Do Shih Tzus Bark A Lot? 10 Tips To Stops It
Shih Tzus are without doubt one of the cutest dogs you can own. It is an Asian toy dog breed with Tibetan roots. In ancient China, it was used as a lap dog for the royal family.
Shih Tzus were bred to be house pets, and there are many things about their personalities that make people who like small dogs want to get one. They are friendly, warm, and loving. The camel’s back was broken by the fact that they like to bark.
Do Shih Tzus Bark A Lot?
Shih Tzus tend to bark a lot, but there are ways to stop this behaviour and make life easier for everyone in the house.
Shih Tzus are a breed of dog that usually doesn’t have many behaviour problems. They are charming and endearing, and almost everyone likes them. Even though they are small, they have a great personality and many nice qualities.
They are beautiful, but they bark all the time, which is a terrible habit. Depending on how the Shih Tzu lives, this could be very annoying or hard to deal with for some parents.
Barking is a habit that, thankfully, can be controlled with good training and social skills. When a Shih Tzu is socialized and trained from a young age, it is less likely to bark excessively.
Even if a Shih Tzu puppy has been well trained and socialized, its owner should know that it will still bark sometimes, and sometimes more than anyone would like. It’s not always as easy to live with a dog as it is to live with the rest of the family.
We must sometimes change things for our dog’s sake. It is always a good idea to learn as much as you can about a dog breed, especially the Shih Tzu, to see if it is a good fit for your lifestyle and home.
People who want to get a pet need to know themselves well and be honest about what they can and can’t do. If they can’t stop barking, it might be better to choose a different breed that doesn’t bark as much.
Some Shih Tzu howl or make other noises in addition to barking, while others only bark and make those noises rarely.
Shih Tzus that bark a lot might bark at anything, from the dog across the street to people riding by on bikes to a bird in a tree.
Shih Tzus are cute dogs that get along well with many families and ways of life, even though they bark a lot.
Why Do Shih Tzus Bark?
Shih Tzus are known for how calm they are. But there is one thing that never changes: they are dogs.
Dogs bark as a natural way to talk to each other for a number of reasons. Shih Tzus are the same. Shih Tzus make that loud little barking sound for a number of reasons, from feeling safe to getting attention.
Some dogs bark more than others, but even though Shih Tzus are known as quiet dogs, there are a few reasons why they do bark.
Medication
Side effects of drugs happen to every animal, including people. Is that correct? Most dogs will bark when they are upset.
This is not something only Shih Tzus do.
Shih Tzus often bark too much, especially if they are on medicine that makes them feel weak for a long time.
Because of this, we strongly suggest that you only get prescriptions from your vet and always look up the side effects of a drug before giving it to your Shih Tzu.
Trauma
People who have adopted dogs have often run into this problem [University Guide]. The Shih Tzu will, of course, go too far with this. You don’t always know what your dog went through before he came to live with you.
Your dog may have been through terrible things that are hard to get over. Some traumatic memories are easy to get rid of with medication, but others can’t be.
In this situation, you need to be calm and kind to the dog. He will be able to forget about this terrible thing eventually. You can also look for things that make the dog bark and take them away.
Abuse and Snubbing
Another problem that a lot of adopted Shih Tzus have Shih Tzus are a breed of dog that can hunt and find food on their own. So, it’s not hard for them to get away from abuse.
Before you found your adopted Shih Tzu, he might have run away from a shelter where he was mistreated. He might not trust you because he remembers his old home, which would make him bark a lot.
He might try to leave your shelter, and if he can’t, he might get angry. So now you should know what to expect, right?
If you have this kind of Shih Tzu, you must be patient and loving with him. If you give him treats on a regular basis, he may feel more at ease and bark less.
Excitement
If you own a Shih Tzu or are thinking about getting one, you should know that they like to talk and show how they feel by barking. When they want to show how excited they are about an adventure or something else, they just bark.
Your dog might bark when your electric blender goes off or when you or another family member come home. Not too much should be made of this. It’s just a small way for him to get to know you better.
Attention Seeking
Your Shih Tzu barks to get your attention, which is another reason. from you, your family, or other animals in the area.
Shih Tzus are animals that like to play and have fun. If you are walking your Shih Tzu and stop to talk to a neighbour, he may start barking to get your attention back. He may also start barking at other dogs to play with them.
If your Shih Tzu barks in these situations, you shouldn’t get too upset. You can teach him to bark less, though.
Stranger’s Arrival
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When a strange person came near, they would bark. They do this to let their owners know that a stranger is coming, whether or not the stranger has good intentions. For instance, your Shih Tzu might bark whenever the mailman or a guest comes.
He did this every time until you put him in touch with someone so strange.
If there are times when you don’t want him to bark, you can teach him to be quiet when you tell him to. You should also take him out in public to stop him from barking. Get him to meet and talk to people.
Fear
Shih Tzus are a breed of very small dog. They are also bad at fighting because they are small. Their only defence is to bark all the time.
Most of the time, the dog barks to scare away danger and get help from its owner or other dogs on the same side.
For example, a big snake could find its way onto your land. When your Shih Tzu finds the snake, he will keep barking to get you or the other dogs in the house to help him fight it.
Your dog could also be scared by the following:
- Gunshots
- Fireworks
- Thunder
- Sudden screams or yells
- Fights
Pain or Medical Attention
Shih Tzus can only say what they want to say by barking. They can’t talk like people, so when they’re sick or hurt, they bark over and over again until you get the message.
They can also bark to ask for things like food, water, to be cleaned, or to play. If your Shih Tzu is barking at you, try to figure out what he wants and give it to him.
We suggest that you set things up so that most of your children’s needs can be met without them having to ask. Keep drugs out of their reach, though. If you think your pet is sick, call your vet right away.
At What Age Does a Shih Tzu Start to Bark?
Around three weeks old, Shih Tzu puppies usually start to bark. Before that, you might hear some grunting but no barking.
You should talk to your vet to figure out which training method will work best for you and your pet.
If my Shih Tzu barks a lot, how do I stop it?
You have to figure out what is making your dog bark before you can do anything else. We already know why your dog barks, and some of the reasons aren’t anything to worry about.
But if your Shih Tzu is barking for less-than-ideal reasons, you can teach it not to bark by taking some simple steps, which we’ll talk about below.
Teach Them To Obey Commands
You should start training your Shih Tzu puppy as soon as possible so that it knows how to act when it grows up. Most puppies have short attention spans, so you should be gentle and patient with your dog and let it learn at its own pace.
Call the puppy a good boy and give it a treat if it stays quiet after you take its muzzle off. When you do this, the puppy, which is still young and fragile, is less likely to bite you.
Desensitize Your Dog
To teach your Shih Tzu to talk, choose a simple word for the “Speak” command. Make a setting that will make your pet bark. The easiest way to do this is to have someone knock on the door or ring the doorbell when you say “speak.”
Hold a treat up to your pet’s nose and say “Speak” when it takes a whiff. When it barks, give it the treat. If it doesn’t understand, repeat the process until it does.
Even though Shih Tzus are smart dogs, they may take longer to learn. So be patient and consistent with your training.
Avoid Shouting Or Yelling
If your dog starts to bark, try not to yell at it. If they bark at a stranger and you yell at them, they might think you are helping them bark at the stranger.
Your Shih Tzu is a sensitive animal that may feel even worse if you keep yelling at it. If you’ve already taught your dog the first step, you can either gently tell it to stop barking or use it as a chance for your dog to learn.
Encourage Interaction
Take your dog on daily walks and to the dog park, where people can pet him and he can meet other people and animals. This will help your dog get used to people and make them more friendly.
It will also make them less likely to bark at every stranger they meet or see walking by. You must also make sure they get enough exercise during the day so that they can use up all their energy and you can all sleep well at night.
Pay Attention To Routes You Use During Your Walks
Your Shih Tzu has a good sense of smell and will bark at dogs who aren’t even on the sidewalk.
You can mark the route where there are houses with dogs inside and cross the street before getting to these houses so your dog doesn’t get too close to these other dogs. When they start to bark, tell them “Quiet” and give them a treat if they do what you say.
This doesn’t mean that they won’t bark the next day, since other dogs are known to make them do it. You might have to find a different way to walk your dog.
Familiarize Your Dog With New Things
If your dog barks at cars, you should take it to a quiet street where not many cars go by. When a car goes by, keep walking and tell them in a firm voice to be quiet if they start to bark.
Again, don’t yell when giving this instruction. You can also use words that show love and comfort, which your dog will see as a reward.
When you see a car coming, it’s important to stay calm because your Shih Tzu will watch how you react and how you move. Even if they are barking like crazy, don’t stiffen up. Show them that you aren’t afraid of the car and that it isn’t a threat.
This will help them get used to cars, so they won’t bark at them as much and will be ready to meet more vehicles on busy streets.
Get A Toy For Your Shih Tzu
Buy a chew toy for your dog so it has something to do while you’re gone. The toy will keep your dog busy and make them feel safe, which will keep them from getting into the bad habit of barking all the time.
You can add your scent to it so that even when you’re not near your dog, it feels like you are. This is great if your dog has separation anxiety because it will help them get through the day without getting upset. You can also hire someone to take care of your dog while you are at work.
Avoid Situations That May Be A Trigger
Stand in front of them and block their view until they stop barking. Give them praise by calling them cute names and giving them a treat when they do something good.
Build A Door Flap Or An Indoor Toilet For Your Dog
Install a door flap for your dog so he can go to the bathroom at night, or build him an indoor toilet if you live in an apartment and don’t have a backyard.
The Shih Tzu is not a big breed of dog and can easily fit through small door flaps, so it should be easy to set up. So, he won’t have to wake you up and won’t have to worry about holding it in.
Ignore Your Dog’s Barking
When your Shih Tzu barks, sometimes you just have to ignore it until it stops. Turn your back on them while they bark to get your attention. When they stop barking, turn around and give them a treat and some praise.
Final Thoughts
When a dog wants to say something, it barks. Even though it can be annoying at times, it should never be gone for good. Shih Tzus bark a lot, but it’s easy to teach them when to bark and when not to. It only takes a little patience and determination to finish the job.
I have been working in animal shelter for the past six years and I have been raising the puppies of different breeds. I have had experience in training the puppies in obedience, agility, and other dog sports.
My main objective is to train the puppies to become good family pets. They should be well-behaved and trained to be loving, loyal, and obedient.
Contact me:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (912) 634-3631
Address: 102 Village Way Crk Saint Simons Island, Georgia(GA), 31522
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