Pet Expo 2013

[furtech]

Complete Flickr Set Here

This last weekend I was at this year's 2013 Pet Expo in Orange County. I look forward to this event every year: I love running the dogs and helping them to find forever homes. There's a lot of validation when you see a dog with issues that make them not-for-everybody be adopted by someone who is absolutely perfect for that particular dog. We had some great dogs out this year and four of them went home with neat people. Considering how few adoptions seemed to be happening this year, I was really happy.

For the most part the majority of rescues were pit-mixes and chihuahua/yap-mixes. I was surprised by both the large numbers of these dogs here and that there was such a plethora of them.

I got to see a Silken Windhound for the first time in-person. Very Saluki-like in demeanor. Also saw a Japanese Ken for the first time (I think). They are bigger than Shibas and smaller than Akitas and much more out-going than either of those sister-breeds.

By Sunday I was exhausted and Apache (who was at the breed booth) was even more done.

Comments

[okojosan.livejournal.com]

It is a really cute breed! I like Shibas a lot but there are things I've heard about them that made me wary of owning one.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Shibas are adorable to look at but they are the classic one-person dog. Even within a family, they will be firmly (and often jealously) attached to one person. There are exceptions to this: I've met breeders whose Shibas are very sociable, but they have been the exception. In general, the Asian breeds tend to be more aloof and stand-offish.

I have only met the two Ken dogs, but if what the booth people say is true ("They are much more in-your-face than Shibas"), they could be a neat breed to own.