Even though Shih Tzus have lost much of their wild instincts through domestication, they still retain some, such as the need to have a pack. Like wolves, dogs prefer to eat with their family. Consequently, the dog enjoys the presence of its owner while eating, expecting you to eat too. This behavior is common, especially if you have accustomed your Shih Tzu since puppyhood to always eat when you are around. Keep reading!
The relationship between the Shih Tzu and its owner is based on food.
Above all, some owners build their relationship with Shih Tzus around food. For instance, when they give too many unnecessary treats, show excessive emotion when the Shih Tzu eats, get stressed when it doesn’t eat, or constantly change its feeding schedule.
Thus, this creates a situation where the Shih Tzu feels better when eating with the owner, believing that we like this behavior. Therefore, we should avoid getting excited, irritated, or praising the Shih Tzu when it eats. Read on for more!
Separation anxiety may be one reason why a Shih Tzu doesn’t want to eat when you’re not around.
In advance, know that some dogs suffer a lot of stress when we leave home because they don’t like to be alone. This behavioral problem is known as separation anxiety.
The Shih Tzu may feel so bad about being alone that it loses its appetite. Consequently, when you come home, it feels a great reward and wants to eat again.
Similarly, when you leave home, the Shih Tzu feels unprotected, and any noise seems like a threat. So, it goes into guard mode and is too busy protecting the house to eat.
Then, when you return, it feels safe again, relaxes, and finally manages to eat. This is because when a dog is eating, it puts itself in a vulnerable position. Thus, your presence calms it down, and it enjoys your company so it can eat more peacefully.
Why do some Shih Tzus only eat from their owner’s hand?
Firstly, there could be several reasons why a Shih Tzu only wants to eat from its owner’s hand. It may be afraid of the environment it’s in or if the food is next to a noisy appliance, or if it had a bad experience with something.
On the other hand, you may have reinforced this behavior unintentionally. So, if the dog was distracted, and you fed it by hand, you rewarded its behavior, and it will expect you to continue doing so.
Furthermore, if you say “good boy” when it takes food from your hand, the dog thinks you like this behavior and repeats it to please you. It may do this even if it’s full or not hungry, just to please you.
Finally, if there are other dogs in the house trying to steal food, the dog may only feel safe if it eats from your hand.
What to do if a Shih Tzu doesn’t want to eat kibble unless you’re near?
Firstly, it’s recommended to seek help from a canine behavior specialist. However, if that’s not possible, some simple tips can help. Follow along!
Establish a regular schedule for meals and teach it to eat from its bowl. Hold the bowl until you can put it on the floor, and it can eat by itself.
Additionally, spend more time with your dog and base your relationship on activities you do together, not just on food.
It’s important to make the Shih Tzu associate solitude with good things. Toys are excellent for keeping the pet entertained. Add an irresistible reward to its meal before leaving.
Lastly, change the location of the bowl if the current location scares it in any way, and prevent other dogs from bothering it while it eats.
Thus, if your Shih Tzu doesn’t want to eat unless you’re near, we hope this article has somehow helped you address this issue.