| Everyone who owns a Shih Tzu puppy or Shih Tzu | | | | the family must understand that the Shih Tzu puppy is |
| dog will eventually have to deal with and correct less | | | | not permitted to jump on them. |
| than desirable behaviors on the part of their companion | | | | Pulling, charging and tugging on the lead |
| animal. There are a number of behaviors that should | | | | One problem you definitely want to nip in the bud is this |
| be nipped in the bud, including: | | | | one. It is important that the Shih Tzu puppy learn to |
| Jumping up on people | | | | respect the collar and leash now, when he is still small |
| This is one of those behaviors that many owners | | | | and light enough to handle. Teaching this lesson to a 3 |
| inadvertently encourage in their animals, since jumping | | | | pound Shih Tzu puppy will be much easier than |
| up, wagging his tail and the like can be adorable in a | | | | teaching the same lesson to a 12 pound Shih Tzu dog. |
| young Shih Tzu puppy. When that Shih Tzu puppy is | | | | Using a good strong body harness or head collar can |
| older, larger and heavier, however, this jumping up | | | | be a big help when training a Shih Tzu puppy not to |
| behavior ceases to be cute and begins to become | | | | pull, or to retrain a Shih Tzu dog that has already |
| annoying and even dangerous. | | | | learned to pull on the leash. When first fitting a harness, |
| A large, heavy dog jumping up on people can be | | | | it is important to allow the Shih Tzu puppy to walk |
| dangerous to young children and even to some adults, | | | | around wearing it, so that he can get used to wearing |
| since a large, 100 pound plus dog can easily knock | | | | it. |
| down a child or small adult. Since you as the owner | | | | The first thing your Shih Tzu puppy must learn, and the |
| are responsible for the behavior of your dog, it is | | | | basis of all subsequent training, is teaching your Shih |
| important to nip this problem behavior in the bud. Not to | | | | Tzu to heel. Teaching your Shih Tzu to walk quietly at |
| worry your Shih Tzu will never 100 pounds, however, | | | | your side on a loose lead is the basis of all Shih Tzu |
| you still need to be cautious and nip this behavior in the | | | | training, and until your Shih Tzu puppy has mastered |
| bud before it causes you problems. | | | | this vital skill he will be unable to move onto more |
| The best time to do that, of course, is when the Shih | | | | advanced training. |
| Tzu puppy is still small and easy to handle. When the | | | | When walking with a Shih Tzu puppy on a leash, it is |
| Shih Tzu puppy jumps up on you or someone else, | | | | important to always keep slack in the leash. If the Shih |
| gently place the Shih Tzu puppy's feet back on the | | | | Tzu puppy begins to pull on the leash, the handler |
| floor. When the Shih Tzu dog remains standing there, | | | | should quickly change directions. The Shih Tzu puppy |
| be sure to praise it extensively. | | | | will then find itself lagging behind instead of forging |
| It is also important to give the Shih Tzu puppy an | | | | ahead. The leash will be loose except for the split |
| alternative to jumping up. Shih Tzu puppies jump up on | | | | second it takes to change directions. It is important for |
| people to express their enthusiasm, so it is important to | | | | the handler to use a quick tug of the leash, followed by |
| redirect this energy in a more socially acceptable | | | | an immediate loosening, when teaching this lesson. |
| direction. Try teaching the Shih Tzu puppy to present | | | | When teaching the Shih Tzu puppy to walk properly, it |
| his paw instead of jumping up. | | | | is important to never allow the Shih Tzu puppy to pull |
| When teaching the Shih Tzu puppy to not jump up on | | | | you around, or to forge ahead on the leash. Allowing |
| people, it is important to be consistent. Consistency is | | | | the Shih Tzu puppy to pull you around will teach him |
| important in any training program, and all members of | | | | exactly the wrong lesson. |