Shih Tzu Day 84: Mommy, Come and Play!

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shih tzu a.m.

two shih tzus on a couchI don’t usually eat cereal for breakfast, but I have had Frosted Mini Wheats the last few days. Flower always jumps up on the couch to see what I am eating and if she can talk me out of any. I know I should discourage this, but it’s tough. I gave her half of a mini wheat. She stayed on the couch with me for a while. I was busy updating our blog, but I realized that the shih tzus were waiting for some time with me, so I stopped and gave them some attention.

shih tzu afternoon

shih tzu on a blue and grey dog bedAfter the shih tzus had their early afternoon treat, Flower and Dottie came in with me, but, as usual, Candy, our independent shih tzu, stayed outside. She sat on the porch steps for awhile, and then went and sat by the trailer. I don’t know why she is such a loner. I’m glad she likes it outside though. I wish Dottie and Flower would stay out more, because they get so bored inside.

I had some leftover pasta for lunch. Dottie was already sitting by me, but the smell of food brought Flower running. I gave them a few small pieces, but Candy stayed in Shih Tzu Central. Flower sat on the couch with us for a while before jumping down to find something more excited to do, like lying on her dog bed staring at us.

shih tzu and she really wanted one. She asked me if there was a shih tzu rescue in Colorado. I told her about the Colorado Shih Tzu Maltese Rescue. I told her that their adoption fee is $300, but also told her about BFF Rescue and that they have a lower adoption fee: $175 versus $300.

I told her about Nigel and that BFF Rescue gets other shih tzus in from time to time. However, she is like I was at first. She wants a dog under a year who is housebroken, healthy and has no big issues. I told her that might be a little harder to do. I also told her that our girls were definitely problem children when we got them, but we had worked out some of the kinks.

Candy and the couch

Itwo shih tzus on a couchn my campaign to get Candy to be one of the couch dogs, I picked her up Candy and put her between John and me after we finished eating. She stayed there for probably 20 minutes and then jumped down. However, about five minutes later, she came towards the couch; I thought she looked like she was thinking about jumping, and I held my breath. Then, she jumped up! Except for the day when a noise scared her weeks ago, this is the first time she jumped up on the couch with us on it. She lay down between me and Dottie and stayed for probably another half hour. I don’t think Dottie knew what to do initially. She tried to sit on her when Candy first lay down, and then lay down next to her.

Shih Tzu Day 83: Just Another Tuesday

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More Grooming for Candy

shih tzu on carpetWe did a little grooming on Candy. She is still the worst one on the grooming table. She bites at the clippers and squirms and wiggles. She seems to do a little better when she can’t see the clippers. She had a short session. She ran off as soon as we let her down, but then she came back and got her hot dog pieces. At least she isn’t so traumatized she can’t eat.

As soon as John left, Flower and Candy came out of their corner and started wandering around. Flower came up on the couch looking for food. I know I shouldn’t, but I gave her half of a frosted mini wheat, so then had to give one to Dottie and Candy too. Flower stayed there while I petted her, but got down shortly after I helped Dottie up.

Looking Guilty

shih tzu on a carpetI haven’t put my beautiful cowboy area rug back down, because we need to clean it again. After we clean it, I guess we will only put it down when we have company. I miss it, but I have to break them out of the habit of peeing on it. I know they liked to sit on it, though, so I put their red blanket from their couch on the floor. I had it down for a few hours before I noticed a wet spot! My guess is that is was Candy and Flower. When I pointed and asked who did it, both of them looked guilty; also, both of them scampered under the dining room table.

A little later, I went into the spare room to print a coupon. I don’t let Candy go in there, because I think she’ll pee on the carpet, but I did let Dottie come in with me, because she is so good with the training pad — and she peed on the carpet! I know I am not supposed to raise my voice, because puppy mill dogs particularly are fragile dogs, but I couldn’t help it. I chased Dottie out of the room, stomped downstairs, pointed toward the door and told them to go outside.

Fall Wardrobe

I didn’t want the girls to think I was angry with them, so I made sure to kiss them all goodbye before leaving to run errands. While I was out, I went to PetSmart, and then next door to T.J.Maxx/HomeGoods. While I was looking at the pet stuff, I found three adorable sweaters for Dottie, Candy and Flower. I don’t want summer to end, but at least I have their fall wardrobe!

When I got home, I took the girls outside to give them their apple and chicken snack, and then left them out for a while, hoping that if anyone needed a potty break, they would take care of business. The bad thing about leaving them outside when I go inside is that I don’t know who took that opportunity. A little after they got in, however, Candy ran upstairs. That often means she’s looking for a place to relieve herself, so I quickly followed her up there, and she ran back downstairs. I asked her if she wanted to go outside. She did, and she did her business, so that spared us one spot to clean up. As soon as I remember to buy some, I’m going to try to train them to ring jingle bells when they need to go outside.

Flower Loves Lovin’

shih tzu on carpetCandy was excited when John got home, although Dottie and Flower acted wary. They warmed up to him again by the time we went outside and he produced the treat bag. We also gave them a teeny bit of our Noosa yogurt, in three separate little bowls. We hadn’t given them any in a while. They love  it.

We are one of those couples who usually eats our meals on the couch, in front of the T.V. Tonight, we had leftover roast. Flower quickly caught the scent and leaped up onto the couch, hunting for the source. That prompted Dottie to jump off the couch without even begging for any roast. Flower stayed for about 10 minutes after I gave her a bite, waiting for me to finish eating so I could scratch her chest and pet her. Then, she lay down for awhile, staying there until John came back into the room. I am glad that she’s learning how to be loved. I still recall very vividly when she ran every time I tried to get near her — and pooped!

Shih Tzu Day 82: Scavenger Hunt and Twitter Update

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three shih tzus searching for kibbleScavenger Hunt

The girls let us sleep in until 7! That was nice. I only saw two spots on the training pads this morning, and I forgot to put the gate up in front of the spare bedroom before going to bed, so I imagine Candy might have wandered in there. But I didn’t see any evidence.

I fed the girls their individual breakfast, and, as is now part of the normal routine, coaxed Flower away from the other bowls by bouncing pieces of kibble in her bowl or near it for her to find, to keep her happy and busy. Then, when Candy and Dottie finished, I threw the kibble out little by little, so they could scramble over the porch looking for it.

shih tzu with silly haircut.

Sometimes lately it’s been difficult to get them to get off the porch and do their business after eating, but this morning, they all wandered down and got it done. Then, as usual, Dottie and Flower came in with me, while Candy stayed outside to explore and just watch the world.

two shih tzu half sistersI only had to run one errand today (which included satisfying a craving for a breakfast burrito), so most of the day I sat on the couch and worked, with Dottie lying beside me. Flower jumped up when I was eating my burrito, so I gave them teeny pieces of potato. Later, Flower came up and looked at us several times, but then she wandered back to Shih Tzu Central.

700 Twitter Followers!

I have been faithfully tweeting for the girls, including tweeting about puppy mill articles I read, or about dogs I see on line that need to be adopted. When I was looking for a shih tzu, I signed up to have adoptapet.com email me when shih tzus were added to the list, so I regularly share those. l also check to see if BFF Rescue has new dogs, and tweet about them. It’s always nice when someone retweets them, because you never know what good it might do. Also, the Shih Tzu Sisters now have 700 Twitter followers, so more opportunity!

Jealous Doggie

Dottie twisted around on her part of the couch for several minutes this afternoon. I’m not sure what she was doing. Sometimes she acts like she doesn’t like the blanket I have there to protect the couch. Today, she scratched at it until she uncovered the couch and then scratched at it. I wish I knew what these dogs were thinking sometimes.

two shih tzus close together

Late in the afternoon, Flower and Candy wandered out from Shih Tzu Central and Dottie jumped down off the couch. They looked like they wanted to do something. I seldom see them playing with the toys I give them, I can only give them so many treats, and I can’t walk them until we can get them trained to do that, so I got down on the blanket on the floor and played doggie with them.

Later, after John got home, Dottie was on the couch, and I went over to pet Flower. Dottie jumped down, ran over and practically sat on Flower to stop me from petting her. She can be such a jealous dog. It’s cute, but I am trying to get her to share me. I took turns petting both of them, and of course, ok a picture!

Shih Tzu Day 81: People Visitors Again!

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Kibble Scavenger Hunt

Last night before we went to bed, we rolled up the living room rug to prevent anyone peeing on it during the night. When I came downstairs this morning, there were three spots all in a row on the two training pads I placed together. Someone who has never had three dogs with training issues won’t understand how happy that made me.

shih tzu in child's lapEver since the shih tzu sisters have come to live with us, I have had to keep Flower from gobbling down her food and then scurrying to Candy or Dottie’s bowl to help them eat there. I recently started giving them a little less kibble in their bowls, and I take what I keep out and give it to them later. When Flower is done, I give her one or two pieces at a time, to make her eat slower. When they are all done, I sprinkle kibble bits near them, like food scavenger hunt. It keeps them busy. I just have to make sure they all find equal amounts.

Human Birthday Party

child trying to give shih tzus treatsWe had a birthday party for our granddaughter, Rema, this afternoon, so Dottie, Candy and Flower had to put up with nine visitors: Rema and her four sisters; Leticia, their mom; and Gabe, his girlfriend Crystal and her daughter, Avi.

I sent the dogs outside when everyone first showed up, and we put their plastic gate back in their corner so they could feel secure behind it. When I let the dogs back in, Flower and Candy went straight to Shih Tzu Central, but Dottie seemed confused. Rema, Junior and one of the other children were sitting on the couch where Dottie and I always sit. Dottie was nervous, and jumped up, trying to sit on Rema’s lap. Rema thought she did it because Rema held her on the way back from the grooming class last month, but I think it was probably that Rema was sitting where I usually sit, and Dottie just got confused. I think that because her movements were kind of like the time that John did something that scared the dogs and they all jumped up on the couch.

shih tzu watches child give treat to other shih tzuAfter everyone had been at the house for a few hours, I ushered the dogs back outside and gave Rema treats to feed them. Flower and Dottie took one, but Candy kept her distance. Later on, I told Oriana to go inside their gate with treats. She was very timid and they wouldn’t respond to her, so I asked Evita to try. Flower and Dottie took a small treat from her, but Candy wouldn’t.

Compared to how the dogs reacted the first time the children and grandchildren came over, I think shih tzus have come quite a way. I don’t recall any of the dogs growling at any of our visitors, so that’s a big improvement.

Shih Tzu Day 80: Dottie’s Birthday Celebration

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shih tzu in a fur-lined tiara

A shih tzu Party with McDonald’s!

shih tzu in pink dress in car seatHello, everyone! Mom usually writes this blog, but she lets us blog when we want to. I want to today, because today is my birthday!

shih tzu wearing birthday hat, eating McDonalds burger and friesI didn’t really know it was my birthday today. The morning was just our typical morning. I sat outside Mom’s door until she finally opened it. We were really excited. We all jumped around, dancing, and I grabbed her hand with my mouth. We went down the stairs with her, and I went in the kitchen with her and waited while she got our breakfast together.

shih tzu wearing birthday hat and pink dressAfter breakfast, Mom and the Treat Man left for a few hours. When they came back, Mom made us put on dresses! I didn’t know why, because she only ever made us wear dresses one time before. Why would a shih tzu want to wear a dress! Anyway, then, Mom picked me up and took me into the garage. I started getting scared. Yep. I was right. She put me in the car in the front seat.

shih tzu wearing birthday hat and pink dressI couldn’t help it. I started shaking. I am one shih tzu that does not like car rides! Car rides usually mean bad things, like going to the vet or going to the groomer, or before in my life, going to a strange home. Mom kept talking to me, trying to reassure me that we weren’t going anywhere that would hurt me. That’s when she told me it was my birthday and I was 6 today. She said we were going to McDonald’s to get food for my birthday party.

shih tzu wearing green dress with hamburger bun in her mouthI still shook, though. She drove up to this window, and they handed her a bag that smelled good, but I didn’t pay much attention, because I was still afraid. Mom kept talking to me, and before I knew it, we were back home.

shih tzu in yellow dress with french fry in her mouthMom had all of us go outside, and then she put this funny thing on my head. She said I was a shih tzu princess and it was my tiara. She took some pictures of me and then she said she’d give it back to me later, but she wanted us to wear these silly hats. I stood still while she put it on me, but Candy and Flower ran away. She finally got a hat on Flower’s head, but not on Candy’s. She didn’t look very happy. I don’t know why, though. What shih tzu wants to wear a silly hats when she is eating?

three shih tzus in dresses and birthday hatsI could smell the food, and I was getting hungry! Finally, she cut a hamburger into pieces for me, Flower and Candy. Then, she put the hamburgers and fries down on the porch. We finally got to eat! Yum. It was really good.

When we came back inside, Mom said she wanted to take more pictures. Sigh. Candy had run upstairs to hide, but Mom caught her and brought her back to Shih Tzu Central, which is what Mom calls the corner where our dog beds are. Then, she put the hats back on all of our heads. She also gave me a bag of my very own treats. They were cold. There was a cute doggie on the front (I don’t think it’s a shih tzu!) and it said Dog Joy. Mom said she wasn’t going to open the bag, but the Treat Man wanted us to try one, so Mom opened it and split a treat between the three of us. It was good, but I think I like my apple and chicken treats better!

Mom said she didn’t buy me a toy, because I never play with toys. She did give me lots of hugs and kisses, though. I don’t mind kisses, but I hate when she tries to kiss my nose! I’d much rather she would just pet me!

All in all, I had a good birthday!