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.