Shih Tzu Obedience Training: Get The Facts
All dogs, no matter the breed have instincts that come from their ancestors who ran wild. Dogs, by nature, are pack animals and within every single pack is a pack leader. It is important that your dog knows you as the pack leader or successful obedience training will never occur. Within the pack, those who are not the leader are submissive and follow the direction of the leader.
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.
Within the wild, all dogs are pack animals and within the pack is a pack leader. This leader is the one who controls the actions of the other dogs and makes the decisions for the group. The other dogs within the pack are very submissive to the leader and would never cross him. This pack concept is something your dog naturally has and will become apart of your dog’s behavior whether you like it or not. The only thing is whether or not it is you or your dog is going to be 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.
You must show them who the pack leader is so that they will respect you and follow your command. This is not only for your convenience but for their safety as well.
It is important that all issues are addressed and that your dog also understands not to jump on people, what can and can not be chewed on, not walking ahead of you, and that they remain submissive at all times. It is also important that you realize that puppies have a shorter attention span then that of adults so keep your training lessons short and simple and focus on one thing at a time. Trying to train your Shih Tzu on ten different things at once will lead to frustration and produce negative results.
Above and beyond Shih Tzu obedience training at home, you may want to consider taking your puppy to a training class as this offers many benefits. Training classes offer you, the owner, a better and possibly more effective way to train your dog then what you have read in dog training books. This gives you the chance to get one-on-one help from a professional who may be able to assist you in correcting any issues that you are having during the training process.
The training classes, along with socialization are an important part of your Shih Tzu’s development. It is important that you expose your Shih Tzu to other Shih Tzu’s and other types of breeds as well. Introduce your Shih Tzu to as many types of people as possible including those of different ages. This will help make sure that your Shih Tzu is comfortable with all other animals and people. This will make for a well-rounded dog.
Tags: Dogs