How to Housebreak a Shih Tzu Puppy

By Kendra Dahlstrom

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

Puppy pads
Leash
Collar

Step 1:
Take your Shih Tzu outside every 2 hours. In the beginning, you must catch your puppy eliminating in the correct place. Since Shih Tzu's learn better with praise than with punishment, you need to give her every opportunity to potty in the right spot. Eventually, your 2 hour potty breaks will pay off.
Step 2:
Say the word "potty" when your Shih Tzu actually urinates. It may take a few outdoor trips, but eventually you will catch your puppy eliminating outside. When he does, begin associating a word with that action. Each time he eliminates, say this word. This will help speed up the process when the dog gets a little older. When you say the word, the dog will "potty."
Step 3:
Praise your puppy with your voice and your touch. Shih Tzu puppies crave love and affection. If you praise your puppy with a kind voice and with tons of hugs, she will want to please you again by eliminating outdoors the next time.
Step 4:
Watch for signs like circling and sniffing. When you are indoors, keep an extremely close eye on your Shih Tzu. In the beginning, she won't really know the correct place to eliminate, so you will have to prevent accidents by observing signs.
Step 5:
Continue this for at least 6 weeks until your Shih Tzu has had no accidents. Then you can cut back on the frequency of your outdoor visits. After a while, your dog will tell you he needs to go outside by standing at the door or whimpering.

Tips & Warnings

Puppy pads can now be used indoors for elimination. These are pads that soak up urine and eliminate the smell of puppy potty indoors. They are great for people who live in apartments.
Punishment has no use for a Shih Tzu puppy. They have short attention spans, so this will just teach your puppy that eliminating around you is bad. She'll just hide it the next time.

Resources

American Shih Tzu Club

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