How to House-train a Shitzu Puppy

Along with their outgoing personalities and intelligence, shih tzu dogs are also known for one more thing--their difficulty to potty-train. Not all shih tzus resist the notion of going outside to do their business, but a portion do and because of that, word has spread that shih tzu dogs are anti-housebreaking. However, it is not impossible to train this popular breed and if you are persistent in your efforts, you will likely have a house-trained shih tzu puppy in no time.

Things You'll Need

  • Crate
  • Treats
  • Toys
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Instructions

    • 1

      Keep your shih tzu puppy contained in a crate when you are not home, sleeping or otherwise unable to provide supervision. Crate training is perhaps the most effective way to potty train any breed of dog, as it works with a dog's own natural instincts to not eliminate where it sleeps or eats.

    • 2

      Place blankets or crate dividers to section-off any excess areas of the crate. A crate only needs to be big enough for the shih tzu puppy to stand up, turn around and lie down--any bigger and the puppy will be able to walk away from its mess. According to the website Georgia ShihTzu, a crate that typically works well for shih tzu puppies is about 24-inches by 24-inches in size. Avoid carriers, as they are not made for animals to spend long amounts of time in and make it hard to see your puppy.

    • 3

      Place treats and toys in the crate to entice your shih tzu puppy to go inside and once it does, reward it with another treat. In addition, keep the crate near you with the door open until the shih tzu is comfortable in the crate. Then place the crate in an area that is not busy, so that the puppy will not always be preoccupied with what is going on outside of its crate and can relax. Initially, your shih tzu puppy may be weary of the crate; however, once it discovers that it is not a bad place to be, it will likely enter its confines willingly.

    • 4

      Take your shih tzu pupy outside immediately after you take it out of the crate and also at the same times every day to establish a routine. Even if the shih tzu puppy only spends a few minutes in the crate, it is important to take it outside once released, according to Georgia ShihTzu. You are trying to show your shih puppy that after it leaves the crate, it goes potty--not when inside. In addition, take your puppy outside before and after it sleeps, after it eats and plays and every few hours.

    • 5

      Keep your shih tzu puppy confined into one room while it undergoes house training. Shih tzu puppies are overwhelmed quite easily and will not retain their lessons if they feel this way. Expecting them to keep their bladders and bowels under control in an entire home can cause this feeling. Start with the room the crate is in and once the puppy knows not to eliminate in there, start allowing it access to one room at a time.