Biting and chewing is very normal for puppies because they are teething. They have the urge to chew something that will comfort their gums and little teeth. Shih Tzu usually takes up to 16 weeks to completely show its teeth. Shih Tzu’s teeth and jaws become very strong after this period as it is growing into an adult.
It is the ideal time (16 weeks) to train your dog about all the right and the wrong things. You are responsible for the way your Shih Tzu will treat you. If you make it realize your value and make it be concerned for you, then it will never bite you or disobey you in any way.
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Do Shih Tzu Bite?
When Shih Tzu is puppies, they tend to bite a lot. But biting at that age is not harmful because its teeth have not developed completely at that age. It is best to start training your Shih Tzu not to bite at that age because its jaws will get stronger when it grows up, and a bite can lead to serious consequences.
Why Shih Tzu Bite?
Sometimes, Shih Tzu tends to release or show aggression whenever they go through feelings of fear or any past experience. But this only happens when they are grown up.
However, when it’s a puppy, biting can be a playful thing to do for them because they always want your attention. But when is the right time to train your dog if it’s not puppy age?
Why Is My Shih Tzu Biting Me?
When a Shih Tzu is at its puppy stage, it bites a lot.
They not only bite you, but they bite and chew on everything at this age.
It is usually because they are teething and have the urge to bite.
Sometimes, Shih Tzu does this because they are wanting your attention or also because they are just exploring new things.
Not every Shih Tzu is acting the same all the same and at every age.
It is important that you focus on how your Shih Tzu is behaving and why.
Following its behaviour pattern will help you understand what is going on in its mind.
Do All Shih Tzu Bite, Their Owners?
Shih Tzu is a very friendly dog who loves to please its human. It is a very rare case that Shih Tzu is aggressive.
Maybe 1% is aggressive, but the rest are very loveable.
This 1% can also be cured if you train your Shih Tzu properly by knowing the cause behind its behavior.
Are Shih Tzu Naturally Aggressive?
Shih Tzu is not known as an aggressive breed, but they can get aggressive occasionally.
The level of aggression depends on Shih Tzu to Shih Tzu.
It may be going through a scary thing or may be affected by its past.
At What Age Do Shih Tzu Puppies Stop Biting?
As Shih Tzu is about to turn 1-year-old, most of its biting habit has changed because its teeth have fully developed.
And this is only possible if proper training was happening at the time.
But this doesn’t mean it won’t bite when it’s growing up.
Shih Tzu may start biting again if it is going through some health issues or its playfulness is being accepted at any level.
Sometimes, Shih Tzu may feel like he is the house’s leader and in control.
Giving it everything it needs all the time, listening to its growls, and trying to make it happy will make it think as if the world revolves around it and it has the right to do anything.
But that is the time when you need to tell it who is the actual person in control.
You don’t have to be rude or mean, but you can make all the decisions yourself.
Keeping a check on every new action is very important so that you know when to train it and when to help it, especially when it’s dealing with any past trauma or new anxieties.
Does Shih Tzu Have Behavior Problems?
Shih Tzu tends to have some behavior problems, including being unable to do things they were supposed to do.
It usually happens when it has separation anxiety and feels distant from its human.
If this anxiety becomes extreme, there are chances it will bite you in order to get your attention.
Can Shih Tzu Bite Through Bone?
Shih Tzu is a small dog that cannot bite through bone, but it can fracture a bone if it bites so hard.
Getting your Shih Tzu a dog bone can be a treat for it, and these bones are strong enough that your Shih Tzu cannot bite though it.
What Can I Give My Shih Tzu For Teething?
Frozen foods are good for teething dogs. Frozen fruits and cold carrots will help with Shih Tzu teething.
Your Shih Tzu will love these tasty treats and will keep chewing them for an hour or two. Frozen foods help with teething pain and help soothe the gums.
Why Is My Shih Tzu Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Being aggressive in front of strangers and guests shows he is unhappy to have them around.
When your Shih Tzu sees you sharing your time with some stranger, sudden separation anxiety takes over its mind.
Being aggressive makes it expresses and shows the strangers that you are human and it is marking territory. Shih Tzu might have their fears.
They might be protective of themselves. It happens when your Shih Tzu is an introvert and is not open to socializing.
How Can I Stop My Shih Tzu From Biting?
- Make a firm command
Whenever you find your Shih Tzu biting another dog, its sibling, or even you, you must stop it with a high-pitch sound of pain, crying, or a firm command saying “no” or “stop”. It will make your Shih Tzu realize that it has done something wrong or has hurt you.
But don’t start loving them right after it. Give it some time and ignore it for a few seconds by moving away or turning your back on your Shih Tzu. You will feel bad for doing this, but this is the best way to make it realize that it is not the right thing to do.
- Never Smack your Shih Tzu
Smacking your Shih Tzu will make your dog more fearful and scared of you. Or sometimes, it can increase its aggressive nature. Shih Tzu will never understand if you give them a physical punishment. But if you put them in a cage for 10 minutes, you will never know it was a physical punishment, and you would even forget if something happened 10 minutes ago.
- Don’t take it as a fun thing
If your Shih Tzu is biting you and you playfully push it back or to the side to stop them, Shih Tzu will get more excited and encouraged to do it again. Because now it is more of a playful thing to both of you. If you do not stop them seriously, they will never stop.
Remember, they always follow you and what you like and dislike. So, don’t hesitate to express it very subtly so you don’t scare it away.
- Use Toys for Chewing
Instead of offering your hands to your Shih Tzu, give them chewing toys for its teething. In this way, they will not think of your hands as a chewing toy or a playful thing to bite. In this way, its attention will move towards the toy, and it will not think as if your hands and fingers are things to bite.
- Train your Shih Tzu to accept your hands around its mouth
Sometimes, when your Shih Tzu is biting something that it should not bite, you will have to stop it by holding its face and separating it from the wrong thing they are biting. If your Shih Tzu does not know it cannot bite your hands, it will always grab your hands to bite whenever you hold its face.
- Shih Tzu biting over food
Sometimes, you will notice that your Shih Tzu is getting aggressive only at the time of food. It is because it is very protective over its food and wants it all for itself whenever they need it. In order to stop your Shih Tzu from getting aggressive over food, you need to show them that you are the one who is in control.
Pick the bowl whenever they are being aggressive. Tell them to stop it by saying “no”. Don’t hesitate in any way, even if it growls. Keep doing this until your Shih Tzu acts like you want it to act.
- Make your hands nasty
Putting something nasty on your hands or wearing gloves with some nasty-tasting thing on them. It will make your Shih Tzu stop biting your hands as they will not like the taste of something they are biting.
- Socialize your Shih Tzu
Take your Shih Tzu to meet other dogs that are younger and older than them. By interacting with other dogs, your Shih Tzu will learn to accept new things and will learn how to react to certain situations.
Puppies always have an impact on one another.
When dealing with younger dogs, your Shih Tzu will learn how to treat them, impacting how they treat little children.
When To Get Help With Your Shih Tzu’s Biting Problem?
After trying all the tips and hacks and trying to train your Shih Tzu fails, you may need a professional to deal with it.
Professionals can easily judge the reason behind biting. They can tell whether it is just teething or something serious related to its behaviour.
Taking your Shih Tzu to an animal behaviourists specialist will always be a favour to yourself and your Shih Tzu.
They will help your Shih Tzu overcome all past traumas and make them free from anxiety and fear.
What Happens If A Shih Tzu Bites You?
When an adult Shih Tzu bites you, it can be very dangerous.
Even if they are a small breed, there are a lot of chances that you will get infections from the bite.
Shih Tzu’s front teeth can compress your tissue and tear your skin when grabbed with smaller teeth.
The bite can transfer bacteria that will spread the infection all over the wound and inside.
So, always see the doctor if anything like this happens because treating dog bites is very important or else it will lead to something dangerous for your health.
What Do To When Bitten By A Shih Tzu?
- When bitten by a Shih Tzu, press the wound and help the bacteria release away.
- Clean the wound with clean water and gentle soap.
- Do not rub or touch the area.
- Afterwards, wrap the wound with a clean cloth and press the area.
- It will help the wound to stop bleeding.
- Apply an antibiotic to the wound and put a sterile bandage on top of it.
- If it’s serious, you must contact a professional.
Conclusion
The best way to train your Shih Tzu to stop from biting is to use positive and negative gestures to make it realize the wrong and right things it does.
It is always good to reward it when it does something good. Being consistent with your attitude towards right and wrong will make it quicker for your Shih Tzu to learn.
Starting from the first day is the best way to make your Shih Tzu behave and be a good dog.
You can learn how to treat your Shih Tzu by noticing all its behavioural changes. Being playful yet the one in control is the ideal way to be with your Shih Tzu.
