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Dealing With Housetraining Your Shih Tzu

29 14:00:47

House training is one of those issues that every Shih Tzu owner
must grapple with. In most cases house training is the first
major milestone in the relationship between owner and Shih Tzu,
and it can sometimes be difficult and confusing for owner and
Shih Tzu alike.

The best house training procedures are those that use the Shih
Tzu’s own instincts to the owner’s advantage. These strategies
take into account the Shih Tzu’s reluctance to soil the spots
where he eats and sleeps. This is the concept behind den
training and crate training. Dogs are very clean animals, and in
nature they always avoid using their dens as toilet areas.

These kinds of natural training methods generally work very
well, for both Shih Tzu puppies and older Shih Tzu. Naturally,
older, larger dogs will need a larger area for their den, and
crate training is generally best used for Shih Tzu puppies and
small Shih Tzu.

When house training a Shih Tzu or a Shih Tzu puppy, however, it
is important to pay close attention to the signals the Shih Tzu
is sending. It is also important to be consistent when it comes
to feeding times, and to provide the Shih Tzu with ready access
to the toilet area you establish on a regular basis.

It is important as well to never try to rush the process of
house training. While some Shih Tzu are naturally easier to
train, most Shih Tzu puppies and adult Shih Tzu will experience
at least one or two slip ups during the house training process.
When these accidents occur, it is important to not get mad and
punish the Shih Tzu. Accidents during house training usually
mean that the owner is trying to move too fast, or that the Shih
Tzu has been left alone for too long. In this case, it is best
to just take a step back and start the process again.

It is also important for the owner to reward the Shih Tzu
enthusiastically when it does its business in the appointed
area. The Shih Tzu should learn to associate doing its business
in its toilet area with good things like treats, rewards and
praise.

During the house training process, the den area starts out very
small, often as small as half of a small room in the beginning.
As the Shih Tzu learns to control his bladder and bowels better,
and the owner learns to anticipate the Shih Tzu’s toilet needs,
the den area can be slowly expanded. It is important not to make
the den area too large too soon. The den area must be expanded
slowly in order for the house training process to move along
smoothly.

It is important for the Shih Tzu to be properly introduced to
its den. Many Shih Tzu, particularly those who have never been
confined before, such as those who have spent their lives as
outdoor dogs, may react to the den area as if it is a prison,
and constantly whine, cry and try to escape the den. It is
important that the Shih Tzu learn to accept its den as a home
and not a cage. ] One problem many Shih Tzu owners overlook when
house training a Shih Tzu is that of boredom. Boredom is
actually the root cause of many behavior problems in Shih Tzu,
including chewing and other destructive behaviors. Boredom can
also be the root cause of problems with house training. Shih Tzu
that are bored often consume large amounts of water during the
day, and this excess water consumption can lead to the need to
urinate often, even in its den area. Since soiling the den area
goes against the Shih Tzu’s nature, he can quickly become
confused and frightened, thereby setting the house training
program back even further.

To prevent the Shih Tzu from becoming bored when you are away
from home, be sure to provide him with lots of different kinds
of toys, as well as a safe and secure place to sleep. In
addition, a vigorous period of play time can help the Shih Tzu
sleep while you are away. In addition, playing with the Shih Tzu
in its den area will help him bond with this area and recognize
it as a safe, secure home.