Shih Tzu Training
It is always very exciting to bring a new puppy into your home. While everyone is eager to cuddle and play with the new furry family member, it is important to remember that your Shih Tzu puppy training and socialization should begin immediately.
Without proper training, Shih Tzu may become overprotective of their owners and aggressive towards others. It will take between 4 and 6 months of consistency and patience to properly train your Shih Tzu, but this time will be well spent ensuring that your puppy developes into a friendly companion.
Earn the trust of your new puppy.
This will make your training experience much easier and more successful. Remember that Shih Tzu respond well to positive re-enforcement, so congratulate your pup every time they do something right, using treats or petting. Shih Tzu do not respond well to anger and discipline, this will only scare them and set your training back by (possibly) months.
Begin by setting up a training area (a Shih Tzu ‘den’).
This small area, like a small bathroom or part of a bigger room, will be the heart of your puppy’s training program. Try to spend as much time as possible with your puppy in this safe place because it is important that they feel comfortable and happy there. If at any time your Shih Tzu cannot be appropriately supervised, it will be best to keep them restricted in this space.
Set up a feeding schedule and establish a toilet area.
It is logical that a set-feeding schedule will mean a set elimination schedule. You will now be able to anticipate your puppy’s toilet needs, and you can take them to the toilet area whenever they need to do their business. (Ensure that your puppy has ready access to this area when you are not around.) Go to the toilet area with your Shih Tzu as often as possible so that you can ensure that they are using the correct area to eliminate, and you can praise them for using the correct area. One of the great aspects of canine behaviour is that they become accustomed to the kind of surface they use as a toilet. If they get used to eliminating on grass or gravel, they will be less likely to soil your carpets!! They are also very clean animals, and will be reluctant to soil the place where they eat and sleep.
Did you know that more dogs are sent to animal shelters because of eliminations problems than any other?
Try to get your Shih Tzu well socialized at a young age, as the window period for socialization is only 4 months. The most effective way of socializing your puppy is by allowing it to play with other Shih Tzu pups, or even mature dogs that are friendly and well socialized. They will also teach each other an appropriate roughness of play and will be reprimanded by their peers for being too rough or biting too hard!! Try not to interfere at all – this is a learning experience they should have on their own.
During the first few nights your Shih Tzu will test your dog ownership skills by crying, whining and yelping join you in YOUR sleeping area. It is understandable that your puppy is feeling sad and lonely having left their mother and siblings behind, but don’t give in to their crying, as this bad habit is likely to be irreversible. Given time they will forget about their canine family and they will come to accept their new sleeping area.
Keep in mind that it is the time and effort that you put into your puppy’s training that will determine the nature of your Shih Tzu when he is fully grown. Be patient, because your Shih Tzu does want to please you!
