| Generally speaking Shih Tzu should not be aggressive | | | | also interpret the attack as the dog being absolutely |
| at all. However, with any breed of dog aggressive | | | | uncontrollably vicious. In a breed such as the Shih |
| behaviors can and do occur. Do you understand what | | | | Tzu, one does not normally see such types of |
| it means if a Shih Tzu bares its teeth at you? Is your | | | | viciousness, however, as with all canines, it is possible. |
| Shih Tzu warning you to back off or is your Shih Tzu | | | | All canines are related to the wolf and even though |
| simply smiling? If your Shih Tzu suddenly snaps at | | | | humans have domesticated them extremely well |
| you - is this a failed bite or a warning that a bite | | | | they can still from time to time exhibit those wolf like |
| might be coming next? The truth is these are | | | | behaviors. |
| typically aggressive behaviors that can range from | | | | Aggression may develop gradually in a pup as it |
| visual warnings to postural or symbolic threats. Every | | | | matures. Play growling and nipping by puppies and |
| dog owner needs to learn these subtle or not so | | | | Shih Tzu puppies as well may seem harmless, but |
| subtle warnings of aggression, whether it be with a | | | | they often represent warning signals of what can be |
| Shih Tzu or a Pit Bull. Any dog breed can exhibit | | | | possible later on. Growling and nipping in Shih Tzu |
| aggression. | | | | puppies needs to be handled immediately and |
| Dog aggression is often meant primarily not to harm | | | | eradicated. The mouth of a Shih Tzu puppy should |
| so much as to alter the behavior of another | | | | never be allowed on human skin regardless of the |
| creature, human or animal. Dogs and Shih Tzu included | | | | activity. One possible way of handling a mouthing Shih |
| communicate their aggressive intentions through | | | | Tzu puppy on human skin is to immediately close the |
| changes in expression, posturing, and maneuvering, | | | | mouth of the Shih Tzu puppy and hold it tight while |
| some so subtle as to be easily missed or | | | | saying sternly to the Shih Tzu puppy - NO BITE. |
| misunderstood by a passerby or even the owner. A | | | | All Shih Tzu puppies are prone to want to chew. |
| dog's communication system is quite different from a | | | | They are teething and this is a very normal behavior, |
| human's communication system. It is important that | | | | however, when it is transferred to human skin, it is |
| every dog owner, whether it be a Shih Tzu or a Pit | | | | not normal and not acceptable. It can be solved if |
| Bull, or a tiny teacup poodle, learn the dog's basic | | | | caught in the early stages assuming there are no |
| communication system expressing aggression. | | | | other emotional problems occurring with the Shih Tzu |
| The actual bite is often preceded by several | | | | puppy. You can also quickly put a chewable object in |
| aggressive responses and warnings. These might | | | | the mouth of the mouthing Shih Tzu puppy. |
| include staring, growling, tensing up, and walking | | | | Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. She publishes a |
| stiffly. No one, however, would misinterpret the | | | | FREE weekly newsletter. Sign up at: Designer Dog |
| savage attack of a child by a Pit Bull, as anything | | | | Clothes are offered on the website. |
| other than pure aggression and most people would | | | | This article is FREE to publish with resource box. |