All About Shih-Tzus

The day that Squeaky lost his squeak

2008-05-08T10:33:00.006-05:00

Bruiser loves his toys. There is actually a hierarchy of importance as far as the toys go. For the last while, purple Squeaky has been the "toy du jour" and Bruiser takes it everywhere with him. Rocki likes Squeaky when he feels compelled to tease his brother. Otherwise he couldn't give a rip about it.

So imagine the horror when Grandma, who is staying with us while she recovers from surgery, accidentally stepped on Squeaky and he lost his squeak.

Bruiser was beside himself. After giving Grandma the stink eye, he ran over to his precious little pet and tried to squeak it. Nothing. Grandma got "the look" another time and Bruiser tried to revive Squeaky. No deal. Squeaky squeaked no more.

Bruiser then decided to appeal to the "fixer of all things"...that would be me. He brought Squeaky to me and started to grunt. I picked up the toy and took it over to the counter where the light was better. Bruiser did not leave my side. After fiddling around with it, I realized the squeaker was simply stuck and squeezed it in another direction to get it going again. Problem solved! Squeaky got his squeak back. Bruiser was ecstatic, promptly grabbed his beloved pet and proceeded to run around the house at full speed with Squeaky firmly in his mouth.

Another day...another dilemma...another resolution. All's well in the house now.

A quick note on antibiotics....

2008-05-01T07:58:00.005-05:00

I was a bit hesitant in giving antibiotics to my oldest when he had the ear infection because I know from my own experience how antibiotics can affect the body and possibly lead to other problems which, of course, would entail another visit to the vet and more medication to counteract the first one.

What had concerned me most is during the time he was taking the medication he didn't have the same spunk. He also didn't eat very much and seemed to sleep a lot. I also did some reading and, not unlike humans, I discovered that yogurt will help bring back the "good" bacteria that the antibiotics kill (along with the "bad" bacteria). So, after Bruiser was finally done taking the antibiotics, I'd give him a little bit of my yogurt when I had it in the morning. From the bottom of the cup, I'd dig out a bit on my spoon and hand it to him and he'd lick it off. Rocki, of course, was there as well. Can't give to one without giving to the other! Rocki didn't care for it, and neither did Bruiser, but it's almost as if he sensed he should have some and tried to eat it. He'd have the equivalent of about half a teaspoon in total. But this I hoped was enough to start building up the good bacteria again.

So, a few days later, it appears he's back to normal. He's not scratching at his ear and his brother's not trying to lick it for him. I'm still trying to give him a bit of yogurt in the morning, but since he's got that little "skip" to his step back, I think I can safely say that he's back to normal.

Shih-Tzu hairstyles

2008-04-26T21:27:00.005-05:00

I, for one, am fascinated by the hairstyles given to Shih-Tzus. In particular the "top knot" seems to be the thing to do with this breed.

Although my boys have short hair, I've found some links for those who are a bit more adventurous and want to give their dog a bit more panache.

1. Shih-Tzu top knots - illustrations of how to tie the top knot, show knot and puppy knot.
2. A casual Shih-Tzu top knot and the illustrated guide to the Show knot (curling iron required. Really!)
3. One of the most fabulous pics I've seen of a Shih-Tzu. I have no idea how they got the dog to look so perfect, but I suspect it took quite a few hours and hairspray was involved.

Ear infections

2008-04-12T06:40:00.003-05:00

Dogs with long, floppy ears are prone to ear infections, and Shih-Tzus are certainly not immune. My oldest just got treated for one.

At first, I didn't even realize he had an infection. When I was growing up, we had a Lhasa Apso and whenever she got the infection, there was a distinct odor that came from her ear so we knew it was time to go to the vet. However, when I checked my oldest, there was no odor so I let it go longer than I should have because I thought that it was just overly itchy and perhaps a bit irritated because of this scratching. I realized something was wrong after my husband told me he got up in the middle of the night and found our oldest scratching his ear and crying. That was enough to convince me something wasn't right. I immediately made an appointment with the vet and, lo and behold, he had an ear infection.

So what are the signs? Assuming there is no odor (which is a dead giveaway), this is what you need to watch for:
1. repeated scratching of the affected ear
2. repeatedly licking the paw that scratches the ear (in our case, he would scratch, lick, scratch, lick over and over)
3. shaking the head
4. rubbing the head against a carpet or floor

The vet took a swab from his ear and tested it. It turned out he had a yeast infection. They also said his ear canal was thickened due to the infection. They flushed out his ear to clean it. I was given antibiotics and ear drops that I have to give him twice a day.

Already I am seeing signs of improvement just after a day. He sleeps a bit more (which is probably the antibiotic) but when he's awake he seems to have more spunk to his step. Most importantly, he is not scratching his ear anymore.

Looking back, I was stupid not to have gotten him to the vet sooner. Sometimes we think we can diagnose a problem, but in the end we're not experts. I was relying on past experience, other people's knowledge and what I read on the internet. However, nothing compares to having a vet have a look at the problem. So if you notice these types of behaviors in your dog, take them immediately to the vet to have it checked out so your pet doesn't suffer any longer than they have to. Dogs can't tell you when they're in pain, and my little guy probably endured this pain and discomfort for longer than he should have.

It all comes down to...ice cream

2008-04-05T22:59:00.006-05:00

The boys know when they get their "special" treat...vanilla ice cream.

They stand at attention...there is no movement...when that container carrying the luscious commodity known as "ice cream" comes from the freezer. (and just as an aside to all you decorators...isn't my floor hideous, but I digress...)

There is absolutely nothing the boys won't do for their special treat. Even sitting still is not a problem!

Of course, a precaution - nothing with chocolate because that is toxic. And, although sugar is not good for their teeth, they do deserve a sweet treat once in a while, and vanilla ice cream is their favorite. I usually buy Breyers All Natural. And I'll tell you...you're dishwasher couldn't clean a bowl like two Shih-Tzus with ice cream in a bowl!

When your dog becomes aggressive

2008-03-19T09:10:00.003-05:00

When your sweet little boy starts behaving like a mean old junkyard dog, it's time to consider neutering.

Aggression could result from a number of different things such as a new dog (or cat or other pet) entering the home (as a resident or visitor) or tresspassing within the broader boundaries of your dog's "territory", another person moving in, a complete change of residence or a bad experience that perhaps you are unaware of. Although dogs do have a natural instinct to protect their loved ones and their territory which neutering will not affect, aggression in a male dog that appears out of the blue when no real changes have occurred and no "threats" can be discerned may indicate it's time to look into having him neutered.

Neutering will make your male dog less aggressive, reduce their tendency to roam, make them less prone to marking the territory, and reduce their tendency to mount other dogs (and in our case, their big cushions!). Neutering will also reduce the risk of testicular tumors and prostate disease. It will not affect their inherent playfulness or friendliness.

Neutering also helps to keep down the pet population. If you haven't neutered your male dog because you plan on breeding him, think long and hard about your reasons for doing so. Is it purely for profit? If so, shame on you! There are other ways to make money. Is it because you want another dog that is sired by your male? If so, are you prepared to ensure that all the other puppies resulting from a litter are placed in good homes? Do you know the buyers or are you willing to check them out thoroughly to make sure the puppies aren't abused or become another homeless statistic?

Neutering is, as always, a personal choice. However, please read about it and talk to your vet about the pros and cons of this procedure so that you can make an informed decision.

The Shih-Tzu Temper Tantrum

2008-03-13T13:29:00.002-05:00

While we were away in California for two and a half weeks, my mother-in-law and my nephew were dog sitting. We thought it was the least stressful method of leaving the boys while we went on vacation. How wrong we were!

For the first two days, we were told they didn't budge from the door we left from, they cried and refused to eat or drink. On the third day they did start to take some water and a bit of food. By the end of the week they appeared to be "back to normal". Not...

During the second week they became the dogs from hell. They peed everywhere they could and pooped on the carpet. They never do this when we're at home, but they were angry that we were not around and all rules went out the door. They tore up their toys, bedding and blankets. They ripped up my plants, books and anything else they could access. As soon as my mother-in-law cleaned up their mess, they would mess again.

We came home at 3:00 in the morning and the last thing I wanted to do was clean, but I had no choice. I spent 1/2 an hour scrubbing the floors and using carpet cleaner on the rugs. I definitely am going to have to rip up the family room carpet and have it replaced. Flooring is looking like a good option. However, since we've been home they've been good as gold...no mess on the carpet, no mess in the kitchen.

So if you are planning to go on vacation and have a dog sitter, my advice is to cover your furniture with blankets you can wash and have a lot of carpet cleaner on hand...you're going to need it!

Should you take your dogs on vacation?

2008-03-05T10:50:00.004-06:00

As I sat outside enjoying yet another beautiful San Diego sunrise, I can't help but think about the little boys. Wouldn't they have loved a break from the harsh, cold winter?

We stay with our brother and sister-in-law who have a gated compound. I think of how the dogs would run their hearts out on the lush, green grass. How little Rocki, who we suspect is part pig, would be in his glory digging in the tropical foliage. How Bruiser, our little sun worshipper, would park himself by the pool and sun himself to his heart's content.

We have often toyed with bringing them but I have many reservations about putting them in a cage on a plane. My misgivings were given more weight when I saw a woman in the Minneapolis airport with her little white Maltese. The poor thing was so scared it shook as she dragged it on it's leash past the hordes of people in the security lineup. I read of a dog dying on one of the airlines and now they don't allow pets anymore. However, if we drove down here, we could bring them. Although to drive for four days there and four days back pretty much voids the concept of a two week vacation.

So for now, we must leave the boys at home. And for us, it's like leaving our children. If we came for six months we certainly would make the drive. However, the winning lottery ticket has so far eluded us. :-) So, we plan for the future...six months in Canada and six months in sunny SoCal with the boys.

The hardest part of a vacation? Leaving.

2008-02-28T20:07:00.004-06:00

Last Friday morning we said goodbye to our boys and headed off to the airport. It was one of the hardest things we ever did.

My oldest already suspected we were going away when the suitcases came out. He cautiously circled them, sniffed at them, and then flopped to the floor with a big sigh. He knew...the last time the suitcases were out he and his brother lived with our cousin who owned their mother.

For two days before we left, he would not allow me to pat him nor would he come and cuddle with me. He would come to where I was, sit exactly a foot away with his back to me, and sigh. His brother knew something was up but hadn't quite figured it out. But, of course, in true brotherly style, Rocki would provide moral support by sighing as well, although he wasn't quite sure why he was doing it.

On the morning we left, Bruiser was very upset. He would run in front of us, drop to the floor and sigh. No matter where we went, he was one step ahead of us. It broke my heart but we had recruited my mother-in-law and nephew, who the boys adore, to stay at the house with them and dog-sit. We figured this would be a good solution to their loneliness...they knew my mother-in-law and nephew and they were in their own home with all the beds, toys and scents they were familiar with. But I guess it wasn't enough.

On Sunday, my mother-in-law called us and said that the boys posted themselves at the garage door (the one we left from) and sat and waited. By afternoon, she said Rocki and Bruiser were crying. She told us they didn't eat or drink for two days. Finally, on Sunday morning, they ate a bit and started to come to life. By Monday, it seems they were pretty much back to normal, running in and out of the house, eating, and chasing each other around. Finally, I can relax and enjoy my vacation!

Moody boys

2008-02-13T13:46:00.003-06:00

Shih-Tzus, like people, can get moody. Usually our dogs are moody when they're left alone without human contact for too long. However, as I also discovered, they get very moody if they don't get enough sun.

In the winter I can't let them out. However, our front window has an eastern exposure and it's bright and sunny in the morning. So it doesn't matter how cold it is outside, we have a little indoor paradise.

The dogs love to find a ray of sunshine, stretch out and sun themselves.

How to keep your dog active in the winter

2008-02-05T13:55:00.001-06:00

In the bitter cold of winter, these little guys absolutely cannot stay out for more than a minute or two. And dogs are like us...they eat more in the winter to build the fat they need to keep warm. So how do we keep them from getting overweight?

Although my dogs love to wrestle and chase each other, it's not sustained long enough for them to get a good workout. So I devised a little game where I grab some of their toys, throw them and make them chase the toys throughout the house. I toss it up the stairs, into a different room and across the basement floor. Our oldest loves his toys. God forbid anyone takes one of them because he'll hunt it down until the end of time. Our youngest doesn't give a rip about the toys, unless he's taking one to tease his brother. So the chase scenario works rather well. Our oldest tears after his precious toy and the youngest follows because he wants to grab it first so he can torment his brother with it. The other part of the game is "hiding" the toy. I'll pretend to throw it and then when they go in the direction they think I've thrown it, I'll hide it on them. Well, they'll tear around the house 5 or 6 times before they actually find it. Then they get praise and we do it again.

This is just something I came up with. Other times I'll walk or run up and down the stairs and around the coffee table and from room to room so they chase me. Hey...I could use the exercise too. :-) But the bottom line is you must keep them moving for a period of time to keep their energy levels up and prevent them from becoming overweight and sluggish.

In the summer it's so easy...we take them for walks in the park or let them run on the beach. In the winter, we simply can't because it's too cold. And keeping them active throughout the winter will mean in the spring their walks will be easy for them because they've stayed active through the winter months.

What Your Dogs Know That You Don't

2008-01-16T18:53:00.001-06:00

My dogs are well trained and do not mess in the house. So imagine my surprise one morning when I woke up and found markings throughout the kitchen.

I brought both of them over, made them sniff the offending area, and then scolded them roundly. Bruiser hung his head...Rocki wagged his tail and tried to jump up for me to hug him. I was about to melt and so I walked away and thought that was the end of it.

The next morning...the same thing...markings throughout the kitchen and family room. I was at my wits end. I went through the routine again with them, only I spoke louder.

Later that day, I went into the basement to do the laundry and saw something scurry in my path. It was too big to be a spider or cricket so I called my husband and he helped me look around. We found evidence of a little field mouse.

My husband went to the store, bought a mouse trap and we put peanut butter on it and set it out. The next morning when we came down, the mouse trap was intact, but the peanut butter was gone. So much for the mouse trap. We went out and bought one of those trays filled with a sticky substance that traps the mouse. Finally, the next morning, we had him and threw him away.

For the next week, all was well. No markings in the house. And then, one morning, I saw it. Markings.

This time, I went straight into the basement, set another trap and went back up to clean the markings. Later that evening, we had caught another little field mouse.

We did discover that the mice were coming in through a basement window that was not closed completely. We fixed that problem in a hurry and now, there are no more markings.

So the next time your dog starts suddenly marking his territory, rather than scold him, see what he's protecting you from.

Want a healthy dog? Try "people food".

2008-01-05T22:52:00.000-06:00

My doctor has a cottage near mine and we often run into each other and chat about our pets. She has a beautiful white Maltese that just had a litter. One day we were talking about food for the dogs and she told me she feeds her dog like I feed mine - they get chicken, pork, beef, liver and whatever other meat we are eating as well as some fresh vegetables. She leaves dog food out as a snack as do I. The reason?

She told me she had done a lot of research into the high rate of diabetes in dogs and found that commercial dog food is high in carbohydrates and this is what causes diabetes. We all know people in the area with different types of dogs who are giving them insulin on a regular basis for their diabetes. She believes that if we fed them more meat and vegetables we can avoid this in our pets.

I personally have been following this diet with my two boys and they are always full of energy, have beautiful coats, no "doggie breath" and are at a proper weight. When they go to the vet, he marvels at how healthy they are. So "people food" or dog food? You decide.

Singing Shih-Tzus

2007-12-23T09:25:00.000-06:00

For Christmas, I bought one of the singing and jiggling figurines from Hallmark. The one that caught my attention was the snowman and his little dog who sang and howled to Jingle Bells. So, I picked it up and brought it home.

Well, little did I know that Bruiser was an aspiring chanteur. He is so enraptured by the little ornament, whenever I ask if he wants to "sing", he runs to the couch, perches on the arm over the figurine, and waits for me to turn it on. He then barks and howls as best he can to the tune. He has taught himself how to howl like the little dog figure at the end of the song and is quite proud of his vocal abilities.

Rocki doesn't "sing". However, he does jump up on the chair with Bruiser, wag his tail and generally provide moral support.

Christmas...not just for humans!

2007-12-12T14:16:00.000-06:00

Our festive mood begins as we haul up the Christmas decorations and start the process of decorating our home for the holidays. Of course, our ever-astute pooches pick up on our mood and their excitement translates into tearing around the house, jumping on tables and chairs, and attacking all the new items that appear in their territory.

I took a picture of Bruiser, our oldest, guarding the fluffy Xmas decoration against Rocki's sneak attacks on most inanimate objects. Bruiser has appointed himself "big boss" of the house and general security, ensuring his brother doesn't get into anything he himself doesn't feel like getting into. In this case, because Rocki was having so much fun with this toy/ornament, Bruiser has decided to watch over it...that is, until he feels like attacking it himself.

Should you get a second dog?

2007-12-10T15:43:00.000-06:00

Deciding to get Rocki was not something that I did out of the blue...I had read a lot about bringing a second dog into the home and talked to a lot of people who had more than one pet. This is what I learned...

The general consensus was to get a second dog while the first was a year old or younger. This was because he had not yet established the home as his "territory". Male dogs are territorial as they get older, but female dogs can also be territorial and, if they are old enough, they can be worse than male dogs.

We were approached by someone we knew who had a 7 year old female Cocker Spaniel named Coco. She was a lovely dog and I agreed on the condition that if Bruiser, who was about 8 months old at the time, appeared to be uncomfortable in any way, we would not keep Coco. We brought Coco home and kept her on the driveway as I had read that you introduce the dogs on neutral territory and keep them on leashes so you can pull them away if need be. Bruiser, who was less than half the size of Coco, approached very carefully and, when he got closer to her, took a submissive posture. Coco turned her back on him the whole time. He slowly crept toward her on his belly and when he got close, she growled at him...not menacingly, but enough to tell him to back off. Bruiser backed off a bit, wagged his tail and started to creep towards her again. This time Coco let him approach and we thought we could see how the two of them behave in the house together. We brought them in and then Bruiser changed. No longer did he adopt a submissive pose...he stood tall about a foot away from Coco. She did not like it...she turned toward Bruiser and snapped at him. Bruiser jumped back and started to bark at her. At that point I told my husband to remove Coco from the house. Perhaps over time Coco would have taken to Bruiser, but I wasn't going to take the chance that she could hurt him. She was older...he was still a pup. It was obvious to us she had no patience for him and just wanted to be left alone. That was not going to happen. Sadly we brought Coco back to where she was living. Although on the drive to our home and back she was very docile and affectionate, she wasn't that way with Bruiser.

However, bringing a second dog into the home is never a piece of cake. Even though Bruiser was about 10 months old when we brought Rocki home, he was NOT amused. He went from a cuddly, docile, friendly little boy to an angry, stressed animal. Rocki was 9 weeks old when we brought him into the house. Bruiser came and sniffed, and then he got so angry and stressed that large gobs of saliva hung from the fur around his mouth. He went on his mat and stared. I could not even approach him...he growled and ran away. It was like we had abandoned him and he was completely lost. If I tried to touch him, he ran away. He refused to eat or drink. He did nothing but sit and stare. One day when the garage door was open, he actually tried to run away. Thankfully our neighbor caught him and he was content in her arms. But when I came to get him, he growled the whole time I touched him and jumped out of my arms the first chance he got. Thankfully, it was in the house!

This behavior went on for about three days. On the fourth day he started to drink and ate a bit of food. I was still not permitted near him. Luckily, Rocki didn't do much more than sleep because he was so young. Bruiser did stop by to sniff a bit more and got to the point that he would creep up to Rocki's bed and watch him sleep. If Rocki woke up and looked at him, Bruiser would take off. Finally, by day 5, I was able to pat Bruiser and he was eating again. He finally stopped salivating and began taking a genuine interest in this little furry creature that arrived in his home. He had at this point come to the realization that Rocki was pretty helpless and his first gesture of friendship was when he took a piece of his dog biscuit, held it in his mouth to soften it, and then dropped it in front of Rocki. After that, he became Rocki's father and big brother, always letting him eat first and guiding him along in the "rules" of the house. For the first five days it was touch and go, and I wasn't even sure at that point if we could keep Rocki, but Bruiser stepped up to the plate and became Rocki's guardian.

Everything I had read said to have a separate food and water dish for each animal so I did just that...two water bowls and two plates. The theory is that each has their own plates and portions so there is no fighting or competition. So on the first day, I put Rocki's puppy food on one plate and Bruiser's dog food on another and let them to their dishes. Both immediately went to the puppy food plate and sniffed. Then they both cruised over to the dog food plate. Rocki decided he liked Bruiser's food better than his own and decided to try and eat it. Bruiser shared with him, even though Rocki couldn't chew the food and dropped most of it on the floor. Then the two of them travelled over to Rocki's puppy food and Bruiser took a couple of bites and Rocki finished the rest. The two of them then headed over to one of the water bowls and shared it. I continued to make two plates every day until Rocki was over puppy food and every day was the same scenario. Finally, after watching the two of them share one small plate and then go to the next small plate, I got one big plate, put their food on it, and to this day the two of them share food. So again, you can read about what you "should" do, but in the end it's what works out best for both of your pets.

So getting a second animal is always a game of chance. You must be prepared to watch both animals at all times, monitor their behavior and reactions, and have an abundance of patience. Most importantly, you must be prepared for the fact that this new arrangement may not work out and if that is the case, then the second animal will have to be returned.

Why two are better than one

2007-11-24T20:17:00.000-06:00

Two dogs generally equal more work...two to bathe...two to groom...two to feed. But the benefits outweigh the perceived disadvantages.

For one thing, bathing two is not too much harder than bathing one. Throw both of them in the tub and you're done in 10 minutes. Feeding? Two don't eat much more than one, especially these little guys. Grooming? So it takes 30 minutes instead of 15 minutes.

Our oldest was depressed before Rocki came along. I didn't realize it at the time...how could you? But after we got Rocki, Bruiser realized he had a purpose. He took it upon himself to treat Rocki like his own child...he taught him the rules of the house through body language, growls and barks. Rocki is always clean...Bruiser "washes" his eyes, ears and face every night and Rocki has learned the routine and reciprocates with his brother. I no longer have to purchase expensive products to clean the dirt from their eyes because they look after each other. After their outdoor bathroom break? Again, they clean each other off, thanks to Bruiser for teaching this to the little one.

Play time? It's fun time now that they have a live body to chase toys with, jump on couches with, and generally run amok with. I don't have to worry as much about them getting exercise because they exercise each other. When one is too dragged out, one will motive the other to run through the house and up and down the stairs, through the living room and round and round the tables until each of them collapes from exhaustion.

Psychologically they are such happy little guys because they have a companion just like them to chum around with. When company comes...sure, there's a bit of competition for attention...but in the end they are buddies through and through and share the pats, the hugs and kisses.

When I first suggested getting a companion for Bruiser, my husband looked at me like I had grown horns. After I brought Rocki home, he admitted that it was the best thing we could have done.

The Shih-Tzu "Racetrack"

2007-11-16T23:44:00.000-06:00

Anyone that has a Shih-Tzu knows about the racetrack. Even when our oldest was small, he would often get that little gleam in his eye, jump up and start running as fast as he could around the coffee table until he dropped from exhaustion. As time went on, the circles around the table widened to encompass the kitchen island and any other area he could use to create a little "track" where he ran like a wild dog. All you saw was a flash of white...if you blinked, you missed him.

When we got his brother, the racetrack continued, except there were two of them running their little hearts out. It's something that's in the breed...they get it into their head that they're going to run and all hell breaks loose! If you start opening doors, all of a sudden the staircase, the living room, the kitchen and the family room become part of the track where they run as fast as they can in wide, sweeping circles until they finally collapse and succumb to a little nap.

What do you know about the person grooming your dog?

2007-11-03T19:33:00.000-05:00

Bear with me as I tell you a story of what happened to our dogs and hopefully will never happen to yours.

I used to have a mobile groomer, and for us this was a great setup. She came to the house, had her own equipment, and she allowed me to help keep the dogs calm while she snipped and shaved. This also gave me the opportunity to ensure that my pets were treated well and felt comfortable. Although she was nice, there was something that ate at me which I dismissed.

Then, she had a baby. At that point, she decided not do mobile grooming but invited us to bring our little boys to her home where she had a room set aside for this purpose. We brought our dogs to her home twice. The first time they came out looking horrible...some areas seemed groomed and other areas looked like she didn't bother with them. We brushed it off as being distracted by her new baby (even though her husband was home). Although she seemed a bit snippy, I chalked it up to fatigue and told my husband we'd give her another chance.

The second time our appointment was at 12:00. Because she lives about a 1/2 hour drive away, we mistimed the drive and ended up arriving 10 minutes early. So we went to the door anyway. After all, if you are running a home based business, you can expect people to be 15 minutes early or 15 minutes late depending on traffic, etc. Well, we got to the door and her less-than-hospitable husband answered. We were made to feel like we were somehow intruding but he very begrudgingly let us in. She came to the door, took the dogs and we left. She called two hours later to say the dogs were ready and we came back to the house. Her husband was a completely different person...calm, relaxed but yet there was something not quite right. She was very rude, talked to me like I was some sort of idiot and demanded a much higher rate than we had ever paid.

Within a week of the grooming, my husband and I took our boys to their mother's home while we flew to California for two weeks. My husband's cousin, who owns their mother, is a dog lover and always takes excellent care of our boys. When we returned, her husband pointed out that when he showed them a stick that he was going to throw for them to chase, my boys automatically cowered and laid prone on the grass in submission. I found this odd as our dogs have never been hit with anything, not even a hand, in our home. I filed that away in my memory bank. One day I raised my hand to pat the oldest one (like I've done many times without a problem) he immediately cowered and went into a submissive pose. He had never, ever done that before. I became suspicious because the only place my dogs were ever left alone were at the groomer. I decided that I would find a new groomer as she seemed to be short tempered and angry now rather than take a chance with her.

So, one day I called a number of groomers. I got a lot of voice messages and each said none of them were taking new clients. I was kind of desperate so I remembered we had once gone to Petcetera and they did a good job so I called them. Also, I remembered that their grooming area used to be completely enclosed in glass so I thought that there was no chance of the dogs being abused since the groomer was on view to everyone in the store. The one near our place did not have a groomer anymore but were in the process of hiring one so I called one slighly further out and got an appointment right away. I was kind of surpised but happy because the boys needed cuts and nail clipping. I dropped them off, left my number, and went shopping while I waited.

When I picked them up, the oldest had slightly longer hair but the youngest was shaved to the bone. And I mean, to the bone! There were patches of pink skin where he was clipped harshly. There was a huge chunk take out above his nose. For three days now, he is shaking, will not leave my side, and jumps when the raw areas (particularly around his private parts) irritate him. I have never in my life seen such a butchering job on a dog. I don't know where their groomer got her license, but I suspect it was in a meat packing plant.

I trim my dogs on a regular basis and they are used to scissors. I also trim around their eyes and they are very calm when I do it. So to have someone, like the Petcetera groomer ("oh...he moved a couple of times"), make out like they were not makes me suspicious.

So this is my story. Please check out your groomer. If you have a new one, make sure you investigate them and for the first couple of times, insist that you stay and watch the process. I wish I had but I never thought that a company as large as Petcetera would be so callous when hiring a groomer.

Mats

2007-10-15T12:19:00.000-05:00

It's a fact of life when you have Shih-Tzus - they get mats. It doesn't matter how often you wash them or brush them, they're going to have mats. So what do you do?

I used to try brushing them out but this is very time consuming and sometimes doesn't really work no matter how hard you try. I did go to the pet store and pay $18 for a little rounded contraption called a "mat remover" that you place in the mat and slowly work up through the fur...the little razor-like insides are supposed to cut through the mat. It works better than a brush, but it's still time consuming and we all know what it's like to get our Shih-Tzus to sit still while we're doing this...next to impossible.

This evening I gave the boys a bath. Little Rocki has some mats...his hair is longer since I didn't have him cut after he got out of the hospital (when he had Parvo) because they had to shave some areas where he had blood tests and the intravenous and I wanted to wait until his scabs were gone and he was completely healed. But when he was partially dry I noticed that the matted parts stuck out from the damp areas. So I called him over and got out his little brush and started brushing the damp mats. They started coming apart much easier than when he is dry. Not only can you spot them, but the fur is more pliable when it's damp. He had one behind the ear (a common area) and one on his back and I got them out quite easily.

So there's the secret...wash your dog...let them dry a bit...and then gently brush out the mats.

How often should you bathe your dog?

2007-10-10T18:16:00.000-05:00

For some reason, people seem to think that frequent baths are not good for dogs. Perhaps some poor animal who got washed with laundry detergent and cold water from a hose started the rumor...who knows?

In any event, bathing is a good thing. And yes, you can do it once a week. I certainly do...even though my boys are not too happy with me at bath time, it is a different story when they're nice and clean. Their whole attitude changes...they are happier, livelier and far more rambuncious.

Always use a shampoo formulated for dogs, however, pay attention after the bath to their reaction. Our oldest dog has always had sensitive skin. After experimenting with a few shampoos, I ended up going back to puppy shampoo which helped a lot. However, my best find, and the shampoo I'm using now, is an Oatmeal shampoo (with some Awapuhi moistuizer thrown in for good measure!). Sometimes it's a bit of hit and miss, but you will find a shampoo that works with your dog.

Use lukewarm water, being careful not to get shampoo in the eyes or excess moisture in their ears (as this can cause ear infections). If you do get water in their ears, dry them with the towel or some cotton swabs.

Frequent bathing can also help you diagnose any potential health problems. If you bathe your dog regularly and he or she still has dry, flaky skin or continues to smell bad, then you know to take your dog to the vet for treatment.

Man Tries to Drown His Shih-Tzu

2007-10-07T23:56:00.000-05:00

"Police say Casey Purser became angry yesterday after one of his two dogs, a Shih Tzu named Toby, defecated on the carpet of his Van Nuys home. Police say he then threw the dog in a bathtub and attempted to drown it."

I just read this news story and it really made me wonder why people get dogs if they are afraid that the dog may do something on their carpet. Well, here's the reality check. Even if you bother training them (which some people don't...the dogs are simply expected to know that the carpet is valuable), your pets are still going to slip up from time to time. In the case of a Shih-Tzu, they will inadvertantly pee and poo on your floor or carpet if they are scared or highly stressed, and they will intentionally do their business in the house if you piss them off. In the latter case, when you catch them they will look at you as if to say "yea...so what are you going to do about it?".

The bottom line is that your Shih-Tzu, or any pet, is an animal. They do not understand our language, and the value of objects such as carpets, tables, couches and ornaments is completely foreign to them. If it has a nice texture, they will chew it. If it rolls, they will chase it. If it smashes into pieces, they'll play with it. If it tastes good, they will eat it. They are animals, pure and simple. So for those people who cannot handle the fact that your things may be less than perfect during the learning process and perhaps beyond, the answer is simple: don't get a dog.

Dog days of summer...

2007-10-02T19:34:00.000-05:00

The boys love being on the grass, and this is one of the last times they'll be able to romp around as we hear rumors that snow is coming within two weeks.

Their favorite spot? Grandma's house, of course, where the grass is lush and the yard was just built for rambuncious dogs to run to their heart's content.

Of course, stopping to smell the flowers and dig around the plants is a wonderful passtime, nothing beats running around a wide open yard!

Treats!

2007-09-28T21:35:00.000-05:00

Everyone loves treats! For us humans, it's salty chips or sweet goodies like chocolate, cookies and ice cream. As for our dogs, they need treat time too!

Although I know it's not vet-approved to feed them ice cream, the truth is...I do it! I buy little cups of vanilla ice cream and give it to each of them in bowl. This is the highlight of their week and I just don't have the heart to cheat them of it.

Fruity yogurt? Yes, I'm guilty of giving them little bits from the bottom of the cup when I'm done. So sue me!

Crispy plain potato chips? They love them and when I get to treat myself on NFL Sunday, they get a little treat too. Is it good for them? Probably not. Is it good for me? Definitey not. But we all share it anyway. So there!

There are a lot of things we should and shouldn't eat and the same goes for your dogs. But in the end, we're all living creatures and yes, I hate to admit it, but somehow the food that isn't good for us tastes so damn good. (and my dogs will agree with this point!) So, be healthy for 6 days of the week...feed your dog well for 6 days in a row...and on the seventh day, whichever one you choose, go nuts and have a good time. We're not here for a long time, so let's all have a good time.

As the cooler weather comes, don't forget this!

2007-09-25T19:07:00.000-05:00

As summer slowly seeps into autumn, the nights cool off and our heaters come on. Our dogs' coat starts to get a bit thicker in preparation for the cold months ahead. So what do you need to do?

Have lots of water on hand. Since our heater started coming on intermittently at night, I've noticed the water dish has almost run dry a couple of times. All heaters dry out the house so just a quick tip...make sure your pet has plenty of fresh, cold, clean water at all times.

And don't forget as the air gets dryer, there may be more static in your dog's hair. Make sure you also have a good conditioner to use after a bath. Whether it's a liquid that you wash out or, my favorite, an all-natural spray that you leave on, check your dog's coat and condition it according to the dryness.