Tag Archives: Boston terrier

Shih Tzu Day 23: Shiloh Leads the Way

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Shiloh Leads the Way

Since Nikki and Clarke were visiting, we set up the ping pong table in the garage and fixed pomegranate margaritas. Shiloh went in the garage with John and our guests, while I stayed inside briefly.

Our neighbor, Kelsey, came by to meet the shih tzu sisters. At least Dottie and Candy let her pet them, although I don’t think Flower did. When her husband, Todd, came in, Dottie took Flower’s cue, growling with her.

Kelsey and Todd brought some friends over later. One of them, Jason, brought his 10-pound Boston terrier, Shaymus, with him. He shared with me that Shaymus had also been a rescue dog, and that he had come from the National Mill Dog Rescue in Colorado Springs. We took one look at Shaymus and decided that if Shiloh was a Boston terrier, he definitely wasn’t completely; guesses included chihuahua or pug. I wish I would have taken a picture, since I have been trying to document all the pets and people who visit and the reaction of the shih tzus and Shiloh.

Everyone commented on what a good dog Shiloh was. He and Shaymus did have some tense moments, however. They circled each other and one of them growled. It didn’t look friendly to me, so I moved Shiloh away.

Jason told me about a pet food that he feeds Shaymus called Taste of the Wild. He gives it to him because it’s high in protein. He gets it from a pet supply place that sounded interested. It’s called Mouthfuls, and it’s near one of the Sunflower Markets I go to, so I’ll visit it next time I go there.

Shih Tzu Day 21: The Terrier Makes Himself at Home

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Shiloh, the Terrier: There’s a Strange Dog Following Me

Back to our Terrier guest, Shiloh. Once he had sniffed out his surroundings, he followed me all over the house. I hate to say this, but I wasn’t crazy about the idea of this dog following me everywhere. I admit it. Partially, I felt disloyal. After all, Dottie, Flower and Candy don’t yet feel that secure, so usually only Dottie follows me. Very quietly. Very slowly.

Having three shih tzus sitting in their safe zone in the corner all day, to emerge for brief periods of time, is much different than having an energized dog following you. I was getting a little nervous. I envisioned him needed lots of attention — more than I could give. My vision was he could pal around with John, since the shih tzus won’t.

Shiloh took it upon himself to take John’s seat on the couch and also to sit on Flower’s couch. Flower must not have wanted to fight him over it. She jumped on the couch next to me and Dottie.

Shiloh Enjoys a Brief Walk and Invades Our Bed

When John got home, Shiloh ran up to the door and greeted him enthusiastically, wagging her tail and putting her paws up on his leg. John was surprised. Although Joey, our Yorkie, was his darling, lately, he’s used to mainly having three sets of shih tzu eyes stare at him from afar when he comes in.

John took one look at him and said, “That’s not a Boston terrier.” Okay, this is an honest blog, so I have to tell you that John thought Shiloh was kind of peculiar looking. He determined that he might be a terrier/chihuahua mix. I guess I have to look at pictures on line to see what other dogs look like him.

John hasn’t walked a dog since months before elderly Joey died, so he considered putting the leash on him and taking him out. I told him that the doctor at Clear Creek Animal Hospital said he loved to walk.

Shiloh eagerly accepted the offer and followed him out the door. He said Shiloh did wonderful on his ten-minute walk and that it was obvious that he was used to someone taking him for walks.

Once they got back, the shih tzus mainly ignored him, except Flower. Unless you can keep a constant watch, it’s hard to see who is causing trouble, but a few times, I heard Flower growling at Shiloh and saw them circle each other, and a few times, leap towards each other, mouths open. I put myself in alert mode, hoping I didn’t have to pull them apart. They backed away. Maybe Flower was trying to size him up, or maybe to tell him that she was the pack leader, and he’d better not try to take that role.

Shiloh goes into his kennel easily, so he must be used to it. He crawled in there before bed, so I thought he would be fine, but then he started whining. As soon as I let him out, he ran upstairs and jumped onto the end of our bed. I gave in and decided I would let him stay there. After all, he probably hasn’t slept on a bed for a while. I do admit, though, that I didn’t like it. My girls don’t even sleep on the bed, so I really hated a “stranger” coming in and taking that position.

Shih Tzu Day 21: A Temporary Dog Guest

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A Dog Named Shiloh Visits the Shih Tzu Sisters

When we first arrived at the veterinary clinic,  a small black and white dog named Shiloh came up to greet Delores. I asked who Shiloh belonged to. Delores told me a sad story, like so many sad pet stories.

We came back from the vet with an extra dog.

Shiloh had been the only dog of a family for many years. However, when a new dog entered the home, an incident between the two dogs and a bagel led to a tussle over the food and Shiloh accidentally biting a child. Shiloh’s people decided they didn’t want him anymore, and he ended up at the veterinary clinic.

Out of the goodness of her heart, Doctor Anna decided to look after Shiloh until they could find him a home. Shiloh hung out at the clinic, greeting people and pets when they came in. He had been hanging out there for about a month.

I also met a foster dog named Pumpkin. While we were waiting for Muffie to get a chip, I talked to the cocker spaniel’s foster mom in the lobby. She told me that she fostered Pumpkin through a local cocker spaniel rescue. She had fostered 64 dogs in the last two years — !! — even fostering seven at one time. I asked her how she did it, without getting too attached to them. She told me that it happened the first few times, but it got easier, and she was always happy when they went to good homes.

As I talked to her, I thought of Shiloh. I didn’t know how Dottie, Flower and Candy would take it, but I thought maybe we could bring Shiloh home just until BFF Rescue found him a home. I mentioned it to Delores, and she was very happy with the idea.

My mother has a terrier that she adores. John has mentioned liking Boston terriers before, and this dog was a Boston terrier mixed with something else. I called John and asked him if Shiloh could come home with us — definitely just as a foster dog, until BFF Rescue found him a home. He hesitated, thinking I’d gone over the bend, but he said if I thought it was a good idea, he was fine with it.

Delores said if Shiloh didn’t get along with the shih tzus, or if there was any other problem, she’d take him back off our hands. Shiloh eagerly got in his kennel, and we loaded all five dogs into Delores’ SUV. I wasn’t sure if I was making a mistake, but we’d give it a try!