1. Do not imagine that simple hitting or scolding can solve a problem with a Shih Tzu. The dog itself does not really understand exactly what it did wrong. What we need to do is guide it better so that it understands what behavior is actually desired.
2. Do not casually repeat the Shih Tzu's name. For the dog, the name is simply a cue. It does not understand its own name the way a person does. Once you decide on a name, it stays with the dog for life, and whenever you use that cue, it should mean you are calling the dog to pay attention. During training, however, you should not keep repeating the name. What needs to be repeated is the command itself. For example, you call the Shih Tzu's name to get its attention and then tell it to come or sit. If it does not sit, then repeat the command ?sit,? not its name over and over again.
3. Do not casually change established commands. Once a cue has been decided, do not switch it back and forth. ?Sit? should always mean sit. Frequently changing wording easily confuses the dog and may force you to retrain the skill from the beginning.
4. Do not let the whole family give different commands randomly. Once a command is set for the Shih Tzu, everyone in the family should know what it means and should use the same cue. If different people use several different words for the same behavior, the dog will have difficulty understanding and even a well-trained skill may have to be rebuilt from the start.
5. Do not give the Shih Tzu chances to make mistakes. Shih Tzus are opportunists and can be a little crafty, so training should move gradually from working on leash to working off leash, without giving the dog easy chances to disobey. Once a command is given, the dog should be guided to comply. If it makes a mistake, correct it in time. Never ignore wrong behavior, or earlier work may be undone.
6. Do not fail to understand the Shih Tzu's behavior. Before training, owners should learn basic body language and the reasons behind different barks. For example, what does tail wagging mean? What does raising the rear mean? Understanding the dog's body language is essential, because only when you understand it can you train it well.
7. Do not rely too heavily on food. Treats are important as one type of reward, but if you reward too much with snacks, the Shih Tzu may learn to obey only when treats are visible. The dog should learn that food is a pleasant surprise and that praise and petting from the owner are also rewards. In fact, anything the dog likes can serve as reinforcement, not just food.
8. Do not assume too quickly that the Shih Tzu has mastered a skill. A skill must be reinforced continuously and built step by step. A dog may seem to know a command in the moment but still not perform it reliably. Only once the dog can obey a cue with high consistency indoors should training slowly move outdoors. Transitioning to more distracting environments too early is a mistake.
9. Do not place too much pressure on the Shih Tzu. After all, it is not a human. Even the smartest Shih Tzu has intelligence roughly comparable to a young child. Since even children need patient teaching, a dog certainly does too. If it does not understand something, do not scold it harshly or create excessive pressure, because that will only make it less cooperative. Training must always be gradual and patient.
10. Do not force the Shih Tzu to accept training unwillingly. Training should be carried out when the dog is emotionally willing to participate. In the end, training is really an interaction between the owner and the dog, so the Shih Tzu should come to see training as a kind of play with the owner. Only then will it cooperate better and complete actions more willingly.