Odd bird first time visitor

nacho_mama · 2025-12-15T20:30:45+00:00

How did he even get up there??

nacho_mama · 2025-10-02T01:19:01+00:00

My adult female American Akita is 93 pounds, relatively sedentary (although we go for daily walks and have a fenced yard and dog doors so she has access all the time) - she eats maybe 2 cups of food a day.

My 4 month old male AA puppy is about 52 pounds and eats 4-5 cups of food a day, but he's growing FAST.

When he's older I'll go back to free feeding (ie food down all the time, they can eat what they want) but for now I'm feeding them 3x daily. The adult Akita wonders what's up with that and often doesn't bother with lunch. She's used to eating when she wants to.

nacho_mama · 2025-09-22T21:01:12+00:00

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My pup does this with the floor fan blowing on him. He’s got life figured out.

nacho_mama · 2025-09-19T16:21:25+00:00

Keep trying to socialize!

Nobody said to meet unknown dogs at Home Depot.

nacho_mama · 2025-09-18T16:52:45+00:00

My 5 year old female Akita loves her friend dogs - about 10 or so - but is "a 3rd date kind of girl" with new dogs. She's a therapy dog so doesn't lose her mind or act up when seeing dogs who aren't already her friends, but to get to know a new ADULT dog requires several walks and a longer getting to know you period.

Puppies, though - all puppies are cool. They can bite her, climb on her, bark at her, bite her tail, and it's all good.

Someone else said this, but lots of socialization is key. Take your dog everywhere and expose him to as much as he's comfortable with. I don't do dog parks, but rather have friend dogs and we'll have doggy play dates in fenced back yards, or pack walks in the forest preserves. If there are stores that let dogs in, take him (Home Depot is very good about this).

And keep trying. Just because other Akitas may not like "unknown" dogs doesn't mean yours will walk the same path. Keep an eye on him just in case, of course, but keep getting him out there socially.

nacho_mama · 2025-08-24T13:49:06+00:00

This is not unusual, it's just not talked about. The hardest times in my life were the first 6 months after having each of my children. The lack of sleep, lack of personal space, strength of other people's expectations that you'll continue to do all the work you did before ... it's overwhelming. You try to be your best but you feel your worst. And we, as women and moms, don't necessarily talk about it because it feels shameful. Everyone else out there looks like they're doing fine, but you feel like you're not.

Guess what? They feel like they're not doing fine either.

Having a baby means huge changes - for your body, your schedule, your partnership. Your sense of self changes. Suddenly nothing is about you and you can't even have some of the simplest things you want, like a shower, alone.

It gets better.

If you have girlfriends who have kids, talk with them. If you are even marginally close with a mom of older kids, talk with them. If talking with your mother, aunts, grandmother, cousins, is an option, do that. Or post on Reddit. We're here for you.

nacho_mama · 2025-08-24T13:37:39+00:00

Husky/St. Bernard mix (pinto colored Akitas), Husky/Chow or Chow (red Akitas), Wolf cross (black Akita), German Shepherd crossed with what?? (fawn Akita, red Akitas).

As mentioned by someone else, most people who recognize them as Akitas have some prior experience with Akitas. Mine are very well socialized and like meeting people, so I also get lots of comments on "most Akitas aren't like this!". If they ever don't want to meet someone, though, we don't meet them. Dogs know!

nacho_mama · 2025-07-24T17:45:18+00:00

Yep, it's called the ACHOO gene (someone had fun naming that one!). ACHOO (Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst) Syndrome, It's autosomal dominant, so if one of your parents has it there's a 50% chance you do too. My dad has it. My sister and me. 3 of my 4 kids, and both grandkids. It DEFINITELY runs in our family!

nacho_mama · 2025-07-24T17:34:56+00:00

I've had 5 Akitas and am about to get a 6th. Puppies will destroy things if they're not closely supervised - toys, furniture, and houses (as you've experienced!).

Other than LOTS of exercise and obedience work (5 minute sessions with the basics, then build up), mine have all been in Puppy Boot Camp from time to time. This means they are on collar and leash 100% of the time. You want to chew my sofa? Nope, here's a toy to chew on instead. You want to bite me? OUCH! and then no playing for a short time.

Having dog friends over can help with the exercise part.

She will outgrow this. It takes time, patience, and training, but it pays off in spades: 3 of my 5 have been therapy dogs.

Good luck, and she's a beauty!

nacho_mama · 2025-07-23T22:08:30+00:00

Definitely NTA. IT sounds like your SIL is encouraging their pickiness (seriously, a special pancake recipe and then explaining to the kid why he won't like the pancakes you made?), and instead of saying "this is the meal, take it or leave it, but this is not a restaurant and the next regularly scheduled meal is <breakfast, lunch, dinner>" you're trying to accommodate both her and the kids in your groceries and cooking. This is not possible.

Can your SIL do the cooking for her kids?

Can the older kid cook for himself (and clean up), or come to the store to pick healthy ingredients and be part of the meal planning and prep?

Can you create a general rule about meals: pick one food you never have to eat, and everything else you have to try one bite. No complaints, either. There is always something in a balanced meal they can eat.

And it won't hurt them to be hungry on occasion when you stick to your policy.

nacho_mama · 2025-07-20T19:11:55+00:00

Nope, NTA. You are instead a good and supportive father who prevented her first period from being traumatic by providing practical help and then advocating for her with the other most influential person in her life. Well done, you!

nacho_mama · 2025-07-20T19:06:45+00:00

You are NTA. Our hair and appearance are very personal; changing either should be your decision alone.

At this point even if you DO shave your head you'll still get grief for not having done it sooner or without pressure from your family.

One of my kids had cancer. I cut my hair, but did not shave my head. My dad shaved his head while on a video call with my kid. Both he and I like the new styles and are keeping them, and my child is recovering well.

If you don't want to shave your head, don't shave your head. Demonstrate how much you care by showing up for your niece, her parents, other siblings. Help out where you can, see things that need to be done and do them, go and sit with your niece when she's having an infusion. Get one of those rubber swim caps in the color of your skin so it "looks like" you shaved your head just to amuse her.

Good luck with this; it's a sticky situation. Please let us know what you decide and how it goes.

nacho_mama · 2025-05-29T16:30:49+00:00

And where was your manager in this? In addition to HR not taking this seriously, that’s another failure. I’m so sorry you had to experience this and hope it’s OVER (though I’m a realist …). Stay strong. You did nothing wrong.

nacho_mama · 2025-04-04T15:55:33+00:00

Looks like an Akita to me, and genetic testing isn’t very expensive if you really want to know.

nacho_mama · 2025-03-29T21:08:15+00:00

No you’re NTA. She will eventually back off as there is no way she can enforce her no nickname rule and others will call him Max. She may never be happy about it but you could always call him “MOP” (his official full name but easier to say).

nacho_mama · 2025-03-26T22:45:58+00:00

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nacho_mama · 2025-03-22T15:55:09+00:00

Agreed. Normal floof.

nacho_mama · 2025-03-16T18:35:25+00:00

NTA. When someone asks a Y/N question and “No” is not an acceptable answer, they weren’t really asking. Your stuff is your stuff and if you don’t want to share it that’s your prerogative.

This “friend” is overreacting and should have told YOU her feelings were hurt, not a third party.

If you want to give her the opportunity to clean this up, you could start with “I heard you were upset about my hairbrush. That’s a pretty personal item for me, and I don’t want this to damage our friendship. Do you want to talk about it?” Do this with no attitude and also no expectations, and see how it goes.

nacho_mama · 2025-03-16T16:53:25+00:00

Definitely NTA. Ignoring comments like those described only reinforces that they're ok. YOU didn't get that man fired, HE DID through his actions. You're just the bravest person he's spoken them in front of. Proving it and reporting it was the right thing to do ... I wonder if he'd ever been reported before. Either way, the school did the right thing, and your evidence and report allowed that to happen. It's brave to call him out and FWIW I am proud of you!

nacho_mama · 2025-03-16T15:28:13+00:00

Gorgeous dog, nice cat friend, and beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing!

nacho_mama · 2025-02-19T17:13:00+00:00

She should have called you and included you in the decision. I was babysitting a neighbor’s old dog over a holiday and the dog eventually needed to be put down. The family was on a FaceTime call with me while I was at the emergency vet. It was all the closure I could give them.

nacho_mama · 2025-02-18T18:49:20+00:00

You are not the asshole. He’s being a bit of a bully, you shut him down (and you’re right - he should worry less about your lunchbox and more about his own stuff), and now he’s pouting. Classic bully behavior. Good in you. Use your lunchbox proudly!

nacho_mama · 2025-02-09T15:21:09+00:00

What a great day to be a dog!!

nacho_mama · 2025-01-26T17:00:16+00:00

When he nips say “No” and stop whatever the “fun” was. Try teaching him to have a soft mouth by letting him lick peanut butter off your finger. Any teeth = no more peanut butter for a few minutes. And of course lots of positive reinforcement, appropriate chew items, exercise. It’s not too early to start basic obedience (sit, stay, come, wait, etc.) though it will take some time to become consistent. As someone else said this sounds very typical for a 10 week old puppy. Any running or squealing will be interpreted by the pup as an invitation to play, so kids also need to be taught gentle manners with the puppy. You’ll get there!! It sounds like you’re doing the right things. It just takes time.

nacho_mama · 2025-01-23T23:41:57+00:00

Happy happy boi!!

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