asia. </div>
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In the past few months, we stopped going to dog parks, not only because she would just wonder around looking bored, but would also tend to get itchy afterwards. At daycare, she still just wonders around and doesn't really "play" that much, but at least we don't need bore ourselves out watching, and since it's indoors, no worries about worsening her allergies (the wounds on her face actually all healed up nicely during her one week stay). I don't really care if she "plays" with the other dogs or not, I am satisfied as long as she's comfortable in the environment. After a few trips, she actually did find a few dogs she likes to play with.</div>
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All in all, I am really glad we found a place where she can safely interact with other dogs and someone to look after her while we travel. And of course, a tired out pup at the end of the day is always a bonus. </div>
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Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-11231918446718694812014-02-27T16:59:00.002-08:002014-02-27T17:21:34.005-08:00Monthly Expenses: October - December 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI38exvsB26bLGVPrwDqKatOgVCXA3ayA-VNQGLvbGCExEedulENNoot5RPP3M-FNOpTFtcng2DqVuFg_sO-BX_aSXzCpp07Jz_Mde5IhGVWd38k7u6iy95JosHdFzA_H_ED4dwkUHwBg/s640/blogger-image--559157403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
It's pretty obvious I've been slacking on updating my blog these days. Between work, travel, and having fun with the dog, there's really not that much time to sit down put my thoughts in writing. However, I do still keep track of my monthly expenses, so maybe from now on I'll make these posts bi-monthly or quarterly... We'll see.<br />
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<b>October 2013</b><br />
<div>
<ul>
<li>Accessories: $36</li>
<li>Food: $85</li>
<li>Grooming: $13</li>
<li>Supplements: $18</li>
<li>Toys: $7</li>
<li>Vet & Medical: $260</li>
</ul>
<b>TOTAL: $419</b></div>
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<b>November 2013</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Accessories: $9</li>
<li>Food: $118</li>
<li>Supplements: $34</li>
<li>Toys: $8</li>
<li>Training: $331</li>
<li>Treats & Chews: $11</li>
<li>Vet & Medical: $614</li>
</ul>
<b>TOTAL: $1,125</b></div>
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<div>
<b>December 2013</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Accessories: $12</li>
<li>Daycare & Boarding: $200</li>
<li>Food: $114</li>
<li>Supplements: $9</li>
<li>Treats & Chews: $15</li>
<li>Vet & Medical: $158</li>
</ul>
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<b>TOTAL: $508</b></div>
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<b>YTD TOTAL: $4,994</b><br />
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<u>Accessories</u><br />
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For accessories, Maya got a new collar and name tag, because daycare requires them to wear "quick release" collars. She also got a new mat for her crate, to replace the blanket that never stays in place.<br />
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After reading stories about dogs in car accidents, I decided to let her ride in the back seat instead of in the trunk of my hatchback, so I got her a doggie seat-belt that locks to the seat-belt buckle of the car and attaches to her harness on the other end. She wasn't very pleased of the new restrictions...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4t2cHuW03xIdaie7LSDod1lNSGTUPcW0Bny4TlqbLIJVHrGtqjBKsQj7QjTyXtbqaOeZXKbPYmAn1XtyWN89N3DnFo7_IwpFWU_D1CZWj_yi4ejBFH3DFQEDuhSrfEObXk0sidhMYn4M/s640/blogger-image-90010000.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4t2cHuW03xIdaie7LSDod1lNSGTUPcW0Bny4TlqbLIJVHrGtqjBKsQj7QjTyXtbqaOeZXKbPYmAn1XtyWN89N3DnFo7_IwpFWU_D1CZWj_yi4ejBFH3DFQEDuhSrfEObXk0sidhMYn4M/s400/blogger-image-90010000.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<u>Daycare & Boarding</u><br />
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As part of our effort to better socialize her, we started to take her to daycare at least once a week. The facility is located near my office, so the half-day (6 hours) daycare works good for us. After paying full price for the first stay, I got her a 10 half-day package.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKBwHjjF9PWIa2gY9rRywLLeLe4MOR39OLqjx9t20ReYzDlU7huE7YI4VC8Qqvk63PxcZlSE1BZvzquxWAP8b3xXS8pLizSH184eBUO5ZDN2AYTo5-SQ5HIV3hleSh1RYHpBBqj21WlE/s1600/IMG_5369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKBwHjjF9PWIa2gY9rRywLLeLe4MOR39OLqjx9t20ReYzDlU7huE7YI4VC8Qqvk63PxcZlSE1BZvzquxWAP8b3xXS8pLizSH184eBUO5ZDN2AYTo5-SQ5HIV3hleSh1RYHpBBqj21WlE/s1600/IMG_5369.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u>Food</u><br />
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For food, we had some trial and error. I tried putting her back on kibbles because she wasn't doing well on raw, so I got her a bag of Nature's Variety Instinct Salmon Meal Formula. Well, her poop was nasty since day one. We thought it was because of the meds she was on, but after 3 weeks and being off the meds, it was still bad, so we had to stop.<br />
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I took the leap of faith and put her back on the Honest Kitchen Zeal. We stopped feeding her Zeal because sweet potatoes and eggs were listed as her "trigger foods" by the <a href="http://shibainumaya.blogspot.com/2013/06/glacier-peak-allergy-test.html" target="_blank">Glacier Peak Allergy Test</a>. However, it has always been the food she was eating during her "best days". On the 2nd day she switched back, her poop firmed up, so she's been on it ever since. We purchased a 4 lbs box and two 10 lbs boxes during this period.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwG0WswqX-11nSbAub1GGyqIujKrxKFhHz1lQlfrtaadxdoGaKcYC0yfzHcUd4UZOUaCN6Xk7jUO7QuQeQcZAxhjEgXbEQwuRzLrZo2WRKoHyqJ1CB3vwM3F-7XRZX22dDv_DJaq5BBXU/s640/blogger-image-2092110029.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwG0WswqX-11nSbAub1GGyqIujKrxKFhHz1lQlfrtaadxdoGaKcYC0yfzHcUd4UZOUaCN6Xk7jUO7QuQeQcZAxhjEgXbEQwuRzLrZo2WRKoHyqJ1CB3vwM3F-7XRZX22dDv_DJaq5BBXU/s400/blogger-image-2092110029.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<u>Grooming</u><br />
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One day, while Maya's daddy was walking her with the cone of shame on, a lady told him she used a shampoo on her itchy dog and an army of fleas came out. She recommended us to try the shampoo on Maya as well. Maya's daddy then sent me off to find it with the limited information he gathered: "Pet Food Express", "smells like clove", and "brown bottle". To my surprise, I did find the product she was saying, which is Natural Chemistry Flea & Tick Shampoo. Fortunately and unfortunately, there were no fleas coming out of Maya, but the clove smell is nice and it doesn't hurt to have some extra flea prevention, so we kept using it.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI38exvsB26bLGVPrwDqKatOgVCXA3ayA-VNQGLvbGCExEedulENNoot5RPP3M-FNOpTFtcng2DqVuFg_sO-BX_aSXzCpp07Jz_Mde5IhGVWd38k7u6iy95JosHdFzA_H_ED4dwkUHwBg/s400/blogger-image--559157403.jpg" /></div>
<br />
<u>Supplements</u><br />
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For supplements, she got some coconut oil, dandelion root tea, and Chinese medicine. She also got a small bottle of Dermoscent Bio Balm, which did not do much help. My friend who is studying Chinese medicine helped getting me some moxa sticks, but I have yet been able to find a good location to use them. I don't want the smell in the house, but I'm afraid if I use it in the park, people might call the police.<br />
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<u>Toys</u><br />
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Toys were mostly results of my impulse shopping... You know, the holidays and everything.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnYZcJ7xwZd4i9ROGs8pGtDKr50SaCHa8TfZMKU9BbbB9cwOr9VzWcTnwNg6Iu-FxJz31AuUjK2HL7U1JxAmLwWEMJpsxgZT2sbTpqd_1ZeHB1VpjLUIxF_ckYity75cZv8xfjpit1qs/s640/blogger-image--97401644.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnYZcJ7xwZd4i9ROGs8pGtDKr50SaCHa8TfZMKU9BbbB9cwOr9VzWcTnwNg6Iu-FxJz31AuUjK2HL7U1JxAmLwWEMJpsxgZT2sbTpqd_1ZeHB1VpjLUIxF_ckYity75cZv8xfjpit1qs/s400/blogger-image--97401644.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<u>Training</u><br />
<br />
We had one more session with the behaviorist to help with Maya's <a href="http://shibainumaya.blogspot.com/2013/09/behavioral-issues-when-greeting-other.html" target="_blank">reactiveness towards other dogs</a>. We are also still continuing her agility training at Zoom Room, even though there were some <a href="http://shibainumaya.blogspot.com/2013/11/agility-training-challenges.html" target="_blank">fall backs</a>. We had to stop for a while when her itchiness got really bad. When she got better, we went to their "tricks" class instead, so she can have more space and time to itch. Now we are picking up our pace again and going back to agility 2 to work on the foundations. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQmkaCu-kC3am8FCL3jA5CH_YVQLehDQxakLmRvAZuZpgVBMLZ_h_4baJkPRB3BbumLumUElE5UzudhkYGKLRa6mrKU9rw6_0fI2uWYbwu2o-StSNcELzjF8B5r7eprBKCfvieL9JYys/s640/blogger-image-1986015183.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQmkaCu-kC3am8FCL3jA5CH_YVQLehDQxakLmRvAZuZpgVBMLZ_h_4baJkPRB3BbumLumUElE5UzudhkYGKLRa6mrKU9rw6_0fI2uWYbwu2o-StSNcELzjF8B5r7eprBKCfvieL9JYys/s400/blogger-image-1986015183.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u>Treats & Chews</u><br />
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For treats and chews, we got a bag of Wellness Pure Venison & Salmon Jerky and a bag of Grizzly Nutreats. I also made some dehydrated treats from fish fillets, canned fish and canned pumpkin.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqb_mTgpJ_uPpHSaBDPz0MUet_KWg0f7rbtQpzq5zgBu40IMy6HR1WNV2SC8AsU2K9Yr_sLWL9M2f8hYDAIdRh7qKZT9KaJTL5kvKSNlUwhBCVK55Ki8PDQLg3PW0c2Zro3MZ6NR7mhcw/s1600/IMG_5173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqb_mTgpJ_uPpHSaBDPz0MUet_KWg0f7rbtQpzq5zgBu40IMy6HR1WNV2SC8AsU2K9Yr_sLWL9M2f8hYDAIdRh7qKZT9KaJTL5kvKSNlUwhBCVK55Ki8PDQLg3PW0c2Zro3MZ6NR7mhcw/s1600/IMG_5173.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u>Vet & Medical</u><br />
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Over the three months, we continued our long journey to combat Maya's itchiness, including appointments with the holistic vet, a semi-emergency visit to the regular vet, some prescribed medicine, including steroids (Prednisone) and antibiotics (Baytril). Last but not least, the biggest portion of the expenses goes to the <a href="http://shibainumaya.blogspot.com/2014/01/pet-insurance.html" target="_blank">pet insurance</a> purchased in November. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZeY6xcxk_Ywtie2PhphVyEe3VebdqapjCcxnQExwzSS9hWrHRBEFEcAXANHuaVfxr6RzW_HzoOO03ExMVALVYYRMwz_5dHdL9vfGOvKwNvlU15JA6F16HODfnc76zkMHOtWeY8nTXJE/s1600/IMG_5264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZeY6xcxk_Ywtie2PhphVyEe3VebdqapjCcxnQExwzSS9hWrHRBEFEcAXANHuaVfxr6RzW_HzoOO03ExMVALVYYRMwz_5dHdL9vfGOvKwNvlU15JA6F16HODfnc76zkMHOtWeY8nTXJE/s1600/IMG_5264.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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And that concludes our 2013! </div>
Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-38968787147810729122014-01-10T17:34:00.000-08:002015-08-16T10:24:24.175-07:00Pet InsuranceEver since Maya's allergy outbreak at 10 months old, I've been regretting for not purchasing pet insurance the day we got her, especially after the <a href="http://shibainumaya.blogspot.com/search/label/Fractured%20Tooth" target="_blank">broken tooth</a> incident. Then it was the long debate of whether it's worth getting an insurance anymore, as there are already so many pre-existing conditions that won't be covered.<br />
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwqHincLVsCQx3U565Uv4Qu8IpwqVawVgXePmAaalzSKsiJUZMaEaaQt2DEuV_pqIyIrFdYiRnyX2kBoftc5RltJbH_SS9rvIxl_KWIQH9Qlp5liWmdHpYwuv9eINYu0X94ctDatXSTY/s400/blogger-image--118996141.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<br />
About a month ago, after learning the cost of surgery after accidents from a few fellow pet owners, I decided it's time to seriously consider pet insurance again. With some research and survey, I picked PetPlan (<a href="http://petplan.extole.com/a/clk/1mL3pr" target="_blank">referral link</a>), and here's why:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Recommendations from other pet owners</li>
<li>No lifetime claims limit</li>
<li>No per illness limit</li>
<li>Includes alternative and holistic therapies</li>
<li>Includes diagnostic testing</li>
</ul>
<br />
Like most insurance, they have a few different options to choose from.<br />
<ul>
<li>Annual limit: bronze ($10,000), sliver ($14,000), or gold ($22,000).</li>
<li>Per illness deductible: $50, $100, or $200.</li>
<li>Reimbursement level: 80%, 90%, 100%. </li>
</ul>
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I choose gold plan with $200 deducible and 100% reimbursement. With some discounts, I paid $580 for the first year. It is the strategy for my own insurance as well, to have higher deducible, but better coverage. (However, after reading the fine print and realized that specialized treatment caps at 80% reimbursement, I'm wondering if I should lower to 80%.)<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnc08zrJVYoxK7kosz2S01p3EHkniisJ7o8REeSXIcz9uSNzlKXCSKqjEg1CPNU6pxB5N8O-mIbMXWFNAN6MBintXpHtxfD-9T2Mg0-RHghX-ovyj3YCp1y6hYI1AxCYRI5w87GmPBB3U/s400/blogger-image-1582791753.jpg" /></div>
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After signing up, I started the underwriting process, because I want to know for sure what are considered pre-existing conditions, so I won't have any surprises in the future. I downloaded a "medical record release form" from the website and faxed it to all 5 of Maya's vets that had treated her in the past 2 years. The vets were all pretty responsive and sent in Maya's records within a day or two. </div>
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Once I was notified by all the vets that the records are in, I wrote an email to PetPlan to confirm. Well, that wasn't a happy conversation, according to the representative, "I searched our records for the medical records, and haven’t had any luck locating them. It is possible that the fax transmissions were unsuccessful; I apologize for the inconvenience." Are you serious? How could 5 different fax transmission all fail? Fortunately, a day later, I got an email from their underwriting department asking for my request in writing to start the process, so I guess they found the documents. </div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZmuP8JQRx_528tTZn0SWvsoT9Cih31Y7pkiIPfGPXxWF6Fh5PSJk0yfV7PJEO3rdoteI0QiWjHjdG-N2Z068-aFa0vM6GCq1ZaAOr4x90QXr-tGcLeIjFcpo9okFVKtzZnADomm3AqA/s400/blogger-image--1928792819.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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About two weeks later, I got the "policy exclusion letter":</div>
<ul>
<li>Dental disease - Dental tartar was noted prior to the policy. Dental disease is excluded from coverage for a period of 12 months once the teeth are cleaned and any recommended treatments are provided. This includes, but is not limited to treatments related to progressive dental disease.</li>
<li>Upper right premolar - Lifetime exclusion. Maya had a root canal and crown of her upper right premolar. This exclusion includes, but is not limited to; fracture of this tooth, and infection or complications related to the root canal or crown.</li>
<li>Atopy or Allergic skin disease - Lifetime exclusion. This exclusion includes, but is not limited to; pruritis, dermatitis, pyoderma, otitis and any other skin conditions that occur secondary to allergic skin disease.</li>
<li>According to the records we have received Maya is not up to date on heartworm testing and heartworm and flea and tick preventative. Any conditions that occur as a result of the lack of preventative care are excluded. If Maya's heartworm and flea and tick prevention are given, or if documentation is provided showing that she is up to date, this exclusion may be open to review.</li>
</ul>
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<div>
The allergy and broken premolar lifetime exclusion were as expected. The dental disease was kind of surprising, as the tartar was minor and never really a concern from the vets. I wrote to ask if I was able to clear the tartar on my own and my vet verified her teeth is clean, can the exclusion be removed. They agreed that they can "review" the exclusion in that case. </div>
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The heartworm/flea/tick prevention also caught me out of the blue. I followed up with Maya's heartworm test results from Hemopet last May as well as a bunch of receipts from ordering prevention meds online. I even sent a picture with her next to her meds. Hopefully, that'll be significant enough to lift the exclusion. Regardless, I'm not too concerned, as we have been careful.<br />
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Aside from the list, they also have a 6 month exclusionary period for knee related diseases, unless a vet noted both knees are healthy within 30 days of enrollment. I was stupid and totally forgot to ask the vet to check her knees during our last visit, which was perfectly timed within the period. Sigh.</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavRnFS7yYkFlmCQb0gO0SctFz-yhNKCOHl1922ccmjZWemu29dBNzDWkBlQU4rl4WdpkDwOpTocabdJp3AwIV-AYFpM3Dyn5b49Ni36VHAqtTYqn9GnPxfZIX67_ugYL38gP6a-bpMy0/s400/blogger-image-406222408.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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The last thing I'm really worried about, is the premium increase as Maya ages. According to some online reviews, lots of owners have experienced about 25% increase per year. We've got a pretty good discount when we signed up, but I guess that'll just be for the first year, so the jump will be even more significant. We'll have to wait and see.</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
For those who are interested in pet insurance, here are some references: </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.pet-insurance-university.com/compare_pet_insurance.html" target="_blank">Compare Pet Insurance</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.caninejournal.com/pet-insurance-comparison/" target="_blank">Pet Insurance Comparison 2014</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.petinsurancereview.com/" target="_blank">Pet Insurance Review</a></li>
</ul>
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And for those interested in PetPlan, you may be able to get some discounts from the following links:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://petplan.extole.com/a/clk/1mL3pr" target="_blank">My referral link</a> (I will donate whatever I earn from this.) </li>
<li><a href="http://c2-preview.prosites.com/138438/wy/docs/Endorsed%20Programs%20PDF/Group_Pet_Pdf.pdf" target="_blank">15% discount code</a> (I got my discount here.)</li>
</ul>
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[Edit 1/14/2014]<br />
After providing prove of purchase of Heartgard and Comfortis, they removed the exclusion for heartworm and fleas. Tick is still not covered, since Comfortis does not prevent ticks.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>According to the records we have received Maya is not up to date on tick preventative. Any conditions that occur as a result of the lack of preventative care are excluded. If Maya's tick prevention is given, or if documentation is provided showing that she is up to date, this exclusion may be open to review. </li>
<li>Edit: 01/13/2014: Removed exclusion for heartworm testing, heartworm prevention and flea prevention.</li>
</ul>
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<div>
[Edit 4/14/2014]</div>
<div>
Adding in a comment I made on a dog forum about the price being high comparing to other pet insurances: </div>
<blockquote>
<i>"Yes, it was higher than what I expected to pay. They have cheaper options too, but after some calculations, we decided that an extra $200 per year is something we can afford, while an extra $10,000 in surgery is not. I used "$20,000 for a surgery" as a guideline when I researched each insurance company, because that's what a friend spent when his dog got into an accident in our area. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>Each company do lots of "tricks" on their websites to make themselves look like the best. For example, on VPI website, they did a comparison for Pancreatitis treatment,<br /> Bill Amount: $1,075.49<br />VPI: Paid $912.44 (85% Reimbursed)<br />PetPlan: Paid $759.46 (71% Reimbursed) </i></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>However, they didn't mention that they had a limit of $1160, so if the bill goes up to $3,000 PetPlan will have much higher reimbursement. Something more like,<br />Bill Amount: $3000<br />VPI: Paid $1160 (39%)<br />PetPlan: $2320 (77%) </i></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>For me, I don't really care when the difference is in the hundreds, but it really matters when it's in the thousands.<br /> <br />At the end of the day, insurance companies are not charity and they are here to make money. It's important to really read the fine print and know what you are looking for."</i></blockquote>
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[Edit 6/10/2015]<br />
My follow-up post about the 2nd year of using PetPlan: <a href="http://www.shibainumaya.com/2015/06/pet-insurance-year-2.html" target="_blank">Pet Insurance - Year 2</a><br />
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[Edit 8/16/2015]<br />
A good article about pet insurance. Exactly how I view insurance for both humans and pets.<br />"THE POINT OF INSURANCE ISN'T TO EARN BACK YOUR PREMIUMS."<br />It's about how much you can and willing to spend on your pets.<br /><a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/8/10/9123013/dogs-insurance-should-i-buy">http://www.vox.com/2015/8/10/9123013/dogs-insurance-should-i-buy</a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #faf6e6; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: 'lucida grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></div>
Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-23219410818724733582013-12-26T13:26:00.000-08:002013-12-26T13:26:36.263-08:00Merry Shibamas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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It has been a crazy few months. I have so many things I wanted to write about, but so less time. If it weren't for Maya, I probably wouldn't even realize it's time for the holiday.<div>
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Tachi came to stay with us a few days before Christmas and will be around till the end of the year. Thanks to her parents for the lovely bandana, though neither of them was pleased when I put on the "decoration". </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDjQFkVfTwbycsEYOiIXY7rTxrlkVDloOQ_-ogZcPtxjG5dBVhOpvFohN1Li3-9nC2FudlC7f0NjD3LBNJt6mutde2Y-E_5_9U2fJJc6mgwoTJ86M4kzVlclXD7oR3PrDKIOY0MmovIw/s640/blogger-image-993755171.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDjQFkVfTwbycsEYOiIXY7rTxrlkVDloOQ_-ogZcPtxjG5dBVhOpvFohN1Li3-9nC2FudlC7f0NjD3LBNJt6mutde2Y-E_5_9U2fJJc6mgwoTJ86M4kzVlclXD7oR3PrDKIOY0MmovIw/s400/blogger-image-993755171.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />This year, we also participated in <a href="http://secretshiba2013.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shiba</a>, a gift exchanging event for Twibas (tweeting Shibas). We sent out a gift to a fellow Shiba before Christmas, and get one from another. We are not allowed to open the box till the 25th.<br /><br />Maya's gift came around 12/16 in a nicely packed USPS box, with the warning "DO NOT OPEN BEFORE SHIBAMAS" written on it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnhN0VvOYcUaxR7-mLDCGxUhW1kv_s5mRzxIiZ3uN-I8JlHH0vJuCDf2jZEj1gkd1pbR2Y_KtigHptYtLkB-cny0woK2PdVd8UYOHanclwjp8Q9xQ9fSFNu7YemyYnmUifwaorAZrbxY/s640/blogger-image--1011316389.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnhN0VvOYcUaxR7-mLDCGxUhW1kv_s5mRzxIiZ3uN-I8JlHH0vJuCDf2jZEj1gkd1pbR2Y_KtigHptYtLkB-cny0woK2PdVd8UYOHanclwjp8Q9xQ9fSFNu7YemyYnmUifwaorAZrbxY/s400/blogger-image--1011316389.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />Even though no one's watching, we didn't cheat and waited till Christmas day. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sakurathedivadog" target="_blank">Sakura the Diva Dog</a> was Maya's Secret Shiba, and she sent us a few toys, a pet alert sticker, a floral collar, and even a Shiba calendar for the humans!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYaFmVSdVvw0ly9Uzzsy9YAbcQbZsGAvuUDTd9yLzt_ZSUuvtaqbAiJOIvBcDayRqD-3F4MmTE_m6zQpTTT7fAY6t_R3Ko58D_Nie1-lqHUDZHktstU_8-OdXUtiy7FSqIN0Nna0LCjs/s640/blogger-image--1815687869.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYaFmVSdVvw0ly9Uzzsy9YAbcQbZsGAvuUDTd9yLzt_ZSUuvtaqbAiJOIvBcDayRqD-3F4MmTE_m6zQpTTT7fAY6t_R3Ko58D_Nie1-lqHUDZHktstU_8-OdXUtiy7FSqIN0Nna0LCjs/s400/blogger-image--1815687869.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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To be honest, these were the only gifts sent and received by our family this year, as we were never that into this tradition. (Immigrants!) However, the anticipation made me felt like a little girl again and I was so glad I signed up. It's interesting to learn how our pets can change us in the ways we would never expected. </div>
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Happy Holiday!</div>
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Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-73987651617574710852013-11-01T17:34:00.000-07:002013-11-01T17:35:04.859-07:00Agility Training Challenges<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Maya and I have been going to agility classes once a week at <a href="http://www.zoomroomonline.com/belmont-dog-training.html" target="_blank">Zoom Room Belmont</a> <a href="http://shibainumaya.blogspot.com/2013/05/agility-training-part-two.html" target="_blank">since May</a>. She learned super quick and we got through agility 1, 2, and 3 in a breeze. Before I noticed, the classes were more about training me, than about training her. I had to put on my sneakers and tie up my hair in order to keep up with her.<br />
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However, about a month ago, the training took an unexpected turn. All of a sudden, she seems to lose all her interest. She would sit a the starting line and refuse to move, wonder off the course sniffing, or just stop in front of a bar jump as if she doesn't know how to jump over it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6AyUVh-INT4tRcFeWteXeClKf6hrsqVvPoBffReWZ4_MrDv45CfHn3kJV4HRds84phCKHJwH7NAKQCsNW1vSjdcO_tAQx3OvH8lXFN6w7_06KVWD0nkDeRGPkGUXJMVI6RGFcgd0Zgc/s640/blogger-image-1352136150.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6AyUVh-INT4tRcFeWteXeClKf6hrsqVvPoBffReWZ4_MrDv45CfHn3kJV4HRds84phCKHJwH7NAKQCsNW1vSjdcO_tAQx3OvH8lXFN6w7_06KVWD0nkDeRGPkGUXJMVI6RGFcgd0Zgc/s400/blogger-image-1352136150.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maya on jumping strike</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Then the worse came when we got invited to an agility demo at the <a href="http://www.strutyourmutt.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=530" target="_blank">Strut the Mutt</a> event. Though she wasn't enthusiastic, she was able to get through all of the courses halfheartedly while we practice in the gym. But on the day before the event, when we went to practice outdoors for the first time, she totally shut down. She refused to step on the wet grass, kept pulling me towards the parking lot, and eventually just sat there and stared at everyone. I was super nervous but all I could do was to go buy the most tasty treats I could imagine, and pray that she'd come to her senses the next day.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOHuhUiEB-iuEbTDm3js2CDNJQEj3R3M2SwJRWhZJuQwGKya9v4zfnPjLpV9tKuQ16muH-EKi5qzkl_orgRKllbUGoXCxEvD5wXtvn9-4WVPwpfOcT4mOQUbEHbShyphenhyphenm_h0y69LztuzaM/s640/blogger-image--1500563859.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOHuhUiEB-iuEbTDm3js2CDNJQEj3R3M2SwJRWhZJuQwGKya9v4zfnPjLpV9tKuQ16muH-EKi5qzkl_orgRKllbUGoXCxEvD5wXtvn9-4WVPwpfOcT4mOQUbEHbShyphenhyphenm_h0y69LztuzaM/s320/blogger-image--1500563859.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Refused to move at all on the wet grass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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On the day of the event, she finally decided to be somewhat cooperative and was willing to move in slow motion. I ended up "walking" her through the courses on leash with a few tugs and pulls, as well as a lot of cheering. Though she performed worse than her second agility class, at least she agreed not to totally embarrass me in front of a huge crowd. (Nevertheless, her daddy took some good photos, and at the end of the day, that's what counts.)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18zZ6e6Qd6_qzo0X-FidNK-dKoTE3Ge0gF39Ztq3Lcg8dap8T3QPbHZxFkw5IWnzwkP72qZCepk3rgNQkF8XirkDY5JCuz7FCH7C7DeiIt0hEMsBjf64wYmXiepOdNoRAan1LkSrL6d0/s640/blogger-image-1222541628.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18zZ6e6Qd6_qzo0X-FidNK-dKoTE3Ge0gF39Ztq3Lcg8dap8T3QPbHZxFkw5IWnzwkP72qZCepk3rgNQkF8XirkDY5JCuz7FCH7C7DeiIt0hEMsBjf64wYmXiepOdNoRAan1LkSrL6d0/s400/blogger-image-1222541628.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outdoor agility demo</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div>
After the demo, her allergies got worse to the point where we have to <a href="http://shibainumaya.blogspot.com/2013/09/cone-head.html" target="_blank">keep her in a cone</a>, and not able to go to classes. During the three week break, I had a chance to reflect on the situation. I got a book call "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UCF53A/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000UCF53A&linkCode=as2&tag=eapllo-20" target="_blank">Control Unleashed</a>" (thanks to K, the Jindo owner, who recommended the book), and after a few minutes into reading it, I realized Maya is actually stressed, not bored, naughty, or just trying to give me a hard time.<br />
<br />
Thinking back, maybe it was because I tied a balloon to her when shooting my <a href="http://shibainumaya.blogspot.com/2013/09/happy-birthday-grandpa.html" target="_blank">dad's birthday video</a>, or because I invited her Shiba friend Tachi to play at the gym with her, or because she was feeling funny when she had a swollen paw. She is a very sensitive girl and remembers things for a long time. Whatever made her uncomfortable may still be haunting her. (I remember one time we were playing fetch at home when she was still a puppy. She got too excited and peed on the carpet while fetching the ball. Not sure if she scared herself or that I made a scene, but since the accident, she refused to fetch at all for a very long time. I had to spend a lot of time and treats to re-teach her how to fetch, something she learned since 9 weeks old.)<br />
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I made a few adjustments since we went back to class 2 weeks ago. I tried making it more exciting when starting a drill. Instead of using "sit, wait, ok" to start, I changed to a new command, "ready? ready? go!". I use it not only for agility, but at home as well. At the end of the "go!", it could be a "touch" my hand, a "find it" game, or a "catch me if you can" chase, but no matter what, it always leads to something fun and rewarding.<br />
<br />
I also avoid starting the run in the middle of the course. I realized she gets more stressed out when we had to walk to the center of the classroom, sit, wait, then start. Sometimes she would just sit there and start getting super itchy. So instead, I ignore the starting line and just start running from where we were waiting. If there's a table where we need to stop in the middle of the course, I also make the pause as short as possible. Once she gets all paws on the table, we start running again. I know I'm breaking the rules, but at this point, I think it's more important to keep her moving and not stop to think about the stress.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKVtBkU_-TcyfF9zGZYpE6deZ7KXG5Kmg-9lp1zCBTHXO1Uk3oKWjziUmxCW94-K8dJKk5-8WcKJ_YWBfNhHs4gud4uv9BFZ2wtN4IG7Vi4BayEX1dzmOON6mAb9t0TyNEE2U4jWIvVM/s320/blogger-image-974002963.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maya would freeze up when we stop on a table</td></tr>
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Another change I made was to keep her engaged while we wait for our turn. Instead of watching other dogs perform or chatting with other owners, I make sure to focus on her by playing various rewarding games, such as "paw", "leave it", "beg", or "touch". I am also very cautious about not saying anything negative in the classroom. When she makes a wrong turn or miss a weave, instead of saying "no" or "uh-uh", I just guide her back. And when she does something right, I make a big deal out of it.<br />
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With all the changes, Maya seems to do a bit better, but still far form the zooming Shiba when she started out. I am actually thinking about going back to take some Agility 1 classes, which allows her to have a higher rate of reward. She can get a treat for every single move, instead of at the end of the entire run. Maybe this can help build her confidence back up again. <br />
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I started agility training just to have fun and be able to do something with Maya. I don't have any interest in earning titles or attending competitions. I have been enjoying it a lot myself, but more importantly my partner needs to be happy too. I'll give it a bit more time, but if it's still too stressful for her, maybe we should find a different activity or take a longer break.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EckuDMIe4ZgC798EfZqFe4SCeH384IR-3degHX7ZCYsWC8T-fWV_TMeEnQI3aGeOw2Joh_1EgYcJcy29x1DNLaLyRdQXN47bVb9dh7k_60j9gwV7bb8ujaJjPBoEiMNno_JiVnsLJ7o/s320/blogger-image--1796662968.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When she was still enjoying it</td></tr>
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Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-30707066045498755202013-10-21T14:40:00.000-07:002014-02-27T17:18:46.252-08:00Monthly Expenses: September 2013<div>
<b>September 2013</b></div>
<ul>
<li>Food: $81</li>
<li>Supplements: $99</li>
<li>Toys: $5</li>
<li>Treats & Chews: $21</li>
<li>Vet & Medical: $13</li>
<li>Training: $150</li>
<li>Grooming: $45</li>
</ul>
<b>TOTAL: $360</b><br />
<b>YTD TOTAL: $2,942</b><br />
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<u>Food</u><br />
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This month for Maya's food, we got some green tripe, beef grind, veggies, and yogurt.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7VoZHUeDwU4UCHZ-g4JktxLozC_8Qh1fEiE3YMQVyj0uyOrMHxtNnaHLYog733dTMfeVH6xpEvnHohSqm2PZRCJ8W1ySh35iXw6-i6s4Zdl4AVSrb_ipyxpaS-HKwizNLP-gfug3a8A/s640/blogger-image-1057168170.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7VoZHUeDwU4UCHZ-g4JktxLozC_8Qh1fEiE3YMQVyj0uyOrMHxtNnaHLYog733dTMfeVH6xpEvnHohSqm2PZRCJ8W1ySh35iXw6-i6s4Zdl4AVSrb_ipyxpaS-HKwizNLP-gfug3a8A/s400/blogger-image-1057168170.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u>Supplements</u><br />
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For supplements, we got some Chinese medicine, vitamins, seacure, and probiotics.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHV_lizV3nwZxla1pnN9ZEMaDkyXX11kDdxcRwPuRsm4WeunFP2aOmihWBp_1KpFZIaVYYs4jU-KGxxGndySXGmRsvgR6f8Q7o1iKAyzkCooq_MP9ocNxJR7_7ItEfFYE5auSCP7SZGx8/s640/blogger-image--1601890375.jpg"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHV_lizV3nwZxla1pnN9ZEMaDkyXX11kDdxcRwPuRsm4WeunFP2aOmihWBp_1KpFZIaVYYs4jU-KGxxGndySXGmRsvgR6f8Q7o1iKAyzkCooq_MP9ocNxJR7_7ItEfFYE5auSCP7SZGx8/s400/blogger-image--1601890375.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u>Toys</u><br />
<br />
I wasn't really planning to get her any toys, but I had to return a ear flush that didn't work well for her. I went back to store after the 30 days return period and ended up with a store credit, so I got her some squeaky balls. They helped kept her mind off her itchiness for like 30 minutes, then they joined the big basket of toys she has no interest in. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYX6rL454nxtghoXVE7TyQsIHUp7izbZYT_4O6bu7V26NDsrL6v0IMk2db7mwlfweyv8FGQI5O7IESzkpiPcbtTGcUDiWj2asbGpMWXJZ8G6uySlreSNj1dQGPcjokOhnf1rszGsF8yjE/s640/blogger-image-1951082354.jpg" style="text-align: start;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYX6rL454nxtghoXVE7TyQsIHUp7izbZYT_4O6bu7V26NDsrL6v0IMk2db7mwlfweyv8FGQI5O7IESzkpiPcbtTGcUDiWj2asbGpMWXJZ8G6uySlreSNj1dQGPcjokOhnf1rszGsF8yjE/s400/blogger-image-1951082354.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u>Treats & Chews</u><br />
<br />
The second half of the store credit from returning the ear flush got spent on some Moo Tubes. At first she wasn't sure how to eat them, but once she figured them out, they are no "long lasting chews" anymore. She also got some beef treats from the pet store.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEi6ErkTNtVdL7eZC3OPPdvW6UBkcTz9CEOWyUQE8pK6KC22sB8XurThQLNUJ2IzV-a0omugbN0LCDnToz21XTwbBiAAbe-9g_E4cbiR0HufK_0TqTxH2wx8ernWJs1Rm9OgKeZBd9aA/s640/blogger-image--1753991807.jpg" style="text-align: start;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEi6ErkTNtVdL7eZC3OPPdvW6UBkcTz9CEOWyUQE8pK6KC22sB8XurThQLNUJ2IzV-a0omugbN0LCDnToz21XTwbBiAAbe-9g_E4cbiR0HufK_0TqTxH2wx8ernWJs1Rm9OgKeZBd9aA/s400/blogger-image--1753991807.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<u>Training</u><br />
<br />
For training, we had a private training session with a behaviorist to discuss Maya's <a href="http://shibainumaya.blogspot.com/2013/09/behavioral-issues-when-greeting-other.html" target="_blank">issues when greeting other dogs</a>.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2lEDDRa3R_bY5xA-bkvIVeG_ThmGv6POsGfHYFoyrQ3g3WZeX4VgrTot56QNopcPNxzNxc3_RLQJGlU3f6F6qcHszU9Hnoe8cZTEJ0xs-Pt7nHSRZ8_7VJUS6Jt_GJ-6u67_3q8t304/s640/blogger-image--1727950594.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2lEDDRa3R_bY5xA-bkvIVeG_ThmGv6POsGfHYFoyrQ3g3WZeX4VgrTot56QNopcPNxzNxc3_RLQJGlU3f6F6qcHszU9Hnoe8cZTEJ0xs-Pt7nHSRZ8_7VJUS6Jt_GJ-6u67_3q8t304/s400/blogger-image--1727950594.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<u>Grooming</u></div>
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On those lazy days when we don't want to get ourselves all wet, we give Maya a bath at the DIY dog wash in Pet Food Express. We purchased the buy 3 get 1 free package.</div>
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Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-72482227522422689542013-09-30T19:24:00.000-07:002013-09-30T19:24:11.686-07:00Behavioral Issues When Greeting Other Dogs<div class="tr_bq">
This is a long overdue post I wanted to make but kept pushing back and rewriting. For those who had been following us for a while would know that I've always took pride in socializing her early and that she gets along with most dogs nicely. Well, since a few months ago, that' no longer the case. </div>
<br />
I have been seeking help from forum members, Maya's trainer, and a behaviorist. This letter I wrote pretty much sums up the situation:<br />
<blockquote>
<i>"I have a 3 year old Shiba Inu, Maya, who we owned since she was 8 weeks old.<br /> <br />Since a few months ago, Maya has started to growl at dogs when meeting, on and off leash. Sometimes when she's on leash, she would even lunge at the other dog. It started with big dogs, then to all dogs, from on leash to off leash, from indoors to outdoors.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>A typical meet starts with her being all excited to see another dog. She would run up to the other dog, sniff its face and all of the sudden freeze up once the other dog sniff back. A split second later, she would start growling. The only dogs she's ok with, were the ones who avoids conflict and would turn away when Maya runs up.<br /> <br />We had been working very hard socializing her since she's a puppy and she had been great with dogs. But now things just keep getting worse and worse, and I don't know how to fix it.<br /> <br />I feel like I can no longer take her to dog parks, meetups, doggie daycare anymore. The only place that seems to be ok for her now is the beach, but I'm so afraid some day she can't go there anymore as well.<br /> <br />Today we met a Shiba puppy at training class. Maya was so excited, but as soon as the puppy came close to her, she growled, lunged, snapped within a split second. Both owners were quick enough to pull the dogs back, but I felt terrible, as the puppy was definitely startled. This is the first time she acted out on a Shiba.<br /> <br />I feel so frustrated and defeated..."</i></blockquote>
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Maya's trainer also helped me filmed a short clip of her meeting another dog. This is the typical worse case situation: big dog + indoors + on leash.<br />
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<embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/MLfT9eZwZiQ?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></object>
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Members from the forums had been very supportive and told me this is a common behavior in Shiba Inus. Many owners carefully manage their dogs' greetings, avoid dog parks, or block between dogs during walks. I started to be more careful with managing her interaction with other dogs as well, but since this is still a newly developed behavior, I really wish there's a way we can "fix" it. I don't expect her to be a social-butterfly or get along with every dog, but I do hope she can be more tolerant of other dogs, learn that she can always walk away when she feels uncomfortable, or even just prolong the period of her growling / warning signals so I can react.<br />
<br />
I contacted a highly recommended behaviorist, C.Z., in our area, and lucky she was able to add us to her busy schedule. She met us at our home and went through the details of Maya's everyday life. Then we took Maya to meet with her dog, Little Guy, and Maya did extremely well with the greeting. While I thought that it doesn't count because Little Guy is a super well socialized and polite dog, C.Z. believes this means Maya "still has hope".<br />
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She then left me some "homework" to do. Instead of dealing with the greeting problem, she wanted me to enforce Maya's recall, focus, and impulse control. While I was secretly hoping there's some quick answer and solution, I understand a solid training foundation is the key to take control when it gets too exciting, too overwhelming, or too scary for her. I guess I just have to be patient and take things slowly.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, as we work on the training, since she does well at the beach, we will continue to take her there as often as we can. Too bad it's not close enough for us to go everyday and the weather will be turning cold soon. It also sucks (for the dog and the humans) that we have to give her a bath after every trip.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxn1W470fEU-R5En9f4F8cUkXzscm0mLE3h3SRcW9yASWyiJAOYVx9OIhvE0S8DDOA0aHXVBytkS_OhrmtdRqqmKMcrBxvsIV87mt4HreIc_eIL8dpcxjzHgpXAe7EPzP4tfuwirwMjI/s400/blogger-image--1094574486.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<br />
Today, I took her for an evaluation at a doggie daycare, which was recommended by another reactive Shiba's owner. I was was super nervous and so afraid they won't accept her. However, the trainer there is really experienced and helped her greeted other dogs nicely. Since the place is near my office and they have half day (6 hours) sessions with very reasonable price, I'm planning to take her there once a week (after she's less itchy). Hopefully some positive interaction with other dogs can help her become more comfortable around other dogs..<br />
<br />
I know when we got a Shiba that this may be what we signed up for, but we kind of let our guards down when we saw how good she was as a puppy. Especially after the allergies flared up and she lost interest playing at the dog parks, we've been slacking off on taking her out to meet other dogs. I really hope the training, beach visits, and doggie daycare can help with the reactiveness, or at least make her a happier dog in general.<br />
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Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-85676029722032996082013-09-23T18:19:00.000-07:002013-09-23T18:19:52.302-07:00Cone Head<div>
With Maya's new vet, new diet, and new Chinese medicine, we got through most the summer gracefully. Just when I thought it's about to be over, everything went downhill. In the past few weeks, the weather had been super hot for this time of the year around here and many owners told me their dogs were having allergy reactions or infested by fleas. I didn't find any fleas on Maya, but I believe she still got bitten and started to itch badly.</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBKjlzwRBsgfWVj8k8uOOTZSeetOVadnfXWSmapqtsUxQItyRoCGYtINct0bFg9HVqrrY-fVCNiNjqEOfbaWulecRL46tV1rp_oDMY4CMFFRUYYQyhbBa1I4s-nHwK2Xd9BwmJxT6XvI/s400/blogger-image--2047360839.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Yesterday, it finally got to the point where I can no longer distract her when she tries to scratch her face or lick her paws. I gave in and put the cone on. </div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzEMfur0OiN9zdI8vybQu4Ugb1M_lv1SYWcQcsrptBcFXDVnlY3YfHW-BMuxa_48o94wEa5mTVhpVFctpUaqWRd5Mi6YSi9MqslxpP4L7o-UCl8bxb_pOUX7iiOr2hHYcSAjOexCo5Zo/s400/blogger-image--226888401.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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Somehow putting her in a cone seems to sadden me more than her. Comparing to the bandage wrap or doggy socks, she actually takes the cone much better. I just feel like all our efforts were in vain, and everything is back to how it was last year. Sigh... </div>
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Nevertheless, yesterday I was finally able to sleep through the night without constantly waking up by the sound of her licking and scratching.Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1891712768869872889.post-2077841441032431952013-09-09T21:42:00.001-07:002013-09-09T21:42:42.326-07:00Happy Birthday, Grandpa!Yesterday was my dad's 60th birthday. Due to my work schedule, I wasn't able to fly back to Taiwan for the big party, but I decided to have Maya make a short film to wish her "grandpa" a happy birthday. Though my dad never allowed us to have a dog while we grew up, he had became Maya's number one fan, and always refers to her as his "grand-dog".<br />
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Maya and I woke up at 5:00 am in the morning to FaceTime with an entire room full of guests. After the call, Maya's video was projected on a big TV. Hope this brought some joy and entertainment to everyone.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/sZ4dd5j6x-k" width="420"></iframe>
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Thank you dad for teaching us to be earnest, honest, and always curious. Happy birthday and every unbirthday!Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10514088954845772644noreply@blogger.com1