Tag Archives: Fromm

Shih Tzu Day 91: Cats and Spats

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Kitty Doing Better

tabby cat on couchSpot Collins is still with us. He seems to be doing well. Panda isn’t doing as well, though. When I checked in at the Dumb Friends League, I was told that he still isn’t eating. Mom is worried, but hopefully we’ll have good news soon.

Tear Stains

shih tzu up closeshih tzu up closeWe groomed Candy and Flower a little. I have been researching the tear stains on Flower’s face, after discussing it with Liz Hover, the mom of Sadie Shih Tzu. She said that Sadie had tear stains, but that they eventually went away when she started feeding Sadie an organic homemade dog food recipe she makes out of all organic products, including elk or bison (chicken, turkey or beef also work), veggies, eggs, apples and blueberries. I am going to try it when I gather those ingredients. In the meantime, the owner of Paws n’ Play said to make sure that the kibble I feed them is high quality grains. She said to try that step before trying grain-free kibble. She gave me some Fromm samples to try.

I also bought some moist towelettes to use on the stains to see if that would work. I read that people also use corn starch, so I bought some to try the next time I bathe Flower.

My Couch! My Mom!

shih tzu on animal print blanketDottie definitely needs to learn to share Mom. Flower tried to jump up on the couch this afternoon, and Dottie growled at her again. Flower jumped back and didn’t attempt it again. However, Dottie forfeited her place at the end of the couch a while later, leaving it open. Flower came up and licked my leg, scratched at in and then came up. I think Dottie gave her a dirty look. The whole time that was going on, Candy sat peacefully outside, in front of her shed, enjoying the great outdoors.

 

 

Shih Tzu Day 29: Black and White Dogs, Black and White Dreams

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Candy, help me! He's out of control.

Dreaming in Black and White

You did too lead me on, Flower.John got up at 4:30 a.m. with a headache, signaling all the dogs to come and try to lure me out of bed an hour earlier than usual. I lay in bed lazily, trying to ignore them, but gave up and hung my hand over the side for them to play with. Of course, Shiloh jumped in clumsily, so I had to keep trying to get him to play gently.

You're not the only one who is Angry, Bird!Since I didn’t get up right away, Shiloh jumped back up on the bed to get in a few extra winks, and the girls migrated back downstairs. I thought I wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep and planned on getting up at 5:30, but then I fell back asleep and had a really weird dream about black and white dogs, black and white hamsters, black and white cats. It reminded me of a line from the movie, Sentinel: Black and white cake; black and white cat.

Flower Forgets to Be Distant

What did you want me to do with this thing?Flower forgot to play hard to get when I picked her up this time. Earlier she ran from me, and when I caught her and held her, she leaned away from me. A few hours later, I picked her up from the dog bed and she didn’t fight me at all. She didn’t lean against me, but she didn’t lean away from me. I rewarded her with lots of kisses, but I know she would have preferred treats.

Later, she let me pet her for several minutes outside and played at my feet when we came back inside. When Dottie and I were sitting on the couch this afternoon, Flower jumped up tMom says I look like Candice Bergen. Do you see the resemblance?o sit with us. It’s probably because Brutus, Shiloh’s name for today, is making weird growling noises.  I just love it when Flower comes up and puts her paws on the couch, stretches, and looks at me all loopy.How can I look like Candy Bergen and like a rabbit?

Candy might be taking her sister’s lead. She doesn’t try to escape so much when I approach her. She usually just sits still. I picked her up and held her twice today for a couple of minutes each time.

Diarrhea

Sorry I'm not trying to be cute today. My tummy is upset.I’m used to picking up the kind of poop that’s easy to pick up, but today was a different story. Somebody must have an upset stomach. Today wasn’t hamburger day, but it’s possible it could be effects from yesterday. This morning, John also hand-fed them from the Fromm salmon sample package.

Later in the day, I caught Dottie pooping next to the training pad, and the texture identified her as the dog with the upset tummy. I picked it up and pointed to the training pad, asking her to please do her business there. About an hour later, she went back to the same spot, squatted and pooped before I could get to her. When I got to the spot, I firmly asked her to use the training pad. I tried to catch her by the collar to sit her on the pad, but she pulled away and I tugged back, saying a little impatiently, “Dottie, use the pad!” and placing her on it. The poor little thing cowered before me. I guess when a doggy has an upset tummy isn’t the right time to train them where to poop.

What's wrong with Dottie, Mommy? I picked her up and held her, petting her tummy. All afternoon, whenever I approached her, she cowered down or ran and hid under the table. I felt very guilty for showing my impatience and being too forceful. I have to get on John’s iPad and start reading the “Fearful Dog” book to get some help on what to do in situations like this.

I tried to be very careful with what all the dogs ate today, to avoid any more instances.

Shih Tzu Day 27: The Shih Tzu is a Siren

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You want me to do what?

shih tzu vote for Fromm chicken

This food takes like candy!Bright and early this morning, after we had gone outside, we fed the shih tzu sisters and Shiloh their regular food. Then, we brought out the sample Fromm food (chicken) I got at Paws n Play. I have been hearing a lot lately about dogs needing food with higher protein content, and Fromm was one of the brands someone had highly recommended. John hand-fed them the pieces, and all of them eagerly took it.

After we came in, Flower stretched out on the floor in front of me, as Dottie lay beside me, even with John on the couch! The shih tzus definitely are getting more comfortable, although some days we seem to go back a few steps.

Shiloh and the shih tzu Siren

Come up and see me some time. Flower and Shiloh entertained us before John left for work. I have been trying to keep these two dogs away from each other, since there seems to be a lot of growling when Shiloh and this particular shih tzu are in close proximity. However, this morning, John said he thought they might be playing, so I didn’t separate them.I have you eating out of the palm of my paw.

As I watched, I realized that, at least this time, Shiloh wasn’t egging on Flower. The shih tzu would tentatively approach him, sniff him, and then back away. Maybe Shiloh hadn’t been bothering her. In fact, I think she had decided she liked the attention!

“Flower has a boy toy!” I teased. “I saw you go up to him. Are you flirting with him, or are you picking a fight!”Nice — tags!

It started to make sense — those Maybelline eyelashes! That “come hither!” attitude. Oh, yes! This shih tzu was being coquettish. Had she been that way at the puppy mill? No, of course not. But had she lived another life before this, she would have been. At one point, she made me think of Mae West, and I laughed more.

I'm a lady, not a tramp!Now, with Shiloh standing at attention, Flower tried to growl fiercely. It was hard to really take this shih tzu seriously as a dangerous animal. As I watched the puppy play, Flower would run up to him, nudge him and then scramble across the floor to safety, with Shiloh tearing after her. At times, she would jump up on her couch, looking adorable on the red blanket, and Shiloh would leap up after her. Then, they were off in a new direction.My hair gets wild after heavy petting.

Several minutes later, Shiloh made a gesture that made me realize that he didn’t want to be “just friends.” No, not at all. She wanted flirtatious dog play, but he was looking for action. I scolded him then and told him to get off of her. He did, and Flower continued giving him the runaround.

The play continued. I was equally surprised when little sister Candy trotted out from their corner, jumped on Shiloh and got in the middle of the fray. Girls will be girls, and boys will love it.