Structured Shih Tzu Obedience Training

All dogs are pack animals as this is their nature, no matter how tiny and cute they are. It is important, for proper Shih Tzu obedience training, that you establish yourself as the pack leader. Keeping your Shih Tzu obedience training short will allow you to achieve faster results, as the young pups do not have a long attention span.
It cannot be stress enough how important it is to implement proper Shih Tzu obedience training in the very beginning, when you first bring your Shih Tzu home with you. Shih Tzu training does not have to be a difficult process if done correctly and done consistently. Even if there are moments where you may feel like giving up, remember that a well-trained Shih Tzu can be a happy addition to your life. But an untrained Shih Tzu can be destructive and possibly even a dangerous dog in your life.

The first thing that must be understood not only by the owner but also by the Shih Tzu is that you, the owner, are the leader. In the wild, dogs run in packs and within every pack is a pack leader. The other dogs are submissive to their leader and follow whatever the leader wants them to do. Even though your Shih Tzu has never ran wild, it is still in their nature to be pack dogs. The only question is if it is you or the Shih Tzu who is the pack leader.

Getting Shih Tzu obedience training right from the beginning is essential in you having a safe and nondestructive relationship with your dog. Shih Tzu training, while not hard, is something that requires consistent efforts to make sure that it goes quick and sticks with your dog. Your dog must be able to sit, heel, and come to you on command so that they are safe and know that you are their leader. Remember, you are the pack leader and they must be submissive to you.

And although Shih Tzu training can take place at any age, it is preferable that the training be done as early as possible. With that in mind, it is important to know that just like children, the young Shih Tzu has a short attention span and therefore training lessons must be done one at a time and kept short. Instead of having training sessions a half hour long four times a day, have the training sessions ten minutes long and eight times a day. This will make sure that training goes smoothly for the both of you.

It is often said that taking your dog to a Shih Tzu obedience training class is highly advisable as this offers you and your dog extra support, tips, and advice when it comes to training. If you are having a certain issue with your training process, a professional may be able to help point out one simple thing that can turn everything around for you. This also gives your little one a chance to be around other dogs like him or her.

Socializing your dog is important for not only his or her emotional well being, but also for the safety of others. Getting your dog accustomed to other types of breeds of dog and different types of people will help make sure your dog does not fear anyone. This means that they are less likely to bite or run from someone who strikes them as "different". A well-trained and well-rounded dog makes an excellent addition to any home but it is up to you to make sure that it happens in a timely and friendly manner.

For many years, Rebecca Simpson has had an incredible passion for Shih Tzu obedience training and wanted to find every way possible to help others go through this process. Extensive and properly done Shih Tzu training is an important part of your relationship with your dog. Getting the right tips for Shih Tzu obedience training is vital in making your time worthwhile. There is much more to learn about Shih Tzu obedience training than what can be found in most dog training books and this article attempts to help others with their path towards having a well-behaved dog.

By Rebecca Simpson
Published: 4/30/2008
 
Use the feedback form below to submit your comments.
Your Comments:
Your Name:
Use the form below to email this article to your friends.
Recipient Email Address:
 Separate multiple email addresses by ;
Your Name:
Your Email Address: