Shih Tzu dogs are active and friendly, but very stubborn. Training a Shih Tzu takes a lot of time and dedication. However, all of that needs to be done to build and maintain a healthy and happy relationship between you and your pet.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Training a Shih Tzu to Pee
Step 1. Apply cage training to your Shih Tzu
Cage training is not only important during the dog training process to poop. Familiarize the Shih Tzu with the crate so that the dog is more obedient when taken to the vet, traveling, and other activities that require the Shih Tzu to be temporarily confined.
- Choose a small cage for the Shih Tzu. Choose a cage with just enough space for the dog to sit, stand, and turn. The cage should also have ventilation on all four sides. You can place the cage in a place where family members often live. In this way, the Shih Tzu can enter the cage without feeling separated from the family.
- Dogs should feel happy when they enter the crate, not feel like they are being punished. Keep drinking plates and food, toys and treats in the cage. Make sure the toy is large enough and safe for the dog so that the Shih Tzu does not swallow it.
- Put your Shih Tzu in its crate when you sleep, leave the house, or do other activities so it can't keep an eye on the dog. Do this until the Shih Tzu is well trained and doesn't defecate in the house.
- Dogs shouldn't think of the crate as a “cage” or “jail” and you shouldn't use the crate more than necessary. If necessary, when you're at home, let your dog lead you so you can keep an eye on him and take him out of the house when it looks like your dog needs to go to the bathroom.
Step 2. Decide whether the dog will urinate indoors or outdoors
Most employers prefer their dog to go outside, but the Shih Tzu's small size allows it to live even in an apartment. However, if you don't have easy access to a street or yard, it's a good idea to train your Shih Tzu to defecate indoors using a newspaper or pad.
- The main advantage of using the newspaper is that it is easy to do. For people who have difficulty getting their dog out of the house for some reason, this exercise can be an alternative option. In addition to newspapers and pads, dog litter boxes are also widely sold in pet stores.
- The main drawback to newspaper pooping is that it smells bad and is not necessarily the best choice for dogs. The Shih Tzu has a lot of energy and tends to like being outdoors.
- Whatever route you choose, you must apply it consistently. Dogs can be confused if at one time you tell him to pee in the pad, and another time ask him to go outside. Shih Tzu requires a strict training schedule so you will have to choose one from a variety of options.
Step 3. Create a walking schedule
When you're first training your Shih Tzu to poop, you'll need to set up a strict walking schedule to make sure your dog doesn't poop in the house.
- Sniffing, twirling, or crouching are signs your Shih Tzu wants to pee. If you see this behavior, immediately take the dog outside or guide him to a special place to relieve himself inside the house.
- When you first start training your Shih Tzu to poop, you will need to take him outside every 1 -2 hours, or 20-30 minutes for puppies. Take it outside when you wake up, before bed, and after your dog eats or drinks.
- Immediately praise the Shih Tzu after urinating outside or in a special place inside the house. The Shih Tzu tends to respond better to positive support, rather than negative. So, praise will be more useful than reprimanding the dog.
Step 4. Be patient
Shih Tzu are usually more suited to be trained to defecate. On average it takes up to eight months to fully understand proper bowel behavior. Do not be discouraged. Even if your dog will occasionally defecate after a few months of training, stick to a strict training schedule. In the end, the Shih Tzu will understand and obey your rules.
Part 2 of 3: Practicing Proper Behavior
Step 1. Teach your Shih Tzu to be alone
The Shih Tzu is a very social dog and always wants to be with his master as much as possible. Shih Tzus tend to feel restless when separated from their masters, and you may not always have your dog with you. Therefore, the Shih Tzu needs to be trained to be alone.
- Cage training is a great way to reduce the anxiety of being separated from your employer. A Shih Tzu's anxiety tends to lessen if it has a place to stay. Make the crate as comfortable as possible for the dog by placing comfortable bedding and toys, and leaving the crate door open when you are at home. Thus, the dog does not think of the cage as a cage, but as a place to be alone.
- Some people are hesitant to leave their dog in a kennel, especially when going out for a long time. If so, try opening the door to your bedroom, study, or other enclosed area so your dog can enter it to feel safe.
Step 2. Let the Shih Tzu listen and experience things
Shih Tzu may get nervous easily if they are too pampered. This can make the dog timid and even aggressive. Therefore, you need to expose your dog to a variety of sounds and experiences.
- Dogs have to get used to various sounds such as whistling, lawn mowers, and other sounds in everyday life. Since your Shih Tzu is nervous about being separated from you, train your dog not to panic at the sound of noise while you're away. Get your Shih Tzu used to different sounds by taking them to different places and remaining calm and calm when loud noises suddenly appear.
- Dogs learn behavior from their owners. So if you're afraid or anticipating negative behavior from your dog, chances are that behavior will occur. Help your dog feel calm by remaining calm when loud noises, other dogs, or other people suddenly appear. Don't change your attitude towards your dog so your pet knows that this is normal and nothing to be afraid of. If your dog is exhibiting cowardly behavior, such as snuggling and whining, you can calm him down with a gentle word or treat to help your dog associate this event with positive, happy feelings. Try not to evacuate, pick up, or overreact as the dog will panic too.
- Sometimes, dog owners are overprotective of small dogs and foster a behavior called “little dog syndrome.” The employer ignores aggressive dog behavior, (such as biting) and tries to protect small dogs from larger animals by picking up a Shih Tzu when interacting with older dogs. The combination of a small dog's lack of discipline and pampering can make it timid and aggressive. Allow your Shih Tzu to interact safely with larger animals, and reprimand or redirect his behavior to toys or treats if your dog starts to bite.
Step 3. Teach the Shih Tzu to come when called
This command is very important for your dog to learn because in addition to preventing accidents, it also fosters a closer relationship between you and your pet.
- Always make the dog have a positive experience when called. The Shih Tzu must feel that the call coming is the best thing for him. Give rewards in the form of praise, attention, treats, and toys when the dog obeys commands.
- In the early stages, you can run away while calling the dog. The Shih Tzu will think of it as a game and eagerly pursue you.
- Immediately praise the Shih Tzu after responding to the command. Praise will make the dog more eager to pursue you and not be distracted by sounds, animals, or other people.
- If the Shih Tzu doesn't show up when called, don't repeat his name or "come" orders repeatedly. It only teaches the dog to ignore your commands. If your Shih Tzu doesn't respond, try running or shaking a bag of treats while saying "here" or her name instead of repeating commands.
Step 4. Train the dog on the leash
The Shih Tzu is a small dog, so leash training is very important so you don't choke on your neck and you don't trip over your legs when you walk.
- Until your Shih Tzu learns not to pull on a leash, you should only take your dog for a short walk. Look for alternative dog sports as your walks are now training sessions until the Shih Tzu learns proper leash behavior.
- Reward treats or praise if your dog doesn't pull on the leash. Reprimand does not work on the Shih Tzu. These dogs tend to respond more to positive feedback so that praise for the desired behavior is more effective for the Shih Tzu.
- If your Shih Tzu is excited before going out for a walk, your dog is more likely to misbehave. When you go get the reins, ignore the Shih Tzu if it starts jumping up and down, stand up, and wait for it to calm down again. Don't put the leash on until the dog is no longer prance, even if you have to wait a while.
- When your dog pulls on the leash, you should stop instead of pulling back. Thus, the dog will associate pulling on the leash with the negative experience of stopping walking. This method is more effective than reprimand or pulling back, which will only irritate the dog.
- If your Shih Tzu has difficulty learning behavior while wearing a leash, consider buying a harness until your dog will obey. Dog harnesses can be purchased at pet stores and will prevent the Shih Tzu from suffocating when pulling on the leash.
Step 5. Train your Shih Tzu to sit and lie down
Sitting and lying down are important commands your dog needs to learn before you can teach other behaviors that require your dog to sit or lie down first. This command is a solid foundation of practice.
- Teach the Shih the command to sit by first standing next to him while saying “sit down”. After that, grab the treat and move it over the dog's head so that his head is up and his bottom is down. Praise your dog as soon as his bottom hits the ground or floor.
- As your practice progresses, you can replace hand movements with simple gestures. The dog must be able to understand the meaning of your gesture obediently. After a while, try to stop gesturing and use only spoken commands. Be consistent and practice this command 10-15 times a day until it is completely mastered by the dog.
- Sitting is an important command to control the Shih Tzu. Have the dog sit down when guests are present, before going for walks, and in other situations where the dog is required to remain calm. Ideally, the dog should sit down whenever it hears a command, no matter what.
- Once your Shih Tzu understands the command to sit well, you can move on to the command to lie down. Begin in the same way as the sit command. Ask the dog to sit down, then use a treat to lure him into a reclining position. When the dog is sitting, hold the treat on the floor, then slowly move it away so that the dog stretches out and lies down to reach it. As soon as your Shih Tzu lies down, give him a treat and lots of compliments. Switch to hand gestures, then continue until you're using only spoken commands.
- Sitting and lying down are the foundation for other tricks, such as rolling over, greeting, and playing dead. This trick can be taught using the same basic method. Instruct the dog to sit or lie down, then demonstrate the behavior that needs to be done physically, and praise as much as possible after the behavior is done. Then move on to hand gestures, and finally verbal commands only.
Part 3 of 3: Using the Right Training Tactics
Step 1. Try not to be too rigid in training the dog
The Shih Tzu likes humans, but this dog is not as playful as other dog breeds. Shih Tzu tend to be stubborn and won't follow your rules.
- Shih Tzu's moods are volatile. Dogs can sit and sit still all day for a treat, and have absolutely no interest in the next day. You can use the same training tactics as the Shih Tzu. Maybe you need to change how you reward and punish your dog's behavior.
- If one day your Shih Tzu neglects his food, try rewarding him with a compliment, a toy, or a walk. The Shih Tzu is an intelligent dog and always expects a reward for good behavior. Set up a variety of ways to reward your dog.
Step 2. Try to use only positive support when exercising
Although the Shih Tzu is notoriously difficult to train due to stubbornness, a firm attitude without relying on harsh reprimand or discipline is essential for successful training.
- If your Shih Tzu is acting or misbehaving, it's best to ignore this behavior. Do not respond to dog jumping, biting, or other attention seeking behavior. Do not make eye contact with the Shih Tzu and do not talk to or touch your pet. If it doesn't get attention, the dog's behavior will stop because it doesn't work.
- Always praise the Shih Tzu for his good behavior. The Shih Tzu loves human interaction and affection and is willing to work hard to earn it. Give positive encouragement for good behavior while ignoring bad behavior so that your dog behaves well.
Step 3. Keep the Shih Tzu out of the reach of small children
The Shih Tzu is a great pet, but is only suitable for a single person, or a home where family members are grown. Children under the age of 3 should not be around the Shih Tzu because dogs know no boundaries. If you have small children, consider keeping another breed or separating your dog and child.
Tips
- Because the Shih Tzu has a unique behavior, it may be helpful to consult a friend or family member who also has a Shih Tzu or small dog.
- Shih Tzu can have high self-esteem, even be arrogant. The training period can be frustrating, and many employers give in and allow the dog to behave as he pleases. Know that you have to be firm and stick to a strict training schedule in the long run.
- Praise your Shih Tzu only after performing a trick or obeying a command during and after a practice session. Otherwise, the dog can behave selfishly and spoiled.
