Arizona Sunrise Shih Tzus & Poos

Purebred Shih Tzu Puppies

Behavior

Why is my Puppy Whining all the Time?

By

purebred liver Shih Tzu puppy sitting on a blanket full of fall leaves.

I always tell my clients that having a new puppy in the home is equivalent to having a new baby. Puppies like babies are not able to use their words to tell us how they feel. Whining or crying is your puppy’s way of trying to tell you something. Puppy owners must learn to speak their new puppy’s language.

Also, try and remember to be patient! Your puppy has just been taken away from everything he or she has ever known. Whining in the beginning is very normal. The good news is that puppies are very adaptable. With love, guidance, and patience they will grow into amazing family members.

One of the most common reasons for whining will be your puppy’s need for human attention. If your puppy cries whenever you enter the room your puppy might be craving human touch. When it comes to temperament, some puppies have a high human focus. They’re like stickers. They always want to be stuck to you!

This doesn’t mean you should always pick your puppy up every time he or she whimpers. Remember when I said that puppies are like babies? It is your job to figure out why your new baby is crying. You don’t want to pick up your puppy every time he or she whimpers. This will just teach your puppy that whining is an acceptable behavior.

Instead, I recommend first and foremost, making sure your puppy’s needs are met. Does your puppy need a hug and cuddle session with his or her favorite humans? Has your puppy eaten enough and had plenty to drink? Does your puppy need to go potty? Is your puppy in need of an exercise session or some mental stimulation? Is your puppy still acclimating to his or her new home and missing mom or siblings? Is your puppy not feeling well?

Once you find out why your puppy is whining it will be much easier to meet his or her basic needs. On the other hand, remember you don’t need to pick up your puppy every time he or she cries. Your puppy needs to learn how to self-soothe. You can help the process go smoothly by providing your puppy with a snuggle puppy and toys that provide mental stimulation. Feel free to browse my list of ideas for keeping your puppy busy here.

Tip for Success

I thought it would be great to end this blog post with a tip that I feel helps with puppy whining. Whenever you’re getting ready to pick up your puppy stand in front of him or her and freeze. Avoid picking up your puppy until he or she is calm and remains still.

This way you’re not rewarding the negative jumping up and whining behavior. You may have to walk out of sight and watch from a distance until you see the desirable behavior if your puppy is relentless. When you catch your puppy being calm and displaying appropriate behavior pick him or her up and give a big hug, praise, and maybe even a treat!

Always remember to reward the positive and ignore the negative when it comes to whining. The exemption to the rule is if your puppy is hurt. In this case, don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian. A good trainer will come in handy as well! Follow the following link if you desire more information on online puppy school from Baxter & Bella: https://www.baxterandbella.com/.

They always say it takes a village to raise a child properly. I believe it takes a village to raise a puppy properly as well! If everyone in the family is on board, consistent, and patient the puppy will have all the tools necessary to be successful. In no time at all your puppy will be grow up and you will miss the puppy days of the past.

Share This Post
Previous

Next

Decoding Common Dog Behaviors

By

A gold female Shih Tzu puppy wearing a colorful dress with fruit on it and a giant yellow bow.
A Cute Shih Tzu Puppy all dressed up!

Common Dog Behaviors

Have you ever wondered what some of the behaviors dogs exhibit mean? Have you ever observed a dog shaking it off? For example, your dog runs around the yard and then comes inside and shakes it off before taking a nap. Dogs often shake it off after expending a high amount of energy. Dogs may shake it off after a bath as well. This shake may simply be your dog’s way of drying off. Or your dog may be super relieved to be set free and may shake to release some of the pent-up stress. 

Another phenomenon that dogs often commonly display is kicking their feet back. One reason that dogs kick their feet back is to communicate with other dogs. Dogs have sweat glands on the bottom of their feet which release pheromones that help them communicate with other canines. I’m sure we’ve all seen a dog mark their territory by kicking their feet back. In other words, the dog is saying “This is mine!” Many dogs also display this behavior after a potty break to mark their spot. 

Panting is another dog behavior that you’ll see frequently in your dog. Dogs cannot cool down by sweating like we do. Instead, they pant to regulate their body temperature. Panting can also be a sign that your dog is too hot. You must offer plenty of water and shade to avoid heat stroke. This is especially important if you live in a hot, dry climate like we have here in Arizona. Dogs can also pant if they are stressed or in pain so make sure to be in tune with your dog’s needs. 

On another not-so-pleasant note, let’s talk about butt scooting. Small breed dogs often scoot on their bums from time to time. This is often because of anal glands that need to be expressed. Your groomer will probably express them for you if your dog is groomed frequently. You can also ask your vet to express them if needed.

If it becomes a chronic issue try adding pumpkin powder or some other dog-friendly fiber to your dog’s diet. I list my favorite pumpkin powder supplement and all my other favorites under my Amazon list on my website at the bottom of the recommendations page. Butt scooting may also be a sign of parasites or worms so talk to your veterinarian if it becomes a chronic issue.

Howling is another behavior that dogs display on occasion. Dogs can howl for a variety of reasons. They may howl when they’re excited, anxious, trying to tell you something, in pain, or lonely. They also may howl when they hear certain high-pitched sounds like a squeaky toy. Overall, howling is our dog’s Innate way of communicating with the outside world. So next time your dog howls, take a moment to understand what they are trying to tell you.

I find it fascinating how much we can learn about our dogs just by observing their daily behaviors. They may not be able to communicate through words, but we can give them a voice if we take the time to pay attention to their nonverbal cues.

Share This Post
Previous

Next

The Benefits of Puppy Sound Desensitization

By

A purebred chocolate-liver Shih Tzu puppy sitting on the couch.
A liver Shih Tzu puppy that has gone through sound desensitization

Sound Desensitization Benefits

Early Sound Desensitization is another technique that I like to use with my Shih Tzu puppies. Early Sound Desensitization protocols help expose puppies to various sounds such as a blow dryer, a vacuum, sirens, etc. The goal is to dull any negative responses the puppy may have to the sounds. Sound therapy is very beneficial in helping produce better coping skills in puppies. When sound desensitization protocols are put in place during a puppy’s early socialization period the benefits can be tremendous.

Some puppies are more sensitive than others when it comes to sound sensitivity. The good news is that sound sensitivity is an adjustable trait in puppies. If a puppy is born extremely sensitive to sounds desensitization protocols can hopefully tone down the puppy’s negative response through repeat sound exposure.

Knowing a puppy’s sound sensitivity threshold is very important when it comes to puppy placement. A puppy that startles easily even after sound desensitization protocols, may do better in a home where the owners will be well aware of the puppy’s unique needs. For instance, a sound-sensitive puppy may do better in a quiet household rather than in the home of a musician. Or vice versa, a puppy that has a high sound sensitivity threshold may do excellent in a home with young children that have a lot of noisy toys.

In the end, it all circles back to how the puppy’s rearing. A puppy that takes part in a responsible breeding program that puts in place appropriate sound desensitization protocols is ultimately setting each puppy and family up for success. Both the puppy and the new family will hopefully be a great match and live in harmony.

Share This Post
Previous

Next

Why I use Early Scent Introduction with Puppies

By

Early Scent Introduction which is commonly known as ESI is a program many reputable breeders use with their puppies. Breeders typically perform ESI on newborn puppies from days 3-16. Early Scent Introduction enhances a newborn puppy’s natural ability to detect various scents. Gayle Watkins, the co-founder of Avidog put the ESI protocol together in order to enhance a puppy’s unique sense of smell.

Some Benefits of Early Scent Introduction

  • Gentle stimulation of the nervous system improves immune and cardiovascular systems.
  • Mild stress helps create a better response to stress in adulthood.
  • Puppies have better nose awareness throughout life.
  • ESI promotes better brain development in puppies.

Each puppy is given the opportunity to smell a new scent each day. The puppy’s reaction to the scent can be positive, negative, or neutral. Breeders usually record the puppy’s reaction to the scent for future reference. I use Early Scent Introduction with all of my Shih Tzu puppies for sale. Some of the scents I really like to use with litters include: parsley, coconut, cinnamon, oatmeal, artificial turf, rocks, etc.

Dogs that go through Early Scent Introduction protocols often outperform dogs who aren’t subject to ESI when it comes to detecting scents. This kind of information can be extremely valuable for breeders. Breeders that raise puppies that may go on to be service dogs should pay particular attention to scenting abilities. For instance, if a breeder is evaluating a litter to look to place a possible diabetic alert dog, scenting abilities are imperative in detecting blood sugar changes.

As you can probably see, Early Scent Introduction is a brilliant way for responsible breeders to provide a litter of puppies with all the tools necessary to live up to their full potential. As a Shih Tzu breeder, I want nothing more than for my puppies to love and heal the families they will live with. We should never underestimate the power of a good dog!

Share This Post
Previous

Next

Benefits of Early Neurological Stimulation

By

Shih Tzu puppy receiving (ENS) Early Neurological Stimulation in a responsible breeding program.
A newborn Shih Tzu puppy going through the ENS procedure.

ENS stands for Early Neurological Stimulation. As a responsible breeder of Shih Tzu puppies, I use the ENS protocol with all of my litters because it is very beneficial regarding newborn puppy development. ENS helps to improve heart and adrenal performance by stimulating the endocrine system. Early Neurological Stimulation also helps to create stress-tolerant puppies that have greater disease resistance. Furthermore, puppies that take part in ENS protocols are more willing to explore than their counterparts that didn’t receive Early Neurological Stimulation.

Carmen Battaglia is the pioneer responsible for creating ENS protocols. The ENS program was originally put together to enhance the performance of military dogs. The “Super Dog Program” or The “Bio Sensor program” are some early terms used to describe ENS protocols.

There are five steps in the ENS procedure. Breeders perform the five steps from the third day of birth until day 16. The procedure is done once a day for approximately 3-5 seconds per step. It is imperative not to put too much stress or handle newborn puppies too often during this vulnerable stage of development. The ENS activity is usually kept short and to the point.

Five Steps of ENS

  1. Hold the puppy’s head up.
  2. Gently hold the puppy’s head down
  3. Hold the puppy on his/her back.
  4. Set the puppy’s belly down on a cool towel.
  5. Gently rub in between the puppy’s toes.

To sum things up, Early Neurological Stimulation is just another stepping stone that I use in my responsible breeding program to help create bulletproof puppies. After all, I am partially responsible for bringing these puppies into the world. It is my ethical duty to do everything in my power to give each puppy the very best start in life. I owe this to my Shih Tzu puppies and my future puppy owners.

Share This Post
Previous

Next

Fireworks and Shih Tzu Safety

By

Fireworks are about to begin! For many pet owners, the Fourth of July is a miserable time of year even for patriots. Many dogs suffer from noise phobias and experience a great deal of anxiety when they hear loud noises. Fireworks can be downright terrifying to dogs. Many dogs try to run away on the Fourth of July. More dogs go missing on the Fourth than any other holiday.

Having a dog with a sensitivity to sounds can be very hard on the dog and the owner. It’s very difficult to watch your pet suffer. As a local, reputable Shih Tzu breeder, I use sound desensitization protocols to help desensitize all of the Shih Tzu puppies in my breeding program. Puppies that grow up around loud noises are less likely to exhibit fear later in life.

If you own a dog that suffers from a noise phobia you must follow some of the simple safety tips above on the Fourth of July. Hopefully, these tips will help to protect your pet. Enjoy your holiday and stay safe!

Share This Post
Previous

Next