What Is the Best Way to Teach a Shih Tzu Puppy to Come?

Shih Tzu dogs are generally friendly pups who love to interact and socialize with people and other animals. For this reason, Shih Tzu puppies should be taught the "come" command. If your puppy knows this command, you can call her back to you when she dashes off to say hello to another person or dog. This breed is highly intelligent and typically learns commands quickly.

  1. Teaching the "Come" Command

    • The initial goal with the "come" command is to call your dog over so that she comes close to you--close enough so you can grab her. Start by calling your puppy by name. When she reaches you, grab her collar, give her a treat, then release her so that she can play. This will teach your dog that coming to you doesn't mean that she has to stop having fun. By practicing this trick over and over again, she will learn to come to you and will do so on command, according to the American Shih Tzu Club.

    Difficult Pups

    • If your Shih Tzu puppy has difficulty obeying this command, place a long, lightweight lead on her when you are able to supervise her. Do not leave the leash on her when you are not watching her, as she could become entangled in it. If you call her and she neglects to obey, step on and then grab the lead and run in the opposite direction while repeating the command "come." Bring the puppy toward you, grab her collar and give her a treat, then release her to play. It may take some time, but repeating this process will reinforce the command.

    Fine Tuning

    • Once your puppy has mastered the "come" command, never use it to call her over for punishment or to do something she does not enjoy, such as having her ears cleaned. She will quickly learn the obeying the command leads to undesirable activities. In addition, do not call your dog when she is doing something she really likes, such as chewing on a special toy. She will think that the fun stops when she obeys that command. When you are training her, only do so when she is not distracted by something else.

      Teach your dog that doing what you ask brings her rewards, such as treats or praise. Reinforce this by incorporating this command into your daily routine--call her over just to pet her or call her over when it is time to eat. Teaching your Shih Tzu puppy to come can be fun and rewarding and will likely prove invaluable throughout her life.