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Stress

Shih Tzu Dogs and Emotional Stress

Overview

Canines, just like people, can become emotionally stressed out. There are some common causes, such as moving to a new home or the addition of a new family member. But sometimes just a change in schedule and/or an overly anxious household vibe, can really affect Shih Tzu puppies and dogs.

This article covers the signs that a Shih Tzu may be chronically stressed and the 12 ways you can help your Shih Tzu de-stress. You may find that some of these de-stressing tips can also help you relax a bit, so these guidelines can bring a bit of peace and harmony to both you and your little guy or gal during difficult times.

Please note: AllShihTzu is reader-supported. Some links below are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission on products through these, at no extra cost to you.

Acute Stress vs Chronic Stress

Acute stress refers to short-term stress. This may last anywhere mere minutes to several days, but its effects are not felt after that point. Chronic stress refers to long-term stress. It may be consistent or ebbing for weeks, months or longer. The type of emotional stress with Shih Tzu dogs that is covered in this article mostly revolves around chronic stress.

Signs that a Shih Tzu is Suffering from Ongoing Stress

A Shih Tzu does not need to display all or even most of these signs; just one or two, seen on a regular basis, can point to high levels of stress that should be addressed.

Yawning (often more prolonged and intense than yawns due to being tired or bored)
Licking
Increased chewing
Pacing
Full-body rolls (shaking), similar to how a dog shakes of after a bath.
Shedding, thinning coat
Housebreaking accidents
Loss of interest
Changes in the eyes (dilated pupils and increased blinking)
Intestinal distress (loose stools, more frequent bowel movements, and/or diarrhea)
Sullen behavior
Restlessness

Common Causes of Chronic Stress with Shih Tzu Dogs

There are some typical ‘everyday’ events that can cause a Shih Tzu to experience high levels of stress, including but not limited to:

Moving to a new home
The addition of a new family member (human or pet)
The loss of a beloved family member (human or pet)
Enduring an environment with frequent yelling or other hostile human behaviors (even if this is not directed toward the dog)
Physical neglect or harsh physical discipline
Continued mishandling and/or teasing by children (or others) in the household
Constant noisy or chaotic environment
Being isolated for long periods of time
Long-term exposure to an atmosphere with sorrow, tension, and/or worry experienced by humans

How Stress and Anxiety can Transfer from a Person to a Dog

Undoubtedly, you’ve experienced your Shih Tzu trying to comfort you during low periods. Canines are great in this way! Using a skill set that includes picking up on both verbal (your tone of voice) and non-verbal (body language) cues, your Shih Tzu quickly learned that something was bothering you. Maybe you had an argument with a loved one or had a bad day at work; whatever it was, it was an acute, short-term issue that your Shih Tzu, as a loving canine companion, was well-qualified to assist with.

But dogs can start to become stressed themselves when a person’s (or household’s) tension, worry, and stress is ongoing. Though a Shih Tzu’s intentions will be to offer comfort during long-term stressful times, the daily tense atmosphere can eventually be wearing on them and they can start to feel the same stress and worry that their humans do. They may not understand exactly what is happening, but they know that something is amiss.

Remember that canines are very astute; just seeing you regularly react to the news or repeatedly hear you discuss negative events with another person can put them on edge. And picking up on these things is much more common with dogs that have very close bonds with their humans; the closer the bond, the quicker the stress can transfer and the stronger those feelings may be.

12 Easy Ways to Help a Shih Tzu De-stress

Fortunately, there are lots of ways you can help resolve stress that your Shih Tzu may be feeling. Though you certainly do not need to implement all of these, try to choose at least 3 to 5 methods. And while some stress remedies can offer immediate relief, what will help your Shih Tzu the most is if you do these on a consistent basis. You should find that in a week or so, the methods you choose will become a natural part of your regular routine.

#1. Create a peaceful atmosphere.

Keep the volume of the TV, music, etc., at reasonable levels (remember, your Shih Tzu’s hearing is much more sensitive than your own). If there are young children, supervise their interactions to prevent mishandling or prevent any teasing. If you’ll be running a blender, vacuum, or other appliance that makes lots of noise, enlist a helper to first distance your Shih Tzu. Position your Shih Tzu's food and water bowls away from any foot traffic or from seating; dogs should eat and drink completely undisturbed.

#2. Be aware of tone of voice.

Dogs, in general, only understand about 165 words. But what they excel at is understanding the tone of what is spoken. Continual exposure to worried conversations can lead a Shih Tzu to become concerned as well and be on guard without even understanding why. This all, of course, can lead to feeling very stressed.

So, while you should be able to discuss current events that are upsetting, it can be helpful to be aware of tone of voice. You may want to consider putting time limits on when certain such things are talked about or offering a distraction for your little guy or gal when you have those conversations.

#3. Provide an option to retreat.

Many dogs appreciate having their own personal spot to retreat to. It offers an easy ‘out’ from tense situations and gives a dog a way to ‘reset’ themselves. If the spot includes a really comfortable dog bed, this offers the additional benefit of having a ‘den-type’ area which instinctively brings about feelings of security.

One type of dog bed that is designed just for this purpose is the Best Friends Calming Donut Cuddler. This, or any bed meant to offer a retreat, should be placed in a room that the family uses, but in a quiet area away from foot traffic. A corner in a living room is an example of a good spot.

#4. Maintain a schedule.

Canines have incredible internal clocks that let them know when certain things ‘should’ happen. This includes having their meals, going for walks, being groomed, lights being dimmed to signal things are winding down at the end of the day, and more. When these things occur as expected, it offers a sense of peace. And when there are disturbances in this, it can cause mental unrest. So, if events have caused your Shih Tzu’s schedule to be thrown off, work on getting things back on track.

Some pet parents find it helpful to write down a basic schedule and keep this on the fridge or another spot that makes it easy to refer to.

#5. Give ear rubs.

Though every dog will have varying responses, massaging a dog’s ears can help them relax; for some, it’s utterly blissful. This is because canine ears contain a dense network of nerve endings; when the ears are massaged (rubbed or scratched), nerve impulses lead to a release of endorphins (feel-good chemicals).

In addition, countless studies have shown that petting a dog causes a release of endorphins in humans, so this may help to relax you as well.

Though you should tweak the technique for what suits your Shih Tzu best, start with massaging the base of the ears, slowly rubbing in circle motions to the tips. Release and then repeat. Sessions should last 5 to 15 minutes and you can alternate between the ears and the top of the head.

#6. Kneaded muscle massage.

Dogs can physically tense up when they are under emotional stress. Most dogs hold tension this way in their upper legs and withers (upper shoulders) and it can make it hard for them to relax. But you can help ease this with massage.

Start off with a gentler touch than you assume will be needed; you can always increase the firmness as you go. The easiest and most effective method for pet parents hoping to help a Shih Tzu relax via massage is to use two hands to knead the muscles, moving your fingers and thumbs in small circular motions. Do one body part at a time (for example, left hind leg, then right hind leg).

#7. Brush the coat.

Relaxing sessions of brushing the coat using long, slow strokes can be super-relaxing for many dogs. For this, you’ll want to use a brush that reaches down to the skin, to provide a type of massage. A bubble-tipped pin brush like the ConairPRO Small Pin Brush works well for most Shih Tzu puppies and dogs. The longer each brush stroke the better, so try to position your Shih Tzu so that you can brush from the top of the head, down the back, and over the rump.

#8. Aromatherapy, especially with lavender.

Aromatherapy involves the scents of essential oils made from certain plants, which can trigger beneficial emotional responses. There are numerous studies, including one posted by the National Institute of Health, that show aromatherapy with the essential oil of lavender can help both humans and dogs with stress.

Lavender has been proven to have calming properties. It interacts with the neurotransmitter GABA which reduces agitation, stress, and restlessness.

There are a couple of effective ways to offer aromatherapy to a Shih Tzu. One is to use a topical coat spray. One like the Gerrard Larriett Pet Aromatherapy Spray has both lavender oil and chamomile (also a natural calming scent). The lavender scent will remain for a couple of days after you can no longer detect it, thanks to the incredible scenting abilities of canines that are thousands of times stronger than ours.

And if you are feeling a bit on edge yourself, you may wish to use a diffuser, so that both you and your Shih Tzu can benefit from aromatherapy. For this, we recommend the Everlasting Comfort Diffuser which has a beautiful design, can run for 12+ hours, and has a timer, auto shut-off, and optional soothing lights.

Note that when you’re picking out essential oils, lavender is indeed a very popular scent for stress, but there have also been some favorable studies that show lemongrass, peppermint, and orange help with stress, anxiety, and depression.

#9. Calming pheromones, in some instances.

Pheromones are chemical messages that travel through scent (undetectable by humans) that serve as a type of communication between animals. They are species-specific. There are different types of pheromones such as those released from a dog’s scent glands and those found in a dog’s urine.

The type of pheromone that is connected to stress relief is known as the Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) which is naturally secreted by nursing females to help calm their pups and make them feel secure. For dogs of all ages, there are topical synthetic calming pheromones that mimic the DAP such as ThunderEase Dog Calming Pheromone Spray.

But note that while this may seem like the answer to all types of stress, it’s not. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that it works for separation anxiety, when a pup is stressed from being in a new home, or other such instances. However, there are studies that show it can be effective for certain acute instances that cause stress such as fireworks and thunder storms.

#10. Calming supplements.

There are many types of calming supplements for dogs with differing ingredients; some work better than others. Most notable is L-theanine which is an amino acid found in green tea (among other foods) that elevates levels of GABA, serotonin and dopamine to help reduce agitation, stress, and restlessness and L-tryptophan which is an essential amino that is turned into serotonin which increases feelings of well-being.

A calming supplement such as Zesty Paws Calming Bites for Dogs has both of those ingredients, as well as other stress-reducers including thiamine (vitamin B1), chamomile, valerian root, ginger root, and hemp extract.

Another OTC supplement, but one that should only be given with veterinary approval and supervision, is melatonin. This is sometimes given to dogs for insomnia and it can help dogs relax in cases of severe stress. A typical dose is 1 mg per every 10 lbs. This should be given only with a vet’s ‘okay’ because correct dosing is important and it can interfere with certain other medications.

#11. Play relaxing music.

You might know what sort of music helps you relax and unwind, but would it work well for your Shih Tzu whose hearing is on a completely different level, able to detect a frequency range of 67 to 45,000 Hz, compared to the human range of just 64 to 23,000 Hz?

Well, fortunately, some folks have worked to figure this out. Through A Dog's Ear: Music To Calm Your Canine Companion is one of several wonderful albums that has music specially designed to calm dogs and is praised by many pet parents. This particular one is available as a CD, MP3, or streaming.

This can be played throughout the day in the background or you can reserve it just for helping your Shih Tzu fall asleep or for instances that normally bring about high stress such as being home alone.

#12. Have bonding time.

Sometimes, just spending time with your Shih Tzu is enough to help them de-stress. But there are also some activities that you can do together that can really make a difference:

Exercise – Heading out for a brisk walk is a great way to work off frustration and feel renewed. Try to take your Shih Tzu for at least 2 walks a day. Games of fetch in the yard (or even down a hallway, if the weather is not agreeable) can be a good alternative. If you’re looking for a good fetch toy, Zanies Mini Tennis Balls for Dogs are fun and perfectly sized for toy breeds like the Shih Tzu.

A puzzle game – These types of games for dogs range from beginner to advanced. If your Shih Tzu is new to these, start with a puzzle like the SPOT Seek-a-Treat Flip 'N Slide Puzzle. You’ll hide tasty treats and then teach your Shih Tzu how to flip and slide covers with their nose or paws to find them. It’s a great way to bond and it’s self-rewarding.

Teach commands and/or tricks – Working as a team is wonderful for bonding and when a dog is learning commands or tricks (and being rewarded for ‘good tries’ along the way), it’s a fantastic method to boost a dog’s self-confidence and offer a sense of pride.

Our book, AllShihTzu’s GIANT Book of Shih Tzu Care has a chapter for basic commands, so you may want to check it out.

And if your Shih Tzu knows the basics of sit, stay, come and down, maybe it’s time to move onto some impressive tricks. Our favorite book for that is 101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond with Your Dog which has step-by-step photos and instructions for learning everything from somersaults to dancing to waving good-bye.

Summary and a Final Note

Stress can really take a toll on dogs, just like it can with us humans. So, it’s always important to pay attention to possible stress that your Shih Tzu may be feeling. Fortunately, there are lots of options to help decrease stress and bring about more peace and serenity.

Our list of 12 ways to help relieve a Shih Tzu’s stress are:

Create a peaceful atmosphere
Be aware of tone of voice
Provide an option to retreat
Maintain a schedule
Give ear rubs
Kneaded muscle massage
Brush the coat
Aromatherapy, especially with lavender
Calming pheromones, in some instances
Calming supplements
Play relaxing music
Have bonding time

If you find that these home remedies are not working for your Shih Tzu’s stress levels, do get in touch with the veterinarian; it’ll be time for a complete check-up. In some cases, prescription medication may be needed.