After losing both Archie and Connor, I have had very big doubts that I would get another dog, if not another Shih Tzu.  I had serious doubts about my capabilities as a dog mother, as a pack leader.

True, Archie was 10 going on 11 and had had troubles since he was 6 years old.  Connor, 9,  had Erlichia when he was  two years old and developed what I now know was a heart condition due to the illness. But apparently the vet and the groomer don't consider me an incompetent mother, and they want me to give a foster home to an adult Shih Tzu called Shot (I call him Chuck because he's very manly).

Apparently Chuck kept fighting at his new home and lost some of his front teeth (he looks SO CUTE!).  He can't participate in normal shows now, but he can be bred (he's got some famous blood in him, his dad was the Best in Show in Mexico in 2005) .

Now my first impression was... THERE IS SO MUCH HAIR...and this actually kept me up at night.  He frolicked all night long with my mutt Fifi and as the night went on I saw tangles and matts appearing as if by magic.
This morning was our first session and I honestly think I am out of my league.  It's been years since I shaved down both Archie and Connor and I don't even know where to start.  All I know is this pup needs a LOT of oil.

Lately I have been focusing too much on Archie's illness and the ravages of old age.  So I thought I should write about something fun, something I have always wanted to do.

A while back I found this book called "Dogs: How to Draw Them (Pocket Drawing)" by Melvyn Petterson. It's a pocket type book that I think is now out of print (you can probably find a used copy for sale at amazon.com).  I have always wanted to paint Shih Tzu, not just my own, but also those lovely prize winners that are groomed so beautifully and perfectly.  Last year I did some sketches in pencil, that came out so-so.  I traced them on the computer and they became the two Shih Tzu Dogs that you see in the top header of this site.