Shih Tzu – Solving Your Shih Tzu’s Jumping And Roaming Problems

Every shih tzu owner must eventually deal with some unwanted
behaviors on the part of their four legged companions. Some of
the most frequently encountered training problems with shih tzu
puppies and shih tzu dogs alike are jumping on people and
performing those amazing feats of escape.

Jumping up on people Jumping up on people can be a cute trick
for shih tzu puppies, but it quickly becomes a problem behavior
as the shih tzu gets older, larger and heavier. A very heavy
shih tzu can easily knock a child or even a small adult off his
or her feet, so jumping on people can be a dangerous problem as
well as an annoying one.

The reason shih tzu puppies and older shih tzu jump on people is
obvious – they are excited and happy to see them. Many people
are reluctant to discourage this exuberant behavior, but it is
important to redirect that happiness and energy in other ways.
Many well meaning owners, family members and friends
inadvertently encourage this jumping up behavior by picking the
shih tzu puppy up, kissing it or otherwise providing
encouragement.

This type of inconsistency is anathema to proper shih tzu
training, and in order for the shih tzu to be trained not to
jump, every member of the family must recognize and accept the
importance of the training. If one member of the family allows
the shih tzu dog to jump up while other family members do not,
the shih tzu will understandably become confused and frustrated.
The training must be firm, kind and consistent in order to be
effective.

One way to redirect the shih tzu dog’s happiness and excitement
from jumping is to teach him to lift his paw when greeting you.
This “shaking hands” posture is an acceptable way for the shih
tzu to show his happiness and his respect. Many people even
teach their shih tzu to do simple tricks, like rolling over,
instead of jumping on people.

Escaping and roaming the neighborhood A responsible shih tzu
owner would never dream of allowing his or her shih tzu to roam
the neighborhood freely. Allowing a shih tzu to roam on its own
is irresponsible, dangerous (to the shih tzu and the
neighborhood), and probably even illegal. Most towns have
ordinances which prohibit dogs from being allowed to roam around
free, so you could be in legal trouble if your dog is found
wandering the neighborhood unattended.

Of course sometimes that wandering shih tzu is not the owner’s
idea, and many dogs perform amazing feats of escape when left on
their own. The temptations for unattended dogs are many,
including passing bicycles, joggers, children, cats and other
dogs. It is much easier to prevent escapes than to recapture a
loose shih tzu, so let’s talk about some preventative measures
every dog owner can take.

Removing the motivation to escape is a big part of the solution.
A bored shih tzu is much more likely to spend his day plotting
the great escape. A shih tzu that is surrounded by everything he
or she needs, like lots of toys, a soft bed, and plenty of fresh
clean, water, is more likely to spend his or her day contentedly
sleeping or playing with toys until the owner returns.

In addition, a shih tzu with lots of pent up, unused energy is
likely to try to escape. Try incorporating several vigorous play
sessions with your shih tzu into your daily routine. Make one of
those play sessions right before you leave. If your shih tzu has
a chance to work off his or her energy, chances are he or she
will sleep or relax much of the day.

Of course dealing with the shih tzu is only half the problem. It
is also important to make the property as escape proof as
possible, through proper fencing and other measures. For shih
tzu that dig, it may be necessary to extend the fence
underground by placing metal stakes in the ground every few
feet. For shih tzu that jump, it may be necessary to make the
fence higher. And if none of these measures work, it may be
necessary to confine the shih tzu to the house when you are not
at home.