Train your Shih Tzu not to bite, even if her name is Jaws
A dog that bites everything and everyone who comes near her can be a real headache and embarrassment. Although unlikely in the Shih Tzu’s case, a lawsuit is also not out of the question.
Now, a biting Shih Tzu is less of a problem than say a pit bull or a Rottweiler, but it is still unacceptable behavior that needs to be addressed. Fortunately, in most cases, this is a problem that is not too difficult to fix.
Start early
Training an older dog to stop biting is much more difficult than training a puppy not to bite. For this reason, it is very important to start at a very early age before biting becomes a habit.
Let’s say your puppy bites your hand. Your task is to let the puppy know that it is unacceptable to bite a person. The best way to do this is to quickly pull your hand away and say “No Sheba” in a firm tone. Instead of yelling “No,” you can also fill a tin with rocks and shake it every time the puppy starts biting. Dogs absolutely hate noise. If done enough times, your puppy will learn that biting is unacceptable and that you will not tolerate her behavior.
Dogs bite to protect their possessions
Your dog may growl, become aggressive, and even bite you or other dogs when disturbed while eating. This is a completely normal and natural instinct that you should not try and change. Instead, feed her away from other dogs (perhaps in a closed room) and leave her alone while she eats. She will quickly learn that there is no reason to feel threatened.
Your dog may also bite because it is protecting its toys and other belongings. You may notice that she tends to guard a certain item, say a rawhide. Your best bet is to take the item from her and not give it or similar items to her in the future.
Another strategy is to give her so many toys or possessions that she learns that they are plentiful and that there is no reason to protect them.
are you the problem
Have you ever praised your dog when he tries to protect you by biting or snarling at people? Or maybe you even rewarded her behavior with treats. If so, you have told your Shih Tzu that it is perfectly acceptable for her to bite people. Suddenly telling her to stop will only confuse her, especially if you’ve been encouraging her for years. Getting help from a behavior specialist may be your only option in this case.
You can teach a dog not to bite, but it’s even better to buy a dog that doesn’t bite. One way to do this is by observing the puppies when you first choose your puppy. Watch the puppies as they play and avoid any that show aggressive behavior towards others by biting and snapping.
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