Housetraining Your New Shih Tzu Puppy Is Not Difficult

House training a shih tzu puppy is very important for the well being of both the shih tzu puppy and the owner. House training is not always the easiest thing to do, and some dogs tend to be much easier to house train than others. It is important to be patient, consistent and loving as you train your shih tzu. A rushed, frightened or intimidated shih tzu will not be able to learn the important lessons of house training. Once you have gained your shih tzu puppy’s love and respect, however, you will find that house training your shih tzu puppy is easier than you ever expected.

It is important to establish proper toilet habits when the shih tzu puppy is young, since these habits can last a lifetime, and be very hard to break once they are established. In most cases, true house training cannot begin until the shih tzu puppy is six months old. Puppies younger than this generally lack the bowel and bladder control that is needed for true house training.

Shih Tzu puppies younger than six months should be confined to a small, shih tzu puppy proofed room when the owner cannot supervise them. The entire floor of the room should be covered with absorbent materials, and the paper changed every time it is soiled. As the shih tzu puppy gets older, the amount of paper used can be reduced as the shih tzu puppy begins to establish a preferred toilet area. It is this preferred toilet area that will form the basis of later house training.

Always provide a toilet area that does not resemble anything in your home. Training the shih tzu puppy to eliminate on concrete, blacktop, grass or dirt is a good idea. The shih tzu puppy should never be encouraged to eliminate on anything that resembles the hardwood flooring, tile or carpet he may encounter in a home.

Obviously the more time you can spend with your shih tzu puppy the faster the house training will go. The objective should be to take the shih tzu puppy to the toilet area every time he needs to do his business. In most cases this will be either every 45 minutes, right after each play session, after he first wakes up or right after he eats or drinks. It is important to provide effusive praise for the puppy when he eliminates in the established toilet area. Do not leave food out for the shih tzu puppy all night long. Keep to a set feeding schedule in order to make the dog’s toilet schedule as consistent as possible.

Never reprimand or punish the shih tzu puppy for mistakes. Punishing the shih tzu puppy will only cause fear and confusion. Praise and reward your shih tzu puppy every time he eliminates in the established toilet area. The shih tzu puppy must learn to associate toileting in the established areas with good things, like treats, toys and praise from his owner.

After the shih tzu puppy is reliability doing its business only on the papers that have been left, the papers can be slowly and gradually moved to a location of your choice. The papers should be moved only gradually, as little as an inch a day. If the shih tzu puppy misses the papers, again it means that they have been moved too soon and too far. In this case it will be necessary to go back a few steps and start over. It is important not to become discouraged. The shih tzu puppy will eventually understand the concept, and you will be able to choose your shih tzu’s toilet area and move on to the next step.

As the shih tzu puppy becomes more used to using his toilet area, and as he develops improved , he will be able to begin spending more and more time outside his den with his owner in the rest of the home. It is important to begin this process by allowing the shih tzu puppy access to one room at a time. It is also important to allow the shih tzu puppy in the extra room only when he can be supervised. When you must leave the room, be sure to put the shih tzu puppy back in his den.

Leave the house through one door only. This door should be the one that you want the Shih Tzu to scratch to warn you about his being called by the nature. Taking your Shih Tzu pup out at around the same times every day will be very beneficial for the both of you. This will help in establishing a routine, and will make him learn to hold it in until you become available to take him out.

Aside from patience and common sense, consistency is also one of the important factors of this dog training activity. If you suddenly forget about the routines yourself, don’t blame the Shih Tzu if he starts committing accidents more often. Remember that the stakes are high (dirty and malodorous house). If you would like success in this housebreaking feat or just about in any other training drills, don’t treat it as a game. Allot enough time and commitment on your part.

Introducing A New Shih Tzu Puppy To Your Household

Bringing home a new shih tzu puppy is always an exciting time for the entire family. Getting that new shih tzu puppy off the right start with proper training is very important to making that shih tzu puppy a valued member of his human family. There are a number of talents that every new shih tzu puppy must master, including going up and down the stairs, and how to accept a new collar as if she’s worn it her entire life. The day a young Shih Tzu puppy leaves his mother and littermates can be the most traumatic day of its life. With just a little preparing in advance you can make the experience as pleasant as possible.

It is best to introduce a new shih tzu puppy to the household when everyone in the family is present, and when the household is as calm as possible. That is why animal care experts discourage parents from giving shih tzu puppies and kittens as holiday presents. The holiday season is typically much too busy, with far too many distractions, for a young shih tzu puppy or kitten to get the attention it needs. It is best to wait until the holidays have passed before introducing the new family member.

When you get home with your Shih Tzu puppy take him immediately to the spot where you want him to learn to eliminate. Don’t expect him to do exactly as you say at this point. Just give the Shih Tzu puppy a chance now to eliminate at your chosen spot. If by chance he does as he is suppose to do, have a treat ready and lots of praise. This could be the beginning of “successful” housebreaking for you and your new Shih Tzu puppy.

On the first day try not to pick the Shih Tzu puppy up a lot and make a lot of fuss over him. Pet him gently and let him know you are very happy to have him home with you, but allow him to explore his new environment in his own way. Be sure to have discussed the particular rules of your household with all family members before bringing home a new Shih Tzu puppy. This would be things like where the puppy will sleep, eat, eliminate, and who will be responsible for the unique chores of owning a Shih Tzu puppy. It is very important to decide exactly where the Shih Tzu puppy will sleep and to keep to this rigidly. Be prepared for your Shih Tzu puppy to cry a little the first night and perhaps a whole lot. Keep remembering he has left his mommy, his brothers and sisters and is now in a very strange place. Put yourself in the paws of your Shih Tzu puppy. If it were you, you would probably do some crying too. This will pass as he learns his new family and forgets about those he left behind. Do not be tempted to allow him away from his sleeping area because he cries and fusses.

If you have other dogs and pets at home, be sure to greet them first and fuss the most over them when you first bring home a new Shih Tzu puppy. Don’t be surprised if the existing pet residents are a bit jealous of this new little guy. This too can pass if handled properly.

Socializing a new shih tzu puppy is a vital part of any training program, and it is important for socialization to begin early. The window for socialization is very short, and a shih tzu puppy that is not properly socialized to people, dogs and other animals by the time he or she is four months old often never develops the socialization he or she needs to become a good canine citizen.

Once a Shih Tzu puppy has reached the age of four months and is fully vaccinated he should be taken for walks. Start out slow with your walks. This is the time you want to start lead training your new Shih Tzu puppy. A lot of his exercise should still come freely around his new home and in the backyard so he has the opportunity to rest at will. Allow him to wear a collar most of the time (never in a cage or crate). Add a leash as he exercises around his new home to get him use to the new gear. From time to time casually pick up the leash and allow your puppy to follow behind you. Eventually, you will be able to walk with the Shih Tzu puppy by your side on official walks through the woods or any favorite place you have to walk. A bond of love will develop from these little walks with your new Shih Tzu puppy as he and you exercise together.

Fit is important when choosing a collar for your new shih tzu puppy. A properly fitted collar, chosen for your shih tzu puppy’s size, is more likely to be comfortable and accepted. While choke collars, slip collars and training collars can be good training aids, they should never be used as a substitute for a sturdy buckle type collar. And of course that collar should have an identification tag and license attached. This identification will be vital in having your shih tzu puppy returned if she becomes separated from you.

The best way to introduce the shih tzu puppy to the collar is to simply put the collar on and allow her to squirm, jump, roll and paw at the color to her heart’s content. It is important to not encourage this behavior by trying to soothe the shih tzu puppy, but it is just as important not to punish or reprimand the shih tzu puppy. The best strategy is to simply ignore the shih tzu puppy and let her work through her issues with the collar on her own. Introducing distractions, such as food, toys or playing, is a good way to get the shih tzu puppy used to the collar. Getting the shih tzu puppy to play, eat and drink while wearing the collar is a great way to get her used to it. After a few days, most shih tzu puppies will not even know they are wearing a collar.

In the final phase of puppy hood at six months to a year of age a Shih Tzu puppy will complete most of his physical growth. By now his second teeth should be through. Be aware that Shih Tzu puppies are a bit slow at acquiring their teeth.

Once the shih tzu puppy is part of the household, there are some things he or she will need to learn. One of the first challenges of a multi-story home will be learning to climb up and down the stair. Many shih tzu puppies are afraid of stairs, and that usually means that they do not know how to climb them properly. It is important for the shih tzu puppy’s owner to slowly build the confidence of the dog, starting off at the bottom of the stairs.

When socializing shih tzu puppies, it is best to let them play on their own and work out their own issues when it comes to appropriate roughness of play. The only time the owners should step in is if one shih tzu puppy is hurting another, or if a serious fight breaks out. Other than that the owners should simply stand back and watch their shih tzu puppies interact.

It is often best to start by introducing the shih tzu puppy to the smell of the other animal. This can be easily accomplished by placing a piece of the animals bedding, like a towel or bed liner, near where the shih tzu puppy sleeps. Once the shih tzu puppy is accustomed to the smell of the other creature, he or she is much more likely to accept the animal as just another member o the family.

Newborn Shih Tzu Puppies

If you are using your garage or basement to raise Shih Tzu puppies please check for conditions that can be dangerous or lethal. A garage should be thoroughly cleaned. Physical objects, cleaning abrasives, stored gasoline, motor oil or paint must be removed.

Line your whelping box with clean soft blankets or towels in the beginning. If carpeting is used, it should be washable. Do not use indoor/outdoor carpeting. Manufacturing chemicals can react with urine. Use of these materials can cause burns to the bodies of Shih Tzu puppies. Do not use newspapers in the whelping box. Newspapers are slick and contain chemicals used in the ink. Do not use wood shavings in the whelping box. Wood shavings can be inhaled or ingested which also can cause fatalities.

When Shih Tzu puppies begin to move around inside the box, house-training can be stimulated by separating the whelping box into two areas, sleeping and eliminating. Even very young Shih Tzu puppies do not like to eliminate where they sleep, eat and play. Within a few days, puppies learn to move away from their sleeping area to eliminate. Use removable sides in the whelping box to encourage them to sleep in the whelping box and eliminating away from it.

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

The average puppy or Shih Tzu puppy’s eyes open between 12 and 15 days of age. The ear canals open soon thereafter, usually within a day or two. All puppies are born with their eyes and ears sealed shut. Do not try to open them. If you force or pry open the puppy’s eyelids during any development stage, you can cause the puppy irreversible injury. Shih Tzu puppies are unable to see or hear before this time. Shih Tzu puppies are receptive to the stimuli of light and dark, noise and quiet. Some Shih Tzu puppies will open their eyes before 12 days; some are even later than the 15 days.

Check the Shih Tzu puppy’s eyes as they first open to see if the ear ducts are functioning properly. Wash the eyes and keep them moist with a warm washcloth. The glands do not always initially function adequately. Well-functioning tear ducts are indicated by glisteningly bright “reflective” eyes. Sometimes if the Shih Tzu puppy’s eyes open early or if the Shih Tzu puppy is premature they do not have fully developed and functioning tears ducts. In these cases apply an ophthalmic ointment just under the eyelid, or consult with your vet for an appropriate routine to follow. If you use the ointment, apply it five or six times daily or according to your vet’s instructions. It is important to treat unproductive tear duct glands. Blindness can result if left unattended. Treatment is usually only a few days. A sterile 5 percent boric ophthalmic ointment solution can be purchased from your vet or pharmacy (under your vet’s instructions). The ointment can be applied every four hours. Treatment should continue until the Shih Tzu puppy’s eyes lose the dry “flat” (non-reflective) appearance.

Shih Tzu puppies’ eyes when first opened will have a protective film, bluish in color. If the Shih Tzu puppy’s eyes are white or solid blue consult your veterinarian. By three weeks of age, Shih Tzu puppies’ should be able to focus fairly well. Use extreme caution when photographing Shih Tzu puppies between 8 and 20 days of age. Prior and after this time a flash may be safer. Extreme and bright light can damage a Shih Tzu puppy’s delicate eye tissues.

As puppies begin to open their eyes they become aware of differences in people. Because of this awareness, a very young 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 puppies during this very early period of their lives. If a puppy is frightened 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 puppy, it can become hard to work with and sometimes even unmanageable as adults.

Shih Tzu puppies begin to make noises shortly after their eyes open. They will also begin to try and get up and waddle around the whelping box at this time. The dog’s earliest ancestors that were related to the wolf actually utilized several den sites. The first den was used for whelping. The second den was always larger to provide the offspring with safe areas of exploration. Once Shih Tzu puppies are large enough to clamber out of the whelping box, they need an area large enough to clearly define sleeping, eating, playing and toilet areas.

There is a proper way to hold a very young 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 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 puppy’s body making it feel secure before it is lifted from the whelping box.

2. Immediately begin to snuggle the puppy closely to your neck, chest or face area, letting it smell your familiar scent. Here is where the it will feel the reassuring rhythm of your breathing and your heartbeat. It 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 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 newborns 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.