Party

Paula was away at a party tonight. We dogs did not care. For us, every night at home is like a party, if we wish it to be.

Many Birthdays

Mum turns thirteen years old today. This is an awe inspiring age, yet not really old for a Shiba Inu. In our line, there are many old ladies.

My third litter, of Zeus, Fumi, and Anzu, turns one year old today. This is an exciting young age.

Congratulations to all four of you!

Summer

Hello, Peanut here!

The older dogs say it is summer now. This is supposed to be a period when the weather is generally warm, as opposed to winter, when it is much colder. I guess I have to live for a little longer before I really know what they mean.

What We Dogs Can Do

A stray dog in China who got some food from a participant in a bicycle race, then decided to run along the race. He completed the 1 700 km long race running alongside the cyclists, one of whom now wants to adopt him. After such a feat, he well deserves to be adopted by a human.

There is a short video of this heroic dog on BBC's homepage.

Is it not amazing what we dogs can do?

Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day in Sweden. I have congratulated my mother, though she always believes I am to late. In America, where she comes from, Mother's Day is the second Sunday in May, not the last Sunday. Mum claims this is the real Mother's Day, since the modern Mother's Day celebration comes from America. I still believe that when you live in Sweden, you should celebrate the Swedish Mother's Day.

My daughter Polly congratulated me. We also went over to Paula's mother, who was celebrated by her daughters. Daniel's mother got a Mother's Day gift yesterday, as Daniel and Paula met her at Daniel's brother's place.

Sweden Won

Sweden won the Eurovision Song Contest this year. Apparently, Sweden has done so four times before, but this is the first victory that I have experienced. It is fun.

The result was in when the clock was past midnight, this is why I did no blog entry for Saturday.

Dad's country of birth, which is also my daughter Anzu's home country, Norway, did not do well. They came in last. On the other hand, they won just a couple of years ago.

Congratulations

Last weekend, my dear Toy Poodle friend Smash JP Victorious Love "Laila" became Swedish Show Champion. Congratulations!

Japan not Radiant

There are good news about Japan in a new report from the World Health Organisation, WHO. According to the report, radiation levels in most of the country are below the levels that are likely to cause cancer, one year after the terrible nuclear accident in Fukushima. Two areas near the power plant has relatively high levels of radiation, but that is about it. Levels outside of Japan are below levels deemed as "very small".

One will have to see, a couple of dog generations on, if the rate of cancers have increased in Japan. This report suggest it should not be so. This is indeed good news for all the dogs and humans living in Japan.

40

We have been up until late tonight, celebrating Daniel's 40th birthday. It is worth celebrating.

Baptised

The youngest Swedish princess, Estelle, was baptised today. We wish her all the luck in life.

Dogs are never baptised. I have never before wondered why. Somehow, I guess we do not need to.

Dieting During Pregnancy

I read this rather startling story about scientists who had reviewed a lot of findings and found out there is no harm for either a pregnant woman or the child she carries, if she goes on a diet. Of course, it could not be any diet, but still, some diets were good.

I wonder if the same thing applies for bitches expecting pups. I hope not. Getting extra food sure is one of the big perks of expecting pups.

Shorter Lawn

Hello, Peanut here!

When we got out in the garden this afternoon, the grass was much shorter than it was this morning. I was told by the older dogs that this is because Daniel does something called mowing, when he cuts the grass shorter. There is one big advantage with this: there are fewer ticks. It is also easier to run on a shorter lawn, and to find toys. I like the shorter lawn.

Good Odds for the Eurovision Song Contest

Swedish journalists almost always report that the Swedish song which will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest is a favourite. It feels like they do it every year, so I have stopped believing in it. Now, however, the BBC reports that bookmakers give Sweden's song the best odds of all. The bookmakers base their odds on what people will bet on, and the people are the ones who call and vote in the song contest. I now believe there is a good chance that Sweden may win this year.

Life Is Unfair

Hello, Peanut here!

Daniel was playing with the broom on the living room floor today, but when I wanted to join the fun, he told me not to. Later in the day, Daniel was digging in the garden. When I tried to join that fun, he also told me not to. Why can he play with the broom and dig in the garden, when I cannot? I may be just a little pup, but I start to realize life is not always fair.

Senkaku Islands

Japan is being nice to its mainland neighbour China. It has agreed to talks over the Senkaku Islands and surrounding seas, islands which are part of Japan and fully controlled by Japan. There are natural resources on these islands and in the sea. I do not really understand why you would have these talks, except for being polite. Politeness is nice, but can still not be the only reason to talk. I guess there is more to this story than I can see.

Smaller Pups

Hello, Peanut here!

I have met pups who are smaller than I am. This was an interesting experience. A couple of weeks ago, I was also that small. Still, I believe there are things about life that I can teach these pups.

I was told by the older dogs that it is not common to meet other pups at my age. In this case, however, the younger litter of pups are also bred by us. Thus, it is only natural for me to meet them. I like that.

Missing Paula

Paula is away on a business trip. We miss her. Daniel is at home, but it is not the same thing if not both our humans is here. Paula will be back tomorrow, though.

Summer Santas

Hello, Karstuhl here!

Paula had bought something interesting: a common Swedish Christmas candy in the form of small Santa Clauses, but with summer taste. It was a summer twist of this candy. Santa Claus was on the bag, wearing sunglasses on a summer day. Quite funny, I think.

Airport

Hello, Peanut here again!

My brother Botan left us today for his new home in the Netherlands. Auntie Linni and I accompanied Paula, Daniel, and him to the airport. It was a new experience to see a huge structure like the airport terminal, but nothing to be affraid of. We have heard from Botan, he has met his new family and is doing quite well. I miss him already!

Eight Weeks Old

Hello, Peanut here!

My brother Botan and I are eight weeks old today. We are told that this means we are old enough to move to new families. Botan will move tomorrow. I will miss him, even though I have made friends with other dogs here. There is something special with a dog who is just your own age and size, especially for us pups.

I wish Botan the best of luck with his new family!

Reading Dogs' Minds

A couple of American scientists have started experiments with brain scanners to figure out what dogs are thinking of. I think they could just ask humans who live with dogs. We do know each other well, dogs and humans, do we not?

Rain

It is well that it is not snow, this far into the year. Still, the almost constant rain today was not nice. It did not make the day bright. I hope for a sunnier day tomorrow, then I might be inspired to write something more than this.

Good Food

Hello, Karstuhl here!

The pups are lucky. They get better food than us adult dogs. The pups get a special mix of meat, while the rest of us get ordinary pills. There is nothing wrong with our food, but I believe the food the pups get is tastier. I used to be the youngest. There are advantages of not being the youngest anymore, but it is obvious the food is not one of these advantages. Well, you cannot be lucky all the time.

There's No Place Like Home

I enjoyed this last weekend, not only because I won a lot in Denmark. It is always fun to go places and to meet new friends, two legged as well as four legged. Still, it felt good to come home today. There simply is no place like home, with the rest of the pack - my dear daughter, Mum, and all the rest. It is time for some rest now.

Another Good Result

I was Best of Opposite Sex today as well.

The Best of Breed winner today was not Kokuhou, but another fine male. I would rather have lost against Kokuhou today as well, since he is one of my pack, but the winner was a worthy one.

Black and Tan Victory

It was a great day in Roskilde, Denmark, today. Kokuhou was Best of Breed and I was Best of Opposite Sex. Both of us became Danish Show Champions, to add to his Japanese and Swedish Championships and my Swedish and Finnish Championships. It also meant that I became Nordic and International Champion.

The only thing that would have been better than this result, would have been that I won the Best of Breed title. For one thing, the red centre of the ribbons make the red and yellow Best of Breed ribbon better looking than the green and white Best of Opposite Sex ribbon. The main thing, though, is that as a true competitor, I always want to win, even aganist dear friends like Kokuhou. I also always want the chance to walk into the Best in Group final. Well, you cannot have it all. I am far from disappointed with today's result.

A Little Annoyed

I am a little bit annoyed at my blog provider. So, it was a late night this Friday. We drove almost all day and then met some new and old acquaintances. The simple fact that I did not post my daily blog post until 0:00 on Saturday should not make it a Saturday blog post. It was meant to be a Friday blog post. This goes against the idea of a daily blog.

Oh well, maybe I should blame myself, too. I could have published a draft a couple of minutes earlier, then just update it. Nevertheless, I am annoyed.

Finally, a Show!

Finally, I am going to a dog show again to be shown. Paula, Kokuhou, and I are going to a show in Roskilde in Denmark.

We hope that both Kokuhou and I will add a Danish show championship to our other champion titles. It is possible that I will be Nordic and International champion as well.

The main thing is, though, that I am going to the show. It is so much fun to be shown at a dog show. I love the whole setting and everything around it, and I love to show myself to the crowd. The result is not quite as important, even though it bears a considerable weight, too.

I will let you know what happens.

Birthdays

Paula's sister Mia celebrates her birthday today. We sent Paula and Daniel to congratulate her from the whole family.

Our Pharao hound friend Primus would also have had his birthday today, but he is no longer with us. We think of all the good memories we have of him.

Game of Thrones

April's pups of the latest litter are named after the TV show Game of Thrones. The second season starts today on Swedish TV. It is really something.

Senna

It was exactly 18 years ago today that three times Formula 1 world champion Ayrton Senna died on the race track. We saw a documentary about him on TV this evening. It was an interesting documentary. Since his death, safety has been much improved, and there has been no deaths in Formula 1. We hope there never will be, either, though it will continue to be a sport where serious accidents will happen.

It is nice to know dog races are not as stricken by accidents as motor races are.