Shih Tzu

Shih Tzu

Shih Tzu are an intelligent dog which takes reasonably well to dog training. The typical nature of the Shih Tzu is friendly, playful, and animated. Not overly ‘yappy’ dogs, most are very alert and will sound the alarm readily, making them reliable watchdogs. Although small, they seem to have no concept of their own size - most Shih Tzu owners describe them as “huge dogs packed into a small body”. Some Shih Tzu are so overconfident that they’ll take on much larger dogs without a second though. Overindulged Shih Tzu can be snappy and arrogant; it’s important that you don’t spoil your Shih Tzu, as they tend to take this as a sign that you’re a weak leader and will try to enforce their rules on you, rather than the other way around!

It’s important that you don’t dole out dog treats too readily - Shih Tzu need to earn their treats. Too many dog treats will not only have an adverse effect on your dog’s health, but will teach him that you’re a soft touch who’s lower down on the pack hierarchy than he is. Your Shi Tzu will respond to you better and be much more content and relaxed if he knows that he can rely on you to act like a leader at all times - this prevents him from having to step up to the mark, instead.

Dog treats are a great way of forming new, positive behaviors for Shih Tzu. For example, using them as rewards during training works especially well on the Shih Tzu, who always appreciates food rewards. Instead of giving him a particular food that is a dog treat, why not get him to learn something new (like going inside his crate on your command) first, before giving him the dog treat. That way he gets the treat, as well as learning a new positive behavior, AND has a positive association with performing that behavior.
Your response to behavior from your dog has a huge impact on whether or not that behavior is repeated. If you treat your dog when he behaves in a certain way, this is how he learns that you approve of such behavior. To most dogs, your approval is what they really crave; food treats are just a way of demonstrating that you like that behavior. Later when the treat, such as food, is not used any more, the dog has already learned that such behavior gets him your approval - although sporadic food rewards do well to keep obedience foremost in his mind!

Your response to behavior from your Shih Tzu has a huge impact on whether or not that behavior is repeated. If you treat your Shih Tzu when he behaves in a certain way, this is how he learns that you approve of such behavior. To most dogs, your approval is what they really crave; dog treats are just a way of demonstrating that you like that behavior. Later when the dog treat, such as food, is not used any more, the Shih Tzu has already learned that such behavior gets him your approval - although sporadic dog treats do well to keep obedience foremost in his mind!

Now, we will talk about various dog training tools or equipment to choose from, you have to be very careful which one is right and can help you create a well-mannered spunky little dog, Shih Tzu. Some of the first purchases you will need to make for your Shih Tzu include:

Dog leashes, just like collars, are great tools to help you control your Shih Tzu. Dog leashes differ in materials, lengths and styles. When buying leashes, choose which one is right for your Shih Tzu. Chain and woven nylon leashes are strong, however, nylon cannot withstand chewing if your dog is fond of that. It is therefore a great idea to use chain leashes if you haven’t dealt with your dog’s chewing behavior.