誕生日 tanjoubi—birthday

Today is Shiro’s 6th birthday.

This is what he looked like on the day he came to live with us, almost 6 years ago.

Since then, he’s been a constant companion. Whether I’m sitting on the sofa…

…on the slopes of Mount Fuji…

…in the front seat of the car…

…swimming in Lake Constance…

…or in a fancy restaurant,

he is happy just to be at my side, doing whatever I’m doing.

Shiro loves the great outdoors, and has got into a lot of adventures and scrapes.

He’s a great and enthusiastic hillwalking companion.

He enjoys the view from 1000 feet up…

And is always ready to take over the controls.

He likes to feel the salt sea-breeze in his hair.

and to act as lookout and navigator on calm river waters.

When he was three years old, I decided he needed a haircut. It seemed like a good idea at the time, and I thought it wasn’t a bad first-time effort. But the hair grew back (eventually) and he forgave me even that indignity.

In that same year, Miffy came to live with us. Although she wasn’t always easy to live with, and there was a lot of rivalry, they gradually learned to get along together. Most of the time.

Shiro has a secret super-power. His hedgehog-tracking abilities are astonishing. He can sniff out a hedgehog at 500 paces.

He’s a well-travelled dog. He’s been to many different countries. Here he is in Paris:

in Cantabria (with Miffy):

In Liechtenstein:

and in llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (seriously!)

But, more than anything, Shiro loves the snow.

 

 

So, here’s to the next 6 years of fun and adventure together. Happy Birthday Shiro!