🐶 Pets Corner 🐱

Hi Emilee, with Aloysius, he was 'temporarily' castrated with a pellet inserted with a big needle 🤢 as the vet suggested with his existing aggression it could make that worse but the pellet could be easily removed. His aggression improved so he had the surgery c 6 months later. It was generally considered a measure that reduces the risk of testicular cancer and other benefits (less wanting to roam and marking territory indoors etc) but there's been a lot more research that indicates it can increase the risk of joint problems and other cancers, often depending on the breed and the age that it's done.

Same with the girlies but there's other risks too as its supposed to prevent mammary cancer but can cause joint problems and other cancers. I won't have more dogs after these but they're all, so far, healthy (aged 9 and 10) but I wouldn't be as quick to have them speyed/castrated if I'd got more dogs. And I'd do my own thorough research first too and wouldn't rely on a vets' view. No criticism intended but the science has evolved so much I just feel it's right to be fully informed.

All my previous three dogs were 'done' Jonesy and Matilda both lived until 12.5yrs but had a liver and stomach tumour respectively and my yorkie Jack, lived to at least 15 but had joint problems from c 12.5. He also had a collapsing trachea which can be common with yorkies. I've never used a collar and lead for any of my dogs, only a harness to protect their neck.

I've never had a dog that was aggressive before Aloysius, then he was barely 2kgs but was a feisty little scrap but also this was his third home in his grand 7 months of age. There's a clue in that 😉😊😅. I'd never leave treats out if I'm not with them as he's a stealer and has to be supervised.

My vet advised me not to get two from the same litter (he suggested jealousy can be an issue) which I still did with the girls and I'm not sorry as they're all very close and lovely natures.

I sort of crate trained them (not fully) but now if they're too giddy I pop them in their little crates to 'reflect' 🤣/rest but I leave the door open and they just come out when they're ready which is quite sweet and they've always travelled in their individual crates with its door shut in the car, with the seat belt round it too. The crates are plastic but very solid.

I've always had just shih tzus and a yorkie but I'm no expert, shih tzus very much have a mind of their own but they're all the most loyal and loving companions and bundles of fun too. Jonesy and Matilda I used to keep in long coats until they were c 3 years old but I've not since, brushing took an hour every day and fortnightly grooms. Sadly their photos are on a hard drive from an old laptop I don't know how to access but I'll find out one day from my PC man!

Have you been thinking of breeds of dog or cats? One of my dog sitters has ragdoll cats (they're indoor cats) with a 'cateo' outside as well as two shih tzus, they all get on well together, I dont know if that's unusual or not. Scarperlina goes absolutely ape if she sees a cat in the garden but the others aren't fussed (from the window!)

PS I never actually saw the Lemony Snicket film or read the book, it was only a couple of years ago I found out what a 'snicket' was as it came up as a question on The Chase. You could have knocked me down with a feather 😂.

Frank and his toys are taking over. It is all his space now @onmylonesome

Oh @Emilee, I have to say, I 'fell' into shih tzus by accident. In 1988 my brother and sister in law were rehoming their 18 month old shih tzu, Lady, (Lady Ming Soo of Shanghai to give her her full, pedigree name 🥰😍😅) as she bit their children. She bit as they were pulling her tail. I can't say I blame her. We weren't looking for a dog as my husband had Dino who passed on 3rd June 1993 but lived with his mum who lived a few roads away and he stayed with us every weekend. Lady and Dino were very close. Dino was buried in our garden in Essex and we had a full funeral service, as he deserved. Lady was buried with him in Jan 2000 which I attended. Never quite forgave myself for divorcing 6 months before and my husband didn't let me see her again so she passed after not seeing me for c 6 months. Just heartbreaking really. I should have waited to divorce. That's another story!!

So. Shih tzus have an 'undercoat' - very difficult to groom my three myself, it takes me c 4 weeks (as opposed to 4 hours per dog via a professional groomer) to groom them all i used to pay c 200 a month on grooming now it's all done by me, in a fashion. I have a lady who comes to do their nails c 6 weekly at 80.00 only because they don't walk out.

I not only could not live my life without a shih tzu, I actively choose not to. Not only since I got ill, but from 2002 they are truly my whole world, and me theirs. Did I say I like shih tzus?? 🤣😂🤣😂🥰😍. When I'm in the bathroom Scarperlina has always sat on a towel on the loo 'guarding' me and the other two at the bathroom door. Do look up their history from Tibet. It's quite fascinating as well as sad.

I'll leave you with a song from 'The Carpenters' - 'You' - " you are one of the few things worth remembering, and since it's all true how can anyone mean more to me than you". Absolutely devoted dogs who surpass any other love.

Enjoy your journey in your search Emilee. I went to Crufts in Birmingham in 2005 in order to buy a book of all the UK breeders as I was looking for a black shih tzu. I found Mr.Jones c 20 miles from me in Nantwich.

I know I sound 'sentimental' about my dogs - and I cannot say I make any apology for that, ever. They are my raisen d'etre and have far exceeded anyone else in my life.

Sallyann

Aw thank you

Exploring is great fun. @onmylonesome