Flower, Candy and Dottie do their morning Chinese Lion Dance.
The Chinese Lion Dance of the Shih Tzus at Dawn
Flower tackles Dottie during the dance.
The dogs didn’t start rumbling until 5:20, after they heard me get up and use the restroom. Once I was back in bed, Dottie came into the room and up to the bed. She rolled around a little near my side after I picked her up, and then she jumped down. Flower came up stairs, but didn’t come into the bedroom or bathroom.
The Chinese Lion Dance sometimes gets intense.
The Shih Tzu Lion Dance usually lasts several minutes each morning.
I stayed in bed until 6. When I came down the stairs, John was right behind me. For once, he witnessed the shih tzu tribal dance. Candy, Flower and Dottie danced around merrily, nipping at the hand I extended and jumping over each other. Occasionally, Flower jumped up on the couch, and then jumped back down, occasionally landing on Dottie or Candy. Sporadically, someone would get too rough, prompting a yelp or low growl.
Our Nature Lover
John had the shih tzus go outside and wait while I fixed their meal of dry food, Natural Balance and cottage cheese. I can tell they are getting more used to him. Even though he was outside, they gobbled it right down.
Later, Candy wandered around for awhile in their outdoor pen, looking for a place to do her business. The other girls still don’t take her lead. After that, Candy sat on the stairs, looking out at the yard. I think she is the nature lover.
Flower walked up and down on the porch where we sat, sniffing John, coming back to me, going and sniffing John, coming back to me, sitting near John very briefly, then coming back and sitting next to me. When she was in a good position, I picked her up and held her for about five minutes.
Dottie Attempts a High Jump
After we went in, they all wandered around the living room. Dottie kept stopping in front of the couch. I finally picked her up and positioned her on the couch next to me. John noted that he hadn’t seen her shake for awhile. I realized that the outside noises didn’t seem to be bothering any of them lately either.
A little later that morning, Dottie tried unsuccessfully to jump up onto the couch. She fell short by a couple of inches, landing back on the ground, and I quickly picked her up and set her beside me.
She followed me upstairs later, waiting there for me until I came back out into the hall and came downstairs.
I seldom sit on Flower’s couch, but today I did, briefly. She jumped up to sit beside me, and stayed there next to me until I got up a few minutes later. When Dottie and I were upstairs, I turned around and saw Flower sitting at the top of the stairs. It surprised me. I hadn’t heard her dog tags jingling. As soon as I turned, she ran right back down.