Tag Archives: Candy

Shih Tzu Day 9: Dogs Gone Wild

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John got up early this morning and went downstairs. He isn’t used to having to watch where his feet land, and took a few steps before realizing he was tracking poop.

Can you do this with your tongue?When I came downstairs, our shih tzu sisters were giddy with excitement. They danced around crazily, bumping against the side of their Superyard. They waited impatiently while I put together their breakfast: a mix of dry dog food, Natural Balance and a tablespoon of cottage cheese, which they love.

They stayed in their playpen until John left, as usual, and then one by one, started wandering around.

Barbara called after John left for work and said she could come over and do some grooming for Dottie. When she got here, I could tell that they remembered her. They didn’t growl or bark.

As far as the dog grooming went, Dottie surprised me. Joey, our Yorkie, trembled and shook whenever she had to get groomed. In fact, she trembled any tiYou think this Bird is Angry!me she got in the car. As a result, she only got in the car if she had to go to the veterinarian or the groomer, which reinforced her fear that something bad was going to happen to her. But Dottie sat there very calmly while Barbara trimmed her, with the clippers and scissors. She wasn’t so calm when it came to her face, but she was able to trim some of it. With her face trimmed, she reminds me even more of the faces of the Peace and Garcia Ty Beanie Babies I used to collect.

Flower surprised me even more. Although Flower likes me to pet her, she still bolts when I try to pick her up. This time, she tried to get away, but calmed down as soon as I picked her up and went to sit by Barbara. She handled the grooming almost as well as Dottie.

Candy was a different story. She struggled to get away once I picked her up and sat down on the floor by Barbara. Barbara was able to trim her more than she had been able to previously, but Candy fidgeted quite a bit. Barbara said she could tell the girls trusted me, or they wouldn’t have been as calm as they were.

After Barbara left, I realized how much the trim affected Candy. She went outside by herself and sat in the corner of the exercise pen near the house, where I couldn’t see her. It had been raiI told you clippers freak me out!ning, so she got lots of mud on her paws. Barbara had just cut the mud out of the pads of her feet and I didn’t want the new mud to harden, so I washed her paws in the sink and sat her back down.

She went and sat down outside the indoor pen, against the wall, so I knew she was still feeling threatened. I shouldn’t look at Milo’s chicken jerky as the cure for everything, but I gave her a piece. About 10 minutes later, she came around and got back in the pen with her sisters. I took the opportunity to take a group photo that included one of their Angry Birds dog toys.

I was concerned when it started thundering this afternoon, but the shih tzu sisters didn’t seem to notice it. I thought it might scare them. I guess if the noise comes from outside, it’s not a threat to them, even though Candy in particular is afraid of most things, including her shadow.

Men still terrify them. They didn’t growl or bark when John got home, but the three shih tzus ran for the backdoor when my stepson, Gabe, came over. In fact, Flower was so afraid that she ran into the kitchen and stood near my feet until I picked her up. That is the first time Flower wanted me to pick her up — she was that frightened.

I went outside with Flower, Dottie and Candy and stayed there for about 15 minutes. Flower sat quietly in my arms most of the time. Their fear, in particular towards men, makes me wonder what they went through at the puppy mill. It also could just be from other males they have been around, or maybe they are just more used to women. We will never know.

Things are a lot different than I thought they would be. When I first met these furry darlings, I thought Candy and I would bond the most, but she is the most aloof, and Flower seems to rely on me the most. She continues to nudge me to pet her if I pet either of the other dogs.

Shih Tzu Day 8: A Lot of Shihtz in the House

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I don't mind sitting with you, but I'll stay a safe distance.I stayed home with the girls all day. Dottie, Flower and Candy played together a lot. They come up to the couch often to see what I am doing. Sometimes they come to the front of the couch, but sometimes they stay in their Superyard, and peek up over the end of the couch. When Dottie did it, I pulled her over and sat her beside me. She sat  on the arm long enough for me to take a few pictures before jumping off.

I am going to take Deb’s advice and buy a dog whistle to see if I can get better pictures. Also, I tried to set my camera with her directions to take pictures of the dogs when they are romping wildly. However, I still need a lot of practice.

 

Flower has a bit of a jealous streak. Whenever I pet Dottie, she usually tries to get me to pet her instead. Look, Ma! I have on Candy's body!Then, sometimes, they end up wiggling around, jumping up and down excitedly, wagging their tails. Sometimes, Candy comes up and starts jumping on both of them.

I admit that I am probably creating monsters out of these shih tzus. I lured Flower up on the couch to get Milo’s chicken jerky. She jumped up three times, grabbed her jerky, ate it, and then jumped down. When I went to the kitchen to get me an apple, she jumped up again and walked up and down. So did Candy.

If you give me more jerky, I'll sit on the couch with you a little longer.I got their food ready while John was on his way home. It was bad timing. They had just come up to their bowls eagerly when he came in the door, and they went back to their communal doggy bed. They all just stared at him, but at least there were few growls or barks. I brought their food bowls over to them and they continued their dinner.

Later, after I had gone upstairs, John stepped in poop on the carpet. At least they are using the training pad to urinate. But, like my friend John Little said in a comment on one of my Facebook pictures of them, “That’s a lot of shitz in the house!”

Shih Tzu Day 2: Milo’s Kitchen Gets Dottie to Eat

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I was trying to resist eating, but she brought out the chicken jerky!I went back to the store since the shih tzus wouldn’t eat the chicken jerky from Costco. I figured they were probably not eating the dog treat because they were still stressed, but I thought I might try another brand. I was going to get them the Waggin’ Train brand, but then I read on a savings blog that there was a Milo’s Kitchen coupon in Sunday’s paper and that Target had it on sale. I figured I might as well try it. I’m very glad I did.

Flower was the first sister to take the chicken jerky. She ate some and then began chewing on her red and white Pork Chomps that Delores brought with their things. She also followed Candy out to the end of the couch and peeked out, before running back to the pen.

Candy continues to surprise me. She came up twice and slightly licked my toes. I thought that she wanted the chicken jerky I had, but I wanted her to get on the couch to get it. Maybe she needs doggy stairs, like we had for Joey, because she didn’t attempt it, but instead, went back into her pen.

I got Flower and Candy to go outside. Candy did her business, but I think she was more interested in finding a way to escape. We are going to have to keep an eye on them when they are outside.

Each of them let me pet their ears later, which was a small victory. While I was upstairs taking a bath, I heard the jingling of a dog tag. It’s possible one of them was exploring.

Dottie doesn’t seem as nervous as she was yesterday. In fact, I was relieved that I got her to eat. Milo’s Kitchen came to the rescue. When I finally got her to try it, the way she went after it reminded me of my good friend Deb calling the pita bread and hummus (yum!) at Yia Yia’s “crack.” That chicken jersey must have hit the spot in the same way. Dottie took it and gobbled it right down. So did Candy.

Dottie also ventured away from her corner looking for more. I guess Flower is angry at me for making her go outside this morning. She isn’t eating. But we are taking baby steps. Or, as Tom Conti (one of my favorite actors) said in “The Gospel According to Vic,” “Inch by inch. Inch by inch.”

Even though Dottie has eaten and timidly stepped outside of her pen, I am still the most concerned about her. I know Barbara thought she would acclimate sooner, but since she bonded the most to Barbara, she might actually have the hardest time.

Although they aren’t too excited about their new life, I can’t wait to get up and see them in the morning. I hope that each day gets better, and that they will soon feel like part of the family.

Shih Tzu Day 1: A New Foster Home

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We aren't moving out of this corner!Delores stopped by this morning to make sure the improvements were made in the backyard to keep the shih tzus safe. We passed our BFF Rescue inspection. She came back about an hour and a half later, with Barbara and the shih tzus. We were all pleasantly surprised that Flower surveyed her new Superyard without appearing frightened. Instead, she danced around, tail wagging, jumping over Candy, who was the quietest one. Delores tried grooming her face yesterday, so she might not be that happy. Dottie roamed around the house a little. When we opened the door to go outside, they all followed us, and circled their outdoor exercise pen several times.

If she tries to talk to us, pretend you can't hear her.

It reminded me of scenes from Toy Story when Barbara and Delores left about 45 minutes later. Dottie, Candy and Flower all went back to the far end of their pen and huddled together, as if they had never come alive.

I went to the store this afternoon to get them some chicken jerky and a water bowl. Barbara gave them Waggin’ Train they bought in large bags at Sam’s Club, but they didn’t have it at Costco, so I bought what they had. I also got a  very cute ceramic bowl from the Dollar Tree that said “Lap Dogs” and “Feed Me” and pictured traditional lap dogs. Although shih tzus top the list of popular lap dogs, I have no idea if these little furry fellows will ever sit on our laps.

When I got back from shopping, I opened the back door and Dottie and Candy went outside, but Flower wouldn’t move. I tried to give them some jerky, but none of them would take it from me. I put a few pieces on the ground, though, and someone ate one of them. After that, Flower left the pen, strayed a few feet and then came back. Maybe she was just looking for a way to escape, or maybe she was looking for Barbara. I tried to utter the magic words, “Silly girls,” which Delores says makes them dance. It didn’t work.

I hoped to have better luck getting the girls to eat at dinnertime. I had recently read that most dogs like hamburger, mashed potatoes and green beans (Joey did, but she liked most food!), so I planned to treat them with a good, home-cooked meal after John got home.

The furry critters didn’t seem too frightened when he walked in the door. When John started cooking, I hoped the delicious smells would lure them out of their pen, but it didn’t happen. Instead, I fixed them petite plates and served it to them in their play yard. Flower was the first one to eat the hamburger, followed by Candy. However, they left the potatoes and green beans mostly untouched. Dottie wasn’t eating at all, so I took her out of the pen, hoping she might eat in a different location. It didn’t work.

Their stress doesn’t prevent them from sleeping, however.  They appear to be sound asleep right now.

Shih Tz Prelude: Approved as Pet Foster Parents

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Pet Foster Parent Approval

Delores emailed me this afternoon. She said that she would agree to us being foster parents to Dottie, Candy and Flower, on behalf of BFF Rescue, if that’s what we wanted to do. She said that the shih tzus were very sweet and just needed a chance and a loving home. She mentioned again her concern about Flower needing to move to a place where she wouldn’t be so afraid.

We had no children or teenagers at home and no other dogs. For the most part, our foster dogs would be in a calm atmosphere, except when the grandchildren descended on the house. I knew that we could offer Dottie, Candy and Flower shelter in the downstairs bathroom during those times, if it became necessary.

Delores said that since we would be foster parents, initially at least, she would send their playpen and dog beds with them. They would also supply food. She wanted me to know that foster parents usually had a short time to decide if they wanted to adopt a pet, if they thought that might be an option. If they did not want to adopt, the rescue would continue searching for a good, suitable home for them. I told Delores it wouldn’t take very long for us to decide.Delores said that because of their issues she worried that the dogs might bond with us, and that it would be hard on them to move on to another home.

I told John about the fostering idea, and he agreed that he felt better starting out that way. He also agreed to go with me to see the shih tzu sisters at 8 tomorrow morning.