If you’re a proud Shih Tzu parent, you know that – although they’re incredibly cute – they can also be a handful.
Discipline is an essential part of raising your Shih Tzu, but it can often be confusing to understand the correct way to do it.
That’s why we created this blog post about How To Discipline A Shih Tzu: 18 Correct & Incorrect Ways.
Get ready to learn all about the right and wrong ways.
How To Discipline A Shih Tzu
One of the most important things you can do to help raise a well-behaved, obedient Shih Tzu is to establish and enforce good discipline. Disciplining your Shih Tzu can be a bit of a challenge, but following these guidelines will help ensure that your Shih Tzu stays in line.
Establish and enforce rules early and often. Make sure your Shih Tzu knows what is expected of him from an early age.
Start by teaching him simple obedience commands such as sit, stay, come, and down.
Then, add more complex commands, such as down, stay, come, and leave it. Be consistent in doing it!
Here are the correct ways you can discipline your Shih Tzu:
1. Start by calmly speaking to your Shih Tzu and explaining that you will be disciplining them for their own good
Are you looking for the best ways to discipline your Shih Tzu? If so, you’ve come to the right place!
Discipline is an important part of any dog’s life and it can help them learn how to behave properly.
With that said, there are some correct ways you can go about disciplining your Shih Tzu.
First and foremost, it’s important to start by calmly speaking to your Shih Tzu and explaining that you will be disciplining them for their own good.
This helps them understand why they are being disciplined and can help prevent any confusion or fear on their part.
Next, you should always use positive reinforcement when disciplining your Shih Tzu.
This means rewarding them with treats or praise for good behavior and ignoring bad behavior.
This will help reinforce the desired behaviors and discourage any unwanted ones.
2. Give your Shih Tzu a verbal warning before implementing a punishment
Training and disciplining a Shih Tzu can be tricky, but with some patience and consistency, it is possible.
First and foremost, it is important to remember that your Shih Tzu needs to understand why they are being disciplined.
If you simply punish them without explaining why, they won’t learn anything from the experience.
Therefore, it is essential to give your Shih Tzu a verbal warning before implementing a punishment.
This will help them understand that their behavior is unacceptable and why they are being disciplined.
It is also important to be consistent with your discipline.
If you only punish your Shih Tzu for certain behaviors, they won’t learn what is expected of them in all situations.
3. Remove your Shih Tzu from the situation if they are being difficult to handle
As a proud owner of a Shih Tzu, I know how important it is to ensure that they are well-behaved and obedient.
Disciplining your Shih Tzu is an important part of being a responsible pet owner.
It’s essential to teach them the right behaviors and discourage any bad habits they may have picked up.
Remove Your Shih Tzu From the Situation. If your Shih Tzu is being difficult to handle, it’s best to remove them from the situation.
This will help prevent any further misbehavior and give you time to calm down and think about how you want to address the issue.
4. Make sure your punishment is appropriate for the offense
Are you the proud owner of a Shih Tzu? If so, then you know that these little bundles of joy can be quite mischievous at times.
While it’s important to show your pup lots of love and affection, it’s also important to discipline them when they do something wrong.
But how do you go about disciplining a Shih tzu?
Well, the good news is that there are several effective ways to discipline your Shih Tzu without resorting to harsh methods.
Make sure your punishment is appropriate for the offense.
For example, if your Shih Tzu chews on something they shouldn’t, a stern “no” and removing the item from their reach is usually enough to get the message across.
Another effective way to discipline your Shih Tzu is through positive reinforcement. Whenever your pup does something good.
5. Be consistent with your punishments, and avoid using physical punishment if possible
Are you the proud owner of a Shih Tzu? If so, then you know that these little bundles of joy can be quite mischievous at times.
While it’s important to show your Shih Tzu love and affection, it’s also important to discipline them when necessary.
But how do you do that without resorting to physical punishment?
First and foremost, be consistent with your punishments.
If you’re not consistent, then your pup won’t understand what they did wrong or why they’re being punished.
Make sure you’re consistent with the type of punishment, too.
For example, if you scold your pup for jumping on the couch one day and then ignore it the next time they do it, they won’t understand why their behavior is wrong.
Second, avoid using physical punishment. Shih Tzus are sensitive dogs and can easily become scared or anxious if they’re hit or yelled at.
Instead, try using positive reinforcement to reward good behavior and discourage bad behavior.
For example, give your Shih Tzu a treat when they obey a command or stay off the couch when you tell her.
6. Be patient with your Shih Tzu, and allow them time to learn their lesson
Are you a proud owner of a Shih Tzu? If so, then you know that these little bundles of joy can be quite the handful!
But don’t worry – with patience and consistency, you can teach your Shih Tzu how to behave.
Be patient with your Shih Tzu, and allow them time to learn their lesson.
Use Positive Reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is one of the best ways to train a dog, and it’s especially effective with Shih Tzus.
When they do something good, reward them with treats or praise.
7. Praise your Shih Tzu when they behave in a way you deem acceptable, and offer positive reinforcement
Are you the proud owner of a Shih Tzu? If so, you know that these little bundles of joy can be quite mischievous at times.
But don’t worry – there are plenty of ways to discipline your Shih Tzu and help them learn proper behavior.
First and foremost, it’s important to remember that positive reinforcement is key when disciplining your Shih Tzu.
Praise them when they behave in a way you deem acceptable, and offer rewards like treats or extra playtime as an incentive for good behavior.
This will help reinforce the idea that behaving well leads to positive outcomes.
8. Avoid making your Shih Tzu feel guilty or ashamed of themselves
Disciplining your Shih Tzu is an important part of being a responsible pet owner.
However, it’s important to remember that discipline should be done in a positive and constructive way.
By Avoid making your Shih Tzu feel guilty or ashamed of themselves, you can ensure that they learn the right lessons and become well-behaved pup.
9. Be prepared to repeat a punishment if needed
Are you the proud owner of a Shih Tzu? If so, then you know that these little bundles of joy can be quite mischievous at times.
While it’s important to show your pup love and affection, it’s also important to discipline them when necessary. But how do you do that?
Well, the good news is that there are a few correct ways to discipline your Shih Tzu.
Be prepared to repeat a punishment if needed, but don’t be too harsh.
10. Be prepared to provide training and education on appropriate behavior
Are you the proud owner of a Shih Tzu? If so, then you know that these little bundles of joy can be quite mischievous at times.
While it’s important to give your Shih Tzu lots of love and affection, it’s also essential to provide them with discipline in order to ensure they grow up to be well-behaved and obedient.
Firstly, be prepared to provide training and education on appropriate behavior.
Shih Tzus are intelligent and eager to please, so they can learn quickly if you’re consistent with your training methods.
Make sure that you reward good behavior with treats or praise, while also providing a firm “no” when they do something wrong.
Secondly, it’s important to remember that positive reinforcement is key when disciplining a Shih Tzu.
This means rewarding them with treats or verbal praise when they do something right.
This will help them understand that good behavior is rewarded and bad behavior is not.
Let’s take a look at the incorrect ways to discipline a Shih Tzu you should avoid:
11. Yelling
Are you a proud owner of a Shih Tzu? If so, then you know that these little bundles of joy can be quite the handful!
While it’s important to discipline your Shih Tzu in order to keep them safe and well-behaved, there are some incorrect ways to do this that should be avoided.
Yelling – Yelling at your Shih Tzu is one of the worst things you can do when it comes to disciplining them.
Not only does this make them scared and confused, but it also teaches them that it’s okay to be loud and aggressive.
Instead, try using a firm but gentle voice when correcting your Shih Tzu.
Physical punishment – Physical punishment is never the answer when disciplining your Shih Tzu.
Not only can this cause physical harm, but it also teaches them that violence is an acceptable way to solve problems.
Instead, try using positive reinforcement and rewards when your Shih Tzu does something good.
12. Pushing or shoving
Are you a proud owner of a Shih Tzu? If so, then you know that these little bundles of joy can be quite the handful!
While it’s important to discipline your Shih Tzu in order to keep them safe and well-behaved, there are some incorrect ways to do this that should be avoided.
One of the most important things to remember when disciplining your Shih Tzu is that physical punishment should never be used.
Pushing or shoving your Shih Tzu, even if it’s done in a playful manner, can cause them to become fearful and anxious around you.
This type of punishment can also lead to aggression and other behavioral issues.
Another incorrect way to discipline your Shih Tzu is by using verbal reprimands or scolding them harshly.
While it’s important to let your Shih Tzu know when they’ve done something wrong, doing so in a harsh manner will only make them aggressive
13. Pulling hard on the leash
Are you a proud owner of a Shih Tzu? If so, then you know that these little bundles of joy can be quite the handful!
While it’s important to discipline your Shih Tzu in order to keep them safe and well-behaved, there are some incorrect ways to do this that should be avoided.
One of the most common mistakes people make when disciplining their Shih Tzu is pulling hard on the leash.
This can cause your Shih Tzu to become scared and anxious, which will only lead to more behavioral issues in the future.
Instead, try using a gentle tug or verbal command to get your Shih Tzu disciplined.
14. Making your Shih Tzu sit or down
Are you a proud owner of a Shih Tzu? If so, then you know that these little dogs are full of energy and can be quite mischievous.
As such, it is important to have an effective way to discipline them when they do something wrong.
Unfortunately, many people make the mistake of using the wrong methods to discipline their Shih Tzu, which can lead to more behavioral problems in the future.
Making the dog sit or down is one of the most common mistakes people make when disciplining their Shih Tzu.
Although making your Shih Tzu sit or down may seem like a good way to discipline them, it can actually be quite ineffective.
This is because these commands are usually used as rewards for good behavior and not punishments for bad behavior.
15. Yelling at your Shih Tzu from a distance
As such, it’s important to have an effective way to discipline your Shih Tzu when they do something wrong.
Unfortunately, there are some incorrect ways to discipline a Shih Tzu that you should avoid.
One of the most common mistakes people make when disciplining their Shih Tzu is yelling at them from a distance.
While it may seem like this will get your pup’s attention, it can actually have the opposite effect.
Shih Tzus are sensitive creatures and can become scared or confused when they hear loud noises from a distance.
This can lead to them becoming more anxious and potentially even aggressive in the future.
16. Making your Shih Tzu stay in one place
Are you a proud owner of a Shih Tzu? If so, then you know that these little bundles of joy can be quite mischievous at times.
While it’s important to discipline your Shih Tzu in order to keep them safe and well-behaved, there are some incorrect ways to do so that you should avoid.
One of the most common mistakes people make when disciplining their Shih Tzu is making them stay in one place for too long.
While it’s important to teach your Shih Tzu to stay put, if they are forced to remain in one spot for an extended period of time, they can become anxious and stressed.
This can lead to behavioral issues such as barking or chewing on furniture.
17. Taking away privileges
One of the most common mistakes people make when disciplining their Shih tzus is taking away privileges.
This may seem like a good idea, but it can actually be quite damaging to your pup’s development and behavior.
When you take away privileges, you are essentially punishing your Shih Tzu for their misbehavior.
This can lead to feelings of resentment and confusion, which can make it harder for them to learn the right behavior in the future.
18. Using physical punishment
One of the most important things to remember when disciplining your Shih Tzu is to never use physical punishment.
This includes hitting, shaking, or any other form of physical abuse.
Not only is this cruel and unnecessary, but it can also cause serious physical and psychological damage to your pet.
Physical punishment can also lead to fear, aggression, and other behavioral issues that could be difficult to reverse.
Types Of Discipline For Your Shih Tzu
- Positive reinforcement- This is when you give your Shih Tzu positive attention and reward them for good behaviors. This can be anything from praising them when they sit, stay, or come when called, to giving them treats or toys when they do well.
- Time-out- This is a punishment tactic that involves taking your Shih Tzu away from the situation or object they are misbehaving around for a set period of time. This can help to teach them that misbehavior will not be tolerated.
- Physical discipline- This includes things like shaking, scruff or punishing with a leash correction. It is important to use a light touch and not to hurt your Shih Tzu, as this will only make the situation worse.
- House training- This is one of the most important aspects of disciplining your Shih Tzu. You need to teach them how to go inside and use the bathroom, and then keep them clean and tidy while they are indoors.
Others are;
- Positive reinforcement
- Time out
- Separation
- Low-value treats
- House training
- Leash training
- Food-related discipline
- Routine
- Containment
Guidelines For Discipline A Shih Tzu
The following are some guidelines for disciplining your Shih Tzu:
- Be consistent in your discipline.
- Be clear and concise in your commands.
- Be patient with your Shih Tzu.
- Be consistent in your punishments.
- Be consistent in your rewards.
- Be consistent in your handling.
- Be consistent in your training.
- Be positive and encouraging in your commands and discipline.
- Be consistent in your expectations.
- Establish and follow a routine for discipline.
Conclusion
There are a few steps that one can take when disciplining their Shih Tzu. One important factor to consider is the dog’s temperament.
If the Shih Tzu is temperamentally docile, then a light tap on the behind may be all that is necessary.
If, on the other hand, the dog is more aggressive or reactive, then harsher disciplinary measures may be necessary.
Some other factors to consider when disciplining a Shih Tzu include the severity of the offense, whether the dog has been previously disciplined in the same way, and whether the dog is familiar with the disciplinary procedure.
Overall, it is important to take into account the individual dog’s personality and temperament in order to create a disciplinary plan that is effective and safe.
