Now that you have brought your Shih Tzu pup home it is time to start getting your pup to understand the rules of the house and how you want your new dog to behave. Whoa! Slow down there. The Shih Tzu is descended from dogs preferred by Chinese royalty and they maintain that regal air to this day. They carry themselves very well, they have a strong air of confidence, and they are very stubborn and arrogant dogs. This is not going to be easy.
The first thing you want to do when you get your pup home is let it explore its new surroundings a little. You will be confining it to its pen or crate very soon but just let it wander a little and if it starts sniffing in areas, or circling an area, get it outside immediately and then praise the dog when it does its business outside.
We will go into housebreaking in a minute but just remember that a Shih Tzu does not respond at all to punishment but they respond very well to praise and positive reinforcement. Such is the ego of the Shih Tzu.
The very first concern of any new Shih Tzu pup owner is housebreaking. This takes months, even in the best conditions, so be prepared and be patient. Find a spot in a room in the house and get the dog a large crate or make a large pen area. Put the dog's food and bedding in there and play with it while it is in the living area so it feels comfortable there. Then confine it only when you are home.
Keep the dog in the crate or pen while you are home and every 45 minutes you need to take it outside and see if it does its thing. If he does go to the bathroom in the designated bathroom area then praise it a lot. The Shih Tzu will not mess its own living area unless you leave it locked up too long and that is why you need to take it out frequently. Then start moving to different parts of the house and repeat the process until the dog gets it. Then you can let it wander.
The coat of a Shih Tzu pup needs to be neat and clean at all times. You will be brushing your Shih Tzu daily to make sure their long coat remains tangle free because if a Shih Tzu gets a tangled coat then that Shih Tzu could wind up sick and that is not something you want to happen.
Make sure you discuss bathing habits and needs with your breeder so that you will know how to properly bathe your Shih Tzu pup.
Your Shih Tzu wants to always be the center of attention so make sure you constantly show it plenty of love and attention and play with your dog a lot. Shih Tzu dogs will require a great deal of your time so be prepared to give up large chunks of your day to paying attention to your dog. But they are also one of the most loyal breeds there is and they return your love right back at you.
The first thing you want to do when you get your pup home is let it explore its new surroundings a little. You will be confining it to its pen or crate very soon but just let it wander a little and if it starts sniffing in areas, or circling an area, get it outside immediately and then praise the dog when it does its business outside.
We will go into housebreaking in a minute but just remember that a Shih Tzu does not respond at all to punishment but they respond very well to praise and positive reinforcement. Such is the ego of the Shih Tzu.
The very first concern of any new Shih Tzu pup owner is housebreaking. This takes months, even in the best conditions, so be prepared and be patient. Find a spot in a room in the house and get the dog a large crate or make a large pen area. Put the dog's food and bedding in there and play with it while it is in the living area so it feels comfortable there. Then confine it only when you are home.
Keep the dog in the crate or pen while you are home and every 45 minutes you need to take it outside and see if it does its thing. If he does go to the bathroom in the designated bathroom area then praise it a lot. The Shih Tzu will not mess its own living area unless you leave it locked up too long and that is why you need to take it out frequently. Then start moving to different parts of the house and repeat the process until the dog gets it. Then you can let it wander.
The coat of a Shih Tzu pup needs to be neat and clean at all times. You will be brushing your Shih Tzu daily to make sure their long coat remains tangle free because if a Shih Tzu gets a tangled coat then that Shih Tzu could wind up sick and that is not something you want to happen.
Make sure you discuss bathing habits and needs with your breeder so that you will know how to properly bathe your Shih Tzu pup.
Your Shih Tzu wants to always be the center of attention so make sure you constantly show it plenty of love and attention and play with your dog a lot. Shih Tzu dogs will require a great deal of your time so be prepared to give up large chunks of your day to paying attention to your dog. But they are also one of the most loyal breeds there is and they return your love right back at you.
About the Author:
About the author: Rebecca Simpson is a passionate lover of the Shih Tzu and has a popular website where you'll discover how to have a happy, healthy and well behaved Shih Tzu. Among other topics there, you can also learn all about Shih Tzu Puppy Care plus a whole lot more.
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