My name is Rhonda. I am 39 years old and live in a small coastal city in the south-west corner of Western Australia called "Bunbury".

My family bought our first shih tzu when I was 8 years old in 1977. She was a solid black with a small white patch on her chest and white feet. I remember very clearly the day we drove 2 hours to Perth to collect her. The puppies were running rampant around the yard and we had to run them down! Regardless, our choice came down to two almost identical sisters and we chose "Lhoni" (Pohlee Yung Lhoni).

In those days, shih tzu were none too common here and we were constantly asked what sort of dog she was - people always assumed she was a Pekingese (even though she had very little coat and a reasonably long muzzle!).

Although definitely no show dog, Lhoni was a beautiful companion as we grew up and I remember fondly the days we spent riding our bikes around with her sitting in the basket up front. She was also very quick to spot an open garden gate and delighted in taking off up the street chasing other dogs while barking visciously.

In her later years, Lhoni suffered poor health which resulted in me spending a lot of time at the Vet's. This almost certainly helped me gain the position I have now, at the same Veterinary Clinic, as a Veterinary Nurse.

When Lhoni passed away, I never considered another breed. It was always going to be a Shih Tzu. After a false alarm with one breeder, I was united with my beloved "Bruno" (Finire Sumo Warrior). The car trip home from Perth was spent with baby Bruno on my knee in the car, kissing his new mum on the chin.

Bruno was registered as Chocolate and White but I later found out he wasn't. After much speculation, I settled on brindle and white, but it has also been suggested that he may have been mahogany & white as he did not have obvious brindle striping. Regardless, he was an unusual colour.

He was a lovely boy; a clown with a definite stubborn streak! He was very intelligent - often too much so... My best friend and constant companion, he lost his battle with a Pituatary Macroadenoma on October 5, 2003. He was, and is, dearly loved and missed.

In happier times, Bruno and I tried our hand at showing but it became clear pretty early on that he didn't enjoy it at all. We also competed in many obedience trials but had no success in that field either due to Bruno's stubborn nature and absolute refusal to do stays and stand for examinations! At over 11 years of age, he was officially retired from both fields due to ongoing health problems, including being diagnosed with Pituatary Dependent Cushings Syndrome (Hyperadrenocorticism) in January 2002.

Sadly, at 13 years of age, Bruno's health badly deteriorated. My suspicions of an expanding brain tumour (in his pituatary gland) were confirmed in August 2003 when we had a CT scan done. On October 5, 2003, he was put to sleep at home, in my arms and surrounded by family who loved him.

I am now the proud "mother" of "Harvey" (Aust. Ch. Meinlieb King O Hearts CCD), and what a gorgeous little man he is! I am enjoying sharing our time together with our friends on the web. Watch out for his sons "Dougal" (Meinlieb Magic Rnbdabout) and "Gregory" (Meinlieb Takin A Chance) also residing here with me and showing in WA.

I am a member of the Canine Association of WA, The Oriental Breeds Society of WA, The Non-Sporting Dog Club of WA and last but not least, the Shih Tzu Club of Victoria (STCV) for whom I am the newsletter editor, as well as writing a quarterly news column on the Shih Tzu scene here in Western Australia for that same newsletter. I also edited the STCV's "Shih Tzu in Australasia Vol IV", published in Australia in 2007.

My passion is Shih Tzu. I hope that you will see that from my website. Please browse our pages to see pictures of my lovely dogs, past and present. I also have scans of my pencil sketches and my soft-sculptured needle-felted dogs on my ART pages.

ENJOY!