Off They Gooooooo

off they gooooooo

crummy phone pic BUT Shoko got her NIPPO papers today!

Depending on just how “active” you are looking for (in the same league as huskies-- not sure about labs as I know little about them) and how willing you are to put in the effort to find a “rare” breed, a Shikoku would be a really good choice for this criteria.

They are definitely very active and need a lot of exercise, but they are really good at turning “off” when they are at home, provided they get enough physical/mental stimulation. They kind of turn into rugs when they are at home, haha. Everyone who meets Shoko thinks she is the most chill dog in the world, but if I take her out she is all GOGOGO!!

Of course, they have their quirks and aren’t for everyone. They don’t love everyone like a lab would, and are generally standoffish with strangers (though, ideally, not mean or reactive-- just fairly indifferent.) And although they’re very loyal to their people, they’re not in your personal bubble all the time, like a shepherd tends to me, from my understanding.

Of course, all of this applies to Kishu as well, although Kishu are a lot more intense and driven, so that’s something to keep in mind. In my experience that makes them easier to train, though, as long as you know how to use that drive.

I am thinking if getting a dog in a year or two I just don't know what type of dog I want I'm thinking maybe a husky or a lab I want a dog that is active but not overly hyper

Labs are kinda a hit or miss with that. In my experience labs are pretty chill but a lot of them can be as hyper as a caffeine glazed donut dunked in crack cocaine. 

Huskies need a lot of activity as well, and both of them need a lot of mental stimulation as well. 

I mean honestly a retriever breed could definitely work but you would need to specify that you want a more chill pup and look for parents that are equally chill. 

Personally, I prefer shepherds. They are really active dogs but they have a more useful energy. It’s much easier for me to get their focus and channel their energy in a useful manner than with labradors. But that’s a personal preference based on my own training habits and personality. 

Ultimately you should get to know the parents and their temperaments and find out what they were like as puppies, cuz don’t forget a lot of dogs will be really hyper pups but will grow out of it once they mature. 

Oh man, lol. This is one of the biggest problems facing dog fanciers today. So many breed club websites are atrocious. So many breeder’s websites are almost impossible to navigate. Almost all lack any sort of aesthetic or design.

On that note, both of my fellow Kishu kennels’ websites (x, x) are notable lovely :)

*cracks knuckles* Time to pull the borzoiclubofnortherncalifornia.org website out of the 90′s 

I was visiting family in ND this weekend, and the girls and I spent an afternoon exploring my grandparents’ backyard-- the bluffs and riverbed of the Missouri River.

The girls had a blast, of course, and I brought my camera, so expect a steady stream of photos the next day or so.

reminder that i own the Literal Dumbest cat