From "Sit" to "Superstar!" 🌟
Proving that beauty and brains go hand-in-hand, Zoey and Ryder are officially putting the "smart" in Shih Tzu.
Hailing from AKC Champion lines, these two are more than just pretty faces—they are athletes, thinkers, and dynamic competitors working toward the prestigious AKC Trick Dog National title. Plus, they’ve just added agility training to their repertoire, proving there’s no obstacle they can’t conquer!
We are documenting every breakthrough, blooper, and "Aha!" moment as we "homeschool" our way through the highest levels of canine performance, from technical tricks to high-speed agility courses.
Our Progress:
🐾 Zoey: TKN, TKI, TDA, TKP, TKE and officially AKC National Trick Dog Competition Best Shih Tzu 🏅
🐾 Ryder: TKN, recently earned his Intermediate (TKI), and tackling the agility course with style!
Subscribe to follow our journey from the living room to the national stage and see if these two can go all the way!
Zoey The Puzzle Guru Shih Tzu
Zoey is officially the #1 Shih Tzu in the AKC Trick Dog National Competition! 🏆 This girl has been so amazing throughout this entire journey, and we had so much fun learning together every step of the way. I honestly didn’t expect to win, which makes this national honor even sweeter! 🥹❤️ #akctrickdog #trickdog
1 day ago (edited) | [YT] | 23
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Zoey The Puzzle Guru Shih Tzu
Yay 😁 We just received the official email from the AKC, and Zoey has officially qualified for the 2026 AKC Trick Dog National Competition! Hopefully, she earns the Best Shih Tzu, too!
Shih Tzu Zoey’s AKC trick dog national competition highlights 🐶
youtube.com/shorts/cpfXGh3bup...
4 days ago | [YT] | 63
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Zoey The Puzzle Guru Shih Tzu
Happy Halloween 🎃
5 days ago | [YT] | 135
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Zoey The Puzzle Guru Shih Tzu
We finally saw a doctor at the rehab facility, and everything was amazing. She is incredibly knowledgeable about canine bodies. The good news is that Zoey’s patellar luxation has improved to a Grade 1 because her muscles are holding it in place. Once she loses a little weight, she can do agility without restrictions!
Ryder, on the other hand, showed stiffness in his hip and leg. They both got chiropractic treatments. Zoey just needs a weight-loss follow-up in a month, and Ryder needs weekly rehabilitation sessions, including the water treadmill. Hopefully, it’s just that he doesn’t know how to use his muscles correctly. Dr. Natalia explained it like how some people walk stiffly, and how Pilates can help align their hips and joints.
I am so sad and happy at the same time, but we are one step closer to finding answers.
1 week ago | [YT] | 70
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Zoey The Puzzle Guru Shih Tzu
Zoey and Ryder officially joined the agility club today and entered the Halloween costume contest! We didn't win, but we had a lot of fun!
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 76
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Zoey The Puzzle Guru Shih Tzu
Can a Shih Tzu handle a full-scale, professional competition agility course? We put it to the test! 🐶 obstacle runs, sharp turns, and serious speed—you don’t want to miss this one.
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 8
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Zoey The Puzzle Guru Shih Tzu
Has anyone tried The Honest Kitchen dog food?
A friend’s 15-year-old Shih Tzu—who is super active in agility and just earned her Fit Dog title—eats a combination of @HonestKitchen human-grade food, @InstinctPetFood, @OpenFarm and steamed vegetables. I decided to try Honest Kitchen, and both Zoey and Ryder loved it! Right when I opened the bag, it smelled surprisingly fresh and yummy.
If you’ve tried these brands or have favorite recommendations, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 11
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Zoey The Puzzle Guru Shih Tzu
Rain or shine, the training never stops! 🐾⚡
We officially transformed this room into our ultimate indoor dog agility gym! 🏠✨
To make it as safe and supportive as possible for high-speed runs, we laid down heavy-duty foam matting for maximum traction and joint protection. We’ve got the full mini course ready to go—A-frame, teeter, weave poles, and the tunnel tucked in the corner!
Having a climate-controlled setup at home makes work on contact zones, weave entrances, and footwork so easy, no matter what the weather is doing outside.
What’s your dog’s favorite agility obstacle? Let us know in the comments! 👇
#DogAgility #AgilityTraining #IndoorDogGym #DogSports #DogFitness #AgilityCourse #TrickDog
@CleanRunAgility @bettersportingdogs
4 weeks ago | [YT] | 31
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Zoey The Puzzle Guru Shih Tzu
✨ Hard work, endless treats, and a whole lot of love on display! 🏆🐶
We finally got the title cabinet set up, and seeing all of Zoey and Ryder’s hard work together in one spot makes my heart so full. From starting out with basic cues to working our way through the ranks all the way to AKC Elite Performer, every single ribbon and certificate in this display represents countess hours of practice, teamwork, and fun spent together.
Here’s a peek inside the display:
AKC Pedigree & Title Certificates proudly framed on the top shelf.
AKC Trick Dog Rosettes: Novice, Intermediate, Performer, and Elite Performer lined up!
Building these routines and watching both of them gain confidence, focus, and enthusiasm for learning has been such a rewarding journey. Training isn't just about earning rosettes—it's about the deep bond we build along the way (and okay, maybe a few extra high-value treats! 🥩🐾).
What titles, tricks, or fun goals are you and your pups currently working toward? Let us know in the comments! 👇
#AKCTrickDog #ShihTzu #DogTraining #TrickDog #ElitePerformer #DogSports #PositiveReinforcement #PuppyProgress #ZoeyAndRyder
1 month ago | [YT] | 48
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Zoey The Puzzle Guru Shih Tzu
We finally submitted Zoey’s video for the AKC Trick Dog National Competition! Yay 😀 🤞🐶♥️ Wish her good luck! Results come out in December—if she wins, her video will be featured on the AKC website!
1 month ago | [YT] | 42
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