Hi, my name is Nicole and I live in the small city of Prince Frederick and I ahve always wanted a shitzu dog. I have a farm and I live with my family. I was raised with dogs but they always lived outside. We were never allowed to have shitzu dogs inside because that was just how my dad was raised. However I longed to have a pet inside since I was just a kid. I would put a shitzu puppy on my Christmas and birthday list for years before it would finally pay off.

About a year ago when I was only 17, my friend got a shitzu puppy. I just knew that this was my opportunity to ask again. Being that my dad liked the breed (Australian Cattle Dog) I thought I’d have a chance. So, I took it. I told him how much I wanted one not like he couldn’t have already known, and he said no. But I wasn’t giving up that easy. So then on one weekend my friend had to go out of town.

So she asked me if I’d watch her puppy. Of course I said yes rite away without even asking. My parents accepted and that was the beginning of a very exciting summer. When the puppy arrived at my house I was ecstatic. I took such good care of her, I took her out every morning, I fed her, I played with her, and I didn’t complain about the constant crying throughout the long nights. So when it was time for her to leave I got the breeders number from my friend. I came back inside like nothing had happened. I didn’t yet want my dad to know what I was up to. Again I asked my dad and again the answer was no. But I was still determined.

So, about a month later he called from work at about 8 AM and told my mom that we could try it. When she came in to my room and told me the news I cried. It was one Tuesday that I will never forget.I got up and hurried out to the store with my mom to get toys and food and all the exciting stuff you need for a puppy. I had finally gotten the answer I had waited 17 years to get. About a month after that wonderful day we were scheduled to drive down and pick up my new puppy. I couldn’t wait. My mother, my grandma, and I all drove to VA on a Monday morning to pick her up. I had a name picked out and I couldn’t wait to get her home. However when I got her home it wasn’t like I had planned. Everything was fine for the first 9 months or so but then everything was different.

My beloved cattle dog started with some bad habits. Constant barking, biting, and stubbornness. She wouldn’t listen to anyone or anything. Finally she had done the unthinkable. One morning I had let her out to go poddy. I heard her barking nonstop so I went out to see what the fuss was all about. I saw my dog chasing this woman up the street. The woman was frantic. I was calling my dog and trying to catch her but it did no good. So after I did finally catch her when my dad got home I knew she was in trouble. The woman had called animal control and my Nugget was busted.

After that day I knew my dad wasn’t going to let me keep her. He told me that I should find her a new home… not something I wanted to hear. But I tried to find her a home anyway. Luckily my aunt had come to visit and she fell in love with my dog. So the deal was she’d take her home with her. I agreed and away she went. About 2 weeks later I was at work. I work at a dog grooming place, and I was holding a shitzu dog.

I told my boss how cute I thought she was and then the idea came. She said “Why don’t you get a shitzu dog, they don’t shed, there small and they are so nice?” I thought about and then it hit me. It’s perfect. It happened to be that a lady that breeds the little cuties had a dog that was pregnant. I thought this was meant to be. So I waited and talked to the breeder, I told her that I wanted a female and if possible all black. Little did I know that was exactly what I would get. On October 17, 2005 the litter was born. The news was great. She had 3 females and 1 male.

And 2 of the 3 females were black. So at 4 days of age I went to put a deposit on a puppy. I saw them briefly, but as you all know you can’t pick out a puppy when it still looks like a hamster. So I told the breeder the name I had picked out and she said she’d start calling the puppy I picked by her given name so she’d be used to it by the time I got her. Eventually though even when the puppies were only about a week old I did pick because there were other people buying puppies too. I do not have my puppy yet witch I named Gracie. But I am due to get her rite around Christmas.

So this should be the best Christmas of my life all because of Amazing Grace. To any of you who are looking to own a shitzu dog or have thought about it they are the perfect little companions. There are so many good things about them that I can’t even begin to tell you. I know this whole story wasn’t about a shitzu dog but the most important part was.

To those of you who want a puppy and you’re not allowed or if you have wanted one for a long time just keep praying about it because it will happen. Just remember that good things come to those who wait for them. They sure did for me. I hope you enjoyed reading my story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

We are new owners of a beautiful little girl shihtzu, named Lady Kaya of the
Lake.  How we got here is quite a story.  I have wanted to get a puppy for my 11
year old granddaughter, whom we are raising.  My husband said no, because of all
the shedding.  I went to a retreat at my husband’s supervisor’s home a year ago.
They have two shihtzu’s, Lord Buster of Boulder, and Wendzel’s Lady Gidget.  I
fell in love with them instantly.  So did my husband.

While at the retreat I shared my animal mid-wife experiences and the owners said
they were going to breed the two and asked if I would like to mid-wife in
exchange for a pup of my choice.  I said sure, thinking they really did not mean
it.  Well, in May I got a call and was informed that Gidget was carrying three
pups and to be ready to mid-wife around the first of May.  I got on the internet
and refreshed my expertise through research of various shihtzu birthing
websites.  I traveled to their home on May 3 to get the mother accustom to my
touch.

On May 5, 2005 (05/05/05 – championship numbers, right?) I took Gidget’s temp
and announced that the birthing will take place that day.  Sure enough, at 3 pm
the first little boy was birthed with no problem, then the second, then third.
Gidget began to get active and we were ready to have a drink to celebrate.  All
of a sudden Gidget jumped into my lap and started into labor.

She had two more boys and one little girl – 6 pups in all!  I was happy that all
went well and mother and pups were okay.  I found out later, when the owners
took mom and pups for their first checkup that normally shihtzu’s have three
pups, and any more than that requires a C-Section.  Thank goodness I did not
know that before the birthing began or I would have been freaking royally!

We brought our little girl home on the 4th of July and love every minute with
her!  She is the best thing we could have ever gotten for our granddaughter –
and ourselves! She is so smart!  At age 3 months she learned to fetch, sit,
heel, lay down, and comes when you call.  It only took us a month of house train
her (without a crate!).  She is now beginning to growl when someone comes into
the yard, which we think is good, as it shows she is getting possessive and
feels at home in our house.

Here are pictures of our baby growing up (we have a whole album of her,
including live birth of her on video!).  Lady Kaya is spoiled beyond
imagination.  She goes each Saturday to the Feed Store with us to socialize, and
loves taking baths!  She has more toys than Carter has pills!  She is definitely
worth it!  I also take her to see my Nana, who is 96 years old.  Nana has lost
much or her memory, often calling us kids by another kid’s name, but she
recognizes and loves Kaya every time we visit.  We have been told by Nana’s
caretakers that her memory seems improved after each visit we make.

This Halloween we are taking her Trick or Treating with my granddaughter – they
are going to be matching Lady Bugs.  Lady Kaya is also scheduled to be in a
Halloween contest with my granddaughter this Oct. 27th, and we were asked if
Lady Kaya would be a fashion model for our local feed store’s Pet Fashion show
coming up in November.  I would be happy to send pictures of her in her costume
and running the ramp at the fashion show when they occur.  Thanks for the
opportunity to share my little love with others.