We are new owners of a beautiful little girl shihtzu, named Lady Kaya of the
Lake.  How we got here is quite a story.  I have wanted to get a puppy for my 11
year old granddaughter, whom we are raising.  My husband said no, because of all
the shedding.  I went to a retreat at my husband’s supervisor’s home a year ago.
They have two shihtzu’s, Lord Buster of Boulder, and Wendzel’s Lady Gidget.  I
fell in love with them instantly.  So did my husband.

While at the retreat I shared my animal mid-wife experiences and the owners said
they were going to breed the two and asked if I would like to mid-wife in
exchange for a pup of my choice.  I said sure, thinking they really did not mean
it.  Well, in May I got a call and was informed that Gidget was carrying three
pups and to be ready to mid-wife around the first of May.  I got on the internet
and refreshed my expertise through research of various shihtzu birthing
websites.  I traveled to their home on May 3 to get the mother accustom to my
touch.

On May 5, 2005 (05/05/05 – championship numbers, right?) I took Gidget’s temp
and announced that the birthing will take place that day.  Sure enough, at 3 pm
the first little boy was birthed with no problem, then the second, then third.
Gidget began to get active and we were ready to have a drink to celebrate.  All
of a sudden Gidget jumped into my lap and started into labor.

She had two more boys and one little girl – 6 pups in all!  I was happy that all
went well and mother and pups were okay.  I found out later, when the owners
took mom and pups for their first checkup that normally shihtzu’s have three
pups, and any more than that requires a C-Section.  Thank goodness I did not
know that before the birthing began or I would have been freaking royally!

We brought our little girl home on the 4th of July and love every minute with
her!  She is the best thing we could have ever gotten for our granddaughter –
and ourselves! She is so smart!  At age 3 months she learned to fetch, sit,
heel, lay down, and comes when you call.  It only took us a month of house train
her (without a crate!).  She is now beginning to growl when someone comes into
the yard, which we think is good, as it shows she is getting possessive and
feels at home in our house.

Here are pictures of our baby growing up (we have a whole album of her,
including live birth of her on video!).  Lady Kaya is spoiled beyond
imagination.  She goes each Saturday to the Feed Store with us to socialize, and
loves taking baths!  She has more toys than Carter has pills!  She is definitely
worth it!  I also take her to see my Nana, who is 96 years old.  Nana has lost
much or her memory, often calling us kids by another kid’s name, but she
recognizes and loves Kaya every time we visit.  We have been told by Nana’s
caretakers that her memory seems improved after each visit we make.

This Halloween we are taking her Trick or Treating with my granddaughter – they
are going to be matching Lady Bugs.  Lady Kaya is also scheduled to be in a
Halloween contest with my granddaughter this Oct. 27th, and we were asked if
Lady Kaya would be a fashion model for our local feed store’s Pet Fashion show
coming up in November.  I would be happy to send pictures of her in her costume
and running the ramp at the fashion show when they occur.  Thanks for the
opportunity to share my little love with others.

Tags: shihtzu