About

I am a black Tibetan Terrier with a white star on my chest. I was clearly born to be a star, it was ordained.

I like my comforts

I started off life with the name of Bovais LadyHawk. I was born with an undershot jaw and a little small for my size. I was sold as a pet (thank goodness) and my new name, Zena was given to me. I think this imperfection makes me look cute.

Zena means ‘Warrior Princess’ but I am told I am more Princess than Warrior. It is hard to argue with that.

I started off life in my new family home with Zac the All Black. He was also a Tibetan Terrier. He was born with a black coat, but when his second coat came in he became silver! The name stuck however. His kennel name was Bovais Double or Nothing. Sadly he seemed to get double the bad genes.

Zac began the blogging story. You can find him here: http://zactheallblack.wordpress.com/

Both Zac and I were troubled with bad health. I have Lupoid Onychodystrophy and a very itchy tummy.

Zac was my uncle so we had the same genes. His mother was bred with her son so he inherited a stronger dose of the allergy and inherited problems. From a little puppy he suffered from subluxating patellas which improved as he got older. But he developed arthritis at a very young age which was very painful for him from the age of seven. Along with the arthritis he had regular ear infections and eventually an itchy skin which could only be made less itchy by nasty medicine. None of the shampoos, oils, herbs and special foods could stop him being itchy and it was sad to see him in such distress.

We went on special exclusion diets, testing but nothing helped. Eventually Zac had to be put on steroids to help him deal with the distressing itchiness and stop him scratching and causing infections. When these did not work he was put on another medication which caused complications which led to his death in August 2012. It was wrong. He was a beautiful dog who still loved so much about life but was in too much discomfort to continue it.

We all grieved. I grieved most of all and took to my bed. I couldn’t be left alone and I wasn’t interested in going out on walks.

So my people decided I needed a pal. They were right. I am not very good alone. I needed company.

They looked around and brought me home a puppy. Great, I thought. Then I saw him. They made a huge mistake. They were conned. This was no puppy.

I now share my house and life with a humongous Cream Standard Poodle called Raffles. He weighed 36 kilos at one year old, compared to my fully grown weight of 11 kilos.

Raffles was born with the name ‘Tannah Super Polaris’ from Shertonah kennels in Beaconsfield, Victoria on the 6th July 2012. Even I have to admit he is a beautiful looking dog and has a great nature. His parents were tested for tons of inherited diseases and carefully bred to produce the healthiest dog that the breeder could manage. I think they’ve done a great job and I only wish my breeders had put the same careful thought into Zac & my line.

Raffles, 10 months old

This is my blog. My tails. My musings. My story of life after Zac and how to survive living with a giant Standard Poodle puppy.

Love from Zena, The Worrier Princess