Tag Archives: training pad

Shih Tzu Day 88: Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?

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 Don’t Eat That!

three shih tzus on a dog bedWe had a nice, leisurely day. I didn’t get up until 7:30. A quick inspection showed that all the girls used the training pad properly, but someone had pooped on our hall runner. Also, I know that it is occasionally used for number one. Oh well. I can’t get rid of all the carpet. I considered throwing the runner in the washing machine, but read online that the rubber backing deteriorates over time, eventually falling apart and clogging up the drain and water lines. So, I guess I will look for an inexpensive, machine washable runner.

A few days ago, John mentioned that he was glad that none of our shih tzus had the bad habit Joey, our Yorkie, had, of eating dog poop. Well, he spoke too soon. This morning, after Candy did her business outside, she came back and started nibbling on it. We shooed her away a few times, and then I went and got a plastic baggy to remove it. We’ll have to keep an eye on her, and I need to research how to stop it, if she continues. I don’t remember what we ever did with Joey, but I don’t think she did it that often. Maybe Candy was just experimenting!

John finished putting the rototiller back together successfully. That means we can get rid of the weeds on the backyard. Yeah! When he got done with that, he made cinnamon rolls with his mom’s recipe. I mainly sat on the couch all done with my laptop and Dottie, when she wasn’t at Shih Tzu Central. Flower paid me the occasional visit, but Candy mainly lounged on one fo the dog beds.

 

Shih Tzu Day 87: Sadie Shih Tzu Calling

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Goodnight Candy

shih tzu on porchWe did an experiment with Candy last night. When we went up to bed, I brought her up with me and sat her between us. She sat there, perfectly still. I didn’t think she would stay with us, but I wanted to see how long she would remain where I put her. When we turned out the lights, she sat there for about five minutes, and then silently wandered to the bottom of the bed and jumped off.

Who is that Man?

shih tzu on carpetEvidence that three dogs had peed on the training pads again this morning. Yeah! Another victory. Also, this morning, while we sat outside during the girls’ breakfast, John remarked that Flower hadn’t been barking at him when he came outside, like he used to do.

I realized that was true. That doesn’t mean that he never barks at him. He still does that, when he comes home from work, and if he puts on a visor or his glasses. I think he thinks he’s a different person then.

Pet Me!

Flower came up to me while we were outside, and as I petted her, John started petting her too. She didn’t back away. I don’t know if she didn’t know he was petting her, or if it was okay as long as I was petting her too.

shih tzu on carpetJohn and I went for a 30-mile bike ride this morning, and we were gone for three hours. We got home, took the dogs outside for a treat, and then left to go to lunch. After we came back, we decided we were a little tired and were going to take a nap.

Well, we tried. Dottie came up to get me. I could hear her nose sniffing in the hall. I finally decided I didn’t need a nap, and went downstairs to visit with them.

When I settled in on the couch, Flower jumped up, wanting her petting session. When I had to put my hands back on the keyboard she jumped down, but Faithful Dottie stayed. Candy came up to the couch, and I thought she might jump up, but she didn’t.

Sadie Shih Tzu Guest Blog

The Shih Tzu Sisters got a request today from Sadie Shih Tzu to guest blog on her blog. She said she wanted them to tell her readers what it is like being a rescue dog. I told her they would be happy to tell their story! Maybe it will encourage other people to adopt rescue dogs. We need to get her an article and pictures by October 1.

Shih Tzu Day 74: Training Pad Improvement

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training pad use

John got up about 5:30 and tried to get the shih tzus to go outside, but only Candy would listen to him. When I came down an hour and a half later, it looked like the other two used the training pad.

closeup of a shih tzuI had about an hour to sit on the couch with Dottie before I had to get ready for church. I took the time to go through the iWork Pages tutorial at Lynda.com and drink coffee. Gabe and Crystal were riding to church with us. When they came in, only Flower growled, but the shih tzus mainly just sat in their corner, waiting for the company to go away.

I stayed inside with the girls all afternoon, while John and Gabe tinkered with the rototiller in the garage. It hasn’t worked for weeks, so the weeds are overtaking us in the backyard. They are especially high down the middle of the yard, where the water flows down. The girls seem to love jumping the water and the weeds. Candy and Flower jump pretty high for small dogs.

While I worked on my laptop, Candy amused me by doing stretches across the carpet. She’d stretch out, walk a few steps, stretch out, then walk a few more steps. I think she is bored. Later, she amused herself by taking bites out of the newspaper I put under the training pad.

three shih tzus on a large dog bed.How to get them to do their business on the training pad still remains a puzzle. Since we took our large area rug out to the backyard and drenched it with cleaner and rinsed it well, it doesn’t have that lovely urine scent. Still, I know that the girls use it at least occasionally. I had tried setting three training pads out next to each other, but only two training pads ever got use, so I stopped that. I started trying to put newspaper under the training pad, sticking out at the edges, since they seem to like to squat at the edge. Candy still prefers to run upstairs to our bedroom or the spare room and relieve herself, however, instead of using the training pad.

I have more ideas. We might roll up the big rug at night, to remove that temptation. Also, I am thinking of trying doggie litter in conjunction with the training pad.

 

 

 

Shih Tzu Day 72: Cats and Scary Noises

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shih tzu – cat excitement

two shih tzus at a kneeOur new morning schedule is going well. John got up at 4:30 when he heard jingling in the hall and went downstairs to see which shih tzushe could get to go outside. He only succeeded in getting Candy to go out. I got up a little before 7.

two shih tzus at a kneeA big grey cat and a black and white cat added excitement to Flower’s breakfast. The other shih tzus kept eating obliviously, but the guard shih tzu had to keep running and checking the backyard.

I had to throw a dirt clod near the feline visitors to make them scatter, so she could finish her breakfast.

home alone

A <em srcset=shih tzu close up” width=”300″ height=”225″ />I left the shih tzus alone for about 6 hours while I took mom shopping. As I expected, they were excited to see me when I finally came home. I took them outside for their apple and sweet potato treats. Although I saw her relieve herself outside, about an hour after we came in, Flower squatted down on the carpet.

shih tzu with squished face.

 

I told her no, but by the time I pushed my laptop and table out of the way, she had already peed and scrambled under the table. I don’t know if this is what you’re supposed to do, but I blotted the spot with a paper towel, sat the paper towel on the training pad and pointed to it, since I couldnt’ reach her. I got out one of Cesar’s treats and lured her out, then took her to the pad. Who knows if she understood or not.

scary noises

Later in the afternoon, the dogs heard noises outside and rushed into the middle of the living room, barking like crazy. A little later I noticed that someone had pooped on the carpet. My guess is that it was Flower, since that’s what she does when she gets scared. I moved the poop to the training pad, hoping they would get the message.

The girls were all excited when John got home. Once we had finished giving them treats, he picked Candy up and held her for awhile. She seemed very relaxed.

Shih Tzu Day 71: Country Dog, Shake It For Me

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the shih tzus and the unwelcome guest

John went downstairs at about 4:30 to let the shih tzus out, but Candy was the only one that would go outside. After that, they were perfectly quiet. Their sharp doggie ears heard me get up at 6:45 and go in the bathroom, and the shih tzus started barking. When I opened the door, they rushed me excitedly.

<em srcset=shih tzu on dog bed looking bored.” width=”300″ height=”199″ />After I fed them and brought them inside, the shih tzus sat on the carpet staring at me, as if to say, “What now?” I usually leave them to themselves after they come inside, and start my work. This morning, I sat on the carpet with Candy and Flower for a while, rubbing those cute little shih tzu faces between my hands. I am trying to follow a Twitter friend’s website advice and give them daily, planned “love time.”

<u srcset=shih tzu eying a treat” width=”300″ height=”199″ />two shih tzus watch another get a treat.My stepdaughter Candace came over mid-morning to help me organize some papers. The dogs didn’t immediately growl at her, because she didn’t stop at Shih Tzu Central to say hi. The shih tzus did growl at her later, however, when she walked too close to them. After she’d been here about an hour, I ushered Candy, Flower and Dottie outside to see if they would let Candace give them a treat. I am starting to think Dottie will take food from anyone; she eagerly approached her. Candy and Flower stayed in the yard, staring at the treat and at Candace, but only taking a few steps towards her, then moving back. She ended up throwing them some chicken jerky, which they picked up and ate.

shih tzu getting jerky from porchAfter we came inside, Candy went up to her room to hide. When Candace and I left for lunch, I put the gate across the door, to prevent Candace from going in there and peeing on the floor, not knowing that she was already in the room. When we came back, I looked around the dining room and living room and couldn’t find her. I looked in the spare room, just in case, and found her sitting in the closet, resting on a purse.

shih tzu hiding in closet.Flower jumped up on the couch to see me several times in the afternoon. On one of the occasions, she brought her Oinkies pigskin treat with her. I thought I’d try the Hartz brand this time, because it has a sweet potato center. They seem to like it better than the other brands of that type of treat.

shake It, country dog

shih tzu shaking her buttI realized that we have been lazy this week — no grooming, no trying to get them on a leash. The only training I have been doing is still trying to get them to pee on the training pad and not on the carpet.

shih tzu shaking her butt in excitementWhen I came down this morning, there were three yellow spots on the two pads I put down, and even some poop, so someone is trying. Candy continues her habit of napping on it and chewing on treats on it, so I doubt if she is using the training pads for their intended purpose.

shih tzu shaking her butt in excitementBut good news. It’s official. Candy now gets excited when John gets home. Country singer Luke Bryan has a song called “Country Girl (Shake It For Me).” That is my theme song for Candy, only I sing to her, “Country Dog (Shake It For Me).” She is just so adorable when she shakes her little bootie.

Flower is getting better. She isn’t where Candy is, but when John got home tonight, she did act halfway excited. They now know that treats quickly follow after he comes home.

Although Dottie hung back, not one of the dogs growled. Outside, all three of them came up to him for treats readily, with Flower not giving a second thought to putting her paw on his knee. John held Candy for a while later. She seemed content. He also pet Dottie, and she let him, but she looked the other way the entire time.