Dog of the Day

December 20, 2000

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Showdown, the Dog of the Day
Name: Showdown
 Age: Twelve years old
Gender: Male Breed: Shiba Inu
Home: Rochester, New York, USA
 
   Although I have two dogs and three cats, Showdown is my favorite. He's a twelve-year-old neutered male cream-colored Shiba Inu who was a Buddhist monk in a previous life. Seriously, I have never known such a handsome, serene, dignified dog, or one with more common sense. Showdown is retired from show and stud, and was a Canadian champion several times. (The cream color is not an AKC accepted color in the US, so cream Shiba Inu compete in Canada.) Shiba Inu often live to the age of 18 or more, and no one ever believes Showdown is as old as he is. Just last month his vet expressed amazement at his excellent condition.

    The things that make my boy so special are:
  1. He is one gorgeous dog!
  2. And he is a calm, self-possessed dog who doesn't even look silly (well, not very) when I put him in hats and costumes.
  3. He lets me do it, for one thing, and then usually is patient enough for me to snap a photo or two before ditching the apparel. He even manages an air of long-suffering, a faint look of dignity compromised by love of me, foolish human that I am. So, he wears antlers at Christmas, a top hat for formal occasions, and a hilarious black leather jacket and motorcycle cap for Halloween.
  4. He's never met a stranger. When I walk him and we meet someone, he stops and waits to be admired in a very regal way. No unseemly jumping about, or importunate cries for attention. He leaves other dogs alone unless they start something, and then he finishes it. If I linger in conversation with someone on the street, he does not pull on the leash, but sits quietly right at my feet until I am ready to move on.
  5. When someone comes to our house, he barks once to let me know, then sits watchfully by - no fussing.
  6. He loves to go in the car, but knows when he cannot by the time of day, my clothing, and whether or not I have my briefcase.
  7. When I do leave him in the car in a parking lot, it is rare that I do not come back to a small crowd of people looking in at him and cooing.
  8. I can leave him in the car with groceries, and food. Once I absent-mindedly left part of a fast-food burger on the dash. It was untouched when I returned. Sometimes I swear there's a little person in there wearing a dog suit! Look at the attached pictures of Showdown as a puppy and now, then tell me this isn't a stunning animal.

 

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