You just brought your new Shih Tzu pup home and now you will spend the next couple of weeks making sure it knows all the rules and that it knows you are the boss, right? Wrong. The Shih Tzu is a very self-assured breed of dog that carries itself in a very confident and regal way. It is a very proud, arrogant, and stubborn pet that will always want things to go their way and could probably care less what you have to say. Ready now?

The first thing you want to do with your new Shih Tzu pup is to let it wander just a little so it knows the house and knows what it will be missing out on when you put it in its pen or crate to housebreak it. Remember that a Shih Tzu does not respond to punishment at all and any punishment can set back the training you've done, pretty much to square one. They respond to praise and positive reinforcement. So if you want them to do something praise and reward them when they do it.
Of course the most important thing on any new Shih Tzu pup owner’s mind is housebreaking the animal. You want the dog to understand that the house is not its personal toilet even though it probably comes into the house thinking that way. You need to get a big crate, or some people prefer to find a room in the house and create a pen, and make that your Shih Tzu pup’s living space. Put its food and bedding there and play with your dog so it is comfortable in its new living space. Then the games begin.

Keep the dog in the crate or pen while you are home and every 45 minutes you need to take it outside and see if it does its thing. If he does go to the bathroom in the designated bathroom area then praise it a lot. The Shih Tzu will not mess its own living area unless you leave it locked up too long and that is why you need to take it out frequently. Then start moving to different parts of the house and repeat the process until the dog gets it. Then you can let it wander.
It is extremely important to maintain a clean and tangle free coat on yourShih Tzu pup. A tangled coat on a Shih Tzu pup means that you can probably expect health issues with the dog so keep that coat clean and neat by brushing at least once a day. Ask your breeder about how to properly bathe a Shih Tzu, as it is something that requires a delicate touch if you do not want the dog to become unreasonable.

The Shih Tzu loves to be the center of everyone’s world and you will need to show your Shih Tzu a great deal of attention and shower them with constant love and affection. They love to play so make sure you have lots of toys around and that you take time each day to play with your pet and make them happy. If you take the time to make your puppy happy then they will return that to you many times over.

This article has information you need to know aboutShih Tzu puppies. You can use this article to assist you withShih Tzu puppy care.