Help! Shih Tzu

[Why Syzygy]

Sissy, the Shih Tzu, is inconsolable. Kind of a messed up deal. I want to get her to stop barking. This is traumatic for her.

Big, black German Shepherd. It's actually my son's dog; but he has given her to one of my roommate's friends. Son is in Germany. She OFTEN brings either that dog or her smaller Shepherd. Sissy barks the entire time. I have tried to get her acclimated. She won't be calmed. If this was my house, I would just request that the friend not bring the dog over here! There are two older dogs here too. It is terribly upsetting for them. Wouldn't you put your dogs welfare ahead of whatever possesses this person to bring her dog(s) EVERY WEEKEND?

What can I do for Sissy?

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

1. Shih's can be be very protective and territorial.

You can try behavioral conditioning - try to link the other dog's visit to a positive such as a special treat for Sissy. It will take time.

[Why Syzygy]

2. That

That was what I did. They were here for HOURS yesterday. I gave her some of the *special* treats. She stopped barking a little, and at least drank some water. I put Rescue Remedy in the water. The worst part of it is, she was never a barker. One of the older dogs barks a lot. But after the predator dogs (that's what she sees) were here on 10/31, Halloween, she was so traumatized that now she barks much more than her former self.

Oh! And I took her for a leash walk. Her original owner (my house mate), doesn't let his dogs go out on leash. She's not totally cool with it yet. Good practice for both of us. That also gave her the chance to calm down.

She can be pretty aggressive sometimes. If my house mate comes to my door when she is in here, she barks a little bit.

Thanks for replying to my plea. She is the first dog I've had since I was just a little girl. I've lived with other people's dogs through the years. I'm a cat owner too.

Anyway, thanks.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

3. I have 2 peke mixes. One hates other dogs and the other

(who is part Tzu or Lhasa) hates other people. Such fun to walk them down the street!!!

One thing I and others in my rescue group have learned about getting newcomers to get along is that getting the smell of the other dog on them helps. We switch bandanas from one to the other so they can learn the other's scent in a non-threatening way.

This is my rescue group ( I'm a co-founder)

http://asian-dog-rescue.org/endings/endings.html

[Why Syzygy]

4. Very interesting!

I'll pass that link along to my facebook friends :D

Sissy loves people. Except the one that has the dogs. She will bark at her even if the dogs don't come. That's a problem, though. The cable guy isn't really looking for a Shih Tzu crawling all over him... etc. She wants to get very close to ANYone who comes in. More training. I am looking for an obedience class that fits our needs. And I thank you for your support. I am not going to be the same type of owner house mate is. He has a mini-dachshund and mini-schnauzer. They are spoiled. :P

[get the red out]

5. Have you tried "Comfort Zone"?

It is a diffuser with a hormone that helps calm dogs down and make them comfortable. My Mom's Papillion is a non-stop barker and this has helped some. Her dog would bark all the time though, so any reduction in the noise was a great thing, especially after Mom and dog moved to assisted living recently.