Conference 7.286::canine

    Mary,
    
    We have 2 Shih-Tzus (Shiba and Tai-Su) and I can relate to your note.
    The only thing we don't do is give them human food (once in a while
    turkey because it does agree with them).  Belly scratches are a must
    with our 2.  They go everywhere with us.  We don't treat them like
    they are dogs, because they really think they are human.  They 
    understand everything we say to them.  When either one of us puts
    our coat on, they think it's time for them to go.  If we don't
    take them, which is very rare, we just say, "We'll be back", and
    they go back into the living room and that's the end.
    
    These 2 dogs are so much a part of our lives.  We initially had 1
    however, we decided to get another for company, and it has worked
    out so well.  They are inseparable.  If one decides to go to another
    room in the house, you can bet by the count of ten, she goes looking
    for her mate.
    
    There is absolutely nothing wrong with the way you feel about your
    friend.  Enjoy Pebbles to the fullest; that's how we feel about our
    2.  Life would be so dull without them.
    
    Joan
    
    
    

    Our babies range from 100+ lbs (2) to 60 lbs (1), plus 2 at about
    80 lbs.  They are all mama's lap dogs (which gets a bit interesting
    when they *all* want to sit on my lap at once of if they all get 
    into the waterbed with us.  They are my kids and get treated as such 
    (hugs, kisses, etc. :-)  They all have the typical Husky stubborness,
    but the one request (you don't give Huskies commands ;-) they will 
    respond to without question is "give me a kiss". :-)  
    
    I think many folks consider their dogs one of the family.  I've read
    articles before that talked about bringing home a new baby when the 
    dog is the "only child" up to that point.  They recommend making sure 
    the dog still gets "only child" time with you, the same you would give
    to older siblings if you were bringing home a new baby to a house that 
    already had one or more kids.  If they get dedicated attention, then
    they don't feel left out.  
    
    \Caroline

    
    
    over the edge.... never. I too have a Shih Tzu puppy  8 months old
    "Lizzy" and she is the same way lots of kisses and belly rubs and
    is you don't rub long enought she will let you know. No human food
    lots of snacks...she is so smart.. at night she sleeps in our room 
    on a mat from her crate if you say " ok Lizzy its time for bed"
    off she goes too her mat and sit there till you rub her head and
    kiss her goodnight. 
    We are also going to a puppy head start training program which she
    performs tops in, of course, lots of pictures and she is great with
    my grandsons very patiance. My grandson Camryn was  scared to death of
    dogs she won him over in no time..lots of lot so glad to see a note
    from another Shih Tzu lover
    ali N lizzy  

    I have three dogs, ranging from 32 pounds to 180 pounds. I thought this
    was how you were SUPPOSED to treat them! Mine get wrapped Christmas
    presents, and stockings and birthday parties. Plenty of cuddles and
    fusses. The smallest, Aggie, is 13+ and has a special orthopedic bed
    with sheepskin cover that goes on the sofa (in case that isn't soft
    enough for her). The "baby", 62 pound Margo, sleeps under the covers
    with her head on my left shoulder. My big boy, Rumpole, sleeps on top
    of the covers with his head on my right shoulder. I worry about getting
    up in the middle of the night in case I might disturb them. I often get
    up, go into another room and ask one of them what I was looking for.
    (Aggie isn't the only senile one in the house.) Oddly, they never tell
    me.
    
    Aggie and Margo both sit on my lap. Rummy, who loves his Mother but
    hasn't an active brain cell in his body, thinks putting his head in my
    lap is the same thing. (Fortunately. His late brother, Hammy - 167
    pounds, actually got up in my lap a few times.)
    
    My fire escape plan is to get the dogs (and the cat) into the car
    first.
    
    I've never had any human children, but one of my friends here had a lab
    for many years before her son was born. They were careful interviewing
    nannies to get one that would take excellent care of Maddie, too. I
    understand now that Christopher is in the food throwing stage, Maddie
    is proving herself very useful in cutting down cleanup time.
    
    I'm glad you have your priorites right!
    
    Sari

    	All you have to do is read this file and you know the answer to
    that question... :-)
    
    joyce

    Don't worry, your normal!
    
    I worry about the "girls" when I'm at work.  Yes they get the eggs,
    pizza crust, bones, and those special frozen treats when thev'e been
    extra good (ice cubes).  
    
    In return they give me uncondential(sp) love when I walk in the door. 
    
    Not a bad deal!
    
    Bob K.
    (2 rotties)
      
    

    Yes, just read the notes in this file and you'll soon realize, you're
    normal!
    
    I have more pictures here on my wall of my "kid" Nikko then I do of any
    friends or family.  
    
    We talk to him like he's a person, and he understands most of it.  We
    refer to each other as mommie and daddy.  He gets/gives cards at
    holidays and signs his name to cards going to family/friends.  He was
    the face that was on our Christmas cards (not us) that we sent out.
    
    I think about him often....can't you tell?!  I have alot more posts in
    this file since we got him - just about a year ago!
    
    :-)  Carol & Nikko

    
    Oh yes... Iam over the edge but I know its normal~~~~
    Sydney (2yr old Sheltie) is my life..... shes my baby...
    
    Re:I have more pictures here on my wall of my "kid"
    
    Same here !!!!
    
    
    And Im thankful my neighbor across from me is the same way!! Hi DI!
    
    SueJ & Sydney
    
    

    I am the say way.....
    
    Riley is definately my baby.  This was our first Christmas with him;
    presents were a must.  He even gets presents from his
    Gramma (my Mom), his cousins (my brother & sister's dog), and his buddy 
    from next door.  Everyone loves him (he knows it too!)
    
    I definately have pictures of him here in my office.  I do have one 
    of my husband as well, but he's with Riley.
    
    You're definatley normal!
    
    
    Tracey & Riley
                   

    Now, at least I can begin to think I'M normal, from the responses I've
    read so far!
    
    I have a 10 mo. old Dal who is my life, also (to the chagrin of my
    boyfriend).  His name is Beau, so that probably says it all!
    
    Talk about spoiled:  we walk 5 1/2 miles a day - 4 in the AM, 1 1/2
    in the PM - before anything else - Sue J. sees me every day!
    
    Then, its 'quality' time.  I spend at least 1/2 hr (I have to pull
    myself away!) morning and night giving backrubs and tummy rubs.  Beau 
    literally sits on his blanket waiting for me while I finish his chores 
    and then gets himself positioned with his back to me for maximum rubbing!
    
    I love this dog to pieces!!  Obedience classes (currently in Level 3) 
    have made a wonderful growth in his manners and brought us even closer 
    together.  My goal is to show him in Obedience trials.  
    
    We do road trips, parades, concerts, everything we can together.  He
    loves people more than he does other dogs.  I'm really worried about
    my intentions to get a kitten this spring, wondering if Beau will suffer
    the 'only child' syndrome!
    
    Thank God for this 'dog normalcy'.  I was beginning to worry about
    myself!
                                 
    Martha

    	FWIW - I have a heated mattress pad with dual controls - I set the
    dogs side on low :-)
    
    joyce

    Great replies!  At least I know I am in plenty of company!  I have to
    go - I believe a belly-rub is being requested :)
    
    Regards,
    
    Mary

    Mary, my neighbors have two Shitzu's - they come over and visit with my
    two (standard poodle and cocker spaniel) when their "parents" go on
    vacation or will be gone a while.  They are cute little things and
    Maxie simply adores his "girls" :-)
    
    joyce 

    Not far over the egde, and don't worry about that expected human
    arrival. I have a 7 year old son who is JUST like me (much to
    myhusband's consternation : ) David is not only a joy, but a very big
    help with the dogs. We have 3 dogs - belly-rubbing time requires the
    assistance of an extra pair of hands, and David fills the bill.
    He can be heard chattering away to the dogs (oh, be prepared for THAT
    conversation : "Mom! You have YOUR dogs, I don't have one of my OWN.
    Can I keep this one???"). We never speak down to our dogs. We don't
    want them to grow up talking baby-talk. We speak to them like they are
    adult human beings. We never feed them human food - it's just not good
    enough for them. They get the best of the best, lots of attention, lots
    of consideration (we can't go away for the weekend - who would look
    after the dogs??), Bandit and Bart share a comforter on the floor
    becuase they are too old to get up on the bed, and Betty gets to sleep
    uo on the bed (electric blanket - of course). Treat them like dogs? I
    should be so lucky to be treated like one of my dogs!
    My dogs assume every photo opportunity must involve dogs, so they
    automatically assume the 'sit pretty' position. I got back a roll of
    film not too long ago. There was a very nice picture of my husband
    and my son. And sure enough, there was Betty (cairn terrier) sitting
    nice and pretty in the photo. I didn't even know she was IN the photo.
    I never saw her through the lens. She just assumed it was an oversight
    that I didn't call her for that flash-thingie, so being the good dog
    that she is and anticipating my wishes she just parked herself and
    smiled at the camera. 
    If you are over the edge, well, you have plenty of company in here.
    Sarah 
                                            

    I just picked up Valentines.....Got two for Daddy from son (Nikko).
    
    For those of you who also do this....there's a really good one that
    looks like Barney and it says something like, "Daddy I know I can be 
    a little monster, but here's a Valentine from your little monster who 
    loves you".
    
    It's fun, and it puts a big smile on all three of our faces! 8-)
    
    Carol

    
    I have actually seen Valentine's cards in CVS from the dog.
    
    Mary
    

    I give my husband cards from Shiba and Tai-Su for holidays.  You think
    you do unusual things!
    
    Joan

not over the edge one bit.  We've got two siberians,
and they are as much a part of our family as any of us..

Belly rubs are a must, so isn't the infamous "double ear rubbing"
(they just love to have the backs of the ears rubbed, nearly
puts both of them to sleep...)  and these dogs LOVE spaghetti
go nuts when it's cooking, I asked the vet if it was o.k.
and she said, as long as it's not all the time, no problem,.
they go crazy for it.  That's about the only people food
they get, of course they have snagged an occasional
pepperoni,, bigtime dog farts..,, but they're pretty lean, and 
get lots of exercise so I guess it's not hurting them..


About a year and a half ago, we had a mixed terrier "Charlie"
(this was before we adopted husky #2).  He was an awesome
dog,, loveable, playfull, great personality, he wound up sick
from cancer, when we had to put him down, it was one of
the worse nights that we've ever had, truley broke everyones
heart...  I couldn't believe how much it hurt, alot more than 
I ever expected.. 

/ray

    Some folks at work gave me a wonderful baby shower yesterday.  I
    received a lot of great toys for the baby.  I had the bags of presents
    sitting on the living room floor and Pebbles (our little Shih Tzu) got a 
    hold of one the stuffed animals.  My husband immediately took the toy 
    from her (and she was unusually stubborn about it too) and told her no.  
    We put that particular toy at the bottom of one of the bags - but she 
    knew it was in that bag!  She kept at the bag during the evening, so I 
    finally took that toy and put it up on the stereo.  
    
    She was so funny.  She would go off and play with her own toys, but
    every once in a while she would stop.  She just kept looking up at the
    new toy and then looking at the two of us as if we had forgotten that all 
    toys brought into the house automatically belong to her!  She was really 
    cracking us up with that innocent-confused expression on her face.  The 
    next few months are going to be very interesting!!!
    
    

    Is it a toy that would be safe for Pebbles (or could be made safe)?  If
    so, maybe you would consider letting her have it (just that one toy) as
    a "big sister" present :-)  Humans aren't the only ones to suffer
    sibling rivalry!
    
    Leslie

    My son gave up his second-favorite stuffed toy to 'his' dog Betty as a
    gift because she was always trying to steal it. He figured it smelled
    like him, because he used to sleep with it, so it must mean that she
    REALLY loves him to want his toy.
    It's a stuffed duck, bigger than she is. She looks quite comical
    carrying it around in her mouth, and managed to bite the hind end out
    of it so it left little white fluff around the house. My son stuffed
    a cat toy into this end (rather interesting discussion, that) that has
    a bell in it. Now when Betty shakes the toy it jingles, and none of the
    white fluff comes out.  This was 2 years ago, and she is STILL playing
    with that duck. My son is 7 now (he was 5 at the time of the transfer
    of ownership), and he is still proud of himself that he gave up the toy
    and made the special modification for the sake of the dog. Nothing is
    too good for 'his' dog, except his very special Cookie Monster toy. She
    tries to steal that too, but so far he won't give it up : )
    Sarah

    RE: 19 & 21
    
    
    Absolutely cute stories!!!