Ready for a double dose of cuteness? Then you’ve come to the right place! Meet Kuma, a social butterfly, and Kenji, a recent rescue, both hailing from Dallas. They are talkative Shiba Inus who, at the end of the day, really just like to have a good time.
They lured the judges of the AMLI Paw-parazzi Pet Photo Contest in with their sophisticated pose…and those bow ties! They secured a regional win, so we caught up with their human, Monica Yun So, and got the scoop on their life in Dallas and independent nature.
Tell us about Kuma and Kenji.
Kuma is a one-and-a-half-year-old, red Shiba Inu. Kenji is a four-year-old black Shiba Inu.
Kuma means bear in Japanese and Kenji means Wise Second Son.
Are these your first dogs of this kind?
They are my first Shiba Inu, but I’m not a first-time dog owner.
How did you decide to get them?
They look like a pet fox! Plus, they are known to be very playful and vocal. We talk with each other all the time! Shibas are also very cat-like. They’re the famous meme named Doge.
Does Kuma know any tricks? What about Kenji?
Kuma is full of tricks. His favorite one: He knows how to speak on command because he loves to say hello to everyone. He also knows how to wave hello. Such a social butterfly! Kenji is a recent rescue and still learning how to adjust, but he learned how to sit! Kuma has been helping Kenji break out of his shell and protects him when we go for a walk. It’s pretty amazing!
What are Kuma’s and Kenji’s favorite games? Treats? Pastimes?
Kuma loves cucumbers and all sorts of veggies. Kenji loves salmon and sweet potatoes. And of course, they both love peanut butter. Who doesn’t? A favorite pastime is hiking! Kuma has been on a couple of hiking trips with us. I can’t wait for Kenji to be ready to join us!
Are they more affectionate or an independent sort?
Shibas are very independent. They don’t like to cuddle very much, but we force our love on them. Kenji is more affectionate and we think it’s because he had a rough life before we rescued him.
If they could talk, what would they tell us about you?
They would probably thank us for spoiling them!
What are your dogs’ favorite part about living at AMLI?
They love the treats at the office and the greetings they get from the staff. Both Kuma and Kenji love riding the elevator too.
We also have a dog blog featuring Kuma! Check it out. It needs some updating which will happen very soon!
Stay tuned as the Pet of the Month series continues in September.
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View All Posts by Yvette Pistorio