Tag Archives: chicken

Shih Tzu Day 14: Tweeting on Twitter

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Flower, Dottie and Candy, Twitter Profile PicFlower, Dottie and Candy pose for their Twitter profile pic.

I have signed the shih tzu sisters up for their own Twitter account, under ShihTzuSisters. They’d love for you to follow them!

Dottie and Flower waited until 6:30 to come up the stairs this morning. Flower stayed in the bathroom, but Dottie came up to the bed and let me pick her up. Although Candy didn’t go upstairs, she was waiting at the bottom of the stairs when I came down, and danced around as much as the others, softly biting my hand.

We had a severe lightning and thunder storm last night.The shih tzus seemed frightened, but at least they weren’t shaking. The storm left the ground drenched and muddy, so I didn’t make them go outside right away. I fed them by the back door. I am not sure if Candy doesn’t like the Natural Balance meat, or if she is just used to the other shih tzus taking it from her. I give them separate bowls and try to make sure they get different amounts, but it’s difficult with her, because she sometimes doesn’t seem interested right away, and then she wanders away and usually Dottie goes and grabs the best stuff out of the bowl.

We all went outside when John came down at 7. When he came out with our coffee, Flower started barking. She finally came and stood sidewise in front of me. I think she knows I can pick her up easier that way.

I was gone from 9:15 until 5, meeting a client whose book I am editing and then Deb for lunch at YaYa’s. The girls were excited when I got home. Candy seems more alert tonight. I attempted to pick up Dottie, but at first she ran. I think it’s only to impress Flower. Candy did the same thing. However, they did let me pick them up without too much fuss. Flower continues to tense up when I try to hold her inside, so I just pet her and leave her alone.

When John got home, we took the chicken jerky outside. They have eaten most of the Milo’s Kitchen chicken jerky. This time, I thought I’d try Waggin’ Train Jerky Tenders. I let them try a little of each. I couldn’t tell if they noticed a difference. Personally, I think Milo’s smells better. The girls let John feed them treats outside. Flower barked, but she eventually succumbed to the temptation.

Later, I put Dottie between us on the couch, and she let us both pet her. So did Candy. I can’t resist trying with Flower. I went into the pen and petted her and then tried to pick her up. She backed away from me a few times, but finally let me pick her up. Instead of sitting down by John, however, I sat on her couch. She seemed content to stay there with me. We sat there for about ten minutes, and then I put her down on the floor.

Shih Tzu Day 10: The Lawn Mower Monster

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John and I didn’t go to bed until after midnight. Since the shih tzus have been leaving “gifts” on the carpet for John to find, we formed the Superyard into a closed pen, instead of leaving it open. However, I didn’t go to the trouble of securing it shut.

When John got up this morning, at about 6, at least one of the shih tzus was running around out of the pen, thankfully, without leaving any reminders. If we really don’t want them to get out of the pen, we will have to try harder.

I knew I should go downstairs, but I slept for about thirty more minutes. When I came downstairs, the dancing began again, even though John was sitting nearby on the couch. They must be getting a little more comfortable.

I didn’t see any evidence that they had done number one or two, so we herded them outside. The exercise pen was still muddy, so we used the safety gate from Barbara’s to make a smaller pen on the porch. However, again, we didn’t secure the end, so Dottie went around it and down in the mud. The other two stayed on the porch.

I fed them their breakfast outside. After that, they stayed quietly in their pen for awhile. When John was upstairs, Dottie decided to wander around. We went to lunch and to get the girls some more cottage cheese. I couldn’t find any Pork Chomps, so I got them some treats that looked like chicken wings. I gave them  each one when we got back. Dottie didn’t eat hers, probably because of her missing front teeth, but Candy and Flower did.

Later, we took the girls outside again, although they never seem to do what we want them to do out there. John gets them outside quickly, as long as I block off their “tunnel” once they get through it, since Flower always wants to turn back. Once outside, they were okay until they heard John start up the riding lawn mower in the shed. They scattered and then all of them came back to sit by me. They let me pet them while they watched John intently, and Flower let me hold her for awhile without fidgeting.

Candy didn’t seem scared, but just inquisitive. Flower seemed nervous and Dottie shook like a leaf. I put Dottie on my lap for awhile. They stayed on the porch with me for about ten minutes.

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.