11/01/2026
TLDR: I need to figure out after I leave for work in the morning, how to keep my Teddy from running upstairs and waking up my nephew.
I have lived alone for a long time. I knew when I got a Shih Tzu at the beginning of the pandemic that it was recommended that you (a) should get two Shih Tzu's when possible because they're so social, and (b) you shouldn't really have a Shih Tzu if you have a 9-5 office type of job because they're so social. I'm a school teacher, and knew that I would go bonkers alone for who-knew-how-many-months. So I talked with a breeder and she said she was comfortable with me being responsible enough to take very good care of this little guy.
He is normally SO wonderful. Yes, he would love to sit on the couch with me every single day all day long. But he has always been good since 2021 when I had to go back to school full time. I give him a lot of time and attention evenings and weekends. He is not suffering or neglected. He's easy to care for, and, yes, he's a prince/royalty, but easy and chill for the most part. He doesn't really have any negative behaviors. And he's VERY social.
This past August, my nephew moved in with me for ten months. I live in a major urban area and my nephew got a post-college job with a prestigious company in a very prestigious and competitive training program. He's living with me to save money (it's SO expensive to live here) and he is THE best roommate. And he LOVES dogs and is SO good with Teddy. But he's 22. If he doesn't have to leave for work until 7:30, he sleeps until 7:15. And loves to sleep in on weekends.
Just the past two weeks, though, when I leave for school at like 6am, Teddy freaks out and runs upstairs and barks outside of my nephew's bedroom door to wake him up. This morning I had an early Saturday appointment and today is Saturday - the day my nephew wants to sleep till like noon. But at 7:30 when I left, Teddy ran upstairs and barked his fool head off. Nephew thought "if I ignore him, he'll stop eventually." THIRTY-FIVE MINUTES LATER, he finally gave in to the constant barking and got him into bed with him.
This is NOT acceptable to me. I want my nephew to be able to sleep in like every 22 year old human being's body needs. He has been a good sport, telling me it's ok. But I'm not happy with the fact that my dog can't be alone on the main level of my house if someone is upstairs sleeping.
Does anyone have any suggestions about how I can handle this? He's on a strict diet, so I don't necessarily want to leave any kind of lick-mat with more calories when I leave the house.
Photo of the little culprit is attached. Thank you for any suggestions!!
-Formal_Tumbleweed
