Category Archives: Furry Alarm Clocks Candy Committee & Morning Rituals

Shih Tzu Day 33: Video Shy Shih Tzus

Posted on by
Reply

video shy shih tzus

I was very excited about getting up, my new camera beside me, and trying to catch the dancing shih tzus on video. That didn’t happen. Dottie and Flower came up to get me this morning, doing their Sesame Street wobble and bobble at my bedside, putting their paws up on the side, and jumping up and down.

However, it was too dark, so I asked John to turn on his lamp. Of course, as soon as he did, the shih tzus stopped their routine. I tried to get them to start up again, by pretending I had gone back to sleep, but they just wandered off.

Next, I decided I would see if the “Candy committee” was waiting at the bottom of the stairs to dance and prance for me. She started to, but immediately walked away when she saw the black object in my hand. They wouldn’t perform their lion dance either, although Flower and Dottie did a few lackluster moves. I ended up getting some video of them dancing a little outside, but mainly eating. I was in the picture, and this is all about the shih tzus, so, I will try again another day.

We are trying to figure out ways to get the shih tzus more comfortable with John. When we came inside after feeding the girls, John knelt by the couch and petted Dottie. She seemed completely comfortable with it.

I left the house for a few hours to take my mom shopping. When I came back, I tried to video the shih tzus again, but they still seemed to say, “This is only for you, Mom. This is our private life.”

cheap dog toys for our shih tzus

I brought the grandchildren and shih tzus back two bags of stuffed animals I bought at a thrift store for three dollars. There had to have been at least 30 animals in the bags, including a couple of Beanie Babies. While I was putting them in the washing machine, the shih tzus barked incessantly — well, at least Flower was barking, but it sounded like at least one other. I had been gone too long and they were demanding attention.

When I came back upstairs, I took the shih tzus outside to give them a treat. Once back inside, Dottie settled in beside me on the couch, while Candy chewed on a Pork Chomp on the carpet. Flower was lying on the carpet, but she went back to Shih Tzu Central. Actually, she didn’t retreat quite that far. She took possession of the dog bed between the couch and their safe zone, where Candy usually hangs out.

Flower on the people couch

I decided I would try to approach Flower to see if she’d let me hold her. My chances are usually 50-50. She bolted out of the dog bed, but instead of running any of the places I would expect, she jumped up on the people couch, which is what I wanted anyway. She jumped back down almost immediately, but then she stole the Pork Chomps treat Candy had been gnawing on, and jumped back up. She jumped up and down a few more times. Either she really wants to sit by me, or she wants to tell Dottie that she’s claiming the people couch.

I don’t think I should say she let me pet her. It’s more like she demanded it, because as soon as I would remove my hand, she would look at me like, “Put it back.” That got a little difficult, since I was trying to type on the computer. Also, if I petted Dottie, Flower would look at me, like, “Why are you doing that?”

I tried to move Princess Flower to the left side of me, so I could at least pet her with my left hand, but she didn’t want that. Instead, I typed as long as I could with just my left hand. I finally had to give up trying to please her, knowing she’d probably jump down. While this was going on, Shiloh decided to sit on the back of the other couch, looking bored or lonely; I’m not sure which.

analyzing Candy

I have been trying to analyze Candy. I am starting to think, or to get back to thinking, that she might hold back because Flower pushes her out of the way many times. I have definitely seen that happen. I will have to keep an eye on that.

I told John that Candy would have to be his project, since Flower was so jealous. After I learn about fearful dogs, I need to learn about jealous dogs! And I need to learn how to handle fearful/spoiled dogs that bark constantly.

Since Flower seems to try to block any overtures towards Candy, I stayed outside with her when the other dogs went in. I tried to pick her up, and she ran off a few feet, but then stopped so I could pick her up. I held her for a few minutes, showed her the rainbow that had appeared and talked to her.

When I passed out Pork Chomps Big Blast dog chews to the shih tzus, I was glad to see Dottie chewing on one. She doesn’t seem to like, or perhaps be capable of, chewing many of the treats. I never know if she’s just picky, or has problems eating them due to her teeth.

Shih Tzu Day 32: The Shih Tzu Sisters Scatter

Posted on by
Reply

John causes the shih tzu sisters to scatter

I decided to bring Dottie upstairs with us, away from her shih tzu sisters, for a few minutes at bedtime last night. I closed the doors so she couldn’t run out, and I just talked to her. John said, “Do you think she’s going to answer?” because I talk to them constantly.

Life looks much better without a quesy tummy.When I got into bed, I put Dottie between us. She stayed on the people bed for about twenty minutes before she finally lay down. I could tell that her head was still up though, so she wasn’t completely relaxed. I turned over and set her on the other side for a few more minutes, and then I put her down on the floor and opened the door. She ran into the hall, but then she just sat there wagging her tail. I’m not sure if she went downstairs or not after I went back to sleep. I’m thinking about getting a dog bed to put upstairs and see if any of the shih tzu sisters give it a try.

The furry alarm clocks went off at 5:30, which was way too early, since we stayed up late. John was researching tools on his iPad, and I was working with pictures and updating my blog.

Who says puppy mill moms can't become fluffy puppies? Again, I tried to ignore the shih tzu sisters, but they kept coming back until I dragged myself out of bed at 6. John was reading the instructions for the camera we just bought, so he couldn’t help me get the bowls together, as he sometimes does. It took longer than usual, especially since Flower kept barking while I was trying to get everything together, so I kept stopping to go to the door and tell her to be quiet. I know she needs some discipline. We’re getting to that point. Inch by inch.

Our experiment with Dottie yesterday resulted in the shih tzus still acting afraid of John this morning. I think Dottie and Candy would have forgotten it, and maybe even has, but Flower has gone back to barking constantly at him. The result is that they all scatter whenever he gets near them in any way.

John and I went out for pizza after church, so we were gone for a few hours. When we got home, to try to get the shih tzus a little more comfortable with John again, he passed out the treats. It seemed to help.

they’re alive

It has been very hot, and the swamp cooler doesn’t seem to be doing its job. That might be why the girls have been on their beds in their corner so much this afternoon. However, at one point, all the animals came alive. I don’t know who hit the switch. Shiloh jumped up on our couch, and Flower jumped up on her couch, bringing one of the Angry Bird toys with her. Dottie had been next to me, but she jumped down on the floor. Candy stayed behind at Shih tzu Central.

twilight

John took a bike ride, with Shiloh on a leash. Shiloh did very well. When they came back, we sat outside in the twilight. Flower barked a little, but not much. They all wandered around the garden or sat on the porch. They all came in but Candy, so John went and picked her up. He held her and stroked her for a few minutes. She didn’t seem to mind.

Shih Tzu Day 24: Shih Tzu Sidestep and Sadie Shih Tzu

Posted on by
8

I Can Do The Shih Tzu Sidestep!

No, I will not shake my tail feathers for you again because you didn't have your camera the first time!This is Candy writing, not Mom! I don’t know what happened to me last night! I didn’t really like meeting all those people, so I don’t think that’s why I’m so excited this morning. Maybe it’s because I got to stay up until after 2! I always want to dance in the morning, but this morning I wanted to try something new!

We ran up and down the stairs a couple of times, but Mom didn’t get up. She finally came down about 5:30. I wanted to surprise her, so instead of dancing towards her, I danced across the floor sideways, then sideways the other direction, and then back again! Mom laughed very hard. She said, “You are a funny little shih tzu. What do you call that? The Candy dance?” That Man was coming down the stairs behind her, but I was having so much fun, I just kept dancing!

Dottie and Flower don’t know how to dance sideways, but they started dancing with me, too. I must have got them excited, because they danced with me all across the floor. Then, when Mom opened the door for us to go outside, we danced right out the door! I love to dance!!

That other dog, the foster dog named Shiloh, tried to dance with us. He wasn’t as crazy as we were. Mommy told him before not to scratch her legs, so he is trying not to be bad. We never scratch her legs. We just dance! And dance!

Mom seemed to take a really long time to give us our food today. I just wandered around, waiting, but Flower started barking. She doesn’t like to wait for her food. She had to stop barking when Mom came out and told her to be quiet, though.

Pretty soon, that man came out with our dishes. He left Shiloh’s food inside, because when Shiloh is outside, he tries to eat ours as well. We were really hungry. As soon as the bowls hit the floor, we rushed towards them. Mom said we were pigs; we gobbled it down quickly!

Mommy asked the Man if Flower had growled at all. Come to think of it, I don’t think she did, and Flower loves to growl, especially at the Man.

Sadie Shih Tzu (aka Sadie Boo??)

We're hoping for a play date with Sadie Boo!We are very excited about a new friend. Her name is Sadie Shih Tzu, but we think she is also Sadie Boo. We like Boo. We think we would all like to be named Boo: Dottie Boo, Candy Boo and Flower Boo! Giggle. We’d be great Halloween dogs!

Anyway, we follow each other on Twitter. She has a really cool website: SadieShihTzu.com. She named our website the website of the week. Wasn’t that nice of her! I wish we could have a play date!

Shih Tzu Day 16: The Chinese Lion Dance

Posted on by
Reply
Flower, Dottie and Candy in the Lion DanceFlower, Candy and Dottie do their morning Chinese Lion Dance.

The Chinese Lion Dance of the Shih Tzus at Dawn

Flower tackles Dottie during the danceFlower tackles Dottie during the dance.

The dogs didn’t start rumbling until 5:20, after they heard me get up and use the restroom. Once I was back in bed, Dottie  came into the room and up to the bed. She rolled around a little near my side after I picked her up, and then she jumped down. Flower came up stairs, but didn’t come into the bedroom or bathroom.

The Lion Dance Gets IntenseThe Chinese Lion Dance sometimes gets intense.
Candy, Flower and Dottie continue the Lion DanceThe Shih Tzu Lion Dance usually lasts several minutes each morning.

I stayed in bed until 6. When I came down the stairs, John was right behind me. For once, he witnessed the shih tzu tribal dance. Candy, Flower and Dottie danced around merrily, nipping at the hand I extended and jumping over each other. Occasionally, Flower jumped up on the couch, and then jumped back down, occasionally landing on Dottie or Candy. Sporadically, someone would get too rough, prompting a yelp or low growl.

Our Nature Lover

John had the shih tzus go outside and wait while I fixed their meal of dry food, Natural Balance and cottage cheese. I can tell they are getting more used to him. Even though he was outside, they gobbled it right down.

Later, Candy wandered around for awhile in their outdoor pen, looking for a place to do her business. The other girls still don’t take her lead. After that, Candy sat on the stairs, looking out at the yard. I think she is the nature lover.

Flower walked up and down on the porch where we sat, sniffing John, coming back to me, going and sniffing John, coming back to me, sitting near John very briefly, then coming back and sitting next to me. When she was in a good position, I picked her up and held her for about five minutes.

Dottie Attempts a High Jump

After we went in, they all wandered around the living room. Dottie kept stopping in front of the couch. I finally picked her up and positioned her on the couch next to me. John noted that he hadn’t seen her shake for awhile. I realized that the outside noises didn’t seem to be bothering any of them lately either.

A little later that morning, Dottie tried unsuccessfully to jump up onto the couch. She fell short by a couple of inches, landing back on the ground, and I quickly picked her up and set her beside me.

She followed me upstairs later, waiting there for me until I came back out into the hall and came downstairs.

I seldom sit on Flower’s couch, but today I did, briefly. She jumped up to sit beside me, and stayed there next to me until I got up a few minutes later. When Dottie and I were upstairs, I turned around and saw Flower sitting at the top of the stairs. It surprised me. I hadn’t heard her dog tags jingling. As soon as I turned, she ran right back down.