Dog picture taken by Nemo’s great uncle.

These five steps are the fundamentals of Shih Tzu and any dog breed grooming procedure are:

1. Brushing and Combing
2. Bathing
3. Blow Drying
4. Ear Cleaning
5. Nail Trimming

The Shih Tzu is typical of a longhaired breed requiring constant coat care and most frequently require services of a professional groomer.

Brushing and combing melody:
Brushing out the coat of a Shih Tzu is the most important step in Shih Tzu dog grooming. The importance of regular Shih Tzu brushing is underscored by the fact that a Shih Tzu can be made presentable by brushing alone. Brushing your Shih Tzu is the foundation for all that follows and more time and effort should be devoted to it. The main ingredient to brushing the coat of a Shih Tzu is “manual labor.” Thorough Shih Tzu brushing is mandatory before bathing since wetting a tangled, matted coat will only cause the coat to tangle and mat more. Combing out the Shih Tzu coat is a close second step to brushing. Combing the Shih Tzu coat should be considered an accompaniment to brushing, thus creating a melody of brush and comb, brush and comb, brush and comb the beautiful coat of your Shih Tzu.

Brushing and combing techniques:
The approach to your Shih Tzu consists of starting each step from the hindquarters. The theory behind this approach is if the Shih Tzu cannot see what you are doing, he will be less likely to object. Staring from the hindquarters proceed to groom the Shih Tzu systematically, part by part, step by step.

The actual technique of correct Shih Tzu coat brushing and combing is to first grasp the left rear leg of your Shih Tzu and while holding part of the hair in one hand brush the other part. To get to the undersides of your Shih Tzu’s leg, lift the leg of your Shih Tzu up and while holding firmly with one hand, brush the undersides.

Lay down your brush and pick up your comb. The main function of the comb is to find and remove tangles, mats or knots left in the Shih Tzu coat after brushing. Run the comb through the leg coat you just brushed out. If you find a knot in the Shih Tzu’s leg coat, hold the bottom part of the knot firmly with one hand and comb or tease out the knot with the other.

When you are finished brushing and combing both hindlegs of your Shih Tzu, do exactly the same with the two front legs of your Shih Tzu. When all four legs of your Shih Tzu are done, go back to the hindquarters of your Shih Tzu. This time, you will concentrate on the tail of your Shih Tzu. Proceed to do the entire body coat of your Shih Tzu, first left side, then right side, then underside, then the front or chest areas of your Shih Tzu. The most systematic way of brushing out the body coat of your Shih Tzu is from rear to front, layer by layer, lifting up with one hand a layer of Shih Tzu coat and brushing down to the skin with the brush hand.

The final step is the head, including the ears. The heavy furnishings on the head of your Shih Tzu is part of their beauty. No effort should be spared in thoroughly brushing and combing this area of your Shih Tzu. You now have the face of your Shih Tzu to do. Once you have mastered the technique of the brushing and combing melody, no area of your Shih Tzu should present a problem. Combing your Shih Tzu is always the final, finishing touch.

Dog picture taken by gurdonark.

Dog picture taken by Rubí Flórez.

The basis of training any shih tzu is winning its trust, confidence and respect. True training cannot begin until the shih tzu has accepted you as its leader, respects you and entrusted you with his or her confidence.

The mistake many shih tzu puppy owners make is mistaking love and affection for respect and confidence. While it is certainly important to love your new shih tzu puppy, it is also very important that the shih tzu puppy respect you and see you as his leader. Dogs are naturally pack animals, and every dog looks to the lead dog for advice and direction. Making yourself the pack leader is vital to the success of training any dog.

Failure to gain the respect of the shih tzu can create a shih tzu who is disobedient, out of control and even dangerous. Problem shih tzu are dangerous, whether they are created through bad breeding, owner ignorance or improper training. It is important to train the shih tzu right from the start, since retraining a problem shih tzu is much more difficult than training a shih tzu puppy right the first time.

It is important for any new shih tzu owner, whether working with a 12 week old shih tzu puppy or a twelve year old shih tzu dog, to immediately get the respect of the animal. That does not mean using rough or dangerous handling methods, but it does mean letting the dog know that you are in control of the situation. Shih Tzu need structure in their lives, and they will not resent the owner taking control. As a matter of fact, the shih tzu will appreciate your taking the role of trainer and coach as you begin your training session.

When working with the shih tzu, it is important to keep the training sessions short at first. This is particularly important when working with a young shih tzu puppy, since shih tzu puppies tend to have much shorter attention spans than older shih tzu dogs. Keeping the training sessions short, and fun, is essential for proper training.

Beginning training sessions should focus on the most basic commands. The heel command is one of the most basic, and one of the easiest to teach. Start by putting the shih tzu dog or shih tzu puppy in a properly fitted training collar. Be sure to follow the instructions for fitting and sizing the color to ensure that it works as intended.
Begin to walk and allow your shih tzu to walk beside you. If the shih tzu begins to pull, gently pull on the leash. This in turn will tighten the training collar and correct the dog. If the gentle pressure is ineffective, it may be necessary to slowly increase the pressure. Always be careful to not over-correct the shih tzu. Using too much pressure could frighten the shih tzu and cause it to strain more. If the opposite problem occurs and the shih tzu lags behind, the owner should gently encourage it until it is walking beside the owner.

Most shih tzu figure out the heeling concept fairly rapidly, and quickly figure out that they should walk beside their owners, neither lagging behind nor pulling ahead. Once the shih tzu has mastered heeling at a moderate pace, the owner should slow his or her pace and allow the shih tzu to adjust along with it. The owner should also speed up the pace and allow the shih tzu to speed up as well. Finally, walking along and changing pace often will reinforce the lesson that the shih tzu should always walk at the heel of the handler.

From heeling, the next step should be to halt on command. This halt command works well as an adjunct to heel. As you are walking, stop and watch you shih tzu. Many shih tzu immediately realize that they are expected to stop when their handler does. Others may need the reminder of the leash and the training collar.

After the halt on command has been mastered, the handler should encourage the shih tzu to sit on command as well. Once the shih tzu has stopped, the handler gently pushes on the shih tzu’s hindquarters to encourage the sit. Usually, after this walk, halt, sit procedure has been done a few times, the shih tzu will begin to sit on his own each time he stops. Of course, it is important to provide great praise, and perhaps even a treat, every time the shih tzu does as he is expected.

shih tzu puppies

Ear Cleaning:
Cleaning the ears of your Shih Tzu is a simple chore. With the Shih Tzu being a long-haired breed, problems can arise if ears nor cleaned regularly. The hair in the ears of a Shih Tzu will grow long, knot up, mat and eventually interfere with proper functioning of the Shih Tzu’s ear canal. Infection of your Shih Tzu’s ears can result.

You will need a bottle or can of ear powder easily obtained through pet supply manufacturers. Squirt the powder directly into the ears of your Shih Tzu. The hair will become dry and brittle and is easily plucked out with your fingers. Pluck the hair out of your Shih Tzu’s ears with a quick, firm motion until the ears of your Shih Tzu look clean. You can also use a hemostat to pluck the hair out of your Shih Tzu’s ears.

Be sure to purchase ear canker powder as it has the additional benefit of helping to control canker and ear mites in your Shih Tzu. Swab your Shih Tzu’s ears gently with a cotton swab dipped in mineral oil or rubbing alcohol.

Nail trimming:
Keeping your Shih Tzu’s nail trimmed is important. Without regular trimming, your Shih Tzu’s nails may grow so long that they actually throw the Shih Tzu off his natural balance and act as a source of irritation. Neglecting to trim your Shih Tzu’s nails also detracts from the look of an otherwise well-groomed Shih Tzu.

Nail trimmers and techniques:
Guillotine type nail trimmers are the best to use on your Shih Tzu. Hold the trimmers vertically. Grasp the foot of the Shih Tzu firmly, hold the leg up towards you, carefully trim each nail of your Shih Tzu. It may sometimes be unnecessary to trim the nails on the hind feet of your Shih Tzu as they seem to grow much slower than the fore feet. If dewclaws are present on your Shih Tzu, trim the dewclaws as well. The shorter you keep your Shih Tzu’s nail, the better, and frequent trimming will help tighten the feet and improve the dog’s balance. Be careful about the “quick.” The “quick” is a vein that can be easily observed in most white and light-colored Shih Tzu when the toenails are “white.” The “quick” is more difficult to identify in toenails of darker colored Shih Tzu. More often that not, these are black rather than white in the darker colored Shih Tzu.

Nail bleeding:
If the nails of your Shih Tzu bleed after trimming, or if you trim them to close to the “quick,” there is no need for alarm. Always have on hand one of the antiseptic coagulants which you can purchase through any pet supply manufacturer for your Shih Tzu. These substances will stop quickly any bleeding. Using a cotton swab dab a little of the powder on the bleeding toenail of your Shih Tzu and hold it with a little pressure for a few seconds. The bleeding should stop quickly.

The best time to trim the nails or clean the ears is before you bath your Shih Tzu so that all traces of blood or powder will be washed away. However, the nails of your Shih Tzu will be softer right after bathing.

Nail grinding:
A finishing touch in trimming nails is the use of a nail grinder for your Shih Tzu. A nail grinder will polish off the rough edges of the Shih Tzu’s nails. The Oster Corporation makes a nail grinder favored by many professional groomers and handlers. Caution is advised when using a nail grinder on your Shih Tzu’s nails. If the Shih Tzu bends his head during the process, some part of the fringes could get caught in the grinding wheel causing the Shih Tzu considerable pain.

If your Shih Tzu objects strenuously to nail grinding, it is advisable to not force the issue since grinding is mostly for a cosmetic effect.

The first sense of a Shih Tzu puppy is “scent.” The newborn Shih Tzu puppy will be able to smell the scent of the breeder immediately after the sac is broken. The Shih Tzu breeder is familiar with litters of Shih Tzu puppies before their eyes open. Up until the Shih Tzu puppy opens its eyes they became familiar with their breeder’s scent through their dam’s coat. Shih Tzu puppies learn where there is and is not a place of milk and nourishment on their mother through scent.

It is advisable that only the Shih Tzu breeder handle puppies during their first two weeks. This does limit the Shih Tzu puppy’s reality of the world around them; however, it is practicing sound early responsible care practices. As Shih Tzu puppies begin to open their eyes they become aware of differences in people. Because of this awareness, a very young Shih Tzu puppy may act violently the first time handled by anyone other than their breeder. The Shih Tzu puppy may begin to struggle or scream to be free. It really is not necessary for other people besides the breeder to handle Shih Tzu puppies during this very early period of their lives. If a Shih Tzu puppy is frightening by early interactions with other people it could set the stage for later mistrust toward all humans. It is therefore extremely important that all early contacts with a Shih Tzu puppy be positive. Once a barrier of distrust is instilled in a newborn Shih Tzu puppy, the puppy can become hard to work with and sometimes even unmanageable as adults. Limiting contact with humans also aids in the spreading of germs to newborn Shih Tzu puppies.

There is a proper way to hold a very young Shih Tzu puppy. You should not “swoop” a Shih Tzu puppy quickly into your arms, or hold it at arm’s length. Do not ever pick up a Shih Tzu puppy by its legs, ears, tail or scruff. Severe and even irreparable damage can result.

Use the following steps to pick up and hold a newborn and very young Shih Tzu puppy:

1. Place your hands firmly around the Shih Tzu puppy’s body making it feel secure before it is lifted from the whelping box.

2. Immediately begin to snuggle the Shih Tzu puppy closely to your neck, chest or face area, letting the Shih Tzu puppy smell your familiar scent. Here is where the Shih Tzu puppy will feel the reassuring rhythm of your breathing and your heartbeat. The Shih Tzu puppy will remain relaxed. The Shih Tzu puppy will have less tendency to struggle against others first holding them if you will practice these steps from the beginning.

In general, you should not place very young Shih Tzu puppies in your lap, at least until after they begin to walk. They do not feel secure in a lap position at a very young age.

When handling newborn Shih Tzu puppies it is helpful to make “kissing” sounds near their ears. The sound is similar to puppies nursing. Therefore, repetitious kissing offers the same sense of security and comfort for the Shih Tzu puppy.

One of the earliest conditionings a Shih Tzu puppy encounters is being nestled in secure comfort by its dam while being fed warm milk. When you emit the same type of sounds with repetitious kissing the Shih Tzu puppy responds immediately to your stimulation and will feel secure. The Shih Tzu puppy will snuggle rather than struggle and learn to trust humans from a very early period of their lives. This type of conditioning is important for proper development as an adult Shih Tzu and instills a “trusting” of humans rather than a “fear” of humans.

Shih Tzu puppy conditioning beyond diet is a highly important part of a professional Shih Tzu breeder’s job, and will often separate the professional breeder from the “backyard” or puppy mill breeders.

This article is FREE to publish with resource box.

Dog picture taken by johnny utha.

this is how he gets his exercise during the winter months. i’m filming him while holding his favorite toy duckies for motivation. during the middle of the clip you can see him wagging his tail…he must be having fun!! hehe

Anyone who owns a shih tzu dog or shih tzu puppy will eventually run into the need to eliminate unwanted habits. While most shih tzu dogs are eager to please their owners and smart enough to do what is asked of them, it is important for the owner to properly communicate just what constitutes acceptable and unacceptable behaviors.

Each type of unacceptable behavior requires its own specific cures, and in most cases the cures will need to be tailored to fit the specific personality of the shih tzu dog. Every breed of dog has its own unique personality characteristics, and every individual within that breed has his or her own unique personality.

Whining, howling and excessive barking
Let’s start with one of the most frequently encountered problem behaviors in both dogs and puppies. While some barking and other vocalizing is perfectly normal, in many cases barking, howling and whining can become problematic. This is particularly important for those living in apartment buildings, or in closely spaced homes. Fielding complaints about barking is not the best way for you and your dog to meet the neighbors.

Some tips of dealing with excessive whining, barking and howling include:

If your shih tzu puppy or shih tzu dog is howling or whining while confined to its crate, immediately take it to its toilet area. Most shih tzu puppies and shih tzu dogs will whine when they need to do their business.

It is important to teach a shih tzu dog or a shih tzu puppy to accept being alone. Many dogs suffer from separation anxiety, and these stressed dogs can exhibit all sorts of destructive and annoying behaviors. It is important to accustom the shih tzu puppy to being left on its own, even when the owner is at home.

Always strive to make the shih tzu puppy or shih tzu dog as comfortable as possible. Always attend to the physical and psychological needs of the dog by providing food, water and toys.

If the shih tzu dog is whining, check for obvious reasons first. Is the water dish empty? Is the shih tzu dog showing signs of illness? Has his or her favorite toy rolled under the furniture? Is the temperature of the room too hot or too cold?

Do not reward the shih tzu puppy or shih tzu dog for whining. If the shih tzu dog whines when left alone, for instance, it would be a mistake to go to the shih tzu dog every time it whines.

After you have ensured that the shih tzu’s physical needs are being met, and that discomfort is not responsible for the whining, do not hesitate to reprimand the shih tzu dog for inappropriate behavior.

Problem Chewing
Puppies naturally chew, and they tend to explore their world using their mouths and teeth. While chewing may be normal, however, it is not acceptable, and it is important to nip any chewing problems in the bud to prevent the chewing shih tzu puppy from growing into a chewing shih tzu dog.

Providing a variety of chew toys is important when teaching a shih tzu puppy what is appropriate to chew and what is not. Providing a variety of attractive chew toys is a good way to keep the shih tzu puppy entertained and to keep his teeth and gums exercised. Scented or flavored toys are great choices for most puppies.

The shih tzu puppy should be encouraged to play with these chosen toys, and the shih tzu puppy should be effusively praised every time he or she plays with or chews these toys.

Another great strategy is to encourage the shih tzu puppy to get a toy every time he or she greets you. Every time the shih tzu puppy greets you or a member of your family, teach him to get one of his toys.

It is also important to exercise good housekeeping techniques when training a shih tzu puppy not to chew on inappropriate items. Keeping the area to which the shih tzu puppy has access free and clean is important. Keeping items out of reach of the shih tzu puppy will go a long way toward discouraging inappropriate chewing. Try to keep the shih tzu puppy’s area free of shoes, trash, and other items, and always make sure that the area has been properly puppy proofed.

If the shih tzu puppy does pick up an inappropriate item like a shoe, distract the shih tzu puppy and quickly replace the item with one of its toys. After the shih tzu puppy has taken the toy, praise it for playing with and chewing that toy.

Try booby trapping items the shih tzu dog should avoid by spraying them with bitter apple, Tabasco sauce or other nasty but non-toxic items.

Dog picture taken by Hi, I’m Sadie Shih Tzu.

Dog picture taken by Hi, I’m Sadie Shih Tzu.

Here is Lacey (7 months) acting so fierce, lol. She just discovered the stuffed lion and is checking it out.

My shih tzu puppy Gizmo at 10 weeks playing with his reflection in the mirror gives his first bark!

Dog picture taken by Keng Susumpow.

Obedience training is one of the most important and most effective things any owner can do for his or her shih tzu. A properly obedience trained shih tzu is a happy, productive and safe member of the family, while a untrained shih tzu can be destructive and even dangerous.

Dogs are designed by nature to follow leaders, and to look for that leadership. As pack animals, shih tzu naturally follow the directions of their pack leader. In the absence of a strong leader, the shih tzu may assume this role itself. Shih tzu that think of themselves as the leader of their human pack can become uncooperative, destructive and even dangerous.

Proper obedience training opens up important lines of communication between handler and shih tzu. The basis of any obedience training program is to gain the cooperation and respect of the animal. This respect cannot be exerted through rough handling methods or mistreatment. It must instead be earned through leadership and proper training techniques.

Basic obedience training consists of teaching the shih tzu what to do and what not to do. When it comes to desired behaviors, it is important for the shih tzu to learn and respond to basic commands, such as heeling when walking, stopping on command, sitting when directed, coming when called and staying where the handler directs.

The list of what not to do is also important when it comes to obedience training. Some of the don’ts of obedience training include – not jumping up on people, not forging ahead when walking and, not chewing the furniture or your property, and not getting out of control when exposed to novel situations.

In essence, obedience training involves establishing the social hierarchy that is so important to shih tzu as pack animals. When your shih tzu follows your obedience commands, such as – come, stay, sit, heel, etc., he or she is showing compliance and submissiveness. This is the same type of behavior a submissive member of a wild dog pack would show to the alpha dog in that pack.

As with any type of dog training, it is important that obedience training sessions be fun and rewarding for both shih tzu and handler. A happy, healthy shih tzu will be best able to learn, and keeping the shih tzu happy during the training sessions will make life easier for both yourself and your shih tzu. Obedience training has many benefits for the shih tzu as well as the handler. For one thing, a well trained, obedient shih tzu can be permitted a larger amount of freedom than an untrained shih tzu. For instance, a shih tzu that has been properly trained to come when called can safely enjoy some off leash play time at the local park.

There is always a debate over whether it is easier to obedience train puppies or older dogs. The fact is that both shih tzu puppies and older shih tzu can be successfully trained to be willing, obedient companions. It is generally easier to train shih tzu puppies and young shih tzu than it is to retrain shih tzu that have developed behavior problems. Even problem shih tzu, however, can be successfully retrained using basic obedience training and control concepts.

When obedience training shih tzu puppies, however, it is important to remember that shih tzu puppies generally have a shorter attention span than do full grown shih tzu. It is important, therefore to keep training sessions short in the beginning. It is also important to incorporate lots of play with other shih tzu puppies, dogs and other animals, as well as lots of different people. Proper socialization is very important to creating a safe, healthy and happy companion shih tzu.

There are many obedience training classes held in all parts of the country, and new shih tzu puppy and shih tzu owners are encouraged to enroll in one of these classes. Not only do shih tzu puppy kindergarten and shih tzu obedience classes provide important structure for the shih tzu, but it provides important chances for properly socialization the shih tzu puppy as well.

hana the shih tzu passed CGC canine good citizen test, and also TDI therapy dog international. she is a certified therapy dog currently working at a hospital if Hana’s treat looks bigger, Duncan takes Hana’s first

Crate training is one of the most effective ways of house breaking shih tzu puppies or shih tzu dogs. Crate training is very efficient, and very effective, since it uses the natural instinct of the dog to achieve the desired result of a clean house and a well trained dog.
The concept behind crate training is that a shih tzu naturally strives to avoid soiling the area where it eats and sleeps. By placing the shih tzu dog in the crate, this instinct is enhanced. The shih tzu will come to see the crate as its den, and it will try to avoid soiling its den.

The key to successful crate training for a shih tzu puppy or an older shih tzu , as with other forms of dog training, is to establish a good routine. This routine will enhance the ability of the shih tzu to do its business in the right place, and avoid eliminating in the wrong place. It is important to shower the shih tzu with praise each and every time it eliminates in the established toilet area, and not to express frustration or anger when the dog makes a mistake.

It is important to confine the shih tzu or shih tzu puppy to a small part of the house, generally one puppy proofed room, when you are not at home. The room should contain a soft bed, fresh water and some favorite toys to prevent the shih tzu from becoming bored and frustrated.

Crate training is different from confining the shih tzu to one room, however. With crate training, the shih tzu puppy or shih tzu dog is confined to a crate when unsupervised. The idea is that the shih tzu will think of this crate as its home, and not want to soil his home.
When crate training, it is important to remove the shih tzu from the crate as soon as possible after returning home, and to take the shih tzu promptly to the previously established toilet area. When the shih tzu does its business in this toilet area, be sure to provide lots of praise and treats. It is important that the shih tzu learn to associate proper toilet procedures with good things like treats and toys.

It is important to never leave the shih tzu in its crate for long periods of time, as this will confuse the shih tzu and force it to soil its sleeping area. The crate is simply a tool, and it should not be abused by leaving the shih tzu in it for extended periods of time. If the shih tzu is left in the crate for too long, it could set back the training program by weeks if not months.

The shih tzu should only be confined to the crate when you are at home. Except for nighttime, the shih tzu should be given the opportunity to relieve itself every 45 minutes or so. Each time the shih tzu is taken out, it should be put on a leash and immediately taken outside. Once outside the house, the shih tzu should be given three to five minutes to do its business. If the shih tzu does not eliminate in this time period, it should be immediately returned to the create.

If the shih tzu does its business during the set time period, it should be rewarded with praise, food, play, affection and either an extended walk or a period of play inside or outside the home.

During the crate training period, it is important to keep a daily diary of when the dog does its business each day. If the shih tzu is on a regular feeding schedule, the toilet schedule should be consistent as well. Having a good idea of when the shih tzu needs to eliminate each day will be a big help during the house training process. After the shih tzu has used his established toilet area, you will be able to give the shih tzu free run of the house to play and enjoy himself.

Dealing with accidents during crate training
It is very important to not punish the shih tzu puppy or shih tzu dog when it makes a mistake or has an accident during the crate training process. If there has been an accident, simply clean it up. Accidents during house training mean that you have provided the shih tzu with unsupervised access to the house too quickly. The shih tzu should not be allowed unsupervised access to the home until you can trust her bowel and bladder habits. If mistakes do occur, it is best to go back to crate training. Taking a couple of steps back will help move the house training process along, while moving too quickly could set things back.

Pulling on the leash is one of the most common misbehaviors seen on all kinds of dogs. Shih tzu puppies and adult shih tzu alike can often be seen taking their owners for walks, instead of the other way around. Pulling on the leash can be much more than an annoying habit. Leash pulling can lead to escape in the case of a break in the collar or leash, and an out of control, off leash shih tzu can be both destructive and dangerous to itself and to others.

Leash pulling can result from a variety of different things. In some cases, the shih tzu may simply be so excited to go for a walk that he or she is unable to control themselves. In other cases, the shih tzu sees itself as the leader of the pack, and he or she simply takes the “leadership position” at the front of the pack.

If excitement is the motivation for leash pulling, simply giving the shih tzu a few minutes to calm down can often be a big help. Simply stand with the shih tzu on the leash for a couple minutes and let the initial excitement of the upcoming walk pass. After the initial excitement ahs worn off, many shih tzu are willing to walk calmly on their leash.

If the problem is one of control, however, some retraining may be in order. All shih tzu training starts with the owner establishing him or herself as the alpha dog, or pack leader, and without this basic respect and understanding, no effective training can occur. For shih tzu exhibiting these type of control issues, a step back to basic obedience commands is in order. These shih tzu can often be helped through a formal obedience school structure. The dog trainer will of course be sure to train the handler as well as the shih tzu, and any good dog trainer will insist on working with the shih tzu owner as well as the shih tzu.

The basis of teaching the shih tzu to walk calmly on the lead is teaching it to calmly accept the collar and lead. A shih tzu that is bouncing up and down while the collar is being put on will not walk properly. Begin by asking your shih tzu to sit down, and insisting that he sit still while the collar is put on. If the shih tzu begins to get up, or gets up on his own after the collar is on, be sure to sit him back down immediately. Only begin the walk after the shih tzu has sat calmly to have the collar put on, and continued to sit calmly as the leash is attached.

Once the leash is attached, it is important to make the shih tzu walk calmly toward the door. If the shih tzu jumps or surges ahead, gently correct him with a tug of the leash and return him to a sitting position. Make the shih tzu stay, then move on again. Repeat this process until the shih tzu is walking calmly by your side.

Repeat the above process when you reach the door. The shih tzu should not be allowed to surge out of the door, or to pull you through the open door. If the shih tzu begins this behavior, return the shih tzu to the house and make him sit quietly until he can be trusted to walk through the door properly. Starting the walk in control is vital to creating a well mannered shih tzu.

As you begin your walk, it is vital to keep the attention of the shih tzu focused on you at all times. Remember, the shih tzu should look to you for guidance, not take the lead himself. When walking, it is important to stop often. Every time you stop, your shih tzu should stop. Getting into the habit of asking your shih tzu to sit down every time you stop is a good way to keep your shih tzu’s attention focused on you. Make sure your shih tzu is looking at you, then move off again. If the shih tzu begins to surge ahead, immediately stop and ask the shih tzu to sit. Repeat this process until the shih tzu is reliability staying at your side. Each time the shih tzu does what you ask him to, be sure to reward him with a treat, a toy or just your praise.

Remember that if your shih tzu pulls on the leash and you continue to walk him anyway, you are inadvertently rewarding that unwanted behavior. Shih Tzu learn whether you are teaching them or not, and learning the wrong things now will make learning the right things later that much harder. It is important to be consistent in your expectations. Every time the shih tzu begins to pull ahead, immediately stop and make the shih tzu sit. Continue to have the shih tzu sit quietly until his focus is solely on you. Then start out again, making sure to immediately stop moving if the shih tzu surges ahead.