I haven’t written many posts this month, but rest assured there are many exciting things happening in the background and coming soon! But I couldn’t let the day go by without a proper shout out to my fur baby. Today is Kona’s birthday. She is 5 years old.
Anyone who knows me knows I adore my dog.
Named after my favorite coffee, Kona is my first pet. Sure, I had dogs growing up, but she is my first. The Chief and I went to just look at the possibility of getting a dog after a few years of living in Japan. I was early in my pregnancy with our son, so we thought a puppy might be good company {and exercise} for me while he was away at sea. First, we looked at a Corgi puppy; umm, no thanks. Then I held Kona. She wrapped her little paws around my arm and it was puppy love at first sight.
But we didn’t get her just then.
The Chief advised we think about it over the weekend. A puppy was a lot to take on while being pregnant, and then with a newborn. I couldn’t sleep that night for fear someone would buy Kona before us. Needless to say, we went back for her the very next day. She was my birthday present from the Chief that year. Best. Gift. Ever.
Kona is a Shiba Inu, and true to the Shiba temperament, she is strong-willed, independent and fiercely loyal. She is sometimes too clever for her own good, which requires consistency and creativity in training. For example, she won’t play traditional fetch. She’ll quickly get bored of returning the ball, and so we’ve devised ways to challenge and excite her participation. We vary the objects she chases — squeaky balls, frisbees, wheels — and introduce them at various stages of the game.
I love watching her on the chase. I call her Thunder Paws from the sound of her feet hitting the ground as she bolts after her prey. When she’s really honed in, she’ll fold one ear back and let her tail unfurl for a more streamlined and speedy approach.
I admit having a pet comes with its share of challenges — traveling, shedding and budgeting, to name a few — but my life is infinitely better with my dog. Kona is the first to greet me when I return home, and she’s always happy to see me. Even though she’s not very affectionate, she seems to know when I’ve had a particularly hard day wrangling the kids and will graciously sit by my side.
She is fun. She is beautiful. She is not a fox. She is an essential part of our family. Happy 5th Birthday, Kona! — v.
TO SEE MORE OF KONA AND OTHER SHIBA INUS,
follow me on Instagram {#konatheshibainu} and my Pinterest board.
Follow Vernichel’s board SHIBAS // I Heart KONA on Pinterest.
