So today we went to our two boys' soccer games.   We went home with a new dog.   Of course!   Isn't that what happens to everyone?   Well, Iowa was playing Wisconsin so there was a lot of game traffic so we took a different route home.   That took us by the pet store.   Not much into pets, I walked across the parking lot to a Panera for coffee.   In the time it took me to get my coffee and walk around a bit my family had fallen in love!   My wife, Karen, has been looking into the Japanese Shiba Inu breed for some time now.   I had decided that if we were to get a dog that would be my first choice since they are cat-like.   I don't want a dog jumping on me.   I want one that will keep to itself more.   Pet stores never seem to have Shiba Inu's, so in the past I've always been safe, but this time was to be different!   In fact, they had two - a black one and a sesame (red) one.   Karen and the boys held the sesame one and just loved it.   I have to admit that it's a pretty nice dog so far.   Pretty mellow, no barking (part of the breed), small (up to 20 pounds or so), and no slobber!

Both boys are really loving him so far.   We named him Kenji - a common Japanese name.   This picture makes it look like his eye is messed up, but it was just the light or something.   He will take some time getting used to his crate, but he looks like he's adopted us as much as we've adopted him!