Training a shih tzu to come when it is called is a vital, and potentially life saving, part of any successful shih tzu training program. All properly trained shih tzu must learn to respond instantly to the owner’s voice, and the sooner this lesson is learned the better.

The advantages of teaching a shih tzu to come when called are obvious. For starters, coming when called will help you regain control of the shih tzu in case of collar break, snapped leash or other similar equipment failure. This is particularly important when you are out with your shih tzu, especially in an area with lots of traffic. It is vital that the shih tzu respond to your voice and return to your side, even in the absence of collar and leash, and even if there are lots of other things competing for its attention.

Coming when called is also a vital skill for every working dog. Whether the dog’s job is herding sheep, guarding livestock, or sniffing out bombs and drugs at the airport, the working dog must be under total control at all times, whether on leash or off.

Even if your shih tzu’s only job is being a loyal companion, it is still vital that he learn this important basic obedience exercise. After the first obedience lessons, such as heeling, stopping on command, sitting on command, etc. have been learned, it is time to start incorporating the come when called lessons into the daily training sessions.

One note about shih tzu training - it is all too easy for training sessions to become dull and routine for both handler and shih tzu. A bored shih tzu will not be receptive to learning, just as a bored handler will not be a good teacher. It is important, therefore, to always incorporate fun things and play into every training session. Incorporating a few minutes of play time before the lesson begins can do wonders for the attitude of the shih tzu and human alike. Likewise, ending each training session with a few minutes of free play time is a great way to end on a positive note and to help the dog associate obedience training with fun and not drudgery.

The command to stay and the command to come when called are often combined in obedience training lessons, and they do go naturally together. Start with the shih tzu on a loose leash, ask the shih tzu to sit and then slowly back away. If the shih tzu begins to get up and follow you, return to the shih tzu and ask him to sit again. Continue this process until you can reach the end of the leash without the shih tzu getting up.

After you can successfully reach the end of the leash on a consistent basis, try dropping the leash altogether. Of course you will want to do this in a controlled environment like a fenced in yard. After the shih tzu has mastered the stay command, it is time to add the come when called command.

Take up the leash again, and with the shih tzu on the end of the leash, say “come” or “come here”. It is often helpful to use a lure when teaching this behavior. The lure provides a visible item for the shih tzu to focus on. Teaching the shih tzu to come to the lure is a good first step in training the shih tzu to come when called.

Repeat this procedure many times until the shih tzu will consistently stay and then come when called. After the shih tzu has mastered coming when called while attached to the leash, slowly start introducing the concept when the leash is removed. As before, these training sessions should only take place in a controlled, safe environment, such as a fenced in front or back yard.

A well trained, obedient shih tzu should respond to the call to return to its owner no matter where it is and no matter what distractions may occur. It is therefore necessary to test the shih tzu with distractions of your own.

If you have a neighbor, preferably one with a shih tzu of his own, try having him come over with the shih tzu. Have him, and the shih tzu, stand just outside the fenced in area and repeat the come when called exercise with your shih tzu off leash. If he becomes distracted by the other dog, put the leash back on and repeat the process. The goal is to have your shih tzu consistently pay attention to your commands, no matter what distractions may present themselves.

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

Rewards just may be the single most important motivator in shih tzu training. Obedience training through the use of rewards and other positive reinforcements has long been recognized as the most effective method of reaching most dogs and getting the best possible results.

Making obedience training fun, and even making it a bit of a game, can be very important to keeping both the shih tzu and the handler motivated and willing to learn. Incorporating a period of playtime at the beginning and end of every training session will make sure that every session begins and ends on a good note.

The most basic of all obedience commands is heeling, or walking with the handler on a loose lead. This is usually the first obedience behavior that is taught, and it is an easy one to teach through reward training. Begin by fitting the shih tzu with a quality, properly fitted training lead and training collar. If you are unsure of how to fit the training collar, be sure to ask a dog trainer, or the manager at the store where the equipment is purchased.

Start walking with the shih tzu, always being cognizant of the shih tzu’s position relative to your own. If the shih tzu begins to forge ahead, gently pull on the leash. This will engage the training collar and give the shih tzu a gentle reminder to slow down. It may be necessary to apply greater pressure at first until the shih tzu learns to accept the correction.

If the dog begins to fall behind, slow down and gently urge the shih tzu forward. The use of a lure, or a favorite toy, can be very useful when teaching the shih tzu to walk at your side. By keeping the lure at the desired position for the shih tzu, he or she should quickly learn the desired location.

Always be sure to provide plenty of praise, treats, toys and other rewards when the shih tzu does what is expected of him. Shih Tzu learn best by positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement means that when the animal does what the handler wants, it receives a reward, which can be anything from a pat on the head to a treat to a favorite toy. At the beginning of training, even the slightest attempts to please the owner should be rewarded.

Training by using reprimands and punishment is not nearly as effective as training by using rewards. Dogs can become discouraged and confused by excessive amounts of punishment and reprimands. Reprimands may be required from time to time, to correct potentially dangerous behaviors like chasing or biting, for instance, but reprimands should be short and directly attributed to the problem behavior at hand. After the immediate danger has passed, the training should continue with reward based training and positive reinforcement.

For instance, if you come home and your shih tzu is chewing the furniture or other inappropriate item, immediately give the shih tzu a sharp “No”or “Off” and take the item away. Then immediately give the shih tzu one of his toys or other items that he is allowed to chew on, and praise the shih tzu enthusiastically when he takes the toy and begins to chew it. This will teach the shih tzu to associate chewing some items, like his toys, with praise, and chewing inappropriate items with reprimand.

It is very important for the shih tzu to make these associations, since it is very hard to change negative associations once they have formed. It is always much easier to train proper obedience behaviors the first time than it is to go back and retrain a problem shih tzu later on. That does not of course mean that retraining is impossible, it simply means that it is more difficult.

Teaching a shih tzu puppy, or an older shih tzu, to associate the behaviors you value, such as coming when called, sitting on command, walking at your side, chewing only on toys, etc. with happy, fun times is the basis of all successful shih tzu training.

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

Coming when called is a vital skill that every shih tzu must learn, both for its own safety and that of those around it. A disobedient shih tzu that refuses to come when called could easily be hit by a car, get into a fight with another shih tzu, or suffer a variety of other bad experiences. A well trained shih tzu that comes when called can safely be taken out to play in the local park, at the beach, on the hiking trail, or anywhere else the owner and shih tzu may wish to go.

Basic training to come when called is relatively easy and straightforward, and involves providing praise, treats and other perks when the shih tzu does as his owner wants. After these basic come when called training exercises are mastered, there are a number of fun exercises that can be introduced to challenge the shih tzu and pique its interest.

Making training into a fun game is one of the best ways to motivate shih tzu and handler alike. It is easy for training sessions to become routine and boring, and it is important to keep them from degenerating into this state.

Before beginning any food based training exercise, it is important to make sure that the shih tzu is properly motivated and ready to respond to treat based training. Testing the shih tzu is simply a matter of taking a piece of his regular food and waving it in front of the shih tzu’s nose. If the shih tzu shows great enthusiasm for the food, it is ready to start the training. If not, it is best to wait until the shih tzu is in a more receptive mood.

The treats that work best for treat based training games like hide and seek are cut up quarter inch or smaller pieces of chicken, cheese or liver. In other words, something your dog will love. It is best to use very small pieces to avoid overfeeding the shih tzu during the training sessions.

One great game for you and another family member or friend to play with your shih tzu is simply back and forth recall. This is a great exercise for teaching your shih tzu to come whenever it is called by a member of the family. Shih Tzu often learn to only respond to one person, and this can be a problem when other people are watching the shih tzu. That is one reason why professional shih tzu trainers always insist on working with the owner as well as the shih tzu. A well trained dog must learn to respond to whoever is in charge, not just the owner or usual handler.

In the back and forth recall game, two or more people stand approximately ten yards apart, in a safe place like a fenced in yard. One person calls the shih tzu and asks him to sit and say until another person asks the shih tzu to come. When the shih tzu responds to the command to come, it is rewarded with a treat. Most shih tzu respond wonderfully to this exercise and love playing this game. When playing the back and forth recall game, it is important that only the person who called the shih tzu be allowed to give the shih tzu a treat.

After the shih tzu has mastered the back and forth recall game, the humans in the game can start to spread further out, thus turning the back and forth recall game into a fun game of hide and seek. The hide and seek game starts with two or more people in the center room of the house. Every time they call the shih tzu to come, they spread out further away from where they started. As the game continues, one person will be at one end of the house, while another may be at the opposite end. What makes the hide and seek game so much fun for the shih tzu is that he must seek out the person to get the treat, instead of simply running up to a person in plain sight. This type of seeking behavior appeals to many of the shih tzu’s natural instincts. After all, dogs are naturally hunting animals, and seeking out food is second nature to them.

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

What is clicker training?

Clicker Training is a method of ‘positive reinforcement training’ - that is, rewarding the behaviours that we like instead of punishing behaviours that we don’t like. When the dog does what we want him to do, we ‘click’ and give him a treat.

So, we train the dog to understand that the ‘click’ means “well done” and that a treat is coming.

Benefits of Clicker Training

The benefit of the clicker is that it makes a consistent sound and we can make the sound at the very moment that the dog is carrying out the behaviour that we like. The dog will learn to associate the good behaviour with the ‘click’ and the forthcoming treat, and will learn to repeat the behaviour.

Of course, we can be positive just by saying “good dog” however, there are some potential problems with this. We will inevitably use a different tone depending on what mood we are in, so it is not a consistent sound; dogs are very sensitive to body language and tone so will receive mixed signals depending on your mood!

The other main problem is timing - by the time we have said “good dog”, the dog may have stopped the positive behaviour and started doing something else. Dogs do not have the power to determine which one of the behaviours is the good one, so again they receive a mixed signal.

Where do you start with Clicker Training?

The most important thing you need is your clicker! The next thing you’ll need are some treats. You will need small, easy to eat, tasty treats - something that will really make his mouth water! They must be quick to eat because this is a dynamic, fast way to train, so you don’t want him spending ages crunching through huge biscuits! Cheese, cut up into small pieces is irresistible to most dogs, or cooked sausages cut up. The treats need to be easily accessible - either in a loose pocket or a bag carried around your waist perhaps.

Now, start somewhere with minimal distractions. Our first aim is show the dog the meaning of the clicker. Stand in front of him, click ONCE and give a treat. At this point, the dog doesn’t have to do anything for his treat - he just needs to learn the association of the ‘click’ and treat routine. Spend some time doing a ‘click’, then treat. Generally give 1 treat but very occasionally, ‘jackpot’ with a handful of treats. Being unpredictable is a good trick to use with dogs - he’ll eventually work harder because although he knows he’ll get a treat anyway, it’ll be in the back of his mind that he might just get 5 treats if he does something extra special!

He will very quickly learn that a ‘click’ means that a treat it coming - you will see the recognition in his behaviour. His ears will prick at the ‘click’ sound, he may get excited, his behaviour will show when he expects a treat following the ‘click’.

The Top 3 Clicker Training Rules

ALWAYS treat after a click - even if you’ve accidentally clicked. The dog must have absolute faith in the ‘click means treat’ routine. Do not let the kids have the clicker to play with as a toy - even if they’re in a different room to the dog, he WILL hear it and will be tormented if his treats don’t follow. The clicker is the dog’s toy and no-one else’s!!

Only click ONCE. Don’t get excited when he does wonderful things and ‘click, click, click, click’ - this takes the consistency out of the ‘click’ and treat routine. One click is perfectly sufficient!!

Keep training sessions short and sweet, preferably around five minutes. They should be fun for both of you; fun for him because he’s getting lots of treats and is using his brain, and fun for you because it is far easier to train him than you ever imagined - but keep it fun by keeping it short!

When he is responding to the ‘click’ and visibly waiting for his treat, you are ready to move on to the next section on teaching basic clicker training commands.

Stephanie has written a series of articles on Clicker Training which are available at Kennel Corner.

Training with treats and other food based rewards is a great way to motivate your shih tzu and speed the training process along. Most shih tzu are highly motivated by food rewards, and treat training using this kind of positive reinforcement is used to train all sorts of animals, including tigers, lions, elephants and even house cats.

Before you begin a treat based training session, however, it is a good idea to test the shih tzu to make sure that food will motivate him through the session. Begin around the shih tzu’s regular meal time by taking a piece of its food and waving it in front of the shih tzu’s nose. If the shih tzu shows an enthusiasm for the food, now is a great time to start the training. If the shih tzu shows little interest, or none at all, it may be best to put off the training until another time. Don’t be afraid to delay the start of meal time in order to pique the shih tzu’s interest in training. The advantages of proper training will far outweigh any delay in feeding.

It is generally best to get the shih tzu used to regular feedings, instead of leaving food out all the time. Not only does free feeding encourage the shih tzu to overeat and increase the chances of obesity, but a free fed shih tzu may never be fully motivated in reward based training.

The come when called command
Once your shih tzu has shown interest in the food offered to it, it is time to begin the training. Since you already got your shih tzu’s undivided attention by showing it food, now is a great time to start. Give the shih tzu a few pieces of food right away, then back up a few steps. While holding the food in your hand, so “come here”. When the shih tzu comes to you, praise him effusively and give him a few pieces of food.

After the shih tzu is coming to you easily, add a sit command and hold the collar before you give the food. After the sit command is mastered, other commands, and even some tricks, can be added. Food based positive reinforcement training is the best way to teach a variety of important behaviors.

One good exercise is the sit, stay, come when called exercise. This exercise can begin with the owner walking the shih tzu, then stopping and asking the shih tzu to sit. After the shih tzu is sitting quietly, the owner backs away and asks the shih tzu to stay. Ideally the shih tzu should continue to stay until called by the owner, even if the leash is dropped. At the end of the exercise, the owner calls the shih tzu. When the shih tzu comes to the owner, it receives food and praise from the owner. This exercise should be repeated several times, until the dog is reliably coming when called.

It is important to keep the training sessions short, especially in the beginning, to keep the shih tzu from becoming bored, and from consuming its entire meal in the form of treats. After the shih tzu has been responding regularly, the treats and food rewards can be slowly reduced. It is important to still provide these food rewards, but it may no longer be necessary to provide as many. After awhile, as well, it will not be necessary to give the shih tzu treats every single time he responds as requested. In general, it should only be necessary for the shih tzu to receive a food treat one out of every five times he comes on demand. The other four successes can be rewarded with praise and scratches.

Once the shih tzu understand the basics of the “come here” exercise, the basic exercise can be expanded, and many games can be created. These type of games can be great fun for owner and shih tzu alike, as well as a great learning experience. Some off leash work can be introduced as well, but it is always best to start with the shih tzu in a safe environment, such as a fenced back yard. For variety, you can try taking the shih tzu to other safe environments, such as a friend’s house, a neighbor’s fenced yard or a local dog park. Try turning the shih tzu loose in these safe places, and practice the come when called exercise. Always praise the shih tzu extensively, scratch him behind the ears and tell him what a good shih tzu he is. The goal should be to make coming to the owner a more pleasant experience than whatever the shih tzu was doing before he was called.

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