Here I am with Remi in 2003 - she started this whole ”love” affair with these darling little Imperials….

            Welcome!! I’d like to take a moment to tell you a little about myself and how Davine Imperials came to be.  Animals have always been a PASSION of mine - especially horses and dogs ~ and there was never a time in my life that we did not have a Shih-Tzu in my home growing up.  Growing up the youngest of three girls, I sometimes got a little left out, so our Shih-Tzu was always my best friend, my confidant and depending on my age, my “dress-up doll’ as well !!  Which just shows you what wonderful tolerant little dogs these little guys truly are!

         Flash forward about 20 years and at this point I was heavily involved in riding and showing horses (dressage for anyone who might know horses) and rescuing Weimaraners because they fit so well into my “barn life” and I truly loved the breed then and now -unfortunately they just require too much excercise for me now! :)  My life was great although pretty fast paced,  and then all of that came to a quick halt in the year 2000 at the age of 24 and that is also when Shih-Tzu’s made more of an “entrance” back into my life as well.  At the ripe old age of 24, I was diagnosed with a rare condition called Arnold-Chiari Malformation and soon after had my first brain surgery and my family got me my little buddy George - just a standard Shih-Tzu who’s seen and done it all with me!  Two years later (October 2002), I required yet yet another brain surgery because I kept developing meningitis due to the graft in my brain becoming infected.  Unfortunately since that 2nd surgery things have gone continually downhill for me healthwise.  Pain is a major problem for me, but luckily at this time they finally seem to have me on a pretty good regimen of pain medications, but it takes it’s toll on me that’s for sure.  Also since that time, I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare liver disease called Primary Schlorosing Choleangitis (PSC) and Ulcerative Colitis.  Crazy I know!!

         The reasons I am getting so in depth with my medical information is first; because I figure there’s always a chance there’s another dog lover out there that may read this and have one of the same issues as me or similar, and secondly,  it does actually help to lead up to what got me to ”here and now” and why I am so in LOVE with these “littles” as we call them!  I honestly believe that this is one of the greatest dog breeds developed!  I am married and I have a wonderful husband and partner in life who supports what I do with the dogs, he loves them and is willing to do anything to help me with them.  He spends a lot of time with our rescue Weim, Zack (and thankfully so because Zack requires a lot more energy that I have).

         When I decided to get into breeding I did have a little struggle with ethics as far as should I breed and bring more puppies into this world?  Like I’ve said, our Weims were rescued, our bunnies are rescues, and I belong to the HSUS and the ASPCA as well as some other organizations involved in helping homless animals.  But I’m 34 years old now and have been going through this illness for eight long years and have lost my riding all together, as well as many other things, and I can honestly say there are days that these little guys are the only reason I get up in the morning.  I have a WONDERFUL family and husband and all around support system and even with that it’s my “LITTLES”  looking up at me or just laying next to me that just make my darkest days worth it.  They honestly have a special way of making me feel better, and at the very least, when the rest of the world is busy and doing it’s own thing, as it should be, they make me feel important and needed.  I know all dogs need people, but these guys just have this way of making you feel like they REALLY need you and that you are the greatest thing ever when you meet their needs - which are sooo0 minimal!  And since kids are out of the question for us, at least for now, bringing those little puppies into the world and watching them grow is so wonderful and rewarding.  If the puppies that I selectively put out into the world give out to their owners 1/2 of what my dogs give to me, then I’ve done my job! ~