posted 01-02-2004 12:11 PM         

Been a little bit since I've posted! Well, in September my hubby & I purchased our first home on 2.5 acres (lots of room for our future Shih-poos we will be getting this year!).. anyway, our next door neighbors were so nice, had a Beagle that they kept on a runner and all was well...

Then they put their house up for sale. About a month ago our new neighbors moved in. They also have a dog, a Golden Retriever I believe, that they DO NOT keep on a runner. It is so frustrating because every time I want to go outside & the dog sees me he comes charging at me and barks at me! Seems like a nice dog but I don't think I should have to worry each time I go out to enjoy my yard. We are planning to put up a fence (especially when we get our dogs) but in the meantime I feel like a prisoner! He comes over & pees in our yard and the owners just smile.. they just don't get it that their dog should be on a leash (or runner).. it's the law! Not to mention, I've seen the dog run across the street and run around other people's yard and I cringe because the dog doesn't look when he darts out into the street & could get hit. My husband has asked them if they ever put the dog on a runner and they said the do "sometimes".. however, we've never seen them do it. The dog runs all over the neighborhood and they don't care!

I think if it happens again we'll place a call, although I hate to do it but it's just so ridiculous. Thanks for letting me vent

posted 01-02-2004 01:00 PM         

We've never really spoken to them, except when my hubby asked him about the runner and the occassional "hi". I just don't want their dog on our property.. no more than I will allow our dogs (someday) on theirs.

posted 01-02-2004 02:14 PM         

I am sorry to hear about your situation in regards to your neighbor's dog. I hope that all works out well between the two of you! We had a similar situation with our neighbor's dog as well. Their dog would always be wandering about in our yard, which we really didn't have a problem with (he is a very nice dog). The problem only occured on Fridays. Friday is our garbage collection day, and every Friday, without fail, he would come over and rip apart our garbage bags, scattering all the contents all over our yard. (Cleaning it up was a mess!) So, with a kind and
non-confrontational attitude, we expressed to our neighbor our concern over their dog and its actions. They took it very well, and from that day on we haven't seen their dog in our yard.

I also wanted to mention to you, you are going to just love your "future" shih-poos! I have two myself, and I absolutely adore them!!! They are the best little dogs (although, I am probably a little biased about that )!

posted 01-02-2004 02:40 PM         

Kristi ~ where did you get your Shih-poos, if you don't mind me asking. My hubby & I are so excited! We've been wanting a couple for a year now, but wanted to wait until we bought a home and had a big yard etc. We also want to get up some sort of fencing. We are hoping sometime this summer to get them!! =) I can't wait, but I'm still researching breeders etc. Any advice? Any pics?!

posted 01-02-2004 06:24 PM         

I would love to share with you who I got my two shih-poos from! The lady whom I got them from, Cindy, is located in Lancaster, Missouri. (Which was about a 5.5 hr. drive for us) She breeds a miniature poodle to a shih-tzu (not shih-poo to shih-poo) and all of her dogs are AKC registered. Cindy is an all around great breeder, she has everything you would look for in a reputable breeder!

Full grown, her shih-poos weigh approx. 8-10 lbs. Mine just turned 7 months today, and they both weigh about 9.5 lbs., and according to my vet they will not grow much more at all. Both are very healthy, happy, and wonderful!

Tigger is brown, tan, black, and white, straight coat, and more of a poodle-type nose. Mickey is all black with a little white on his chest and tail, wavy coat, and more of shih-tzu nose.

Both of them are very smart, playful, cuddly, and sweet! Our trainers in the obedience class that we attend are amazed at how intelligent and trainable Mickey and Tigger are. At only 7 months old they can
(& successfully do): sit, stay, down, off, heel, come, leave it, dance on their hind legs, shake, jump, and a couple others! Not to mention, they just love to be the center of attention! Both of them love to meet new people and go on walks.

You also mentioned getting a fence, which is a great idea! Fences are great for not only the safety of the dog, but also because shih-poos, like almost every dog, just love to run free! We have a small confined area right outside our porch door where Mickey & Tigger go out to go to the bathroom. But for playing, we have a 100 ft. line, for each Mickey & Tigger, that we attach to their harnesses when they want to run around in the yard to play. (The lines are set up in a certain manner so that Mickey & Tigger don't get all tangled up, but can still play with each other in the same area)

One thing I do know, is that shih-poos are not exactly fond of hot weather! That statement is not intended to be a drawback, just wanted to inform you of that.

Hope some of this info. was of some help and interest to you. If you have ANY further questions, please don't hesitate to ask! I just love to brag , I mean talk, about my two shih-poos!!!

Since I haven't figured out how to post pics of my shih-poos here on this board yet, I would be more than willing to e-mail you lots of great photos of them to help you get an idea of what they might look like. Just let me know!

Although I do not know of any specific breeders on the East coast, I have been told that some reputable shih-poo breeders DO exisit out there! They are out there, but finding a reputable one takes some time and research. Don't just settle for some "average" breeder, that is just a mistake waiting to happen. To find out what you should look for in a breeder and ask a breeder, go to a major search engine online and type in "questions to ask a breeder." You should come up with a lot of informative websites that will help you out a lot!

Let us know when you get your shih-poos, and tell us all about them!!! I can't wait to hear!

Have a Wonderful Day,
Kristi

posted 01-03-2004 11:46 AM         

Missouri is a bit far for us (ha ha), but I'm still looking.. I'm pretty picky so I am going to take my time choosing the right breeder.

Both of your Shih-poos sound very intelligent! I have heard that about them so it's nice to hear from someone who is experiencing it first hand. I love your idea about the lines you set up for them! At first I wanted 1 Shih-poo.. but, my hubby wants 2 so that they can play together and keep each other company while we are at work. It will be interesting getting 2 dogs at once, especially when it comes to potty training! How has that worked for you?

I would LOVE to see pictures of your pups!!! It's hard finding pictures on the internet of Shih-poos.. believe me I have looked. I found a few, but that's about it.

My email address is: boli_13@yahoo.com

posted 01-03-2004 11:52 AM         

Today, it is beautiful outside.. almost 60 degrees, so people are out walking etc.

I went outside to grab the mail and a couple of our neighbors across the street were out, as well as the neighbor next door to hubby & I (who has the dog..). So, I thought this was a PERFECT time to introduce myself and chat.

The neighbor across the street had her little poodle on a leash.. our neighbor of course was letting her Retriever run wild. So, I casually mentioned that I've seen her dog run out in the street and I'm worried it may get hit etc (and it was perfect because the other neighbors were chiming in also about how fast the cars go down the street etc). I also casually asked if the previous owners had left their runner up that they used for their dog... hopefully hinting it might be a good idea.

It was also perfect because one of them asked if my hubby & I had any dogs and I replied "not yet, but sometime this year we will be getting a couple of small dogs". So, now she knows we'll be getting dogs and hopefully she'll keep hers in their own yard.

The other neighbors took off and I was left alone with her and we talked for about a 1/2 hour.. she was very nice and I enjoyed meeting & talking to her... I also hope that my little suggestions/hints about her dog make a difference.

Thanks again to all who made suggestions!

posted 01-03-2004 03:19 PM         

Great to hear about your success with the neighbors! Hopefully they will pick up on your hints!!!

Thank you for your kind compliment and you are more than welcome for all the info!

Yes, Missouri would be quite the drive for you! I am sure though that you will be able to find a breeder near, or somewhat near, to you. I am glad to hear that you are picky about breeders because that is the best way to be when it comes to breeders and finding the most reputable one! The long, and sometimes tiring, research is well worth it in the end!

Hearing about shih-poos is a great way to get an idea about the breed, what they look like, temperament, etc., but when you meet some you will without a doubt fall in love, so BEWARE!!!

We went to the breeder only expecting to pick out one, but we ended up with two! I, in no way, regret it though. They are "best buddies," as they are always playing together. It is also great for them because they keep each other company whenever we are gone (which is never too long). They MOST definitely enjoy the company of one another!

Getting two rather than one has been interesting, but fun. It is more work than just one, but it hasn't been that difficult to be honest with you. As far has potty training goes with two~ I would (and still do) always take them outside to go potty at the same time, which made it very easy! If one needed to go out when the other didn't, then I would obviously leave the other inside; but the vast majority of the time I would take them out together. Keeping an eye on them when it came to watching for accidents, which you REALLY want to correct them "in the act," was slightly more difficult with two, but manageable. It took me a good two months and both Mickey & Tigger were about 95% housebroken!!! The major key with that, like with any training, was lots of PATIENCE & PERSISTENCE! If you have any other questions about my housetraining with Mickey & Tigger, I will be more than willing to answer!

I know what you mean about trying to find shih-poo pics on the internet, it is next to impossible!!! But, I am just about to send out the pics of Mickey & Tigger for you to take a look at!

Just to let you know: The e-mails may take a couple of minutes to open due to the pics. If any, or all (hopefully not though LOL), don't show up let me know!

All the Best,
Kristi

posted 01-06-2004 12:49 PM         

I would be absolutely delighted to send you my pics of my two shih-poos Mickey & Tigger!!! (I am still working on figuring out how I can post pics here on this forum, one day though )I will get them together and send them off to you, it will be in 3 e-mails so you don't have to wait forever to open up one e-mail full of pics! I too like seeing other pictures of shih-poos because of the little differences in look.

PooGirl13~

Thanks, your are too kind!

Have a Fantastic Day,
Kristi

posted 01-07-2004 10:09 AM         

Precious's Mommy,
Sunday
swtsun101@msn.com

posted 01-07-2004 12:44 PM         

You bet!!! I will get those pictures ready, and send them right off to you! Like I told daearly, they will come in three different e-mails, so when you see three e-mails from you won't wonder what is going on!

It would be great if you could help me post a pic. into my messages!!! I have always wanted to do so, but I just haven't figured out the logistics. So, some help would be much appreciated. I'll look forward to that!