Shih Tzu Training 101: An Ultimate Guide To Deal Little Lion

Shih Tzu training is arguably one of the most critical steps to having a happy and well-mannered pup. Shih Tzu can be extremely lively, energetic, and active pets who need a lot of positive reinforcement and attention.

When it comes to Shih Tzu training, understanding the Shih Tzu temperament is vital. Shih Tzus are loyal dogs that love their families very much and will respond best when treated with respect, patience, consistency, and praise.

Training a Shih Tzu can be quite a challenge. After all, despite their tiny size and cute exterior, Shih Tzus have bigger-than-life personalities. Don’t worry; with plenty of patience and consistency, you can unlock the potential in your “little lion dog.”

Let’s look at some training tips to help you start your journey to make the most out of life with your furry companion.

Basic Training Techniques for Your Shih Tzu

Training your Shih Tzu doesn’t have to be a tough challenge. It’s about guiding them with love and setting a foundation for a well-behaved companion. Here, we’ll explore some basic, easy-to-follow, and effective training techniques.

House Training

Establish a Routine: Just like us, Shih Tzus thrives on routine. Decide on specific times for eating, going to the bathroom, and sleeping. This helps your pup understand when to go outside to do their business.

Praise and Reward: Whenever your Shih Tzu goes potty outside, throw a mini-party for them! Give them a treat, praise, and maybe a happy dance. This shows them that going potty outside is a good thing.

Accidents Happen: Don’t get mad if your pup has an accident inside. They’re still learning. Clean it up quietly and watch them to catch it before the next accident happens.

Leash Training

Getting Used to the Leash: Start indoors in a familiar space. Let your Shih Tzu wear the collar or harness around the house. Attach the leash and let them walk around with it dragging behind. This gets them used to being on a leash without any stress.

Short and Sweet Walks: Begin with short walks around the house or yard. Use treats to encourage and reward them for walking nicely beside you. Keep it fun and stress-free.

Consistent Commands: Use simple commands like “let’s go” when you start walking and “stop” when you halt. Reward them for following these cues. This helps your Shih Tzu understand what you expect from them during walks.

Basic Commands

One Command at a Time: Start with simple commands like “sit.” Hold a treat above their nose and move your hand back so they naturally sit. When their bum hits the ground, say “sit” clearly, then give them the treat and lots of praise.

Patience is Key: If your Shih Tzu doesn’t get it right away, that’s okay! Repeat the process a few times, but keep the session short. They’ll catch on with practice.

Build on Success: Once your Shih Tzu masters one command, move on to the next, like “stay” or “come.” Always start from what they know and slowly add more challenges.

The Right Tools and Techniques to Train a Shih Tzu

With the right tools, techniques, and positive reinforcement, training your Shih Tzu can be enjoyable for you and your pup!

1. Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is one of the most effective tools for training any dog breed. This method involves rewards for good behavior, such as treats or verbal praise.

By rewarding your pet for good behavior, you reinforce their positive actions and behaviors to make them more likely to do it again.

Additionally, positive reinforcement has been proven to be much more successful than punishments or negative reinforcement when training dogs. It is important to note that rewards should be given immediately after a desired action is performed for this technique to be effective.

2. Clicker Training

When using this method, you use a small tool—a clicker—to communicate with your pup and provide them with feedback regarding their actions or behaviors. You click the clicker each time your dog does something correctly or follows a command; then reward them once they have completed the task successfully.

This technique helps reinforce positive behavior quickly and efficiently by teaching your pup that clicking means they have done something right!

3. Tools for Training

While these techniques are great for teaching basic commands and behaviors, some additional tools can help make training more accessible and more efficient.

Leashes and collars can help keep your pet safe while walking outdoors; toys can help keep them entertained during playtime; food puzzles can help with mental stimulation; treat bags help carry rewards on the go; and training pads can assist in potty-training sessions at home. These items are essential tools for adequately training your Shih Tzu pup!

Basic Shih Tzu Training

Shih Tzus are among the most popular dog breeds out there. They’re cute and cuddly and make great companions. However, they can be quite a handful when it comes to training. But don’t worry!

With the proper guidance, you’ll have your pup trained quickly. Let’s look at potty training, leash training, and basic commands – three critical steps to having a well-trained Shih Tzu.

1. Potty Training

Potty training is arguably the most important thing you’ll teach your Shih Tzu. It is essential for both you and your pup that he learns how to do his business outdoors rather than indoors.

Start by setting up regular times for feeding and walking your pup for potty breaks.
After eating or drinking water, take him outside immediately so he can go whenever needed.
When he does his business outdoors, praise him with treats or verbal compliments.
Do not scold him if he has an accident indoors, as this will only confuse him. Instead, just quickly clean up the mess and try again later on when needed.

2. Leash Training

Your pup must get used to walking on a leash before attempting long walks outdoors or trips to the dog park.

Start by getting him used to wearing a collar or harness indoors before gradually introducing him to the leash while still inside your home.
Allow your pup some time exploring the new sensation of being attached to something while getting lots of treats and verbal rewards along the way.
Once comfortable with this step, it is time to venture outside on short walks around the block with lots of praise when done correctly.

3. Basic Commands

Now that you have mastered potty and leash training, it is time for basic commands such as sit, stay, come, etc.

Start by teaching these commands one at a time, using treats as rewards when completed correctly.
Make sure that each command is consistent from day one so that your pup knows what each word means and remembers it over time. For example, if you tell him to ‘sit’ every time he jumps up on you, he will eventually recognize this phrase and understand what it means.
Practice makes perfect, so instruct these commands daily until all are learned consistently.

Advanced Shih Tzu Training

There are a few critical areas of advanced training that you can focus on with your pup – teaching tricks, addressing behavioral issues, and socialization.

Let’s look at these and how they fit into the larger picture of advanced Shih Tzu training.

1. Teaching Tricks

Teaching tricks is an excellent way to keep your pup entertained, engaged, and mentally stimulated. It’s also a great way to bond with your dog by giving them positive reinforcement when they learn something new.

Some popular trick commands for Shih Tzus include “sit,” “stay,” “roll over,” “speak,” and “wave.” Start slowly with one command at a time, using lots of praise when they get it right.

As they understand the basics, you can move on to more complex commands like jumping through hoops or playing hide-and-seek.

2. Behavioral Issues

Behavioral issues such as barking, biting, or chewing are common problems for Shih Tzus that must be addressed early in training.

Barking too much can disrupt you and your pup, so finding ways to minimize it immediately is essential.

Biting or chewing can cause damage to furniture or other items around the house if left unchecked.

Depending on the severity of the issue, you may need professional help from an experienced dog trainer to address these issues effectively.

3. Socialization

Socialization is an integral part of any advanced Shih Tzu training program. Socializing your pup will help them become more comfortable in new situations and around new people or animals they may encounter later in life.

This involves exposing them gradually to new environments while providing positive reinforcement so that they learn that there is nothing to fear from unfamiliar sights, sounds, or smells. You should also bring along treats and toys so that their experiences are enjoyable rather than overwhelming.

Shih Tzu Training: Common Challenges

As with any dog breed, you may encounter specific challenges while training your Shih Tzu. We’ll examine some of the most common training challenges associated with these adorable little puppies.

1. Dealing with Stubbornness

Shih Tzus are known for being intelligent and independent-minded dogs, which can make them particularly challenging to train. They often have a mind of their own, which can cause them to be stubborn during training sessions.

If your pup seems unresponsive or unwilling to learn commands, it’s important not to get discouraged. Instead, try breaking down the command into smaller steps and use positive reinforcement techniques such as treats and praise to reward good behavior.

2. Addressing Separation Anxiety

Many Shih Tzus suffer from separation anxiety when left alone for extended periods. This can manifest in destructive behaviors such as chewing furniture or barking excessively when their owners leave the house.

Thankfully, there are several strategies you can use to help reduce your pup’s anxiety levels and prevent unwanted behaviors from occurring. For example, providing your dog with chew toys or leaving on calming music can help soothe their nerves while you’re away from home.

3. Managing Aggressive Behavior

Though typically friendly and affectionate towards people they know, Shih Tzus are also known for their territorial nature and protective instincts towards strangers. If not correctly managed or socialized early on in life, these tendencies can lead to aggressive behavior, such as growling or biting.

To prevent this behavior, gradually introducing your pup to new people and providing plenty of positive reinforcement when they display good manners around others is essential.

How to Keep Your Shih Tzu Well-Trained?

A well-trained Shih Tzu is a happy, healthy, and obedient pup. Let’s discuss how to keep your Shih Tzu well-trained to ensure all those benefits.

1. Start Training Early

It’s best to start training your pup as early as possible; the earlier they learn basic commands like “sit” or “stay”, the better your relationship will be.

While it may take longer for an older dog to learn these commands than it would for a puppy, don’t get discouraged! With patience and consistency in reinforcement, you will have success.

2. Consistency Is Key

Once you begin training your pup, ensure that everyone who interacts with them consistently reinforces their good behavior. All household members should use the same language when giving commands so that your dog doesn’t become confused or overwhelmed by different instructions from different people.

Consistency also means rewarding good behavior every time it happens – no matter how small – so that your pup learns what behaviors are expected of them and which ones deserve rewards.

3. Additional Resources

Training your Shih Tzu can be difficult if you don’t have much experience with dogs or haven’t had prior success with dog training attempts.

Fortunately, there are many resources out there that can help support you on this journey. You can find books on training techniques or even join online forums where other Shih Tzu owners exchange tips and tricks for successful training sessions.

You may even want to consider consulting a professional trainer with experience working with this breed specifically for more information about what works (and what doesn’t) when trying to train them effectively.

Conclusion

Training a Shih Tzu is no small feat, requiring dedication, consistency, and many treats. But with the right tools and techniques, you’ll be rewarded with a well-trained little lion dog who loves obeying commands.

Advanced tasks like agility and flyball can take your training to the next level. Remember to be patient during training sessions, as common challenges will appear. Finally, always reward your pup for correct behaviors and continue practicing with them for better long-term results! If you enjoyed learning about Shih Tzu Training 101, then please share this blog post with friends or family who may have one of these adorable puppies.

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