The Feint Dog is Born!

For about a year after welcoming Torako, I think Higemaru and I lost our minds.

It was Higemaru's first time living with a dog. It had also been a long time since I left my parents' house, where they were serious dog people. Torako's dog life depended on our skills.

As she grew, we replaced her playpen and crate several times. We upgraded our potty training supplies, water dispensers, food bowls, and eventually decided on a water bowl instead of a dish.

Before I knew it, we had spent enough money to buy the latest robot vacuum that I had never been able to afford.

One of our rooms had become a waiting room for Torako's supplies.

Humans are good things.

Dog-rearing textbooks always say this: "Let your puppy interact with many people while they are young."

I wanted to engrave into Torako's brain that humans are not scary.

But unlike in the past, people don't easily reach out to touch someone else's dog anymore.

Looking for someone who might pet her

The plan was this: go to a pet supply store and pretend it was a coincidence to find "someone who might pet her."

Higemaru and I would wander around the store, whispering to each other, "That person looks like they like dogs," or "Why don't you try talking to them?" as we chased after promising candidates.

The result of the plan

Chasing people around paid off. Torako grew up to be a dog who isn't afraid of humans.

She wags her tail at strangers. She approaches them. A hand is extended.

And then, at the very last second, she dodges.

She grew up to be a magnificent feint dog.

She learned that humans are safe. But she won't let them touch her. That is the Torako way.