If you’re a proud new mom or dad of an extremely shy shih tzu puppy, don’t worry! This is a fear-based behavioral characteristic and is very common in a puppy. It is a well-known fact that in every litter, there will be at least one shih-tzu puppy who is timid and needs a little more care than the average puppy. However, you need not worry as shih tzu house training is not difficult at all.
First, we need to understand the cause of this fear. When the shy shih tzu puppy grows up, he can develop unwanted behaviors such as needing and always looking towards his owners in any situation he finds himself in. This may seem harmless, but do you know that this need to “run to mommy or daddy” every time he gets scared, your pup can start to initiate aggression if he doesn’t get the reassuring attention? This is what is known as fear-induced aggression.
Do you know that if you constantly pet and soothe your shih tzu puppy whenever he shows extreme shyness or gets scared, you are actually reinforcing this behavior? Of course, it’s tough and hard to ignore your scared pup when he needs you… it’s like your own baby crying out for help and how can you not run to hug the helpless baby? But know that if you want to change your puppy’s behavior and help him grow up to be a fearless and social animal, you need to let him know that it’s “okay” to be afraid.
How to Help Your Shy Shih-Tzu Puppy Change
When you have your puppy for the first time, you should observe him. If your pup is showing signs of fear and shyness, patience is needed as he helps her adjust. Coax your puppy, but you must let him realize that you are no longer his protector. First of all, you need to start stopping your puppy from behaviors that he is used to doing when he gets scared. For example, behaviors like barking while he hides behind his legs when he gets startled, bolting when he sees a normal part of the outside, like a person walking or a bush swaying in the wind, etc.
Two simple tips you can use to help your Shih Tzu puppy be less shy:
Tip 1. If your puppy often barks or cries when people approach him, you should correct this behavior by reporting and explaining to your family and friends to ignore your puppy’s fear-induced barking or crying. So when these people naturally ignore your pup’s barking or crying and keep coming closer, your pup will learn that this behavior isn’t working in her favor. So from now on, your pup will begin to understand that fear-induced barking doesn’t really work and will stop.
Tip 2. In a situation where your pup needs to interact with guests, you should always secure him on a leash. Bring your pup when he approaches the guests. Therefore, whenever your pup gets scared and starts to cry, bark, or even hide behind his legs, he should act confident without trying to pet or calm your pup. In other words, you ignore your puppy’s crying to be comforted. This will help your pup to be more courageous and let him know that such behaviors will no longer work.
These simple shih tzu home training tips can help you train and correct your puppy’s behavior before the situation gets out of hand.
