What Are Some Potty Training Problems With Shih Tzus?

Shih Tzus are such intelligent little dogs that owners could be forgiven for wondering why some of them seem to have problems with potty training. Because the Shih Tzu seems to learn some commands on just a couple of repetitions, owners might think that potty training should be a breeze. The reality, however, is that problems occur occasionally.

  1. Making Mistakes

    • All dogs make mistakes in potty training, but because Shih Tzus can be a little stubborn, they may decide that a good place for a bathroom break is somewhere the owner would rather they didn't go. It takes patience, time and perseverance to teach the Shih Tzu where its potty place is. Lavish praise when the Shi Tzu goes in the right place will help to reinforce good potty habits.

    Irregular Potty Times

    • With very young Shih Tzus, it's important to establish a feeding routine to make it easier to predict when the puppy will need to go potty. During early potty training. puppies need to be taken outside at regular intervals, and feeding at set times of the day helps the owner to predict when the Shih Tzu is most likely to need to eliminate.

    Health Issues

    • If an older Shih Tzu who has previously shown good potty training habits suddenly starts peeing in the house, it may be having health problems rather than forgetting previous training. Some Shih Tzus can occasionally suffer from renal dysplasia, a kidney disease that can cause a need to urinate more frequently. If the Shih Tzu shows any other unusual symptoms or behavior, such as drinking more, losing appetite or appearing depressed, you should take it to the vet.

    Coprophagia

    • This is the technical term for poop eating, and is a trait shown by many Shih Tzus. Why they do it is open to debate, but one theory suggests it may be in response to being punished during potty training for going in the wrong place. The Shih Tzu believes it's being punished for the act itself, rather than the place. Female Shih Tzus are more likely to show this behavior than males, and other theories suggest that it simply runs in Shih Tzu families and has nothing to do with potty training. In any case, you should discourage this behavior.