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Owning a Shih Tzu is a wonderfully rewarding experience. Well-trained Shih Tzu make extremely affectionate pets that are great with children and other dogs. Training your Shih Tzu will be no easy feat, requiring patience and persistence to make a well-trained and happy pet.
Behavior Background
Shih Tzu originate from royalty and consequently have adopted the behavior of a king or queen. By nature, Shih Tzu can be difficult to train as they do not like rules and can be stubborn. Shih Tzu are generally aware of how adorable they are and seem to know they can get away with bad behavior with a wag of the tail and some affection for their owner.
Housebreaking
Shih Tzu are notoriously difficult to housebreak. As a stubborn breed, they may need up to six months of consistent training until they are completely housebroken. It is important to remain patient and use positive reinforcement while training. Shih Tzu are very loyal to their owners and ultimately want to make you happy. Remember to always praise your puppy after properly going outdoors.
For the first nine months to one year, your puppy should be confined to a small area in the house while no one is home or when no one can pay him/her constant attention. Preferably this area should be one with a hard floor that will make for easy clean up. Kitchens or bathrooms are generally great areas with a baby gate to block the entrance.
If you are using puppy training pads or newspapers for your pet indoors, make sure to use them no longer than six months. Your Shih Tzu will become confused if you train for both indoors and outdoors. You may use indoor methods in the beginning months to help with clean up, but only use outdoor methods once they get a little older.
Use a schedule for feeding and letting out your Shih Tzu that is consistent. This will help speed the process of housebreaking if your puppy is used to eating and then going out the same time every day. If you keep different hours during the week than on the weekend, make sure to keep your puppy on the same schedule. Your puppy should go out around five or six times daily, generally after drinking or eating, and including an early morning and late evening trip outside.
If you do catch your puppy going in the house, make sure not to scold him/her. Your pet will begin to associate fear with using the bathroom. Instead, tell your Shih Tzu ‘no’ and bring him/her outside immediately. Once finished, praise your puppy. Make sure to use a deodorizer on the spot within the house to mask the scent.
Separation Anxiety
Shih Tzu are ‘people’ dogs and enjoy companionship at all times. When left alone for long periods of time, some will engage in nasty fits of behavior such as chewing or going to the bathroom in the house as a way to cope with the stress of being left alone. It would be unreasonable to expect someone to not work or to stay home with his or her pet all of the time. A good method to start while your Shih Tzu is a puppy is proper crate training. Crates should be viewed as a safe haven for your Shih Tzu, not as a place of punishment.
Begin by placing your Shih Tzu in the crate for small periods (around 20 minutes) while you are home. Use positive reinforcement when placing your Shih Tzu inside the crate. You may even want to leave the door open when you are home so they don’t feel locked inside. Make sure the crate is large enough that your Shih Tzu can comfortably lie inside, and include a blanket and a few toys. Over a short period of time, you will notice your Shih Tzu spending more time in his/her crate willingly.
Grooming
Shih Tzu can be difficult to maintain, with their long, thick coats that require daily brushing, and need for periodic toenail clipping, teeth brushing and cleaning of the eyes. The best way to proceed with any of these activities is performing them for a short amount of time, praising your Shih Tzu for good behavior and then taking a break. Each time you return to grooming, take a little longer, then praise and reward. Your Shih Tzu will eventually learn patience and learn to sit still for longer periods of time during grooming.
Chewing, Biting and other Bad Behavior
Behavior such as chewing and biting are conducive to Shih Tzu puppies. Most of this behavior stems from boredom or from not getting enough exercise and/or playtime. Set aside time to play with your Shih Tzu each day and make sure he/she has an ample amount of toys. While most Shih Tzu prefer to stay indoors, daily walks are essential to help with exercise as well as working off some your pet’s energy. Shih Tzu enjoy colder weather, but are easily overheated in the summer. Make sure to have a bowl of water ready after returning from the walk.
By incorporating these training tips, you will ensure a happy life for you and your Shih Tzu!
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