Hi Everyone,
Not sure where to post this so I'll try it here. I was hoping someone could help with an issue that's developed w/ our dog Emmy. She is a full grown 4 lb. Shih Tzu and absolutely adoreable. Needless to say she is very spoiled. Anyway, she has always been a little timid w/ other dogs and especially young children.
In the past few months, I've noticed that when we (my wife or I) are in the kitchen, she cowers when we do just about anything. She'll bow her head and turn away in what looks like fear from something as simple as removing silverware from the drawer. It doesn't even have to be something that makes alot of noise; just taking things out of the cabinets, etc. cause her to put her head down and turn away. Her tail is down as well. With each thing we do, she'll drop her head a little lower. This bothers me alot because we are very careful with her as we know she's very sensitive.
This seems to have started in the past few months. The only thing I can think of is our neighbors kids may be taking there toll on her.... Young kids see her and get excited and usually come right at her which, of course scares her. BTW, she doesn't have any problems w/ running right up to adults. Anyway, we recently got new neighbors with two daughters ages 7 and 2 they (especially the 7 year old) was very forward with her in the begining picking her up and going right for her whenever we came outside. We've put a stop to the picking up etc. Sometimes when Emmy is sitting looking out our glass door, the 2 year old has come up and slammed the door w/ her hands which makes alot of noise and scares the dog. I don't know if this has had anything to do with it.
Anyway, has anyone dealt with this before? Does anyone have any advice? Again, when she cowers at the sight or sound of something coming out of a cabinet or us setting something on the counter, we're usally home alone when it happens i.e. no company or kids (we don't have any). Any and all input will be appreciated.
Regards
Not sure where to post this so I'll try it here. I was hoping someone could help with an issue that's developed w/ our dog Emmy. She is a full grown 4 lb. Shih Tzu and absolutely adoreable. Needless to say she is very spoiled. Anyway, she has always been a little timid w/ other dogs and especially young children.
In the past few months, I've noticed that when we (my wife or I) are in the kitchen, she cowers when we do just about anything. She'll bow her head and turn away in what looks like fear from something as simple as removing silverware from the drawer. It doesn't even have to be something that makes alot of noise; just taking things out of the cabinets, etc. cause her to put her head down and turn away. Her tail is down as well. With each thing we do, she'll drop her head a little lower. This bothers me alot because we are very careful with her as we know she's very sensitive.
This seems to have started in the past few months. The only thing I can think of is our neighbors kids may be taking there toll on her.... Young kids see her and get excited and usually come right at her which, of course scares her. BTW, she doesn't have any problems w/ running right up to adults. Anyway, we recently got new neighbors with two daughters ages 7 and 2 they (especially the 7 year old) was very forward with her in the begining picking her up and going right for her whenever we came outside. We've put a stop to the picking up etc. Sometimes when Emmy is sitting looking out our glass door, the 2 year old has come up and slammed the door w/ her hands which makes alot of noise and scares the dog. I don't know if this has had anything to do with it.
Anyway, has anyone dealt with this before? Does anyone have any advice? Again, when she cowers at the sight or sound of something coming out of a cabinet or us setting something on the counter, we're usally home alone when it happens i.e. no company or kids (we don't have any). Any and all input will be appreciated.
Regards
AKC standard for a tzu is 9-16lbs. I'm very happy to hear that her health is good. I'm soo sorry that she's shy and scared sounds like you're trying to socialize her which she really needs but at her own comfort level. I would for sure when anyone comes up to her that you or your wife hold her to help comfort her and let her sniff the other person, espicially kids they can be soo overwhelming. I would let you Emmy make the decesion not the "stranger". 
