Shih Tzu – Dealing With Housetraining Problems

The best house training uses the shih tzu’s own instincts to
avoid soiling its bed to train the shih tzu where and where not
to eliminate. That is the basis behind crate training, in which
the shih tzu is confined to its crate in the absence of the
owner, and den training, in which the shih tzu is confined to a
small area of the home. In essence, the crate, or the room,
becomes the shih tzu’s den. Shih Tzu are naturally very clean
animals, and they try their best to avoid using their dens as
toilets.

This type of training usually works very well, both for shih tzu
puppies and for older shih tzu. Problems with this type of
toilet training are usually the result of not understanding the
signals the shih tzu is sending, not being consistent with
feeding times, or trying to rush the process.

While the house training process can be sped up somewhat by
consistently praising the shih tzu and rewarding it for
toileting in the proper place, some shih tzu cannot be rushed
through this important process. It is always best to house train
the shih tzu properly the first time than to go back and retrain
a problem shih tzu.

If the dog continues to soil the den area after house training,
the most likely reason is that the owner has left the shih tzu
in the den for too long. Another reason may be that the den area
is too large. In this case, the best strategy is to make the den
area smaller or to take the shih tzu to the toilet area more
frequently.

If the shih tzu soils the bed that has been provided in the den
area, it is most likely because the owner has left the shih tzu
there for too long, and the shih tzu had an understandable
accident. Or it could be that the shih tzu has not yet adopted
this area as the bed. In addition, urinary tract infections and
other medical conditions can also cause shih tzu to soil their
beds. It is important to have the shih tzu thoroughly checked
out by a veterinarian to rule out any medical problems.

One other reason for house training accidents that many people
overlook is boredom. Shih tzu who are bored often drink large
amounts of water and therefore must urinate more frequently than
you might think. If you notice your shih tzu consuming large
amounts of water, be sure to take the shih tzu to the
established toilet area more often, and provide the shih tzu
with toys and other distractions to eliminate boredom.

Boredom is the root cause of many shih tzu behavior problems,
not only house training issues. Chewing and other destructive
behaviors are also often caused by boredom and separation
anxiety.

Other problems with house training can occur when the shih tzu’s
den is not properly introduced. In some cases dogs can react to
the den as if it is a prison or a punishment. Those shih tzu may
exhibit signs of anxiety, such as whining, chewing and excessive
barking. It is important for the shih tzu to feel secure in its
den, and to think of it as a home and not a cage.

The best way to house train a shih tzu puppy or shih tzu dog, or
to re-house train a problem shih tzu, is to make yourself aware
of the shih tzu’s habits and needs. Creating a healthy, safe
sleeping and play area for your shih tzu, as well as a well
defined toilet area, is important for any house training program.

House training is not always an easy process, but it is
certainly an important one. The number one reason that dogs are
surrendered to animal shelters is problems with inappropriate
elimination, so a well structured house training program can
literally be a lifesaver for your shih tzu.