| House training a Shih Tzu puppy is one of the first, and | | | | It is important to be sure that the toilet area does not |
| one of the most important things, that any new Shih | | | | resemble anything in the home, such as carpet or |
| Tzu puppy owner must do. It is easy to get frustrated | | | | hardwood floor. Once the Shih Tzu puppy is used to |
| if you do not understand the basics of this important | | | | eliminating on a particular surface, such as grass or |
| process, so we have put together a few tips to make | | | | blacktop, he will want to eliminate on that time of |
| the process of house training your Shih Tzu puppy a | | | | surface. |
| little easier. | | | | Always provide lots of praise when the Shih Tzu |
| It is vital to establish good toilet and hygiene habits in | | | | puppy does its business in the established toilet area. |
| the Shih Tzu puppy when he is young, since the | | | | The Shih Tzu puppy needs to learn to associate |
| patterns that are established in those first few months | | | | eliminating in the established area with positive things |
| can last a lifetime. When you consider that house | | | | like treats, toys and praise from you. |
| training issues are the number one reason why dogs | | | | It is important to keep a set schedule when feeding |
| are surrendered to animal shelters, it is easy to see | | | | the Shih Tzu puppy, and to provide ready access to |
| why house training is so extremely important. | | | | fresh, clean drinking water at all times. Providing a |
| In most cases, a Shih Tzu puppy will not be completely | | | | consistent schedule for feeding will help you learn to |
| house trained until he or she is six months of age. That | | | | anticipate your puppy's toilet needs. |
| is because Shih Tzu puppies younger than six months | | | | Using a crate can help the Shih Tzu puppy to develop |
| often lack the bowel and bladder control that they | | | | much needed self control. Shih Tzu are naturally very |
| need in order to be reliably left alone in the home all | | | | clean animals, and they will try their best not to soil their |
| day. | | | | bed area. |
| Shih Tzu puppies younger than six months should be | | | | And finally, it is vital to employ patience during the |
| confined to a single, small Shih Tzu puppy proofed | | | | house training process. House training can take as long |
| room any time the owner is not available to supervise | | | | as several months, but it is much easier to house train |
| the animal. The entire floor of the room should be | | | | right the first time than to retrain a problem Shih Tzu. |
| covered in newspaper or other similarly absorbent and | | | | House training the Shih Tzu puppy - what to avoid Do |
| cheap material. At first the Shih Tzu puppy will go | | | | not punish or reprimand the Shih Tzu puppy if it makes |
| everywhere and anywhere in the room. As the Shih | | | | a mistake. The Shih Tzu puppy will not understand the |
| Tzu puppy gets older and begins to display better | | | | reason for the punishment, and he may become |
| bladder and bowel control, the amount of paper used | | | | nervous and agitated. This could set the training back |
| is slowly reduced, until the puppy goes only on the | | | | even further. Do not give the Shih Tzu puppy constant |
| established "toilet" papers. This toilet area will form the | | | | access to food. Keep the Shih Tzu puppy to a set |
| basis of later house training. | | | | feeding schedule instead of leaving food out all the |
| House training the Shih Tzu puppy - what to do: | | | | time. |
| Provide the Shih Tzu puppy with constant, unrestricted | | | | The Shih Tzu puppy should not be given the run of the |
| access to the toilet area that has been established. | | | | house until he has been thoroughly house trained. |
| Take the Shih Tzu puppy to the toilet area every 45 | | | | House training a new Shih Tzu puppy is not always |
| minutes when you are at home. | | | | easy, but it is important to persevere. By exercising |
| When you are away from home, or when you cannot | | | | patience, and rewarding your Shih Tzu with lavish |
| supervise the Shih Tzu puppy, it is important to confine | | | | praise every time he does the right thing, you will have |
| the Shih Tzu puppy to a small area that has been | | | | your Shih Tzu puppy house trained in no time at all. |
| puppy proofed and covered with newspaper. | | | | |