Greetings all furry and human friends! My name is Kumaito, which is Japanese for Little Bear (ito is little and Kuma is bear). Call me Kuma for short but don’t call me late for dinner. Woof! I a pure-bred Shiba Inu dog who moved from the majestic Rocky Mountains of Colorado where I was born and lived four years to the warm Gulf Coast of Texas for three years. I was born to pure-bred Shiba Inu parents who were black and tan, a rare type compared to the ho-hum sesame or blonde found everywhere (no offense). Inu in Japanese means dog. Contrary to some who say Shiba translates to “pain-in-the-butt,” it actually refers to Brushwood, Japan, the origin of my great-great, times a thousand, ancestors who lived in the mountains hunting small game. We are one of the oldest breeds, dating back some 3,000 years. My particular family line is show dogs. We’re not hunters but lovers! My doggy dad has won many awards and ribbons; he is quite handsome, if I don’t say so myself. I look just like him, of course.
Shiba Inu dogs are tough, and I don’t frighten easy. Recently, some strange, stinky men started taking 
our stuff out of our Texas house, and I got a little nervous. Item by item, they took everything from my house. My mom didn’t seem alarmed by this. I thought maybe the humidity was getting to her as Houston is sticky wet. When almost everything was gone, I stood my ground on my couch. “You can’t have it!” I said, but they took that, too. Our house was empty.
Things got stranger, my friend. My mom and dad then put me and my brother, Edmond (a black Maine Coon cat), in the car, and we drove for what felt like forever. I’m not talking about going to lake or even visiting hill country, which we have done before. I’m talking long distance. I could see the terrain outside changing as we left Houston, Texas, and made our way to Phoenix, Arizona.
Neither of us have heard of this place and wondered if we were going to now live in the car. We cuddled together in my crate (don’t judge me – he is my brother – and drastic times call for drastic measures!) and settled in. We stayed the night in a hotel, which we’ve done before. Our room smelled like many dogs, and I spent the evening reading all the messages left behind. The one thing I just love about road trips is human food. I’m a stinker and don’t eat my food when my routine is disrupted, so my mom feeds me hamburger patties. They are oh-so tasty!
Anyway, we were back on the road the next day and the next. Where was this Phoenix they spoke of? All I know is my mom and dad were all smiles, so I knew it would be great. I do love a great adventure!
Finally, we arrived safe and sound to Phoenix. Wow, the trees are funny looking. They don’t really have branches but pokey things. We pulled up to a house, and you know what? Our stuff was delivered to us! How cool is that? My toys, food and water dishes, and even my couch were here. This must be our new home! We both ran around the house exploring. This one had, count ‘em, two staircases. Oh yes, I was gonna love this house. I could chase Edmond up and down those stairs. Woof!
I was pleased to see we had a pool again. Most Shiba Inu dogs don’t swim, but I do. I’m a great swimmer! Yes, we were home in Phoenix, Arizona. New adventures awaited me. As I explore the area, I will share my experiences with you. Perhaps we’ll meet on a trail or at the lake some time. I’ll be the most-handsome Shiba Inu dog with very tall humans.
Hi! I am Kumaito (Kuma for short), a multi-tan Shiba Inu. My breed is one of the oldest and purest from Japan. I personally was born in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, moved to Friendswood, Texas, and now call Phoenix, Arizona home. I enjoy running almost every day with my mom, chasing rabbits out of my neighborhood, playing with toys, pestering my brother Edmond, eating, napping … well, I love just about everything and everyone!
My mom, Lorraine Bossé-Smith (Founder of the FIT Leader Formula) is kind enough to help me with my blog where I share my Great Adventures, big and small. My mom is a motivational speaker, corporate trainer, business consultant, executive coach, behavioral-wellness expert, and author of eight published books. More importantly, she’s the best doggy mom ever!
Be sure to visit me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kumathedog?ref=hl
Get outside! You never know what you’ll discover, and our paths just might cross. Happy tails!
