How To Train Shih Tzu Not to Bark? (The complete guide)

How to train Shih Tzu not to bark is an important skill for all new Shih Tzu owners to learn early.

Although barking is their expressive language, appropriate and frequent barking can test the owner’s patience. This frequent barking can become annoying if the owner isn’t able to figure out what’s on the dog’s mind.

And if you can’t figure out the reason for barking. Then how can you move forward towards training a Shih Tzu not to bark?

Well, it’s always necessary and effective to start training your Shih Tzu regarding the barking from the day first. But don’t worry if you missed it today; we will be sharing some effective training ways that can help your Shih Tzu not to bark. So, with no further due, let’s get started.

How To Train Shih Tzu Not to Bark?

Some of the ways to stop your Shih Tzu from barking are by:

1. Releasing Each Pent of Shih Tzu Energy
2. Providing Your Shih Tzu with Enough Mental Stimulation
3. Keeping the House Calm and Shih Tzu Friendly
4. Be At the Boss Side
5. Remove the Motivations
6. Using Training Aids

If you have decided to train your Shih Tzu not to bark, keep persistent and determined. Stick with all the training guidelines we will mention in a go.

And if you find any difficulty in understanding or implementing this training, don’t hesitate to contact us; we would love to hear from you.

Well, that was all apart before you start training Shih Tzu not to bark first; make him capable of understanding your commands and orders.

Below are the detailed training tips that, if followed correctly and effectively, can lead to positive results.

Release Each Pent of Shih Tzu Energy:

Keep your Shih Tzu busy and tired with regular exercises. These exercises will make him tired, and to restore this tiredness, his body will automatically shut down to sleep; as a result, he won’t bark.

Provide Your Shih Tzu with Enough Mental Stimulation:

Try to make your dog mentally strong so that he can take control of his feelings and emotions if forced to do so. Mental health is also as necessary for dogs as physical health is. Mental activity can be increased by involving him in games like puzzles and hide and seek.

Keep the House Calm and Shih Tzu Friendly:

Children traffic, having guests, chaotic vibes, a noisy atmosphere, and dirty dog riles can make any dog bark in moments.

So, it is always necessary to make the area of the Shih Tzu dog friendly so that he feels comfortable and has no insecurity.

Be At the Boss Side:

Dogs only listen to leaders and bosses, not cats. So be a true leader for them, make your position in the room prominent with others, and when Shih Tzu notices that, he will automatically start giving you more importance.

Remove the Motivations:

You should remove all the unwanted things present on the premises of your Shih Tzu place as early as possible. Moreover, you should use a buffered room with less access to the outside happenings and is also noise-proof.

You can make that room Shih Tzu friendly by placing his favorite toys. If he is busy with all those, he will bark. When taken out of that room, he would have a pleasant impact on that place which will last longer.

Using Training Aids:

Training aids like a retractable harness leash will keep your Shih Tzu’s impede and let him play by the harness sound.

If both don’t work for you, then the last method you can use to stop your dog from barking is a shock collar, called an e-collar. A mild shock for excessive out-of-box barking will stop him from barking the next time excessively.

Why Do Shih Tzu Bark?

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Dogs bark to communicate their feelings and emotions. You can make various deductions in this regard.

But we have shared below the most common reasons why dogs and Shih Tzu bark. Shih Tzu bark under the following conditions:

• Seek Out Attention.
• Alerting for danger or giving a warning.
• Show protectiveness and become territorial.
• To show distress, worry, and separation anxiety.

Shih Tzu Barking When Left Alone

A Shih Tzu is a social and friendly dog; they always need someone to be around them. But no one of the owners is that free to spend all their time with his Shih Tzu.

With ineffective training, Shih Tzu always thinks their owner would be available 24/7 for them. They don’t realize that even humans do have other chores to do.

As a result, they feel lonely and think of themselves as being separated and left out.

To cure this barking habit caused by loneliness, follow the below-mentioned steps:

1. Get up early, take your Shih Tzu for a long walk and spend time with him.
2. Hire a dog sitter to care for him when you are not around.
3. Bring a new friend dog for your Shih Tzu or surround him with interactive toys to play with.
4. Set up a distraction-free sleep place for your Shih Tzu.
5. Whenever you get the time, come back to your Shih Tzu and spend time with him.
6. The last is to obey the reward method and praise him for good behavior.

Why Does Your Shih Tzu Bark For No Reason?

Random barking for no reason can be incessant if at home. It seems to us that there isn’t a reason, but for dogs, there could be some reason. Dogs have high audibility (40Hz – 60,000 Hz) range for listening to sounds.

He might be hearing some sound unable to be detected by human ears that are provoking him to bark. Other reasons can be any movement or disturbances within or without the home.

How To Stop a Shih Tzu from Barking At Night?

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A loyal lapdog can sometimes make your life horrible and ruin the peace of your healthy nights. Shih Tzu habit of excessive night barking can mess up your sleeping routine.

But before you start curing his night barking routine, you should figure out what is causing him to bark.

There can be many reasons that can provoke your dog to bark at night. Below we have suggested a comprehensive step-by-step solution for stopping Shih Tzu from barking at night.

Figuring Out the Stimuli:

The first step you can do to stop your Shih Tzu from barking during the night-time is by figuring out what is acting as a stimulus and provoking your lad to bark.

You would have to be patient as it might take a few nights; you need to take in the ground your observation skills. And pay heed to all the triggers for your dog’s night barking.

Look for things that seem to happen before your dogs start barking and notice if they are reoccurring. It might be possible that the stimuli could be one thing or some things.

The stimuli can be loneliness, anxiety, bored, or nervousness caused by any voice or movement around him. Whatever the reason, you should figure it out if you want to resolve the problem permanently.

Minimize All The Available Distractions:

Once the singular or multiple stimuli are determined, it’s time to minimize them. If you haven’t figured out the ones for your Shh Tzu, then don’t worry; we have made a list of a few distractions that Shih Tzu can bark at night. Which are as under, so do give them a read.

Checking Out The Change

You can first minimize distractions by looking around your Shih Tzu’s sleeping area and inspecting something unfamiliar to him. Like if you have changed his bed or sleeping cushion, there is a possibility that he might bark.

If you have installed any automatic motion light or a motion air freshener, it can also threaten him and will lead to barking. These changes might not seem as significant to us, but for a dog, every little change in his territory matters a lot.

Things In Your Dog’s Vision

Limit the things available for your Shih Tzu to see and then think. At night-time, the brain isn’t working with that accuracy, so you would need to lessen the things he can see to avoid unnecessary barking.

You can just simply put the curtains on as it can restrict his vision. He won’t be able to see any car or person passing by and won’t bark out louder.

You can also start by changing your dog’s sleeping area to a room that doesn’t have windows or open curtains.

Provide It With Sufficient Activity In The Day Time:

When more your Shih Tzu is tired by the end of a day, the more solid he will fall asleep at night. As a result, his chances to bark at night and suck up your ears would be decreased.

If you don’t give your Shih Tzu sufficient exercise during the day, he will have left with a lot of reserved energy by the end of the day, which would provoke him to utilize this energy at night before going to bed.

Minimize The Chances Of Developing Separation Anxiety:

If you let your dog sleep alone at night, it will develop a sense of loneliness in your Shih Tzu, and he will suffer separation anxiety. When being far from their owners, these dogs can become highly anxious and express this feeling; they bark out.

If you had made your Shih Tzu sleeping location in another room, it would develop a sense of separation anxiety; you can bring the dog sleeping zone to your room, and you would resolve separation anxiety; your Shih Tzu won’t bark at night any further.

Don’t Yell Not Scold Serve Him Patiently:

The last rule to cure your Shih Tzu night barking habit is the rule of love. Love him no matter how frustrated you get; always try to ignore him, turn your back around, and don’t give him any attention. This behavior will discourage Shih Tzu not to bark at night.

Ignoring Shih Tzu for negative behavior would only be balanced by rewarding him for positive behavior. It is how you let him learn what is acceptable for you as your puppy stops barking at night, rewarding and praising him.

Why Does Your Shih Tzu Bark At Other Dogs?

Shih Tzu is a friendly breed but not all the dogs in one breed are of the exact nature. Some Shih Tzu will bark at their distance fellow dogs for several reasons.

Barking is their language of communication; they express each thought via barking. Owners sometimes get curious and want to know the reason why their Shih Tzu bark at other dogs.

So, the answer is just as simple as the question is. A Shih Tzu can bark at other dogs in the following conditions:

1. To greet other dogs, make friends with them, and socialize.
2. To show an inflated desire to be protected by the owner or even to let the other know that I can protect my owner from danger.
3. He won’t pay any attention to you to show possessiveness that my owner is only mine.
4. A nonstop fearful barking with muscles tensed, chest lifted, and front foot forwarding shows aggression and dominant behavior. Shih Tzu does so to let the other dog know that they can defeat them in a fight.

How To Stop Your Shih Tzu From Barking At Other Dogs?

Each new moment comes up with a new responsibility for a pup owner. When you’re your Shh Tzu becomes aggressive and starts barking at other dogs, it’s your responsibility to stop him, which could be done in the following ways.

1. Distract your pup by giving a snack or treat.
2. Try to take him to dog care and let him socialize with other dogs. So interaction with other dog become a natural habit for him.
3. Bring a new dog friend and use him to train your buddy in obedience and discipline.
4. Be Consistent and Don’t Give up.

Final Words

Shih Tzu marks as an adorable canine companion. With inadequate training, these furry friends can make your days and nights countless with their endless barking routine. So it’s always better to train your buddy to overcome such situations.

This article discussed effective ways to stop your Shih Tzu habit of excessive barking. The primary key takeaway from our side is to work on his mental and physical health.

Figure out the cause and remove it. Use the ignore and reward formula and be consistent; you will surely get positive results.