Some Facts About Shih Tzu Litter Box Training

Housebreaking a Shih Tzu can be one of the most difficult things you will ever try to do and many people find it the most frustrating thing about owning a Shih Tzu. Shih Tzu dogs are very independent thinkers and prefer to do things their own way. As you can imagine teaching dog like this to do anything can be difficult especially when it comes to something as natural as going to the bathroom. That is why many Shih Tzu owners turn to Shih Tzu litter box training.

Right off the bat, let us say that the litter box for a Shih Tzu should be an absolute last resort and that you may want to exercise more patience while trying to house break your Shih Tzu before you turn to a litter box. Even a well trained and responsive Shih Tzu can take up to six months to learn how to go where you want it to, so even if you are three months into it and your Shih Tzu doesn’t seem to get it you need to hang in there because it just takes time. A litter box should be your absolute last resort.

A Shih Tzu thinks of things in very broad terms and it needs to be taught that certain things are for outside and other things are for inside. If you let your Shih Tzu know that going to the bathroom inside is okay with Shih Tzu litter box training then it may not always associate the litter box with that activity, it may only associate being indoors with that activity. This is why it is not a good idea to give up on housebreaking in lieu of a litter box.

The size of the dog can also determine whether or not you want to consider the litter box. The Shih Tzu is a toy breed but it can grow to sizes that are much too big to be using a litter box with. Consult your breeder, or your vet, on their advice about whether or not a Shih Tzu the size of yours should be considered for litter box training or not. A bigger dog is going to have problems with a litter box so be sure before you start training.

If you really want to start Shih Tzu litter box training then place a large litter box in the part of your house that your Shih Tzu has been soiling the most. Praise it profusely when it uses that litter box. but do not punish it when it does not use it. Punishment confuses a Shih Tzu and causes any training already completed to have to be done over. Watch your Shih Tzu and take it to the litter box when it displays the signs of getting ready to go to the bathroom, like sniffing in a spot or circling.

A litter box is not the answer to housebreaking and it can more than likely undo old housebreaking training and prevent any further housebreaking. Use the litter box as a very last resort but have the same dedication to litter box training as you had with housebreaking because this process may take a lot longer than standard housebreaking.

Rebecca Simpson is an animal lover that has always had many pets. You can use this article as a helpful supplement to your Shih Tzu training. This article contains information that can be used along with dog training books for training your Shih Tzu.