Janet Underwood is a professional writer who is passionate about dogs, especially Shih Tzu. In her career, she's been a newspaper reporter, a magazine editor, a director of communications for large nonprofits, a contribitor to several pet-related websites, a technical writer, and the author of several books. She also develops and teaches online courses that are offered at colleges and universities around the world. "Dogs have always been an important part of my life," she says. "As a child growing up on a Kansas farm and a Colorado ranch, I always had and loved different breeds of dogs. My heart was truly stolen, however, by a Shih Tzu my husband gave me more than 20 years ago. When she died, I knew that I had to have not only another one, but more. Janet currently lives in Missouri where she spends a great deal of her time catering to and loving her four Shih Tzu.