| Bringing home a new shih tzu puppy is always an | | | | puppies learn important socialization skills generally learn |
| exciting time. Introducing the new shih tzu puppy to the | | | | to become better members of their human family. Shih |
| family should be fun for both yourself and your shih tzu | | | | tzu puppies that get less socialization can be more |
| puppy. One of the first challenges, however, to the | | | | destructive, more hyperactive and exhibit other |
| excitement of the new shih tzu puppy, is curbing | | | | problem behaviors. |
| inappropriate shih tzu puppy behaviors. | | | | In addition, lack of socialization in shih tzu puppies often |
| Preventing biting and mouthing | | | | causes fearful and aggressive behaviors to develop. |
| Biting and mouthing is a common activity for many | | | | Dogs often react aggressively to new situations, |
| young puppies and dogs. Puppies naturally bite and | | | | especially if they are not properly socialized. In order |
| mouth each other when playing with siblings, and they | | | | for a shih tzu dog to become a member of the |
| extend this behavior to their human companions. While | | | | community as well as the household, it should be |
| other puppies have thick skin, however, humans do not, | | | | socialized to other people, especially children. Dogs |
| so it is important to teach your shih tzu puppy what is | | | | make a distinction between their owners and other |
| appropriate, and what is not, when it comes to using | | | | people, and between children and adults. It is important, |
| those sharp teeth. | | | | therefore, to introduce the shih tzu puppy to both |
| The first part of training the shih tzu puppy is to inhibit | | | | children and adults. |
| the biting reflex. Biting might be cute and harmless with | | | | The best time to socialize a shih tzu puppy to young |
| a 5 pound shih tzu puppy, but it is neither cute nor | | | | children is when it is still very young, generally when it is |
| harmless when that dog has grown to adulthood. | | | | four months old or younger. One reason for this is that |
| Therefore, shih tzu puppies should be taught to control | | | | mothers of young children may be understandably |
| their bite before they reach the age of four months. | | | | reluctant to allow their children to approach large dogs |
| Shih tzu puppies normally learn to inhibit their bite from | | | | or older puppies. This is especially true with large breed |
| their mothers and their littermates, but since they are | | | | dogs, or with breeds of dogs that have a reputation |
| taken away from their mothers so young, many never | | | | for aggressive behavior. |
| learn this important lesson. It is therefore up to the | | | | Using trust to prevent biting |
| humans in the shih tzu puppy's life to teach this lesson. | | | | Teaching your shih tzu puppy to trust and respect you |
| One great way to inhibit the biting reflex is to allow the | | | | is a very effective way to prevent biting. Gaining the |
| shih tzu puppy to play and socialize with other shih tzu | | | | trust and respect of your shih tzu dog is the basis for |
| puppies and socialized older shih tzu dogs. Shih tzu | | | | all dog training, and for correcting problem behaviors. |
| puppies love to tumble, roll and play with each other, | | | | It is important to never hit or slap the puppy, either |
| and when shih tzu puppies play they bite each other | | | | during training or any other time. Physical punishment is |
| constantly. This is the best way for shih tzu puppies to | | | | the surest way to erode the trust and respect that |
| learn to control themselves when they bite. If one shih | | | | must form the basis of an effective training program. |
| tzu puppy becomes too rough when playing, the rest | | | | Reprimanding a dog will not stop him from biting - it will |
| of the group will punish him for that inappropriate | | | | simply scare and confuse him. |
| behavior. Through this type of socialization, the shih tzu | | | | Training a shih tzu puppy not to bite is a vital part of |
| puppy will learn to control his biting reflex. | | | | any puppy training program. Biting behaviors that are |
| Proper socialization has other benefits as well, including | | | | not corrected will only get worse, and what seemed |
| teaching the shih tzu dog to not be fearful of other | | | | like harmless behavior in a shih tzu puppy can quickly |
| dogs, and to work off their excess energy. Shih tzu | | | | escalate to dangerous, destructive behavior in an adult |
| puppies that are allowed to play with other shih tzu | | | | dog. |