Japan's Cutest Dog

I swear he's laughing at me.

Is it possible to be jealous of a dog? Yup. I am.

Meet Shunsuke, known as the cutest dog in Japan.

Bastard.

Not only is he super cute, but he has a following of some 55,000 fans that check his Facebook and Twitter pages every day.

Every stinking single day.

Apparently, like myself, you can read all about his daily escapes (sounds familiar), or view his latest costumes.

The damn dog dresses better than I do.


Not only is he an Internet star, but the little Pomeranian is a TV star making regular appearances on Japanese television.

Did I mention he has his first-ever calendar - yes, for 2012!

The little pisser even has two books published in his name, though I am pretty sure he didn't write all of the material.

I mean really?! Whose leg do I have to hump around here to get a little love and attention like Shunsuke?!

The only positive thing I can take from my jealousy is that he was born in 2002 - which make him nearly 10 - so he will be dead soon.

I know, I know... that's petty. But I want you to know that that though is NOT beneath my jealous heart.

Another plus, is that while Shunsuke may not be long for this mortal coil, he will be retiring soon as the cutest dog in Japan.  

I'm unsure what the handbag sitter has planned, but I'm sure more books will be in the offering. Perhaps even a made for television movie. All I know is that I am available for whatever role I can get. Want me to fetch Sunsuke's newspaper? Sure! I'm a good puppy, no matter what anyone says.

Hell... I even have my own papers. I swear I have no idea how they got peed on. It wasn't me. 

I can't believe I am jealous of this dog! Two books??!! Really? 55,000 hits - a day??!! Really?

I must have been a cat in my last life.

By Andrew Joseph
PS: Why is that dog at the beach? I never get to go on vacation! I've been off work since mid-December and have left the house three times - just to go to the LEGO store!
PS: The LEGO store in Toronto west is awesome!

Japan's Oldest Dog Has His Day

Pusuke - good dog!

Dog gone it!

As a dog-owner for most of my unnatural life, this story sucks, but is also heart-warming.

Pusuke, a Shiba-mix dog died recently, passing away quietly at the age of 26-years and eight-months.

Born on April 1, 1985, Pusuke was recognized in December 2010 as the then-oldest living dog by Guinness World Records.

While still holding the record for longevity in Japan, an Australian cattle dog named Bluey that dies in 1939 was the longest lived at 29 years.

Pusuke's owner, Sinohara Yumiko, who lives in Sakura-shi, Tochigi-ken (about 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) south of where I lived in Ohtawara-shi) died on December 5, 2011 after he fell ill and refused to eat.

She told FNN News Japan that: "(I) would just like to thank him for staying alive so long."

The news broadcast says that in human years, Pusuke would have been about 125-years-old. That actually makes sense and makes the old dog's age counter adage seem dated.

The old adage is that one human year equals seven dog years, doubling the first year. If that were true, Pusuke would have been 194.25-years-old. That seems ancient... even for a good, little dog like Pusuke.

Amongst the many dogs I have owned, two of my rottweillers lived to the ripe old age of 17-1/2 years. For large, massive dogs, that's pretty damn good considering the larger dogs have a shorter life span, of around 10 years.

Should you wish to calculate your dog's age, here's an on-line tool I found: DOGS.

The formula is: 10.5 dog years per one human year for the first two years, and then four dog years for each human year afterwards. 

According to it, my dogs Misty and her pup Blackjack were 83 human years-old. Of course, it puts Pusuke at 120-years of age.

Whatever... I'm glad Sinohara-san got to enjoy the company of Pusuke for a long time.

By Andrew Joseph

Love You More Each Day

 Pita Pata ~ Westie ~ 7 years old

Moshi Moshi ~ Toy Poodle ~ 6 years old