I was pretty sure Oscar is a Shih Tzu. It's a little harder to tell with black dogs...their details get lost in the shadows. My other Shih Tzu, Evee, it like Oscar and totally unaffected by loud noises and bright flashes. I think Evee would sleep though a tornado, unless it took the roof off.

I wish my girl, Squirt, could do that in thunderstorms. We don't have fireworks close enough to bother her. But thunder is really difficult for her. She has chosen my step-stool as her storm shelter in thunderstorms. Even with medication, she doesn't calm down until hours after the storm leaves.

I would have a bunch of critters, too, if we didn't basically live in one room. I make due with my two rescue girls.

Some small dogs can fool you. Squirt (left), shown here with her Chihuahua mix brother, Peanut, has a Loud Big Dog Bark. If you only heard her without seeing her bark, you'd be looking for a much bigger dog, and not a Shih Tzu.

My Girlz hope things get sorted out for you. Sending healing thoughts and prayers your way. The Girlz would give you gentle puppy kisses.

A very short story
When I adopted Squirt, I had a 15-year-old Chihuahua mix named Peanut. He chose Squirt. He taught her everything about living in a house. He was mostly blind but was always up for learning something new and he was an amazing big brother. He passed in May of 2024. RIP sweet boy.

These are my two rescue Shih Tzus, aka My Girlz.
The Black and White is Squirt, a Puppy Mill Mama.
The Butterscotch and White is Evee (rhymes with Chevy). Evee was surrendered in Chicago for reasons unknown.
My newest t-shirt says: "I was Normal, two Shih Tzus ago."
Please Don't Shop--Adopt.

My Girlz at Rest.
I credit what is left of my sanity to them.
It is debatable who has done the rescuing.

Agreed.

My favorite dog breed is "Rescued."
These two are the reason for the sanity I have today.
I'm forever grateful for the Rescue organization that took a chance to allow this old lady to adopt My Girlz, Evee (rhymes with Chevy) and Squirt.

That is one darling "pup"... No puppies for this old lady, but a couple of years ago, I came home with a 7-year-old black and white Shih Tzu and then two years later, I came home with an 8-year-old.