Category Archives: Animal Welfare

Shih Tzu Day 7: The Doggy Circus is in Town

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You'd be having a bad hair day too!The shih tzu sisters have been doing great. We had Leticia and the grandchildren over all day Sunday. The dogs weren’t thrilled, but they didn’t seem traumatized.

We ate outside in the garage and let the children come in one by one to meet them. They behaved when Rema, Junior and Evita came in to meet them. They even came out into the room when Oriana was inside, but Flower did growl at Dulcea.

We were afraid how they would react badly to the Fourth of July activities, but they came through with flying colors. We tried to get them to go outside to do their business early in the evening, but fireworks went off and they scurried back inside. After that, we stayed inside and watched movies. They handled the gunshots and loud noises from “The Mechanic” well, so action movies shouldn’t be a problem. I think the noise on the TV blended in with the fireworks outside, so they were fine.

I saw you hide the chicken jerky!Candy did a little dance across the carpet last night that was adorable. I don’t know what it meant, but she sure is entertaining. They all dance around when I come downstairs in the morning, although they get serious when John appears. I know they will warm up to him, as soon as they realize he won’t hurt them.

When they continue to be most excited, however, is when they hear the Milo’s Kitchen bag rattling. Flower jumps around like a dancing horse and they all rush me. I’m not sure if that’s acceptable behavior, but I prefer them to be rambunctious over shaking in the corner of their exercise pen.

Don't even think you can jump higher than I can!Candy is pretty good about going outside willingly, but the other two still think they should do their business in the pen or on the carpet. I bought some training pads for them, but as soon as I put one down, Flower began wrestling with it.

 

 

Shih Tzu Day 3: Yum, Yum, Yogurt

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Say pretty please, and I might eat some more yogurt.

You're not fooling me. I know all people are BAD!

Flower hasn’t decided to be friendly yet. She had a fit when I walked into her pen to guide her outside, but she finally went.

When John went outside, she started barking and growling. I was sitting at the edge of the steps, and she tore towards me and flew up them and beyond me, squeezing herself through the narrow door opening into the kitchen and into her play yard.

Her attitude frightened Dottie, who started shaking again. None of it affects Candy.

About an hour later, I gave the three shih tzus a little bit of Noosa Yoghurt. All of them gathered around the container and eagerly licked it up. At dinnertime, I picked pieces of chicken off chicken wings and fed it to them.

Candy continues to come out and roam around the living room and dining room. I sat her on the couch with me and fed her a small piece of chicken jerky. She let us pet her ears for a while before jumping off. Flower’s eyes still get huge when I pet her, but she doesn’t act startled.

If this is yogurt, I guess we like it!

I have nicknames for all of the girls. I call Candy “Candy Mandy,” which is what we used to call my stepdaughter, Candace. I also call her Skittle, because she is skittish. Dottie is Dippin’ Dots and Polka Dots, and Flower is Flower Child. Collectively they are the little Ewoks or Furbies, and sometimes even “Children of the Corn,” or “Cujo,” depending on how they are acting. Of course, the last two references are exaggerations. They never act that bad, although Flower tries to be scary when she growls and barks.

Candy is getting more and more bold. She came up and put her paws on the couch, looking for more Milo’s Kitchen chicken jerky, I assume. I had some, but didn’t want to make it too easy for her to get, so I held it away, hoping she would jump up on the couch. She started barking and wouldn’t stop. I thought earlier that she might be too short to jump up, but I found out that isn’t the case.

After I went up to the bedroom, John came downstairs and found Candy on the couch, searching for the jerky. So, I guess she can jump that high. The next time he came downstairs, Candy and Dottie were wandering around the living room and ran back into their pen. That’s the first time Dottie ventured out into the living room on her own.

Shih Tzu Day 2: Milo’s Kitchen Gets Dottie to Eat

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I was trying to resist eating, but she brought out the chicken jerky!I went back to the store since the shih tzus wouldn’t eat the chicken jerky from Costco. I figured they were probably not eating the dog treat because they were still stressed, but I thought I might try another brand. I was going to get them the Waggin’ Train brand, but then I read on a savings blog that there was a Milo’s Kitchen coupon in Sunday’s paper and that Target had it on sale. I figured I might as well try it. I’m very glad I did.

Flower was the first sister to take the chicken jerky. She ate some and then began chewing on her red and white Pork Chomps that Delores brought with their things. She also followed Candy out to the end of the couch and peeked out, before running back to the pen.

Candy continues to surprise me. She came up twice and slightly licked my toes. I thought that she wanted the chicken jerky I had, but I wanted her to get on the couch to get it. Maybe she needs doggy stairs, like we had for Joey, because she didn’t attempt it, but instead, went back into her pen.

I got Flower and Candy to go outside. Candy did her business, but I think she was more interested in finding a way to escape. We are going to have to keep an eye on them when they are outside.

Each of them let me pet their ears later, which was a small victory. While I was upstairs taking a bath, I heard the jingling of a dog tag. It’s possible one of them was exploring.

Dottie doesn’t seem as nervous as she was yesterday. In fact, I was relieved that I got her to eat. Milo’s Kitchen came to the rescue. When I finally got her to try it, the way she went after it reminded me of my good friend Deb calling the pita bread and hummus (yum!) at Yia Yia’s “crack.” That chicken jersey must have hit the spot in the same way. Dottie took it and gobbled it right down. So did Candy.

Dottie also ventured away from her corner looking for more. I guess Flower is angry at me for making her go outside this morning. She isn’t eating. But we are taking baby steps. Or, as Tom Conti (one of my favorite actors) said in “The Gospel According to Vic,” “Inch by inch. Inch by inch.”

Even though Dottie has eaten and timidly stepped outside of her pen, I am still the most concerned about her. I know Barbara thought she would acclimate sooner, but since she bonded the most to Barbara, she might actually have the hardest time.

Although they aren’t too excited about their new life, I can’t wait to get up and see them in the morning. I hope that each day gets better, and that they will soon feel like part of the family.

Shih Tzu Day 1: A New Foster Home

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We aren't moving out of this corner!Delores stopped by this morning to make sure the improvements were made in the backyard to keep the shih tzus safe. We passed our BFF Rescue inspection. She came back about an hour and a half later, with Barbara and the shih tzus. We were all pleasantly surprised that Flower surveyed her new Superyard without appearing frightened. Instead, she danced around, tail wagging, jumping over Candy, who was the quietest one. Delores tried grooming her face yesterday, so she might not be that happy. Dottie roamed around the house a little. When we opened the door to go outside, they all followed us, and circled their outdoor exercise pen several times.

If she tries to talk to us, pretend you can't hear her.

It reminded me of scenes from Toy Story when Barbara and Delores left about 45 minutes later. Dottie, Candy and Flower all went back to the far end of their pen and huddled together, as if they had never come alive.

I went to the store this afternoon to get them some chicken jerky and a water bowl. Barbara gave them Waggin’ Train they bought in large bags at Sam’s Club, but they didn’t have it at Costco, so I bought what they had. I also got a  very cute ceramic bowl from the Dollar Tree that said “Lap Dogs” and “Feed Me” and pictured traditional lap dogs. Although shih tzus top the list of popular lap dogs, I have no idea if these little furry fellows will ever sit on our laps.

When I got back from shopping, I opened the back door and Dottie and Candy went outside, but Flower wouldn’t move. I tried to give them some jerky, but none of them would take it from me. I put a few pieces on the ground, though, and someone ate one of them. After that, Flower left the pen, strayed a few feet and then came back. Maybe she was just looking for a way to escape, or maybe she was looking for Barbara. I tried to utter the magic words, “Silly girls,” which Delores says makes them dance. It didn’t work.

I hoped to have better luck getting the girls to eat at dinnertime. I had recently read that most dogs like hamburger, mashed potatoes and green beans (Joey did, but she liked most food!), so I planned to treat them with a good, home-cooked meal after John got home.

The furry critters didn’t seem too frightened when he walked in the door. When John started cooking, I hoped the delicious smells would lure them out of their pen, but it didn’t happen. Instead, I fixed them petite plates and served it to them in their play yard. Flower was the first one to eat the hamburger, followed by Candy. However, they left the potatoes and green beans mostly untouched. Dottie wasn’t eating at all, so I took her out of the pen, hoping she might eat in a different location. It didn’t work.

Their stress doesn’t prevent them from sleeping, however.  They appear to be sound asleep right now.

Shih Tzu Prelude: Last Dogless Day

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I called the shih tzus’ foster mom today to see if I could come see them at 10. I imagine this might be my last visit to see them at Barbara’s house. John and I just need to make our final preparations tonight and then it is up to Delores to see when we take the girls home.

Candy, Flower and Dottie huddle together in their exercise pen.

I didn’t take them out to the dog run, as we have done on all past visits, because I was only staying for a short time. Barbara came in and held one of the shih tzus while we were talking. I was petting the shih tzu and telling her that one day soon she would let me hold her and Flower would as well. Barbara said, “This is Flower.” I was surprised. I really wasn’t looking at the dog’s face, but just petting her and not paying attention. She was so docile, and I am used to Flower growling. Every now and then I get those glimpses of what Flower will act like once she is used to me — at least I hope so.

I have been looking for safety gates and exercise pens on Craigslist, even though Barbara and Delores said I could take the exercise pen they have. I figure if I get something intended for inside, we can use that one outside somehow. I called someone yesterday on a North States Superyard in Commerce City. It was listed for $50. However, I saw the same thing at Walmart.com for the same amount. I asked the woman if she would go lower, and she said she would take $30. John went and got it on his way home from work. We got a better deal than I thought. The play pen has six sides, and a two-sided extension sells for an extra $20. I didn’t realize this one had the extension already. I was pleased with it. It’s sturdy plastic instead of metal, so it looks more like a baby pen. In fact, it is made for babies. Ironically, the pet stores sell the same thing by the same company under a different name for nearly $100. So, I am very pleased with the purchase.