Pippin is a Shih Tzu, just like Wicket!  He was a stray
and we adopted him from the animal shelter at Camarillo
in Southern California on Saturday, March 18, 2000.
We were given a free checkup by any of the local vets,
and were told that Pippin is around 3-4 years old.

When we brought him home he was underweight and a
little dehydrated, but within less than a week of being
fed good nutritious meals he put on some weight and
his coat began to shine.

He is the tallest of the Shih Tzu breed, standing 10½"
at the withers.  Taller than Wicket.  He's of similar
colouring to Wicket, though his tan is a little lighter.
His colour classification may be "Blue and White", rather
than Wicket's "Gold and White".  His previous owners
had cut his coat very short, apparently with scissors,
and it will take a while for his coat to grow out again.

Pippin is bouncy and happy, playful and very loving.
He appears to have been kept as an outdoors dog by
his previous owners and had to be taught how to behave
inside, which is where he lives with us.  He also had to be
shown how to play with the squeaky toys we bought him.
He understood basic commands, such as "sit", but has
learned more very quickly.  He learned his new name in
less than a day, and as much as Grey likes to call him
a "dumb mutt" Pippin is relatively smart.  He still has
a lot of puppy silliness in him but is learning better
manners all the time.

Pippin could have a Ph.D. and he'd still be a dumb mutt
to Grey!  :)

At the shelter, when we first looked at him, Grey was
a little put off by the fact that Pippin was a bit aloof.
But that's a trait of the breed.  They are family-oriented,
and while friendly with strangers they can seem a little
disinterested.  Anyway, who wouldn't be distracted by being
in one of those shelters!  But now that Pippin has become
integrated into our family he's as adoring and attentive as
anyone could want a dog to be.

I would love Pippin and Wicket to meet some day, but
I don't believe that's possible.  Still it's a lovely
thought!

I hope you think Pippin is as gorgeous as we do!