Many owners prepare small treats when training a Shih Tzu. In most cases the breed cannot resist the attraction of food, but there are also times when a Shih Tzu may show little interest in treats. That is not unusual. Often it is simply because the dog has never tasted those treats before, which means we may need to use additional methods to keep training going smoothly.
Using Treats to Motivate the Shih Tzu
Some Shih Tzus do not actually dislike good food. Rather, at the beginning, the treats may simply fail to attract enough interest because the dog has not yet associated them with reward. If your Shih Tzu falls into that category, you can try testing different foods to see which ones it likes best. You can even use suitable human food as a lure. For example, if you place the food in your own mouth in front of the dog, that may help direct the Shih Tzu's attention to you. Seeing the owner eat with interest may make the dog curious about that food as well.
However, even when using human food, it must still be something the Shih Tzu is allowed to eat, such as dried chicken breast or similar items that are safe for both people and dogs. Owners should also remember not to reward too often. After all, reward is only feedback for good performance in training. If the dog can obtain it too easily, the reward quickly loses value.
Even if the Shih Tzu is completely uninterested in food, other kinds of reward can be used instead. The key is to find out what the dog actually values. Some Shih Tzus enjoy touch, some like play, and others love praise. There are usually two or three things the dog especially enjoys, and if the owner observes carefully, it is not that hard to discover these preferences.
Limit Play Time to Keep Motivation High
If the Shih Tzu loves to play, you can use its favorite toy to make it cooperate in training. But the owner must control the amount of play time. If the dog plays too long, it may lose interest in the toy. When the Shih Tzu is just beginning to enjoy the game, that is often the best moment to put the toy away. Leaving the dog wanting a little more helps it cooperate better in the next training session.
If the Shih Tzu cooperates mainly to gain the owner's affection, then the situation is a bit more subtle. In that case, the owner must send a clear signal that training is beginning, and that only by meeting a specific requirement can the dog receive attention. You can loudly call the Shih Tzu while lightly patting a toy or the ground to attract its focus. Once it pays attention, guide it to perform the target action and then encourage it in the same way after completion. Once the Shih Tzu understands this consistent pattern, it will begin to see the whole training process as a pleasant way to receive extra affection from the owner and will become even more willing to cooperate.
If none of these methods work, the owner should consult an experienced canine behavior specialist or trainer to see whether the Shih Tzu may have a psychological issue affecting behavior. If necessary, the dog can also be taken to a veterinarian to rule out the effect of illness on its behavior.
Reward Is Extremely Important
One thing that must be understood is that reward is extremely important in Shih Tzu training. If you use a type of reward that the dog does not care about, the training effect will be greatly reduced. If your Shih Tzu is not interested in treats, that does not mean training cannot succeed. It simply means you need to understand the dog's interests and choose the right form of reward.