SASHA THE SHIH TZU AND HER TOYS

When we rescued Sasha from a shelter four years ago it took us some time to adjust to some of her unusual ways. Some have improved over the years and some haven't changed at all. One area we have never understood is her obsession with her toys. I will admit that we do spoil Sasha and she gets Christmas presents and birthday presents and so she has quite a few toys in her collection. Some toys do not interest her. She does not like those pull type rope toys or anything too hard for her to chew on. She loves toys that she can squeak herself, this is where her obsession lies. About 3 years ago my daughter found her a squeaky hot dog and hamburger set. The hamburger she plays with occasionally but the hot dog for the first week and maybe even longer, she had it constantly. I am not kidding and she would squeak it over and over and over until sometimes she would fall asleep or just rest but the hot dog was usually under her chin or paw. We did not dare to try and take it from her. I would get so tired of it that I would distract her with a treat and then hide it. As soon as she ate the treat she would come right back to the spot she left it in looking for it and then would spend the next ten or so minutes searching the house. I love her and didn't intend to be cruel but I couldn't stand the SQUEAKING! After a time she would finally leave it alone for a while but it has remained her favorite toy since then. We actually went out and bought a couple extra because the first one stopped squeaking and she would just lay by it and sort of whimper. When we swapped it for the new one, the new hot dog became the obsession and the pattern would start again. We have several new hot dogs standing by and though she has gotten many other toys since there is none like the hot dog. It is her crutch I guess. I think if she were human (which sometimes I am sure she is and look for the zipper to take off her furry pajamas) I think she would be diagnosed obsessive-compulsive.

She is our Sashy and we accept her with all her faults and all her love.