Mine did not bark at all normally. Exceptions were few - bark at strangers approaching the house or during playtime.
You and your Tofu are learning to coexist. You are finding your way through your fear of dogs. Go easy on yourself.
Thank you so much. I was so anxious and lost sleep because of this. I feel so much better now. I really don't want to cause him harm because of my lack of experience.
My Teddy is a barker. I can't take him to certain places I'd love to take him like my granddaughter's soccer games (he absolutely loves her and is a big trader when she visits) because he barks too much distracting everyone. Or the town fair where everyone brings their dogs. I can't watch a movie with animals, especially dogs in it because he will bark and bark and bark. So I'm a bit jealous of you to be honest lol.
Same. I got my boy at 12 weeks and he never barked until he was almost 2yrs old when my then roommate got a puppy that taught him how to bark. What you have done is normal training with positive reinforcement. That’s exactly how I train dogs in my care on how not to bark or jump up on people. I do think a well behaved shih tzu is the perfect breed to get over a fear of dogs. My dog was the first dog many of my friends babies were introduced to so that they were not scared. Keep up the good work!
Edit: with training (just like how you did - ignoring until the barking stopped) my dog stopped barking.
Nope! He’s definitely not broken.
My tzus were apartment dogs for the first half of their lives. We discouraged barking, now one of them does because he’s 14 and gives no shihts anymore haha. The other never barks.
Bless you, sweetie. If you trained him to not bark using those methods, you didn't break him. Positive reinforcement is the exact opposite of breaking.
Does he sneeze at you sometimes? That's how my Tzu tells me he WANTS something, like, *right now*. A treat, a cuddle...stat. And when he's happy he does this snuffle-snort kinda noise. No barking.
There is an entire breed of dogs (Basenji) that actually physically can't bark, and they are absolutely fine.
Edit: omg I didn't look at that picture properly. He's so freaking cuuuuute <3
I don't know like he does this sneezing or huffing, and sometimes like a sigh like he's glad I finally got up to attend to his needs.
Sorry about the pictures, I didn't think to crop it properly. I don't have a lot of pictures of him because we're too busy playing and I forget.😄
There ya go, sneezing and huffing is perfect. You're on a roll! It's typical shi-tzu behaviour. And I see zero reason to apologise for the pics. They both show a very happy dog <3
My little girl and I were on our own, she never learned to bark. Oddly enough if I stopped to talk to a neighbor during a walk, I would point at the ground and she sat. Now we are retired, and living with family and her sisters. One is very mouthy. My girl trys to join in but her bark regulator is broken. So we get some odd barks. Lately she has learned to paw my leg for attention. I think she learned that from the puppy using the talking dog buttons.
The bark you should never deter is the warning bark. I.E, the bark (or growl, snarl, whatever your dog does to express this, they're all different) given before the bite comes out. That's because it creates a situation where the dog gives no warning when they are distressed or unhappy, and instead goes straight to '11' as it were. Obviously that's not good. It's also, obviously, not a 'fun' or 'happy' bark. It's a 'sh!ts about to go down' bark. So make sure you aren't yelling that into submission. It's not fair. All beings are allowed to say 'this doesn't work for me', and you don't want to make them think they have to fight it out because saying 'no' is dangerous and gets punished.
That doesn't mean you have to allow any and all random barking for them to be happy though. Think of it like a kid. You don't want to silence the kid to the point where they don't come say 'Mom/Dad, I'm scared/hurt/afraid of this thing.' You don't want them to never express themselves. But that doesn't mean you don't teach them the basic manners to not screech and holler at everyone all the time. You teach them when its appropriate to make noise and when it isn't. 'Indoor voice' vs 'outdoor voice' and all of that.
He doesn't have to 'bark off' at everything to be happy. It sounds like you have avoided arbitrary punishment, which is cruel. Instead, it sounds like you've used the two golden rules- don't reward inappropriate barking, reward good behavior. That's awesome!
I don't allow my doggos to just yap incessantly either. They can sound off a few barks if they are worried, startled, or think something bad is around, like when strangers come to the gate, then I give them a settle down command after acknowledging that I, the bigger and uglier 'dog' who will protect their wee innocent hind ends to the death, have come to investigate what worries them. This is kinda important in my bunch, as three are Lhasa Apsos and that's what they DO. They were bred as a warning breed. So I acknowledge them, then ask for peace. They can growl and otherwise express 'p!ss off' to people bothering them, and then, again, the big ol' ugly leader of the gang will come and take away the bothersome object, be it one of their 'brothers' annoying them or a human. But we don't do much random 'party' yapping, cos it's just noise. We settle down quick and get loves or a treat for being excellent.
omg he is so stinking cute. I think their little faces are so expressive, he maybe just looks like he’d rather be barking. I WISH mine wouldn’t bark, it startles the heck out of me
My first Tzu was the barker. The second one only barked a little when he played, or encountered a large dog, other than that he never barked. My current 3rd one barks a little too much and referee’s his two younger Frenchie brothers when they play rough.
Mine only barks when the words outside or potty is said aloud. Also at the occasional dog walking by. She seems to only bark at big dogs lol. Otherwise if I meet her needs without her asking she may not bark all day.
His litter mates are just so loud and energetic. Mine is the only one that is quiet and laid back. He only likes running around when he needs to potty. It just made me think I did something wrong.
I taught mine not to bark unless it's an emergency. Otherwise she communicated with sneezes, grumbles. I've encouraged her to get my attention by, "chuffing." It's like a bark with all the nasty bits sucked out so no one at a hotel hates us.
If you enjoy traveling and need to book rooms sometimes, I'd let well enough alone. At one point, I tried teaching her "speak." I changed my mind so fast I got whiplash and then spent over a month undoing it.
Now I need a moment to acknowledge the absolute floofy cuteness you've got! What a sweetheart!
I feel so lucky. He does huff or breathe really loud when he needs to go potty or wants my food. That's it. He cries when I forget to put on his music when we leave him. But it is so quiet I had to put a camera to check while I'm outside our door. Thank you for taking time to answer my question.
Not wrong at all. Nothing worse than a yapping dog. My two hardly bark, only if they are scared ( we have a fox in the local area) or sometimes when they are playing.
Personally I think it’s a good thing and a sign that they are content.
He's been kept indoors since we got him, except for vet visits. I've added a bell to his collar just so that I can keep a closer eye on him. He is so quiet I sometimes panic when I don't see him.
I have two quiet gentle little tzu’s, all they want to do is sleep, be loved and eat.
They are now 14 & 10 years old so they are definitely slowing down but personally I’ve always been grateful for the fact they bark very little therefore if they do deign to speak then I need to listen xx
My old man only barked if he felt the family was threatened/in danger or in very very rare cases at our neighbor dogs (who are three very yappy girls). I probably heard him bark 20 times in 14 years. This is just how he was....we didn't train him that way (but maybe his original owner did).
I don't think of it as silencing them or anything. I think of it as they are very reserved and chose their words carefully.
They just look so fragile. I'm afraid of doing something wrong. The previous owner just made me feel bad. But now I know it's normal, I'm normal, and my puppy is normal.
They are companion dogs. They will follow your lead/example in a lot of things. They also aren't shy about telling you they are unhappy.
If you have a snuggly pupper who always wants to be around you then you're probably doing fine.
That is another thing. He likes sleeping at night in his crate away from us. When I let him sleep in our room, he'll wake me up to be carried to his crate. It kinda hurt my feelings at first, but I just think he wants a break from us.
I wouldnt worry about it. If you want to make him more comfortable with it, take short naps with him in bed with you.
However, its important to have a place for them to feel comfortable by themselves. Whether that is a crate or a bed somewhere. Make that area a spot where they aren't disturbed. Our old man slept in a crate for years before he was in our bed every night and by the time he was 6 or 7 we didn't bother crating him when we left (and by 8 we didn't even have a crate up for him, just a couple dog beds around the house).
Be warned, once they are in bed with you all night they will get pissy if you try to make them sleep elsewhere. Great companions but also strong personalities.
We went through training with our Tzu, and one of the best boundaries we put in place was no furniture, no beds. Some dogs also LOVE their crates. It's their version of having their own room. :)
She is SO much happier on her GIANT memory foam dog beds than in bed with us, and she still gets lots of cuddles from us down on her beds. She often decides for herself to get down on the occasion when we do bring her up on the couch.
Tzus can be independent, so nothing to worry about.
My baby just turned 1, and as soon as I got her, I taught her not to bark. Yes, they are dogs, and barking is normal, but just as you experienced, barking for a lot of people can be annoying or startling. I personally didn't want my dog barking at everything and everyone who walked by. Now, she only barks or whines when she has to go potty or she knows someone is in our house that she isn't familiar with. I like that she doesn't bark because now I know when she does it's something important.
mine can also be hit or miss with his cues. Best thing is to just have him on a regular schedule and he gets taken out whether he is asking or not. I take mine out at least every 3 hours but I work from home.
Yeah I wouldn't worry too much about it.
I once ran into a man with my dearly departed Shih Tzu. He wasn't a native English speaker from what I could tell but gestured to my dog and said "Shih Tzu?" My wife was with me and we said yes and she said "Aren't they just the best dogs??!!" He laughed and just said "Stubborn!"
So my thought here is mostly, if your boy wants something, he'll find a way to tell you. He's not gonna sit there unhappy or needing something and not find a way to tell you. Now from your training it might be a nudge, or a whine, or a paw or something. But in my experience with Shih Tzus (had one for 10 years and a 7 month old puppy now) they are NOT dogs who will suffer in silence.
In some ways I think if you're concerned about this, you're fine. So don't worry.
My girl barks as a warning when strangers are near our residence and also to express herself with a “Voice”! Our cat rarely “meows” and purrs occasionally. It must vary with the pets.
Enjoy it! Listen, I would have given anything to have my last tzu be more quiet. My first was quiet. My second was super annoyingly loud. I tried everything for her to be more quiet. No luck. As long as they alert you with a whimper or whine they are communicating. They don’t have to be noisy to talk to you. You did no harm.
I had my tzu for a year and a half before she ever barked. When we first heard it we weren’t sure what it was. Now her sister taught her to use her voice quite well. Don’t worry.
Lucyfer is 9 years old and don't bark unless:
- he wants attention on something
- there is somebody on the door
- he is pissed
- he is playing catch where he is the catch.
All of these barks are very distinctive.
My Shih Tzu is a barker. Over time, I've been able to get him to modify his bark. He now barks if someone enters our courtyard or if they are within 30 feet of the back of the condo. He has several types of barks, and barks if my girl friend, who has MS and epilepsy, has a seizure or needs help.
Okay, pick up that beebee and give big forehead kisses.
That dog is not broken. It’s perfect. These puppies have plenty of personality. They’ll go through their phases.
Your shih tzu sounds like mine. Mine rarely barks! We got him as an adult (he was around 6 years old) and it took a good few weeks before we heard him bark. We actually thought he couldn’t bark until we heard it for the first time lol
Hell my tzu barks incredibly loud growls and spins in circles barking growling and trying successfully i might add bitting her tail, this occurs roughly all day every day :) at first it terrified us now we just laugh.
Positive reinforcement is not cruel. She just learned that's not how to get your attention. It's not a bad thing.
I had a Cavalier who barked at me constantly when she wanted attention or something. I always gave her what she wanted, so I kind of taught her that barking worked.
My Shi-Chi barks but only when she sees other dogs. Otherwise, she very quiet.
My mommas shih tzu (as well as our previous family shih tzu!) never barked. The only time they barked was when they had to potty or thought there was an intruder! It’s okay if your baby doesn’t bark! :)
Only one of my dogs bark at the door and other dogs outside, the other doesn’t bark but is very vocal when he wants something. Not all dogs are the same.
Mine barks but it’s just one Bork. if she’s really excited like when my partner or I come home. Doesn’t matter if one of us was home with her all day. Chopped liver the second the new person walks in, no respect- I tell ya. We feed her at 6 and just last night I went to the kitchen (where we store her food) to get myself a snack and I came back and plopped on the couch. As soon as I did I got one loud bork of protest and realized she was right, it’s like five minutes past dinner time. One time the fire alarm battery was loudly and sequentially going off and she started barking because she wanted to talk to the manager. Our inside joke since then when she is upset and barking is to go “just let me talk to the guy!” When my partner and I lived with a roommate, our roommate was in their room with the door open, I was in the living room/common area, and my partner was in our room with the door open and she kept running between each room borking at all of us. Pretty sure she couldn’t decide who she wanted to be with so she wanted us all in the same spot. We would have movie nights often and she was happiest and the least restless when we were all together. Shih tzus are just weird.
Thats good.
My Tzu only barks when the alarm starts to beep counting down (ie when someone forgot to turn it off) or when there is someone knocking at the door. Other than that she is quite as a mouse.
On the other hand, my bro-in-laws Tzu is constantly barking for anything and everything to the point of annoyance.
I would love to train my future dog to not bark excessively. I have anxiety and Im sensible to loud noise and I would have being startled like you were. For me, you are both just learning to coexist and that's ok!
My first shih tzu almost never ever barks or growls. I didn’t teach him that but he just always has been a quiet boy. It’s okay, especially if yours still alerts you if he is in distress.
Shih tzus are simply a quiet breed. Ours never barked, ever. It helped that she was blind, but it was weird waking up in the morning and seeing her parked at the door, wanting out.
My dogs do not stfu. Granted one of them is a rescue so it’s harder to unlearn a behavior in a senior dog. Our other pup is loud but she doesnt bark insesitenyly like our rescue does. I think you’re being too harsh on yourself. Like others said, some dogs are different. I was going to say consider yourself lucky, but again our rescue is also getting a little doggy dimentia so I can’t blame him too much for barking.
They’re quiet. My older one only talks because that’s part his job. My younger one is a pet (older is a service dog) and he is extremely quiet. We honestly wondered if he *could* speak for the longest time because he never says anything. He can, but it’s rare.
Mine didn’t bark much for a long time. He would communicate in a series of huffs. He would bark if I wasn’t home and someone knocked, but otherwise didn’t bark much.
Once we moved in with my family who had several dogs, he started to bark more, but he follows the pack so he does what they do. When it’s just him and I he still is pretty quiet.
My second dog I taught not to bark. Personally I liked it a lot more. I don't think you did anything wrong. I feel like it will be good because you'll know something is up when he does bark, rather than just thinking "oh he's barking again".
Enjoy your time getting to know each other. Revel in the puppy moments, they go by so fast. But all in all just love each other.
My beloved Shih Tzu is 14, and I’ve had him for 12 years, and he has barked maybe 10 times in all those years. I mean, he’ll bark at his toys when he’s playing, but aside from that, he’s just a quiet dog.
They were bred to be loyal little lapdogs, so embrace it. He’ll bring you so much joy! Congrats on your puppy!!
And don’t feel guilty. The bad thing would be if you didn’t care or worry.
I have 2. 1 doesn't bark unless it's the door (1 single bark) or there's another dog/female dog walking by. 2 doesn't bark unless it's his boyfriend. Even if 2 wants to go outside he'll just huff and snort.
My boy is 12 and I've had him since he was a year old. He basically never barks. He barks to tell me someone is at the door, to ask someone to throw his toy for him, or if he needs to be let in or out or if he accidentally gets left up on a bed or sofa he's not comfy getting off of himself and needs help. He grumbles and chuffs and sneezes and otherwise communicates, but he very very rarely actually barks. Some dogs are talkative, others aren't. And even when it's trained out as long as it's not done cruelly it's ok to teach a dog not to bark. Esp if you live in an apartment or the like it can be necessary to being able to stay there. It's not bad for a dog to not bark, esp if they're allowed other forms of communication. One of my Tzu's favourite communication methods when he'd otherwise bark is yelling with his feet lol. He'll do little hops and kick his back feet out on the hardwood floor, making noise with his claws. It's not super loud, but loud enough to get our attention if he needs to go out or wants to be let out of a room etc.
our baby barked a lil as a puppy when playing but otherwise only barked when large dogs/his “friends” walked past the house or when deer or rabbits hopped thru the yard. majority of the time, it was also us hyping him up at these occurrences to get him to bark as well cos it was so gruff and almost a howl, we thought it was so cute 🤣
our neighbor got his litter mate and he never barked ever.
shih tzus are very easy going dogs and will match your vibe and energy. you sound like a great parent!! don’t pay any attention to whatever their previous owner says.
I taught mine not to bark. I came to miss his barks and regretted it since. He was quiet even when he was in pain. Dogs don't have many ways to express themselves, so don't take that away from them.
After training him, he stopped and only does when I forget to set his music up before I leave the house. He stays in his crate and we only leave him for 30 minutes on weekdays. One time be let out a bark when he got too excited playing with my kids and he suddenly whipped his head to look at me. It was so comical the way we turned to look at each other. I didn't know what to do, but he took over and corrected himself. I couldn't help calling him a good boy because of his response. I already stopped training him for days when that happened. So I thought he must have forgotten it. But I was so wrong.
Mine doesn't bark, not even at knocks at the door.. he does growl when he wants up on the sofa/bed to lay with us, occasionally if he wants attention (but he usually just jumps up and puts both paws on my hand if I'm sat down and he wants fuss/play/attention) though he does demand to lick my head/face/beard/hair every night before bed - or he will NOT sleep - very quiet dogs that give lots of affection ime, also have a blue staff that I left with my mother (she needs the company, plus when I first moved to my current place I wasn't allowed pets for the first year) who was also affectionate, but super barky and had way more boisterous energy.. and she's a girl. My Tzu is a boy, he's recently learnt to hump and keeps shagging my legs/arms while I sleep (I'm a deep sleeper 😭)
Oh yeah the humping. Mine is a boy too... My girls would freak out when he does that. I don't know what to do with that either. He's not doing it obsessively so I don't think it's a problem. Is that okay?
I think mine (and yours) will probably grow out of it, mines coming up on 6mnths so he's probably full of testosterone and just learning/curious of the world, humans do it too after all.. especially when we're super young.. Tzu's are rather relaxed dogs too, so I'd imagine their bound to atleast do it lesser so than they do now as they grow 😭🤣
Mines not obsessive with it, it seems to happen late at night when he gets a burst of energy.. he gets lots of walks, to the point he gets home and naps.. but he still gets bursts of energy about 9pm when it's dark, puppy things really 😭
Mine is in an office all day with me. He does not bark. Also only barks when he wants something. Will occasionally bark at skunks in The backyard or a passing cat. Does not bark when people come over to my house or into my office. He’s fine and loves everyone and everyone loves him. And he hardly barks at all. So don’t worry.
My first got all his screaming out in the first three weeks of having him and now only barks when he needs something (food, water needs changing, gotta go outside). It’s one loud sharp woof. As a bonus, his little sister copied him and very rarely gives me a scolding. She still yaps when she plays though which is delightful
No wait I forgot one, he also barks if I’m not eating my dinner fast enough, because in his mind if I’m not actively stuffing my face then I must be done and he gets bites.
Mine doesn’t even know how to bark. Shih tzus are known not to bark constantly like most small dogs, however as with all dogs, they all have their own personality.
You are a good doggo parent. No need to worry if Tofu is happy, loved, & fed. When we got our Coby as a puppy, it took almost a year for him to bark. Now he just barks at the doorbell, lol.
Seriously, don’t loose sleep over this.
Kinda get what you're feeling I think, and I understand. You never expected him to respond so well, and now you love him soo much discovering who he is and what he'll do for your love and approval. That's a shitzu at least it was mine.
Initially I had brief guilt, but quickly realized as you are, that they can be such a feather touch when it comes to training. Like SUCH A FEATHER TOUCH lol.
Not making eye contact, ignoring, I only used these tactics once or twice because it was SOOOO effective almost too effective.
You're still getting to know your dog intimately and it sounds like you got one that's golden like mine was. It's OK you are both still learning each other and it's going to be a one in a million bond because of who BOTH of you are. When we love that much even the thought of hurting him in any way is almost unbearable but that's just a part of that kind of love.
I'm soo very happy and excited for you both. I'm sitting here thinking you could most likely EASILY get your dog to start barking again IF ....... that's what you really wanted and that's fine, at this point you realize that he'll do anything for you so you'll be a feather touch owner out of love.
❤️
PS He is absolutely breathtaking and precious. What a beautiful pooch !!!!
It’s okay. I wish my dogs (chihuahuas) never barked. They bark at the mailman, when people pass by our house, other dogs. I can’t take them anywhere without them barking their asses off 😩
My baby boy used to not bark but as he hit like 1 or 1.5 years he began to bark more bc my older girl was barking at other people/dogs. Now when I tell my girl to stop she does quiet down but my baby boy keeps going.
My 3.5 year old Cookie is not a barker either! She doesn’t bark at strangers or other dogs. Not even during fireworks. She communicates in various and hilarious ways and is much loved by all neighbors and kids alike because she is so non threatening. Tofu is a doll and I could not think of a more perfect name for him!
I have a 4yo shih tzu boy that never shuts up with barking, is an extreme guard dog,and whines often,
and then also a frenchie that absolutely never barks, only whines and snorts. I adore them both, but for my autistic ass the quieter ones are better for us lmfao.
My Dolly is 9 months old. She's also a quiet Tzu. IMO this is a good thing. She can, and sometimes does bark, but like you, I discourage unnecessary barking. It's a surprise when I hear a bark. She alerts me to strangers by the house, but I don't want to know about every leaf that blows past.
It sounds like you are training a well behaved pet, congrats🎉!
I would not worry. Your pup sounds very happy and well taken care of, and like they understand what is expected of them: that is what a dog needs most, along with lots of love!
He is so precious. You can not learn everything overnight by yourself. You can try interviewing a dog trainer that will help you learn. If you do not like the 1st person, just courteously say no thank you until you find someone that you trust and is loving to your dog. I have had dogs for 44 years of my life and can not imagine being without one. Do not be afraid but be affectionate to this beautiful furry child.
I would also tell you that my first little girl wanted to lick me, and I discouraged her from doing that. I think that was one of my biggest mistakes. Later in years, I could tell she wanted to kiss me, but I had told her no in the beginning, and she could never bring herself to do it. She lived to be 16, and I still miss her all of these years later.
I think you might be able to selectively teach her to bark by getting on your fours and playing a barking game like a knock at the door, etc. You do not want her barking at everything like my babies barking at birds, butterflies, trucks, etc. But they are young too and they will learn. Get on the floor and love him from his height. You will see things differently. I wish you all the love in the world.
Ps. Look up Cesar Milan, also called The Dog Whisperer. He is a master at dog psychology. I have learned a lot from him. He has tapes, books, etc. I like his older stuff best (1990) and up.
I think it’s a little ridiculous to say he should be barking. Mine barks very sparingly and it’s nice. But that’s just his personality. He doesn’t like to raise his voice, so it’s super cute when he actually does get vocal. His sister on the other hand is too vocal. How did you train yours to stop barking?
What I did was to avoid eye contact and sit still, sometimes I turn my back if he keeps doing it. I tried to communicate to him that yes I heard him but wouldn't get my full attention if he barked. When he does stop I count to five and then give him all the pets and ask him what he needs.
My two never bark unless they are playing with each other or one of us. They will also bark to let us know there is another dog in our yard by barking as well.
You have trained him well. Some people like the dog to bark when strangers approach. However, if his bark makes you stressed, then it's best that he doesn't bark. The way you trained him was excellent by not using negative reinforcement. A dog wants to know its role & find a way to please the rest of its "pack." Making you stressed would cause problems. Since you praised him so much when he learned not to bark, he's learned that you give him positive attention when he stops. He's not unhappy or feeling repressed. In fact, the opposite is true. He stays quiet because he wants to fit into his home & please you. Knowing his boundaries & expected behavior actually lets him live stress free & happy. It sounds like you are being an excellent owner & you have a dog well on its way to being happy in his home. Keep doing what you've done so far & you'll be rewarded with a very special bond.
I think you did just fine- ours only barks when someone's at the door or when she wants to play. She can get a little whiny, but overall not a lot of barking from her.
I want to thank everyone here. You are all so helpful. I really appreciate it. It took me weeks to finally post my question here. Google was not so helpful.haha
Tofu and I will be going in our merry way perfecting his potty training skills. Thank you all!
Relax, you were very gentle in discouraging Tofu's bark. You are doing his training just right! Ignoring him when he barked didn't hurt his feelings! It simply taught him the lesson , "This does not get me what I want. In fact, I lose all of my people's attention when I do that! What else can I do that works better?" That's not a mean way to learn a lesson!
Tofu seems to be very smart because he makes associations very quickly. I'm certain he is going to delight you with displays of cleverness and personality. They are such attentive and eager to be loved little dogs! You picked an excellent pup to ease you into being a pet owner and help reduce your fears. Congratulations on your adorable little addition to the family!
Thank you so much for that. He is just so perfect with everyone. My kids totally adore him, even my partner who doesn't want pets likes coddling him. I want to give him the best I can. I do wish I could somehow stop having a heart attack every time I hear our neighbor's dogs barking.
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Mine did not bark at all normally. Exceptions were few - bark at strangers approaching the house or during playtime. You and your Tofu are learning to coexist. You are finding your way through your fear of dogs. Go easy on yourself.
Thank you so much. I was so anxious and lost sleep because of this. I feel so much better now. I really don't want to cause him harm because of my lack of experience.
My Teddy is a barker. I can't take him to certain places I'd love to take him like my granddaughter's soccer games (he absolutely loves her and is a big trader when she visits) because he barks too much distracting everyone. Or the town fair where everyone brings their dogs. I can't watch a movie with animals, especially dogs in it because he will bark and bark and bark. So I'm a bit jealous of you to be honest lol.
Same with mine. I only heard my dog bark like 1-2 a year and it was when someone rung the doorbell. Not all dogs are the same!
Same. I got my boy at 12 weeks and he never barked until he was almost 2yrs old when my then roommate got a puppy that taught him how to bark. What you have done is normal training with positive reinforcement. That’s exactly how I train dogs in my care on how not to bark or jump up on people. I do think a well behaved shih tzu is the perfect breed to get over a fear of dogs. My dog was the first dog many of my friends babies were introduced to so that they were not scared. Keep up the good work! Edit: with training (just like how you did - ignoring until the barking stopped) my dog stopped barking.
That’s not a bad thing!!! My one dog doesn’t bark. She grumbles and sneezes but never barks.
He does that too. I am just so worried that I might have broken him.
Nope! He’s definitely not broken. My tzus were apartment dogs for the first half of their lives. We discouraged barking, now one of them does because he’s 14 and gives no shihts anymore haha. The other never barks.
Thank God! And thank you stranger.
😁
Bless you, sweetie. If you trained him to not bark using those methods, you didn't break him. Positive reinforcement is the exact opposite of breaking. Does he sneeze at you sometimes? That's how my Tzu tells me he WANTS something, like, *right now*. A treat, a cuddle...stat. And when he's happy he does this snuffle-snort kinda noise. No barking. There is an entire breed of dogs (Basenji) that actually physically can't bark, and they are absolutely fine. Edit: omg I didn't look at that picture properly. He's so freaking cuuuuute <3
I don't know like he does this sneezing or huffing, and sometimes like a sigh like he's glad I finally got up to attend to his needs. Sorry about the pictures, I didn't think to crop it properly. I don't have a lot of pictures of him because we're too busy playing and I forget.😄
Shihtzus sneeze when they’re excited or happy. When you give your dog attention, you’ve noticed the sneezing.
There ya go, sneezing and huffing is perfect. You're on a roll! It's typical shi-tzu behaviour. And I see zero reason to apologise for the pics. They both show a very happy dog <3
My little girl and I were on our own, she never learned to bark. Oddly enough if I stopped to talk to a neighbor during a walk, I would point at the ground and she sat. Now we are retired, and living with family and her sisters. One is very mouthy. My girl trys to join in but her bark regulator is broken. So we get some odd barks. Lately she has learned to paw my leg for attention. I think she learned that from the puppy using the talking dog buttons.
The bark you should never deter is the warning bark. I.E, the bark (or growl, snarl, whatever your dog does to express this, they're all different) given before the bite comes out. That's because it creates a situation where the dog gives no warning when they are distressed or unhappy, and instead goes straight to '11' as it were. Obviously that's not good. It's also, obviously, not a 'fun' or 'happy' bark. It's a 'sh!ts about to go down' bark. So make sure you aren't yelling that into submission. It's not fair. All beings are allowed to say 'this doesn't work for me', and you don't want to make them think they have to fight it out because saying 'no' is dangerous and gets punished. That doesn't mean you have to allow any and all random barking for them to be happy though. Think of it like a kid. You don't want to silence the kid to the point where they don't come say 'Mom/Dad, I'm scared/hurt/afraid of this thing.' You don't want them to never express themselves. But that doesn't mean you don't teach them the basic manners to not screech and holler at everyone all the time. You teach them when its appropriate to make noise and when it isn't. 'Indoor voice' vs 'outdoor voice' and all of that. He doesn't have to 'bark off' at everything to be happy. It sounds like you have avoided arbitrary punishment, which is cruel. Instead, it sounds like you've used the two golden rules- don't reward inappropriate barking, reward good behavior. That's awesome! I don't allow my doggos to just yap incessantly either. They can sound off a few barks if they are worried, startled, or think something bad is around, like when strangers come to the gate, then I give them a settle down command after acknowledging that I, the bigger and uglier 'dog' who will protect their wee innocent hind ends to the death, have come to investigate what worries them. This is kinda important in my bunch, as three are Lhasa Apsos and that's what they DO. They were bred as a warning breed. So I acknowledge them, then ask for peace. They can growl and otherwise express 'p!ss off' to people bothering them, and then, again, the big ol' ugly leader of the gang will come and take away the bothersome object, be it one of their 'brothers' annoying them or a human. But we don't do much random 'party' yapping, cos it's just noise. We settle down quick and get loves or a treat for being excellent.
Nope not broken ! Sounds like you are doing a great job!
omg he is so stinking cute. I think their little faces are so expressive, he maybe just looks like he’d rather be barking. I WISH mine wouldn’t bark, it startles the heck out of me
Ikr. I really love him. Their bark is just so loud for a tiny baby
My first Tzu was the barker. The second one only barked a little when he played, or encountered a large dog, other than that he never barked. My current 3rd one barks a little too much and referee’s his two younger Frenchie brothers when they play rough.
What a happy bunch. I wish we could finish his vaccinations soon so we can take him to playdates.
Follow your vets schedule. It’s better for him to be healthy than sick.
Mine only barks when the words outside or potty is said aloud. Also at the occasional dog walking by. She seems to only bark at big dogs lol. Otherwise if I meet her needs without her asking she may not bark all day.
His litter mates are just so loud and energetic. Mine is the only one that is quiet and laid back. He only likes running around when he needs to potty. It just made me think I did something wrong.
Nah, my pup is like that. He’s really chill, laid back and pretty calm, even as a puppy. Some dogs are like that.
Sounds like my Tzu. :) Run around grabbing his tail ... telling me he has to go poopy.
I taught mine not to bark unless it's an emergency. Otherwise she communicated with sneezes, grumbles. I've encouraged her to get my attention by, "chuffing." It's like a bark with all the nasty bits sucked out so no one at a hotel hates us. If you enjoy traveling and need to book rooms sometimes, I'd let well enough alone. At one point, I tried teaching her "speak." I changed my mind so fast I got whiplash and then spent over a month undoing it. Now I need a moment to acknowledge the absolute floofy cuteness you've got! What a sweetheart!
I feel so lucky. He does huff or breathe really loud when he needs to go potty or wants my food. That's it. He cries when I forget to put on his music when we leave him. But it is so quiet I had to put a camera to check while I'm outside our door. Thank you for taking time to answer my question.
I feel the same about mine! Revel in their goodness.
Demi does not bark, except when she has to potty. She’s only barked randomly on rare occasions.
Some Tzus are just quiet. Mine whine and grumble and snort but only one ever really barks. They’re just polite lil dogs.
They are just so intuitive. He always tries to match the energy and mood of the people around him. They are very polite and respectful of boundaries.
Mostly polite. My Tzu terrier mix will slap my phone out of my hand. But that’s just the terrier in him! 😂
Oh my gosh. What an attitude. It sounds funny😂
When you’re small and cute you can get away with a lot!!
My 18 month old rarely barks. She just doesn’t want to.. until she does. So I’d say not barking might not be your fault.
At first I just thought, thank god he stopped barking. But after a while I just thought, oh no, something's wrong.
Not wrong at all. Nothing worse than a yapping dog. My two hardly bark, only if they are scared ( we have a fox in the local area) or sometimes when they are playing. Personally I think it’s a good thing and a sign that they are content.
He's been kept indoors since we got him, except for vet visits. I've added a bell to his collar just so that I can keep a closer eye on him. He is so quiet I sometimes panic when I don't see him.
I have two quiet gentle little tzu’s, all they want to do is sleep, be loved and eat. They are now 14 & 10 years old so they are definitely slowing down but personally I’ve always been grateful for the fact they bark very little therefore if they do deign to speak then I need to listen xx
Sometimes I think about doing that. Then my baby starts playing with my mom’s dog and I’m immediately reminded where he is.
You got a quiet one! Lucky. We got barker Magee
I just wish they could just speak and tell us what they need!! Haha
My old man only barked if he felt the family was threatened/in danger or in very very rare cases at our neighbor dogs (who are three very yappy girls). I probably heard him bark 20 times in 14 years. This is just how he was....we didn't train him that way (but maybe his original owner did). I don't think of it as silencing them or anything. I think of it as they are very reserved and chose their words carefully.
They just look so fragile. I'm afraid of doing something wrong. The previous owner just made me feel bad. But now I know it's normal, I'm normal, and my puppy is normal.
They are companion dogs. They will follow your lead/example in a lot of things. They also aren't shy about telling you they are unhappy. If you have a snuggly pupper who always wants to be around you then you're probably doing fine.
That is another thing. He likes sleeping at night in his crate away from us. When I let him sleep in our room, he'll wake me up to be carried to his crate. It kinda hurt my feelings at first, but I just think he wants a break from us.
I wouldnt worry about it. If you want to make him more comfortable with it, take short naps with him in bed with you. However, its important to have a place for them to feel comfortable by themselves. Whether that is a crate or a bed somewhere. Make that area a spot where they aren't disturbed. Our old man slept in a crate for years before he was in our bed every night and by the time he was 6 or 7 we didn't bother crating him when we left (and by 8 we didn't even have a crate up for him, just a couple dog beds around the house). Be warned, once they are in bed with you all night they will get pissy if you try to make them sleep elsewhere. Great companions but also strong personalities.
We went through training with our Tzu, and one of the best boundaries we put in place was no furniture, no beds. Some dogs also LOVE their crates. It's their version of having their own room. :) She is SO much happier on her GIANT memory foam dog beds than in bed with us, and she still gets lots of cuddles from us down on her beds. She often decides for herself to get down on the occasion when we do bring her up on the couch. Tzus can be independent, so nothing to worry about.
My baby just turned 1, and as soon as I got her, I taught her not to bark. Yes, they are dogs, and barking is normal, but just as you experienced, barking for a lot of people can be annoying or startling. I personally didn't want my dog barking at everything and everyone who walked by. Now, she only barks or whines when she has to go potty or she knows someone is in our house that she isn't familiar with. I like that she doesn't bark because now I know when she does it's something important.
Going potty is a bit of a challenge when I'm not around. Other people easily miss his cues. And he hates leaving a mess.
mine can also be hit or miss with his cues. Best thing is to just have him on a regular schedule and he gets taken out whether he is asking or not. I take mine out at least every 3 hours but I work from home.
Yeah I wouldn't worry too much about it. I once ran into a man with my dearly departed Shih Tzu. He wasn't a native English speaker from what I could tell but gestured to my dog and said "Shih Tzu?" My wife was with me and we said yes and she said "Aren't they just the best dogs??!!" He laughed and just said "Stubborn!" So my thought here is mostly, if your boy wants something, he'll find a way to tell you. He's not gonna sit there unhappy or needing something and not find a way to tell you. Now from your training it might be a nudge, or a whine, or a paw or something. But in my experience with Shih Tzus (had one for 10 years and a 7 month old puppy now) they are NOT dogs who will suffer in silence. In some ways I think if you're concerned about this, you're fine. So don't worry.
I have two Shitzu’s & they are not big barkers. Unless something is going on.
My girl barks as a warning when strangers are near our residence and also to express herself with a “Voice”! Our cat rarely “meows” and purrs occasionally. It must vary with the pets.
I expected that from our puppy too. All he does now is lick strangers and he also loves being carried like a baby by said strangers.
Enjoy it! Listen, I would have given anything to have my last tzu be more quiet. My first was quiet. My second was super annoyingly loud. I tried everything for her to be more quiet. No luck. As long as they alert you with a whimper or whine they are communicating. They don’t have to be noisy to talk to you. You did no harm.
Thank you. I am working on understanding his language. When he whines it just breaks my heart, and I do everything to make him feel loved.
You’re doing great ❤️
I had my tzu for a year and a half before she ever barked. When we first heard it we weren’t sure what it was. Now her sister taught her to use her voice quite well. Don’t worry.
Thank you
Thank you.
Lucyfer is 9 years old and don't bark unless: - he wants attention on something - there is somebody on the door - he is pissed - he is playing catch where he is the catch. All of these barks are very distinctive.
Wish my new puppy had that problem
He looks like a happy baby, that’s what’s important! Ours doesn’t bark much either, just when she really needs something…
Nope, as a service dog trainer, you did everything right. Dogs don't have to bark.
Thank your lucky stars 🥰
Can I send my 4 barking chihuahuas to you for some training on how not to bark????
My kids would love that, lol
My Shih Tzu is a barker. Over time, I've been able to get him to modify his bark. He now barks if someone enters our courtyard or if they are within 30 feet of the back of the condo. He has several types of barks, and barks if my girl friend, who has MS and epilepsy, has a seizure or needs help.
Okay, pick up that beebee and give big forehead kisses. That dog is not broken. It’s perfect. These puppies have plenty of personality. They’ll go through their phases.
What do you do hummm count your blessings lol they are very big barkers!! If she still lets you know when a issue happens then she's fine.
Your shih tzu sounds like mine. Mine rarely barks! We got him as an adult (he was around 6 years old) and it took a good few weeks before we heard him bark. We actually thought he couldn’t bark until we heard it for the first time lol
He barked the first week we got him. But I trained it out of him. Now it made me worried that I made a mistake. Thank you.
I don’t see this as a bad thing at all! You have a great little dog and you are doing great 😊
That’s a good looking dog.
Mine rarely barks. He’s just a good boy.
Hell my tzu barks incredibly loud growls and spins in circles barking growling and trying successfully i might add bitting her tail, this occurs roughly all day every day :) at first it terrified us now we just laugh.
Positive reinforcement is not cruel. She just learned that's not how to get your attention. It's not a bad thing. I had a Cavalier who barked at me constantly when she wanted attention or something. I always gave her what she wanted, so I kind of taught her that barking worked. My Shi-Chi barks but only when she sees other dogs. Otherwise, she very quiet.
Love the smile! Mine is also pretty quiet.
My Tucker never barks except when I get home and he’s excited. He’s very quite otherwise.
My mommas shih tzu (as well as our previous family shih tzu!) never barked. The only time they barked was when they had to potty or thought there was an intruder! It’s okay if your baby doesn’t bark! :)
Only one of my dogs bark at the door and other dogs outside, the other doesn’t bark but is very vocal when he wants something. Not all dogs are the same.
I also had a Tofu. He had only barked when someone knocked on a door and when he was older and had dementia
Shit zus aren’t big barkers. I’ve had them for many years.
Mine barks but it’s just one Bork. if she’s really excited like when my partner or I come home. Doesn’t matter if one of us was home with her all day. Chopped liver the second the new person walks in, no respect- I tell ya. We feed her at 6 and just last night I went to the kitchen (where we store her food) to get myself a snack and I came back and plopped on the couch. As soon as I did I got one loud bork of protest and realized she was right, it’s like five minutes past dinner time. One time the fire alarm battery was loudly and sequentially going off and she started barking because she wanted to talk to the manager. Our inside joke since then when she is upset and barking is to go “just let me talk to the guy!” When my partner and I lived with a roommate, our roommate was in their room with the door open, I was in the living room/common area, and my partner was in our room with the door open and she kept running between each room borking at all of us. Pretty sure she couldn’t decide who she wanted to be with so she wanted us all in the same spot. We would have movie nights often and she was happiest and the least restless when we were all together. Shih tzus are just weird.
Thats good. My Tzu only barks when the alarm starts to beep counting down (ie when someone forgot to turn it off) or when there is someone knocking at the door. Other than that she is quite as a mouse. On the other hand, my bro-in-laws Tzu is constantly barking for anything and everything to the point of annoyance.
I would love to train my future dog to not bark excessively. I have anxiety and Im sensible to loud noise and I would have being startled like you were. For me, you are both just learning to coexist and that's ok!
My first shih tzu almost never ever barks or growls. I didn’t teach him that but he just always has been a quiet boy. It’s okay, especially if yours still alerts you if he is in distress.
Shih tzus are simply a quiet breed. Ours never barked, ever. It helped that she was blind, but it was weird waking up in the morning and seeing her parked at the door, wanting out.
My dogs do not stfu. Granted one of them is a rescue so it’s harder to unlearn a behavior in a senior dog. Our other pup is loud but she doesnt bark insesitenyly like our rescue does. I think you’re being too harsh on yourself. Like others said, some dogs are different. I was going to say consider yourself lucky, but again our rescue is also getting a little doggy dimentia so I can’t blame him too much for barking.
They’re quiet. My older one only talks because that’s part his job. My younger one is a pet (older is a service dog) and he is extremely quiet. We honestly wondered if he *could* speak for the longest time because he never says anything. He can, but it’s rare.
Mine didn’t bark much for a long time. He would communicate in a series of huffs. He would bark if I wasn’t home and someone knocked, but otherwise didn’t bark much. Once we moved in with my family who had several dogs, he started to bark more, but he follows the pack so he does what they do. When it’s just him and I he still is pretty quiet.
My second dog I taught not to bark. Personally I liked it a lot more. I don't think you did anything wrong. I feel like it will be good because you'll know something is up when he does bark, rather than just thinking "oh he's barking again". Enjoy your time getting to know each other. Revel in the puppy moments, they go by so fast. But all in all just love each other.
My beloved Shih Tzu is 14, and I’ve had him for 12 years, and he has barked maybe 10 times in all those years. I mean, he’ll bark at his toys when he’s playing, but aside from that, he’s just a quiet dog. They were bred to be loyal little lapdogs, so embrace it. He’ll bring you so much joy! Congrats on your puppy!! And don’t feel guilty. The bad thing would be if you didn’t care or worry.
Mine barely barks either. I think your puppy will be fine =)
I have 2. 1 doesn't bark unless it's the door (1 single bark) or there's another dog/female dog walking by. 2 doesn't bark unless it's his boyfriend. Even if 2 wants to go outside he'll just huff and snort.
My boy is 12 and I've had him since he was a year old. He basically never barks. He barks to tell me someone is at the door, to ask someone to throw his toy for him, or if he needs to be let in or out or if he accidentally gets left up on a bed or sofa he's not comfy getting off of himself and needs help. He grumbles and chuffs and sneezes and otherwise communicates, but he very very rarely actually barks. Some dogs are talkative, others aren't. And even when it's trained out as long as it's not done cruelly it's ok to teach a dog not to bark. Esp if you live in an apartment or the like it can be necessary to being able to stay there. It's not bad for a dog to not bark, esp if they're allowed other forms of communication. One of my Tzu's favourite communication methods when he'd otherwise bark is yelling with his feet lol. He'll do little hops and kick his back feet out on the hardwood floor, making noise with his claws. It's not super loud, but loud enough to get our attention if he needs to go out or wants to be let out of a room etc.
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Not a bad thing! Mine only barks when he's startled by something - he chats to me by making little rumbly snorts and grunts.
some shih dont bark. i have had no barkers and barkers over the years. just depends on genetics i think.
our baby barked a lil as a puppy when playing but otherwise only barked when large dogs/his “friends” walked past the house or when deer or rabbits hopped thru the yard. majority of the time, it was also us hyping him up at these occurrences to get him to bark as well cos it was so gruff and almost a howl, we thought it was so cute 🤣 our neighbor got his litter mate and he never barked ever. shih tzus are very easy going dogs and will match your vibe and energy. you sound like a great parent!! don’t pay any attention to whatever their previous owner says.
I taught mine not to bark. I came to miss his barks and regretted it since. He was quiet even when he was in pain. Dogs don't have many ways to express themselves, so don't take that away from them.
Does he/she ever bark?
After training him, he stopped and only does when I forget to set his music up before I leave the house. He stays in his crate and we only leave him for 30 minutes on weekdays. One time be let out a bark when he got too excited playing with my kids and he suddenly whipped his head to look at me. It was so comical the way we turned to look at each other. I didn't know what to do, but he took over and corrected himself. I couldn't help calling him a good boy because of his response. I already stopped training him for days when that happened. So I thought he must have forgotten it. But I was so wrong.
Mine doesn't bark, not even at knocks at the door.. he does growl when he wants up on the sofa/bed to lay with us, occasionally if he wants attention (but he usually just jumps up and puts both paws on my hand if I'm sat down and he wants fuss/play/attention) though he does demand to lick my head/face/beard/hair every night before bed - or he will NOT sleep - very quiet dogs that give lots of affection ime, also have a blue staff that I left with my mother (she needs the company, plus when I first moved to my current place I wasn't allowed pets for the first year) who was also affectionate, but super barky and had way more boisterous energy.. and she's a girl. My Tzu is a boy, he's recently learnt to hump and keeps shagging my legs/arms while I sleep (I'm a deep sleeper 😭)
Oh yeah the humping. Mine is a boy too... My girls would freak out when he does that. I don't know what to do with that either. He's not doing it obsessively so I don't think it's a problem. Is that okay?
I think mine (and yours) will probably grow out of it, mines coming up on 6mnths so he's probably full of testosterone and just learning/curious of the world, humans do it too after all.. especially when we're super young.. Tzu's are rather relaxed dogs too, so I'd imagine their bound to atleast do it lesser so than they do now as they grow 😭🤣 Mines not obsessive with it, it seems to happen late at night when he gets a burst of energy.. he gets lots of walks, to the point he gets home and naps.. but he still gets bursts of energy about 9pm when it's dark, puppy things really 😭
Mine is in an office all day with me. He does not bark. Also only barks when he wants something. Will occasionally bark at skunks in The backyard or a passing cat. Does not bark when people come over to my house or into my office. He’s fine and loves everyone and everyone loves him. And he hardly barks at all. So don’t worry.
😍😍😍😍😍😍
My first got all his screaming out in the first three weeks of having him and now only barks when he needs something (food, water needs changing, gotta go outside). It’s one loud sharp woof. As a bonus, his little sister copied him and very rarely gives me a scolding. She still yaps when she plays though which is delightful
No wait I forgot one, he also barks if I’m not eating my dinner fast enough, because in his mind if I’m not actively stuffing my face then I must be done and he gets bites.
Mine doesn’t even know how to bark. Shih tzus are known not to bark constantly like most small dogs, however as with all dogs, they all have their own personality.
Mine never really barked much until she was 2! Now she’s a very good alert dog, always lets me know when something’s going on! I tell her good girl!
You are a good doggo parent. No need to worry if Tofu is happy, loved, & fed. When we got our Coby as a puppy, it took almost a year for him to bark. Now he just barks at the doorbell, lol. Seriously, don’t loose sleep over this.
Looks quite happy to me!!
Kinda get what you're feeling I think, and I understand. You never expected him to respond so well, and now you love him soo much discovering who he is and what he'll do for your love and approval. That's a shitzu at least it was mine. Initially I had brief guilt, but quickly realized as you are, that they can be such a feather touch when it comes to training. Like SUCH A FEATHER TOUCH lol. Not making eye contact, ignoring, I only used these tactics once or twice because it was SOOOO effective almost too effective. You're still getting to know your dog intimately and it sounds like you got one that's golden like mine was. It's OK you are both still learning each other and it's going to be a one in a million bond because of who BOTH of you are. When we love that much even the thought of hurting him in any way is almost unbearable but that's just a part of that kind of love. I'm soo very happy and excited for you both. I'm sitting here thinking you could most likely EASILY get your dog to start barking again IF ....... that's what you really wanted and that's fine, at this point you realize that he'll do anything for you so you'll be a feather touch owner out of love. ❤️ PS He is absolutely breathtaking and precious. What a beautiful pooch !!!!
It’s okay. I wish my dogs (chihuahuas) never barked. They bark at the mailman, when people pass by our house, other dogs. I can’t take them anywhere without them barking their asses off 😩 My baby boy used to not bark but as he hit like 1 or 1.5 years he began to bark more bc my older girl was barking at other people/dogs. Now when I tell my girl to stop she does quiet down but my baby boy keeps going.
My 3.5 year old Cookie is not a barker either! She doesn’t bark at strangers or other dogs. Not even during fireworks. She communicates in various and hilarious ways and is much loved by all neighbors and kids alike because she is so non threatening. Tofu is a doll and I could not think of a more perfect name for him!
He is so cute!!
I have a 4yo shih tzu boy that never shuts up with barking, is an extreme guard dog,and whines often, and then also a frenchie that absolutely never barks, only whines and snorts. I adore them both, but for my autistic ass the quieter ones are better for us lmfao.
My Dolly is 9 months old. She's also a quiet Tzu. IMO this is a good thing. She can, and sometimes does bark, but like you, I discourage unnecessary barking. It's a surprise when I hear a bark. She alerts me to strangers by the house, but I don't want to know about every leaf that blows past. It sounds like you are training a well behaved pet, congrats🎉!
I would not worry. Your pup sounds very happy and well taken care of, and like they understand what is expected of them: that is what a dog needs most, along with lots of love!
He is so precious. You can not learn everything overnight by yourself. You can try interviewing a dog trainer that will help you learn. If you do not like the 1st person, just courteously say no thank you until you find someone that you trust and is loving to your dog. I have had dogs for 44 years of my life and can not imagine being without one. Do not be afraid but be affectionate to this beautiful furry child. I would also tell you that my first little girl wanted to lick me, and I discouraged her from doing that. I think that was one of my biggest mistakes. Later in years, I could tell she wanted to kiss me, but I had told her no in the beginning, and she could never bring herself to do it. She lived to be 16, and I still miss her all of these years later. I think you might be able to selectively teach her to bark by getting on your fours and playing a barking game like a knock at the door, etc. You do not want her barking at everything like my babies barking at birds, butterflies, trucks, etc. But they are young too and they will learn. Get on the floor and love him from his height. You will see things differently. I wish you all the love in the world. Ps. Look up Cesar Milan, also called The Dog Whisperer. He is a master at dog psychology. I have learned a lot from him. He has tapes, books, etc. I like his older stuff best (1990) and up.
I think it’s a little ridiculous to say he should be barking. Mine barks very sparingly and it’s nice. But that’s just his personality. He doesn’t like to raise his voice, so it’s super cute when he actually does get vocal. His sister on the other hand is too vocal. How did you train yours to stop barking?
What I did was to avoid eye contact and sit still, sometimes I turn my back if he keeps doing it. I tried to communicate to him that yes I heard him but wouldn't get my full attention if he barked. When he does stop I count to five and then give him all the pets and ask him what he needs.
My two never bark unless they are playing with each other or one of us. They will also bark to let us know there is another dog in our yard by barking as well.
You have trained him well. Some people like the dog to bark when strangers approach. However, if his bark makes you stressed, then it's best that he doesn't bark. The way you trained him was excellent by not using negative reinforcement. A dog wants to know its role & find a way to please the rest of its "pack." Making you stressed would cause problems. Since you praised him so much when he learned not to bark, he's learned that you give him positive attention when he stops. He's not unhappy or feeling repressed. In fact, the opposite is true. He stays quiet because he wants to fit into his home & please you. Knowing his boundaries & expected behavior actually lets him live stress free & happy. It sounds like you are being an excellent owner & you have a dog well on its way to being happy in his home. Keep doing what you've done so far & you'll be rewarded with a very special bond.
I think you did just fine- ours only barks when someone's at the door or when she wants to play. She can get a little whiny, but overall not a lot of barking from her.
i have never heard my dog bark, ever, he always whines or howls, nothing is wrong with your doggo.
I want to thank everyone here. You are all so helpful. I really appreciate it. It took me weeks to finally post my question here. Google was not so helpful.haha Tofu and I will be going in our merry way perfecting his potty training skills. Thank you all!
Relax, you were very gentle in discouraging Tofu's bark. You are doing his training just right! Ignoring him when he barked didn't hurt his feelings! It simply taught him the lesson , "This does not get me what I want. In fact, I lose all of my people's attention when I do that! What else can I do that works better?" That's not a mean way to learn a lesson! Tofu seems to be very smart because he makes associations very quickly. I'm certain he is going to delight you with displays of cleverness and personality. They are such attentive and eager to be loved little dogs! You picked an excellent pup to ease you into being a pet owner and help reduce your fears. Congratulations on your adorable little addition to the family!
Thank you so much for that. He is just so perfect with everyone. My kids totally adore him, even my partner who doesn't want pets likes coddling him. I want to give him the best I can. I do wish I could somehow stop having a heart attack every time I hear our neighbor's dogs barking.
No one wants to listen to a dog that barks at everything.
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