Puppy Training

Shih Tzu Puppy Training Tips

Puppy training isn’t always for the faint of heart. Even if you follow all training advice to the tee mistakes are bound to happen. Your new Shih Tzu puppy is a living creature that will learn over time but probably not overnight. Patience and consistency are important when training a puppy for the first time. I have put together a list of tips that I hope make puppy training go smoothly. 

Potty Training

Purchase all of the potty training supplies before your puppy’s arrival. Find out from your breeder what potty training method she or he recommends. Or if you prefer, research potty training techniques and choose one that will fit your family’s lifestyle. Once you choose a potty training method commit to it and be consistent. In the wild puppies relieve themselves wherever they prefer. It is your job to teach your puppy what places are acceptable to go potty.

Spending a lot of time outdoors is helpful if you only want your puppy to potty outdoors. It is often helpful to choose a smaller area in the yard to begin with. If your puppy always goes potty in the same area he or she will start to become familiar with the scent left behind. This will make future potty trips easier. Don’t forget to stock up on treats before your new Shih Tzu puppy comes home. Treats and praise do help to expedite the process. Having a schedule helps as well.

Fun Time

Get ready for playtime! Most Shih Tzu puppies have a great deal of energy. They love a good run around the yard or learning how to fetch. Most puppies also love playing with toys. You can use playtime as training time as well. For instance, before you introduce a new toy have your puppy sit. Once your puppy sits reward him or her with the toy. This is a great way to reinforce positive training. Training doesn’t have to be boring. Try and make it enjoyable and your puppy will look forward to training sessions.

Pay Attention

Focus is extremely important when it comes to training your Shih Tzu puppy. Turning your attention away for a minute or two while your puppy is unattended could spell trouble. It doesn’t take long for a puppy to discover something to chew on. The problem is you may not like it if your puppy chews on your brand-new wooden end table. If you’re not able to give your puppy your undivided attention the puppy must be put in a safe place such as a puppy playpen.

Make bedtime a positive experience

The first few nights may be challenging for your new little one. Mom and littermates are no longer around to snuggle with at bedtime. As a Shih Tzu Breeder, I send all my clients home with a blanket and toy that have mom’s and littermates’ scent. These items can provide a great deal of comfort in the first few weeks while your puppy is still adjusting. A snuggle puppy is another great option because it has a heartbeat that may soothe your puppy. You may also want to consider a night light, soothing music, and putting the puppy’s playpen in your bedroom for the first week or so.

Continue the Socialization Process

All puppies need adequate socialization to get the very best start in life. Hopefully, you’re getting a Shih Tzu puppy from a responsible breeder. As a responsible Shih Tzu Breeder, I raise all of my puppies on a developmentally appropriate curriculum that ensures optimal socialization. I expect my Shih Tzu puppy owners to continue working on socialization once the puppy goes home. Socialization is key to creating a well-rounded puppy. 

It is important to introduce the new puppy to new people, places, and things. Your puppy must always perceive the world as a safe place. Otherwise, fear may set in which is hard to reverse. It is essential to remember to keep your puppy safe from canine diseases at the same time. Most puppies are not done with the puppy vaccination series by the time they head home. This means they’re susceptible to viruses, bacteria, parasites, etc. Some viruses such as Parvovirus can be lethal in young puppies.

The easiest way to socialize your puppy while avoiding disease is to keep all four paws off the floor when out of the home. Buy a puppy stroller and go for a walk around the block. Or invite a fully inoculated dog over for a visit. If family and friends come over to visit the new puppy simply have them leave their shoes at the door out of your puppy’s reach. Also, make sure they wash their hands and haven’t had any contact with any sick animals within a week of the visit. 

There are so many things that your new best friend will need to learn. Fortunately, most puppies are usually eager to learn, especially with the right motivator, such as a tasty treat. Puppy training may seem a little overwhelming at first but hang in there, patience is key to success! Remember to keep it fun and positive and your puppy will most likely be an eager student ready to learn. 

Should I crate-train my Shih Tzu?

Deciding whether or not to crate-train your dog is a personal decision. If you’re in the market for a new puppy you have probably read a lot of hype around crate training. There are the die-hard advocates who think you will ruin your puppy if you don’t crate train. Then we have the middle-of-the-road people who feel that crate exposure is necessary for certain occasions like a vet visit or a car trip. Finally, some individuals don’t feel that crate training is necessary under any circumstances. 

Pros of crate training:

• Crates are a safe place for your puppy during travel.

• If there is ever an emergency such as a fire or flood a crate is a safe place for your puppy.

• Crates keep puppies from destroying things in the home when supervision isn’t possible.

• If your puppy ever needs an overnight stay at the vet clinic or boarding a crate is necessary.

• Crates are a good way to keep your puppy away from house guests when necessary.

• Helps some dogs to settle down.

Cons of crate training:

• Some pet owners confine their dog to a crate for too long which is unhealthy and counterproductive.

• Crates can cause anxiety in some dogs that have low nerve strength and aren’t comfortable in small spaces.

• If a crate doesn’t have adequate ventilation respiratory distress may occur.

• Dogs that are left in a crate too long may suffer from depression or behavioral issues.

• If a dog suffers from boredom from extensive crate time he or she may chew on the crate which could be harmful.

• Obsessive licking or other self-mutilating behaviors are common in dogs that spend too much time in a crate.

As a Shih Tzu Breeder, I find myself somewhere in the middle when it comes to the great crate debate. I am not a die-hard advocate of the crate. I prefer to raise my puppies in a playpen where they have more room to move around. To date, I have never had a puppy that was more difficult to potty train because I didn’t use a crate.

Crating doesn’t speed up the potty training process according to studies. If a puppy has a full bladder he or she will relieve himself even if he or she is in a crate. Puppies have small bladders. The key is to take the puppy potty often and to be consistent and patient. On the other hand, I do feel the crate has a purpose. The crate is a great asset for road trips, veterinarian visits, and boarding purposes. 

Most dogs will have to spend time in a crate at some point in their life. Dogs spend time in a crate after medical procedures such as a spay or neuter. Or, your dog may need to sit in a travel crate during an airline flight. As a result, it is important that your Shih Tzu feels comfortable in a crate to avoid anxiety when crate time is necessary. In my responsible breeding program, all of my Shih Tzu puppies for sale learn to feel safe in a crate. Although my puppies spend their days and nights in a playpen, they are exposed to an open crate.

All crate sessions should be positive to create a good association with the crate. I give my Shih Tzu puppies a yummy treat such as a stuffed Kong during crate exposure time. I feel it is important for breeders to expose puppies to a crate before the go-home day. Puppies are less likely to be fearful of the crate if they receive positive crate exposure time when they’re young.  Puppies go through a critical socialization period between weeks 3-12 where fear is low minus short fear periods. I take advantage of this developmental opportunity by exposing puppies to new things such as a crate during low periods of fear. 

Even if you don’t plan on using a crate, I suggest new puppy owners continue exposing their Shih Tzu puppy to the crate on occasion once home. Place your puppy in the crate with a yummy treat a couple of times per week for about 15 minutes. This will help the puppy remember the crate as a safe desirable place to relax. This will help tremendously when you have to place your puppy in a crate for the trip to visit the groomer or veterinarian.

So as you can see, crate training is a great option under certain circumstances such as travel or boarding. There are plenty of benefits in having your puppy feel comfortable in a crate just in case a situation arises where the crate is necessary. But, in my honest opinion, a puppy or adult dog for that matter shouldn’t be confined to a crate for a long time. Dogs are social creatures that need ample time moving around and spending time with their family.

Placing a dog in a crate for 8-plus hours isn’t a quality life for a dog. If you work and need another option consider a puppy playpen. Another option is a small room that is safe for your puppy to roam. These alternatives will give your Shih Tzu puppy more room to move around instead of being confined to such a small space for so long. You may also want to consider having a pet sitter stop in during the day to check on your puppy if you have a long work schedule. Rover has a great deal of local pet sitters if you don’t have friends or family available: https://www.rover.com/.

Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting time. You have probably already taken the time to safety-proof the home and yard. Your puppy-proofing checklist is most likely in place. Also, you probably have chosen a great veterinarian and dog groomer by this time. But, have you thought about hiring a dog trainer?

Puppies bring us a lot of joy but may become a handful without proper training. Puppies need to learn the rules. It is up to puppy parents to properly teach the rules to their puppy. Unfortunately, a lot of puppy parents work or simply don’t have the time to train themselves. In addition, some families simply prefer to have a professional outsider doing the training.

Hiring a dog trainer is a great option if you have a busy life schedule. Furthermore, a trainer has a strong educational background in training in most cases. This means you don’t have to spend the time learning every specific detail of dog training in the first place. Below, I have put together a list of trainers in Arizona. Check out the following link from BringFido for more trainer options and so much more. https://www.bringfido.com/

Also, there are quite a few online trainers nowadays. Check out the video from Baxter & Bella above for a great online training option. Enter my discount code at checkout: ARIZONASUNRISE for a 25% discount! I hope you find a great trainer for your new puppy.

Dog Trainers

Mak Pak Dog Training & Boarding: Tempe, Arizona (602) 374- 3388

Smiles Dog Training: Scottsdale, Arizona (602) 962-8764

Arizona Dog Smart Academy: Phoenix, Arizona (602) 237-6775

East Valley K9 services: Chandler, Arizona (480) 382-0144

Towse K9 services: Queen Creek, Arizona (480) 606-8755

Top Dog Boarding & Training: Gilbert, Arizona (480) 650-1650

Sublime Canine: Oro Valley, Arizona (520) 975-0878

Partners Dog Training: Scottsdale, Arizona (480) 595-6700

Bark Busters: Goodyear, Arizona 1 (877) 500-2275

Positive K9 Trainers: Goodyear, Arizona (623) 337-6977

FurBabies & Friends: Glendale, Arizona (612) 352-8239