We inherited a Shih Tzu

[Haven]

Introducing Willie! DH's aunt passed away on Thursday, and she was survived by this little guy and a diabetic kitty who is still looking for a home. (And a wonderful son and DIL, among other loved ones.)

Willie flew home from NY with DH today. He's very tired, but seems to be getting on quite well so far. We're being diligent about properly introducing him to Bailee and the boys, and so far it's going great. The cats aren't really that interested, and Bailee gets very excited and wants to play.

DH found some handwritten papers from an animal hospital that list a 12/2002 birthday, so it looks like Willie's about 8 years old. He's really cuddly, and very relaxed. I've never had a small dog before, in fact Bailee (my 45 lb Pit Bull mix) is the smallest pup I've ever had! Willie only weighs 11.5 lbs, which is lighter than two of our cats!


Bailee says "Are you sure he's a DOG?"

 

[sctsbride09]

Aww, Willie is so precious! Hope he feels at home soon with you and the rest of the family, congrats! But also, sorry to read of your DHs aunts passing. Best to all of you, and hope you and DH are doing ok.

ETA- That look on Bailees (sorry if I spelled wrong, cant see post for some reason, going off temp. memory) face is soo funny! She is too cute.

 

[Cehrabehra]

I'm sorry about your aunt... This is a sweet dog! Namesake Willie Nelson? That's what. Pops into my head

 

[Yimmers]

Willie is awfully cute - hope the transition goes well!

 

[PinkTower]

He is precious. My inlaws have one. They travel so well, they don't eat much,and they are very quiet. Great dogs. Congratulations.

 

[Haven]

He is precious. My inlaws have one. They travel so well, they don't eat much,and they are very quiet. Great dogs. Congratulations.

That's good to hear!

Does Willie actually look like a Shih Tzu? I googled the breed but he's a bit dingy and I can't tell. I don't care what he is, but I do love reading about dog breeds so I'm curious if he's actually a Shih Tzu.

 

[lizzyann]

Awww..so glad Willie found such a loving new home! And Bailee is so stinking cute too! My parents have a pit bull mix as well and he is a real sweetheart!

 

[Autumnovember]

He is too cute!

 

[yssie]

What a fuzzy lil' cutie! Sorry to hear of your DH's aunt's passing, though

Hopefully he and Bailee will mutually agree on some form of play soon, and would love to see pics of it

 

[Puppmom]

How great of you to give Willie a loving home! What a lucky dog!

Oh - and Bailee is the cutest!

 

[oranges]

Sorry to hear about your DH's aunt
Your fur-babies are absolutely adorable and you are so wonderful to give her doggie a home! What is going to happen to the cat?

 

[Haven]

Sorry to hear about your DH's aunt
Your fur-babies are absolutely adorable and you are so wonderful to give her doggie a home! What is going to happen to the cat?

I don't know what's going to happen to her. DH's cousin is trying to find someone to take her, but it's tough because she's on meds for diabetes so it's a big commitment. We would have taken her but we can only handle so much, we have three cats and TWO dogs, now.
I feel so awful for that kitty.

 

[Lauren8211]

Sorry to hear about your DH's aunt
Your fur-babies are absolutely adorable and you are so wonderful to give her doggie a home! What is going to happen to the cat?

I don't know what's going to happen to her. DH's cousin is trying to find someone to take her, but it's tough because she's on meds for diabetes so it's a big commitment. We would have taken her but we can only handle so much, we have three cats and TWO dogs, now.
I feel so awful for that kitty.

Oh, this breaks my heart. I have a soft spot for diabetic kitties! I already know I'd get a resounding "NO" from DH about another diabetic kitty!

The pup is adorable Haven! Congrats on the new addition!

 

[PinkTower]

He is precious. My inlaws have one. They travel so well, they don't eat much,and they are very quiet. Great dogs. Congratulations.

That's good to hear!

Does Willie actually look like a Shih Tzu? I googled the breed but he's a bit dingy and I can't tell. I don't care what he is, but I do love reading about dog breeds so I'm curious if he's actually a Shih Tzu.

He looks just like my inlaw's ST. Only, yours is cuter because the food they feed theirs stains the chin. Plus, I personally like your cut better. Their dog has more of a long beard and it looks unsanitary, IMO. The one they have much prefers the husband to the wife. The husband rides it everyday on a towel in the bike basket.

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Oh what a sweet boy! I'm sorry to hear about your DH's aunt, but glad that Willie has found a new and good home with you guys!

 

[CJ2008]

Sorry to hear about your aunt, Haven.

I'm so happy for Willie - he has NO idea what a great loving home he's found!

He's adorable, and so is Bailee.

I hope the kitty finds a loving home too.

 

[zoebartlett]

He is precious. My inlaws have one. They travel so well, they don't eat much,and they are very quiet. Great dogs. Congratulations.

That's good to hear!

Does Willie actually look like a Shih Tzu? I googled the breed but he's a bit dingy and I can't tell. I don't care what he is, but I do love reading about dog breeds so I'm curious if he's actually a Shih Tzu.

Haven, I've never owned a Shih Tzu so I can't say for sure, but I wondered if Willie was a mixed breed. To me, and I think it's more than just the colorng that's makng me think this, he looks like he *could* be part schnauzer too. Maybe? Maybe something else though, if he's not 100% Shih Tzu (Maltese?). But whatever breed he is, Willie's adorable! I'm glad that he's settling in.

 

[zoebartlett]

Oh my, I'm really sorry that I forgot to pass along my condolences for your husband's aunt first.

 

[oranges]

Sorry to hear about your DH's aunt
Your fur-babies are absolutely adorable and you are so wonderful to give her doggie a home! What is going to happen to the cat?

I don't know what's going to happen to her. DH's cousin is trying to find someone to take her, but it's tough because she's on meds for diabetes so it's a big commitment. We would have taken her but we can only handle so much, we have three cats and TWO dogs, now.
I feel so awful for that kitty.

Wow... 3 cats and 2 dogs is a very full house! Good luck in finding a home for her!

 

[lknvrb4]

Both dogs are adorable.

 

[gemgirl]

It was so kind of you to rescue Willie from what could have been an uncertain fate. I think he's going to be easy to love with that sweet adorable face. I never thought I'd have a small dog either, but after bringing my little one home, I'm totally hooked! They're really so easy to take care of (bathing, grooming, brushing, less food etc).

 

[dragonfly411]

Awww Willie is so cute! I'm sorry about your aunt, but now you have a little piece of her with you guys.

 

[geckodani]

Aw! He looks like the kind of pup that just wants to snuggle. So good of you to adopt him!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Sorry about your aunt.

Your house does sound very full! lol Glad they get along. When we've had more than one pet at time, they've always bickered. In fact, seems like my pets always have dominant personalities. Can't even put my fish in the same tank (bettas - who prefer their own tanks

 

[April20]

Oh Haven- he's a love bug!! What a great addition and so wonderful you can give him a home.

My MIL has a shih tzu and he's a lover! They are great dogs. You're going to have so much fun with your new guy!

 

[Bliss]

How wonderful of you to have opened your home and hearts to Willie. I'm sorry about your Aunt.

 

[february2003bride]

I'm so sorry about your Aunt. Willie is adorable! We adopted a rescue Shih Tzu last month and love to her pieces. They are great dogs!

 

[lyra]

Does Willie actually look like a Shih Tzu? I googled the breed but he's a bit dingy and I can't tell. I don't care what he is, but I do love reading about dog breeds so I'm curious if he's actually a Shih Tzu.

It's hard to say. He seems a bit silver grey like a schnauzer/shih tzu maybe? His nose is a bit longer than the typical shih tzu. But what a sweetie! Bless you for taking him in. So sorry about your aunt though.

ETA: after looking at some google images, i think maltese or poodle might be in there. Maltese/shih tzu is a common mix apparently.

 

[kittybean]

Sorry to hear about your DH's aunt! I'm sure she would be happy to know that Willie is in such good hands and that he has plenty of friends in his new home. He is so darling!

 

[Haven]

Thank you for all of your kind words, everyone.

Willie has made himself right at home in our little madhouse.

He's such a little lovebug. He follows us around just like Bailee and the boys, so he is definitely of the same cloth as the rest of our animals. He's really, really calm so it's been easy to integrate him into our furfamily. He just ignores the cats when they come up and sniff him, and even when Vince and Manny had him cornered he looked around for a minute and then just plopped down onto the ground for a snooze. We kept the two dogs on leashes in the house all last night until Bailee became completely uninterested in Willie, and by the time we were ready for bed everyone was doing fine together.

We were going to have Willie sleep in a crate in one of the spare bedrooms but curled up in bed right next to Bailee when she got into her usual spot as we were getting ready. So, we figured why not? And he slept in the bed curled up in between our heads, and Bailee slept curled up right beneath him. I was kind of sad because the cats usually sleep in the bed too and they didn't last night, but I'm guessing that will change soon.

Willie definitely doesn't like walking as much as we walk with Bailee, so we're probably going to have to adjust our walks to accommodate a drop-off for him back at home early in the walk so we can continue on with Bailee. I also just learned that he does NOT like baths. We bathe Bailee on our own, and I tried to give him a bath just now and let's just say that I think most of the water ended up on me. He looks a little fluffier now, though.

So far so good! We kept him in his crate in a spare room while we were gone today, and we'll probably do that for a while. But he is probably the calmest dog I've ever known, and assuming Bailee and the boys keep on doing as well with him as they have so far, he'll probably be roaming around the house with the rest of 'em soon enough!