Butt Fluff

Maya has a little white "skirt" on her butt. During winter time, it's thick and fluffy, but as she started to shed, it got thinner and thinner. For whatever reason, there's always some hair that refuse to shed and would just keep growing longer. It got to a point that the fur would be dragging on the ground while she poops, and sometimes her poop would just land right on top of it. Eww...

I tried using a furminator daily on that area to help speed up the shedding, but it didn't help much. Yesterday, I got so tired of cleaning her butt, I grabbed a pair of scissors and chopped off the excess hair (despite being against ever trimming a Shiba). Ideally, I should have used those hair thinning scissors, so it would look more natural, but I don't have one and don't plan on getting one. Anyways, I think it looks okey. At least Maya's daddy didn't even notice till I told him and Maya can't complain.

Fluffy butt before shedding (taken on 4/14/2012)

Long hair in the way when pooping

Better?

Bella

We met another Shiba Inu, Bella, today at the park. Not only she's another long-coat Shiba, she's only a few days younger than Maya. According to the lady who was walking Bella today, her daughter brings the pup here everyday as well. I guess we have very different schedule, so I've never met them before.

No wonder one time someone in the neighborhood told me "I saw your mom walking this dog yesterday...", and I was like, "Huh, my mom is in Taiwan. No way she was walking this dog yesterday." Somehow that guy insisted it was my mother, cause she said "it's my daughter's dog". Mystery solved, lol! (To be honest, I really don't look like the lady at all.)

This is actually my first time meeting a long-coat Shiba that's not related to Maya.

Bella (left) and Maya (right)

22nd Annual Shiba Party

Yesterday, we went to the annual Shiba Party held by the Shiba Inu Fanciers of Northern California. The weather was great and so many people (and Shibas) showed up. 

The park packed with Shibas and their humans

Maya's breeder was one of the event's organizer. It was great to meet her again as well as seeing Maya's sister from the same litter, Geisha. Geisha is now a show dog, working towards her champion title, and will be bred soon. 

According to the breeder, they are able to check for the long-coat gene through a blood test now. Geisha tested positive, but as long as the male Shiba doesn't carry the gene, they can make sure not to produce any long-coat off-springs. That's kind of sad. Though long-coat is a serious fault in the show ring, Maya has been a beautiful "accident" for us. We were even joking about getting a second long-coat Shiba. I guess it'll be really really hard to find when we are ready for another dog.

Maya and her sister, Geisha

Maya and her LC cousin, Michi

Maya's long-coat cousin, Michi, who we meet regularly at our local meetup, also showed up but left early. Maya ended up to be the only "weird looking" Shiba at the party. If we get a dollar each time we hear "Is she a Shiba mix?", "Can I take a picture of your dog?", or "I've never seen a long-coat Shiba before!", we can probably afford the new camera we've been longing for!

Maya was a good girl and posed for many photos through the day. If only she weren't bothered by the allergies, she would have looked even prettier.

Maya posing for many photos

Long coat against the wind

Most Shibas at the party behaved really well. There were some growling and barking, but it's not uncommon for the breed, so no one made a big deal. Ah, I so want a second dog after going to this type of events...