Having a dog can require some logistic intelligence so now and then. When I used to work close to my home Kensho would just stay in the garden; patiently waiting for my return (which you can read as ‘sleeping until my return’) I’ve had him on camera for several hours during my absence so I know for sure.. not a sound, not a whisper.
December 2007 things changed as I got a new job and had to travel a lot more. Working long hours doesn’t match with having a dog that’s waiting at home. Quickly a solution was found: Kensho joins me every day to work as we drive to iens.nl in Amsterdam. The first weeks he was tired, since he didn’t take any naps during work hours but now he’s fully accustomed.
Today we went for a lunch outside of my office. There are several cafe’s at the ‘Westergasfabriek‘ to choose from and we went to the ‘Westergasterras’. Very nice place and good service. Kensho was personally welcomed by name ‘Hi Kensho‘ and since they now know him by name he didn’t get his water in a plastic bowl but in a real champagne cooler. I’m just so sorry I didn’t bring my camera.
Later that day it got even better for Kensho as iens.nl won the very first cask of ‘Hollandse Nieuwe’ (a fish typically Dutch that is eaten raw and with onions on top) for which we now get a lot of promotion. Everybody at the office could taste these fish and this year these are exceptionally good. When I say everybody at the office, I mean everybody at the office – so including Kensho. He is very picky and has approved these herrings. Oh boy.. he really liked these raw fat fish.
Kensho now probably is the only dog that can say: I drink water from a champagne cooler and the only herring I eat is from the very first fresh herring.
One fresh herring this year (from the first cask) costs about 1375 euro (2125 USD).
My Akita Kensho has his passions. If I had to deduct his priorities from his behavior I would say this is his top 3:
Play with bitches, preferably when they are in heat
Digging
Tracking and hunting
In a dog whisperer workshop I have learned to never ever take away the passion of a dog. You’ll risk ending up with a lethargic animal, unworthy of a dog, without a fire burning inside. So find the passion of your dog, no matter how deep you’ll have to dig, and give him the chance to enjoy that passion (within bounderies ofcourse).
Kensho just loves to dig massive holes.
Until he just disappears…
This is one happy Akita !!!
As of today I have moved ‘digging’ from number 2 to number 1 in the Akita Passion Ranking. A bitch approached Kensho in a playful manner. He just looked up for a split second, slightly worried he was going to have to share his hole. As he ignored her, she moved on and Kensho went back to his important work.
Usually Kensho is pretty good at the ‘letting go’ thing. It’s a Buddhist skill to not get attached to belongings etc. Attachment is where the suffering starts. But today, Kensho wasn’t in a Zen state of mind. He was so preoccupied with ‘his’ hole that he didn’t want to leave. He made it perfectly clear he was determined to get to the other side… or back to Japan or something like that . Finally I had to practically drag him away to get back home. All good things come to an end.
As the Zen Buddhists say: ‘Everything changes’. The doctrine of impermanence says that everything is constantly changing. Impermanence can lead to suffering as one fails to accept the continuously changing nature of the world. This means that as one tries to relive an event or strives to keep things the same, suffering is caused by the discrepancy between impermanence and desire for permanence. As one strives for nirvana, it is essential to accept the impermanent nature of things.
T-Nell, a semi professional photographer, she also happens to by my aunt , has chosen a picture of Kensho to participate in a photo contest. This contest is held by Canon and you can vote as per May, 5th 2008. Please visit the photo contest website and help to get this picture of Kensho high [...]
Today we went for the weekend to my brother. He has his own company ‘CHOCLOC. Building and Event Support’ and he rents an art studio with his girlfriend who also owns a design company ‘FABSTRACT’ . So whenever you need a good designer, whether it’s for a new business concept, a dress, furniture (and you [...]
I’ve had him on camera for several hours during my absence so I know for sure.. not a sound, not a whisper.
