Shih Tzu Week 47: May 17 (Day 323) – 23 (Day 329), 2012

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Di Freeze

Day 323: May 17

Thursday

The shih tzus haven’t been barking at John when he comes down the stairs. Maybe they realized what a real “stranger” was when Sandy first got here. They did get better with her as the week went on though.

Flower peed in front of the TV three days in a row, and she also peed on her couch. I washed the cushions and then stood them up, so she can’t pee on them again. I don’t know what to do about her peeing in front of the TV.

Flower certainly doesn’t need any toys. She loves to steal things from me instead. For instance, today she stole a cup lid and a straw and took them back to Shih Tzu Central to chew on. When she got tired of them, she found a sponge somewhere and smuggled it back to her dog bed.

I had an email from a Nutro representative today asking me if I wanted to host a doggy tasting party. It sounds fun. I haven’t bought Nutro yet for the shih tzus, but they do have a grain-free kibble they could try. I would never have dreamed of even attempting it even two months ago, but I am considering it. There would be people and dog guests, and the shih tzus wouldn’t like the people idea, but they might enjoy having a few extra dogs around.

I think the grain-free kibble has been helping the female shih tzus. I don’t see many tear stains on Flower these days, although Dottie still has some brown on her face. It might just be part of her coloring.

I have been trying to cook more because of my diet. I made a “gourmet” chicken salad today. I poached a chicken with some vegetables and herbs and the scents attracted Nigel and Flower. They came and sat on the kitchen floor, waiting for something to drop. I gave them some celery. They ate it, but Dottie and Candy wouldn’t try it.

Shih Tzu Day 324: May 18

Friday

I was gone all morning shopping with Mom. When I got back, I put some strawberries, bananas, and apples in the dehydrator as snacks for John. I thought the strawberries and bananas were weird, but the apples came out OK. When I was checking on them, I heard scuffling outside. Candy and Nigel were doing one of their tap-dancing routines.

Shih Tzu Day 325: May 19

Saturday

I looked up best dog nail clippers on Amazon and saw some good reviews for Dremel tools made for dog grooming. One review said not to bother with those since a regular tool would work as well and cost less. I bought a Dremel cordless rotary tool from Wal-Mart for $20 for us to try. John used it on Flower and Dottie and he thought it worked well.

I didn’t have much time to sit down today, but as soon as I did, Nigel and Dottie rushed up to the couch. They sure are sweet companions.

Leticia came by on her way to Bandimere Speedway with the girls, her friend Chris, and her son. I let the kids go outside and bother Candy for a few minutes. They love petting her, but she hasn’t learned to love it yet. She just sits there, frozen. I hope that will change someday.

Shih Tzu Day 326: May 20

Sunday

John and I made a 21-mile bike ride this morning and then went to Olive Garden for iced tea and salad. When we came back, he put up the Magic Mesh screen door correctly. It didn’t close right at first, but it did after he made some adjustments. I hope we can train the shih tzus to go through it.

Shih Tzu Day 327: May 21

Monday

Dottie had a twitchy thing going on this morning. I don’t know if she had an itch or if is she was just playing. She does that every now and then. She rolls over on her back, waves her paws, and makes strange noise. I think she is indicating she wants to be petted. None of the other shih tzus do that.

The three youngest shih tzus played outside in the backyard for a while this morning. I could hear Nigel and Candy’s heavy breathing from the kitchen. I’m always glad when Nigel plays with the girls, instead of wanting to just sit next to me on the coach. I think he needs to be active, and Candy gets bored easily.

I took Candy and Nigel for a walk this morning. I used the pink Velcro harness that I bought from Ross for her and the blue one for Nigel. Candy stopped and sniffed the grass a few times. Nigel wanted to run, so I ran with him. Candy picked up the pace a little and didn’t seem traumatized like she sometimes does on walks.

I am feeling hopeful about them. Now I just need to keep Houdini (Flower) from escaping her harness and get Dottie to want to walk.

All the dogs rushed John when he came in the back door after work, wagging their tails. It’s nice to see them becoming more and more comfortable with him. He went and got their treat and they all scrambled out the back door and stood there looking like children on Halloween waiting for their candy.

Shih Tzu Day 328: May 22

Tuesday

I have been noticing a difference in Candy. Before, if I approached her, she would always run. Now, at least when she thinks I don’t want to groom her or put a leash on her, she stands still and lets me pick her up or pet her.

Someone is still peeing in front of the TV, and I can only guess that it is Flower. I finally put a training pad down there today. I think I will try moving it closer to the real training pad area each day. Maybe she just doesn’t like stepping up over the training pad holder.

I took Dottie and Nigel for a walk this morning. I was going to just take Dottie, but Nigel got excited when he saw the leash. When I got back, Flower looked so bored at Shih Tzu Central that I decided to take her too. I put the pink harness on her and attached a leash to it and one to her collar so she couldn’t escape. I was happy when she didn’t even try. She shook her head, but I think it was because the leash was bothering her. I kept readjusting it so she would be comfortable. She walked with me and then she ran with me quite a bit. I think she might be the first one after Nigel to learn to like walks!

Nigel is still the only dog that knows how to get in through the Magic Mesh screen, which I call the Magic Door. He simply goes under it. Candy barks after she has been outside long enough and wants in. Oh well. I am at least very happy about the walking achievements!

Shih Tzu Day 329: May 23

Wednesday

Candy was having a case of “nuisance barking” earlier, so she had to come in. I’m not sure who or what she was barking about. She can be very loud, though.

The training pad in front of the TV did prevent whoever has been peeing in front of the TV — most likely Flower —from peeing on the floor, so it is a temporary solution.

Today I put harnesses on all the dogs, thinking I would try to take them all for a walk. I’m not too happy with the harness assortment I have. I used the Comfy Control one for Dottie, the Ross ones for Nigel and Flower, and a very plain pink one from PetSmart for Candy.

Dottie ended up being too stubborn, planting her butt on the floor and not moving, and I wasn’t sure I could handle all four anyway, so I decided to just take the youngest three. However, Candy followed Dottie’s example and wouldn’t budge, so I gave up on her too and just decided to take Nigel and Flower. When I opened the door, Flower bounded towards it. Yeah! She and Nigel did very well. We made a complete circle around the area behind Wal-Mart. It’s not that much of a walk. It’s probably less than a quarter of a mile, but it’s something.

When we got back, Candy kept coming up to me and growling, which I think usually means that she wants a treat. I decided she would have to work for it and put the leash on her. I carried her outside and then put her on the ground. She walked or ran most of the way without me tugging on her leash. For some reason, when we got back to the yard, she sat down and wouldn’t move to go inside. I wonder if she has a fear of entering houses because of some past trauma. I opened the door and pointed to her sisters, telling her, “This is your home,” and she finally got up and went up the steps and in the door. I hope to soon have the three youngest shih tzus wanting to go for walks.

One of my inspirations is Penny, a rescue dog one of my friends owns. I guess she was a very fearful dog when the family got her. Now, she is very friendly and she loves walks. In fact, they take her on three a day, which is a little too much of a commitment for me! They are a retired couple, so they have more time.

Flower was being very dramatic this evening. She jumped up on the couch arm, and batted her paws at me, which means she wants to be petted. I was typing away on my laptop and she walked across the couch and scratched the side of the computer, I think in disapproval. I stopped and gave her some attention.

Shih Tzu Day 210

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Di Freeze

I brought Candy up to sleep with us last night. She curled up on the bed and didn’t peep all through the night. However, at 6 o’clock, we heard her retching. She vomited bile on the bed and on the floor. I haven’t noticed the dogs doing that lately, since I read they sometimes do that if they go to bed on an empty stomach and have been trying to give them a little food before bedtime. She seemed okay throughout the day, though.

Flower follows me down to the basement whenever I go to put anything in the wash. She sniffs around the exercise room and the spare room. I haven’t caught her peeing on the carpet again, but I do try to keep an eye on her when she wanders into a different room. I am glad that she is becoming more comfortable with the different areas of the house and doesn’t seem as fearful as she did a few months ago.

Crazy shih tzus

The dogs have seemed a little lackluster lately, but today, all four of them were jumping each other. Flower was being a little too aggressive with Candy. She acted like she was mad at her. Candy was standing up to her, but I finally said Flower’s name firmly and when she looked up, told her “No!” She came up to me shaking her head from side to side, and I shook my finger at her. She came up further and put it in her mouth, backed away and then came back and put her mouth on my finger again. It was more like gumming than biting. They are way too cute.

Nigel decided it was her turn to be picked on, and tore after her, so she went running. They are getting a little crazy these days. They ran too close to the TV tray stand holding my water and knocked the water on the floor. Thankfully, it was a plastic Starbucks glass with a tight lid.

Later, Flower jumped up on the couch, pawed at me, and then cocked her head back towards the dining room, as if to say, “This way. We need a treat!”

I got my laptop back after being without it for three weeks! Now that I won’t be using a loaner laptop, I need to transfer pictures to it and start putting them up with my posts again. I know they have been very bare without any.

Shih Tzu Day 15: Morning Salutation

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Di Freeze

Morning Salutation of the Shih Tzus

The shih tzus sure like those midnight hours. Candy and maybe someone else began barking at about 3:30. The barking stopped for about 20 minutes and then began again. I decided it was time to start turning the TV off at night, no matter how long it takes to warm up in the morning. John went down and turned it off. I don’t know if the shih tzus stopping barking because he came down and told them to or because the TV distraction was gone, but they did let me sleep for a couple of hours before starting up again.

I got them all to go outside this morning, but then Flower came back in and I couldn’t convince her to go out again, so I fed her inside.

The Waiting Game

Dottie followed me upstairs most of the times I had to go up them today. Once she was there, she just sat in the hall and waited for me, then followed me down again.

Candy was on the couch when I came back from Walmart. She jumped off, but instead of running to the pen, as usual, she ran to meet me. So did Dottie. Flower hung behind in the pen. I think she waits to see if that Man is with me.

Canyon Creek and Kong

Candy keeps a watchful paw on the Kong teddy bear.

I gave the dogs a new treat: Canyon Creek Ranch Big Blast duck wrapped pork skin with liver centers. Whew. That’s a lot to say. They loved unraveling it. I also bought them a little Kong teddy bear. Candy carried it up on the couch with her.

Flower and Candy also love to bring their treats up on their couch with them. At one point, I looked up from the computer and saw Flower contentedly gnawing away at her treat on her couch. Candy was at the other end of the living room, sitting on the carpet doing the same thing. Dottie had wandered over to my couch and was burrowing between the throw and the couch, wrapping it award her. I thought of the importance of the fact that they were that comfortable, instead of huddling together in their pen, with Dottie shaking, Flower growling, and Candy looking frightened.

Dottie has begun coming up to me on the couch and wanting up. She can’t seem to jump that high successfully, so I pick her up and she lies next to me while I work.

Shih Tzu Day 7: The Doggy Circus is in Town

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Di Freeze

The shih tzu sisters have been doing great. We had Leticia and the grandchildren over all day Sunday. The dogs weren’t thrilled, but they didn’t seem traumatized.

We ate outside in the garage and let the children come in one by one to meet them. They behaved when Rema, Junior and Evita came in to meet them. They even came out into the room when Oriana was inside, but Flower did growl at Dulcea.

We were afraid how they would react badly to the Fourth of July activities, but they came through with flying colors. We tried to get them to go outside to do their business early in the evening, but fireworks went off and they scurried back inside. After that, we stayed inside and watched movies. They handled the gunshots and loud noises from “The Mechanic” well, so action movies shouldn’t be a problem. I think the noise on the TV blended in with the fireworks outside, so they were fine.

Candy did a little dance across the carpet last night that was adorable. I don’t know what it meant, but she sure is entertaining. They all dance around when I come downstairs in the morning, although they get serious when John appears. I know they will warm up to him, as soon as they realize he won’t hurt them.

When they continue to be most excited, however, is when they hear the Milo’s Kitchen bag rattling. Flower jumps around like a dancing horse and they all rush me. I’m not sure if that’s acceptable behavior, but I prefer them to be rambunctious over shaking in the corner of their exercise pen.

Candy is pretty good about going outside willingly, but the other two still think they should do their business in the pen or on the carpet. I bought some training pads for them, but as soon as I put one down, Flower began wrestling with it.

Same Shih Tzu, Different Day

Journal of Three Former Puppy Mill Mothers / Shih Tzu Sisters … and Nigel

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