Shih Tzu – Obedience Training For Your Shih Tzu

Obedience training is one of the most important and most
effective things any owner can do for his or her shih tzu. A
properly obedience trained shih tzu is a happy, productive and
safe member of the family, while a untrained shih tzu can be
destructive and even dangerous.

Dogs are designed by nature to follow leaders, and to look for
that leadership. As pack animals, shih tzu naturally follow the
directions of their pack leader. In the absence of a strong
leader, the shih tzu may assume this role itself. Shih tzu that
think of themselves as the leader of their human pack can become
uncooperative, destructive and even dangerous.

Proper obedience training opens up important lines of
communication between handler and shih tzu. The basis of any
obedience training program is to gain the cooperation and
respect of the animal. This respect cannot be exerted through
rough handling methods or mistreatment. It must instead be
earned through leadership and proper training techniques.

Basic obedience training consists of teaching the shih tzu what
to do and what not to do. When it comes to desired behaviors, it
is important for the shih tzu to learn and respond to basic
commands, such as heeling when walking, stopping on command,
sitting when directed, coming when called and staying where the
handler directs.

The list of what not to do is also important when it comes to
obedience training. Some of the don’ts of obedience training
include – not jumping up on people, not forging ahead when
walking and, not chewing the furniture or your property, and not
getting out of control when exposed to novel situations.

In essence, obedience training involves establishing the social
hierarchy that is so important to shih tzu as pack animals. When
your shih tzu follows your obedience commands, such as – come,
stay, sit, heel, etc., he or she is showing compliance and
submissiveness. This is the same type of behavior a submissive
member of a wild dog pack would show to the alpha dog in that
pack.

As with any type of dog training, it is important that obedience
training sessions be fun and rewarding for both shih tzu and
handler. A happy, healthy shih tzu will be best able to learn,
and keeping the shih tzu happy during the training sessions will
make life easier for both yourself and your shih tzu. Obedience
training has many benefits for the shih tzu as well as the
handler. For one thing, a well trained, obedient shih tzu can be
permitted a larger amount of freedom than an untrained shih tzu.
For instance, a shih tzu that has been properly trained to come
when called can safely enjoy some off leash play time at the
local park.

There is always a debate over whether it is easier to obedience
train puppies or older dogs. The fact is that both shih tzu
puppies and older shih tzu can be successfully trained to be
willing, obedient companions. It is generally easier to train
shih tzu puppies and young shih tzu than it is to retrain shih
tzu that have developed behavior problems. Even problem shih
tzu, however, can be successfully retrained using basic
obedience training and control concepts.

When obedience training shih tzu puppies, however, it is
important to remember that shih tzu puppies generally have a
shorter attention span than do full grown shih tzu. It is
important, therefore to keep training sessions short in the
beginning. It is also important to incorporate lots of play with
other shih tzu puppies, dogs and other animals, as well as lots
of different people. Proper socialization is very important to
creating a safe, healthy and happy companion shih tzu.

There are many obedience training classes held in all parts of
the country, and new shih tzu puppy and shih tzu owners are
encouraged to enroll in one of these classes. Not only do shih
tzu puppy kindergarten and shih tzu obedience classes provide
important structure for the shih tzu, but it provides important
chances for properly socialization the shih tzu puppy as well.