If she doesn’t come after you’ve called her two or three times, take the bowl away and do not return it until the next feeding time. With a little effort and patience, your dog can learn that it’s okay to be alone. First, you have to teach her what a lick is, or rather what you mean when you say the word lick. Injured claws: Your Shih Tzu might have broken a claw. If your dog shows signs of any of these behaviors while you are away, he may have separation anxiety. Then tell him to “come on” and continue with the walk, using treats if necessary. You’re not going to hurt your dog’s feelings if you don’t say good-bye. Typically he gets taken away from his mother and litter siblings at a very early age, weeks rather than months, kept in a box until sold then taken to strange surroundings that are to be his new home, then left alone all day while his new owners go to work or school. I have rescued 8 dogs none as well trained as Penny. The large, exposed eyes are prone to many irritations and eye infections. For this reason, a shih tzu should be socialized with new children on a gradual basis and ALWAYS under supervision. If your shih tzu does not need to go out for a toilet break or is not in any obvious pain and is constantly whining or... A frightened and distressed shih tzu may show his anxious state by … Before you leave, take your dog for a walk and have some playtime so that your dog can blow off some steam. When he starts barking and growling, try reassuring him that all is okay and generally trying to calm him down. I presumed that he was thirsty so got him some water which he drank willingly. You are right to be concerned, the barking and growling could easily escalate into biting. Your shih tzu probably has a “safe place” where he goes in times of stress. You pup will feel more comfortable in surroundings she knows well. Itching isn’t usually a sign of stress. Shih Tzu Anxiety Symptoms The symptoms are generally going to be destructive in a lot of dogs. Whatever the cause, your vet should be able to accurately diagnose it and prescribe some appropriate medication, probably a cream, a lotion, a tablet, or a combination of these. He said slightly dehydrated but in perfect condition .red tear staining , Coat very thin and few tangles . Most Common Shih Tzu Eye Problems. An anxious dog might be unable to sit still or relax, or may have physical symptoms, such as excessive shedding and changes to eating and sleeping habits. He’s fine up until we pass a certain point and then he’ll stop and refuse to move. As long as Penny’s weight is staying around 6kg, I wouldn’t be too concerned about her fussy eating. – Malevolent Morsels Revealed, Best Dog Food For A Shih Tzu? These symptoms on their own do not indicate anxiety but when seen with any of the others previously mentioned then they help to confirm the diagnosis. If they are somewhere where they cannot run away the fear turns to aggression which is why Obie barks and growls. . Here are some tips to finding your perfect companion, Shih Tzu are not typically an aggressive breed however, over time a dog can develop bad behavior. Then covid happened. What I suggest is to get your shih tzu used to the noise of rain and thunder by playing these sounds to him but at a much lower level. For example, when Bruno was a puppy he had to be rushed to the emergency vet as he had lapsed into a coma. This may or may not help in your particular situation. When you reach the spot, or any spot where Obie just sits down and stops, give him a breather for a few seconds but don’t let him retreat. First of all, as with any sudden change of behavior, I would recommend having Ella examined by a vet to make sure there are no underlying health problems that have led to this, if you have not already done so. This needs to be done in a calm and non-aggressive way, perhaps taking him for walks along totally new routes where there a plenty of people and other dog walkers. When he has an episode it starts with the honking sound and then has a little cough and then kind of a little gag. – The Dilemma Facing All Shih Tzu Owners, Shih Tzu Separation Anxiety – how to cope, Best Toys For A Shih Tzu – What To Look Out For, Popular Names For Shih Tzu Puppies – The Top 10 Surveyed, Should I Get A Shih Tzu? Plus, you want to make sure he’s had his potty break before you leave, too. You can find out more about licking in my post: Being fussy about meal times appears to be a characteristic of the shih tzu breed. Shih Tzu with anxiety, fear issues. I hope this helps and I hope things work out for you and your shih tzu. Noise, especially sudden, loud noises such as thunder, fireworks and bursting balloons can cause anxious reactions and panic in shih tzu. We got him from a professional breeder and know he was very well cared for. Anxiety complexes can also at times be attributed to genetics and temperament. Check for heavy breathing sounds, wheezing or nasal discharge. Usually it’s nothing for you to get stressed over, most shih tzu anxiety problems can be overcome with a little training or, in more intense cases, more training over time, either at home or at specialist classes. Take some time early on to engage in a little separation training with your dog. What will also build Penny’s self-confidence is to go through some basic commands with her, particularly “sit”, “stay”, “come” and “heel”. You can typically determine that your pet’s anxious symptoms are due to separation anxiety if they occur only in your absence. I hope that all of this is of some help to you and Penny. I am assuming here that you have some method of audio playback either by CD of MP3. She may even learn to become a little more playful in their company. At the same time, try to stop Obie wandering off of your chosen direction, keep on encouraging him to follow you. This will gradually condition him to behave appropriately. ? I wanted another shih tzu … Keep walking slightly in front and try and avoid having the leash become taut. Like you, I throw away a lot of food. Not only this, but I’ve noticed he was shivering too. Urinating or defecating in the house even though they are housetrained If that is not enough, they can easily get into depression. As you have previously had her checked by a vet I don’t think there is an underlying disease causing the red stains but I would have the vet check again while she is there, just to be sure. One night, Bailey was on my bed and started panting excessively. Here are some great gift ideas, quirky, fun or practical that bring joy to dog lovers everywhere, What do you do if your Shih Tzu dog ate chocolate? It is all about building up Penny’s self-confidence after the setbacks she has had earlier in her life. 1 doctor agrees. This can be in the form of play and some basic training. He doesn’t mind my Dad or my Grandpa, and doesn’t mind any other female person. These seven signs can tell you if your dog is suffering from stress. If you have any thoughts or questions on this subject please make a comment or use our “contact us” form. The Shih Tzu breed’s entire existence is to love and be loved and make wonderful companions for any home. Anxiety is a fact of life—even for a dog. In other cases, signs of separation anxiety can be subtler, such as drooling or pacing (… Dehydrated but in perfect condition.red tear staining, Coat very thin and few tangles do! Level at which your Shih Tzu will hold his tail up above his bottom frightened and Shih! And continue with the other dogs energy for howling and chewing and other medical issues, I something! 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