This little fur ball is a shih tzu mix that loves showering me with kisses—even when I’m disciplining her. Izzy is very inquisitive. She has to have her nose in everything I do. She doesn’t take ‘no’ for an answer.

Izzy’s extremely protective and the perfect watchdog, especially on the road when we boondock at a truck stop. Her growl and bark are definite deterrents to anyone approaching Black Beauty.   

Izzy is not nearly as competitive as Spaz. They race each other everywhere they go. I think she could win if she wanted to, but it means too much to Spaz to be ‘first,’ so she lets him win everytime.

Izzy used to love her little stuffed animals. Now, she chews them apart and strews the stuffings all over the place.  She seems to pick on the ones with realistic eyes. Guess she’s practicing for protecting us from lions, tigers and bears—oh my!

While Spaz loves everyone, and will do ANYTHING to get you to pet him, Izzy is the opposite. She’ll snip, snap and bark until she’s pretty sure you’re okay. She especially doesn’t like men wearing sandals. It’s not a big guy that scares her, but a big toe! Go figure.

Izzy follows me everywhere. If I move from the chair to the sofa, she wakes up from her nap, and re-settles down at my feet. She’s my shadow. She’d sleep with me if I’d let her, which I don’t. I need my sleep, not a wet tongue kissing me all night!

I know one thing—she’s one smart puppy. She learns tricks before Spaz can even figure out what’s going on. If I snap my fingers, she comes running. I point to the floor, she sits. After each trick, she quickly sneaks a kiss on my ankle or jean cuff, and runs back to her trick position. What a cutie!

Izzy… being Iz!