All About Shih-Tzus

Being Responsible for Your Pet

2011-03-10T08:06:00.001-06:00

When we moved to a small town, we immediately built a fence around the house so our dogs had a place to run without disturbing others and without worrying about other dogs and assorted critters getting into the yard. To me, it was just what a responsible pet owner does - you keep your pet in your yard.

In this town, however, I didn't realize that dogs were such a huge issue. It seemed that many people had dogs, however, they were allowed to roam all over town and do whatever they wanted. Many people were fed up with this, particularly with some of the large dogs who would not be described as friendly. One older lady was going for a walk and was cornered by one loose dog. She was rescued by a local storeowner who chased the dog away. There was another dog - a big german shepherd - who was not friendly, chased cars and people, and lives right next to the school. They found evidence of her wandering on the school grounds and chasing little kids. The real fear came when she had pups and became even more aggressive...right next to the school.

Many town people were complaining. There was a bylaw about the dogs but no one seemed to be doing anything to enforce it...we couldn't get past the town secretary who kept telling us it was our responsibility to contact the dog owner and deal with it (even though the bylaw said different). In the end, a group of us got together and went to the next Town Council meeting to demand that something be done. And it was...we not only got the Council to begin enforcing the bylaw, but we got them to amend it to say we could use a picture as evidence of a dog on the loose in town and we got them to up the fine from $15 to $500.

Amazing how fast money talks. Overnight, all the lax pet owners immediately found ways to keep their dogs in their yards.

You know, the sad part of all this was that people were shooing the dogs and aiming their cars at the ones on the road, but it was never the fault of the animal. It was the fault of the owners. One in particular had a beautiful, well tempered little cross breed who was always allowed to run free and usually hung out on the road. I don't know how many times she was almost hit by car. She was always left outside. No one ever paid any attention to her. And all this little pooch wanted was some love. She would pee whenever she saw me because she was so excited and knew that she would get a nice belly rub and lots of affection. One of the councillors and I used to plot how we could find her a good home, kidnap her from the road and take her to a loving place. We even went so far as to discreetly speak to people from nearby towns to see if they wanted this sweet little dog.

In the end we do not have a problem with dogs. There is a lot of bitching and grumping about the new bylaw, but the bottom line is if you have a pet you need to take responsibility for it. That means caring for it, giving it affection, taking it to the vet and ensuring that your pet stays on your property for the safety of others and the dog's own safety.

What a lonely boy!

2010-11-16T23:51:00.000-06:00

When my husband and I first started our restaurant we thought we had plenty of time to zip back home and be with the boys.

Oh how wrong we were!

Unfortunately (or fortunately) our restaurant took off and we were deluged with people. Our private time was extinguished and time alone with our boys became a thing of the past.

We do try and make it home a couple of times a day to let them out and be with them but it's been a really hard call - make money while we can to have a better life, or hold off a bit and spend time with the boys.

I've actually elected to spend more money on staff so I can come home and be with the little guys but balancing time and budget becomes more difficult as the days go on. Did we make the right move? I'm not sure yet, but I doubt the boys think we did.

Is it good to be successful?? Yes, we are taught it is. But we looking back I wish at times we had elected to make less and live more. It's tough call for anyone in business for themselves.

Lazy Days of Autumn

2010-10-04T19:40:00.000-05:00

As the cold weather approaches, the boys take every opportunity to enjoy the last rays of sunshine on the deck. Even though the leaves are falling from the trees and the deck furniture is being put away, my little sunbathers still find a warm place to relax.

Inside Outside

2010-09-25T19:59:00.000-05:00

When we lived in the city, I couldn't get the little guys to go outside. Even in the summer, they would sit inside the house at the edge of the patio door and look outside, but rarely venture out. Some days I had to physically put them outside to do their business.

We lived on the outskirts of the city in a very quiet are, but I suppose they still heard the noise of traffic and people and sirens. They went outside grudgingly to do their business and would hurry back in.

Now that they're in the country, I can't keep them inside.

They sit at the door constantly waiting for someone to open it. When they are outside they run everywhere. They run around the yard and we take them to neighboring fields. Sometimes we take them down the hiking trail where they scamper happily through the fallen leaves.

And just when we think we've run them out, they come into the house and chase each other around at full speed. Where they are getting this boundless energy I'll never know, but if I could bottle it I'd make a fortune!

The boys love their jazz...

2010-09-04T23:59:00.001-05:00

Crazy as it sounds, if I want the boys to relax and have a nap, I find smooth jazz. I've tried other things - spa music, nature sounds, soft rock, ballads, classical - and nothing. The minute I put on some jazz, they are gone.

When we moved to the country, I had a two and a half hour drive to get to the house with two rambuncious boys in the SUV jumping from front to back to boxes and everywhere else. I tried everything to get them to sit still and had to stop twice on the side of the road to get them settled again. I finally put some jazz on and that was it - they laid down and had a nap.

So, my not-so-scientific experiment had resulted in keeping jazz on hand in the house and the vehicle. It keeps them calm and me sane - an all around winner!

Ear Infection Update

2010-08-28T08:08:00.000-05:00

Bruiser was getting ear infections on a regular basis. One thing the vet did mention as a possible cause was allergies. Of course, without going through the gamut of testing, we were going to be challenged to find out what he was actually allergic to.

The one thing that sat at the top of my list of potential causes of Bruiser's allergies in the other house was the carpeted areas. When we were renovating and I lifted the carpet in the family room, the dust that came flying out was unbelievable. And this was a carpet I vacuumed at least twice a week.

When we began building our new house, my husband said I could do whatever I wanted since it was his idea to move to the country. As I was working with the builder and designing the home, I told my husband I was not having any carpet. He was a bit shocked at first...not even in the bedroom? he asked. I said no...none. He said he didn't like waking up in the morning and have his feet hitting the cold floor. I said I'd buy him a mat or a small area rug for the floor on his side of the bed that I could take outside and beat the dust out of or toss if it got too dusty. In the end, he reluctantly agreed to my plan and I put laminate and tile throughout the house, even in the bedrooms. The only rugs I have are one area rug in the living room and one mat at the front door. That's it.

And guess what happened? The dogs (and humans!) are not sneezing anymore. And Bruiser has not had another ear infection. The last time I saw him scratching at his ear was because he had a couple of mosquito bites. When the floor gets dusty, I see the dust right away, grab my trusty Swiffer mop and the dust is gone. Problem solved.

In this photo, the boys are spending time in one of their favorite places - the sunny deck.

Where have we been?

2010-08-22T16:06:00.006-05:00

It's been awhile since the last post, and that's because we decided to move...to the country!

Yes, we sold our home in the city as well as all the furniture, packed up the boys and our belongings and moved to a quieter, cleaner place. So now, as we move in and start making the place our own the boys are adjusting quite easily to a simpler way of living.

This is the chunk of land we bought. Pics of the boys on their new deck coming soon.

Do the boys want to go to the country?

2010-03-08T08:27:00.003-06:00

Dogs are very intelligent creatures. Yes, we complain when they don't listen, but I'm quite convinced that my boys don't listen because they choose not to, not because they don't understand what I'm telling them.

During the winter, I would occasionally say "Boys...do you want to go to the country?" These little guys go goofy jumping up and down and running to the door. At first I thought perhaps it was my tone of voice that excited them, so I used the same tone and said "Boys...do you want to have a bath?" (a most hated activity) and I did not get the same reaction.

Anytime we went to visit family in the country, we would always say "Boys...do you want to go to the country?" and I guess they associated "country" with that wonderful green space where they run free, experience many new scents, chase birds, meet cats and other dogs, and how can we forget the numerous trees to mark?

So I wonder if the boys dream of the country when they're sound asleep and making those sweet little yipping sounds. I wonder if they understand what "going to the country" really means? All I know is when I say that word, they are excited and happy. Maybe they truly are a lot smarter than we sometimes give them credit for.

Boys and their rugs

2010-02-09T15:57:00.004-06:00

I was in Calgary a while ago and picked up an Alpaca area rug. I had it upstairs on the side of my bed but brought it down to the living room one day to show someone who came to visit. Well, as soon as the dogs saw the rug they absolutely loved it. As anyone with a Shih-Tzu knows, once the dogs attach themselves to an item, it becomes theirs. So my friend left and I went about my business and totally forgot about the rug. When I remembered, I went looking for it but the Alpaca rug mysteriously went from the living room to the boys' sleeping area in the family room. Oh yea...guess who was sleeping on it so I couldn't move it? (They're not as innocent as they look...)

The Best Cleaner for your Carpets

2009-12-10T14:38:00.004-06:00

Like most people, I've probably tried 75,000 different things on the carpet to get urine and marking stains out. It's been a trying journey with Rocki who, although he's a bit slow to learn, does understand that he has to go poop outside. However, he never quite grasped the concept that peeing is done outside as well. Although I've tried every which way to train him, it's been a losing battle. So I've come to accept that during the day, Rocki will go outside with his brother and at night, he'll just go wherever and I'll clean it up.

It's not just the stains that drive me nuts - it's the lingering odor that is nauseating and guarantees the dog will return to that exact spot when it comes time to do his or her business. But now I've found something better than my old white vinegar and water solution and it's natural.

I've used this on the bottom of my light colored couch (which is microsuede) and on the carpet. (did I mention the carpet we have left is pale grey? Yellow is quite obvious on it....) This stuff works wonders. I pay about $5.99 for a large spray bottle...I guess it depends on where you buy it. You just spray it on the carpet or furniture and it will remove the odor and the stain.

If the stain is set in, I have had to do more than one treatment. But it does work. The only thing is that when you first spray it on, the urine (or whatever odor is present) gets really strong for a short period of time while the product breaks it down. After that, you don't smell anything. And the nice thing is that this product really doesn't have a smell itself, so you're not covering up the odor with some stupid flowery scent (you know the stuff...you spray it on and later you smell pee AND lilies).

Anyway, this is the website for the company and the product: Nature Clean. Try it...you will like it...and it works.

Selecting a Kennel

2009-11-25T19:02:00.011-06:00

We recently had occasion where we had to go out of town and no family members were available to sit with our boys, so we had no option but to put them in a kennel.

Now I thought I did my research - I looked up kennels in our area on the internet and thought I had found a good one. I checked the website of the kennel to see their facilities, I searched for good and bad reviews, and I talked to people in my vets office. We also had friends who left their Daschund and Jack Terrier there and were very happy with the treatment they received.

The bonus with this kennel is that it was close to home. I found their site on the internet and was impressed by the tiled cubicles for small dogs. When I talked to the staff at the vets office who said they heard that this kennel was now under new management (and I too had seen the sign when I passed by it) and that people were starting to bring their dogs back (apparently they had a bad reputation before but no one would commit to saying why). I was told people were now commenting on how well this kennel was run and their business was growing. Sounds good, right?

So, armed with bedding, treats, toys and food, I took my boys to the kennel. I was greeted by the staff and they took the stuff for the boys and, lastly, our lovable little dogs were taken as well. I stressed over and over, on the phone and in person, that I didn't want them in contact with big dogs. Little dogs were fine, but not big ones. I was assured over and over that they would not be around the large dogs.

We had given the kennel the approximate time we would return and were about an hour late. I walked into the office and the staff member immediately went into the kennel area to let the dogs out of their chain link enclosure. Right there my mind started working - why were they in a chain link area where the large dogs were kept when on the web site the small dogs were shown in a tiled area with little white walled cubicles?

The staff member processing my debit card seemed quite friendly so I decided to probe a bit. I asked how the dogs were? Were they well behaved around other dogs? Oh yes, he said...they had no problem in the common area. Then he started yapping and I could feel the blood rushing to my head. I could see the enclosure they came from was chain link on all sides but the far wall. He told us that he put two German Shepherd dogs in the space next to our dogs. According to him, German Shepherds are very competitive when it comes to food and he said he had to separate these two when it was feeding time because they would fight with each other over any food item. He then told me they were going crazy one night because our dogs were chewing on little pig ears and the Shepherds wanted them. He said our dogs were really good: they stayed in one spot, stared straight ahead and chewed their treats while the Shepherd was pawing at the chain link. All I could think of was "of course they were chewing like robots - they were scared out of their wits!" I know my little guys - they chew, they look around, they chew some more. Now when they are nervous, they chew like robots. And that is what he described. I said "why were German Shepherds next to my dogs?" He kind of brushed it off like it was nothing and never really answered the question. There was something not right going on. He told me that he actually ended up putting a blanket over the chain link so the Shepherds couldn't see my dogs. What kind of kennel is this?

We ended up having to go on another trip and I had already pre-booked my boys with this kennel when we first brought them, but I couldn't even sleep at night thinking we had to take them back. So I started looking up other kennels and calling to see what kind of facilities they had. I found one that had solid walls between the kennels so I told the owner of that kennel what my dogs had gone through with the chain link fencing. He was quite sympathetic but also worried that my dogs got peed on. You know, I wondered why they were freshly bathed when I picked them up because I didn't order nor did I pay for a bathing. I started feeling even worse about where I had left them before, but I now have found a new kennel where the dogs are fed, provided with beds, given toys, bathed after a week, in a secure enclosure with three solid walls, and their only neighbors were a Chihuahua and another Shih-Tzu.

So the moral of this story is please check out the kennel yourself. Insist on seeing the area they will be in. Do not rely solely on other people's word...do not rely on pictures from their website. As I discovered, there was no tiled area with cubicles for small dogs in the one kennel. The small dogs were placed with the big ones.

The Boys Visit the Veterinarian

2009-11-14T07:12:00.002-06:00

It's that time of year when the boys need their shots so we make a quick trip to the vet.

Bruiser had been having some trouble with his ear - scratching it, repeatedly licking his paw and shaking his head - so I asked the vet to look at it. It turns out he has another ear infection. I can't figure out how or why he keeps getting them and Rocki never does, but now we have antibiotics and drops for him and it appears to be clearing up.

Rocki has been skittering around on his bum, so the vet had his anal sac squeezed and he seems to be okay now.

All in all, aside from the $380 bill, it was a good trip. They're both healthy and are at a proper weight. We have a follow up visit to ensure that Bruiser's ear infection clears up, but he seems to be doing much better than he was.

The vet has been asking if I will be neutering them. I said I would shortly but I'm the one who is squeamish about it. But apparently neutering them avoids many health related issues such as testicular cancer so I should do more than think about it and actually get an appointment for them. Apparently, if they are not neutered, the vet told me they can go from best friends to rivals that snarl and fight with each other so that's another issue to consider.

The Geese Return

2009-10-07T12:10:00.004-05:00

It's that time of year where the leaves start to turn shades of amber, orange and red. It's that time of year when the Canada geese gather at our little lake to prepare for their long journey south. And, it's that time of year when Bruiser absolutely refuses to go outside for any reason.

It's not that the dogs are afraid of the geese who parade through our back yard twice a day. It's not the incessant honking when the geese gather at night that spooks him. What frightens Bruiser are the "crackers" that go off at intervals throughout the day.

The "crackers" (as I call them) sound like a gunshot. The city has placed them around the lake because there are some individuals who live on the lake who don't like the geese. So, they complain to the city and the city puts in "crackers" to ostensibly scare the geese away. As far as I can see, the geese keep coming back. Some fly away when the "crackers" go off only to return shortly thereafter while others just sit there and ignore them completely. My Bruiser, who is also scared of firecrackers and thunder, will not go outside. At this time of year, he remains in a constant state of panic and will only go as far as sniffing the air when I open the door. If I physically place him outside to go pee, he panics and runs back to the door, madly scratching it if I do not open it fast enough.

So my issue is why do people live on a lake where, obviously, fowl of any kind will congregate at certain times of the year. It's like buying a place next to a cattle ranch and then complaining that the cows are mooing. The geese are here for three or four weeks. Surely people can deal with it! They swim in the pond and wander around. Yea, they poop, and sometimes it hits your vehicle if it's parked outside. So what...other birds poop too. Should we start getting rid of them as well?

So in the end, I am forced to line the doorway with paper all night and day so Bruiser can do his business. The poor little guy has figured out that if he eats and drinks sparingly, he won't have to do his business as often. So for about four weeks my sweet boy virtually abstains from food and water. I talked to our neighbor about it - they have a big black lab. They go through the same thing each year with their dog being petrified to go outside.

Maybe it's just me, but I think it's a sad day when we can't tolerate nature at her finest.

City boys become country boys

2009-08-06T20:54:00.005-05:00

After my mother-in-law passed away, we had to go out to the country to her home to help my husband's siblings pack up the house. The three hour drive was no joy given the circumstances. However, it is made even more onerous when the boys decide that, rather than use the entire back end of the SUV that contains their toys, bedding, water dish and other assorted treats, they MUST spend the entire ride on my lap. Both of them...together. Side by side. They switch positions every two minutes. About 10 minutes away from our destination, they decide that perhaps it's time to go in the back and curl up for a nap.

When we get to my mother-in-law' place, the boys perk up because they know that here they can run amok without leashes and still never run out space to roam. They water every tree, and when they run out of liquid they simply lift their legs at the remaining ones while looking puzzled that nothing comes out. Well, by the 35th tree you would think they would learn that nothing is left. However, being very determined little Shih-Tzus, they are adamant that they are going to mark every last one.

I lost Rocki at one point...he had chased a bird all across the garden but ended up finding a cat and chasing him up the tree. This is the same cat that came to visit earlier in the day - it belongs to the neighbor across the road. Bruiser was actually quite friendly when the large, yellow cat came to visit. Rocki kept his distance but Bruiser started sniffing and the cat kind of let him as it slithered around. The cat then got bored and decided to trot off into a large rock garden at the front of the house. Bruiser, ever the inquisitive one, followed the cat into the shrubbery. I called him repeatedly and said "no" in my loudest voice, but Bruiser was going after the cat. He had the cat backed up against a tree and I began yelling for him again, but Bruiser was going to have to learn the hard way. The cat suddenly "meowed" and slapped Bruiser across the face with his paw. Bruiser squealed and leaped backwards, landing on a dead rose bush. He screamed again as the sharp branches scraped his skin and frantically skittered out of the rock garden. Needless to say, for the rest of the day, he followed me quite closely and was an excellent listener. The next day was another story entirely...

Even though the boys have oodles of acres to run through and explore, this apparently is not good enough. When things got just a wee bit too quiet in the yard, I decided to go investigating. I found my two "precious" boys digging a large hole where the hose to the sump pit is. I called for the two of them to come out. To my shock, Rocki listened immediately and took off while Bruiser started growling when he realized I was about to take him away from this most enjoyable activity. As I leaned in to physically drag Bruiser out, my husband had caught up with Rocki and was wrestling a dead bird from his mouth. From the tone of my husband's voice, I could tell it was not going to well for him. I let him deal with that. After all, I had a filthy little Shih-Tzu to clean up.

Ah yes...the joys of going to the country. Did I mention we're not going back in the near future?

The Boys Lose their Grandma

2009-06-29T12:29:00.007-05:00

The boys know something is up. We're gone for long periods of time, and they've seen more of our family coming and going than ever before. People are always dropping in and staying the night. And then we're all gone again for hours.

They haven't had their bath or brushing like they always did. Their walks to the lake have become non-existent. When their mom and dad come home, they don't do much more than fall on the couch and sleep. And through it all the boys are the most patient, caring little guys you could ever wish for.

Although they don't know exactly what's going on, we know they will never see their Grandma again because Grandma is in the hospital and, after being poked and prodded and tested for the last month, we are told there is no hope for recovery and she is simply being kept comfortable until she takes her last breath which, we believe, will be at any time.

The boys became close to Grandma when she stayed with us for seven months. Grandma had surgery on her hand and was supposed to be here for about four weeks to recover. However, with complications and further surgeries, she was here for almost a year.

Every night as she slowly made her way to her bedroom, the boys would run ahead and go into her room. They'd check it out, sniffing every nook and cranny, and then return to the doorway when all was clear. When she woke up in the morning, the boys were waiting to greet her with their tails wagging and their bodies wiggling with joy. It put a smile on her face every day and, after she went home,she said the one thing she missed the most were the boys greeting her each morning and coming to say goodnight. During the day, they would sit with her in her chair and cuddle with her. They never worried that she limped and walked with a cane...they would patiently wait for her. They never saw her twisted, arthritic hands...all they felt were the warm caresses those hands provided each and every day. When my husband and I went on vacation, Grandma was always the first to volunteer to house sit with the boys so they didn't have to go to a kennel.

The boys continue to run into "her bedroom" and look around even though Grandma is not there. They sometimes will sit in the room and have a little nap. It seems to bring them comfort to be there. Last night we noticed the little nightlight we placed next to Grandma's bed was on. We did not turn it on as we don't really even go into that room. But perhaps this is Grandma's way of letting us know that even in her comatose state, she still comes to visit.

The new bed?

2009-05-20T15:54:00.002-05:00

How Rocki manages to fall asleep is truly beyond me. His new "bed" is at the top of the couch buried in the cushion. And yes, he is actually sleeping in this shot.

Are your dogs treated better than people?

2009-04-29T18:00:00.008-05:00

I've often had people jokingly comment that my dogs are treated better than most people. And the fact of the matter is yes, at times they are. I treat people the way they deserve to be treated.

Why are dogs special? Dogs, and pets in general, remind us that relationships do not have to be complicated. Simple concepts like love, empathy and respect are lost in our day-to-day interactions with others, but our pets bring us back to reality and show us just how simple it can be.

Dogs just want to love you, no matter what you look like. When you are angry, stressed, moody or anxious, they are there to offer their love. When you are happy, all they want is to share your joy. When you are sad, they lick your tears away. All they ask for in return is food, water and the pleasure of your company. Dogs who are abused or neglected act out in many ways, either with anger or through destruction.

People, on the hand, are more complex. They will pick on any physical characteristic that deviates from "perfection". We are constantly judged, and often rejected, based on our looks, our body types, our clothes, our hair, our "titles" or status in society, and all other aspects of our being. We deal with family members, friends, acquaintances and strangers that gripe, grump, complain, demand money and disrespect us. How many people do you know that love unconditionally? I bet you can count them on one hand. How many people disrespect you and then expect money or other items from you? How many people just take and never give of themselves? I could go on and on but I think you get the point.

Have you ever come home from a bad day at work stressed to the max and are greeted at the door by your pet's wagging tail, wiggling body and the sheer joy they exhibit at your arrival home? At that point, your heart melts and all the stress from the day washes away as you greet your four-legged friend.

The only demands your pet ever makes on you is for pats, cuddles and snuggling. And, of course, the occasional treat. They don't call you names, criticize you, expect money for nothing, insist on bigger and better toys because the dog next door got one, refuse to be seen in public with you because you embarrass them in front of other dogs, greet your family with disdain, or refuse to associate with you or others. Their emotions are pure, honest and positive, and they are not afraid to show them to you.

So you know, you get treated the way you treat others. And my dogs have nothing but love for us as well as anyone who comes to our home. So yes...I treat them well. I treat good people well too. And anyone who disrespects us? Don't even bother stepping foot through the door.

Dog Food and "People Food" - Is there a difference now?

2009-04-17T01:23:00.003-05:00

I'm seeing a lot of commercials for dog food that now offer beef, vegetables and sometimes, a bit of rice. For example, look at http://www.proplan.com/wet-dog-food/beef-vegetables-entree/.

Now when I last took Bruiser to the vet when he was sick, she asked what he was eating. "Is he still eating 'people food' like meat and vegetables?" She says "people food" with the same sort of disgust as if you were talking about feeding them human flesh. I lied...just dog food. Hmm, she says, pleased. So if I said "dog food" and was referring to the Proplan, what is the difference? The only difference I can see is that I actually know where my meat and vegetables are coming from. And that's my brother-in-law's farm where his cattle are free range and the soil where the vegetables are grown have never seen a chemical of any kind.

Coincidentally, this vet just happens to sell a certain brand of dry dog food as well as this company's wet food. I did buy the wet food, on the vet's recommendation, one time. I opened the can and the food looked like day-old puke that was sitting in the sun. But I dutifully put it on a plate and the dogs came to sniff it. Both turned their noses up and never returned. I threw out the plate after a day and half of no interest and donated the remaining cans to a shelter.

So the question becomes whether or not vets are actually interested in the health of your beloved pets, or is making a buck by peddling a certain company's food the ultimate goal?

What's with these Denta Stix?

2009-03-31T16:55:00.006-05:00

The boys love Denta Stix. I'm not sure why but whatever they've got in there....the doggie version of catnip or something...my dogs go crazy over them. However, the boys do eat goose poop whenever they can access it and moths, when they're in season, so nothing really surprises me.

What did surprise me though is how nice Bruiser's teeth are. Rocki isn't a good test subject because he doesn't actually chew anything...he breaks it into tiny pieces and swallows. I'm not sure how to teach him to chew, but that's another story...

I did have chicken-flavored toothpaste the vet gave me as well as a little finger brush. I tried brushing the dogs' teeth in the past, but they were more interested in eating the toothpaste and chewing the finger containing the brush rather than letting me scrub their teeth. So when I took Bruiser to the vet one day, the vet commented that he had a lot of plaque on his teeth. I shuddered...how much was his dental bill going to cost down the road? I had to do something.

So we tried different kinds of cleaning bones but the dogs turned their noses up at them. Then one day I found Denta Stix and thought what the heck? Let's give them a try. Well, the dogs actually dance and leap around for Denta Stix and promptly run off in separate areas of the house to devour their treat. Bruiser wolfs his down, although chewing is involved. Rocki takes his time, so in the picture Bruiser is actually waiting for Rocki to turn his head for a split second so he can sneak in and grab the Denta Stix. But the plaque on Bruiser's teeth is gone, so whatever is in those things is actually working. Now to get Rocki to understand the concept of chewing...

The boys get the flu

2009-03-07T06:41:00.006-06:00

I never thought dogs got the flu, but mine did.

It started one morning with Bruiser when he threw up. I cleaned his mess and wondered what he had eaten since eating something they shouldn't is the usual culprit. However, the vomitting didn't stop but got worse. He also was running outside frequently with diahrrea and that's when I knew something was wrong. He wasn't eating or drinking and I had visions of Parvo all over again, so I called the vet and asked if I could bring him in and have him checked out.

Luckily, the vet was very accommodating and I was able to bring him in within the hour. They did a physical checkup and everything seemed okay. They used the rectal thermometer and his temperature was normal. The did the bum smear and that too came out normal. They also did blood tests to check for internal diseases but his blood work came back as normal. So, after $280 the verdict was that he had a virus and was given electrolytes to rehydrate him and a shot of something that stopped the vomitting for 24 hours so he could eat and drink. After that I took him home and let him sleep. By the late afternoon he was drinking water and eating a bit and by the next morning he seemed almost back to his old self again.

So life went on and at about 10:00 at night I settled in to watch a movie and, as usual, started dozing off. That's when Rocki woke me, frantically pawing on the blanket, and ran to the door. I dragged myself up and let him outside where he promptly began throwing up. Oh no...Rocki caught the same thing that Bruiser had.

To make a long story short, I was running to the door with him every 10 or 15 minutes until 2:30 in the morning while he threw up and had bouts of diahrrea. I finally fell asleep on the couch at 3:00 a.m. and at 5:00 we began the process again. Finally, it appeared that Rocki had nothing left inside him and curled up to sleep. The vet had given me two extra anti-vomitting pills for Bruiser and I didn't have to use them, so I got one down Rocki's throat and coerced him into having a bit of water. That's the one thing about Rocki - he is the most obedient little guy I've ever seen. His greatest fear is that one of us is cross with him for some reason, so when I tapped on his water dish and kept telling him to "come", he did and drank. Once he started drinking, it's almost like he couldn't stop he was so dehydrated and drank a good bit of water. Then I settled him down and he had a good long nap.

The only real difference in behavior between this flu and Parvo was that this time, the boys were not listless and without energy like Rocki was with Parvo. Although they weren't running amok like they usually do, they still trotted to the door or from room to room looking for the perfect place to nap. With Parvo, they don't have the energy to move. And that's the big difference that I noticed. However, if I had to do it again, I would still have taken Bruiser to the vet to have this checked out.

Although I was prepared to run Rocki to the vet that day, he seemed to be getting better and by late afternoon was drinking on his own and sniffing at his food dish. By supper he was eating little bits and pieces and holding it down. By the next morning he was racing around and eating like he'd never seen food before. Neither he nor Bruiser threw up again nor did they have diarrhea. Both are back to normal after about a 24 hour bout of the flu.

Of course, the question became where did these two little house dogs pick up a virus? Well, two days prior to Bruiser falling ill, we had them at a new groomer where there were other dogs and a doggie day care. They were in holding cages, on a groomer's table, and walking around on the floors. So that's where they caught it. But, obviously, there's nothing you can do about it because they have to be groomed and you absolutely cannot monitor every dog they come in contact with, so I guess flus for dogs are just a fact of life.

Sleep Disturbances? It's just Rocki.

2009-02-14T21:59:00.004-06:00

Rocki has recently decided that it is not okay for my husband to sleep in our home.

My husband works night shift and can often be found on the couch snoozing. It's not that he's snoring or making any noises, but the mere fact that he's sleeping drives Rocki to distraction. He will march to the couch, growl at my husband and, if there is no response, he will jump on him to wake him up.

If I fall asleep, it's okay. If Bruiser falls asleep, that's okay too. When my husband falls asleep, it's time to wake him.

What goes through his mind is beyond me. If I see him approaching my sleeping spouse, I try and coerce him over to me with toys, treats and voice commands. Nothing works...he is on a mission and will not be distracted. If I go over and pick him up and take him to another room, the minute I set him down he will make a beeline to where my husband is and start growling at him and jump on him. My husband's head is the favored landing spot, but his chest makes a good secondary target when the head is not readily accessible. Rocki will then stand on his chest and growl.

Although my husband is shocked out of sleep and wants to be mad at him, the sight of those two big brown eyes and wagging tail melts his heart and dissipates his anger. Usually Rocki emerges from this escapade with lots of hugs, cuddles and pats.

Sun Worshipping Shih-Tzus

2009-01-14T12:14:00.005-06:00

My little boys are definitely sun worshippers, even though they're not near a beach.

In the morning, the front room faces the east and the sun's warm rays bathe them in light. This is their favorite place in the morning, especially since it's been ridiculously cold here. How does -47 degrees sound? And if you're wondering if that's Farenheit or Celcius, they meet at -42 so it doesn't matter.

Going outside is tough for the little ones. They're not out more than 5 seconds having the fastest pees in history. When it's this cold, they don't eat as much or drink as much. It's like they somehow know that if they eat or drink, they'll have to go outside at some point so they hold off until the weather warms up.

So this is how they spend a bitterly cold winter day - sunbathing on their favorite rug.

Renovations are over!

2009-01-07T21:44:00.005-06:00

Life has returned to normal for the boys...except the carpet is missing. For me this is a joyous time. For the dogs, they just want their stinky carpet back.

They continue to look in vain for it. Bruiser was even caught trying to search behind the couch, but then he got stuck between the end table and the couch and I had to rescue him. As far as the boys are concerned, the carpet just up and disappeared. They're still not too sure about the flooring but I think they'll get used to it after a while. Thankfully, they have found refuge in the living room because the carpet is still there. Although, if I get my way, it won't be there for long.

However, now that all the furniture is back in place and their bedding, toys and chewies have returned to the family room, life is not so bad. Rocki doesn't think so anyway...he looks pretty comfortable to me. Bruiser still appears a bit bewildered, but is slowly adjusting to his new circumstances.

For anyone interested in what porcelain tile is all about or what's involved in a tile renovation, I've detailed it at www.squidoo.com/porcelaintile.

What happened to the kitchen?

2008-12-29T10:32:00.006-06:00

It's day whatever of what started off as a five day tiling renovation and work has just begun again after a nine-day hiatus that included the tiler getting snowed in at an airport after a weekend trip and Christmas. That meant over the Xmas holidays, we had no fridge and no stove. We had bare concrete on the floor. Christmas tree? Nope...didn't even put it up because our front rooms were so full of furniture and appliances we had no room for a tree. So Christmas came and went for us just like another day.

The dogs are trying to manage but they have had to adjust to the changes. No longer do they run the "racetrack" through the kitchen and family room. One day when they came bounding out of the dining room, you could hear the screech as they put on the brakes when they hit the concrete in the kitchen. So, no more racetrack. Chasing toys through the house? Can't do it because there are too many obstacles in their way. The water dish? First it's by the front door, then it's back in the kitchen, then it's back by the front door...they're not quite sure where to look for it anymore. Time to go outside? They went to the back door. Now they have to go to the front door and get harnessed up. Then they could go out the back door again, although they were running to the front door to let me know. I retrained them to go to the back and now they have to go out the front again.

So as of today, the plan is everything will be finished this week. Today and tomorrow the rest of the tiles will be laid and Wednesday it all gets grouted. I'm crossing my fingers and the dogs are crossing their paws that we get our house back this week.

Day 4 of the reno and one room is ready!

2008-12-21T18:55:00.005-06:00

Yesterday our tile guys grouted the family room and told us we could walk on the floor today and, if we wanted, start moving our furniture in.

We were ecstatic to finally be able to check out some of the changes. Bruiser, however, beat us to it and tore into "his space" to see what the heck had happened to his carpet. As you can see, the first test was the "face rub" and something was definitely different. Rocki was having a nap. His usual attitude toward change is "whatever" so actually rising from his cozy little bed was just far too much effort. Bruiser, on the other hand, is known around here as "the little inspector" because he needs to know what is going on everywhere at all times. His room was no different - he had to inspect every square inch before we could coerce him out.

Tomorrow? Tiling begins in the kitchen and eating area. The "fun" continues...

Surviving the Reno

2008-12-19T11:08:00.005-06:00

Rocki and Bruiser do their best to live through the renovation, but for my husband and I it's a bit harder to adjust. Not only are we living with the furniture from the family room and kitchen, but we have to manoeuver around the fridge and stove. And all of this is in the dining room along with the dining room furniture.

Throughout the tiling process, with saws and tile cutters going throughout the day, the boys have stayed pretty close and follow me like a shadow wherever I go. They eat less, drink less and sleep more. They don't chase each other, don't play with their toys and have even lost interest in their chewies. Sleeping seems to be their only source of comfort during this tumultuous time.

Day 2 of the Reno

2008-12-18T10:43:00.005-06:00

My poor boys are not allowed anywhere near "their area" because it's now covered with mesh and a layer of cement that has to dry. We all cannot go near this area and continue to spend our time squeezed into the living room along with an empty fridge and stove, the kitchen table and family room furniture.

However, we have found a sunny little area where I've placed the dogs' bedding. Bruiser has adjusted to quite well to his new surroundings. Rocki is Rocki - he plops himself down wherever he happens to be when he gets tired. If it's on the bed, that's fine. If it's on my husband's track shoe, that's fine too.

I've had to put on their harnesses and leashes to take them out to the front to do their business, so last night at 4:00 a.m. they got me up. They were grunting incessantly which usually means "I have to go outside...NOW". I've been sleeping in my sweats so I can jump up and take them out quickly, so I leashed them up, put on my winter coat and boots and took them outside into the frigid night. However, rather than relieve themselves, they promptly made a beeline for another dog's pee stain on the snow that they had discovered earlier in the evening and began sniffing it. They didn't have to go pee...they wanted to inspect the "intruder's" mark. I was not amused. I hustled them back in the house, unleashed them, and went back to bed.

So that is our life right now. The dogs are a bit disoriented, but so are we. Today there is loud music coming from the kitchen. The tile guys asked if it was okay to have a radio on while they worked and I told them if it helps them work faster, by all means go for it. Our little ones aren't used to loud music so it's just another adjustment they're learning to make.

Day 1 of the Reno

2008-12-16T20:33:00.005-06:00

This morning, all the furniture was removed and the carpet was rolled up. As you can see, the boys saw this as a new opportunity for romping, jumping and chasing each other on their new "toy".

Always curious, they had to inspect every inch of the carpet and underlay and then decided that it was a great area to chase each other. Needless to say we had a hard time getting the carpet out of the room without the dogs.

Life got a bit more confusing when they realized all their stuff was moved into the living room. And, to top it all off, two big guys started loading box after box of tile and the mountain got bigger with numerous bags of cement. Ever the daredevil, Bruiser managed to leap onto 3. 5 feet of tile and jump off the other end to see what's going on in his room. We had no choice but to build up the mountain and now, at close to 5.5 feet, I think we're pretty safe in assuming he's not going to jump it. However, the night is not over...

Tonight, the boys are restless. Although their bedding is in another room, it's not quite "home". They've tried to return to the regular area in front of the fireplace, but nothing is there. I've had to coerce them back into the living room with new chewies and dog treats and physically place them on their bedding. According to the tile guys, this reno will take about 6 days. Tomorrow the fridge and stove come out of the kitchen and there will be no more steak dinners for the boys...it's dog food for the duration of the reno. Of course, it could also be burgers if "dad" goes to McDonalds which is somewhere we typically avoid, but in a crunch food is food and the boys are not adverse to cheeseburgers.

Life Becomes Topsy-Turvy for the Boys

2008-12-14T08:45:00.005-06:00

Although they don't know what's going on exactly, the boys know that something is up. First, some furniture disappeared from "their area". Next went some baseboards. Tomorrow will bring more changes as the rest of the furniture moves and the carpet gets ripped out. And then the boys will find out what is really happening - we are getting new flooring.

Finally, the worn out smelly, stained carpet will be gone and replaced with porcelain tile. And although I have been looking forward to this day for quite some time, I am also dreading the thought that for five days, we will be unable to use the family room and the kitchen. And, because the patio and fenced area for the boys is off the kitchen, I will have to put on their harnesses and leashes and take them out the front door to do their business. Did I mention it's around -40C outside??? And did I also mention that Rocki likes to go out for 3 seconds about 15 times a day? I am not looking forward to this. Their bedding will be moved into the living room and their food and water dishes will go by the front door. Yes, it's going to be ugly for five days, but I am so looking forward to the finished product.

It's not just the odd accident on the carpet that was driving me nuts to clean. Many dog treats leave stains as well. I remember the strawberry chew I picked up for them at a pet store. They eagerly gnawed on the treat and finished it off quickly. However, at the end, I had two pink dogs and a pink carpet. Then there's the muddy paws, the wet paws, the snowy paws, the puke and all sorts of reasons why I am so looking forward to having a washable floor!

What is that white stuff?

2008-11-07T14:43:00.004-06:00

Two days ago the boys and I went for a run on the grassy area behind the house. I was in a t-shirt, the sun was shining and there was hardly a breeze.

Yesterday, we got hit with a winter storm and this was what we woke up to this morning. Although it looks pretty, it's ass-biting cold. Although the dogs do go out, they do their business real quick and run back in. Quite frankly, none of us were prepared for this nor are we ready for it. As you can see, the plants on the patio were still green and the geraniums were still blooming. They didn't know what was coming either.

Rocki the "healer"

2008-10-21T20:33:00.005-05:00

Our little guy instinctively wants to heal others.

When his brother had an ear infection, I noticed it because Rocki made me aware of it. At first he kept licking his brother's ear. Whenever Bruiser went to scratch his ear, Rocki would jump on me and get my attention. Then he would run back to his brother and stare at me as if to say "do something!". If I didn't respond, he'd go through the process again - jump on me, then run back to his brother. After Bruiser was treated for the infection, Rocki would check his ear every day at intervals to make sure that the ear was in fact okay. He'd sniff, and then walk away. I learned to rely on Rocki's instincts when determining if the medication was actually working on his brother.

Last week I caught a very bad cold. As I was laying on the couch, Rocki jumped on me and began sniffing until he pinpointed the source of the problem - my nose. He tried to lick it to take the infection away. I stopped him from doing this but he is persistent - he sensed something was wrong and had to make it better. He kept trying to lick my nose no matter what. If I was sitting up, he tried climbing up my chest to get to it. When I pulled him off and set him down, he jumped up to the arm of the couch, made his way to the back and crawled along the top to come around from my shoulder in order to lick my nose.

I've never seen a dog so determined to take care of others. If you push him away, he will come back with more force to finish what he has started. At our home, we've just come to accept that Rocki is the nurse in residence.

Making Your Own Dog Food

2008-10-04T08:00:00.006-05:00

I bought a book that had a number of healthy recipes for dogs that you make yourself. So I decided to put on my baker's hat one day and make the dog biscuits they recommended.

After baking a huge batch, I proudly presented my handiwork to the boys. The dogs came, sniffed the biscuits and walked away. They never actually ate them, although they were full of healthy products and no chemicals. I tried one and quite frankly, I wouldn't want to eat it either. In the end, all 50+ biscuits went to the trash.

However, having said that, I realize where I went wrong with the recipe and am determined to try it again. I just need a better recipe.

So for anyone who wants to try making food for their dog on their own, I did find a web link that offers free dog food recipes. Some of them look good enough for me to eat and the biscuits actually look like they may have some taste, so I think I'll try a couple of them and see if the boys like it.

Bunny returns

2008-09-25T07:01:00.006-05:00

The open space beyond our fence is a favorite walking path for dog owners and wild creatures alike. So, the boys regularly patrol the yard, marking the outer edges to let all who pass know who's territory it is.

The boys are quite comfortable with the parade of Canada geese and selected dogs which pass by their property. They've given a "free pass" to these ones and simple watch as they go by. Unknown dogs get a bit of a bark but nothing much. Bruiser absolutely despises the collies that walk past and lets them know it with barks, grunts and frantic marking. Rocki comes along for moral support on each of these outings, but doesn't make a sound. He'll mark for good measure, but isn't really sure why.

But nothing gets the dogs on guard more than when bunny comes back to town. Bunny is not afraid of them...he sits on the grass outside the fence and watches them. Bruiser will growl and mark and run around, and bunny just sits and stares, his little nose twitching and all his sense alert. Rocki wags his tail which further infuriates Bruiser. How could his brother let bunny come so close? Bruiser is not sure what to make of bunny. At times he is actually wagging his tail. Perhaps he wants to play? Other times he'll try to be menacing with growls and barks. But no matter what he does, bunny just sits and stares. So as fall draws closer and the rabbits begin foraging for food to get them through the winter, Bruiser is on guard to let bunny knows where he stands on his territory.

The Loyal Shih-Tzu

2008-09-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

My little Rocki (aka Munchkin) is just over 2 years old and still follows me around like a shadow.

If I'm in the basement, he's at the top of the stairs with his tiny face peering down. If I'm on the couch, he's on the floor next to my foot. If I'm sitting on the floor, he's curled himself around my legs. If I'm having a shower, he's patiently waiting outside the door until I come out. If I'm upstairs working, he's at the bottom or the top of the staircase waiting with the patience of a saint.

Bruiser is a bit more independent but still exhibits the same traits. He's always around, but he's a little further back.

Shih-Tzus are loyal - they are always there keeping you in sight. They may not be right next to you, but be assured as you're going about your day, they're in the room or just outside the room watching and waiting for you.

Strange Habits

2008-09-22T06:20:00.000-05:00

The other day I was watching television and my oldest was going nuts. He kept going to the footstool, grunting, and coming back to me. Back and forth...back and forth. This went on for about five minutes. He usually does this if one of his toys is missing, but the stool is so low that there couldn't possibly be a toy underneath.

I figured he was just having an episode and tried to ignore it, but he got louder and more insistent. It was obvious I could not watch television in peace until I discovered what was going on.

So I went over to the footstool, moved it and sure enough - there was one tiny kibble of dog food under the stool. Bruiser promptly grabbed it, ate it in a split second, and went along his merry way. I might mention that the boys had a pile of dog food sitting in their dish. But Bruiser absolutely had to have that one piece that was under the stool.

And that's the Shih-Tzu. When something is theirs, they want it and they want it when they want it, and you will have no peace until they get it.

Breeding for Money

2008-09-07T12:11:00.005-05:00

I found some information this morning while having coffee and surfing the web. It's videos and reports on puppy mills. Hard to watch but I think necessary to inform people just how awful the conditions are in puppy mills. The articles and videos were compiled by a reporter and photographer who went undercover.

"It's the stench first. Then you recognize that buzzing sound. It's flies swarming around the dirty cages where the puppies live, around the green scum that floats in their water bowls." more...

What kind of flooring is best for small dogs?

2008-09-02T22:31:00.010-05:00

I need to replace the carpet in the family room that adjoins the kitchen. So with two little boys who spend the majority of their time in the family room, one who is very obedient and one who pees sporadically in the house, what do you choose?

I was recently at a family wedding and a friend of the family owns a flooring store. I asked him this question. His immediate response was "vinyl". So in the picture, I have vinyl flooring that looks like hardwood which I put in our basement. It looks great and cleans easily, but what happens if I decide to put real hardwood in my living room and dining room which lead into the kitchen and family room? Will it look stupid? I go back to my research...

I asked the breeder of our dogs because she has dark hardwood throughout her home, including the kitchen. She said she loved her hardwoods and would never have anything else. She has one Shih-Tzu who had two litters of five puppies and she regularly dog-sits for our little guys and others who have bought puppies from her. Her floor looks fabulous. Okay...file that away and keep digging...

I spoke to my mother's real estate agent. I asked him "laminate or hardwood" without mentioning dogs. He didn't hesitate when he said "hardwoods" because he said that in all the houses he has seen, laminate tends to buckle and move after 5 years and the floor basically needs to be replaced. Hmmm...I'm thinking that I need to do more research...

I have ceramic tile in my entry where Rocki decided that marking the territory was a really great idea. It cleaned like nothing, even the grout. No smell...no fuss. After cleaning a couple of times, he never went back there so obviously I got the scent out. My flooring looks great and there is no odor. Ceramic tile is great in a kitchen and can run into the family room. So perhaps ceramic tile is the way to go?

I don't know...I'm still trying to decide because flooring is not something you change each year like toss cushions. Once you pay the price and put it in, it's there for awhile. So if anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear from you.

Hurricane Gustav - What About the Pets?

2008-09-01T07:43:00.005-05:00

Thankfully there is hope this time around for all the pets in the danger zone. Thanks to shelters and other organizations, the pets will not be left to suffer the storm on their own.

If anyone wants to make a donation towards all the people and organizations rescuing pets, I found this link: http://gustavpets.com.

Sensitive Shih-Tzus

2008-08-29T06:03:00.005-05:00

Life became a bit topsy-turvey for the boys when grandma recently moved into our home.

We got a call last week after she had fallen on her outside steps. It turned out she had a concussion, smashed up her knee and broke her shoulder. Because the hospital wouldn't release her unless she had somewhere to go where she had 24 hour care, we decided she would move in with us since we have no other family in the city. And we were not going to leave her alone in a hospital. We also had to put her house up for sale as she could not go back and live on her own again given her age, the size of the house and the enormous number of stairs she had to tackle each day.

During this process the boys have been extremely sensitive to her needs when they are around her. She spends most of her days in a chaise in the family room watching TV, doing puzzles and talking on the phone to her friends. However, from the day we brought her home the dogs sensed that something was wrong - Grandma wasn't bending down to pat them nor was she picking them up to cuddle. When she first sat down, they very carefully jumped on the end of the chaise by her feet and gingerly made their way closer to her, sniffing constantly in the direction of her left arm. Usually they will come and sit in your lap, often wiggling around each other to get the "best seat". In her case, they never got on her...they would carefully position themselves on the chaise around her and lay down quietly.

When we are in the house, they play and run amok. When we have to leave Grandma in order to get her house ready for sale, she tells us that the boys lay quietly around her the whole time we are gone. When my husband has a nap on the couch, the boys will at some point jump on him when they decide he's slept enough and it's time for him to play with them. When Grandma has a nap, she often wakes up to find the boys sleeping quietly at her feet. They do not, however, wake her up. If they want Grandma to pat them, rather than jump on her they will run to me, jump at my legs to get my attention and then run back beside her chair wagging their tail. It's at that time that I will pick each one up separately and Grandma will pat them.

So as each day goes on, we continue to be amazed by our Shih-Tzus' capacity to be sensitive to injury, even though we have no way to communicate this to them.

Just another word about ticks...

2008-08-25T06:54:00.003-05:00

A couple of things I forgot to mention in the last post.

There are two schools of thought on removing the tick. There is the medical way that doctors promote and the "old-fashioned" ways that have been passed down to us for generations from the country folk because there was no doctor around.

Some of the old-fashioned ways include burning the tick with a matchhead (not recommended with your furry animal!!) or coating the tick with paint, nail polish or gasoline. Again, not recommended! The idea behind petroleum jelly (like Vaseline) is that it's commonly found in most homes, it's completely harmless and, when applied to the tick, it suffocates it.

The old way includes soaping your fingers with a regular bar of soap (and I really don't know why we are supposed to do it...this is what I was taught by others), grabbing the tick and slowly pulling it away.

The medical way advises using a pair of tweezers. Apparently they want you to twist the tick onto its back so it doesn't release the venom which carries disease. You can find detailed instructions on how they recommend you remove the tick and why on the emedicine web site.

One other point - when you do successfully remove the tick, please put it in an ashtray and burn it, particularly if you have only taken the body (or you're just not sure what you've removed) because a tick will grow another head or body and keep on living. And they are very hard to squash because they are so hardy. I hate them...they're disgusting...I'm sure they have a purpose on this earth but they are one of those creatures that I just cannot learn to love or respect.

Treating Ticks

2008-08-16T19:40:00.005-05:00

When dogs spend more time outside, they are susceptible to a greater number of problems. And one of the biggest problems facing dogs are ticks.

These ugly, blood-sucking leeches grab hold of your dog and are difficult to get rid of. The most insidious aspect of the tick is even when you think you've removed it, often you haven't because the head is still embedded in your dog's skin. As long as the head is still attached and sucking blood, this loathsome insect will actually grow another body.

So how do you get rid of them?

Well, our Bruiser had a tick on his back earlier this summer. My husband felt something when he was patting him and, after parting the fur, found the tick. He soaped his fingers and slowly started withdrawing the tick from Bruiser's body. Once he had it, he threw it in an ashtray and burned it and thought that was that.

A couple of days later, a lump began developing where my husband removed the tick. The day after we noticed it, the lump was even bigger and seemed to continue to grow. What had happened was my husband removed the body of the tick and not the head, so the slimey sucker was still feeding on Bruiser's blood and growing but now he was encased in the skin.

So what do you do? Well we were not about to lance it as I was afraid of hurting our dog. However, I did have this neat little book on household remedies that said if you slather petroleum jelly on the lump, it will seep through the skin and suffocate the tick. We thought it was worth a try and, after 4 days of religiously adding the jelly to the lump, it started to go down and did, in fact, disappear.

So that's the secret to killing an embedded tick - Vaseline petroleum jelly.

The boys go to the beach

2008-08-13T09:44:00.006-05:00

We have a cozy little cottage at the beach where we like to escape whenever city life starts to take it's toll. And like us, the boys love going to the beach to experience the great outdoors.

The only downside to the beach is the traffic on the roads so we have to keep them chained up for their own protection. However, we bought sturdy metal pegs that screw into the ground and come with long cables that attach to the peg and the dog's harness, so they do have a lot of room to maneouver in the yard.

The boys love going for long walks in the morning and generally wake us at about 6:15 a.m. to be let out and to go for a walk. The only downside to this routine is, if you've had a couple of drinks the night before, you really don't want to be getting out of bed at 6:15. However, that is the responsibility we undertook when we decided to get two dogs, so one or both of us hauls our butt out of bed and takes the boys for their walk. But you know, once you get out there in the cool morning air with the dew on the grass and the only sounds being the birds and the sound of your own footsteps, you realize how lucky you are to be able to experience the peace and quiet that comes with the morning sunrise at the beach.

It's amazing how much energy the boys have when they get to the beach. They can walk, or should I say run, for amazingly long distances in the grass and on the street as they eagerly explore new areas. Of course, they are diligent in marking every rock, street sign and wooden post along the way. Their absolute favorite place to run is on the beach itself, where the sand is like white flour and stretches on forever, the dunes rise in the back and the water slowly laps onto the shore. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on our beach and the signs are prominently posted. However, at 6:15 in the morning, there is no one on the beach, so we have snuck them on a couple of times and let them play to their heart's content. The other day, however, we did run into another dog owner who told us that the beach patrol were really getting sticky about people sneaking their dogs on the beach and the fine was $250 per dog. For me, that would be $500 - a lot to pay for the little guys to have some fun. So, unfortunately, these little morning treks will be confined to the soft green grass in the park and the weaving roads that run through the little beach community. The nice part is that the boys are quite happy to simply explore the community, run in the park, and spend the remainder of the day sunning themselves on the deck and napping.

Sleepy Time for Shih-Tzus

2008-07-29T20:36:00.005-05:00

I don't know about other Shih-Tzus, but when it's time to rest, my boys have some peculiar habits.

One thing I have noticed is their little eyes will start closing and their head will begin to droop even while they're sitting up. That's when you know they're really tired.

Other than that they each have a ritual before bed. Bruiser will lie on the floor with his back legs out under the kitchen table. That's phase one of sleepy time. After dozing for a while, he'll move into the family room on his cushions, usually with the "toy du jour".

Rocki, on the other hand, will start off by the garage door around the corner. After catching a couple of zzz's, he moved into the kitchen flush against the wall. He naps for a bit, and then moves over to his favorite cushion seen in the picture. His favorite position for sleep is on his back with his paws in the air and his body touching the wall. Bruiser, on the other hand, likes to curl into a little ball and as the night goes on, his head is on his cushions and his wheels are in the air as well.

The boys like routine and they have found ones that suit them. You could actually set your clocks to them. At exactly 8:45 they start getting into position. By 9:00, they are in one of their various stages of sleep. Of course, early bedtime means early rising, and we have had to adjust our sleep schedules to accommodate it!

Shih-Tzus and Thunderstorms

2008-07-11T13:25:00.006-05:00

Last night at about 3:00 a.m. I was rudely awakened by a huge crack of thunder that rocked the house. Knowing that my boys are fearful of loud noises, I crawled out of bed and made my way downstairs.

I found the two of them huddled down a hallway in a corner by the garage door, which is far from their sleep area. However, it is the one place that is not near a window.

I walked over to the couch and they clung to me like shadows. I laid on the couch and both jockeyed for the closest position - Rocki ended up with his head on my head and Bruiser was left to cuddle against my chest under the blanket. Bruiser was shaking like a leaf and no amount of talking to him or stroking him would stop him from shaking as long as the thunder kept roaring.

Now my point in coming around them every time there is a thunderstorm is to show no fear...to be completely calm...and each time I hope that they learn that they are safe and there is nothing to be afraid of. Unfortunately, last night's lesson was in vain.

I waited out the storm with them and finally got them to sleep early this morning. However, they were shaken from sleep by another thunderstorm around 8:00 a.m. and then another one rolled in around 11:30 a.m. The poor little guys are sleeping now...the sky is clear and the sun is shining. Finally, a moment of rest for us all.

The Importance of a Good Bed

2008-07-03T12:59:00.003-05:00

Dogs are very much like us...they want a comfortable place to rest their heads. This is their haven...it's their sanctuary...it's that one place they go to rest where they are comfortable and feel secure.

Whether you choose to buy a dog bed or make up one on your own, like we've done, make sure that your dogs understand that it's theirs.

As you can see from the picture, I bought some faux fur sheepskin rugs from Ikea, bought a body pillow (top back) from Costco for $12, and then the black mat is from a pet store. It has soft fake fur on the top and a rubber backing on the bottom and stays cool. In the winter they sleep on the black portion...in the summer they like to flip it around and sleep on the rubber portion. In any event, you can find the boys sprawled in many different ways in their sleeping "quarters". Sometimes they lie on their backs like humans with their bodies buried in the faux fur and their heads resting on the body cushion. Other times, they contort themselves among the different pieces and improvise. Sometimes, when they're in a snit, they like to tear their bed apart, beat up the cushions and then they sit and wait for me to put it all back to together.

I've also seen very creative ideas for dog beds. One idea was to take an old night table, put a cushion on the bottom shelf and create a drape that hangs from the "drawer" area so your dog has a little boudoir to sleep in. Other people just prefer to buy something ready made. In any event, make sure their bed is out of the way so when they're sleeping you're not going to step on them. Even a little corner in one of your rooms will suffice. Ours is in the family room as that's where we spend a lot of time and the boys are most comfortable with us in the same room. But use your imagination and don't be afraid to pick up different types of fabric and cushions to create a unique sleeping area for your dog.

The boys get a haircut

2008-06-10T09:19:00.004-05:00

As the hot weather fast approaches, we felt it was time to beat the heat and get the dogs in to their groomer for an overall makeover.

For $70 ($35 each), they got the "puppy cut" as our groomer calls it. The fur is clipped short, the hair is plucked from the ears and their nails are trimmed. The ears are leveled off and the "beard" (that my husband hates so much!) is shorn.

And here is the result. The boys posed in one of their favorite spots - the chair next to me when I'm working on the laptop.

One thing I can say...since they got their hair cut, they have been full of spunk and energy. I think the weight of the fur as well as the heat it creates made them somewhat lethargic. Since their cuts they have not stopped running, whether it be for the sheer joy of it or to chase each other around in order to claim ownership of the toy or chewie "du jour". I used to think Rocki (on the far right) was a bit overweight. It was just his hair...he's skinny as a rake (although he eats like a little pig)!

The boys go to the country

2008-06-03T19:04:00.006-05:00

We took a little road trip this weekend to the country to visit the family and attend my niece's wedding social. Of course, we took the boys.

They had a blast. For one thing, they could run free without a leash. Secondly, my mother-in-law has over two acres of property, and that's not counting the garden. And they ran their little hearts out!

Coming home, they slept most of the way. They were covered in dry mud, fresh cut grass, leaves and twigs. Did they care? Nope...they had the time of their lives. I caught this photo of them on the drive home in between naps.

Should you dress up your dog?

2008-05-27T07:59:00.005-05:00

There are so many cute little dresses, suits, hats, tops, pants, boots, coats and other accessories for dogs. We dress them up like little dolls and parade them down the street. But what are your dogs thinking?

I was watching the news last night and they ran a story about the psychological effects of dressing up your dog. And it wasn't good. And I tried hunting down a link for it on the newscaster's web site but couldn't find any reference to the story anymore (unless I purchase yesterday's tape of the news).

But it seems that it's decidedly unhealthy for your pet to be dressed up and taken in public. I can understand that it's probably harder to run around freely in a little outfit as opposed to romping about "au naturel". But apparently it is also psychologically damaging to the dog. It seems they don't play with the same kind of abandon when they're dressed up, have less spunk and actually shy away from other dogs.

We have never dressed up our dogs. I've thought about buying little booties and coats in the winter to keep them warm on walks, but not for everyday. Since my dogs are boys, the idea of putting anything frilly and pretty on them has just never crossed my mind. And as for doggy tuxes and other "male outfits", I just never even thought about it. Yes, I've looked at dogs who are dressed up, pointed them out to my husband with a comment "awww...look at that!" but in the back of my mind I'd always be thinking how uncomfortable that poor little pooch must be.

Doggie clothes are a novelty, but they're made to satisfy the needs of us...humans. Nothing about it is for the dog. And I guess in the end you have to decide what is more important to you - your pet's comfort or your need for attention.

No more visits to Grandma's back yard

2008-05-21T07:47:00.004-05:00

Every time we visit Grandma, we always take the boys so they can romp in her large, fenced yard. This was one thing they really loved and looked forward to in the summer. However, this year, all that changed.

Grandma's house shares a fence with four neighbors. Three of those people have dogs. Two of them own very large dogs. Our little guys like to bark at the other dogs and have no concept of the size issue...they think they're just as big as the other guy!

This year, we noticed the boards were starting to rot. In one case, two of them actually fell down because one of the large dogs jumped against it and knocked it right out. This happened while my boys were in the yard. I had to scoop them up pretty quickly and get them into the sunroom.

Unfortunately, Grandma does not like to part with money. She says incredulously "But the fence was new when we moved in!". What she is not understanding is that, after 23 years, it's time for a new fence. She also believes that her neighbors need to share in the cost of a new fence which is understandable. However, it's becoming very obvious that the neighbors don't want to part with a buck either, so they are at a standstill. The result is at this point, our little boys cannot go to Grandma's to run around the yard.

Anyone got a yard they can use?

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.

A Day in the Life of the Shih-Tzus

2007-09-20T19:03:00.000-05:00

The boys wake up at about 6:15 a.m. when the coffee maker goes on and I plod sleepily down the stairs. Sometimes they are waiting for me after the pre-dawn wrestling match. Other days, they are sprawled amongst their beds and cushions and lazily open an eye to see who disturbs them. When they realize it's just me, they curl back up and continue snoozing. I usually try to get them to go outside, but more often than not they hear the word "outside" and go back to sleep. Some days my nagging and cajoling actually inspires them to rise, saunter slowly to the door, stick their nose out, sniff and then decide they don't feel like it and trot back in.

After I'm dressed, I come back down and my husband and I meet for our morning coffee. By this time, the boys are up and they finally will go outside, although very unwillingly some days. Then they come in to get their treat for being good and proceed to wrestle, chase each other around the coffee table and generally cause mayhem.

If my husband and I are both going to work at the same time, the boys will flop in front of the door with a heavy sigh, put their faces between their paws and stare at us as if to say "where are you going??". I feel so guilty!!! But most days, since my husband works shifts, he remains at home and I leave. Then the boys don't care...dad's at home!

Late morning and most of the afternoon is nap time. Lunch is taken between naps so by the time I get home from work, the boys are raring to go. Usually they are taken for a walk at this point, weather permitting. The jingle of the harnesses and the word "walk" is enough to send them into a tizzy, dancing around and jockeying for position in front of me to see who gets their harness on first.

After the walk, they watch us cook supper, inspect the floor for any morsels that may have fallen from the counter, and wait for us to eat because they know their food is coming too.

Evenings start off quiet...it's a time for gnawing on bones or chewies until about 8:00...then all hell breaks loose and it's time for the wild boys. They chase each other, bark up a storm, wrestle, fight over toys and argue. Yes...they "argue". The oldest starts barking at the youngest and he responds with a high pitched yipping sound. When the "fighting" gets more intense, they are two inches from each other's faces, the older one's bark getting deeper and the younger one's yip getting higher and becoming more of a constant stream of squeaks. Yet they are not touching each other...they are just arguing! In the end, usually when the youngest lies on his back, the older one will come over, clean his face and then proceed to try and clean my face and my husband's. If we are laying on the couch it's easy for him. If we are sitting up it's more difficult as he either tries to climb up our chests or, when he's feeling particularly determined, he'll crawl up to the back of the couch, walk along it till he reaches one of us, step down to our shoulder, and lean around to lick our face. He also cleans our hands, his brother's paws and then his own paws. (He's kind of a fanatic about clean paws) And that's the routine...every night...the cleaning ritual. When that's done, the oldest one checks to make sure all the toys are together, gets the "toy du jour" (which either the yellow fuzzy dog or the purple fuzzy dog) and trots over to his bed for a nice sleep with his fuzzy friend. His brother usually joins him and the two snuggle together, ready for another tough day.

The Nervous Shih-Tzu

2007-09-18T20:19:00.000-05:00

Shih-Tzus, like any dog, particularly a small one, can develop nervous tendencies. One of the things I have noticed that causes nervousness is exposure to sudden, loud noises.

Our oldest started getting very nervous when it came time to go outside after the municipality installed some "crackers" by the lake to scare off the geese. It sounds like a shotgun going off, but it's enough to send the geese flying off. Unfortunately, it set my little guy off to the point he wouldn't even go outside to do his business. It was finally removed and now he's slowly making his way out again, albeit warily.

The second thing that happened was a carpenter started working on our basement and used an air nailer. Well, I thought our oldest was going to go clear out of his skin. He shook, he wouldn't leave my lap, and at one point he got so nervous and disoriented he pooped on the carpet...something he never ever does. We've actually started taking him to my mom's house during the day until the construction work is over...that's how badly it was affecting him.

However, loud startling noises of any kind, whether it's gunshots during a TV movie, dropping a heavy object, banging nails into the wall...any of these things start them up. I'm not saying you can't do anything around the house, but do be aware that these little guys don't know what's going on. I find lots of hugs, cuddles and playtime immediately after something startles them can do a lot to alleviate the nervous behavior that can be on the brink of development.

What Shih-Tzus like...and we wish they didn't!

2007-09-14T23:08:00.000-05:00

My last post was the top five things that Shih-Tzus love. However, there are other things they really (really!) like that drive me nuts. Here's the list...

1. Mud. They love to eat it, roll in it, stick their faces in it and dig it up. And what a mess I end up with when my two little white pooches come tearing proudly into the house after a mud wrestling session. Their favorite mud is wet...but dry mud is okay with them too.

2. Poop. They're fascinated with their own and other dogs' droppings. However, we live next to a small, man-made lake that is a favorite gathering place in the spring and fall for Canada geese. Of course, with gaggles of geese come piles of poop, and if I take my dogs walking near the lake, they gobble up the goose poop like it's fine caviar. Not pleasant to watch, and even more unpleasant to wrestle from their mouths.

3. The latest...dead birds. See my previous post for details. Not healthy at all, and disgusting to witness. Where did my sweet little boy learn to be such a monster??

4. Moths. In the fall, they love to go outside, chase moths, toy with them and, after torturing them for while, eat them.

5. Newspaper. If I'm out for a while, I'll leave some newspaper out for them to use if they have to do their business. In an emergency they will use it. However, they prefer to take the paper and rip it into itsy, bitsy tiny pieces which they manager to scatter all over. Then they pee...on a quarter-inch piece. Sigh...

Five Things That Shih-Tzus Love!

2007-09-10T18:43:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered what makes these adorable little creatures really happy? Here's a quick list of what our dogs (and their brothers and sisters) really enjoy.

1. A big blanket/comforter/afghan draped off the side of a couch or chair. They love sleeping on it, and often like to hide behind it between the blanket and couch and snooze (so watch where you're stepping!).

2. Side scratches. Not unlike the tummy scratch, they will lay on their back and contort themselves slightly sideways so you can scratch the side of their head, ears and body all the way down to their legs.

3. A big cushion. I bought a body cushion for the cottage but ended up bringing it home when we redecorated. It's got a velvet like cover and is approximately 4 feet long. They love to sleep on it - one on either end - at night. But not on top of it...they sleep like we do on their backs with their bodies on their sheepskin rugs and their heads and necks on the pillow. They also love to scratch at it, fight with it, drag it around and, at times, it can serve as the barrier when they're chasing each other in circles. Overall, an excellent $14.99 investment.

4. Sitting at the highest point of a chair or couch. Our little guys love being up high and have made the top of the couch's back cushion a favorite resting place. I put a blanket there and they both park themselves side by side and gaze out the window, watching people and dogs go by, storms, birds, bugs and, sometimes, absolutely nothing at all.

5. Music. Our little guys love soft, easy-listening music. We have a channel on TV that just shows continous weather information and in the background they play relaxing music. I often leave that on for them when we go out and often, when I'm doing housework and don't want them in the way, I'll put it on and they automatically wander over to their cushion and settle in for a nap.

These are just a few things that we've noticed, and I'm sure the list will grow over time. But if you're wondering how to make your Shih-Tzu happy, give some of thse things a try.

Rocki Returns to his Wild Roots

2007-09-08T20:11:00.000-05:00

The boys went tearing outside this evening for the ritual barking when the neighborhood collies passed by the yard. So I didn't think it was too unusual when Rocki went from the patio to the grass. We always joke that Rocki must be part Husky because no matter what the temperature, he wants to frolic around outside.

Today was a bit different. He was sitting quietly in the grass chewing. His older brother, Bruiser, wouldn't go near him but seemed quite agitated. Again, not anything too unusual since Bruiser doesn't like Rocki to be too far away, yet he won't join Rocki on the grass because it was a bit damp and Bruiser, being a bit of a primma donna, doesn't like to get his feet wet.

After a few minutes, I see the back of Rocki and he is still sitting quietly chewing. I figure he has dragged out the bone from yesterday evening. And then I see the bone in question...it's in the kitchen. So I go out on the patio and call to him. He sits up, turns around wagging his fluffy tail, and I see what he's been chewing on...it's a fat, white dead bird! Then I look...there are feathers scattered here and there along with the tail. I thought I was going to puke.

I called to him from the patio. He stared at me with this poor bird in his mouth and refused to move. I croon, I cajole, I yell...I'm waving my hands calling "no"...the neighbors must have thought I was nuts. Although I had no shoes on, I started walking onto the cold, wet grass to get him. Rocki runs a bit further with his prize, turns to look at me, and then takes off again. I run back into the house, get my shoes, and go after him.

He's back in the grass chewing away at his bird. I'm trying so hard not to hurl at this point. Rocki's having a grand time...he's dining on fresh meat and being chased...two of his favorite things. Life is sure grand in this joint! I finally grab him and he will not let go of the damned bird. I start yelling at him and his grip tighens. I go to reach for it, but I can't touch it!! I feel ill again. Bruiser has now decided that wet grass isn't so bad after all and is dancing around us yapping at me and his brother. Bruiser nips at Rocki's ear and Rocki drops the bird. I quickly grab a cardboard box I was using for weeds, dump them out and cover the mangled carcass. Rocki then realizes that his prized possession his gone and starts anxiously sniffing around the box, trying to figure out how to get around it. Then he lunges for the tail feathers and tries to wolf those down. Choking back what's coming up, I grab it from him and thow it over the fence, scoop him up and take him into the house. Bruiser follows, angrily yapping at his brother. Rocki makes a beeline to the back door and waits. And then he barks to go out. I tell him "no". He starts jumping and scraping at the door...he wants his bird and he's going to get it!

In the end I managed to elude the two dogs, sneak out the door, pick up the bird with a wad of 50 paper towels, and run it to the garbage. Then I let Rocki back out. He has been outside for the last half-hour sniffing every blade of grass throughout the yard looking for his meal. It's in the garbage...I'm having a drink.

Raw Food Diets - Are They Healthy?

2007-09-05T19:40:00.000-05:00

Proponents of the raw food diet basically say that dogs should be fed raw meat, vegetables and bones...basically what they would eat in the wild. In addition, they say that your dogs should never eat grains, rice or other carbohydrates. Why? Apparently, grains are one of the biggest sources of allergies in dogs and, because grains make up the majority of commercial dog food, our pets will be free of allergy-related symptoms once they start the raw food diet (and they won't have flatulence).

When can your dog eat chicken bones? Apparently on the raw food diet. I was taught to never give a dog chicken bones, but it seems you can if they're raw because raw bones are not dangerous - they are soft enough to bend easily and break well for the dog to digest.

Those in favor of the diet claim dogs are healthier, have more energy, require fewer trips to the vet, have fewer weight problems, produce much less stool and stool is firm and disintegrates easily. Apparently raw food also cleans the dogs teeth and reduces body odor.

And now, the other side of the coin. From what I've read, those not in favor of the raw food diet claim that there is not enough evidence to support the health claims and there are nutritional imbalances, meaning your dog is not getting enough of the vitamins and minerals they need.

If you decide to start your dog on a raw food diet, there will be a period of detoxing where your pet will be vomiting, have diarrhea, bad breath and itchy skin. Also, I've read that their fur can fall out but it's to make way for the new growth.

There does not appear to be a lot of vet support for raw feeding, however, many vets are like doctors - they benefit from commercial dog food manufacturers much in the same way medical doctors get kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies.

From what I've read, the raw food diet is more expensive and time consuming than buying a big bag of commercial dog food at the grocery store, but the choice is yours. Read...read...and read some more!

Grooming the Shih-Tzu's eye area

2007-09-01T20:29:00.000-05:00

The eye area, and the face in general, are the hardest parts of grooming simply because you need your dog to sit perfectly still in order to cut away in these delicate areas.

The most important tool? Sharp, snub-nosed scissors. I picked mine up at a holistic pet shop where the owners regularly show their dogs so they had a lot of expertise in grooming and actually cater to people who groom their dogs for show, so they had all the right supplies. However, many pet stores carry grooming equipment. The owners explained to me that the snub-nose is most important because if your pet does move, there is no pointed tip to harm them.

Now I have trained my boys to sit still by using voice commands...speaking gently to them and raising my voice slowly and adding firmness if they continue to squirm around. Now they will lay in my arms or sit quietly on the floor while I groom their face. This method of training requires an inordinate amount of patience (which, thankfully, I have). However, I know people that have little or no patience and the methods they employ are to place the dog on higher ground such as a grooming table, the washing machine, bathroom counter or other place which is high enough that your dog will be afraid to jump. Therefore, there is limited mobility.

I know one person who actually put his dog in a sling that suspends in the air and the dog doesn't move simply because she is petrified of being suspended. Whether this is right or wrong is not for me to say since I haven't actually seen the contraption, but if it works and it doesn't hurt your pet, it should be okay.

Of course, I recommend my method but it's certainly not for everyone. Usually, what works best is a combination of a high table and some voice training. And that is the biggest hurdle you will face.

At first, it's a bit tedious to get the area trimmed neatly because, let's face it, dogs have no patience. Even after some training they'll sit still for a bit but then they have to move around. Unfortunately, until you get the angles right, you'll be trimming and checking and retrimming for a while while your dog loses more and more patience. Sometimes you end up letting them go and realize later that their little faces look a wee bit crooked. But it is practice that makes you better. I've found through my own experience that making little cuts in the fur and taking a bit more time ends up producing a much nicer cut overall because if you make a mistake, you can go back. If you cut too much off with the first snip and you've messed up the angles, it's hard to recut to balance the look of their face.

If your dog's hair is long it's a bit easier as the hair on the side of their nose is growing down and doesn't really require too much trimming. However, it's a lot trickier to attain balance if you've had their face groomed short to match their body.

Grooming the Shih-Tzu's face is not for everyone. Either your dog won't sit still long enough, or you can't even come near them with the scissors, or you don't get the angles right. At the bare minimum, try to just get the areas around the eye so the hair is not touching the eyeball because that is what can lead to eye irritation and infections. For the rest of the face, leave it to a professional groomer.

And if you absolutely cannot do anything with your dog's face, take him or her to the groomer every three weeks for a face touchup.

The Boys Go To Grandma's

2007-08-29T18:53:00.000-05:00

I can't even say the word "Grandma" around my oldest because he goes goofy! Both boys love when she comes to visit and love it even more when we take the two of them over to her house. She has a huge fenced yard where they can run, dig (well, they try but I stop them!), sniff flowers, bark at the neighbor's dog (who gets into trouble because he barks back and he's been to "no barking" school), chase each other around the apple trees, play hide and seek under the big old spruce, eat leaves, play "get the stick" and generally cause mayhem.

But dogs are a lot like people. Sure, we take them for walks...usually the same old boring route. Make no mistake...they are just happy to be out with us in the fresh air, but they too need some variety. Taking them for a visit to a "dog friendly" home is a great outing for them. They can explore the yard or house, be around new people and generally they tend to be more well adjusted when they have new things to stimulate their minds and noses. They eat less and sleep better after a visit too!

So try and incorporate some variety in your dog's day. Even if it's just a new route to walk, you will notice that your pet will be much happier.

Creating a "no pee" zone

2007-08-27T20:30:00.000-05:00

Shih-Tzus are stubborn...there's no getting around that one. Even if you train them, there are times where they are going to defy you because they are mad and will pee wherever they feel like it, regardless if you are there watching them.

My oldest did that when I first brought Rocki home. He was in such a full-blown snit that he trotted over to the couch, lifted his leg, proceeded to pee on the couch and carpet, and then looked at me as if to say "so what are you going to do about it?". Then he marched away with his held high, sat in the opposite end of the room and turned his back to all of us. When I tried to get his attention, he's turn his head the other way and stick his little snout in the air.

Shih-Tzus can also be high strung. When Rocki gets really excited, he often has a slight accident. Just two or three drops, but enough to create a smelly mess. When the two of them were particularly frightened during a severe storm when we were hit with an extremely loud clap of thunder, I had a couple of other accidents to deal with. Fortunately, I've found a solution.

First, I found Oxyclean is the only thing that cleans my carpet completely. And you all know that if you don't get the scent out, the dog will return to the same spot over and over! I have pale grey carpets, so believe me I've spent a lot of money on different products that claim to take out pet stains and odor. They don't. That's why I'm recommending Oxyclean on my web site.

I was told that dribbling white vinegar onto the stain worked...and it does. Unfortunately, your home smells like vinegar rather than urine (which I guess is the lesser of two evils) but certainly not the best solution.

I've also tried ammonia. It does remove the stain and the smell. The downside is I almost keeled over from inhaling the fumes, so using ammonia...not so good if you pass out. I've also read that it's not healthy for the dogs to smell (or lick, as mine are inclined to do).

So that's my answer...Oxyclean. As for the attitude? I'm still searching for a solution.

Do you want to be my dog?

2007-08-24T20:24:00.000-05:00

A guy I know asked me today if he could apply to be one of my dogs because he thought they had a better life than a lot of people he knew.

I guess in a sense that's true. They are well loved, well groomed and, judging by their somewhat finicky taste, well fed.

But owning a Shih-tzu, or any pet for that matter, is a serious commitment. They are not toys to be played with when you feel like it; they are not little dolls that you dress up when the mood hits; they are not ornaments that you just look at. These are living, breathing creatures with feelings, wants, needs and individual personalities. They are relying on you to care for them because, in our world, they can't look after themselves.

Some people just don't think when they run out to get a dog. Can you afford all the things they need, including regular grooming and veterinary services? Do you have the time to take care of them and give them the attention they need? Do you have a fenced in yard to keep them safe? Do you have other dogs who may not be welcoming? Do you have young children who are not old enough to understand that they cannot hit, choke or squeeze them? These are just a few things that many people just don't consider until after they've brought the dog home and by then, it's too late.

Dogs who are well treated are the most wonderful, loving companions you could ever wish for. Dogs who are neglected can become angry, destructive and, at times, vicious. There is a beautiful Siberian Husky down the road from us. His owners have a large, fenced back yard. The dog is never in it. Rather, they tie him to a post in the front yard where he sits morning, afternoon and evening. I had never heard a dog audibly sigh in my life, but this one does whenever someone walks past. There are two teenagers and two adults in that house, yet no one takes this big, beautiful animal for a walk. So why have it? And sadly, I don't think this is an isolated case.

Can a dog be mentally challenged?

2007-08-23T19:59:00.000-05:00

I've wondered about whether a dog can be "slow" and have questioned vets on this matter. The simple answer is yes.

When Rocki was born, our breeder told us she had come just come into the room. She ran over to Rocki when she noticed the placenta was covering his face and he was unable to breath. She removed it and began giving the little guy mouth-to-mouth until he started to breathe.

Now we know in humans that babies who lose oxygen during the birthing process often have some form of disability (yes...I know...not politically correct!) but the amount of time spent without oxygen will determine the severity of the disability.

In our case, we don't know how long Rocki was without oxygen. What we do know is that he did not and does not pick up on things the way his brother does.

For example, if I caught our oldest peeing on the floor, I'd raise my voice, say "no" sternly, and he would put his head down and promptly shimmy to his kennel which was the "time out" area. With Rocki, if I went through the same process, his response was to wag his tail and excitedly jump up for a hug. Our oldest was toilet trained within three weeks. Rocki is almost a year old and still has accidents on the floor. Thank god it's linoleum and not hardwood!

I've taught our oldest a number of commands, from the usual "sit", "stay", "lie down" and "come" to the unusual like "where's your toy?" (and he'll promptly run back outside to retrieve it and bring it in the house), "Is Grandma coming to visit?" (where he'll jump up and down and run to the front door and wait) and "get to your house" (which is the kennel if he's bad...but he knows when he's been bad and goes there on his own most of the time!)

Rocki doesn't understand much. He knows where the food and water is, where the beds are, and how to attack his bigger brother. He gets that he has to poop outside, but peeing is another matter. Peeing, to him, is a free-for-all event that occurs whenever he feels like it and wherever he may be. Raising my voice doesn't work. I caught him one day lifting his leg on the carpet and spanked his bum while yelling "no". His response was to wag his tail, jump up and down happily and run to the treat cabinet in expectation of a reward.

There are many other examples, but I think you get the point. We love our little guy and would never trade him for the world, but some days it can be a real challenge dealing with his inability to comprehend.

Who do you believe when it comes to your dog's health?

2007-08-22T11:10:00.000-05:00

We all care about the health of our pets and, in particular, keeping them around as long as we can. After all, they are a part of our family. But when it comes down to what you feed them, who do you believe?

I've recently talked to many dog owners who tell me they are really cutting down on commercial dog food and dog treats because of the latest poisoning scare. In particular, what is really frightening, is that a handful of dog food manufacturers produce most of the brands. So if one bad supply comes in, it affects many different dog foods and dog treats.

People are also telling me that they are starting to feed their dogs more "people food" in an effort to protect them from the risk of tainted dog food.

On the other side of the coin, we have the vets. When little Rocki was in the hospital, the aides and the vets all said do not feed them any people food. In fact, when we mentioned our dogs loved lettuce, one told us that lettuce causes diahhrea. I've never seen either of my dogs get diahhrea from eating lettuce, but it got me thinking. Mind you, this is the same place that is peddling a certain brand of dog food and, if you read one of my previous posts, you will see that they charged a case of this dog food to my vet bill without even consulting me.

A friend of mine, who breeds Scottie dogs, said that his vet told him that fresh vegetables were good for the dogs and that he recommended that my friend continue to feed his prized dogs their favorite veggies.

Another friend of mine related the story of his dog, Snoops, who died at the ripe old age of 21 years. Snoops was a white lab who never even so much as got a whiff of of commercial dog food. Once a week, my friend's mother made up a big pot of rice and a big pan of ground beef. She mixed it together and Snoops had rice and ground beef every single day of his life. According to my friend, Snoops did supplement his diet with grass, bugs and fresh mud. However, his main staples were rice and beef. 21 years, eh? Not bad.

I believe we all try our best to be responsible owners and do what's best for our pet. However, with so many conflicting opinions, how do we decide?

I think talking to your vet and other dog owners is a good start. Keep in mind, though, some vets are selling certain brands of dog food so be aware that their opinions may be biased. If you think that buying commercial dog food is the way to go, find out what to look for and which brands are best. If you want to feed them "people food", teach yourself what's healthy and what's toxic. If you are a vegan or vegetarian and your beliefs carry over to the feeding of your pet, read about what to give them for proper nutrition. If you go to my Squidoo page on Shih-Tzus, I've compiled a list of books that hopefully cover different points of view so you can make an informed decision.*

*at the time of writing I had compiled 5 books. However, only three are showing up. Hopefully the server is working properly very soon.

Can I change my dogs' names?

2007-08-20T19:29:00.000-05:00

When we first get our precious little pups, we have so many names we've chosen it's hard to pick just one. Finally, we do make a decision and our pup grows into a healthy dog with it's own distinct personality. And that's when we often find their puppy name just doesn't fit and we come up with all sorts of nicknames for them.

For example, our oldest is named Bruiser. Why? Well, he was the runt of the litter and typically had to fight for food, a place to sleep, a toy and just about anything. When all the other puppies were too frightened to venture into the backyard, our little guy took the lead and boldly went to inspect the concrete sidewalk. The other puppies followed hesitantly and, in the end, just dropped onto the concrete too scared to go any further. Our little Bruiser, though, dared to go where no other pup would go and ventured forth to the bedding plants where he found a wonderful place to dig.

Our youngest, Rocki, was named for the boxing movie (although I did take a bit of artistic license in changing the last letter) because when we got him, his left eye had a large, round patch of black and dark brown fur that looked like a black eye. Now, of course, it's pretty much disappeared.

Had we been able to wait until their personalities really came out, I think I would have renamed Rocki to Kato because, like Kato in the old Pink Panther movies, little Rocki is fond of hiding behind chairs or on top of them and attacking his brother as he passes.

As for Bruiser, he is the big boss. Even when he's visiting with his mother and other brother, he tries to control all of them. He needs to know what's going on at all times and is quite the little inspector when it comes to ensuring that everyone is doing what he thinks they are supposed to be doing.

In all, it doesn't much matter because over time, Bruiser's name has evolved into Brewsie Bear and Rocki has been labelled "Munchkin" by most people who have seen him. Bruiser responds to both names. As for Rocki, he responds to all names, including Bruiser.

Beware of veterinarian retailers

2007-08-18T20:14:00.001-05:00

After bringing Rocki home from the pet hospital, we got a call from the vet saying they forgot to give us a couple of items that we had paid for. So, my husband drove back and picked them up. I wasn't surprised that there was a bottle of antibiotics. What did surprise me was there was a case of canned dog food.

When did they decide they had the right to arbitrarily charge me for this and then tell me after the fact?

I could see from the can that it was a wet food. Both of my dogs hate wet dog food and have refused to eat every brand I've tried on them. Thankfully, this turned out to be a blessing because of the recent contaminated dog food scare which was mainly in wet food. But, thinking that maybe there was a reason that they gave us this food, I opened it up to give to the dogs. Firstly, it looked like pre-chewed food. Not good. Then, I divided up the can and put it in their dishes. They wouldn't eat it. So, I left it for them in case they came back to it later. Of course, I was concerned about Rocki as he had just gotten out of the hospital and needed to eat to get his strength back.

Well, a few hours later and nothing...they wouldn't go near it. Meanwhile, Rocki is trying to eat every leaf, stick and piece of fluff he can find because he's so hungry. That was enough. I threw it out and gave them their regular food. So now I have a case of food that is sitting here. The sad thing is I looked it up on the company's web site and it appears that it should be good for them. But it looks vile and the dogs won't touch it, so quite frankly it doesn't matter how good it seems to be for them...they won't eat it.

And I might have bought some if the vet had asked. But they didn't...they just charged me for it and then told me to pick it up. It's the principle of the matter that seriously bugs me. So, if vets want to be taken seriously and respected, they need to cut out this kind of practice.

The Temperamental Shitzu

2007-08-14T11:05:00.000-05:00

We were pretty excited to bring Rocki home from the pet hospital as the house just didn't seem the same without him. We also hoped to bring some life back to his brother, who had been despondent since Rocki left. So, imagine our shock when we arrived and Rocki's brother was in a complete and total snit.

He was so mad he was salivating. He turned his back on Rocki, growled at him whenever Rocki approached and refused to be anywhere near him. I couldn't believe it!

When the vet called to tell us we had forgotten something at the hospital, we asked why Rocki's brother would be so mad at him. The vet speculated it was because Rocki smelled of other dogs. Hmmm...so perhaps our oldest, who has always been Rocki's inseparable companion, thought Rocki was "cheating" on him! If only he knew what that poor little guy had been going through.

As night turned into the next day, Rocki's brother finally started to come around a bit, but not much. I thought perhaps if I gave Rocki a bath the scent of other dogs (and not to mention the sickly "medical" smell) would not be so strong. I know it sounds kind of simplistic, but it actually started to work since my older dog began sniffing Rocki more after his bath. He even allowed Rocki to nibble on his ear...but not for long, of course. He is, after all, the oldest and the self-appointed boss of the two so he has to be mad just a wee bit longer to make his point. At night, I noticed the older one gradually coming closer to Rocki. He wouldn't actually touch him, but he would lie down within a certain distance that was carefully monitored at all times.

After a couple of days it was business as usual. There was wrestling to be done, food to share, toys to squeak, cushions to beat up, bugs to chase, grass to dig up and chewies to fight over. It warmed my heart to finally see them both back to normal.

My puppy wins...the Parvo virus loses!

2007-08-14T10:17:00.001-05:00

The little guy pictured on the right has beaten the Parvo virus!

Although dogs can be hospitalized for up to 10 days before they are well enough to return home, my little Rocki was released in just 2 days and boy, was he glad to come home! After a good night's sleep on his favorite lambskin rug, he has been seen running circles around the coffee table, doing flying leaps from couch to floor to chair, beating up his stuffed toy, and gobbling up every piece of food he can find.

Although he has 10 days worth of antibiotics that I must cleverly conceal in a dog treat, his recovery is heartwarming. I knew he was a healthy dog before getting the virus, but his determination to get back to normal and winning attitude has just blown me away.

So this story is one of hope: even though the Parvo virus is deadly, a healthy happy dog can recover from it's effects.

Beware of the Parvo virus

2007-08-11T15:00:00.001-05:00

Thought Parvo couldn't happen to you? This blog is about Rocki, our little cinnamon and white Shitzu pictured in the bottom right of the photo. We rushed him to the animal hospital last night where he was diagnosed with Parvo, or Canine Parvovirus.

Parvo is a severe infection that causes intestinal damage. This leads to septicemia and severe dehydration that could be fatal. For some reason, certain breeds (Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher and English Springer Spaniel) have a much higher fatality rate that other breeds. It is a highly contagious virus that requires aggressive medical treatment immediately.

In our city, there is an epidemic outbreak of Parvo. Clinics are running out of supplies. I read about it in the paper but thought our little guys were very secure on their home turf. How wrong I was!

Because the main source of the virus is from the feces of infected dogs, I stopped walking my dogs in the area as poop is one of their passions: they love to sniff it and touch it. If it's goose poop, they wolf it down like they've never seen food. Since not every dog owner is a good citizen picking up their messes, I decided I would keep my dogs safe at home until the epidemic passed.

Despite all my precautions, Rocki still picked up the virus. How? I figured it out this morning when I was cleaning up the yard...he contracted it from flies. Think about it...flies congregate on feces and then come into your home. I was killing them with the flyswatter, but a couple of times I was too slow on the draw and Rocki ran over to eat them before I could pick them up.

So what are the symptoms? Well, Rocki threw up yesterday morning. We weren't too concerned at first. After all, Rocki is one of those dogs who puts everything he sees into his mouth so we figured he just ate something that didn't agree with him. Then he got a bit of diarrhea and I cleaned him up. That too has happened before when he ate something that didn't agree with him. However, what made me keep an eye on him was when he continued to vomit a white, frothy mucus. He wouldn't eat and didn't drink anything, yet he kept vomitting. As the day turned into night, he became more listless and unresponsive. I called a 24 hour emergency veterinarian and described the symptoms. They told me to bring him in immediately.

At 9:30 p.m. we arrived at the animal hospital where the vet began testing. Unfortunately, the one tried and true test for Parvo was unavailable. Because of the severe outbreak in the city, they ran out of the test. They called other local vets and they too had run out. The second method of determining Parvo was a rectal exam (which Rocki did not like too much and I couldn't even watch). The vet showed me that there was blood in the stool and she was able to detect Parvo by the smell of it...apparently, it has a very distinct odor. As a precaution they also took some blood because many dogs with Parvo (but not all) have a lower white blood cell count. Rocki's was normal.

Without the one test that determined whether or not Rocki definitively had Parvo, we had to make a decision: do we leave him at the hospital and treat him as if he has it, or do we take him home and treat him as if he just had vomitting and diarrhea and take the risk that he doesn't have a potentially fatal disease? The vet also told us that treating Rocki for Parvo will cost between $2,000 and $3,000.

In the end, we chose to treat him as though he had Parvo and left him at the hospital so treatment could begin. We were told that it could take between 2 and 5 days in the hospital before he is well enough to leave, and that there is a chance he may not make it. At this point he is in the hospital...we are waiting to hear how he is doing.

Some facts about Parvo: - it's hard to kill. The virus is resistant to heat, detergents, alcohol and most disinfectants. The only thing that will kill it is a 1:30 bleach solution. The virus has even been recovered from surfaces contaminated with dog feces after three months at room temperature.

- it's easily transmitted via the hair or feet of infected dogs, contaminated shoes, clothes and other objects or areas contaminated by the infected feces, so direct contact between an infected dog and a healthy dog is not necessary.

Shitzus going snakey...

2007-08-05T23:40:00.000-05:00

There are some nights where I don't know what has gotten into the little guys but they go completely snakey. Nights like tonight where there is nothing happening outside but they are poised to leap...where no one is in another room but they are dying to get into that room to the point that they leap and jump at closed doors while they cry incessently...where if you are not with them they whine, bark and throw themselves at chairs and other objects that they don't normally go after.

It is a weirdness I see on rare occassions and quite frankly, on nights like tonight when I'm home alone, it's kind of creepy.

I'd like to blame the full moon but we don't have one tonight. Nor anything close to it. If I could point a finger at a party next door, firecrackers, a loud car, sirens or anything else I would. But our area is still and quiet as can be.

I've seen it a couple of times and with two of them I get double the fun... one is either emulating the other or they've both lost it. Hopefully, they will calm down in the next while, but right now I need to attend to the whining that threatens to send me over the edge. :-)

Summer time means...ticks!

2007-07-27T16:28:00.000-05:00

The boys were on vacation in the country when we had to attend a wedding in California. However, when they came home, my little one had something on his fur next to his mouth. On closer inspection, it looked like blood. I was puzzled...he didn't appear to be hurt. I rubbed his fur...I saw what looked like a cherry pit caught in his fur. I tried pulling gently but it was stuck in. Of course, at this point, I'm wondering where the cherry pit came from. Then...it dawned on me...the "cherry pit" had legs. Oh no, I thought... don't tell me... it's a tick!!!

Sure enough it was. I am not familiar with ticks except the bits and pieces I've heard secondhand. I remembered someone once told me to burn it off with a lighter or match. Burn it? I couldn't...it was on my boy's face. How could I burn it and possibly hurt him?

Finally, after looking at where it was on his face, I decided to get their trimming scissors and try to trim the fur away from his face and, hopefully, take the tick out with the fur. Fortunately, it was not feeding on him. I think it had gorged itself and was taking a break...hence, the blood on his fur. I finally got it off, wrapped it up and threw it away. (trying not to throw up the entire time I'm doing this!)

However, I would not recommend the method I used. I was searching websites and found this one that seems to repeat what I've been reading: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=62

Dog fighting

2007-07-23T14:11:00.001-05:00

The story is not about Shitzus today. I just finished reading the actual indictment against Michael Vick et all in the dog fighting charges and am trying not to be sick as I write this. According to the indictment, if the dogs didn’t do well in test fights, they were shot, electrocuted and, in one case, allegedly body smashed into the ground. There was also a rape stand found on the property that was used for aggressive female dogs.

You know, Michael Vick is a great football player. I don’t know him as a person, but he is very talented in the game. According to statements in various news reports, the gist of his position is he didn’t know what was happening on the property because he was rarely there and he allowed friends to use it.

Okay...I’m not going to say he’s telling the truth or lying. I don’t know who was involved. All I know is that dogs were bought, sold and bred solely to fight for people’s amusement and profit. How do you get a dog ready to fight? You abuse it. You don’t feed it. You beat it. According to the Humane Society of the United States, some owners train their dogs for fights using smaller animals such as cats, rabbits or small dogs. These "bait" animals are often stolen pets or animals obtained through "free to good home" ads.

So this is just one case. But Vick and his friends weren’t fighting their own dogs against each other. People were bringing their fighting dogs in from all over the United States. So, even thought it’s underground, this “industry” is obviously widespread. After all, if there’s a buck to be made, even at the expense of another living creature, there are always going to be degenerates rubbing their hands together in glee wondering how they too can get in on the cash.

According to the indictment, the purse in many of these fights was either $1,000 or $2,000. So basically people are watching two dogs trapped in a cage fighting with each other until one stops moving because they could gain $1,000, which equates to something like four new tires for their truck. I just can’t even get my head around that one.

So, I don’t know if Vick himself is guilty or how many of the others named with him on the indictment will be found guilty. However, if they are, they will face up to 6 years in prison. I think the karmic justice would be interesting - men trapped in a cage...and whatever else happens in those prison cages.

Dogs and storms

2007-06-24T00:57:00.001-05:00

Thunderstorms, or any storms, can be a very traumatic time for your pet if you're not around.

Storms are a part of life, but not for these little guys. We know what's happening...they don't.

The most important thing to do is basically not do anything. When the lightning strikes...stay calm. When the thunder rages, don't move...act like it's an everyday activity.

My oldest was used to them but the youngest peed everywhere whenever a storm hit. So when a storm came around and he looked to me for direction, I did nothing. I acted as if it didn't matter. After the first two times, he lifted his head to watch my reaction and, when there was none, went calmly went back to sleep.

Pets mimic our behavior. If we freak out, they freak out. If we are calm, they are calm. After all, it's just another noice that they add to their repertoire of things to "worry about" and things that "don't matter".

Keeping your pets comfortable in the summer

2007-06-15T22:48:00.001-05:00

Summer heat means being extra careful with your pets, especially flat faced little dogs like Shitzus. They tend to heat up very quickly and, because of their tiny flat noses, can have a very difficult time breathing.

Although these little guys love to be outside, you need to have a cool environment available to them when they start to heat up, particularly on days with high humidity.

Keep an eye on them and bring them into an air conditioned car or house immediately if you hear them wheezing or having trouble breathing...that is a danger sign of overheating. Also, keep an eye on how much they are panting. Regular panting is normal and is how they cool themselves. However, the panting should slow down or stop altogether when they have cooled themselves. If this is not happening, again, bring them into a cool environment. Also, make sure they always have a good supply of fresh, clean, cold water.

I think it goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway) - NEVER EVER leave them in a car alone with the windows closed in warm, sunny weather. Don't even leave them in the car with the windows open on a hot sunny day - keep them at home.

I also like to give the little guys a cool bath on hot, humid days. It's probably the one time they don't hate me for doing this!

Those darn collies

2007-05-11T22:49:00.000-05:00

Our home is located on an open area. Behind us is a tract of "no man's land" where people always take their dogs out for a run (or take themselves out for one!).

It's amazing how our dogs react to others. When the two German Shepherds go by, they watch but they're quiet as mice. When the Rottweiler and his master come, they hide behind the barbeque and wait till they've passed. When their friend Jasmine, a 9 month old Golden Retriever goes for a walk, they're all friendly yips and tails wagging (even though Jasmine is 10 times their size). When the big lab Buddy from next door comes for a visit, there is a lot of tail wagging and nose-to-nose greetings. When the collies come by, look out!

I don't know why they hate the collies, or should I say they each love to torment the other. When the collies come by, they wag their tails and happily yip as they go past. This drives our dogs to distraction. They can hear the collies coming from a mile away and are perched at the end of the patio yapping incessantly at them. When our dogs go for a walk and the collies are behind their chain link fence, our oldest struts back and forth in front of them yapping and yipping like he's the happiest dog in the world. Our youngest is a bit of an ape...he just copies his older brother. The collies go crazy. I have a heck of a time dragging our oldest away from the pen. But a couple of hours later, when the situation is reversed, our dogs are in a frenzy when they see the collies going by.

I suppose dogs are a lot like people...we immediately sense whether or not we like someone on a first meeting and react accordingly. We either defer to them, taunt them or become friendly with them. Dogs, it seems, have their own criteria for those who are acceptable and those who are not. I'm not sure what it is, but it is very interesting to watch.

What does your dog watch?

2007-05-04T21:42:00.000-05:00

We often have the TV on and the dogs don't pay any attention whatsoever to it. The only time they reacted to it was when someone rang the doorbell on a pizza commercial and the two of them bolted to our front door and wound up completely confused when they discovered no one was there.

But the other day, our little one was absolutely mesmerized when a Garfield movie came on. He actually sat and watched it for over half an hour, running to the TV every so often and leaping up and wagging his tail whenever the dog was onscreen. Then he would race back to the couch, perch on the end, and continue watching the movie. The oldest one didn't give a rip if anything was on TV...he's quite content playing with their toys.

So, if you ever thought that your dogs weren't paying attention to the television, you may just be surprised one day.

Watching out for health problems

2007-04-27T20:59:00.000-05:00

Many purebreds are prone to certain health conditions, and Shitzus are no exception. Here is a list of known problems to affect Shitzus:

- a blood vessel defect known as portosystemic shunt (dog appears dazed, bumps into things and snaps at you - these could be signs of this problem)

- kidney displasia (drinking more than usual and urinating more than usual could be a sign of kidney problem)

- a respiratory disorder known as brachycephalic airway syndrome (snorting and snoring are minor symptoms; however, overheating, overexercise or stress can leave your dog struggling for breath. Immediately move your dog to an air conditioned area, wet him down and talk calmly and stroke him until it passes)

- hypothyriodism (symptoms can include lethargy, weight gain, hair loss and skin infections)

- cataracts (cause a progressive decrease in your dog's vision)

- corneal ulcers (symptoms can include squinting, rubbing the eye and sticky discharge coming from the eye. Can be caused by not using tearless shampoo which gets into the eyes and irritates them)

- entropion (turned-in eyelids...eyes are often red and runny)

- inward growing eyelashes

- eye disorders known as retinal dysplasia

- hemolitic anemia

- platelet deficiency

- a blood clotting disorder known as von Willebrand's disease (often inherited or caused by a protein deficiency)

- progressive retinal atrophy (form of progressive blindness...one of the earliest signs is night blindness)

- dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca)

Because these are common to Shitzus, keep an eye out for these symptoms and if you do notice anything out of the ordinary, check with your vet as many of these problems require blood tests and other medical tests before they can be confirmed.

Make no bones about "bones'

2007-04-21T22:36:00.000-05:00

I think Shitzus come out of the whom hunting for bones.

This afternoon, my youngest (8 months...yes, the innocent looking one in the front of the picture) found a bone buried last fall in the yard. He was ecstatic and kept his prize close to his mouth. The oldest, who buried it, stared at his brother and cried for over an hour until I finally got him a fresh steak bone to chew on.

Fresh steak bone or decayed buried bone? The oldest grabbed the fresh one in his mouth, stared at the decomposed bone that his brother had, and the two did the most cautious switch-aroo I've ever witnessed.

The youngest, of course, was happy as a clam. And a wily one he is! The older one, who discovered his bone was not fresh at all, started grunting all over again. I had to cut him the last fresh bone.

They were happy for about an hour. After that...the bones were gone. Then the fight began over the putrid, left-over one from last autumn. I promptly made sure that it got tossed in the garbage and both boys have been antsy ever since.

Bones...actually good for them, but can become a wee bit of a nightmare. :-)