I have a 3-year-old shih tzu who gets desperate every time he hears a car passing in front of the house. He barks nonstop, scares the whole neighborhood, and I can't control him. I've already tried giving him treats, but it doesn't work. Is there some technique I can use or do I need to call a trainer?
This behavior usually comes from anxiety or hypervigilance, and treats alone won't work because you're not actually solving his real problem. Try first to reduce the stimuli: close the curtains, put on ambient music or white noise to mask the sound of cars while you work with him to desensitize him - start with car sound recordings really quiet while he eats or plays, then gradually turn it up. If you don't see results in a few weeks, a trainer really helps because he can figure out if it's fear, territorial guarding, or something else, and create a specific plan for your situation.
What usually works is gradually desensitizing your dog to the noise, like playing a video of car sounds at a really low volume while you're playing with him or giving him a treat, then slowly turning it up over time - takes weeks, it's not magic. If that doesn't work after a few months, then a trainer who specializes in behavior (not just the "sit" command type) can actually evaluate whether it's anxiety and come up with more focused training.
The thing that works best is gradually getting your dog used to car sounds through desensitization - start playing traffic audio quietly while you play with him or give him a treat, then slowly turn up the volume. The problem with just giving treats is that he's in panic mode and can't process the food properly, so the reward doesn't make sense to him in that moment. If after a few weeks of consistent training it doesn't get better, then it's worth calling a trainer, because it could be more serious anxiety that needs professional handling or even calming supplements from your vet.
Log into answer.
