Monthly Archives: November 2011

Shih Tzu Day 127: Chasing Tail

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two shih tzus on a couchwe’ve come a long way, Flower

I had lunch with a friend today and we were talking about the shih tzus. She said one of her children asked her if Flower still poops when she’s afraid. I thought about that. I guess we have come a long way. She hasn’t done that lately.

a shih tzu on an animal print throw. I had another shih tzu conversation with a friend recently. She found out I had adopted some shih tzus and told me that she really wanted one. She expressed that she was hoping to find a black-faced shih tzu. Her reason was that white-faced shih tzus get “eye goo.” I think she was actually referring to tear stains, which she thinks eye goo causes. I understand what she is saying, because I definitely would love it if the shih tzus didn’t have tear stains, but I don’t love my shih tzu sisters less because of it. They are beautiful in my eyes, tear stains or not. I know different things cause tear stains, though, and I will keep trying to figure out why Flower in particular has them, because I want her to be healthy.

tail-chasing shih tzu

a female shih tzu on a bright throwThe three youngsters were in a paw-boxing mood today. It started with Candy and Nigel, as usual, but then Nigel decided to take on both of them — or they both decided to take on him. I’m not sure which is correct. The shih tzus mellowed out for a while, but a little bit later I hears a loud squeak, which usually means, “Thief! That treat was mine!” I looked up, but couldn’t figure out what had happened. Dottie and Flower, on the couch by me, looked at me innocently, and Candy and Nigel looked up from the floor. Oh well. That’s one mystery that won’t be solved.

The shih tzus got restless again at about 7:15. It was time for another round of tussling. I looked up when I heard a noise like a stampede of horses crossed the dining room floor. It was Flower, with Nigel hot on her tail. Again, my guess is that there was a stolen treat of some kind involved. A little later, Dottie started to come up on the couch, and Nigel bit her tail and held it firmly in his mouth until I made him let go. That little male shih tzu definitely has a thing for tails!

When the house’s other male came home, Candy and Nigel rushed to the door to greet him. This time, Flower was right behind them. She can’t quite bring herself to go clear up to the door though. One of these days she will.

Shih Tzu Day 126: Let It Snow

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shih tzu snow day


four shih tzus wearing jackets in the snow; one is sticking his tongue out.

 

I woke up this morning to Candy barking instead of Dottie moaning. I’m not sure why she was the furry alarm clock today. She was still waiting at the bottom of the stairs, instead of going upstairs with her shih tzu sisters. When I went downstairs, I realized that it had snowed quite a bit. Maybe that’s why she was barking.

The female shih tzus went out on the porch for their breakfast, since I still don’t trust Nigel to eat near them without taking their food. They didn’t mind it, but none of them wanted to get off the porch.

However, the shih tzus were up to the challenge — and fun — of romping in the snow this afternoon. I bought them all dog jackets from Ross Dress For Less and was excited to put them on them. Flower’s is black and has a pink skull on the back. Candy’s is also pink, but says “Biker Babe.” Flower’s is pink and white polka dots. Nigel’s is black and is plain, except it has a fur collar. I thought all the shih tzus looked adorable in their dog clothes.

I didn’t have much trouble bundling up Nigel, Dottie and Candy, but Flower didn’t make it easy for me. She kept running around, until I finally trapped her in the kitchen.

I stayed outside and watched the shih tzus romping in the snow. They looked like they were having a lot of fun. A few times, Flower froze in time and I had to pull her out of the snow. Beyond that, I think she loved it. I know I loved watching them!

 

Shih Tzu Day 125: Another Rowdy Shih Tzu Day

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energetic shih tzus

a <strong srcset=shih tzu on her back on animal print blanket” width=”200″ height=”150″ />The shih tzus had a lot of energy today. Nigel was being a little too rowdy with the girls earlier. He kept going to Shih Tzu Central and picking fights with the shih tzu sisters. I couldn’t tell if they were OK with it or not. However, someone started yipping so I stepped in. I am still not quite sure what to do to get him to stop, so I follow Cesar’s advice of giving him a “bite” with my hand on his side and telling him sternly to stop. Sorry to say, he doesn’t seem to listen very well no matter what I do, so I will have to find a better way to get him to obey me.

three shih tzus playing

 

 

 

 

I walked Nigel out of shih tzu Central, like a teacher walking a bad student to the principal’s office. However, he went right back in after I sat down, and started picking on Flower. I picked him up and him in his dog bed. He stayed there for a while.

two shih tzus playingtwo shih tzus playing

 

 

 

 

I opened the door later, to see if anyone wanted to go out and play, and Nigel and Candy flew out. When andy had played enough, she came in and retired to Shih Tzu Central to get her beauty rest, but Nigel wouldn’t leave her alone. I ended up using his couch steps as a barrier to keep him out of Shih Tzu Central. I turned them around, with the back of the steps facing the living room.

two shih tzus tongue to tongue. shih tzus playing

 

 

 

 

I did let him wrestle with the girls this afternoon, since they seemed to want to play. At one point, Wild Flower left the wrestling tournament to bite my toe, and then went back into the ring. Candy and Flower bounced up to the couch later, and Nigel followed them, deciding he would bite my toes too.

Nigel hasn’t been lying in his dog bed much over the last couple of days. I don’t think it looks as comfortable as the girls’ beds, because it doesn’t have as much filling. Today, I had the red blanket on me, and it was covering my feet. He decided to lay down on the blanket next to my feet.

learning about shih tzu relaxation

I used to say that Flower couldn’t relax on the couch. I just realized how much that has changed. Dottie was stubbornly guarding “her” corner of the couch earlier today, as usual. I looked up at one point, though, and realized that Dottie was right beside me, chewing on a pressed bone. Flower was lying at the end of the couch, and I thought she looked quite relaxed.

dress your doggy for less

a shih tzu in a leopard print dress with hood. a shih tzu in a leopard print dress on a blanket.

 

 

 

 

I took my mom shopping with me recently, and after we finished at PetSmart, she waited in the car while I made an exchange at Ross Dress For Less. I showed her the pink and brown animal print dog dress I came out with and she started laughing. She looked at the store name and said, “It should be ‘Dress Your Doggie For Less’.” I thought that was clever of her. She laughed because she wouldn’t think about putting clothes on her dogs, which have including retrievers, chows and mid-size terriers. She’s way too practical for that.