Can I leave a Shih Tzu alone for 8 hours

Can Shih Tzu Be Left Alone (and Will They Be Happy)?

Fortunately, there are several ways to make the situation better. You can train your dog to feel comfortable being at home without you. Consider their age, toileting skills, and confidence before leaving them alone.

How Long Can I Leave My Shih Tzu Alone?

Since you may need to go outside for errands, school, work, or other engagements, you can leave your Shih Tzu for 7 to 9 hours. But before you do, set the necessary measures in place to make sure that your pet is well-prepared for this milestone.

Water and food should be available if your Shih Tzu feels thirst and hunger. Their favorite toys should also be accessible. It will be their source of comfort and entertainment in your absence. Leave the lights on, especially if you expect to get home after dark.

Can You Leave a Shih Tzu Alone for 8 Hours?

Older Shih Tzu who can hold their bladder longer will tolerate staying alone in an empty house for 8 hours. If you plan to start leaving your young Shih Tzu alone for the same length of time, take baby steps. Try to make your outing short and gradually increase it as your Shih Tzu begins to tolerate it.

At the start, you may want to go home and check in to make sure that everything is fine. If you cannot do it, talk to someone who can help. Find people who can take a peek, walk the dog and keep it company for a few minutes while you are away.

Keep bladder control in mind. Shih Tzu can control their toileting activities for one hour for each month of their lives. If you leave your six-month-old Shih Tzu for eight hours, then prepare to come home to a puddle.

Are Shih Tzu Ok to Be Left Alone?

Since they are very affectionate, they wont like being left alone. To your Shih Tzu, you are the world! If they havent been conditioned to separate from you, they might get anxious and upset. Dont be surprised to find broken things or a puddle when you get home.

When left alone unprepared, some Shih Tzu engage in ripping, chewing, and scratching. These behaviors are a result of their insecurity. They become too nervous and end up with problem behaviors. They might chew your slippers, rip a pillow apart or scratch the door as a release of their negative emotion.

Remember that your Shih Tzu engages in these negative behaviors as a stress reliever. They dont do these out of spite. There is no need to punish them.

Another undesirable outcome when you leave your unprepared Shih Tzu is toileting issues. Keep in mind that a Shih Tzu younger than six months can only hold its bladder for less than six hours. If it tries to hold it in, it might develop kidney diseases.

Do Shih Tzu Bark When Left Alone?

Some Shih Tzu release their anxiety through barking and howling. When leaving them alone, in the initial stages, ensure an open space for them to move around. Keeping them locked in a room will make them feel trapped, more nervous, and scared.

Before leaving your Shit Tzu alone at home, find out if it is better to leave the windows open or closed. Some Shih Tzu will feel excited to go out if the windows are open. The excitement will cause them to keep barking to get attention.

Can Two Shih Tzu Be Left Alone?

One way to ease your Shih Tzus pain when left alone is to get a second puppy or dog. Because they are a friendly breed, having another dog for company is better than having no one at all. This way, both will be less lonely while you are away.

Do Shih Tzu Have Separation Anxiety?

A Shih Tzu tends to be easily attached to its owners. Playing and cuddling with them makes your bond stronger each day. This strong attachment develops separation anxiety (previously known as owner absent behavior).

Separation anxiety is the intense fear and distress dogs may feel when their owners leave them alone at home for a few minutes to several hours. Shih Tzu, especially younger ones, dont understand why their owners have to go. It makes them scared and nervous.

Do Shih Tzu Grow Out of Separation Anxiety?

A Shih Tzu with separation anxiety displays destructive behaviors when you go out. Your Shih Tzu will learn to cope with your absence with proper training and conditioning. They will learn how to be comfortable being home alone.

How Can I Get My Shih Tzu to Stop Having Separation Anxiety?

Each time before you leave, have a suitable amount of time to play with your Shih Tzu. Assure your dog that while you are out, you will return, and you can play again. To meet your dogs needs, make sure to feed it and walk it outside before you leave.

Please dont make a big deal out of your return when you get home. Act as you normally would. By doing this, your Shih Tzu will also understand: if you go out, you will also return. Also, it will think that your return is not something it should be excited about. Later, it will get used to your absence.

How to Train a Shih Tzu to Be Alone

After housebreaking, aim to develop your Shih Tzus self-confidence. You can do this by teaching them how to self-soothe and play independently. These two skills will play an essential role in your Shih Tzus ability to tolerate an empty house.

One of the concerns, when you leave your Shih Tzu alone, is toileting. Keep in mind that your dog can hold its bladder for one hour for each month of its life. If you leave your five-month-old puppy, dont be away for more than five hours. If you do, youll be wiping the floor when you get home.

You need to prepare the space, as well as your Shih Tzus disposition before you leave. Allot time for feeding and for dog walking. Feed it at least two hours before, and then walk it outside to eliminate fifteen minutes before you leave.

Cuddle with it for an undivided fifteen minutes. It will keep it feeling secure and confident before you part ways. Also, a significant gesture is to shower it with attention and affection. Please do this before feeding it, around two hours before you go. Never engage with your Shih Tzu minutes before your scheduled leaving time.

Prepare the following to ensure that your Shih Tzu has everything it needs while youre out:

• Food, for when it gets hungry.
• Water, for when it gets thirsty.
• A Basket of Toys to self-soothe and entertain itself.
• Laid-Out Newspapers, if it needs to move its bowels.
• Doggie Bed, to rest on if it gets tired.

Refrain from keeping your Shih Tzu in one room when you leave. It might feel that its being punished and act out. If it does not see the other side of the door, it might panic. Your Shih Tzu might resort to troubling behaviors like scratching, ripping, and chewing. Some dogs have been reported to chew themselves when they are anxious.

Here are other helpful tips:

• Windows: Find out if your Shih Tzu will cope better with the windows open or closed. Some dogs get more anxious when they cannot see whats outside. As a result, they would resort to barking, scratching, and other troubling behaviors.
• Music: See how your Shih Tzu will respond to calming music. It might help them stay composed while you are away. You can also leave the TV on so your Shih Tzu does not feel alone. Make sure that there wont be violence and shouting, which would make your dog all the more scared.
• Lights: If you expect to be late, leave the lights on. Your Shih Tzu might panic if it turns dark in the house without you.
• Company: Having another dog is a way to end your Shih Tzus distress when leaving it alone. They could pretend that its just another ordinary day when you are out.

When you arrive, act normal even when you miss your Shih Tzu as much as it missed you. Try to do the usual things you do without appearing too enthusiastic. Doing this will give your Shih Tzu the impression that its not a big deal. It will understand that it is not something to look forward to every time you leave.

Can I Leave My Shih Tzu Alone? Tips & FAQ

Ever since ancient days, the Shih Tzu has been accustomed to following their humans wherever they go. But in modern times, its harder to let our dogs accompany us on errands since they cant just wait in the wagon or trail behind us at the market. Since the Shih Tzu is literally bred to never leave you, is it okay to leave them? The short answer is yes, but not for very long. After all, even if youre retired or work from home, its practically impossible to never leave the house. However, since the Shih Tzu is a companion animal, theyre more likely to develop separation anxiety than some other breeds if left alone for long periods of time.

How Long Can I Leave My Shih Tzu Alone?

When you first adopt your Shih Tzu, youll ideally commit the next few months to staying by their side. Potty-training takes a consistent, hourly effort. A Shih Tzu puppys small bladder simply wont support them while youre gone at work for 8 hours a day. We recommend taking them outside to relieve themselves at least every couple of hours until theyve mastered the skill.

You shouldnt leave your Shih Tzu for longer than 4 hours at a time until theyre around 8 months old. At this time, their bladders capacity has increased, so you can leave them for the length of an average work shift, but this is still not ideal.

If you must work away from home, we recommend hiring a dog walker to come see about your pup in the middle of the day or enrolling your Shih Tzu in doggy daycare. A lonely, bored Shih Tzu can become destructive as they grapple with these tough emotions.

How to Train Your Shih Tzu to (Happily) Stay Home by Themselves

While you wont be able to leave your Shih Tzu puppy for long stretches right away, you should introduce positive associations with being alone as soon as possible. Gradually working towards longer times apart should help the transition go smoothly. Here are some tips as you begin.

1. Create Positive Associations with the Crate

The crate isnt a dreaded doggy prison. Instead, its your pups private oasis where they can relax away from the noise and stress of the rest of the household. Leave the door open when youre home so your Shih Tzu can crawl in when they want to and not feel trapped. When its time for you to go, always escort them to the crate with a treat in hand.

2. Leave for Brief Periods at First

Start with 15 minutes, then work your way up to an hour for the first 24 months of your pups life. While you might have heard the general advice that you can leave your dog for 1 hour for each month of their life, we tend to take a more conservative view for small companion breeds who have tiny bladders and arent bred for being independent. Stick to 4 hours or less until theyre 6 months old. After that, you can gradually work your way to 68 hours. You should never leave your Shih Tzu for longer than 8 hours, even as an adult, and ideally no more than 6 hours.

3. Meet All Their Needs

In the hour up to your departure, make sure theyve had an opportunity to eat, drink, and relieve themselves. Try not to encourage these things right before you leave, though, or they may begin to negatively associate eating and relieving themselves with you leaving the house.

4. Make Them Comfortable

If youre leaving your Shih Tzu in a crate, line it with a plush blanket and a safe, stuffing-free toy or treat that they can enjoy while youre away. If your Shih Tzu stays outside of their crate while youre away, make sure theres nothing in their reach that can hurt them, such as dangling power cords or open food. Leave out a little food and water so they dont panic, and try to slip away quietly.

5. Always Leave a Light On

You never know when heavy traffic may cause you to come home after dark. You should make a habit of leaving at least one light on near your Shih Tzu so they arent afraid if nightfall comes without you.

Conclusion

With proper training, your Shih Tzu can comfortably stay at home by themselves. Even so, theyre companion animals who wont thrive in a crate or sitting on the sofa alone all day. If possible, someone should attend to your Shih Tzu at least every 4 hours. In extreme cases, its okay to leave your Shih Tzu for up to 8 hours, but you should never go beyond that and try not to make it a habit. If you are gone for most of the day every day, you might consider taking your Shih Tzu to doggy daycare or hiring a professional dog walker. Having someone to check on them can alleviate the stress of your absence and reduce their chances of developing separation anxiety.

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Featured Image Credit: Daniel Malinowski, Shutterstock