Occasionally I care for a pair of lap
sized Shih Tzu’s. I have had the
privilege of their companionship over the last several years. They are the very well behaved pairing of “children”
to a young professional couple who know me fondly as “Grammie”. That nick name
was given me by someone whom I’ve never met. My client’s mother visits from
Hawaii annually and apparently reads the journal pages I leave and hears
stories from her daughter. I like the title
and it allows me complete authority to spoil the dogs.
Cali is their girl and Vegas the
boy. I haven’t inquired as to the choice
of names. I never do…it’s not polite.
Cali is absolutely black with white and Vegas is a soft gray variety. Each has its own framed photo displayed in
the family room.
We have our own routine and over the
years, my arrival means pampering and frequent walks. I am in constant contact via phone regarding
any changes in diet, health or routine.
Shih Tzu’s, I have found out, have health challenges particular to the
breed. Being of short, long stature, they have spine injuries (pinched nerves)
and if their coats are trimmed to breed standard, the eyes can suffer from
overexposure to bright sunlight.
Keeping these qualities in mind, our
walks have been limited to evening only and Vegas is not always allowed to jump
into my lap. A ramp has been added to the porch steps and their cupboard is
kept stocked with whatever prescription is needed for pain relief.
I understand that Cali will don a pair
of “Doggles” in the near future…special dark glasses which I think will look
like the old swim goggles of my youth, but I’ll let you know.
When we are inside and the toy box has
been tipped over and its contents scattered to resemble an obstacle course, we
busy ourselves with games of hide and seek. I have to remain limber in order to recover
those favorite items now located under the furniture.
Sometimes, we just veg to whatever is
on the television. I try to choose
appropriate channels so as not to upset my charges. Animal Planet is a good one and we always
enjoy HGTV and in the very early morning, I tune in to “Dog the Bounty Hunter”,
but only because of the title…Ehemmmmmm!
Rumbling storms frequent the area year
round and this is problematic for Cali, because she is hypersensitive to
thunder. She used to refuse to go out in
the rain, but I’ve been somewhat successful in helping her overcome that. It just takes initiative and the patience to
stand out in the rain with her. It’s during these times of waiting out the
weather, that we have created our sing along. It’s a cappella (meaning there is
no accompaniment) and it’s heart felt.
I start with my rendition of
“arooooohhhh” in a pattern of long and short versions. This is the voice of the
Shih Tzu; it’s not a Beagle or German Shepard voice, neither Dachshund or
Maltese. It’s definitely a pitch which
defines them. I’m sure it’s audible from
the outside of the front door. The house
has a lovely cathedral ceiling which encourages the blending of human and
canine voices. Vegas chimes in and Cali rounds out the trio. We reach a higher than acceptable decibel for
inside voices and carry on this trio of nonsense for several minutes. Once in a while, I stop and just listen to
the duet. I don’t understand why they
continue without me, but I begin to giggle and then the humor overtakes me and shortly,
I am laughing so loudly that it stops their activity and they just sit and
watch while I try to regain my composure.
When completed, I am breathless and
holding my sides while my two companions settle in to their nesting places
aside me in the over sized recliner.
There we relax having used up all the available reserve combined
energies. It’s nap time. The storm
continues and I view the magnificence from the skylight just over head. Cali has long forgotten
her anxiousness and there’s no need for
the Valium.
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