Category Archives: Visitors

Day 169: Christmas Shoot for the Shih Tzus

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the shih tzus say cheese

three shih tzu females posing for a Christmas card. The shih tzus were in for something different today. One of my closest friends worked for me as a photographer when I was editor of an aviation paper a few years ago. She volunteered to come over and take holiday pictures of Dottie, Candy, Flower and Nigel for Christmas. We decided to make it our Christmas luncheon combined doggie photography session.

a male shih tzu in a Grinch outfitBefore Deb got here, I set up our small Christmas tree inside Shih Tzu Central. I figured that would be where the female shih tzus would retreat to when Deb got here, so that would be the logical place to shoot their pictures. My plan was to move the tree back out once Deb left. We also combed the shih tzus and washed their faces, although they probably should have had a complete bath. Then I dressed the girls up in their holiday dresses and Nigel in his Grinch shirt. I made the mistake of letting them outside about a half hour before Deb arrived.

a shih tzu sitting on someone's legs. I could tell that Candy thought something was up. As soon as I let them outside, she ran under the trailer and stayed there. I tried to lure her out with a treat, but that didn’t work. Then I went to the end of the backyard and exclaimed that there was a cat back there, but she didn’t fall for it. I went inside and waited until she came out from under the trailer and headed for the far end of the backyard. I was quiet enough that she didn’t have time to escape when I came up behind her.

Deb and I were combining the photo shoot with our Christmas luncheon. I thought it might get the shih tzus a little used to her presence if she didn’t shoot right away, so we sat at the table and had appetizers and some wine. The girls ran into the corner of the dining room when she came in and stayed there for an hour while we sat there talking.

I wasn’t sure how we were going to get them into their corner, since they hadn’t run there when she came in. However, as soon as we got up from the table, they ran to Shih Tzu Central. Deb had brought a dog whistle with her, to get their attention for pictures. However, ironically, the female shih tzus were so scared that they sat still and she didn’t have a difficult time taking their pictures.

Of course, Nigel wasn’t afraid at all. He was all over Deb as soon as she came in the door. When she lay down on the floor to get a good close up of the girls, he crawled up on her legs and settled in. We did try to get him in a picture with the girls, but he wouldn’t sit still. She did end up getting a couple of pics of him by himself though.

Shih Tzu Day 151: Shih Tzus Lacking in Socialization Skills

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possessive shih tzus

a shih tzuDottie is either very possessive of me or of her position on the couch. This morning, she was sitting by me and Nigel and Flower came up to the couch. I reached my hand out to pet Flower at the exact time she went to snap at her, and she accidentally bit me. It was a surprise more than anything. Her bite didn’t break the skin, but I could see little tooth marks. I think it surprised her too.

shih tzu alert

John and I left the shih tzus home alone this morning. We had a nice breakfast and then went and picked out a beautiful, rustic comforter for our bed. After that, I went grocery shopping and left John home alone with the shih tzus. We weren’t sure how that was going to work out. He mainly stayed in the garage. While he was out there he heard the shih tzus barking, more so than normal, and went in to see if there was a problem. Nothing seemed wrong, except he had left the TV on and there wasn’t a picture. He discovered that the bulb had exploded, so that must have been why the dogs were barking. The TV was a hand-me-down and we’ve already replaced the bulb once in the last six months, so it was time to go to Best Buy and upgrade! Very thankful for their no interest payment plan!

unsociable shih tzus

A shih tzu between two dog beds. Heather, Herman and the boys came back at 7. Candy stayed outside and Flower didn’t move from Shih Tzu Central. Dottie was brave and sat by me for a while. However, when Heather sat on her side of the couch to watch TV, she had to decide if she wanted to sit between me and John or between me and Heather. I put her between me and John, but she only stayed a few minutes before jumping off and joining Flower at Central.

Jordan kept trying to befriend Flower, but she growled at him every time he looked at her. The shih tzus obviously still need socialization training!

Shih Tzu Day 149: The Shih Tzus Get a Break from Company

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they’re gone, at last!

two shih tzus in a dog bed.Sleeping on my sofa sleeper for the first time was quite an experience. I didn’t think it was comfortable at all, although John said he didn’t mind it. Once company had all gone upstairs, the shih tzus came out of the “tent” I had made them to see why we were invading their living room.

a female shih tzu in a pink dog bed.Later, once they went back to Shih tzu Central, Flower kept making little barks. It took a while to get to sleep, but I finally did and slept fitfully until the shih tzus started stirring at 5:30. I jumped up to feed them, hoping they wouldn’t disturb John and that I could get a little more sleep after they settled back down. When I lay back down, all the shih tzus came up to visit my side of the sleeper.

I couldn’t get Dottie to come up, but Flower jumped up and lay beside me for a while. I finally fell back to sleep and didn’t get up until after 8:30. Flower was back on the floor when I got up. Candy kept going up to John for him to pet her.

a shih tzu getting into another shih tzu's dog bed.a female shih tzu in a black faux leather dog bed.The female shih tzus were back to their pre-company normalcy, until Heather came down the stairs and surprised them. Flower immediately started growling. Eventually, though, they just went back to huddling in their corner. I spent a little time with them while Heather went to pick up my mother and Herman and the boys went to see his family. Heather and Mom came back and got me and we went to lunch and to find Heather a coat. It wasn’t a typical Black Friday for me, because I didn’t spend a penny. Heather and her family left at 4 to go visit other relatives, so the dogs had the house to themselves again!

Candy has decided that she likes the faux leather dog bed I bought Nigel from TJ Maxx. While he was preoccupied, she went over and investigated, looked around to see if anyone was going to stop her, and then crawled in for an afternoon nap.

 

Shih Tzu Day 131: Nov. 7, 2011

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a female and male shih tzu.

Christmas is behind us, but I am going back in time to  try to fill in some blanks and add some pictures. I convinced Flower and Dottie to eat some apple pieces by putting peanut butter on them. Flower is looking very fluffy after her bath. The excitement for the day included a squirrel siting and romps between Candy and Nigel, Nigel and Flower, and all three of them.

 

 

Shih Tzu Day 128: Flower Kardashian

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a shih tzu in a Christmas dress striking a sexy pose

shih tzu malady

I’m a little concerned. I found throw up on the floor downstairs for the second day in a row, and I found some upstairs. I thought it was Flower, because of her breath, but John said he was petting Candy and she threw up. I don’t think it was a reaction to him, so I have to think it is something else! Candy does not act like she feels well. She bit my toes and fingers yesterday in our morning ritual, but she came to greet me today and didn’t do that.

The shih tzus eat a lot of rawhide bones, so is it that? I also gave them pieces of chicken last night. I had breaded it for a meal, but I tried to remove it all before I gave it to the shih tzu clan. Also, I gave them Alpo today, because I hadn’t made up any food. Candy acted like she wasn’t going to eat it at first, but I think that was because she is just finicky. All the shih tzus did end up eating it.

nudge, nudge

Flower was sitting with me this morning, but she jumped down from the couch. Pretty soon, I looked down and two cute little shih tzus, Candy and Flower, nudging my feet. Good! Candy must feel better. Nigel was next to me, so I sent Mr. Male Shih Tzu down to play, to see if Candy was up for it. I couldn’t decide if she came to visit me or him. She just stood there while he tried to play, but then started biting his face. My ailing shih tzu must have revived.

When Nigel tired of getting his face bitten, the rambunctious shih tzu wandered over to me and took my socks off, and then started biting my toes. Flower followed his cue and came up and started biting my fingers. What a bunch of little vampires!

Marcel, the shell, with shoes on

OK, this has nothing to do with shih tzus, but John called me today and told me he had been listening to Dennis Miller on the radio and he was talking about a super cute YouTube video about “Marcel the shell with shoes on.” He said there would soon be a book on Marcel. John knows I want to write a book about my experience with our former puppy mill shih tzus, so he wanted to tell me about it. Marcel is almost as cute as my shih tzus, but not quite, so check it out!

shih tzus tracking mud and shih tzus tracking squirrels

The shih tzus tracked mud all over the floor today. Then, Nigel decided to get on the couch, so guess where the mud went. Groan. You’ll have that with a house full of shih tzus!

Part of the reason that the shih tzus kept going in and out was that Candy kept sniffing out a squirrel. Squirrel patrol requires a lot of in and out activity. Out to check the whereabouts, and in — at least partially in the back door — to get shih tzu backup.

shih tzu turnabout is fair play

Flower spends so much time on the couch now that when Dottie asks to be let up sometimes, Flower growls at her. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, I wish I could teach Candy to scratch to come in like Nigel does. I get concerned about the amount of time our outward bound shih tzu spends outside. I get up many times to check. She might be on the porch, but when I reach to open the door, she sprints out into the yard. Today, however, she was sitting right by the door, and when I opened it, she came right in.

loud, quiet breathing!

There is something very cute about the way Candy and Nigel tussle. I will be working, and all of a sudden, I will hear breathing. It’s actually a kind of “quiet breathing.” But it is a hectic breathing. That heavy breathing will go on for many minutes, as the shih tzu puppies play near the dining room table. It is always a little frustrating, because when I reach for my camera, they go on alert and the little buggers move on, so I have no proof of how incredibly cute they are.

Flower Kardashian

Nigel is a very busy boy. Lately, he goes back and forth between both shih tzu “girlfriends.” Or are they sisters? I don’t know. But I wish I could get into the minds of these dogs. One of his girl friends looked particularly adorable today. I found the cutest little Christmas dress at Ross Dress For Less. It’s red, fur-trimmed, and has candy canes and ornaments all over it. I tried it on Flower, although it is a little too early for Christmas doggy clothes. I was taking pictures, and noticed that her dress was up, but I knew they would stop playing if I butted in and fixed it, so I just let it go. I was taking pictures of her on the couch, and she was facing towards Shih Tzu Central. She had a very cute butt beneath the cute dress and I thought of the Kardashians. Yes, she is my adorable little Flower Kardashian.