MinPinMoments

Malibu

Malibu came into my life purely by chance. Originally, my husband and I were only taking two Min Pin pups out of a litter of three. It was only at the last moment that we changed our minds and said, “We’ll take the third puppy, too.”  Call us crazy, but it is a decision that we will never regret.

Malibu is my cautious canine. Highly suspicious of strangers and extremely wary of most dogs, Malibu prefers to keep a safe distance between herself and anything that she deems to be a threat. New situations and sometimes even familiar ones tend to stress Malibu.

Since puppyhood, Malibu has been reserved, even standoffish, towards people. She took much longer to warm up to me than the other two in her litter. Even today, Malibu is not a cuddler, preferring to sit next to me than on my lap.

At home, Malibu is the quietest of my girls. Even when my other two are barking up a storm, Malibu usually chooses to remain quiet.  A clever dog, Malibu enjoys being challenged and learning new skills. Of my three Min Pins, Malibu is the one who grasps new concepts the fastest.  She seeks stimulating activities and one of her favorite things to do is play with her doggie puzzles.

Puzzle Time

Walking with Malibu requires dialogue, specifically,  “No”, “Drop it”, and “Leave it”,  since she likes to put everything in her mouth.  Management is also required to keep Malibu from becoming reactive at the sight of her triggers: certain vehicles, bicycles, skateboarders, strangers, and dogs. For a long time, Malibu would lunge at any passing vehicle. As with Aspen, behavior modification has helped decrease Malibu’s desire to react, but the inclination is always there, especially if I let my guard down. Yummy treats provide a great distraction for Malibu and keeps her focus on me.

Although riding in the car is a regular event for the crew, Malibu is usually anxious during car rides and lets us know how she is feeling with an annoying whine or whistle. She continuously surveys her surroundings as if waiting for a monster to jump out from under the seat.

Is something down there?

Scaredy Dog

While driving, if we pass anything that sets Aspen and Quest off, Malibu just sits quietly. Maybe Malibu is conserving her energy because she is the one who reacts if anyone comes too close while we are parked. Malibu will bark, lunge, and basically make a spectacle of herself if I fail to capture her attention before she erupts. When the crew is getting out of the car, Malibu is my Min Pin who makes sure that everyone within a five-mile radius knows our exact location. To my embarrassment, her shrieks pierce the air for the first few moments until her initial excitement subsides.

A little joker, Malibu’s silly Min Pin antics provide me with comic relief. In the morning, if I don’t get out of bed quick enough, Malibu is the one who will pull the blankets off of me. Of course, while it is happening, I see no amusement in that particular talent, but always laugh about it later. Malibu also loves a game of Catch Me if You Can when she has gotten her paws on something of mine. I adore the way Malibu play bows and wiggles her butt when she is ready to have some fun.

Malibu shows off a trick that she can do with her ears.

Malibu like to dangle things from her mouth and wait to see how long it takes before I notice.

Out of my crew, Malibu seems to be the least complicated dog. Sure, she has her quirks, but most of the time they are easier to deal with than those of my other two.  The spontaneous decision to take Malibu with the other two pups was one of the best decisions of my life. Malibu and I share a special bond and she will always be my buddy.