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We\u2019ll cover socialization exercises, teach you some basic life skills and go through the grooming and husbandry you\u2019ll want to do with your Shih Tzu puppy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For a full program where you\u2019ll know how to train your puppy every day, download the Zigzag puppy app<\/a>. We\u2019ll teach you how to have the best-behaved dog in town. We also give you access to a team of professional dog trainers<\/a>. They’ll be able to answer all of your Shih Tzu related questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There’s no time like the present so as soon as you bring your Shih Tzu puppy home, you can begin to train them. Even when they’re tiny puppies like a Shih Tzus, yes! You see, puppies’ brains are far larger than we realize. Despite their babyness, they can process and learn so much that they will be eager to start training. The earlier you begin training with your Shih Tzu pup, the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t need much, but we recommend investing in the following equipment to train your Shih Tzu puppy<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now we know all too well a dog is a dog is a dog\u2026but did you realize that breed differences do affect how we train them? Well, Now you know. Let’s look at where they initially came from to understand how Shih Tzus’ minds function and what drives them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shih Tzus were originally from Tibet, but many were sent to China as presents. This explains why we frequently mistake them for being a Chinese breed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Originally bred exclusively as companion dogs, these ‘Little Lion Dogs’ became so popular with American military stationed in Europe during the 1940s and 1950s that they brought them home and ShihTzus became a solid favorite across the country. It’s hardly surprising, who can resist them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being a companion dog we might think that looking fancy is all a Shih Tzu does. But while Shih Tzus are primarily companion dogs, they also love doing all kinds of \u2018doggy things\u2019!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Behind all of that glamorous shi-shi hair lies an athletic and muscular dog, who enjoys exercise, chasing toys, sniffing, enjoying the outdoors and experiencing the world. Becoming a couch potato is not an option they love to be on the go. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In this Shih Tzu puppy training guide, we\u2019ll teach you about life skills training. This is what we tend to think of as manners or obedience exercises. They\u2019re things which just make life with any dog, including Shih Tzus, easier as they learn how to behave in a human\u2019s world using positive reinforcement training<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ll also be covering socialization<\/a>, plus grooming and husbandry. These things will teach your puppy to cope with the sounds and sights around them and teach you how to groom them, brush their teeth, and handle them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Push Drop Stick\u2019 can help avoid problems with training by systematically raising difficulty: It will keep your puppy winning enough times to keep them interested and not quit, but not so much that they aren\u2019t thinking about how to be rewarded by trying harder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How does it work?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n By doing 5 repetitions of an exercise, we are going to keep track of how many the dog gets right. Based on how they perform, we\u2019re going to choose whether to do which of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Push<\/strong> \u2013 5 out of 5 correct – Go to the next level of difficulty (raise criteria)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drop<\/strong> \u2013 1 or 2 out of 5 correct – Back to the previous level of difficulty (drop criteria)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stick <\/strong>\u2013 3 or 4 out of 5 correct – Stay at the current level of difficulty (stay with current criteria)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your first week of training your Shih Tzu puppy will be all about teaching them that there are things they can do that bring fabulous rewards. By training this way using positive reinforcement<\/a>, they\u2019ll turn into confident and well-behaved little dogs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat age can I start to train my Shih Tzu puppy?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What do I need to train my Shih Tzu?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Good to know about training Shih Tzu puppies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What are Shih Tzu puppies bred for?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What does this have to do with how I train my Shih Tzu?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Overview of the training program and topics we\u2019ll cover<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How we build this program: Push Drop Stick<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"White](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/varun-kumar-e-k-z3QxarNFCBo-unsplash-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWeek 1 \u2013 Training your Shih Tzu puppy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n