Friday, October 06, 2006

Commitment and Routine are the Keys to Housebreaking Your Shih Tzu Puppy

Commitment and Routine are the Keys to Housebreaking Your Shih Tzu Puppyby Connie Limon (Email: connielimon@yahoo.com) Housebreaking is the most indispensable thing your Shih Tzu puppy must learn. Common sense should tell you why. Do you want your house to stay spic and span? Handle your Shih Tzu puppy's housebreaking well. Aside from the maintenance of your household hygiene, trained Shih Tzu is happy Shih Tzu. As creatures of habit, it's in their nature to keep schedules as pack animals. Here is how you should housebreak your Shih Tzu puppy: Ideal Housebreaking Age When your Shih Tzu puppy reaches the age of 8 to 12 weeks old, it's high time to begin housebreaking. Remember that adage that old dogs can't learn new tricks? It is true so why take chances? Crate Help Dog trainers suggest using a crate in housebreaking your Shih Tzu puppy. A crate is like a cage, with see-through bars and a locking door. Its size should accommodate well the Shih Tzu's size for it to move around in. It should be used like a Shih Tzu's bedroom. It is advised to not confine your Shih Tzu puppy in his crate for more than two hours at a time. The reasoning behind using a crate in housebreaking your Shih Tzu puppy is that dogs will not dirty their sleeping areas. However, he may do so if you lock him in somewhere for longer than he can hold it in. Never use a crate to punish your Shih Tzu, it will backfire. Generally, Shih Tzu pups that are three-months old must eliminate every 3 hours, so you should lead him to a special outdoor comfort place more often. Make Your Shih Tzu Puppy Learn Routines Another tip is to 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. Look For Clues If the un-housebroken Shih Tzu is accustomed to roaming freely around the house, search for signs that show you he needs to do it. Be really observant enough of his behavior, i.e., heavy sniffing, circling an area, staring at the door with an intense look on his face, etc. If you catch him WHILE doing it, stop him with a quick grab of his collar and pull it up while saying "No" using your deep, stern tone (don't forget to use a deep, gruff voice when stating commands). Then, take him outside and let him finish what he is doing. Lastly, pat him on his head while saying "Good (his name)!" It is a must to make your Shih Tzu get used to being praised whenever he does anything that makes you proud. Giving him food as a reward when he does his business in the appropriate spot can help, too. Patience is a Big Virtue Like any training endeavor, housebreaking requires a lot of patience. If you definitely despise cleaning your Shih Tzu waste off your Persian carpets on an hourly basis and having your whole house smell like a public bathroom, you want the housebreaking to be successful in a wink of an eye, if not sooner. Common Sense Makes a Lot of Sense The use of common sense will aid you big time in dealing with your Shih Tzu puppy's housebreaking. Logical thinking should inform you to not give your Shih Tzu water before bedtime if his tendency is to pee often at night time. Catering to his schedule first will prove to be very helpful in making it gradually change into yours. 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. Best of luck! Author: Connie Limon. I raise Shih Tzu puppies from top champion bloodlines in many different colors of blues, reds, chocolates, blacks. We have the small AKC standards, imperials and teacups at reasonable prices. We offer you educational material, dog bows, fleece t-shirts and other dog clothes. Visit us online at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com and sign up for our FREE newsletter. We are the largest privately-owned Shih Tzu site on the World Wide Web. This article is FREE to publish with resource box.

Blog Archive