Some new pics of Tonbo. It’s amazing to look at these and see how much he has grown in such a small amount of time. If you notice the one pic where he is next to the furniture and compare it with my previous post where he is in the same spot, you can really see what I’m talking about. And it was only 20 days between those two pics!

He is also up to 8 pounds now! Who-hoo!

He can come down the stairs all by himself now. He actually runs down them. He still doesn’t like walks all that much, but I think it’s more of his dislike for the harness (because he can’t go free). He knows some words pretty well. He dances for me when it’s treat time. He will also sit before I put his food bowl down (when I say sit, not on his own). BUT he still pees in the house!!! I need to figure out how to house break him completely.

Tonbo is doing well. He is growing, a little bit at a time. He is healthy and happy and has done the Shiba 500 a few times. He is learning how to go on walks and I’m trying to train him to recognize some words. He doesn’t like coming down the stairs, so I have to bring him down myself. He also stops to meet everybody who passes us when we go on walks, which I’m happy that he is so social, I hope he stays that way.

I had to take Tonbo to the vet last Friday. He hadn’t been eating since I got him the Sunday before, except for when I was “force-feeding” him baby food with a syringe I got from the vet I took him to on Wednesday (which, by the way, if I had stuck with that first vet’s advice Tonby would be dead). After the vet on Wednesday, I assumed that he would start a recovery from the lethargy he was displaying because I had started feeding him and giving him vitamins and antibiotics that vet recommended. So I took him up to church with me on Thursday night to meet my friends. And I’m glad I did, they saw him and knew that he was a very sick puppy. They insisted I take him to the vet the next morning, I did.

I took him in to Suburban Animal Hospital here in Gainesville (best vet ever! Take your pet here if you don’t have a vet in this area). They immediately took to examining him and within a few minutes determined he had some kind of virus. They got his vitals on paper and they were terrible, if I hadn’t taken him in, he would’ve died while I was at work that day.

My mom came down to visit for the weekend to meet her “grand-doggie” and we went to visit him in the hospital. They had him on an IV and he was doing much better, even eating on his own! So good to see. He was wagging his tail too, but was still feeling ill. After holding him and petting him for a bit mom and I left.

Monday the vet called and said I could take him home. I picked him up at the vet and he was so excited to see me that he peed on me! I got him home and he ate his food very quickly and was “talking” to me (barking playfully), he was playing with his toys, everything a good puppy should be doing!

So he has been doing really well. We had people over for Bible study Monday night and he was happy to greet all of them (he LOVES people! which I am glad for b/c I heard Shibas are usually aloof toward people). I took him on a walk today and he met some of our neighbors as well, they seemed to melt from his cuteness powers!

He has also been doing well with his crate training and his potty training, he has been doing everything outside for the most part.

So, all in all I praise God for answered prayer for Tonbo’s health. And thank you to all those who prayed for him!

{Above is a slide show, use the left and right arrows to change pics}

So, after church on Sunday my friend Sun went with me to go pick up Tonbo from the Kennel in Cocoa, Fl. When we got there the breeder, Liz, brought little Tonbo out and Sun’s heart melted (this is the first time she met him). She couldn’t stop kissing and hugging the little guy.

We finished all the paperwork and started out to the beach before we headed home. We put the money in the parking meter only to realize there are no dogs allowed at this beach, so I was out 50 cent…oh well. We tried out his harness and it was too big, so he fell in the sand! Poor guy.

On the way home, he wanted to look out the window, but couldn’t quite reach it so Sun helped him (he was sitting in her lap). I think this was exhausting for him because he would try then sleep, wake up and try again. He seems pretty resillient.

Got him to the house and he seemed right at home. He had been quiet the hole time and seemed just fine with all the change. He threw up though but then he was fine. He likes the tile floor we have, probably because it’s cool in this Florida heat.

My sister came to visit for a few days and she played with him a bit. He was hopping and playfully growling at the toys.

Time for bed! I have my bathroom set up for him, which has easy to clean tile floors. I plan on getting a crate, but haven’t had the time just yet. His first night at home was rough. He slept for a while, then he woke up and realized he was alone, so he cried, non-stop for hours. I would wait for a break in the howling and then went to check in on him. He was fine, just lonely. I would pet him, he would fall asleep, I would go back to bed….then the howling starts again. All this to say, I got about 2 hours of sleep! I hope that doesn’t continue long.

Due to lack of sleep, the big change in my world and other factors I’m not quite sure of, I had a meltdown this morning. I called my mom for encouragement, she prayed for me and encouraged me about having the dog (I was afraid I made a big mistake in adopting him) and I am at peace again. I just hope to get more sleep!

Puppy purchasing, let the adventure begin!

I finally decided to buy a puppy (this has been a few years in the making). I went through many different phases of what breed I want (including cocker spaniel, because that is what I grew up with) and decided on the Shiba Inu. I usually love all things Japan, so, why should I choose any different with the type of dog I get? Also, I saw the movie Hachi (I know he was an Akita) and loved the look of that dog (Shiba’s are kind of like mini Hachis). So, I found a breeder close to where I live and went and visited. I connected with a mame (aka bean/tea cup) Shiba that she had and made the big decision to go forward with the purchase! I feel like this is a big step in growing up, because of the time, responsibility and commitment this little puppy will require. This blog will be an effort to document my adventures with the little guy, as well as other stuff in my life, including my drawings and photos. Here we go!

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