Shih Tzu Barking – do Shih Tzus Bark too much?
Shih Tzus are affectionate dogs that prefer to avoid fighting, but that doesn’t always mean Shih Tzu barking won’t be a problem. Their level of socializing or level of boredom may be more of a factor when they bark, and it is best to work on prevention early on.
We have 4 Shih Tzus in our home. And they range from one who is totally relaxed and almost never barks, to another that enjoys barking at anything that moves. The bottom line is that Shih Tzus may have a bad rap as they aren’t always too barky despite the general belief that Shih Tzus do bark a lot.
Keep reading to find out what causes a Shih Tzu to be a constant barker, instead of laid back and calm.
Do our Shih Tzus bark too much
Our 7 year old male Shih Tzu is cool and collected and wise. He can lay in the yard and chill, seldom ever barking except for the noisy passers by or barking neighbor dogs where he might give a reply. His calm energy levels allow him to be a Shih Tzu who definitely does not bark too much.
Sometimes one of our ‘shih Tzus does bark too much. We purchased a 2 in 1 remote dog training and anti bark collar. We do not want to punish our dog, and the collar is used only on medium beep level with the correction setting off. That way it is just a small noise correction to dissuade her from barking. It works. While wearing the collar we never hear a peep from Maisy. But when we remove it she is her normal self and sometimes barks too much.
We have found more frequent walks help reduce some of her energy level and exploring needs. And she becomes more calm and relaxed.
Spending some play time with your Shih Tzu along with some exercising walks may be all that is needed to satisfy their exploring and play needs. Then they can relax and follow your lead for a relaxed demeanor
Why do Shih Tzus Bark
Shih Tzus are not the barkiest dog breeds. As with any toy breed, barking usually stems from boredom and a desire to explore to get rid of that boredom, or wanting to play or get attention.
Part of understanding if the Shih Tzu barks too much, is to understand why they are barking. Here are a few reasons a Shih Tzu might bark.
Saying hello looking for attention
Our Shih Tzus are like all other dogs. When we get home they are very happy to see us, and occasionally may bark or howl in their excitement. Sometimes it just takes one to set the others off too. Generally just ignoring them briefly while we put the keys away and bring the shopping in is all it takes for them to settle down. Best advice is to just ignore their antics and they will settle down.
Wanting something, food, toy, playing, walk
This is a good bark and we always allow our Shih Tzus to bark when they want something. Their playful barks when they want a toy or want some attention are always welcome. Our dogs will also bark if the water bowl is empty or they need to get out into the yard to take a bathroom break.
Emotions, Afraid or fearful, anxious, bored
We recently lost our 16 year old Shih Tzu cross. He had an extremely loving personality and loved being a lap dog. As he got older he became more anxious, and occasionally would bark because of it. Generally though he would just look for a quiet corner where he felt safe. So even though he was an anxious dog, he was not a problem barker at all.
Protective of the home and owners or other pets
Maisey is our third dog, and is currently 3 years old. She is still a pup at heart and has energy to spare.
One of her favorite past times is sitting in the backyard, on guard, ready to alert us to anything that may be happening outside.
If she happens to see a bird in the yard, or a mouse runs along the fence, she will simply chase as that is fun for her.
If she hears other dogs out, or the neighbors, then she is on high alert and barks to tell us of the suspicious activity outside. Her high energy level keeps her on alert and prone to bark too much.
However, take her on a walk and she is still energetic, but no longer barking. She is just enjoying her walk.
In Summary
Based on our experience, Shih Tzus are not problem barkers. Most of the time they are very well behaved. Generally when they bark it is for a reason and only for short periods. Hopefully your Shih Tzu is not a barker. But if you need help with your pet’s barking, there are good resources that should help.