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 150: Nov. 26

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I was so tired last night that I went to bed at 8. I still could not force myself to get up very early. I got out of bed a little after 6:30 and fed the shih tzus. Flower didn’t finish the food right away, because she kept running to the end of the back yard to bark at either the neighbor’s dog, a cat or a squirrel. She was also barking at the shed, so maybe there was a snake under it.

Later, Flower jumped up by Dottie and me and sat with us for a while. She had been spending more time than usual at shih tzu Central, but I think she is less stressed now. Candy kept dive bombing John’s legs today and rubbing against them. I am really glad that she is taking to him.

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 140: Nov. 16 (Catch Up)

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welcome committee

I heard the pitter patter of the feet of the welcome committee in the hall a little after 5:30. I wasn’t sleeping, however. I brought my laptop up last night and had been working on it since 3:30, doing some catch up. I stayed in bed a little, because I am trying to train them to eat closer to 6:30, but I got up a little after 6, since Dottie’s whining was getting louder.

I opened the door before I started getting their bowls together and Flower and Candy went out. They stood at the door and growled at me for their food. They are so cute to have vicious growls. After they ate, Nigel and Flower had a face off in the dining room, while Candy rested on the porch.

wild ones

A bunch of wild ones today. Candy barked and I opened the door to see if she wanted in; Flower and Nigel flew out, had a quick round, flew in the door and then flew back out. Candy stayed outside, but just watched their carousing. When Nigel and Flower came in, they tore around the living room and dining room for a while.

After that, the wild boy came up to me and started growling, and, at the same time, sneezing at me. How many dogs sneeze when they get agitated?  I couldn’t tell what he wanted. He just kept staring at me with those red, devil eyes.

Boots and Barkley

Boots and Barkley bully sticks are more of a hit than Cadet. Flower and Nigel inhaled theirs. Dottie enjoyed hers for quite a while, making loud, weird noises as she gnawed away. John called her an old lady, and Flower was looking at her like, “Wow, yours must have really been good!” I would still like to find a good bully stick that comes in a value package!

couch buddies

Flower and Dottie sat on the couch for a while. Flower doesn’t seem to care anymore if the Man is on the couch. Maybe they are getting more used to him because when he is home and up, he gives out the treats, following the advice of dog trainer Victoria Stilwell.

Candy the kitty dog

I call Candy our “kitty dog.” She acts as much like a cat as a dog. She pounces on things and bats them around with her front paws like cats do. She also really reminds me of the Persian cat, Goo Goo Doll, that we had years ago.

four on a couch

While John and I watched the X Factor, Nigel lay between us and Dottie on my side. Candy wandered up and looked around at everyone, so I lifted her up. Then Flower jumped up, resulting in all four shih tzus on the couch with us, which is very uncommon. Dottie must have thought it was too crowded and jumped down, but I moved Candy to dad’s lap and Dottie came back up. I would love it if all four of them sat with us more often.