Here Comes the Rain Again

I have not experienced rain since my early puphood. (This is a word I might have made up myself, from the human word childhood. It is nice, isn't it?) This afternoon and evening, it was raining again. It was not raining much, but steadily. Mum, Dad, and auntie say rain is good, because it makes the snow melt away faster. They are not as fond of the snow now as when it was new and fun to play around in. I have not experienced much else than snow. As I have said before, spring will be an exciting new experience.

Another new thing is that it was dark as in the middle of the night this morning again on the morning walk. This is because Sweden has daylight savings time again. The morning light is saved until the evening. Rather silly, if you ask me - it does not feel as much like spring when there is no daylight on the morning walks.

Terrible News

Mum comes from a part of the world far away from here. It is not very often we hear from her American home state Washington in the news in Sweden. Today we did, there was a terrible massacre on young people at a party in Seattle, the biggest city in Washington. We are upset, how can things like this happen? It would be terrible anywhere in the world, but Mum always reacts a little extra on news from home. (It is enough that we hear people speaking American English when we are out on walks, Mum reacts to it.)

Braveheart

Im busy tonight. I'm watching a piece of movie history. According to Dan and Paula. It is Braveheart. No 1 all system in movies.

Im breathless.

Cheese Doodles

We got to taste some cheese doodles today, when Paula and Daniel had finished their evening meal. Cheese doodles are wonderful snacks. I wish I could get more, but I am not allowed to get as much as I want to. This is a bad thing, I am quite certain I can keep my body fit anyway.

Good News

Paula is studying full time to become a nurse. In the summertime, there are no courses and she wants to work to earn some money and to get some important experience.

More money is a good thing, it give Paula and Daniel more means to buy dog candy. And to buy a bigger place with more rooms for me to play in.

This afternoon Paula got an offer from the university hospital that she may work full time this summer. She jumped at the idea! we are all happy for her today. The hospital will be happy too to have Paula. such a great, caring dog owner must be a great nurse.

A Normal Day

It is nice to have a normal day, when you can rest for a while. The weekend was fun, but one would probably get tired if every day would be like that. We travelled far and I did my dog show debut on Saturday. Then we slept in a hotel far from home, which is not always as restful as it is at home. The next day we even travelled a bit further, since we made a detour to meet ny brother Kiko and his nice family in Älmhult. I played a lot with Kiko.

All of this made it rather comfortable to have just another normal day at home. Nothing out of the ordinary happened, and I actually liked that today.

Family Reunion

We met my brother Kiko on the way back from Malmö today. It was a lot of fun. It was so long ago, but we got along right away. We played, rested, and went on walks together.

Kiko's family is really nice. Kiko is their only dog. I think my brother rocks!

Loser and Winner

The puppy judge on the dog show was actually one whose specialty was dachshounds. I believe this judge does not know anything about shibas, since I became the last among the pups.

There was a lot of sense in the other judge, who judged the adult shibas. Mum became Best of Breed! There were 17 shibas and Mum beat them all.

Bath

Paula bathed me and Mum today. This was because we are going to a dog show tomorrow, Saturday (I am writing this just after midnight, to me, it is still Friday in a sense). Bathing is not pleasant, but I did not mind. Some dogs are reputed to make war to their humans rather than bathing, but I cannot see that it is that bothersome.

We are travelling by car through the night together with Paula's sister Mia. The dog show is far from our home. It is the first time for me, but I think I will do OK. Paula has trained a lot with me and I am getting quite good at it. Mum is a champion and I have surely inherited some of her qualities. We will see tomorrow.

Half a Year

It was my birthday yesterday, I turned half a year old. I sent birthday greetings to my brothers. Paula and I spent the evening with some friends. We got home so late I did not have the time to write anything in my blog. It was a nice birthday, but without a party. Mum, Dad, and auntie say the real party will be on the one year birthday. That is so far away! I think I deserve parties more often.

Trouble with the Blog

I tried to get into my page for writing in my blog earlier this evening, but it did not work. The page would not open. It generally does, I am fully satisfied with the blog service. The biggest trouble tonight is not the blog page not opening; it eventually did, off course. The biggest trouble is that I do not remember now what I had planned on writing about today. This means that you, my dear readers, have to settle for this little text. Now I am on my way out for my evening walk.

My Best Friend

Paula and I spend the evening with Kesshi and Mia today. I have met Kesshi many times in the last few days. It is fun, but I have the most fun with auntie Linni at home. Linni and I play every day. We play much more often than Mum or Dad and I do. Linni is my best friend. I guess she thinks the same about me.

A Whole Day with Kesshi

Paula and Daniel were going away to attend to a meeting far from our home town today. They did not want to bring me. This meant I got to stay the whole time with my friend Kesshi and Mia, a splendid solution! Now I have spent the whole day playing, taking walks and resting with Kesshi and Mia. No matter how fun it was, I was still very happy to see Daniel when he came to take me home in the late afternoon. There's no place like home, as the old saying goes.

Longer Days

The days are getting longer. The sun rises earlier in the morning and sets later. A few days ago, we actually saw a little daylight in the sky on the early morning walk, which we take with Daniel aat about 5-5.30 a.m. before he goes to work. the older shibas say it will get warmer and that all the snow will disappear. I can hardly remember the landscape without snow, but it was like that when I was a really small pup and started to go outside on walks. Spring will be interesting, since I have never experienced it before.

Stealing a Bone

I met Kesshi today as well. Paula and I was at Paula's parents' house. Kesshi was there as well. He was chewing on a bone when I arrived. Since I wanted his bone, I went by him and stole it. He growled a little, but I did not care. If anything is really important to you, you must not be intimidated by a little growling from a dog whom you know actually have a heart of gold - and a soft spot when it comes to a nice girl like me.

At Kesshi's

I am at my friend Kesshi's tonight. It is so much fun I cannot find the time to write more than this.

Another Prize for Mum

I am proud over my Mum Sunni, Taichung Total Eclips of the HRT, today. She became Swedish Champion last year. Today, the regional kennel club had its annual meeting. All members whose dogs had won a championship got a huge prize, Mum was one of these dogs. Daniel was at the meeting to collect the prize. It is a giant ribbon in black and gold, it looks really nice.

Vacation

We have spent the weekend in Halland on the west coast of Sweden. Mum says it is not as good as the west coast of America, where she is from. I thought it was nice. The best part was running around in a big yard belonging to some friends of Paula and Daniel.

A holiday trip

I will visit my dear friends tomorrow. They own my newborn baby brother. Unfortunatly, he is too small for me to play with. I will see him though in the summer. Then he is in the perfect play-age.

I'm also invited to visit my brother Kiko in March. Im so looking forward to this meeting. He was equally as playful as I was before he left me for his new life. Words says that he is still this happy singing shiba as I remember him to be. Im very proud over my little brother Kiko. Yes, we come from the same litter but I was born first. Hence my nickname "little brother". Kiko is the shiba of the month at the Swedish shiba club and can be seen at their website: http://www.shiba-no-kai.com

A Visitor

Late this evening, Paula's sister Mia came to visit us. Although this is a nice break from any usual day - Mia is a very nice person - I cannot help but being a bit disappointed. She did not bring her dog, my friend Kesshi.

Fast

It is the beginning of something called fast. It has nothing to do with speed, on the contrary, it is about not eating as much as usual and slowing down yor life before the greatest holiday: Easter.

In Brazil, they have a great carnival before fast. In Sweden, we have something much better during fast. It is derived from a plain bun which people were allowed to eat during fast, called semla (semlor in plural) from the latin word "simila" for white flour. However, people began hiding other food stuff inside their semlor. This has developed into the modern day semla, a bun with cardamom cut in a bottom and a top half, filled with almond paste and a lot of sweet, whipped cream. It is delicious!

From old tradition, this Tuesday is the first day to eat semlor. Then you can eat them until Easter.

Walking on Ice

I guess that it would sometimes be advantageous for humans to walk on four legs, like dogs do, instead of two. We walk quickly over ice on four paws, this is more than two. We can have more than one foot on the ice all the time. We walk without the need to worry about falling so far as humans who walk upright. On snow with an icy crust, we do not fall through the crust as easily as humans do - which is also due to our lesser weight.

Off course, humans have other advantages with their hands on their front legs/arms. The hands is something to envy a bit. Over all, however, I think dogs have more advantages than humans do.

Gold

The USA got more gold medals than Sweden, which makes Mum happy. However, aunt Linni says that Sweden's gold medal in men's ice hockey is the most valuable medal in the whole Olympic Games. Kuro says Norway will return in Vancouver 2010 and show the Swedes that it does not matter that you are lucky once in the Olympic Games, Norway is still the very best winter sports country in the world, not least counted per capita. Four years is a long time, especially in a dog's life, but we can look forward to it anyway.

Half Brother!

I have yet another brother. Now I am really the big sister. Dad has got a new son with a bitch on the west coast of Sweden. (Mum says she is not only a bitch in the litteral sense of the word, a female dog, she is also a bloody bitch stealing Dad from Mum.) This pup is consequently my half brother. I look forward to meeting him so I can teach him who is the boss.

Colombia

A couple of days ago, I wrote about all of the different countries in the Winter Olympic Games that I may hope will win. There was, however, one country I failed to mention. Paula was born in Colombia. For this reason, as an example, she and Daniel hope Juan Pablo Montoya will win the world championship of Formula 1 this year. I would hope for Colombian medals in the Winter Olympic Games, if it was not for the tiny little detail that there are no Colombians participating in the games. This may also be the reason that I did not think to mention Colombia in the earlier blog entry. It should not, by any means, be held against me in the question of my loyalty to Paula.

The national anthem of a gold medal winner's home country is played at the ceremony when the medals are given to the winners and first and second runners up. Paula likes some anthems more than others. She has thought of buying a Canadian shiba just because she likes the Canadian national anthem so much. However, she thinks the US anthem is the best, therefore, she is glad to have my American born mother, Sunni, and hope for American gold medals together with her.

Studies

Paula is studying at the university and has an exam today, Friday. Yesterday evening she and Daniel hardly did anything but talk about the subjects of the exam. The computer was turned off. How would I then write my Daily Hailey blog entry? I was a bit disappointed, but Paula's studies are important. I wish her good luck today!

Barking

I bark sometimes when there is noice outside. It is among my duties as a watch dog to tell everyone in my family that there might be something dangerous outside. Paula and Daniel does not always like it when I bark.

Sometimes I am the only one of us dogs who bark. Do the other dogs recognize differences between different sounds that I am yet too inexperienced to do? If this is the case, I am sure I will learn to do so too. I am clever enough to do that. In that case, Paula and Daniel will surely not ask me to keep quiet as often as they do now.

Upcoming General Election

Daniel did not come home until late Tuesday evening. The whole evening sort of got postponed and I did not post anything in my blog. Daniel was at a party meeting. He is member of one of the political parties represented in the Swedish parliament. This autumn there will be a general election to the parliament. There is general elections only once every fourth year, which means that dogs living the average 14 years will only live to see three general elections. This does not matter that much, since we are not allowed to vote anyway. As long as we get sufficient amounts of excercise, rest, food, water, and huge amounts of candy and treats, we do not really care, either.

Evening Walk With Paula

The evening walk felt a bit odd today. Normally, Daniel takes us out on evening walks, but tonight Paula did. It was not that we did not take the same route as usual, Daniel took us on another route yesterday evening as well. There is something undefinably different between the walks with Daniel and Paula. It is not a bad thing, on the contrary. I like it when every day is not like the other. Even this kind of small difference stimulates my sense of imagination. What will tomorrow be like?

The Dilemma of National Competition Once Again

Sweden and the USA were playing ice hockey tonight. Mummy Sunni wanted the USA to win, whereas auntie Linni wanted Sweden to win. Daddy Kuro could not care less, he says that ice hockey is no real sport - probably because Norway is lousy at it. I was stuck in between the opinions of the adult shiba inus, the same problem as I wrote about the other day. Would I care about the sport and the game, or would I not? If I would care, who would I hope would win?

Daniel bought a new battery to the car. That is something nobody can have different opinions about. The car needed a new battery, so everybody thought it was a good thing Daniel bought one. It is a good thing I do not have to ponder every question there is.

By the way, Sweden won, 2-1.

Curling

Japan's Ladies' Curling team in the Olympic Games won over Canada. This was a fenomenal victory, totally unexpected, Japan being the underdog. The game was played in the early morning, Italian and Swedish time, but was sent live in Japanese TV in the early evening. There were ten million viewers in Japan. Even though it was an unexpected victory for most people, shiba inus like me, my parents, and auntie know never to rule out the Japanese! A nation that has created such a great dog breed as the shiba inu can accomplish anything.

My breeder/owner has an official logotype!

Guess who it is LOL Yes - It's mummy Sunni. I bet I have the cutiest mummy in the whole wide world.

The Olympic Games

The Olympic Games are interesting and exciting. I have trouble, though, in deciding whom to hope for in the games. I am a Swedish shiba, born and registered in Sweden and living here. However, I am actually half American, half Norwegian, since Mum is from the USA and Dad is from Norway. My parents are supporters of the competitors of their respective country, while only Auntie hope for Swedish victories. Auntie also has a weaknes for Australia, since her father has his roots there. Still, all of the adult shibas say it is nice if Japan wins, as well; our breed is, after all, from Japan. I wonder if there might not be any other country to support?

Cod

We do not get dog food every day. I like most other food better. Today, we got cod. Yes! Cod is a treat. Cod is such a great fish that it even has given name to a peninsula in my Mum's home country. You have surely heard of Cape Cod in Massachusetts on the Atlantic coast of America. Mum comes from the other side of America, near the Pacific Ocean, but she likes cod, nevertheless.

Rumour has it, cod begins to be extinct due to extensive fishing. Given the taste and quality of this fish, it must be in high demand, so I would not be surprised if the rumour was true. I would be sad, though, if all the cod in the world would disappear. Off course, the price should rise to much higher levels if the supply of cod would diminish before final extinction. This should save the cod from extinction.

The Vet

I did not have to go to the veterinarian today. Mum and Aunt Linni had to go, though. They got their regular vaccinating shots. I am sorry for them, but more happy for myself, since I did not have to go. I am not only nice and beautiful, this goes to prove I am healthy as well.

Meeting Jiro

Paula and I met my dear brother Jiro and his family today. Jiro has a good life. His humans are very nice people, but his "big brother" Kenzo thought I was a bit anoying at first. I managed to make friends with him later on. This is a good thing, because we will see each other again. I have a knack for making friends with other dogs and humans. Over all, I am a dog with a lot of talents.

Una Cerimonia d'Apertura di Passione

Or "An Opening Ceremony Full of Passion" in English for all of you readers who are don't familiar with the Italian language.

We had a pleasant evening today. Eating spaghetti Bolognese and looking at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games of 2006 in Turino, Italy. A magnificant show and a lot of good food too at home.

Mummy Paula was especially happy as one of her big idols, the world known tenor, signore Luciano Pavarotti sang an aria of Puccini. I was happy too because when Paula is happy, we shibas get a lot of treats.

Mummy Paula is sick.

But I'm not. I don't like it at all then Paula is sick. Despite my attemps to play, cuddle with her etc she only wants to sleep and get weel. Boring. But both mum Sunni, my dad Kuro and auntie Linni told me to cool down and relax too. Finally, I decided to crawl up into the bed and sleep on Paulas chest. We did so for about 2 hours. Suddenly, I realized how it feels to relax. I enjoyed it...a lot. So did Sunni and Linni who both snored next us to in the bed. Dad Kuro thought it were too much girls in the bed so he slept on the sofa instead.

Im getting older if I enjoy to sleep with the big girls. Yeah!

Smorgastarta?

There is a magnificent Swedish dish that I was introduced to today. I have not found any word for it in English. It is like a mix between a cake and a sandwich, made up of layers of bread interspaced with creamy, cheesy, salty filling and decorated with delicacies. This smörgåstårta (smorgastarta?) had schrimp and eggs in it. It was decorated with eggs, a great amount of schrimp, slices of cucumber and cheese, bits of tomatoes, and lettuce. I really liked it. In my mind, the only problem was that my piece was too small.

Losing the Super Bowl

This is old news today: Seattle Seahawks lost the Super Bowl against Pittsburg Steelers, the night between Sunday and Monday Swedish time. Mum explained the importance of this sports event to me today. I must have written earlier in my blog that Mum was born and brought up in Washington State in the USA. As such, she naturally hoped the Seahawks would win. Instead it was those lousy, no-good Steelers who won. I was not sure what Mum meant by saying "no-good", since the Steelers were obviously better when winning the Super Bowl, but Mum said this was an English expression I would understand when learing more about football.

My Bone Got Stolen

We got some candy bones this evening, to each shiba her or his bone. Actually, it was some kind of dental bones, but I liked my bone. Since I am smaller than the others it took me longer to eat it. I left the bone for a while and suddenly it was gone! Dad had stolen it. He took it with him up in the bed, where I cannot reach. Wasn't that mean? Dad just claimed that he needed more candy bone, since he is bigger than I am. I got back at him when I beat him to the newly filled water bowl later in the evening.

Swapping Bones

Paula and I went to Paula's sister and her dog, my dear friend Kesshi. It is always a pleasant experience seeing Kesshi. We were given bones to chew on. Occasionally, however, I believed Kesshi's bone would taste better than mine, while he would rather try mine. We swapped bones with each others many times. Kesshi thought this was just as good an idea as I did, there were no hard feelings as it may sometimes be when I want to try another bone than my own at home.

Things to Chew On, Things to Leave Alone

I have a lot of toys, and there are a lot of things looking like toys here in our home, despite not being toys. Sometimes, it is hard for me to tell the difference. Many toys are made of fabric, so are socks and other clothes that are not toys. At the same time, some old clothes are turned into toys by Paula and Daniel. Some wooden sticks are toys, while wooden furniture are not. What are toys are there to chew on, the other things are not. No wonder I happen to chew on some things that are not toys occasionally. Given this background, I believe I am innocent of any transgressions of the border between toys and other things. This is certainly true for any pup out there.

Cucumber

I like cucumber. Tonight at dinner at the coffee table, Paula had some deserted cucumber on her plate. Food is made to be eaten, so I helped Paula by reaching up and grabbing a bit of cucumber. She looked at me accusingly, despite the fact that I had actually helped her doing to the cucumber what it was there for. Paula said what I had done was wrong. I just have to take her word for it, because deep down in my heart (and stomach), I disagree.

A Wooden Stick

Dad was chewing on a wooden stick tonight. A very interesting stick. I watched him closely, trying to sneak up to him and take the stick. However, my dad is good at this game. When looking up from the stick, even when standing up beside the stick, he watched it from the corner of his eye. Slowly, oh so slowly, I crawled toward the stick, but dad saw me and quickly seized the stick again. I never got hold of the stick, but it was very exciting to try.

Tuesday

Is there anything special with a Tuesday? Monday is the beginning of the week, I wrote about it yesterday. Tuesday, it seems like it is just another day. Nobody is particularly angry or sad, nor very happy, because of this day of the week. On the other hand, I believe we all need such days once in a while, a day which is neither - nor; neither very bad, nor very good. In this way, maybe Tuesday is one of the most important days of the week? Maybe, I am not sure. It is such a nondescript day that it is hard to be sure of the nature of Tuesdays. I really do not think there is anything special about this day.

Monday

Mondays are not as hard on pet dogs as it is on humans. After all, humans have Saturdays and Sundays off from work, then they have to go back to work on Mondays. No wonder Daniel is not happy early Monday mornings. Dogs, however, are on duty seven days a week as pets. We get used to it. No matter how hard it can be, we never have those days when life suddenly gets harder again. In this way, I believe it may be easier to have a seven day working schedule. Dogs, especially excellent dogs like shiba inus, can handle working seven days a week. Perhaps humans cannot - and perhaps this is part of the answer to the question why they need us so badly.

A Day of Rest

I have been busy today, meeting other dogs. Now I am taking the rest of the Sunday off, so some of it can be a day of rest. Thus, this is the only thing I write in my blog today.

Cleaning the Floors

While Paula was off grocery shopping for the week, Daniel sweeped the floors and went over them with a mop. I like it when he or Paula sweeps the floors, it is so much fun playing with the broom! I know Daniel and Paula does not like it when I do this, they tell me so all the time. Nevertheless, I keep doing it. I am so cute, I should be forgiven for some "forgetfulness" sometimes.

I'm Growing Steadily.

I had a little chat with Daniel today. He understood my thoughts about getting older. If I'm old enough not to go on puppy walks I'm old enough to have adult sized crackers to eat.

When I was smaller I got small baby puppy crackers. But now these crackers aren't enough for my growing tummy. So tonight, Daniel told Paula that it was time for them to understand that a small shiba girl needs her rightful amount of adult crackers. Yeah! Party time. I ate my cracker so fast, I was nearly falling asleep right after it. I ended the night with pop corn. I love pop corn. But BIG crackers is the best!

My Bernese Mountain Dog Friend

Paula and I met the Bernese Mountain Dog pup Amadeus in the neighbourhood, who has become my friend. Paula and Amadeus' owner stood talking for a long time, while I talked to him. It was a nice touch to our walk.

It has not only been cold outside, but indoors as well. Paula says there is a problem with the heating in the whole block. She and Daniel is having hot tea to drink. For my part, I do not care. My shiba inu fur is enough to keep me warm indoors as well as outdoors.

More and More Snow

A couple of centimetres of new snow lay on the ground this morning. I like walking and diving in the snow, even more so when it is deep. I wonder how much snow there can be.

Mum, who is from America, says she is used to measuring snow in inches, not in centimetres. They do not have the same measurement system in America as we have here. This seems to me to be unnecessarily complicated. The Americans could change to our system, but then again, Mum says it is not self evident that our system is better than theirs. She has a point.

Writer's Cramp

I have never thought I would be affected by it. I have always had a lot of ideas on what to write in my blog. Nevertheless, I seem to have been infected by writer's cramp. It is a horrible disease. I mean, life is nice, I get great food, walks whenever I like, I have a lot of toys and dog and human friends to play with. Last, but not least, I am a shiba inu! Why is there nothing to write about?

Is my life to perfect? Is it as some people say, that true artistry is only derived from hardships and pain? I do not believe so, in that case I could not nearly have written so much as I have in my blog earlier.

Well, I am sure I will find inspiration again. After all, I did manage to write something today about my lack of inspiration. I am good, aren't I?

It Is Getting Cold Outside.

I followed my friend Kesshi on an evening walk. Paula had to carry me for a while. I got cramp in my paws. That's how cold it is outside.

Otherwise it was a happy Sunday at home. Paula, Dan and Paula's sister Mia ate pig filet and potatoes baked in the owen. Mmmm food for a true shiba. Kesshi, daddy, mummy, auntie Linni and myself go some filet too. It was a good way to end a perfect weekend with.

I was looking forward to see a show on TV called "The Vets". I hoped to see some injured domestic pets but this Sunday, the show was all about animals at Zoo. Boring! I took a nap on Paulas chest instead. Much more cosy way to spend quality time together. Paula is so happy with me though I am the first shiba ever in her care that LOVES to sleep together with her. I love to please her and I also like to cuddle with her and Dan. I am the most perfect shiba pup in the world.

This Uninterested Friend of Mine

Paula and I visited my dear friend Kesshi today, but he was not his usual self. He was not interested in me. All of his interest was directed towards the German Pincher bitch Vilja who was there and who just happened to be in heat. How can he forget me just because of her? Vilja did play with me. However, I wanted some attention from Kesshi as well. You are supposed to devote a lot of time to cute puppies, aren't you?

In the Lap

I am a lap dog sometimes. Today, I have spent hours sleeping in Paula's lap. It is a special feeling to sleep so close to a person whom you love so much.

Another great thing about life is eating. Just like my father, I am living proof that shiba is a Japanese breed, we both love to eat fish. The best thing is mackerel in tomato sauce. Paula says, however, that it is not good for small pups to eat to much tomato sauce, so I get cod instead. As if I would still be a small pup!

This evening, I am watching one of Paula's favourite movies with her on TV, The Perfect Storm. It is the first time I see it, so I cannot give you any hints in advance. But Paula says that the leading roles are played by mr. George Clooney and mr. Mark Wahlberg. Two very handsome men. Some nice candy for the eye this friday (beside Dan and Kuro of course).

It Is Cold Outside.

I met an old terrier today. She needed a quilt to be warm when she was out on her walks. Shibas have a thick coat instead. But still, it is cold outside. Daniel says that puppies need to stay warm otherwise they can be sick. I guess he is right. My mum Sunni prefers to stay under the warm goose quilt in our big king-sized bed. She is spoiled. Just as the rest of the shiba gang at home.

The Not Quite Daily Hailey

I have to apologize to my fans for not blogging the day before yesterday. There was simply to much playing to do. You have your duties as a pup.

Snow is falling again. It is not yet deep enough to play around in. This is unfortunate, but what is there to do? A good thing is that my black fur stands out beautifully in contrast to the white snow.

I Want to Sleep in the Morning

Daniel works in another town and gets up really early in the morning in order to catch the train there. Unfortunately, he and Paula agrees that since I am still a pup, I have to get up just as early. It is rather nice to be able to do what one has to do outside and we only go for a short walk. Still, I am sleepy and go directly back to sleep after the walk. On Saturdays and Sundays, when Daniel stays at home, they let me sleep longer. One would think that this ought to show them I can sleep longer, despite being a puppy, but it does not. I much prefer to be up late at night.

My New Nickname

I rather prefer to call myself Bebi than Hailey. It is a short version of baby in Swedish. Most of the times I won't come when Paula calls for Hailey but I am fast as a rocket when she calls for Bebi. Finally, my folks at home have understood my wish to be called Bebi :o)

So for now on you can call me Bebi as well as Hailey. The choice is yours.

The Rock Bear

This is a Swedish music event. The Swedish people can vote for their fauvorite artists the past year at this show. It is directed through a famous tabloid paper.

Until now, I haven't heard about anything called a Rock Bear. The (one and) only bear and life artist I know is my mum Sunni's boyfriend Kesshi. His nickname is the Bear.

May I vote for The Bear as the artist of the year 2005?

Music

This is the last day of Christmas. Christmas stuff is stuffed away. Now it will not be Christmas for another year. I cannot really fathom the length of a year, I am not yet four month old.

I listen to great music sometimes, thanks to Paula's iPod. Paula has got good taste in music, as well as in dogs. Once in a while, I want to borrow the iPod, but Paula won't let me. This makes me a bit disappointed. Paula does not get happy when I try to take it anyway, but I think it is her own fault when she leaves it at shiba height. However, occasionally I may borrow Paula's mobile and talk to the little toy shiba attached to it. Mom says that this shiba is child safe.

Changing coat

Mum says that I'm starting to become a young girl rather than a baby puppy. I have started to change coat now. My puppy coat is going away and my adult coat is coming forward. I think it is a great thing though I have some really thick black coat. Almost like black velvet. Just as my dad. You know, his Japanese name Kuronishiki is translated into English as "black velvet".

Awful Weather

It is thawing and raining. I hate walking through poodles filled with cold water.

At the Garage

I came along when Paula drove the car to the garage. We have a really nice little BMW, but sometimes it needs a bit fine tuning. They had a dog at the garage, a cream coloured Golden Retriever who was six years old. She growled a little, but I did not mind.

In the evening, Daniel and I went to get the car. Now it is in superb condition. I guess the people at the garage made an extra effort since I am so cute.

This Other Pup

I met the Bernese Mountain Dog pup again today. We like each other, but he is on the heavy side and does not know how hard he pushes me with his paws. It is fun meeting him anyway.

Yet again, I have to ask you to read Paula's blog at http://www.cinnamon-star.dk/blog/, if you know Swedish. It is really good. Today, she writes about the excellent Japanese food sushi, among other things.

Teeth

I have written about it before, now it is time for it again. My teeth hurt. Apparently, my first set of teeth is falling off and disappearing, while another set is growing forth.

I just want some wooden sticks, shoes, or wooden furniture to bite, thus easing my pain. Then I can combine helping myself AND having fun:o)

Visit

We visited Paula's parents today. They are very nice people, although they have no dogs themselves. Paula's father gave us dogs some moose meat, it tastes fantastic. It is always nice to smell the smells of other neighbourhoods on walks.

Three Wise Men

Yet another holiday due to the birth of Christ. Today we celebrate that wise men came visiting baby Jesus, giving him three gifts. I got treats today. Treats are more worth to me than gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Eye Contact and Treats

I trained Daniel in taking more eye contact with me and giving me treats on the walks today. Off course, one of the main objectives of this kind of training is letting your human think he is training you, instead of the other way around. The real gain from the training is mine, though: I get more treats. This is why I believe it is correct to describe it as my training of him.

Pop Corn

I love pop corn! It taste so good and feels so good in the mouth when I crush them. Mum, aka the best mice hunter in our family, says that pop corn almost feels as good as mices to crush, but just almost. Pop corn seem to lack some healthy ingredients as for example blood. A mouse has blood, but a pop corn doesn't.

Another passion of mine is tangerine. Me like! I use to share one with Paula and it feels rather special to sit beside her in the sofa and share. Like to girl friends for real.

Another Interesting Blog

Paula has started her own blog! If you can read Swedish, you can see her interesting thoughts at http://www.cinnamon-star.dk/blog/ If you do not read Swedish, you have to learn it or miss a great experience.

On the late evening walk, I met the new kid on the block - a Bernese Mountain Dog pup who is about nine weeks old and moved here last week. He is bigger than me, but childish.

Group Photo

Paula took photographies of me, Mom, and Daniel today. You can watch one of the pictures on the homepage of Paula's and Daniel's kennel: http://www.kennelaangenaam.com/ If you have not observed it already in the picture on the top of my blog, this is where you can see how cute I really am.

The New Year Is Here

We were awake until the new year began in the middle of the night. That was fun.

I made some new years resolutions, since it is customary to do so. I promised:
- to be as cute as always,
- to be as playful as always, and
- to eat as many treats as I can get.

Today, Paula's sister was here, but without her dog - my friend - Kesshi. It was still very nice to have a visitor.

Friday evening

...and as usally, I'm so exhausted. It takes both physical and psycical strenght to be as cute as I am. I also spend a lot of time playing around with mum Sunni (see above).

I want to greet all my readers and friends a Happy New Year!! For tomorrow I will not bee around to write in my blog. We are waiting some dinner guests so I have to save my strenght for that.

Yours truly, ms. Hailey

New Year

A new year is coming, and I am not yet a third of a year old. In a way, that feels old, but every adult has gone through it. I wonder what the new year will bring. So far, I do not know much more than that it will be celebrated in the middle of the night and that some people celebrate with fireworks and crackers. (Regarding crackers, please read yesterday's Daily Hailey.)

Crackers

I like crackers, the kind of thin, hard bread that tastes good. Now I have learned of something else called crackers. By New Year, it is customary to use tiny devices with gun powder to make tiny blasts, these devices are also crackers. The idea is to scare demons away.

Some people are stupid enough to use these crackers many days before New Years Eve. Except for the obvious result of making the use of crackers just by the beginning of the new year less special, crackers also scare some dogs. None of the dogs in my family is afraid of crackers or fire works, but one has got to feel some sympathy with the dogs who are.

People are stupid if they enjoy throwing crackers at dogs. They are even more stupid if they would believe there are evil demons in dogs. Dogs have good hearts by nature. Actually, dogs know how to identify the whereabouts of demons. I have yet to hear of a demon dwelling in a dog. The only evil demons dogs encounter is the ones hiding in the slippers, shoes, toys, wooden sticks etc. that we chew to pieces. Remember that!

Power Faliure

In the afternoon, all the lights suddenly went out, the TV and the computer went dead. There was still some daylight outside, so we could see our front paws ahead of us. Daniel was calm and told us it had to be a power faliure, but that the electricity would soon return. It did, not more than a few minutes later, just as Daniel had lit some candles. The world works in mysterious ways sometimes.

Second Day of Christmas

On the second day of Christmas, we are still celebrating the birth of Christ. After visiting Paula's parents on Christmas Eve and her aunt yesterday, we spent this day at home. This evening, even the dogs in the house got to taste some ginger bread. I liked it. We have also tasted some home made meatballs. Christmas is a nice holiday.

Christmas Day

Santa came to me yesterday. I've got a lot of treats and a new pink necklace which can be seen above. My mum also played a lot with me, it was nearly the best thing with Christmas.

The day before Christmas.

And I'm very excited- Hopefully Santa think's that I've been kind enough to have at least one present.

I hope Christmas brings a lot of joy and play into our house. Sometimes daddy Kuro, mummy Sunni and auntie Linni is too stuckup to play with me. I can't understand why, playing with toys is the very best thing I know beside kiss my folks at home and to eat...food and treats!

Objects Hidden in Snow

The city collected bulky refuse the other day, so people had left old furniture and all kinds of strange stuff on the pavements and in the ditches. Snow fell tonight, hiding some of the refuse the city did not collect. When Daniel was out on a walk with me, he stepped on a door lying on the upper slope of a ditch, completely hidden under the snow. He slipped, off course. Fortunately, nothing more serious happened. One wonders why the city did not collect all the refuse.

Christmas Soda

There was an interesting plastic mug on the coffee table in the living room. Curious as I am, I naturally wanted to see what was in it. Too bad the mug was poorly designed and fell as soon as I touched it. I got a lot of the typical Swedish Christmas brew, julmust, all over me. Julmust is such a popular drink at Christmas time in Sweden that the sale of Coca Cola reaches extremely low rates in December. I understand that, it tastes really good.

Paula was not happy. She bathed me and cleaned the floor. I hope she understood that it was an accident due to the poor mug design and not my fault. I am just an innocent pup.

Tyres

In Sweden, there is snowy winter many month a year. Ice and snow gathers on the roads, which become slippery. You have to have winter tyres to be able to drive safely. Daniel and Paula has got a set of tyres that works all year and another set of winter tyres with spikes in them. Winter is now coming, so Daniel put the winter tyres on the car today. On dry asphalt, it is more slippery with spiked tyres than other tyres, but it feels safer anyway. You have to have a very safe car when driving shibas.

New Teeth

There are tickling and annoying sensations in my mouth. It has something to do with getting teeth. I have to chew things to calm myself. As the inexperienced pup I am, I chose the wrong things to chew on sometimes. Luckily, I am so cute Paula and Daniel forgive me.

Full Moon

I was exactly three months old yesterday. It was also a full Moon in the clear sky at night. Tonight, we could still see the Moon, but it was blurry behind a thin layer of clouds.

Our wild ancestors, the wolves, howl at the full Moon. To dogs living in the civilisation, it is not much more than a street lamp without a lamppost. I wonder if the wolves' howl is part of an ancient religion, maybe they worship the Moon?

Studying medicine

Paula is studying medicine to become a nurse. I like to study too. That is why Paula always keeps her books far away from me. She says that I'm always trying to bite the books and play with them. I say that she is just plain jelous because I'm way better than her at the University. I will probably be the puppy with honours when I will graduate.

BTW, I think my mum gave me the pretty-gene in her family. At least, that is what Paula and Dan says to me. My brothers recieved my fathers handsome-gene.

At the University

Daniel came home a little earlier than usual tonight. Paula, Daniel, and all of us dogs got into the car and went by the pet shop. At the shop, Paula, Daniel, and I purchased some more dog food. It is fun to watch all the toys and smell all the candy, but I'd rather bring some of those things home.

From the pet shop, we went to the university where Paula needed some information from the library. I met a Swedish Lapphund at the parking lot. She was nice, but suddenly left to greet another dog passing by. Isn't that rather rude? Very well, we went on for a walk through campus. This was exciting, it was the first time I visited the university.

St. Lucia

Today we celebrate St. Lucia here in Sweden. The Swedish holiday tradition on December, 13th is Lucia. Lucia is the girl with light in her hair and who illuminates the darkness of winter.

Everyone thinks that there should be a blonde girl as the lucia, but in fact. The tradition with a lucia comes from Italy and the girl was dark, not blonde. That suits me very well.

I have played a lot too, beside being just pretty. Mum thinks that I'm truly a sweet shiba girl.

Improving a Wardrobe

I chewed on Paula's leather shoes she wears on dog shows so they became unusable. She will have to buy new dog show shoes for next year's season. In my mind, this was an improvement of her wardrobe. Fortunately, she was not totally opposed to this idea. The shoes were of a good brand, but the new shoes can always be better. Pups do make a positive difference in the lives of humans.

Neighbours

Yesterday, I said hi to the neighbours upstairs. Today, I said hi to another neighbour, from a house nearby. These were friendly people who wanted to greet me. Other people do not. I wrote about this earlier, it still puzzles me. What is the difference between people who want to greet a pup and those who do not? I cannot see any difference when looking at them, so I try to greet everyone. Of course it makes me disappointed when they do not want to greet me back. How can I tell in advance who wants to greet me or not?

Late Night

I am often awake very late in the evening. This is such a night. It is so much fun to run around and play, why should I stop and lie down to rest just because everybody else wants me to?

Meatballs

I have to write about food today as well. Daniel made meatballs tonight and each dog got some mixed into the food. It was great, like getting treats in the regular food. I wish this is the beginning of a new habit of Daniel and Paula.

Minced Meat

Paula made lasagne for dinner today. Not all of the minced meat went into her cooking, she put some in the four bowls of us dogs as well. It was a terrific meal! I tried to take Mom's minced meat as well, but she did not let me. I can understand Mom, it does taste so great you do not want to share anything of it.

At the Veterinarian's

Paula took me to the vet today to get a vaccine. It is always nice to see new environments and it was fun to see Kesshi, who also had an appointment. We had to wait a long time before we got in, which annoyed me somewhat. Once we got in and saw the vet, I was my happy self again. Kesshi, however, franticly wanted to get out. I do not understand dogs like him, who are afraid of vets. Yet he is an adult dog, whereas I am still a pup. I have never had any problems with the vet.

Busy Evening

All evening, I have been busy playing with Dad. We had a great time. Paula was not home tonight. Daniel, who was, really got tired of our rushes and noice, despite my cuteness.

Wood

Wood is nice. Chewing on wooden sticks is a real treat. A fringe benefit is that Paula or Daniel usually brings the broom to sweep up the splinters from the floor. It is even funnier to play with the broom when it is swept across the floor, than chewing wood.

A Bit Jealous

A rather boring day. The adults did not want to play with me.

In the evening, Mom got to go with Paula to see my friend Kesshi. Dad and Auntie told me they and Mom have known Kesshi for much longer than I have, but I was still jealous. At last, when I came along to give Paula and Mom a ride home, I did get an opportunity to say hi to Kesshi. At least, that was something, and I was glad.

My Idol

The final episode of the Swedish Idol TV show was shown this evening. I did not vote for any of the contestants. My own idol is my father. He takes me along on every kind of fun stuff, running around, chewing on things, playing. The very best thing was stealing Paula's pencil case. I love playing with it.

Friends

I have more to tell about yesterday. I visited my friend, the male shiba Kesshi, where I also met the German Pinscher Vilja. Vilja visited me, Kiko, and Jiro before my brothers moved out. She is very nice to pups like me. We had a terrific time.

Today, the snow is melting and disappearing. It does not feel nice to walk through all the water left by the snow.