Meet Kenji, the fox-like Shiba Inu dog who makes me smile. var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-10694877-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {}Tumblr (3.0; @myfirstshiba)http://www.imnotafox.com/<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/9d56fb20de7fb74adcc10ce13ae44120/tumblr_mgn8g0RTFa1qa3nnoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>rabbits beware!</p>http://www.imnotafox.com/post/40563932320http://www.imnotafox.com/post/40563932320Mon, 14 Jan 2013 20:35:59 -0500shiba inurabbit<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/21bfa30ed096f01ad96daf48f0f69214/tumblr_mgdgr00lfw1qa3nnoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>My First Shiba considers testing his pads on the ice — NOT a good idea, Kenji.</p>http://www.imnotafox.com/post/40107376122http://www.imnotafox.com/post/40107376122Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:59:24 -0500shiba inuice skating<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/28679bc7fba4774f7b325623634328fe/tumblr_mfy7mbebwu1qa3nnoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Kenji does his patented Happy New Year’s Dance!</p> <p>2013 = The Year of the Shiba!</p>http://www.imnotafox.com/post/39379543680http://www.imnotafox.com/post/39379543680Tue, 01 Jan 2013 08:18:11 -0500shiba inudance<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/a2e566310afd125038503af4461ecd86/tumblr_mfedklbTEO1qa3nnoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>http://www.imnotafox.com/post/38484670654http://www.imnotafox.com/post/38484670654Fri, 21 Dec 2012 15:14:45 -0500shiba inusleeping<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/983204095d7647e1400bee9225867b88/tumblr_mf8etvfQwL1qa3nnoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>tis the season to hug your Shiba Inu (whether they like it or not!)</p>http://www.imnotafox.com/post/38226944439http://www.imnotafox.com/post/38226944439Tue, 18 Dec 2012 09:56:18 -0500shiba inuholidays<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_me3t82VBGc1qa3nnoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>the perfect passenger!  my first Shiba has learned to love the car!</p>http://www.imnotafox.com/post/36596952616http://www.imnotafox.com/post/36596952616Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:45:38 -0500shiba inudrivingcar<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdsveaL9sN1qa3nnoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>my snuggle buddy.</p>http://www.imnotafox.com/post/36150473908http://www.imnotafox.com/post/36150473908Tue, 20 Nov 2012 13:58:57 -0500shiba inufox like dog<p>As you know by now, Hurricane Sandy ripped through the Northeast and left an abundance of destruction in her wake.  While not an easy time for most, I&#8217;m pleased to report that Kenji and the family he owns made it through AOK.  The storm forced us to move temporarily to a safer location that had power. That meant 10 days at his grandpaw and grandmaw&#8217;s house.  Below is an account from someone who loves Kenji as much as I do, my dad.<br/><br/><em><strong>A Royal Visit</strong></em><br/><br/>For all he knew, the houseguest may well have thought that he was rocketing through time and space, ready to land in a new galaxy, an unexplored universe. That he might never see his loving family again or return to the only home he had ever known. Who could blame him, especially since the sky, the night he arrived, was awash with rain, and almost ethereal pops of the whitest, strangest light. It’s what the weather folks call ‘arcs.’<br/><br/>The storm innocuously named ‘Sandy’ gouged its way through much of the New York metro area. People whose houses hadn’t been destroyed, or even severely damaged, were still stuck. Once they lost power, and some even running water, their homes became uninhabitable shells, feudal in their cold, medieval in their darkness.  My son and his family were among them.<br/><br/>It was a time that called for the lucky among us to open our doors, and hearts to those in need. None was needier, or finer than the perfect gentleman, who despite his youth became our houseguest. He never monopolized the bathroom, didn’t complain about his meals, or demand fresh sheets every day. He didn’t even request a room with a better view.<br/><br/>That’s because our houseguest was Kenji.</p> <p>If the three-year-old could speak, the first thing he’d say would be “I’m a Shiba Inu, NOT a fox.” So the night that my son brought him to us, Kenji entered cautiously, quietly padding around the entire place. He sniffed here and gazed there, alert for any aliens. He found three of them; Jack, Callie and Penny. These were the cats whose home he would peacefully share for the next 10 days.<br/><br/>Kenji never whimpered or whined about what had to be a momentous change to his previously tranquil life. With the regal bearing, and intelligence of his breed, he adapted to his temporary home better than most people would. I know a helluva lot better than I would. With his large liquid brown almond-shaped eyes and black button nose, the 30 pound ruddy orange Kenji has the kind of face that’s at once as friendly as it is alert. He graced our home with his presence and decorated it with his beauty. Sure he did the things that all dogs do, but I can’t help but feel that he did them better, with a style and a grace that was almost cat-like.<br/><br/>I know that Kenji enjoyed his romps in Cunningham Park, patrolling its lanes and running in its fields. Even many passersby, well-known for their reticence stopped to say ‘hi’ to him, invariably asking what kind of dog or (excuse me, Kenji) fox he is. Yet the best time was in the evening, when Kenji was up for belly rubs and having his soft pointed ears stroked.</p> <p>If anyone needs to say thanks, it’s us. It was our privilege to have a Red Prince share our home; even if it was just for 10 days. But that’s what Kenji ‘brings to the table;’ he makes people happy. How many of us can make the same claim?</p>http://www.imnotafox.com/post/35640173873http://www.imnotafox.com/post/35640173873Tue, 13 Nov 2012 11:36:07 -0500fox like dogshiba inudisplacedhurricane sandy<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcnyaqiYCu1qa3nnoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Yin and Yang! Kenji plays with his cousin Bodhi.</p>http://www.imnotafox.com/post/34571443648http://www.imnotafox.com/post/34571443648Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:40:01 -0400shiba inuplaying<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcghrj64hc1qa3nnoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Kenji and his brother take a nap. (This Shiba Inu is so good with kids!)</p>http://www.imnotafox.com/post/34299944747http://www.imnotafox.com/post/34299944747Thu, 25 Oct 2012 11:59:43 -0400shiba inubabychildren<p>Kenji is proud to launch his official line of merchandise; you can now purchase your very own <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/IMNOTAFOX" target="_blank">I&#8217;M NOT a FOX gear at Etsy</a>. <br/><br/>Since your Shiba can&#8217;t talk, it&#8217;s your job to defend the breed!  Tell the world that your little red dog is not a fox, instead, he&#8217;s member of the Shiba bloodline, a superior dog breed.<br/><br/>More items will be added soon so check back often.</p>http://www.imnotafox.com/post/34241754230http://www.imnotafox.com/post/34241754230Wed, 24 Oct 2012 14:42:27 -0400shiba inu shirtshiba inu mugfox like dog<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcco3431Px1qa3nnoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>chubby Shiba face!</p>http://www.imnotafox.com/post/34164933002http://www.imnotafox.com/post/34164933002Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:25:52 -0400shiba inu<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcau9f4NS11qa3nnoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>should i or shouldn’t i?</p>http://www.imnotafox.com/post/34098966612http://www.imnotafox.com/post/34098966612Mon, 22 Oct 2012 10:44:01 -0400shiba inukenjinot a fox<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc5l4w0Zcz1qa3nnoo1_400.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Kenji says: Happy Halloween!</p>http://www.imnotafox.com/post/33959452419http://www.imnotafox.com/post/33959452419Sat, 20 Oct 2012 10:57:41 -0400shiba inupumpkinhalloween<p>As a Shiba Inu owner who lives in the New York area, I do not have the good fortune to have a huge backyard or live in walking distance to a park.   That means Kenji and I take 4 or 5 walks on a daily basis, the majority of which, are in front of people&#8217;s houses.<br/><br/> <br/>Both #1s and #2s end up on the front strip of grass that sits in front of suburban homes after the sidewalk.  I clean up Kenji&#8217;s mess 100% of the time (OK, so maybe there was the <em>one</em> time I forgot a bag!).<br/><br/>The other morning I had a neighbor ask me to keep Kenji off &#8220;their&#8221; lawn.  It was 6:15 in the morning and I was in no mood to explain to the person that in our town, that strip of grass is actually government property, it does not belong to the homeowner.  <br/><br/>I have no interest in getting embroiled in a debate. And luckily, in this instance, the homeowner was relatively polite about it.<br/><br/>It initially pissed me off, but when I think about how many houses we pass on a daily basis, it is remarkable how few people complain.<br/><br/>I will respect his wishes and do my best to avoid his property. I will also mourn the fact that he is so concerned with his blades of dying autumn grass.</p>http://www.imnotafox.com/post/33835257861http://www.imnotafox.com/post/33835257861Thu, 18 Oct 2012 09:27:08 -0400shiba inu<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbzrpjW3931qa3nnoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Full alert!</p>http://www.imnotafox.com/post/33771984807http://www.imnotafox.com/post/33771984807Wed, 17 Oct 2012 09:53:01 -0400shiba inu<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbzrlpwzqu1qa3nnoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>How long is your average Shiba Inu walk?  At three years old, Kenji generally gets 4 walks at around 20 minutes a clip.</p>http://www.imnotafox.com/post/33709646672http://www.imnotafox.com/post/33709646672Tue, 16 Oct 2012 11:13:00 -0400shiba inuwalkblog<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbqdy5O7x51qa3nnoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>itchy itchy scratch scratch!</p>http://www.imnotafox.com/post/33362610984http://www.imnotafox.com/post/33362610984Thu, 11 Oct 2012 09:39:40 -0400shiba inuitchyscratch<p>There is something about the crisp autumn air that drives my Shiba Inu wild. <br/><br/>Call it an extra pep in his step, a little extra gas in his motor, but this fox-like dog goes from being a borderline recluse, snuggling on his chair, to being obsessed with going outside. <br/><br/>There&#8217;s also an added bonus!  Dead leaves and fallen branches encourage him to pee&#8230;meaning we save time from our normal routine where the finicky pup looks for the &#8220;perfect&#8221; place to eliminate waste.<br/><br/>I also find picking up poop a whole lot easier when leaves are down on the ground.</p> <p>Yay!  It&#8217;s fall!  Does your Shiba Inu love the season too?</p>http://www.imnotafox.com/post/33233166982http://www.imnotafox.com/post/33233166982Tue, 09 Oct 2012 11:21:09 -0400Shiba Inuautumnfox like dog<iframe width="400" height="225" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KG8njOXLza8?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br/><br/><p>Kenji and his master are jealous we didn’t post this on YouTube!</p>http://www.imnotafox.com/post/31465475307http://www.imnotafox.com/post/31465475307Thu, 13 Sep 2012 12:18:23 -0400fox like dogshiba ballet