First timer!

Hi, my name is Dawn & this is the first time I have signed up to a forum. I must admit to being a bit nervous!
I got my 1st dog Simba from a rescue centre nearly 14 years ago when she was 6 weeks old, Over the years she has been my best friend, through many ups and downs, & I love her to bits. She's beginning to look like an old girl now, & having a few problems walking. She was operated on 2 years ago for a snapped cruciate ligament & has had a weakness in her hind legs since then. Last year she had 3 small tumours removed from her head & eyelid. Recently she was diagnosed with vestibular disease, & she also has a large inoperable tumour attached to the muscle of her hind leg. Despite all this she still has a real zest for life!
I aquired my 2nd dog through very sad circumstances. Three months ago my lovely Auntie Jose was admitted to hospital for an operation & she asked us (that's me, my husband Gwyn, son Andrew (22), Daniel (20) & Victoria (18) to look after her 11 year old shih tzu Sophie. She also said that if things didn't work out, she wanted us to keep Sophie. Sadly Jose passed away in hospital, and we inherited Sophie permanently. Sophie has settled in well, hopefully we are over the "weeing on the carpet every night" phase now! She does have a few health problems, her eyes are ulcerated and this has left her blind in one eye and partially sighted in the other, she had 21 teeth extracted last year, and she has arthritis in her elbows. We have very good care through her vet, but as I know so little about the breed I thought it would be really helpful to talk to people who know from their own experiences about how to care for a shih tzu. I must say we all absolutely adore Sophie, she's so easy to love! Looking forward to talking to you all, and sorry for waffling!!

Hi Dawn, welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear of your sad news. Shih tzus are adorable mine are so lovely. This forum is very additive and eveyone is really nice and helpful! Lots of photos too which is great. Look forward to hearing more about you an your dogs!

Victoria, Rooney and Roxy

Hi Victoria,
Wow!!! Thanks for my 1st reply! Now I feel like a proper member! You are so right about this site, it has a lovely informal feel about it. I've spent ages finding my way around & looking at tha fab piccys! Your two are gorgeous, they look similar to Sophie in colour. Hope we can keep in touch, and thanks for the welcome!



Dawn

Hi Dawn, and welcome to the forum, Wispa and Poppy are the first dogs I have owned and everyone here has helped me with lots of advice. Look forward to seeing some pictures of your dogs.

Welcome from us too

Hi Michele, Wispa & Poppy, and Tracey, Oscar and Louis! Thanks for the warm welcome. I love this site already! All your pictures are amazing, what great little dogs they all are. I hope I will learn alot from everyone, and also offer support in return. The last 3 months has been an education, from squirting Lacri-lube grease into Sophies eyes twice daily to organising ear plucking and clipping, and I so don't want to let my Auntie down, or Sophie of course. I will try to put some photos on, I'm not too hot with computers though!




Dawn x

Its easy enough to post photos, there are instuctions on here. No idea how to post a link so I'll find it and bump it now. We love photos

Oh, and photos of Simba too of course

hi Dawn and welcome, I have my first Shih tzu so know how you feel about wanting to know everything about them, Amber is now 6 months and i fell in love with her the moment i met her,only problem i have with her is house training,and she likes to lick her own wee up,does love to shread paper and pinch socks and my grandsons dummies,hell anything you drop shes off with it lol,there all fabulous ladies on here so any questions im sure some of them will know the answer,so just make yourself at home hun and cant wait to see pic

[img]http://shihtzuwhispers.org.uk/[/img]Oh my goodness! I have never seen so many gorgeous dogs! How cute is little Amber! I would have loved to have seen Sophie as a puppy but my Auntie didn't get her til she was about 4 or 5. She was rescued by an organization from a breeder after having had numerous litters (apparently one of her pups did well at Crufts) when the breeder decided she was no longer worth keeping. Well all I can say to that is that their loss was mine an Jose's gain. She's so incredibly trusting and eager to please.
Thanks very much for the advice on adding photos, will try it now x

How lucky were you and your dogs to find each other your doing a grand job.
Sandra

They are bth gorgeous, Simba looks flat out in that first photo and Sophie is just adorable

Sandra, thanks for that. You're right, we are very lucky to have each other. Your Oscar looks like a cheeky chappie!!! Dawn x

Hi Dawn, I am a newcomer to this site also and you will find it really great with lots of lovely helpful people. My Alfie is nearly 17 months old now and he is a great litle guy my first Shih Tzu Nicky sadly had to be put to sleep in January 2008 but he lived for nearly 15 years, unfortunately he had a really bad skin problem and was on steroids nearly all his life but he had a long and happy life and brought us lots of happiness, so much so that when he went I missed him so much I had to get another dog and went for a Shih Tzu again as I knew all about them and I really love the breed, they all have little personalities of their own. Enjoy Sophie she will bring you great joy, she is a lucky little girl to have someone to caring to look after her

Eve, your signature is just gorgeous! How old is Amber in that pic? x Dawn

[img]http://shihtzuwhispers.org.uk/[/img][img]http://shihtzuwhispers.org.uk/welcome-traveller-f6/[/img]Hi Bernie, thanks for your message. I'm so glad you found Alfie after having so many happy years with Nicky. I have to say that photo is one of the best I have seen! He really looks like an Alfie!!!
I'm still finding it hard to accept that Auntie Jose has gone, but it's amazing how having Sophie to look after has helped me. We are trying very hard to stick to the instructions Jose gave us... 2 meals a day... 2 tablespoons of skimmed milk after tea... 1/2 biscuit after the milk ... & it seems that she is well settled. My other dog Simba politely ignores Sophie completely, it's as if she isn't there! Our vet says that this aloof behaviour will probably continue, which is a shame as I was hoping they could be good company for eachother, but I suppose it's better than having them fight!!! Anyway, I'm off to bed now, Sophie gets us up every morning bang on 6.30hrs! I'm so glad I joined this site now, don't know what I was so nervous about! Dawn

Hi,
Just wanted to say I've had a great evening talking to everyone. Hubby went to bed 1/2 an hour ago so I suppose I should follow! Thank you all for your lovely messages, photos & encouragement. Speak to you soon,

Dawn x

aw thx Dawn think shes around 5 months,lol had just cut her hair, wow Sophie looks similar to Amber maybe she will look like that when she gets older

I thought that too! They are really similar. I'm amazed that although all these dogs are shih tzus, they all look slightly different! I mean some breeds just all look the same but these little darlings are so individual! Sophie is having a hair cut on Tues and I sort of wish she wasn't now I've seen how cute they can look with a slightly longer coat. Last time she was shorn to within an inch of her life, I couldn't believe it! She looked like a rat!!! Think I'll ask the groomer to leave it a bit longer this time x

Dawn x

They are all different in there own ways,mind some look better with shorter hair

this is Amber when i first got her she was 14 weeks old




this is when i first cut her at about 5 month


this is her a few weeks ago ,she is nearly 7 month not 6 lol

[img]http://shihtzuwhispers.org.uk/welcome-traveller-f6/[/img]She really is adorable, so fluffy! How often do u bath her? Sophie gets greasy very quickly but I dont want to overdo the baths

Dawn x

what a great photo, i bath her once a week,waste of time though as soon as she has a wee she lick it up and she stinks even though i wash her face she just loves being a mucky pup lol

and welcome to the forum. Your dogs are so cute. Welldone for looking after your Aunties dog she would be proud of you your doing a great job with her.

I have two Shih Tzu and I love them to bits I also have a Staff. Poppy is 13 months (gold and white) Sasha is 9 months (Black and white) Alfie my Staff is 5 months so have my hands full ha ha.

Hi Dawn your so right Oscar is a very cheeky Chap, but so laid back he is just perfect we also have a JRT Holly who is 2 yrs and they get on really well.
Sandra

Hi dawn Glad you are enjoying the forum and so pleased that you are looking after your Antie Jose's baby for her - I think she would be so proud of you and Sophie will give you so much joy and laughter. As for Simba he is a handsome fella - and I love the name - my first pet of my adult life was my cat who I called Simba and which is where my kennel name (I use it for my username here) came from

I bath every fortnight (more often if it is desperate) and as long as you use a mild shampoo and good conditioner then the coat will stay in lovely condition. i cannot abide the coat once it gets past that time (sometimes when I have been away I might leave it overt the fortnight and it starts to feel tacky and horrible yuk!) - and as you can see from my boy's coat - Josh is the dog at the top of the forum - bathing doesn't harm the coat whatsoever!

I must say that Sophie is a very pretty shih tzu... she has a lovely open face and expression which I just lurveeeeeeeeee xxxxx

Hi everyone & thanks for the lovely comments. How amazing that even though we've never met & are strangers to eachother, I can chat to you guys like old mates! I'm beginning to 'get' this forum, & the fascination with these little balls of fur, if you know what I mean! We've only had Sophie 3 months & now I can't imagine a time without her. She also gave me a much needed distraction when her 1st mummy died, & alot of comfort too.
Simbalove (cool name by the way!!!), I couldn't agree more about Sophie being pretty! When I read that, I got all puffed up with pride!!! How mad is that! I'd never have believed that a little dog could win my heart the way Sophie has. I only ever really took to big dogs, I really fancied getting a GS actually. But definitely not now! Funny how things change x