Do Shih Tzus like to be left alone

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

Contributions sourced from

Can Shih Tzus Be Left Alone?

If you have a Shih Tzu you might be wondering can Shih Tzus be left alone? Yes, they can, but no they dont like it. There are some important considerations you need to take into account before you decide to leave your Shih Tzu home alone.

Can Shih Tzus Be Left Alone?

I have two Shih Tzus, Sammy, and Truman. (You can learn more about them here.) I am fortunate to work from home and have for many years, so I dont have to worry about leaving them home alone on a daily basis.

I do travel once in a while, and then the question becomes should I leave them at home and have a dog sitter look in on them a few times a day or take them to a kennel.

They hate the kennel just like most dogs do. In fact, Truman who is really friendly bit one of the caretakers at a kennel years ago.

Ive always had to wonder if the caretaker was being rough with Truman or if Truman was just having a bad day, but regardless, it is a difficult decision to make.

When youre talking about leaving your Shih Tzu alone all day five days a week, that becomes an even sticker issue.

When I was in graduate school and before Sammy joined the family, Truman would have to spend long hours alone. I felt bad about it, and while Shih Tzus can be left alone, there are good reasons not to do so.

Can Shih Tzus Stay Home Alone?

Yes, you can leave your Shih Tzu alone, however, here are some of the most important reasons you might not want to do so.

1.Shih Tzus Have Separation Anxiety

Shih Tzus tend to get very attached to their owner. In fact, you become their world. All they want to do is make you happy and be near you.

Some Shih Tuz owners even complain that their Shih Tzu is too clingy and follow them all around the house and even to the bathroom.

For some, it can get to be a bit too much.

The other side of this coin is that your Shih Tzu can feel very insecure and nervous when you arent around.

This separation anxiety can lead to troubling outcomes.

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Your Shih Tzu might become destructive while you are gone. Or they might hurt themselves.

Either way, separation anxiety can be a serious issue when leaving your Shih Tzu alone.

Destructive Behavior

Dont be surprised to come home and find something in your house destroyed. This could be a pillow, your shoes, or anything else your Shih Tzu can get ahold of and tear up.

They arent doing this out of spite or even the enjoyment of ripping something to shreds.

This behavior comes from the fact that they are scared and full of anxiety and they need to release some of these feelings.

Chewing on Furniture or Themselves

You might also see some chewing on furniture. Your table legs are right in front of them and they may take out their anxiety on them.

Even worse, your Shih Tzu might start chewing on itself. This self-harm can cause bald spots or skin irritation that can lead to infections.

Scratching Doors

If you have come home to destruction a couple of times, you may think the solution is keeping your Shih Tzu locked in one room.

Youd be wrong.

This will only increase their anxiety and they will also feel like they are being punished.

Not to mention, they will scratch the doors of the room until theyve created a real mess.

I had a dog once that had such bad separation anxiety that she scratched all the doors in my apartment to pieces and then went on to actually rip up a six-foot area of carpeting.

Let me tell you, that one was hard to explain to the landlord.

If you want to keep your Shih Tzu in one area of your home while you are gone for the day, make it an open area and use a baby gate or fencing, so they can see out and around them. They wont feel so contained and trapped.

For tips on how to deal with separation anxiety in Shih Tzus, check out this article from American Shih Tzu Club.

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2. You Might Have Bathroom Issues

Depending on how long you are gone, you might start to have housebreaking issues.

A young puppy or any Shih Tzu under the age of six months, cant hold their blatter for too long. In general, a Shih Tzu puppy can hold their bladder for one hour for each month of their life.

So, if your Shih Tzu puppy is four months old they should be able to hold their bladder for four hours. Any longer and you might come home to a puddle.

An adult Shih Tzu should be good for eight to ten hours.

However, once your Shih Tzu is a senior dog, they may have more difficulties holding their bladder. They can also develop diabetes or kidney disease which will make them need to go to the bathroom much more often.

I used to take Truman and Sammy out four times a day, but now that they are older it is six to seven times a day and Sammy sometimes will still get me up in the middle of the night to take her out.

The point is, if you leave your Shih Tzu alone too long, you will have some clean up to do when you get home and you wont be able to blame anyone but yourself.

3. Barking, Crying, and Howling Issues

You may find that you also have barking, crying, and howling issues. You may not be aware of this, but your neighbors sure will be especially if you live in an apartment house.

The last thing you want is angry neighbors complaining to you and the landlord.

All of these things are stressful for you and for your Shih Tzu.

The good news is that there are things you can do to help ease their anxiety and make them and yourself happier.

Instead of Leaving Your Shih Tzu Alone Try One of These

There are options that you can and should consider before leaving your Shih Tzu alone. Here are the best two.

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1.Doggie Day Care

When you think of a dog kennel, you might not be picturing a very happy or friendly place, but thats really started to change.

Most kennels now have doggie daycare and doggie spas. These are places where your Shih Tzu gets to play with other dogs during the day, have human interaction, as well as treats and even baths if you so want.

It can be a great alternative to having your Shih Tzu at home alone all day long.

2. Dog Walkers

If doggie daycare is a bridge too far for you or there are none in your area, you might consider having a dog walker come to your home to take your Shih Tzu out for a walk in the middle of the day.

Their bladder will be thankful and it will give your furry friend something to look forward to. You can also have the dog walker give your Shih Tzu a treat at the end of the walk which will be a win-win for your pouch.

3. Get a Second Shih Tzu

Another, and perhaps easier option, is to get a second Shih Tzu. Having company at home while you are away, is a great way to relieve your Shih Tzus anxiety.

Besides, if one Shih Tzu brings joy into your life, just think how much more joy youll receive with two.

Related Questions:

Can Shih Tzus Be Left Alone for 8 Hours?

Once your Shih Tzu is past the puppy stage and is fully housebroken, it should be able to be left home alone for 8 or 9 hours at a time.

Older Shih Tzus and puppies may not be able to go that long without a bathroom break.

Do Shih Tzus Get Attached to One Person?

Yes, they do. Shih Tzus are truly a one-person dog. They usually like most people they meet, but they will only love one. Thats true with my Truman as well.

He is friendly and tends to like most people, but you can always tell who comes first in his heart. This does make it more difficult for him to be away from me.

The same could be true of your Shih Tzu.

To Sum it All Up:

You can certainly leave your Shih Tzu alone and I have throughout my Shih Tzus life, but you do want to watch for signs of separation anxiety, so you can address that, and be aware that depending on the age of your Shih Tzu you may have potty issues as well.

Make use of a doggie daycare or dog walker if you can. Both you and your beloved little pouch will be happier for it.

Please Note:

This article is informational only and does not substitute for veterinary advice. Always check with your veterinarian if you are concerned about your Shih Tzus behavior. This article should not be considered in any way as veterinarian advice.

Can Shih Tzus Be Left Alone (9 Helpful Tips & Risk)

Can Shih Tzus be left alone since they are social breeds that love to be with their owners always, lets find out ways to keep them busy while you are away!

Well discuss the dangers of leaving your Shih Tzualone at home for an extended amount of time.

Well also go through some of the most popular ways to help your Shih Tzube happy when he or she is alone at home, which is often harder than it sounds.

Can Shih Tzus Be Left Alone

Yes, Shih Tzus can be left alone for up to 7 hours at a time, but because they are prone to separation anxiety and always want human company, leaving them alone for an extended period is never a smart idea.

Shih Tzu pups under the age of eight months should not be left alone for more than two to three hours.

Shih Tzus that have been left alone for an extended amount of time may develop separation anxiety.

How to train a Shih Tzu stay alone

Here are some typical ways to train your Shih Tzu to stay at home while you are gone:

1. Create a calming spot for your Shih Tzu

Even the most socialized dogs will refuse to let other humans or pets into their homes or beds because they feel comfortable in their own environment.

To assist your Shih Tzu to cope with staying alone, provide a reference point where the atmosphere is calm and pleasant.

Make sure your Shih Tzu has everything he needs at the reference site, such as a chew toy or soothing music, so he can recognize it as a secure place fast.

You can occasionally accompany your Shih Tzu to the area, but you should never force the Shih Tzu out of his safe spot; rather, let the dog come out on its own terms.

2. Start a concise crate training

Crate training is crucial if you know you wont be able to care for your Shih Tzuall of the time, or if you shouldnt get a Shih Tzuin the first place.

Crate training helps your Shih Tzuto respect boundaries and recognize when he needs to be left alone.

If your Shih Tzuhasnt been crate trained, hell have a hard time adjusting to being alone.

Teach your Shih Tzuto see the crate as a safe haven and a relaxing place to rest each time you are away.

Also, make sure your Shih Tzuhas a place to relieve himself either in the crate or close by.

3. Get a companion pet

Dogs are herd animals who flourish when surrounded by other members of their family.

Because they were meant to be a human companion and rely mostly on human contact, most Shih Tzusare prone to separation anxiety.

If you arent always around, one of the best, if not the best, methods to assist your Shih Tzucope with separation anxiety is to adopt a companion pet as soon as possible.

Your Shih Tzuwill be less likely to suffer from separation anxiety if you have a companion animal.

To avoid separation anxiety, get your Shih Tzua companion pet. If you buy another dog, your Shih Tzuwill always have someone to play with.

4. Exercise your Shih Tzu before leaving

Before leaving the house, take your Shih Tzu for a five-minute walk or play fetch with him to burn off some of his pent-up energy.

This walk will give your Shih Tzu a chance to relieve himself while also giving you and your Shih Tzusome quality time together before you go.

Its critical to play with your Shih Tzubefore you leave the bulk of the time so that part of its energy can be used.

Shih Tzus nap when theyre weary of playing, which might help you pass the time while youre gone.

5. Create a window view for your Shih Tzu

Provide a clean window view of the outside world to keep your shih tzu occupied while you are away.

To view whats happening on outside, teach your Shih Tzuto sit or lie down near a clear window.

Make sure your Shih Tzucan see the birds or a fast moving road through the window.

Make sure your Shih Tzuis appropriately socialized with a range of objects he can see via a clear window to avoid unnecessary barking.

6. Teach your Shih Tzu to use treats dispenser

This is a great technique to keep your Shih Tzuoccupied while youre gone; Shih Tzuslove treats and food, which you can use to keep them occupied.

Remember that giving your Shih Tzutoo many snacks might put his or her health in jeopardy.

As a result, moderation is essential; the dispenser may be programmed to offer rewards to your Shih Tzuover a certain period of time.

Begin the treat dispenser training at home so that the treats will fall when you leave your Shih Tzuto sit.

One prize at a time will keep him occupied for a while. You and your Shih Tzucan test out a few different combinations to see which one works best for you.

7. Hire a pet sitter or talk to a friend to help

If no one else is available to spend time with your Shih Tzu, you can hire a dog sitter or a dog walker.

A pet sitter might cost anywhere from $25 to $35 per day, depending on the state.

You might also bargain with the pet caretaker for a better price.

You may leave your Shih Tzuwith a sitter and return at a later time.

You may always seek the help of family or friends to watch your Shih Tzuwhile youre away.

This idea is another way to break up the day and limit the amount of time your Shih Tzuspends alone in a row.

Make a request to spend time with your Shih Tzuwith someone you can trust.

Your Shih Tzu will be happy because of the companionship and the potty break.

8. Invest in pet cameras to talk to your Shih Tzu

Its incredible to be able to utilize technology to communicate with your Shih Tzuwhen youre away from home, and you can do so with a pet camera like Furbo, which you can get on Chewy or Amazon.

Youll be able to interact with him with only two clicks no matter where you are.

This pet cam could be able to assist you break up the monotony of your day. You have entire control over how you interact with him, including whether or not you feed him!