Flower ventured out into the living room on her own tonight. This is the first time I’ve seen her do it. She walked around only for a few minutes and then went back to the pen.

I spent part of the day looking for doggie beds and food and water bowls for the shih tzus. When Barbara and Delores brought them over, they brought a dark grey oval cuddler that Dottie usually lies in. However they all take turns in it. They must like it because it’s comfy; I like it because the cushion comes out and can be washed separately.

They also brought over a striped, rectangular dog bed, but they don’t use it very often. I started out looking for beds at PetSmart and was disappointed with the variety. I did find some colorful oval cuddlers, but they didn’t have a removable cushion. Petco was even more disappointing. TJ Maxx had some cute beds, but still, without removable cushions. I ended up getting one-piece beds, including a large, rectangular bed from Murdoch’s that all three can lie on. Then, I bought a rectangular faux leather cuddler from Costco and a red corduroy one from the third PetSmart I went to.

Flower tried out the faux leather cuddler, but they seem to prefer huddling together on the Murdoch’s bed or climbing back in the grey cuddler. I know that part of it is just that it’s what they’re used to.

I had told Delores that I had bought a ceramic dog bowl from the Dollar Tree, but she mentioned concern about lead and said that aluminum or glass is probably the best, and that dollar stores usually carried some cheaper than PetSmart. I thought the ones I found at Family Dollar were too big for shih tzus, but I did buy two for water. I ended up getting smaller ones at TX Maxx. Of course, then I saw some a little bigger (and cuter) at Ross that I might have to go back and get.

While I was looking for beds and bowls, I couldn’t resist looking at some dog clothes. Some day!