The Shih Tzu (pronounced Shid Zoo in singular and plural), is undoubtedly one of the world’s oldest dog breeds. The Shih Tzu is often referred to as a "small lion." They originated in Tibet, but are most associated with China where they were highly revered as a palace pet and prized companion. The Shih Tzu is an active, happy, and affectionate breed. A compact and solid dog, the Shih Tzu’s long, flowing double coat is its most distinctive feature. The word Shih Tzu means "lion" and although this dog is sweet and playful, they are not afraid to stand up for themselves! Temperament: Shih Tzu love to strut around the house with their head held high and tail wagging! They strut like they own the place! Most have an outgoing, happy, friendly personality! Shih Tzu tend to get a little bossy as they reach the adult age, and quiet down when they get to be seniors. They love to be spoiled at all ages! Human Companions: The ideal companion for the Shih Tzu would be singles, seniors, families with older children. Though good family dogs, Shih Tzu are not especially good with very young children. They cannot be handled roughly or awkwardly and tend to get snappish when their patience wears thin. Size: Shih Tzu usually weigh between 9 and 16 pounds full grown, and measure between 10 – 11 inches in height. Colors: Shih Tzu come in a rainbow of colors. They are Liver and white, cream, black, brindle and white, solid blue (rare), solid brindle, gold and white, black and white, solid white, solid red, red and white, solid silver, silver and white. The Body: The Shih Tzu body is slightly longer than tall, its legs straight and muscular, and its feet firm and well-padded.The head is round, broad, and wide between the eyes, and in balance with the rest of the dog. The dark eyes are large and round; the ears are natural and heavily feathered; the muzzle is square, short and unwrinkled, and flat; lips and chin should neither protrude nor recede. The jaw is undershot, the incisors of the lower jaw overlap the incisors of the upper jaw. The Coat: The coat is long and flowing and generally grows in an upward direction from his nose, which is why you’ll often see him with his fur tied on top of his head. The growth of his fur in all directions from his face has earned him the nickname “chrysanthemum-faced dog.” Most show dogs have the long flowing coat, however, most pet owners like to keep the hair cut short. Health: Basically healthy, the Shih Tzu is subject to a kidney disease called renal dysplasia, and to slipped stifles or kneecaps. His slightly protruding eyes are prone to injury, and his short muzzle often produces slight wheezing problems.
Puppies are things of pure joy. Everyone loves the big proud dogs they grow up to be, of course, but there is something infinitely soothing about cuddling up beside a newly born pup. Not only that, but they come in all sorts of precious shapes and sizes! Sometimes they’re fluffy, while other times they’re little short-haired cuties. They only ever have one thing in common: they are all adorable! These 22 puppies are no exception, and they just so happen to be some of the cuddliest and cutest you’ll ever see! By the time you’re done learning about them, you’ll want to get one for yourself! To read more on this story, click here:Mini-Puppies Are A Real Thing, And They’re About To Take Over The World
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As anyone who's ever worked in an animal shelter knows, one of the best ways to get homeless dogs adopted is to put them in front of people. Ad agency OgilvyOne recently took a virtual approach to this idea with a campaign for the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in England. Visitors to East London's Westfield Stratford mall were given special flyers containing chips that triggered digital billboards around the mall. As you can see from the video above, when people holding the flyer approached the billboards, Barley, an impossibly cute pooch, would follow them or ham it up through twirls and bows. "Battersea rehomes animals all over the UK and beyond and this could help encourage people to choose to rescue a dog," Carly Whyborn told the UK's Campaign magazine. "We're using innovative technology in a way that has never been seen before, and we hope more of our abandoned animals find loving homes because of it." Whyborn is the head of operations at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. Fortunately for Barley the campaign worked and, according to AdWeek, the lucky dog has found a new home. Of course, there are still many adoptees waiting for homes, so if you're in the UK (or traveling there) you can see who still needs rescuing on the shelter's website.
Our newest K9 recruit, CJ, says Happy Monday to everyone! You can't help but smile when you see her! CJ is just 7 weeks old and traveled up from Alabama last week. She will live with her new K9 handler and ride alongside K9 Cody over the next year, as she grows and begins training. CJ is a Bloodhound. Her Bloodhound cousins, K9 Bolt and K9 Silas, already serve on the department. CJ will learn to find missing children and adults with her amazing tracking abilities! Let's give CJ a big welcome to our county!
