Adoption status: Adopted!
Sushi is a 6-month-old, male, red Shiba Inu.
Follow his Facebook album!

Hello everyone, my name is now Sushi and my foster mom thinks I look delicious like Sushi! I am a 6-month-old, red, male Shiba Inu and I am a big boy at 31lbs! I was left in a Virginia shelter because my family said I played too rough with their other dog and should not be with other animals. The notes also said I resource guard, I am not potty trained and I bark a lot. I wish my family had called DC SIR instead of taking me to a shelter because I would have gone straight into a foster home and life wouldn’t be so scary. You see, the people at the shelter were very nice but I shutting down after living in a cage for almost 2 weeks. DC SIR knew a shelter is no place for a puppy and worked to get me on a transport right away. The shelter scheduled my neuter and the next day a DC SIR volunteer scooped me up to take me to Shiba HQ.

It was a long drive but I didn’t make a peep. I rode well in the car and when I got to the second part of my transport I was so scared I didn’t come out of my crate or take the boiled chicken. I finally ate all the yummy treats in the second part of the drive to Shiba HQ. Of course, DC SIR decided to integrate me with the neutral dog, Katniss. I did so well that I got to meet several other nice dogs. Soon I met all the dogs at Shiba HQ without issue. Last night my foster mom slept on the couch with me to make sure I adjusted to the group. I did great! DC SIR will need to assess how I adjust to a multi-dog home but they have high hopes for me being around other dogs and they use reward-based training to create positive social experiences with other dogs and work on my resource guarding issues. I will need a minimum of two weeks for my medical and behavior assessment and since I am a puppy they will require that you take me to a force-free training class so I can learn proper manners and you can learn how to train me! If you think you could be a good fit, watch my album for updates and tell DC SIR you would like to adopt me when they say I am available!

FOSTER UPDATE: Sushi is a BIG boy for his age but he is adorably clumsy as he grows into his big paws. We have a lot of the typical puppy behaviors that need to be addressed with Sushi but we have high hopes this big boy will thrive with proper reward-based training!

Sushi was surrendered to a shelter at just 6-months-old because he ‘played too rough’ with the resident dog and we were told he resourced guarded his toys. Seems like Sushi just needed someone to encourage the appropriate behavior because he quickly learned to play nicely in a multi-generation dog foster home. But within days of arriving Sushi became very sick with Kennel Cough from being in a shelter (which is why we recommend you surrender directly to a rescue sopuppies/seniors etc., do not go through the stress of a shelter environment). While the resident dogs were fine around Sushi, we didn’t want to expose other immunocompromised dogs to the contagious flu. So Sushi had to remain in foster without much outside socialization. Luckily, he had a lot of healthy friends to play with as he recovered.

While his training and socialization were delayed, Sushi is now catching up and thriving on hiking trips and adventures. Having another young puppy around, Niki, has been even more beneficial to him. Sushi often lets little Niki steal toys from him! Sushi is a peacekeeper and likes for all the resident dogs to get along. He is a sweet teddy bear and loves to meet new dogs and people. Sushi does still mouth and pulls on clothes when people come over but he can easily be redirected to appropriate chew toys. Sushi has not had any accidents since he first arrived. He can be nervous about walking on streets in the city or near busy streets, but he is getting used to waking in the suburbs at his foster home. Sushi is a big boy for his age at 31 pounds when he came in and weighed at the time of his neuter.

As with all our puppies, he will be required to be taken to puppy classes. Puppies are a lot of work and it is essential that you have the time to properly train, socialize and set your puppy up for a lifetime of success during their critical developmental period. Please read our puppy resources if you intend to apply for Sushi! 

Location: Local (MD/VA/DC)
Dogs: Yes
Cats: TBD
Kids: TBD
DOB: October 2017
Weight: 31lbs
Intake Date: 2/15/18
Available Date: 03/25/17
Requirements: Force-free puppy classes.

Click here for more puppy training information.

Follow Sushi’s progress in his Facebook album.