I had the worst nightmare of my life when my Shih Tzu was only 4 years old. After a long and tiring day at work, I walked home to find that my beautiful custom-made shoe cabinets had been scratched and chipped by unknown forces, and next to my cabinet is my sweet little dog, with leftover wood chips around. her mouth, leaping for joy at the return of her master.
I thought my house had been broken into, but a closer examination revealed that my dog was to blame for this destruction. After the next few days, similar events happened. Of course, I was in an explosive mood, but at the same time, I was concerned about the destructive nature of my Shih Tzu. What has happened to turn a sweet little angel into a monster from hell?
Very soon, after much research, I discovered that my dog suffered from separation anxiety. Research has shown that if a Shih Tzu experiences separation anxiety, it can display unwanted behaviors such as whining, barking, crying, howling, digging, chewing, and scratching at the door the entire time its family members are out and about. So how did these behaviors start?
Well, if you are facing similar problems, the bad news is that this unwanted behavior manifested itself due to our actions; yes, I mean you, the owner. Sometimes, without realizing it, we encourage such misconduct by the way we leave our home. I used to have a tendency to say goodbye to my dog for so long that it can make things worse as it can make him feel more isolated after my departure. Research has shown that these types of prolonged goodbyes can excite the dog and there is no way around it. These excited and isolated Shih Tzu would therefore remove their excess energy in the most destructive way, like chewing on furniture.
Remember, your Shih Tzu is not being spiteful when he chews wildly and scratches the walls, as he does not have the human intelligence to act spitefully. In fact, Shih Tzu is a people-oriented dog. To prevent separation anxiety from occurring, it is important that you make your dog feel happy and secure if you are not at home. It is important to keep the dog busy, such as providing him with toys to play with.
Your dog needs to learn to know that he will be coming home. If possible for you, try to spend consecutive days addressing this issue. Spend time with your dog and give him the required attention if he needs it. However, do not pull the dog to stay with you every time you decide to be alone. Your dog needs his personal spaces too, so leave him alone if he doesn’t follow you. By not encouraging your dog to always be by your side, you are teaching him that it is okay to be alone without your presence.
If your Shih Tzu is already experiencing separation anxiety, it is important that you begin this exercise so that the dog gradually gets used to your departure. Try to go out and return home at irregular intervals and, if possible, continue to do so several times during the day. Doing so will allow your Shih Tzu to get used to your outings. It will also help the dog understand that you are not going to leave him forever.
It is much more difficult to insure a Shih Tzu that has previously been lost, or those that are adopted. Therefore, as an owner, you must give a lot of love and patience to your Shih Tzu. This will help your Shih Tzu to “loosen up” when you are not at home.
I hope this article helps you manage your dog’s separation anxiety.