Renji was the last born and the runt of Asa and Tien'kou's first litter. But he never let that stop him. He was everything a puppy was supposed to be including my worst nightmare. I loved him dearly even though he ate everything in my house including DVD's, furniture, clothes, shoes, and electric cords. To be honest I was surprised the little guy made it past his puppy stage. Despite my efforts to puppy proof the house he always managed to find a way to get what ever it was that caught his attention. He would run up and grab anything and take off running with it in his mouth. Though chew toys were not nearly interesting enough for this little guy. He was "allowed" to have those. No, he always went after the forbidden fruit, as I would go scrambling through the house chasing after him he ducked and dodged like a football player on the playing field and his touch down would be to run behind Alex, where he would tuck his tail and look up with this pitiful expression of "don't beat me". Followed by the unmistakable shiba scream of terror when I would reach down and pick him up. Which of course gave the impression that I was killing the little guy. As if I didn't feel enough like an idiot chasing after him.
Of course there was much more to Renji than just his roguish ways. He was highly intelligent and very resourceful. Though there was no doubt his big brother Buddha was his best friend Renji would often use Buddha as a body guard to protect him from the other cats and shiba's. There were many times I would sit and watch Renji run over steal a bone or a toy to bring it back to Buddha. One would think it was Buddha who had it all figured out by the way Renji would do all the work of getting the object back to their hiding place. But before to long who ever they stole it from would sniff them out demanding it back and it would be Buddha who would stand up to fight as Renji would take the item off to yet another hiding place for his own enjoyment. Of course later he would have to answer to Buddha but for that short time it was all his and no one else's, and that was all that seemed to matter to him. Because when Buddha would find him once again he would simply walk away without a care in the world.
I was convinced that it was Renji's life long goal to make my life hell. He was a lot like Tien'kou who has the bad habit of waiting for someone especially the kids to get near the door then hide out of sight and wait for the door to crack open ever so slightly and then bolt knocking anyone and any thing out of the way as they burst though the door never once stopping to look back. And they run and run and run and run. Forget catching up with them shiba inu's are lightning fast. I would swear after raising half a dozen shiba inu's that these dogs really loathe being kept as pets and should be left to the wild as their wolf ancestors if it were not for the fact that after they get that first 10 minuet frolic out of them celebrating their freedom they return just to taunt you some more. They look at you with their tails wagging and baring that shiba smile as if to say "catch me if you dare". Knowing full well the only way one can ever catch a Shiba inu is by luck and out smarting them. Which could prove even more dangerous in the long run.
Renji had managed to escape yet again, it was pitch black outside, cold frost was forming on the ground and of course I was in my P.j.'s with no shoes on. My oldest son was trying to take out the trash before bed and Renji saw his opportunity. Out the door he went knocking my son to the ground all I heard was this shrill scream and Renji vanished into the night. I came running from my bedroom to what the commotion was and through my son's sobbing tears he was pointing down the road crying "Renji". So I carried my son into my husband made sure he was not "broken" and grabbed my snow boots, coat and flash light. Three hours I looked for him up and down the street. All the neighborhood dogs were barking and going nuts but there was no physical sign of my little Renji...
..Tinkle, tinkle... I heard it...Renji's collar jingle just as he sprinted through my legs nearly knocking me over. Had he been a wild animal out for blood I would no doubt have been dead. I spun around pointing the flash light trying to get a good look at him. But he was gone once again. At least I knew what direction he was going in. Another 10 minuets passed all the dogs in the neighbor hood still going crazy but no sign of my little Renji. My ears had started to ache, my nose was running my fingers were frozen. The battery on my flash light was starting to dim. Tinkle, tinkle...there it was again. Renji? Come boy! Come here Renji! Tinkle, tinkle... I could hear his collar but I couldn't see him. Was he behind me? I had no idea. I was certain he was playing with me. He knew I couldn't see him, that was all part of the game. Renji?! Tinkle, tinkle... There in the bushes! Renji! Off he went right past me, so close I could feel him brush past my leg. Oh he's not getting away from me this time. Full sprint I gave chase but before I knew it the highway was upon us. Renji's never experienced traffic before. The loud noise will chase him back to me. Wait he's not turning back...he's going for it.... Renji! Stop! I closed my eyes trembling knowing when I opened them he would be dead. What? where is Renji? He made it? He actually made it to the other side of the highway! Oh no this is bad... this is very bad....
I didn't dare to call for Renji again, my luck he'd try to came to me this time. Three hours and thirty minuets into the chase, It was a given I was going to be sick the next morning. Just my luck the flash light died. At least it was a maglite, my older brothers taught me at a young age that if I had to have a flash light a maglite was the only way to go, it has duel functions a light and a protection device if needed. At least I could still use it for that. So with a deep breath to build my confidence across the highway in my P.j.'s I went. But I had no clue as to where Renji went. I had never been this far, not on foot any way. I walked the shoulder of the road listening as hard as I could for that familiar tinkling sound of Renji's collar but the highway was too loud. I couldn't hear anything, I couldn't see anything. I was screwed. Poor Renji... why does he have to be so stubborn. I had no choice but to head back for home...I hated to leave, I was so close. If I left even if it was to get fresh batteries by the time I got back to this point Renji would be long gone. Why did I choose to raise Shiba Inu's? Why didn't I hire that personal dog trainer when I had a chance? What was I going to tell Alex when he got home from work?
All the horrible thoughts rushing through my mind of what could become of my little Renji as I stepped up to the highway once again preparing to cross the rushing traffic. Then I saw the head lights coming right at me. C'mon, sure I understand you see me and I appreciate you slowing down. But are you actually stopping? No, don't stop... please don't stop. Your stopping.... at least be a cop.... nope, not a cop to junkie of a car, two big guys, ugh this can't be good.. I clenched my flashlight tight, looked both ways across the highway for my opening to sprint if need be. Damn these boots, there is no way I can out run traffic in these things. "Excuse me miss" the guy in passenger side called out to me as he rolled his window down. I stepped back off the road. "yes?" I hesitantly responded. After all it wasn't like they were out patrolling looking for a woman in her p.j.'s all alone on the side of a dark highway. They are just showing the usual southern hospitality. I should be use to it by now.
"Are you looking for a little dog? I think we almost hit him up the road. You really need to get him before he gets hurt." Renji? Ugh, I can't see a thing out here. If I go home I'll lose him for sure, but if I stay...how will I ever catch up to him? "We can take you back to where we saw him if you like" .....uh.... "No, Thank you anyway. Um... I'll get him, thank you. Have good night." and with a jog I head back in the direction they mentioned seeing my poor Renji. All the while watching over my shoulder...wait...what are you doing? Are they actually turning around? Oh no... ugh... just my luck. Where is my Dale when I need him most? I know when I'm out matched and I think I'd rather risk my odds against the speeding traffic than these two guys. So Across the highway towards home I went. Please let Renji stay safe... But just as I got to my yard I heard it again, tinkle..tinkle. I looked up and up on my porch ran Renji, wagging his tail and smiling as if we had been playing some sort of game.
I would like to say that Renji and I learned our lessons and we never did that again. But rather it be across the high way or across the cattle farm in our new neighborhood Renji took me on many night time adventures of hide and go seek. I've actually learned that with Shiba's it best not to give chase. That is what they want you to do. I know it sounds bad to turn the other cheek if you dog get loose but for the most part if I exercise this tactic I have discovered that they tend to stay pretty close to my yard. Taunting me to come chase after them. Begging them to come back. They really love that. Just as I thought I had my shiba's all figured out was when Buddha and Renji mysteriously became ill and died within a matter of 24 hours. But if there is one thing that Renji and his family has taught me it's that Shiba inu's are not Inu's at all....
Inu is the japanese word for "dog" but they should be called Shiba Kami meaning "brushwood spirit".
I naturally understood this with my first shiba inu Tsunami. But over the years and with the huge responsibility of six shiba's all at once I became worn out and exhausted and closed my eyes and started to see them just as dogs. When this happens they become resentful and lose the respect in their human families and begin to act out. I am aware of this now and I have vowed in the name of my little Renji and Buddha that with their baby brother's I will be a better shiba mom.
There's no other love like the love for a brother. There's no other love like the love from a brother. ~Terri Guillemets
In loving memory of Buddha and Renji
two brothers who were best friends.
