If you make it clear that all this worrisome drama of his is counterproductive, he will ultimately decide it’s in his best interest to put a lid on it. After tolerating a brief announcement from him that someone has arrived, ask him kindly to drop the issue: “Quiet, please.” If he does not stop barking, first remove him from your lap or his comfortable perch of choice to the demoted position of the floor. If he is quiet, he is a good little dear and again may enjoy the privilege of sitting with you on the sofa. If he is still alarming from the ground, you can excuse yourself from your guest as you remove him from the room and place him on the other side of the gate to spend tea time with the cat instead of you (oh, the very thought of it is so demeaning). If he gets the message and shushes after a few minutes, he can join his cherished best friend again for talk and crumpets in the den.

PUBLIC LIFE—While you are unlikely to have any difficulty holding on to the leash of your pint-sized pup, you may be surprised by how much drama such a small dog can cause as he lunges and barks wildly at other dogs. It is important to realize that he may be very uncomfortable when approached by other dogs. He may get into a bad habit of freaking out simply because he has concluded that the best defense is a really convincing offense. Having the stereotypical Napoleon complex, he may be trying to make up for that smaller size with a dramatic display that would have another dog thinking twice about getting fresh or confrontational. It is worth spending some time rewarding your toy dog for calm and quiet behavior when passing other dogs in order to avoid this common problem.

In general, keep in mind that his easy portability doesn’t mean that the great big world will be easy for him to handle. You want to find a balance between protecting him from being overwhelmed and being overprotective. You want him to be able to socialize with other dogs and people without feeling that he has been thrown to the wolves. You want him to be comfortable moving through the world in his own skin on his own legs, even though he does not have the durable and hardy constitution or endurance most other dogs have. He can find great confidence knowing that you have his back and are keeping a keen eye on him as you enter the public arena together. And, hey, if all else fails and the Shih Tzu hits the fan, just scoop him up and move along.