Training Your Shih-Tzu to Listen to You
Why Won't My Shih-Tzu Listen To Me?
This is a common question that most first-time Shih-Tzu owners ask me. Before I answer your question, let me ask you a few instead:
- Do you use cookies, collars, head halters or clickers to make your Shih-Tzu listen to your commands?
- Do you have to raise your voice every time you want your Shih-Tzu to listen to you?
- Does your Shih-Tzu always come or sit on command - anytime and anywhere you want him to?
If your answers are mostly in the negative, its time you seriously reconsider your role as a sincere Shih-Tzu trainer and an ideal pet parent.
Get Your Shih-Tzu To Listen To You
Before you begin any training, you must first establish yourself as the "ALPHA dog" of your family. Your Shih-Tzu must know that you’re the leader of the pack and it is YOU who is in charge.
Here is a list of simple DO's and DONT's that you must follow if you want to be the Alpha:
- Always go out or come in through the door first - remember you are the leader;
- Always eat first - give your Shih-Tzu something to eat only after you've finished your meal;
- Don’t circle around your Shih-Tzu when he is lying on the floor - make your Shih-Tzu move out of your way instead;
- Don't let your Shih-Tzu set the rules - pay attention to him when you think fit and not whenever he demands;
- Don’t permit your Shih-Tzu to sleep with you in your bed - demarcate his sleeping area clearly.
Once you successfully established yourself as the Alpha, training your Shih-Tzu and making him listen will be a lot easier than you can imagine. Remember, if your Shih-Tzu does not learn to "listen", all your training efforts will be in vain!
Does your Shih-Tzu know his name? Does your Shih-Tzu look at you whenever you call him by his name? This is the first and the most critical step involved in Shih-Tzu Training. If your Shih-Tzu doesn't respond to his name, you cannot have his attention for teaching him any other commands.
To make sure that your Shih-Tzu recognizes his name, take a treat in your hand and hold it away from your body. Call your Shih-Tzu's name. He is most likely to look at the treat in your hand. Continue calling his name untill he turns and looks at your eyes. Give him the treat immediately. Repeat this exercise by holding the treat in the other hand. Once you're sure that your Shih-Tzu has learnt to recognize his name, just call his name and reward him for looking at you by petting or with a hug.
You must understand that Shih-Tzus respond far better to positive reinforcement than they do to coercion or force.
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