Many owners feel troubled by toilet training, and every dog, regardless of breed, needs some training after coming home. The Shih Tzu is no exception. Below is a simple summary of how to train a Shih Tzu in proper toileting habits.
Things you need for house-training a Shih Tzu: any dog toilet or tray, puppy pads, favorite treats or dog food, and a dog pen or enclosure.
Step One:
The activity space inside a cage is usually too small for a dog that has just come home, so it is better to switch to a dog pen. Inside the pen, place the bed and the dog toilet you have prepared. Do not put food in there at first. A dog's cognitive ability, especially that of a puppy, is not like a human's. The simpler the arrangement is, the easier it is for the dog to understand what you want.
Step Two:
Place a puppy pad in the dog toilet to make cleaning easier. Puppies usually need to urinate or defecate about five to ten minutes after each meal.
Step Three:
After the dog has adapted to the pen for a while, take the dog toilet out and place it somewhere else, preferably in a fixed spot, because the dog will remember that place. Use the same method to guide it to the toilet. Since it already has the memory of going to the toilet area inside the pen, this is much easier than trying to guide it in a large open house right from the beginning.
Important note: if the dog eliminates in the wrong place, do not hit it and do not yell. Simply make it obvious that you are unhappy and temporarily ignore it. In many cases, that is enough for the dog to sense your dissatisfaction. Hitting or scolding often only makes a dog afraid of toileting itself, and some dogs may even try to hide the evidence because they fear punishment.