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, let’s find out ways to keep them busy while you are away!

We’ll discuss the dangers of leaving your Shih Tzu alone at home for an extended amount of time.

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

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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 won’t be able to care for your Shih Tzu all of the time, or if you shouldn’t get a Shih Tzu in the first place.

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

If your Shih Tzu hasn’t been crate trained, he’ll have a hard time adjusting to being alone.

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

Also, make sure your Shih Tzu has 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 Tzus are prone to separation anxiety.

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

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

To avoid separation anxiety, get your Shih Tzu a companion pet. If you buy another dog, your Shih Tzu will 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 Tzu some quality time together before you go.

It’s critical to play with your Shih Tzu before you leave the bulk of the time so that part of its energy can be used.

Shih Tzus nap when they’re weary of playing, which might help you pass the time while you’re 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 what’s happening on outside, teach your Shih Tzu to sit or lie down near a clear window.

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

Make sure your Shih Tzu is 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 Tzu occupied while you’re gone; Shih Tzus love treats and food, which you can use to keep them occupied.

Remember that giving your Shih Tzu too 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 Tzu over a certain period of time.

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

One prize at a time will keep him occupied for a while. You and your Shih Tzu can 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 Tzu with a sitter and return at a later time.

You may always seek the help of family or friends to watch your Shih Tzu while you’re away.

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

Make a request to spend time with your Shih Tzu with 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

It’s incredible to be able to utilize technology to communicate with your Shih Tzu when you’re away from home, and you can do so with a pet camera like Furbo, which you can get on Chewy or Amazon.

You’ll 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!

9. Teach your Shih Tzu to watch cartoons on TV

Leaving the television on gives both human background noise and something to look at for most Shih Tzus.

Make sure your Shih Tzu has plenty of interesting and exciting toys while you’re away.

If your Shih Tzu is still a puppy, give him or her a Kong packed with peanut butter.

Because leaving a Kong can assist with separation anxiety, your Shih Tzu will be more anxious about obtaining the peanut butter than with you leaving.

While interactive electronic toys will keep your Shih Tzu entertained while you’re gone, you’ll need to teach him not to throw them away.