Shih Tzu Barking At Night: 8 Reasons & Solutions

Barking at night can be a huge problem for dog owners, Shih Tzu barking at night is exactly what we will be discussing in this post.

We will outline and discuss some possible and common causes or reasons why Shih Tzu barking at night.

As a dog owner and lover with many years of experience, I will also outline some of the common ways to stop your Shih Tzu from barking at night.

It is important to note that Shih Tzu is a small breed of dog that gets frightened by any bigger animal or object.

This means Shih Tzu may result to barking as a way of passing a message or protecting itself. Keeping that in mind, let’s roll on!!!

Find out the pros and cons of owning a Shih Tzu!!!

Table of Contents show

Shih Tzu Barking At Night

Yes, Shih Tzu does bark at night for a variety of reasons, including fear, distress, the presence of other dogs, anxiety, loneliness, pain, inadequate socialization, seeking attention, and scaring a stranger from its owner.

Even though they are considered a calm breed and are not renowned for barking regularly, Shih Tzus do bark at night.

Barking is a natural behavior in dogs.

Excessive barking, on the other hand, can be distressing not just for the dog but also for you.

If your dog howls nonstop at night, it will become an even greater problem.

Your neighbors are almost certainly already grumbling about the noise your dog is creating.

Unfortunately, controlling or eliminating excessive barking is not straightforward.

Let’s look at some reasons why Shih Tzus back at night and also provide a solution for each of the reasons.

Reasons why Shih Tzu bark at night

Here are some common reasons why Shih Tzus bark at night and how to control them from barking:

Shih Tzus bark at night due to separation anxiety

When a dog is left alone, separation anxiety is a common cause of barking.

Separation anxiety may be a result of a dog’s physical and emotional urge to be with other people.

If you suspect your Shih Tzu is suffering from separation anxiety, educate yourself about the issue and seek the assistance of a qualified trainer or behaviorist.

Separation anxiety, on the other hand, causes Shih Tzus to become aggressive, which leads to excessive barking.

Solutions to separation anxiety in Shih Tzus

Here are tips to solve separation anxiety in Shih Tzus:

You should bring in a second pet as soon as possible.
Make sure there are plenty of new snacks and interesting toys.
Allow plenty of time to relax or exercise.
Begin a fresh, proper crate training program.
Make an appointment with an animal behaviorist.
Invest in a dog sitter.
While you’re at home, teach them to leave you alone and not follow you about.

Solutions to Shih Tzus barking at night due to separation anxiety:

Invite your Shih Tzu to sleep in your bedroom.
Cuddle your Shih Tzu until he sleeps off.
Sleep close to your Shih Tzu sleeping spot.
Play your Shih Tzu favorite game to tire him out.
Reward your Shih Tzu for calming down when you give a command like “stop”.
Find a way to keep your Shih Tzu busy with things like small bones to chew.

Shih Tzu bark at night due to poor socialization

This is a big problem for most dog owners since it will not only keep you up at night, but it will also make your dog unstable and aggressive when it isn’t needed.

Always strive to live with a well-socialized dog to avoid unnecessary stress; lack of adequate socialization is a significant cause of your dog barking excessively at night.

A Shih Tzu that hasn’t been properly socialized will start barking as soon as they hear other dogs barking or if they sense movement in the area.

You Shih Tzu can start barking at just because he heard a noise from your neighborhood, this is because you never exposed him to such noise during the day.

Solutions to Shih Tzu barking at night due to poor socialization

Here are simple ways of socializing your Shih Tzu which is as follows;

As frequently as you can, take your Shih Tzu to meet other dog owners.
Attend dog shows with your Shih Tzu.
Go to a dog park with your Shih Tzu.
Invite your neighbors who have other pets to join you.
Take your Shih Tzu camping.
Attend puppy courses with your Shih Tzu.
With your Shih Tzu, you may watch your favorite TV shows.
Play dog movies on vinyl for your Shih Tzu.

Shih Tzus bark at night due to fear

Fear affects all living creatures, not only dogs, and may be defined as an unpleasant emotion triggered by the threat of danger, suffering, or injury.

One of the main reasons why Shih Tzu barks at night and prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep is because of this dread.

Most dog breeds, such as the German shepherd, are excellent guard dogs and may be trained to overcome their fear instinct.

The way you taught your dog, whether as a security dog or as a pet dog, determines how it reacts to fear.

If you’ve taught your Shih Tzu to be a pet dog, you should expect greater terror symptoms than if you’ve trained it to be a guard dog.

If your dog is barking incessantly at a location late at night, don’t dismiss it; investigate.

When you get to the location where your dog is barking, attempt to determine what is wrong with it.

Don’t forget to bring or call your Shih Tzu to the same location, since this has been shown to assist them to overcome their anxiety the next time something similar happens.

Solution to Shih Tzu barking at night due to fear

One easy solution is to socialize your Shih Tzu with other dogs or pets, while another is to expose your Shih Tzu to the terrifying thing.

If it’s someone, introduce your Shih Tzu to them, or better yet, eliminate any scary items from your Shih Tzu’s life.

Shih Tzu bark at night due to loud noises or sounds

Your Shih Tzu might be kept up all night by loud noises or sounds. The majority of the loud noises are out of your control.

Make sure you and your Shih Tzu keep away from loud noises at night if it’s within your reach.

Loud noises or sounds include;

Fireworks
Thunder
Darkness
Gunshots
Loud gathering

Solution to Shih Tzus barking at night due to loud sounds

Provide a soundproof room or spot for your Shih Tzus.
Introduce your Shih Tzu to loud sounds from the puppy stages.
Take your Shih Tzu to loud gathering.
Play video games or movies with loud sounds for your Shih Tzus to get used to.
Seek help from a professional.

Shih Tzu bark at night because of another dog barking

Shih Tzu may be rather vocal when other dogs infringe on their territory, especially if they haven’t been properly socialized.

When the neighboring dogs start barking late at night, you can rest assured that your Shih Tzu will join in.

Shih Tzus are territorial dogs who, as good watchdogs, will continuously detect the presence of other dogs or pets.

Solution

You may always socialize your Shih Tzu so that he or she accepts other dogs and remains calm around them.

When your Shih Tzu barks at night, do not become enraged or start yelling at them. Simply attempt to divert your Shih Tzu’s attention.

Shih Tzu bark at night to seek attention

When a dog, particularly Shih Tzus, needs attention, they bark or bite.

Shih Tzus are primarily and purposefully bred as companion dogs that spend the majority of their time with their owners.

As a result, they rely entirely on their owners for everything, including affection, food, water, and medical care.

Unless you’re very careful, the adorable little dog you think you know will transform overnight.

Your dog will generally react to this adjustment by barking, chopping, or leaping at you.

Solution to Shih Tzu seeking attention

Simply establish a regular routine for them so that they receive what they require before they ask or while you are unavailable.

Alternatively, dogs may cease barking when they want your assistance.

Make sure he or she goes potty before you go to bed, or leave a door open for him to go outside and do his business without waking you up in the middle of the night.

Read more about: Do Shih Tzus Bark A lot: 13 Causes of Shih Tzus Barking & Solutions.

Shih Tzu bark at night due to too much energy

Lack of enough exercise during the day is the cause of too much energy at night.

Because Shih Tzus are not guarding dogs, this is one of the main reasons they stay awake at night when they should be sleeping.

Shih Tzus are high-energetic dogs who are continuously looking for methods to expend their energy; without them, they would not be able to sleep at night.

Solutions to the high-energy level in Shih Tzus

Your Shih Tzu will get adequate exercise from 10 minutes daily walks or a 10 to 15-minutes fetch game.

Get your Shih Tzu a lot of interactive toys to keep them occupied all day.

This will help them burn off excess energy and sleep like a baby at night.

You can also play a little game with your Shih Tzu before bedtime to drain their energy because a tired dog is a happy dog.

Shih Tzu can bark at night due to the presence of creepy animals like snakes

Shih Tzus, like good watchdogs, are always aware of their surroundings and dislike being around scary creatures or rodents.

Most nights, you wake up to find your Shih Tzu barking at a certain position or location, but when you inspect the area, there is nothing there.

Solution to Shih Tzus bark at night due to creepy animals

Creep proof your home to keep unwanted creepy creatures out of your neighborhood or residence, since many of them can harm your Shih Tzu.

Shih Tzu bark at night due to perceived burglary threat

Most dog breeds were developed to defend cattle, and this guarding drive is carried on from generation to generation, making them clever and sensitive to perceived burglary threats in their environment.

This kind of dog will always be the first to observe or detect any movement that might lead to a burglary danger and will attempt to notify you by barking.

Shih Tzus are not guarding dogs, but they are definitely good watchdogs that will inform their owners of a stranger.

Always remember that Shih Tzus, for example, are an excellent watchdog, so keep an eye out for excessive barking at night.

Shih Tzu whining at night

Shih Tzu whining at night is due to distress, fear, hunger, need to pee, need to poop, boredom, or loneliness.

When your Shih Tzus is whining at night, definitely your pup is seeking attention so try to find out why. More on reasons dogs bark at night.

Reasons Why Shih Tzus is whining at night

Here are all the possible reasons why your Shih Tzu is whining at night:

Boredom
Loneliness
Too much energy
Seeking attention
Hunger
Fear
Distress
Movements around the compound.
Disturbing noises.
Sickness or pain

General guidelines for handling Shih Tzus barking at night

Here are some general guidelines or tips on how to handle your Shih Tzus barking at night:

Ensure that there is enough activity during the day.
Find out why your Shih Tzu is barking in the middle of the night.
Don’t scream or order your Shih Tzu to be quiet.
Separation Anxiety can be reduced.
Crate training should be introduced.
Only provide a special toy at night.
Before going to bed, try to use the restroom.
Remove any items that may cause your dog to become distracted.
Always reward good behaviors.
Seek professional assistance.

Read more about: 11 Best Small Dogs For Adults: Our Top 4 Picks.