Shih Tzu tend to bark at visitors due to their excitement. While in the car, they can get overstimulated by sights and sounds. They end up making a lot of doggy banter. Undergoing training can eliminate these inappropriate and unnecessary yapping.
Are Shih Tzu Vocal?
Shih Tzu are vocal. They bark, whine, cry, and howl. Some of them even seem to talk and sing. When they hear high-pitch sounds, they tend to respond by howling. They do this to get their owner’s attention. It can be because they are bored or when they are feeling sick or hurt.
Why Does My Shih Tzu Talk So Much?
Barking is their way of calling your attention and communicating with you. Most of the time, Shih Tzu bark or appear to talk when triggered. Triggers can be coming from ringing the doorbell, seeing another dog or animal, and other random stimuli.
Do All Shih Tzu Bark?
Except for young puppies who haven’t yet learned how, all Shih Tzu bark. However, when your dog barks fine and suddenly stops, it might be sick. Your Shih Tzu may have:
Hoarseness: It can be due to laryngitis, the temporary inflammation of the vocal cords. Laryngitis can be caused by too much barking or other possible causes. It usually resolves within days, but it is best to see your vet.
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection: Bacterial, viral, or fungal infection in the upper respiratory tract may cause barking to be painful. Hence, your dog avoids it. Sometimes, they still do, but the illness or pain makes the barking sound muffled or different.
Trauma: Be wary of putting your dog’s collar or pulling it with a leash. It is a common cause of trauma in the neck. The larynx, pharynx, or other parts used for barking may be affected.
Depression: Like humans, traumatizing experiences such as isolation and loss may trigger depression. When your Shih Tzu becomes lonely, it might refuse to do activities it once enjoyed. Barking can be one of these activities.
Why Does My Shih Tzu Bark at Everyone?
Barking is your dog’s way of communicating with the world. When it yaps at someone, it’s trying to say something. Your Shih Tzu loves to greet your visitors at your front door. They call your friend’s attention to ask for petting. Feeling threatened, it might be telling the mailman to go away.
At What Age Do Shih Tzu Start Barking?
Your Shih Tzu will start vocalizing in the third week of its life. By the seventh to eighth week, they will begin to bark. It will mostly whine and grunt. Complaining, grunting, and sometimes, chirping will be its form of rehearsal for barking.
If you find your Shih Tzu to be very quiet past eight months, just wait. Your pooch might be a late bloomer. Give it time to find its voice. It probably has not yet seen a reason to bark or has encountered few triggers.
Do Shih Tzu Grow Out of Barking?
Shih Tzu are a very active breed. Their energy level is always high. They expend it for playing and being curious about their surroundings. Following you around, and making barking and yapping noises are two other things they do. Generally, they will calm down from six months to one year with proper training.
How Do I Get My Shih Tzu to Stop Barking at Everything?
Incessant barking may be caused by your Shih Tzu being triggered. If at home, regulate the triggers by keeping the house calm and peaceful. Turn down the volume of your TVs and radios. Prevent the kids from taunting your pet. If you want a quiet dog, its environment should also be peaceful.
Another reason a Shih Tzu barks at everything is pent-up energy. Release it healthily by ensuring regular exercise. Ideally, work up your Shih Tzu in light to moderate cardio activity in your walks. Remember to walk your dog two to three times a day for at least 20 minutes each session.
When your Shih Tzu is bored or stressed, it will tend to call your attention. Provide adequate mental stimulation. Treat-release toys and other interactive toys are activities your Shih Tzu can play independently. Spend time with it to play and explore new environments to satisfy its mental appetite.
Do Shih Tzu Bark at Other Dogs?
Whether they see them at the window or during your walks, your Shih Tzu will try to communicate with other dogs. They get attracted by moving objects outside, and barking is their way to respond. Being an intelligent breed, they are also curious.
Why Does My Shih Tzu Bark at Big Dogs?
When they are outside, your Shih Tzu will encounter many triggers for barking. Big dogs are large moving objects, and they will be very curious about them. A couple of barks to greet the bigger breed is fine. But if your Shih Tzu barks aggressively or tries to lunge, it will be a problem.
How to Stop Shih Tzu Barking at Other Dogs
You can train your Shih Tzu to control its impulses when it sees other dogs. The simplest one is called the Ignore Method. The key is to withhold your reaction when your pet tries to call your attention.
During training, prompt your dog to bark. You may present something you know will bring your Shih Tzu to go baying. When it does, turn your back to it. Do not turn until your pet is quiet. Do this consistently. Give praises and treats as a reward. Soon, your pooch will realize that barking is futile to call you.
Do Shih Tzu Bark at Strangers?
No matter how small this breed is, they can be effective watchdogs. Shih Tzu believe it is their duty to protect the house from intruders. Why they bark at strangers is based on this belief. Their loyalty to their owners also prompts them to yelp when they sense danger.
How to Stop Shih Tzu Barking on Walks
Your Shih Tzu is prone to bark at the many outdoor triggers. Give it training so it learns not to give in to the impulse. You will need treats, a harness, and a retractable leash to prepare. Do the following:
- Have your Shih Tzu at heel position on a harness and retractable leash. The harness will give you control without compromising safety. Compared to a collar, the harness will not cause strain on your Shih Tzu’s neck when you pull on it. The heel position keeps the dog walking directly next to the handler, not in front or behind.
- Keep the treats in a pouch or in your pocket, where you can easily retrieve them.
- For training, choose a low-distraction route. It will be easier for your Shih Tzu to learn the new rules with fewer triggers.
- Ignore your Shih Tzu when it barks. By not reacting to the bark, you send a message that barking does not get results. Continue to walk at a brisk pace. Keep your dog in the heeling position by using the harness and leash. When you move along, your dog is subtly diverted and would cease to bark.
- Slow down when the barking stops, then give your dog a treat. When your Shih Tzu remains to be quiet throughout the walk, provide it with praise and reward.
- Do these steps again in your next walking session. When you feel that your dog is ready, choose a busier walking route to challenge its new self-control skills.
Why Do Shih Tzu Bark at Kids?
There are two reasons why Shih Tzu bark at kids. The first is overexcitement to play. Whether or not your dog is familiar with the kids, your pet displays its excitement to play with them.
The second probable reason is fear or worry. If your Shih Tzu and a particular kid know each other and have played before. This kid may have rough-handled your pet. Your dog’s baying towards this kid indicates its refusal to play again, worse, to be near them.
Why Does My Shih Tzu Bark at Night?
Dogs have heightened senses. Your Shih Tzu might be hearing things you cannot, such as rodents or other small animals moving in the yard. Sometimes, they also hear other dogs howling from afar. Aside from these, there are several reasons why dogs bark at night:
Loneliness: Shih Tzu love your company. When they are left alone, they tend to be anxious or lonely. They will likely express this in a way they know how — barking.
Boredom: Some Shih Tzu does not get the physical exercise and mental stimulation they need during the day. They will tend to release the pent-up energy at night.
Warning: Thinking they have to protect you and the house, they will bark at the slightest sense of danger. It could be a person walking past your home or a car driving by. They will give you a warning through relentless barking.
Do Shih Tzu Howl?
You might have noticed your Shih Tzu howl upon hearing sirens. Like barking, howling is another form of vocal communication your Shih Tzu is using. And like all dogs, your pet is yelping to call your attention, announce their presence, or contact others.
Why Does My Shih Tzu Howl at Night?
When they hear high-pitch sounds, Shih Tzu tend to respond in the form of howling. Owners reported that they howl at the sound of police, fire, or ambulance siren. These sounds resemble the cry of other dogs, so your Shih Tzu instinctively howls back.
Are Shih Tzu Yappy?
Shih Tzu can be yappy. They will tend to bark at other people, other dogs, and in response to sounds. When they are lonely, bored, anxious, or sick, they will try to communicate with you by making shrill woofing sounds. But generally, they are less noisy than most toy breeds.
Why Is My Shih Tzu So Yappy?
Without proper training, your Shih Tzu may end up being so yappy. If it is trying to seek attention and you give in, it will undoubtedly do it repeatedly. Yapping, barking, and howling are some of its vocal communication means. It is definitely trying to tell you something.
Why Does My Shih Tzu Whine?
Shih Tzu that whine must be in pain: physical or emotional. It can be lonely, stressed, bored, hungry, or sick. Try to identify the cause to provide proper management. Look for accompanying symptoms such as skin licking or vomiting.
How to Stop Shih Tzu Whining
If you have identified a physical source for your Shih Tzu’s whining, bring it to the veterinarian for proper treatment. Otherwise, have it trained to address emotional or behavioral issues. For Shih Tzu with separation anxiety, the following may help:
- Having a consistent routine
- Spending more time walking and playing with it
- Making sure the things it needs are accessible
- Not making a big deal of your return
- Consulting an animal behaviorist for severe anxieties
Why Does My Shih Tzu Puppy Cry So Much?
Like human babies, your Shih Tzu’s way to communicate its needs is by crying. Check if it is hungry or uncomfortable. If you have recently taken it home, it probably misses its litter. It is experiencing separation anxiety from its previous family.
How Can I Make My Shih Tzu Quieter?
If your Shih Tzu is making excessive noise, modifying a few things in your routine can be helpful. You can try to apply these tips:
- Provide a calm and relaxing environment at home.
- Don’t shout to stop it from barking. It will aggravate the situation.
- Give it a healthy release of its energy through adequate exercise.
- Eliminate its noise triggers.
- Ignoring it when it is attention-seeking.
