Shih Tzus have become famous across the globe for their perky and happy temperaments. These tiny dogs are adorable with their floppy ears and large round eyes. They have long, luxurious coats that flow down to the floor and might require some upkeep.
Shih Tzus become the best housemates with their outgoing and comfortable nature. These lively dogs have the ability to light up an entire house.
These friendly dogs become friends with people and other dogs easily and love running around outside. Shih Tzus adore lounging in the laps of their owners.
These dogs have been bred primarily with the intent of being companions. Shih Tzus are outgoing house dogs who are perfectly content following their people from one room to another.
Shih Tzus are royal dogs as per their ancestry, and they are comfortable staying inside and ruling over their owner’s heart!
Although if left untrained, Shih Tzus can give their owners a fair share of problems. Just like with any other relationship that goes south if neglected, in case a dog owner overlooks their puppy, they will face behavioral issues.
It is nothing to be too concerned about. By being alert and perceptive of your Shih Tzu needs, you can boycott these issues conveniently without having to face the brunt of it.
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Problems With Shih Tzu Behavior
Just like us humans, dogs have unique personalities. There will be good dog behavior, and then those will annoy and frustrate you.
Some of the most common behaviors that most Shih Tzu dog owners are going to at some point in their life include the following:
Barking
A vast majority of dogs bark or howl and sometimes whine in certain situations. Small breeds and toy dogs are happier than those of a bigger size. Larger dogs have loud, deep barks; Shih Tzus fall into the toy breed category; however, they are one of the dogs that yappy comparatively less.
Too much barking can become a disturbance and cause a nuisance in the entire neighborhood. It is one of the annoying habits of dogs who have not been trained. The very common kinds of barking are:
- Playfulness/Excitement
- Attention-seeking
- Anxiety
- Boredom
- Responding back to Other Dogs
- Warning as well as to alert
Chewing
Even though this is a natural action for all dogs, it can become an issue when the dog chews on things they are not meant to. It includes objects such as hoes, furniture, electrical wires, and so on. Dogs chew on these things because of various reasons such as puppy teething, boredom, excessive energy, anxiety, or even curiosity.
Separation Anxiety
It is one of the main problems every dog owner faces. Separation anxiety results from the utmost and almost unprecedented form of attachment that dogs feel with their owners. Shih Tzus are small breeds and they are born to be companions. So when their human is not available they become anxious.
Inappropriate Urination
Improper urination and defecation are some of the most infuriating and frustrating behaviors that a dog can exhibit. The entire human family faces problems when a dog becomes habitual in doing so. This act can damage many areas of the house and also make your dog unwelcome in public places. If there is no medical issue forcing your dog to perform this act, the other reasons could be:
- Submissive or Excitement Urination
- Territorial Marking
- Anxiety
- Attention-seeking
- Lack of proper housebreaking
Begging
Begging is a challenging habit and most dog owners often encourage it. It can result in digestive issues and also obesity in some cases. It undervalues the role of an owner as the Alpha. The ideal method of circumventing this frustrating habit is to nip it in the bid from the get-go.
Chasing
The desire of the dog to chase things that are moving is innate. It is their predatory instinct acting up. Chasing other animals as wella s people is actually dangerous for the tiny Shih Tzu and can result in bad outcomes. These Shih Tzu pups does not have a instinct that is predatory, that is why chasing is generally not an issue with them.
Biting
The biting habit in dogs can be linked to their instincts and pack mentality. Puppies often nip or bite on other dogs or people as a way of exploring their surroundings and learning what their place is in the pack. You can also associate a lot of this biting behavior with teething.
Owners are responsible for ensuring they prevent this habit from developing and show their puppies that mouthing or biting is unacceptable at all costs.
Depression
Shih Tzus might exhibit other problematic dog behaviors, including aggression, jumping, coprophagia, puppy mouthing, digging, or stubborn behavior.
How To Fix Them?
These bad behavior patterns can become quite exasperating and challenging to deal with on a daily basis. Over time as you get accustomed to being around a dog, you can identify the facial signs of behavioral problems early on.
There is a range of severity with these issues; some tend to be more serious than others.
If an owner unknowingly encourages their Shih Tzu’s unsavory behavior habits, eventually, they will become bigger problems.
For an average dog owner, who has had little exposure to dogs, it will be difficult to recognize problems initially.
The solution to all forms of behavioral issues with Shih Tzus starts with them not having a set routine. Create one that keeps your puppy busy at all times.
The activities that the little guy indulges in should be brain-stimulating. Make sure that your Shih Tzu has a stress-free environment, and pay special attention to its needs.
Additionally, they will need help to gauge where the issue was initiated. So if a pet owner is not trained appropriately, the origin of problems will remain a mystery making it harder to help the dog overcome their behavioral concerns.
With Shih Tzus, the problem has to be eliminated from the root and it will require time, patience, and effort.
In case you fall into the category of owners who are clueless, relax and do your research. There are a lot of people who misinterpret and mishandle the situation with their dogs’ behaviors.
Why Does Shih Tzus Face Behavioral Issues?
A few of the issues can be linked to the genetics of the dog. Shih Tzus are generally calm animals from a breed of tiny dogs. However, normal canine behavior can deviate from similar patterns and result in problems.
You will often come across dogs that possess characteristics that an uncanny. We have to give the dog the benefit of the doubt. Every dog will have a mix of good and bad qualities.
For instance, barking is the language of dogs; if it becomes excessive, it can be trying. There are multiple ways of curtailing excessive barking from dogs.
If your Shih Tzus barking becomes an issue, the fix might not be swift, but it is manageable. Do not get unnerved or stressed if you are responsible for this issue.
Another cause of behavioral problems can be traced back to the environment. Poor socialization as a puppy can be a contributing factor to declining standards of behavioral conduct.
Being around other untrained dogs and behaving poorly is bound to influence your Shih Tzu. Furthermore, any trauma the puppy may have suffered can also be a causation factor for declining behavior.
Ways For Disciplining Your Shih Tzu
The discipline of any form requires a firm hand, and this can be a little tricky to implement with the tiny Shih Tzu. These little puppies are extremely sensitive to any punishment.
They cannot bear yelling and might end up misbehaving more when they are frightened.
Placing a Shih Tzu in a situation with loud noises and ultimatums might have more adverse effects than you anticipated. The ideal method for disciplining Shih Tzus is implementing reward-based strategies.
Using a Clicker
A training clicker will be quite effective in teaching your Shih Tzu how to follow commands. Simple actions such as “sit” or “stay” can be easily taught to your little dog using a clicker.
You click the clicker as soon as your dog performs the right behavior. You can follow it by giving it a treat and supporting its good behavior.
How To Calm Your Shih Tzu Down?
Keeping them calm is the basis for maintaining decorum in your house and ensuring that your Shih Tzu remains happy.
A peaceful environment will reduce the chances of your Shih Tzu acting out. A few techniques to calm your Shih Tzu become agitated are:
Work Out the Energy
Physically working out the negative energy will drastically enhance the mood of your Shih Tzu. Playing games with your tiny dog will engage them and direct their attention elsewhere.
Avoid Indulging the Habit
Even kids act up sometimes, and they normally do this to get your attention. You, Shih Tzu, may be doing it for the same reason. In these circumstances, the absolutely worst action that you can take is to give them attention.
This will validate their bad behavior and set the wrong precedence that acting up gets them your attention.
Check the Contents of Your Shih Tzu’s Meals
What your dog puts in their stomach will inherently affect its mood. Cheap dog food can negatively affect a dog’s mood as it might contain some ingredients that it should not consume.
Try Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy has managed to calm people down by working on lowering their tempers. The Shih Tzu dog breed has an amazing sense of smell.
Therefore it will be uncomplicated to relieve them of any stress by using odors. Aromas have a way of working on improving moods and calming tempers before they become full-out tantrums.
Spend Quality Time With Your Shih Tzu
Shih Tzus adore spending time with their owners. Hence, taking some time out and spending it playing with your Shih Tzu will bring them a feeling of tranquility.
Final Words: Wrapping Up Your Shih Tzu’s Problems
When you become a dog owner, you don’t only take on the responsibility for their well-being but also their training. It may sound like a cliche, but the best way to get through this time is to be patient and remain calm.
There are a number of tried and tested methods for training your Shih Tzu. With some effort, Set a routine for your Shih Tzu.
Practice with them consistently and try to stay ahead of deteriorating behavior patent. Keep a look out for any deviations or irregularities in how your dog behaves. Their demeanor will give away a lot about their moods.
You have to believe that any problems with your Shih Tzus behavior are manageable by its owner. You have all the control over its actions, but you have to make sure that you do not let things escalate too much before acting upon any issues.
Remember that your Shih Tzu is not the only dog in the world that is going through a radical behavior change, and you are not the only pet owner affected by it.
Just remember that your Shih Tzu deserves all your tenderness and warmth even when they are acting naughty. Be affectionate through tough times as well.
This way, your adorable tiny best friend will be in a good space in no time. The most effective method is to follow an early and proper socialization protocol. With effective training, you can eradicate quite a lot of the issues related to your Shih Tzu’s behavioral issues.
As long as you are aware of these issues and remain proactive, you will not face any major issues with your dog’s personality. Just put in some dedicated time and energy, and before you know it, your little puppy will be a wonderful docile dog.
