A Shih Tzu is a small house dog, with a unique and an adorable look. They are usually kept indoors and are very soft and lovable. Shih Tzu dogs are preferred by people who live in the city or in flats, where there isn’t much space for having larger pets.

Among other house dogs, these come as one of the top preferences by people as an indoor pet, apart from pugs and Chihuahuas.

Know your pet

That’s right- before you do anything, it is better to assess the mental and physical condition of your pet. You need to know that not all dogs have the same behavior. After you know the personality of your dog, you can decide what the appropriate method of teaching and training them is.

Letting the dog associate with the family members

Your dog must get a sense of how life will be for him/her while living with your family. It is better to let him/her associate with everyone, apart from young children. That way, the pet knows everyone at home and also can choose its master, which is the most important step.

Differentiate rewards and punishments

Almost every dog needs to know this. You must teach your pet which behavior earns reward and which courts punishment. While they are cute and adorable, it should also be noted that they must be well behaved. Do remember that this is a house pet and has access to all your things. How you treat your dog makes all the difference.

Proper treatment

Try to avoid any form of abusive punishment. That always makes a dog worse. It is better to use more subtle, peaceful ways of order. Initially, your pet is bound to be naughty and playful. It’s only natural. Just know that it must be lightly kept under control.

Affection and attention

This is something that they crave a lot, just like any other house pet. All dogs have only one master each and they crave the attention and love of that one individual the most. They are social animals and their happiness depends on how much time they receive or how much fun they have. While the Lack of attention leads to sadness and depression in them, you must also keep in mind that your pet will not always have someone to be at home to take care of them and play with them. So it is important to give attention to your pet but also they must be able to stay without you and not get too attached to you. This is one way of teaching boundaries.

Toilet training

One of the most important things to teach, especially to a house pet. If you’re going to let your pet use the house premises for its toilet needs, you have got no other option but to train them to the designated spot. Irrespective of whether you take your pet for a regular walk or not, toilet training at home is compulsory. You do not want the pet to make a mess of your bedspreads and chairs when you’re back from vacation.

Dog walking

As a pet owner, it is now your responsibility to take your dog for a walk regularly. Staying indoors often can be often very suffocating and has been known to cause depression in pets. You should take your pet out for a walk at least twice a day. This keeps the Shih Tzu dog happy and healthy as the pet receives some exercise.

Character development

The behavior of your pet is reflected by your behavior. Your pet behaves and acts as per your attitude and also looks to you for everything. It must sound like responsibility and it is. You are responsible for raising and taking care of your Shih Tzu dog and its character as a pet. Training them while they are still pups is better and saves you time and effort later. The older dogs are harder to control and are set in their ways hence it is also a difficulty to teach them.

Positive reinforcement

When your Shih Tzu dog behaves or obeys, you reward him/her with a treat. This is a sign to your pet that his behavior was good. It is an effective training method and builds the dog’s character and indirectly promotes more positive and good behavior. You can use this training tip for nearly any animal. It works. Negative reinforcement induces aggressive behavior which can be uncontrollable. They become rebellious and threatening. So you can show indirect signs to your pet indicating that his/her act or behavior is not appropriate. They will easily understand it.

Most dog lovers tend to keep dogs which match their personalities. Shih Tzu dogs are not only loveable but also impressively well-behaved if trained properly.