Shih Tzu Puppy Training
About Shih Tzus
Shih Tzus are an ancient, regal breed of tiny dogs. Their ancestry has been traced back as far as the Tibetan mountains, where they lived with royalty. China also has a claim to the Shih Tzu. They were owned and bred by a Chinese Empress in the 1800s. Referred to by many as "little lions," Shih Tzus are loving and willing to please the humans they own, so they are very trainable. However, it will take patience and an understanding of their unique personalities.
Training Begins at Birth
All puppies start training at birth. Their mothers train and discipline them just like humans do their own children, teaching them to play nice with siblings and interact with humans. The puppy will follow its mother's example on act. Make sure you view the puppy's mother and siblings. Do they all get along well? Is the mother friendly and social or is she nervous and shy?
If you purchased your Shih Tzu from a breeder, it is important to know what kind of interaction the puppy had in its first few weeks of life. The breeder should have already trained the puppy to be social with other dogs, children and strangers. Ideally, the puppy should be living in the home and treated as a beloved member of the family. If the puppy was housed in a kennel away from everyone, you may have a training battle on your hands.
Three Months Old
By 3 months old, the puppy should be comfortable, happy and ready to explore. Bonding with its owner is very important to a Shih Tzu. While they usually like everyone, a puppy will single out the main caregiver to attach to and be very adoring. The breed loves to please, but they can also be stubborn. Above all, have patience during training. Do not yell or show anger. A Shih Tzu can be sensitive to your mood and body language. If you are tense or upset, he will sense this and become tense, too.
Potty training is the most important thing you need to teach. Shih Tzus are small dogs, so the wide open outdoors may scare a tiny puppy. Be reassuring. Always carry little bits of treats with you. Take the puppy out as soon as he wakes up and right after eating. When he goes potty, praise him like he's done something really wonderful and give a tiny treat. A Shih Tzu is a smart dog and will soon relate the potty to getting praise and a treat from an owner he adores.
Attention Span
Shih Tzus get bored easily, so limit your training time to just a few minutes of practice. When working on the "Come Here" command, place the puppy across the room from you. Call her to you, and when she comes, give her praise and a tiny treat. Only work on any training by doing it a couple of times per training session. If the Shih Tzu decides she no longer wants to play the game, there is very little you can do to convince them otherwise. Have a little play time and wait until later to resume training.
Shih Tzus love agility training. It's also a good way to make sure the dog is getting plenty of exercise. They love to run, chase things and train on obstacle courses. Set up small pillows or pieces of foam (for puppy's safety) in your yard. You can set them in a straight line, zigzagged or in a circle. Coax the puppy with a treat and encourage her to scramble across the obstacle.
As she grows, your Shih Tzu will enjoy showing you just how agile and pleasing she can be. Soon, she'll be leaping over the obstacles you have trained her on. Watching your beautiful Shih Tzu run around and perform all the things she's been taught during training will be well worth all of the hard work and patience you have to put into it.
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