The adventures of Ethel and Lucy – weeks 8, 9 and 10

It’s a bittersweet time as Yumi (f.k.a. Lucy) and Aiko (f.k.a. Ethel) have left the Junketsu den. Despite having all of our other dogs, there is something so special (and chaotic) about having puppies around. We’ll miss them very much but we’re confident that their new owners will shower them with love and attention. Let’s face it. Puppies know how to make their presence known just by being silly and cute!

As we said in a previous blog entry, we always want our puppies to go to the best owners possible. We’re grateful that Yumi and Aiko will be well looked after in their respective new homes in NorCal and Washington state. And we hope to receive regular updates about them as they grow up because they’ll always be a part of the Junketsu family.

We wish Aiko and Yumi a happy and long life with their new families.

Yumi the Younger Japanese Akita
Aiko the Japanese Akita puppy chews on a slipper
Japanese Akitas Kuma and Aiko playing

Sweet Aiko has a big brother named Kuma to play with. He’s
a brindle Japanese Akita.

Aiko and Kuma Japanese Akitas near Seattle

Aiko contemplating whether she wants to take a nap like her big brother or pounce on him.

Yumi will have no trouble training people to do her bidding because she’s just that cute!

Japanese Akita puppy playdate at the AKIHO LA Show 2016

Japanese Akita puppy ex-pen meetup at the AKIHO LA 2016 Show. Three different litters are represented here.

The Adventures of Lucy and Ethel – Weeks 6 and 7

Adult Japanese Akitas introduced to puppies through the baby gate
Japanese Akita puppies meeting full grown Japanese Akitas

Here are the girls meeting
THE BEST Japanese Akita
puppy sitters EVER!

Lucy and Ethel’s 7th and 8th weeks have been spent exploring, meeting a couple of our other dogs and going to the vet’s for their vaccinations. It’s been a very social couple of weeks for them. As we suspected, Ethel is a moku (Japanese word for long coat). Some people believe that moku Japanese Akitas are smarter than their regular coated counterparts. It’s hard to tell whether Ethel is smarter than Lucy, but she continues to be slightly more docile than her sister though she’s just as playful when she’s in the mood. Lucy is definitely more like Dora the Explorer. Even though Ethel looks much bigger, she weighed in at 10 lbs, while Lucy’s weight was 11 lbs. 1 oz. Of course, Lucy peed on the exam table.

This weekend will be a big weekend for the girls. They’re going to the 43rd Annual Akita Inu Hozonkai dog show where they’ll play in the puppy pen with other members’ pups. And next week, Lucy will be going to her new home in Northern California. We’re still looking for the right people for Ethel because bringing a moku into the home takes a special kind of commitment due to grooming needs. The good thing is both AKIHO and JACA have members who are more than willing to give excellent advice and share their experiences. If you’ve ever seen a well groomed long coat Japanese Akita in person, they’re strikingly beautiful. And they know it.

 

We’re really lucky that Kita and Waka have such amazing dispositions. They’ve been the first adult dogs that our litters meet (apart from their mommies), which proves for positive initial interaction. Socialization is one of the key aspects in our puppies’ early development.

 

 

Here’s Lucy looking for the mommy milk bar. Since Kita is a male, he’s not about to replace Kaki for feedings. In any case, the girls are on solid foods now (it’s just that old habits are hard to break).

The best male Japanese Akita babysitter
Kita the Japanese Akita with his adopted puppy

Hi Dr. Mardell Denney!
We’re coming to see yoooouuu!
Don’t hurt us, ‘kay???

Uh, excuse me?
You’re going to put the thermometer where?

Ethel: Move over, fatty.
Lucy: Shh, be quiet. I’m secretly peeing on the table.

Crated Japanese Akita puppies going to the vet
Japanese Akita puppy on the exam table at the vet
Ethel and Lucy on the vet's exam table
Japanese Akita Sailor Moon
Pretty in Pink Japanese Akita
JACA Cares puppy t-shirt
Yawning Japanese Akita puppy