Dottie, Flower and Candy stayed as far away from us as possible.

I woke up excited about having John meet the shih tzus, his potential foster or adoptive furry daughters. I told him I wanted to bring them home and start making them “happy.” Well, content might even be okay.

He was curious and asked which one of them would be my “baby.” I know, it is bad form to name any child as a favorite, even if it is a fur child, so I said “all of them,” but I admitted that I was drawn the most to Candy. I imagine it was because she seemed to be the most shy, the most vulnerable, but at the same time, she had an inquisitive nature. I told him that Flower, the growler and barker, would be his sidekick. He said, “Will I make her ‘blossom’?” Cute. I did think that he might “tame” her, at least.

We weren’t so lighthearted about it on John’s first visit, however. Dogs tend to like John, and he’s used to them coming up and wanting to be his friend. This time, though, the three dogs huddled together in the pen. Even John, always gentle to dogs, seemed to be a threat to these three.

Once they were in the dog run, with us watching from outside, Flower ran back and forth, nervously. Candy just went and hid.

Flower and Candy observe what's going on from the safety of their pen at Barbara's, during John's first visit.

Barbara thought it was a good idea if I went in the dog run, since they had already met me, but that John stayed in the yard and watched.

Dottie did let me hold her, but she shook later. Candy stayed at the other end. Flower continued to run up, a few feet from me, bark, and then run back, during the entire time. I might be getting us into something, but I am determined that these little girls get happy! At least I think I am!