Tag Archives: training pads

Shih Tzu Day 111: Candy and her Boy Dog

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The trouble with boy dog friends

girl and boy dog friendsCandy and her boy dog friend have been frolicking again, inside and outside. I know she enjoys playing with Nigel, but there are times that she does not want his attention. I always know when that is the case, because she yips loudly and looks like she wants to bite his little boy dog face off. I have had several stern talks with him that when a lady says “no,” it’s not “maybe,” and he has to stop and not force her to play. If he learns that, she might like him better and go out on more dog play dates. Of course, it would also help if he stopped stealing her bones and the other girls’ dog treats. Then they might all like him better.

Nigel and the cable guy

I had to have Comcast send a cable guy out today because of trouble with my cable box. Nigel greeted him at the door with his tail wagging and was practically sitting on his lap when he sat down on the couch to do some programming. Not my girl shih tzus, of course. I was in the kitchen and heard a low growl. I asked him what happened, and he said, “I don’t know! All I did was make eye contact!” It was actually kind of funny. My girl dogs are definitely different than our boy dog.

I don’t really think it’s a case of girl dogs or boy dogs, however. It’s more likely because of their time at the puppy mill. From Nigel’s behavior, he probably had a good home at one point before ending up at a shelter, so he has a lot better social skills. He definitely wouldn’t make a very good guard dog!

A boy dog in Shih Tzu Central

a black and white shih tzu on a dog bed. After the cable guy left, I took Nigel for a walk to tire him out. I sure don’t have a lot of stamina since I stopped taking regular bike rides. Running up the hill beside him tired me out! When we came back, I had the back door open for the dogs and a bee came in. I was trying to figure out where it went and looked over at Shih Tzu Central; it was flying around near Nigel, and he was trying to bite it. I was thinking that he looked funny trying to bite at it, and then I realized something. He was “at Shih Tzu Central” trying to bite it. He was actually lounging on the blue dog bed.

Four shih tzusFlower and Candy didn’t seem to think anything about having a boy dog in one of their beds in their private corner, although Dottie seemed slightly put out. They all mainly just ignored him. Since that was the case, I thought I’d work on a little bit of togetherness and moved his bed in there as a test.

He lay in there for a while without any reaction from the girls. However, he didn’t stay very long and seemed lost without his dog bed being in the living room, so I moved it back out.

Dry training pad

The training pads I have down were dry all day. It’s possible that the girl shih tzus are learning how to hold it until they go outside. I didn’t find any evidence that they had gone anywhere else in the house. My fingers are crossed.

Shih Tzu Day 81: People Visitors Again!

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Kibble Scavenger Hunt

Last night before we went to bed, we rolled up the living room rug to prevent anyone peeing on it during the night. When I came downstairs this morning, there were three spots all in a row on the two training pads I placed together. Someone who has never had three dogs with training issues won’t understand how happy that made me.

shih tzu in child's lapEver since the shih tzu sisters have come to live with us, I have had to keep Flower from gobbling down her food and then scurrying to Candy or Dottie’s bowl to help them eat there. I recently started giving them a little less kibble in their bowls, and I take what I keep out and give it to them later. When Flower is done, I give her one or two pieces at a time, to make her eat slower. When they are all done, I sprinkle kibble bits near them, like food scavenger hunt. It keeps them busy. I just have to make sure they all find equal amounts.

Human Birthday Party

child trying to give shih tzus treatsWe had a birthday party for our granddaughter, Rema, this afternoon, so Dottie, Candy and Flower had to put up with nine visitors: Rema and her four sisters; Leticia, their mom; and Gabe, his girlfriend Crystal and her daughter, Avi.

I sent the dogs outside when everyone first showed up, and we put their plastic gate back in their corner so they could feel secure behind it. When I let the dogs back in, Flower and Candy went straight to Shih Tzu Central, but Dottie seemed confused. Rema, Junior and one of the other children were sitting on the couch where Dottie and I always sit. Dottie was nervous, and jumped up, trying to sit on Rema’s lap. Rema thought she did it because Rema held her on the way back from the grooming class last month, but I think it was probably that Rema was sitting where I usually sit, and Dottie just got confused. I think that because her movements were kind of like the time that John did something that scared the dogs and they all jumped up on the couch.

shih tzu watches child give treat to other shih tzuAfter everyone had been at the house for a few hours, I ushered the dogs back outside and gave Rema treats to feed them. Flower and Dottie took one, but Candy kept her distance. Later on, I told Oriana to go inside their gate with treats. She was very timid and they wouldn’t respond to her, so I asked Evita to try. Flower and Dottie took a small treat from her, but Candy wouldn’t.

Compared to how the dogs reacted the first time the children and grandchildren came over, I think shih tzus have come quite a way. I don’t recall any of the dogs growling at any of our visitors, so that’s a big improvement.

Shih Tzu Day 7: The Doggy Circus is in Town

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You'd be having a bad hair day too!The shih tzu sisters have been doing great. We had Leticia and the grandchildren over all day Sunday. The dogs weren’t thrilled, but they didn’t seem traumatized.

We ate outside in the garage and let the children come in one by one to meet them. They behaved when Rema, Junior and Evita came in to meet them. They even came out into the room when Oriana was inside, but Flower did growl at Dulcea.

We were afraid how they would react badly to the Fourth of July activities, but they came through with flying colors. We tried to get them to go outside to do their business early in the evening, but fireworks went off and they scurried back inside. After that, we stayed inside and watched movies. They handled the gunshots and loud noises from “The Mechanic” well, so action movies shouldn’t be a problem. I think the noise on the TV blended in with the fireworks outside, so they were fine.

I saw you hide the chicken jerky!Candy did a little dance across the carpet last night that was adorable. I don’t know what it meant, but she sure is entertaining. They all dance around when I come downstairs in the morning, although they get serious when John appears. I know they will warm up to him, as soon as they realize he won’t hurt them.

When they continue to be most excited, however, is when they hear the Milo’s Kitchen bag rattling. Flower jumps around like a dancing horse and they all rush me. I’m not sure if that’s acceptable behavior, but I prefer them to be rambunctious over shaking in the corner of their exercise pen.

Don't even think you can jump higher than I can!Candy is pretty good about going outside willingly, but the other two still think they should do their business in the pen or on the carpet. I bought some training pads for them, but as soon as I put one down, Flower began wrestling with it.