There are many reasons for teaching proper shih tzu behavior, and teaching such behavior has many benefits for both the human and canine partners. Shih Tzu behavior training is vital to such life and death issues as preventing aggression, controlling shih tzu on shih tzu aggression problems and teaching shih tzu to interact properly with both their handlers and with other members of the family.

Understanding how dogs evolved, and how dogs interact with each other, is very important to understanding how to properly train your shih tzu to be a devoted, loyal companion.

The original dogs were probably orphaned wolf pups adopted by early humans. These wild dogs probably learned to perform behaviors that their human protectors valued, such as guarding the cave or scaring off predators. In exchange for these valued behaviors, the humans probably provided their new companions with foods, protection and shelter.

That kind of relationship still exists today, of course, and dogs still can, and do, perform valuable jobs for their human benefactors. Those jobs include herding and guarding livestock, guarding property, guarding people, and finding game.

When planning a shih tzu training program, it is important to know that dogs are pack animals. In wild dog societies, packs are formed, and each member of the pack quickly learns his or her place in the pecking order. Except in the event of death or injury to the alpha dog, the hierarchy never changes once it has been established. The lower dogs know not to challenge the alpha dog, and the alpha dog understand his place as leader of the pack.

All the other shih tzu in the pack look to the alpha shih tzu for leadership, in important survival issues like finding food and avoiding larger predators. In order to properly train your shih tzu and gain its respect, it is important for you to become the alpha dog.

That is because a shih tzu that sees its owner as a superior leader will follow the commands the owner gives without question. Getting the respect of the shih tzu is the most important step to proper shih tzu training, and it will form the basis of all subsequent training.

The reasons for training a shih tzu properly are many, especially in today’s world. A well mannered, obedient shih tzu is a joy to be around, both for the owner and his or her family, and for people in the community at large. In addition, seeing a well mannered shih tzu sets people’s mind at ease. This is especially true with breeds of dogs thought to be dangerous, such as Dobermans, rottweilers and pit bulls.

When training shih tzu and dealing with unwanted dog behaviors, it is important to understand the motivating factors behind those behaviors. For example, many dogs exhibit unwanted behaviors such as chewing and destroying furniture due to separation anxiety. Dealing with the sources of problem behaviors is an important first step toward eliminating those problem behaviors.

Many dogs exhibit unwanted behaviors as a result of stress in the animal’s life, and its inability to cope with that stress. The goal of a good shih tzu training program is to allow the shih tzu to tolerate greater levels of stress without becoming a problem animal.

When dealing with dog behavior, it is important not to confuse human behavior with dog behavior. While there is a great temptation on the part of shih tzu owners to see their shih tzu as almost human, in reality shih tzu and dogs in general, and humans have very different motivations, and very different reactions to similar situations.

One trait that humans and shih tzu do share, however, is the need to form close social groups and strong bonds within those social groups. This bonding is important to both humans and shih tzu, but it has served vastly different ends as both species have evolved and changed over time.

Connie Limon is a professional shih tzu breeder in Indiana. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts on shih tzu puppies are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

Reward training is often seen as the most modern method of training a shih tzu, but reward training is probably much older than other methods of dog training. It is possible that reward training for shih tzu has been around as long as there have been dogs of any breed to train. Early humans probably used some informal kind of reward training when taming the wolf pups that eventually evolved into modern dogs.

Many principles of modern reward training date back many decades. However, what is called reward training today has only enjoyed is remarkable popularity for the past 10 or 15 years.

Many reward training enthusiasts are less enthusiastic about other methods of shih tzu training, such as the traditional leash and collar method. However, the best approach to training any individual shih tzu is often a combination of leash/collar training and reward training.

In addition, a training method that works perfectly for one shih tzu may be totally inappropriate for another, and vice versa. Some shih tzu respond wonderfully to reward training and not at all to leash and collar training, while others respond to leash/collar training and are not at all motivated by reward training. Most shih tzu fall somewhere in the middle of these two extremes.

Clicker training is one of the most popular forms of reward training these days. While clicker training is not the answer for every shih tzu, it can be a remarkably effective method of training many shih tzu. In clicker training, the shih tzu is taught to associate a clicking sound with a reward, like a treat. The trainer clicks the clicker when the shih tzu does something good, followed immediately by a treat. Eventually, the shih tzu learns to respond to the clicker alone.

Most reward training uses some sort of food reward, or a reward that is associated with getting food. In most cases, complex behaviors can only be taught using this kind of positive reinforcement, and you will find that the people who train shih tzu for movies and television use reward training almost exclusively.

Reward training is used in all forms of dog training, including police work and military applications. Most scent detection, tracking and police dogs are trained using some form of reward training. Reward training is also a very effective way to teach many basic obedience commands.

Reward training often incorporates the use of a lure in order to get the shih tzu into the position desired by the trainer. The lure is used to get the shih tzu to perform the desired behavior on his or her own and of his or her own free will.

It makes a great deal of sense to get the shih tzu to perform the desired behavior without any physical intervention on the part of the handler. Getting the shih tzu to perform a behavior without being touched is important.

After the shih tzu has performed the desired behavior, it is given a reward, also called a positive reinforcement. Treats are often used as reinforcers, but praise, such as “good dog” or a pat on the head, can also be effective rewards.

Making a shih tzu that has been reward trained a reliable shih tzu is important, especially when the shih tzu has an important job, like therapy shih tzu. For that reason it is important to get the shih tzu accustomed to working around distractions, and to properly socialize the animal to both people and other animals.

Many shih tzu trainers make the mistake of only training the shih tzu inside the house or back yard, and only when the handler is there. In order to become a reliably trained companion, the shih tzu must be taken outside the confines of its safety zone and introduced to novel situations.

It is also important to teach the shih tzu to pay attention to the handler at all times. Having the attention of the shih tzu means having control of the shih tzu. Reward training is very effective at getting the respect and the attention of the shih tzu when used properly.

Connie Limon is a professional shih tzu breeder in the Midwestern state of Indiana. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts on shih tzu puppies are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

There are many different styles of dog training, and finding the one that works best for you is important for creating a shih tzu that is a talented, loyal and faithful member of the family. All successful methods of dog training work to reinforce the relationship between dog and handler, and the foundation of any successful training program is getting the respect of the shih tzu. Fortunately, dogs are wired by nature to seek out leaders, and to follow the direction of those leaders.

This article focuses on one of the most popular methods of dog training - the so called leash/collar style of training. Other articles will focus on the other popular style of training dogs, often called reward training or positive reinforcement.

Both leash/collar training and reward training have been around for a very long time, and they have proven their effectiveness over time. The type of training that works best will vary from shih tzu to shih tzu. It is important to remember that each breed of dog has its own unique qualities, reinforced by hundreds of years of selective breeding.

Of course personalities of individual shih tzu vary quite a bit. You, as the owner of the shih tzu, know better than anyone which style of dog training will work best, so it is important to work with the trainer you choose to achieve your goal of a willing, obedient and friendly shih tzu.

Leash and collar training is the best way to accomplish many types of dog training, particularly in situations where the shih tzu must have a high level of reliability. For instance, shih tzu that have an important job to do, such as therapy shih tzu dogs, generally benefit from leash and collar training. If trained properly, almost any shih tzu can work as a therapy dog.

In leash and collar training, varying degrees of force can be used, ranging from slight prompts with the lead to very harsh corrections. The amount of correction used should be appropriate to the situation, since using too much correction, or too little, will be ineffective.

In a collar and leash based dog training program, first the shih tzu is taught a particular behavior, generally with the leash. After the shih tzu has demonstrated that it understands the command, the leash is then used to correct the shih tzu if it disobeys, or when it makes a mistake. The leash is the main form of controlling and communicating with the shih tzu in leash and collar training.

When using leash and collar training, the shih tzu must be trained to trust the handler and accept his or her directions without question. In order for the shih tzu to be fully trained, the handler must demonstrate the ability to place the shih tzu into a posture or position he or she does not want to take. This does not mean using force, but it does generally require some level of physical manipulation. This manipulation is most easily and safely done using the main tool of leash and collar training - the leash.

It is important for every would be shih tzu trainer to understand that the leash is simply a tool. While the leash is an important tool in this form of training, it is important for the shih tzu trainer to be able to eventually achieve the same results using whatever tools are at hand.

Even when the only tools at hand are the owner’s body and skill, the shih tzu should be willing to obey. Creating a leader/follower relationship between handler and shih tzu is still very important, and it is important to use the leash as a tool and not a crutch. A properly trained shih tzu should be willing to obey whether the leash is present or not.

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Connie Limon is a professional shih tzu breeder in the Midwestern state of Indiana. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts on shih tzu puppies are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

When you first begin to talk to your shih tzu, I feel like the shih tzu will find your voice new and interesting. The shih tzu has been use to the voice of the breeder and whoever else had contact. This newness will soon wear off and your voice will become one of great familiarity to your shih tzu. By this time if you have not started to teach your shih tzu that words can have great and wonderful meanings you might have a harder time regaining the shih tzu’s attention when you are engaged in training lessons. The first step is to teach your dog its new name and to say the new name before an enjoyable event such as a walk will hopefully convince your shih tzu that it is worthwhile to listen to all you have to say.

It is fine to have meaningless conversations with your shih tzu and even to pour your heart out to your shih tzu if you so desire, or to murmur sweet nonsense while you pet her. Words you want to have actual meaning for the shih tzu should “always” have that same meaning.

An interesting memory I have of my Coconut (who is still with me at Stain Glass Shih Tzu and pictured in this article) is that in a very particularly frustrating time for me I was crying aloud. Out of all the shih tzu (who are by nature very compassionate), Coconut came to me quickly when I sat down, jumped in my lap and took her paws and patted my each side of my cheeks. I could hear her saying with her body language of compassionate pets on my face: “please cheer up ma-ma, it is not so bad, I love you, now just stop that crying, my ma-ma.” And I immediately stopped the tears and chuckled at her, hugged her up close and was quite cheered up, relieved from the frustration I was just feeling. Now this same Coconut has done things that have truly annoyed me, but at this moment in time, we bonded in such a unique and special way, it has strengthened me to endure those times she annoys me…..

Shih tzu understand so much more than we realize they do about their owners, and their loved ones. Still, there are certain words you will need to teach your shih tzu that will always have that same meaning. These words would be your basic cues for behaviors you want such as “sit,” and use it only when you actually mean for your shih tzu to “sit.”

Connie Limon is a professional shih tzu breeder in the Midwestern state of Indiana. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts on shih tzu puppies are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

Bringing home a new shih tzu puppy is always an exciting time. Introducing the new shih tzu puppy to the family should be fun for both yourself and your shih tzu puppy. One of the first challenges, however, to the excitement of the new shih tzu puppy, is curbing inappropriate shih tzu puppy behaviors.

Preventing biting and mouthing

Biting and mouthing is a common activity for many young puppies and dogs. Puppies naturally bite and mouth each other when playing with siblings, and they extend this behavior to their human companions. While other puppies have thick skin, however, humans do not, so it is important to teach your shih tzu puppy what is appropriate, and what is not, when it comes to using those sharp teeth.

The first part of training the shih tzu puppy is to inhibit the biting reflex. Biting might be cute and harmless with a 5 pound shih tzu puppy, but it is neither cute nor harmless when that dog has grown to adulthood. Therefore, shih tzu puppies should be taught to control their bite before they reach the age of four months. Shih tzu puppies normally learn to inhibit their bite from their mothers and their littermates, but since they are taken away from their mothers so young, many never learn this important lesson. It is therefore up to the humans in the shih tzu puppy’s life to teach this lesson.

One great way to inhibit the biting reflex is to allow the shih tzu puppy to play and socialize with other shih tzu puppies and socialized older shih tzu dogs. Shih tzu puppies love to tumble, roll and play with each other, and when shih tzu puppies play they bite each other constantly. This is the best way for shih tzu puppies to learn to control themselves when they bite. If one shih tzu puppy becomes too rough when playing, the rest of the group will punish him for that inappropriate behavior. Through this type of socialization, the shih tzu puppy will learn to control his biting reflex.

Proper socialization has other benefits as well, including teaching the shih tzu dog to not be fearful of other dogs, and to work off their excess energy. Shih tzu puppies that are allowed to play with other shih tzu puppies learn important socialization skills generally learn to become better members of their human family. Shih tzu puppies that get less socialization can be more destructive, more hyperactive and exhibit other problem behaviors.

In addition, lack of socialization in shih tzu puppies often causes fearful and aggressive behaviors to develop. Dogs often react aggressively to new situations, especially if they are not properly socialized. In order for a shih tzu dog to become a member of the community as well as the household, it should be socialized to other people, especially children. Dogs make a distinction between their owners and other people, and between children and adults. It is important, therefore, to introduce the shih tzu puppy to both children and adults.

The best time to socialize a shih tzu puppy to young children is when it is still very young, generally when it is four months old or younger. One reason for this is that mothers of young children may be understandably reluctant to allow their children to approach large dogs or older puppies. This is especially true with large breed dogs, or with breeds of dogs that have a reputation for aggressive behavior.

Using trust to prevent biting

Teaching your shih tzu puppy to trust and respect you is a very effective way to prevent biting. Gaining the trust and respect of your shih tzu dog is the basis for all dog training, and for correcting problem behaviors.

It is important to never hit or slap the puppy, either during training or any other time. Physical punishment is the surest way to erode the trust and respect that must form the basis of an effective training program. Reprimanding a dog will not stop him from biting - it will simply scare and confuse him.

Training a shih tzu puppy not to bite is a vital part of any puppy training program. Biting behaviors that are not corrected will only get worse, and what seemed like harmless behavior in a shih tzu puppy can quickly escalate to dangerous, destructive behavior in an adult dog.

Connie Limon is a professional shih tzu breeder in Indiana. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts on shih tzu puppies are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com