How to Train a Shih Tzu
One of the most common questions that I get asked, again and again, is how to train a Shih Tzu. Training a Shih Tzu is actually very simple and there really is no need for such confusion about it, read on and I will show you how to train a Shih Tzu in a way that the dog will truly and easily understand.
The most common problem is that too many people think that understanding a dog is exclusive knowledge, only available to a few. Sadly some dog trainers also nurture this view, well they are protecting their own vocation after all. So dog training is described as something elusive and the dog’s behavior is something really complicated that only an expert can decipher.
This is not true, anyone can understand their dog’s basic thought process. Shih Tzu understanding is easy and although you may benefit from finding a dog trainer, to show you how to train a Shih Tzu in the more complicated areas, you only need to learn some simple rules when working out how to train your dog at home.
Shih Tzu Understanding
There are three basic steps to Shih Tzu understanding and when you have learned these steps you will have a much better idea of how to train a Shih Tzu without needing to find an expert to help. Take a look;
- The Shih Tzu will repeat anything that he finds rewarding. He will repeat a bark if you give him a treat for it, he will repeat the act of jumping up if you touch him and speak to him whilst he jumps up. The Shih Tzu mind is programmed to repeat anything at all that brings a result that he likes, just like yours and mine. Yes we are not that different, so next time your Shih Tzu does something you don’t want him to try completely ignoring him. He will soon do something else instead.
- Your Shih Tzu will stop doing things that don’t bring him a favorable outcome. Yes this is true and you will see the effects of this particular type of understanding very quickly. All good dog trainers know that ignoring an unwelcome behavior will cause it to go away. It might get a little bit worse before it gets better, this is perfectly normal, but eventually it will go away altogether and you will have learned how to train a Shih Tzu to stop doing something cheeky. Then you can put this into practice next time.
- Finally it is important that you realize how much your own behavior affects that of your dog. whether by giving him attention at the time he does something cheeky or not giving him attention when he does something good you are training your Shih Tzu all of the time.
By realizing the effects of your own behavior on the behavior of your Shih Tzu you can sort out a lot of the problems that your Shih Tzu develops, at home, with no need for intervention by a dog trainer.
Then you can save your dog training visits for fun classes, agility or similar fun times with your dog where a qualified trainer can teach you how to train a Shih Tzu to do far more exciting things than to stop jumping up when he’s told.
