New puppy in the family

[BENZ-LGB]

If you remember, last year we lost our beloved Akita, "Pepper," in a rather tragic accident. I posted a thread noting her passing away. I was totally overwhelmed by the show of compassion and support from fellow members.

Anyhow, after months of mourning we decided that it was time to add a new companion to the family "pack." Tonight we picked up the newest addition to our family.

"Tobu" (which I am told means "hop" in Japanese, this puppy hops around like he thinks he is a bunny) is a male Akita. He has a black mask, white body with black markings. He is a real cutie pie and has already made friends with the rest of our pack.

Here is a picture taken when we took him to the yard for his first business trip. I'll post more pictures tomorrow.

[Frank X. Morris]

Howdy BENZ-LGB
Congrats on the new family member. Looks like a Panda Bear

[Ashman]

adorable...

I wanna see more pictures. definately wish my labs would have stayed that size.

Alon

Congratulations!! That is one CUTE puppy! Please post more pics when you get the chance.

Congrats on the new family member. He'll be wrapping you around his paw in no time!!

[BENZ-LGB]

Here you go...

[BENZ-LGB]

Oh boy, ask a new puppy "dad" for pics and there is no end to it....

This is one tired puppy.........

[BENZ-LGB]

One more time...

Thanks for all your good wishes. After Pepper died last year, our family was trulyheartbroken. Pepper was a gentle, loving, sweet, funny companion. Once she even saved our family's life. It was hard losing her, and it was especially hard to lose her the way that we did. She made us fall in love with the Akita breed; she was a goodwill ambassador for the Akita. Our new pup, Tobu, has some mighty big paws to fill. I am sure that Pepper is watching from doggy heaven, where she can chase tennis balls all day long, and she is smiling. I know I am...

That's a cute pup you have there. Losing pets is one of the hardest things to get over. I know it is for me.

Good luck with the new pup.

-Jamie

[suginami]

"Tobu" is pronounced "toe" as in my big toe, "boo" as in boohoo.

It means a lot of things: fly, jump, hop, leap, etc.

Looks like a very cute dog. I'm sure he's peeing and pooping all over the house...

[BENZ-LGB]

....can be a handful. Yes Paul, Tobu is trying to poo and pee all over the house. But we are training him, early on, to take "business trips" to the backyard. That's one of the things we love about Akitas, they are easily housebroken because they are clean finicky. In Japan Akitas have "national monuments" and it is easy to see why.

Alon, you are right, puppies are like kids. If only one could freeze time and keep them young. I am sure that your parents wanted to keep you as a little kid forever. I know that I look at my own kids and I wish that I could keep them little forever. But alas, time marches on.

The following is a poem that I saw soon after our Pepper died. Reading it, gave me a great deal of comfort. It can also be a tear jerker, so beware....

The Spirit of an Akita Dog

I was standing on a hillside
In a field of blowing wheat
And the spirit of my Akita Dog
Appeared suddenly at my feet.

She looked at me with kind dark eyes
An ancient wisdom shining through
And in the essence of her being
I saw her love for me, too.

Her mind did lock upon my heart
As I stood there on that day
Then she told me of this story
About a place so far away.

I stood upon that hillside
In a field of blowing wheat
And in a twinkling of a second
Her spirit left my feet.

Her tale put my heart at ease
My fears did fade away
She helped me know where she had gone
When she left me on that day.

"I live among God's creatures now
In the heavens of your mind
So do not grieve for me, my friend
As I am with my kind.

My collar is a rainbow's hue
My leash a shooting star
My boundaries are the Milky Way
Where I sparkle from afar.

There are no pens or kennels here
For I am not confined
But free to roam God's heavens
Among my Akita kind.

I nap the day on a snowy cloud
Gentle breezes rocking me
And dream the dreams of earthlings
And how it used to be.

The trees are full of liver treats
And tennis balls abound
Chew bones line the walkways
Just waiting to be found.

There even is a ring set up
The grass all lush and green
And everyone who gaits around
Becomes the Best of Breed.

For we're all winners in this place
We have no faults, you see
And God passes out those ribbons
To each everyone, even me.

I drink from waters laced with gold
My world a beauty to behold
And wise old dogs do form my pride
To amble at my very side.

At night I sleep in an angel's arms
Her wings protecting me
And moonbeams dance about us
As stardust falls on thee.

You picture me as I was on earth
Just before I died
The pain is gone I am whole again
Filled with Akita pride.

So when your life on earth is spent
And you stand at Heaven's gate
Have no fear of loneliness
For here, you know I wait. "

Original Author Unknown – Adapted For All Akitas Who Died Too Young

[suginami]

Originally posted by BENZ-LGB
....can be a handful. Yes Paul, Tobu is trying to poo and pee all over the house. But we are training him, early on, to take "business trips" to the backyard. That's one of the things we love about Akitas, they are easily housebroken because they are clean finicky. In Japan Akitas have "national monuments" and it is easy to see why.

Yeah, the monument you are referring to is the statue of a famous Akita named "hachi". There is a bronze statue of the dog in front of Shibuya station in downtown Tokyo. I guess it was in the early 1900's, that a man and his dog, Hachi, would walk to the train station every morning, and the dog would see him off to work, and then walk back home. At the end of the day, the dog would walk back to the train station to wait for his master.

One day, the man died and didn't make it back home. His dog continued to wait for him to come home every single evening, until the dog died. A very sad story.

[Frank X. Morris]

Howdy Benz-LGB,
Are those blue eyes that I see on your little guy?¿

[BENZ-LGB]

...have a bluish tint. Not sure if it will remain, though none of his littermates has the same eye coloring.

[Frank X. Morris]

Howdy BENZ-LGB
I don't know if you are going to show or even breed him but the AKC breed standard is for them to have dark brown eyes. If you are not worried about either it would be neat to have a blue eyed dog