What advice can you give me for house training my new Shih-Tsu pup?

Question

He is 8 weeks old and I'll be picking him up tomorrow. I'd like to break him in immediately. Can you provide tips for house training him and provide a list of doggy supplies to have on-hand?

Yeah, I'd like to crate training him; although I know his owner mentioned that the litter has pooped in thier bed spot a couple times. I hope he doesn't poop in his crate too.

Answer 1

- Get a Housebreaking pad
- Buy a lot of Dog Stain Remover (lol)
- Take him out every 30 mins.
And...........
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

Are you gonna crate train him or paper train him?
Just take him out almost after everytime he eats,drink,play,sleep, or getting ready to sleep. Say "No" Firmly if he "uh-ohs" and take him to his spot. Also, since it's a male buy some spray so he doesn't mark his spot again
Here's a list you don't need all the items but here it is anyways.
1. A crate for the pup to sleep in.
2. Treats to help learn.
3. Leash.
4. Puppy food.
5. Water and food bowls.
6. A couple toys to chew on. Kongs are really good.
7. A collar and dog-tag with the pup's name/address.
8. Brush to curb shedding.
9. A "clean-up" spray that eliminates odors so the pup won't go to the bathroom in that spot again.
10. A "don't chew" spray like Bitter Apple.
11. Puppy shampoo for baths.
You can go to petsmart.com or petco.com
Good luck! Shih tzu's are so cute!!!! Here's a little wesite for you-http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/dogbree...

Answer 3

Get him into an obedience class as soon as you can. I waited too long with my current dog. I waited until she was about 10 mo. and driving me nuts before I got her the professional help she needed.

I recommend a wire cage that the pup can see out of in all directions.

I don't know if anyone told youm but puppies bladders aren't fully developed til about a year. This means they have to be let outside every hour or more!

The main thing is to praise the pup whenever it does something good. (like when it waits patiently while you put it's food into it's dish, doesn't jump on someone, barks at the door to go out, etc.) You need to establish your authority from the very beginning. Your pup needs to know you are the top dog , or leader of the pack,so to speak. A good way to do this is to hold the puppy gently on it's back, like you would hold an infant and look (not stare) into it's eyes. My dog who is sweet but very stubborn hates when I do that! Also every time you are about to feed it, scoop the chow into the dish and then pretend to eat a few bits yourself. This also tells the dog you are the head honcho. Whatever you do, don't ever hit the dog or scream at it. It doesn't work. And you will exhaust yourself, too. I recommend getting a few rawhides and saving them for when you have company and need for the dog to be very quiet. It will entertain it for hours. The flavored rawhides are probably the best to get. Another way to tell your dog you are in charge is to always walk in the dog first and let the dog follow you. When you walk it, have the dog walk beside you or behind you, never in front of you. That's the toughest to do. I've never met a dog who actually wants to heel.

Answer 4

I highly recommend you invest in a good crate and not use puppy pads/newspaper. In my opinion, training a puppy to use puppy pads/newspaper just shows him it's okay to go inside.

Since your puppy is young, you may need to take him out every half hour. This should give him plenty of opportunities to go outside. Take him outside 10-15 minutes after every meal, right when he wakes up from a nap and in the morning, 20-30 minutes before bedtime, and after every play session. It seems like a lot, but trust me. Puppies have very small bladders and little control over them, so they need to go out often. I, personally, have had experience with this potty schedule for a puppy and he did have to go out that often, and he had fewer accidents in the house when he was taken out that often throughout the day.

When you can not watch the puppy, even if it's just going to answer the phone in another room, crate the puppy. A crate, by no means, is a puppy jail when used correctly. It's a training tool, and can be very effective. Crate the puppy at bedtime to prevent him from using any place to go to the bathroom when you're sleeping. Dogs, generally, won't use the bathroom in the same area they sleep, so it's important to be sure that the crate is only big enough for your puppy to sit, stand, turn around, and lay down comfortably in. Any bigger and he could eliminate in one area and sleep in another.

When he does go to the bathroom outdoors, praise praise praise him! You can even give him a treat whenever he does his business outside. You want him to see that you'll be very happy when he goes outside and he'll be rewarded for it.

If he does have an accident indoors, do not punish him in any way. Even a light tap on the bottom with a newspaper isn't necessary. If you catch him in the act of going, clap your hands loudly to startle him, firmly say no, and bring him immediately outside to finish. Praise him if he finishes up. If you don't catch him in the act, just clean it up well and use an odor remover to prevent him from being tempted to go there again. Correcting or punishing him when you didn't catch him doing it will not show him what he did wrong. All you can do is take it as a lesson learned that you need to watch him more carefully.

It is very possible to skip the crate training and just go by the schedule, but there is more of a chance that he'll go somewhere in the house and you won't know until you smell it, a stain has set in, or you find it later on. My cousin's puppy was not crate trained, but he was put on this schedule. Although it's taken longer, he has learned to hold it until he's taken out, but when he's not taken out regularly throughout the day, he WILL go in the house, even if you turn your back on him for a minute. You need to watch for signs that your puppy needs to use the bathroom such as whining, excessive sniffing, pacing, etc.

Puppies are just like babies. They need to be watched constantly, and are still learning new things every day. With patience and consistency, your puppy will pick up potty training quickly.

EDIT: I didn't see that you wanted a list of some dog supplies. Here are a few that you'll probably need right away.
- Leash
- Collar/Harness
- High Quality Dog Food
- ID Tag
- Water and Food Bowls
- A good cleaner and odor remover
- Bitter Apple to curb chewing
- A few toys

Later on, you can get some puppy shampoo, nail clippers, brushes, etc. When he's old enough, you can get a heart worm preventative and flea+tick preventative. Also, as kathiibabii stated, a vet appointment will be needed soon. I would recommend you get him into see a vet after he has had time to settle into his new home (maybe a week or two after) just to make sure he's healthy, and schedule an appointment for his next puppy shots.

Answer 5

I pretty much agree with everyones list of supplies. The trick to good housetraining is a religiously followed schedule. A puppy needs to go frequently, about every hour or so plus about ten til fifteen minutes after eating, and after a play session. If there is an accident ( and there will be) do not punish, just clean it up. If caught in the act, clap your hands to get him to stop and then take him out. Clean up the mess. If he doesn't, let him finish, then clean it up. When he goes potty outside, praise him alot, give treats. I hope you have a lot of fun with your new Shih Tzu!!

Answer 6

Nothing beats crate training for housebreaking a puppy! Remember, a crate is a training tool, not a jail cell! Here is a good article on crate training:

http://www.siriuspup.com/behavior_problems.html

Answer 7

Shih tzus are very smart.

Vet appointment [puppy shots and check up]*
Food*
Leash*
Collar*
Harness?
2 bowls*
Dog Tag [if you know his name]
Treats
Brush
Toys*
Heartguard [get this at your vets]
Flea and Tick preventative [get this at your vets]
Nail clipper
Doggy Toothbrush [important! shihtzus are prone to early tooth loose]
Doggy Toothpaste [important! shih tzus are prone to early tooth loose]
Doggy Shampoo
Doggy Conditioner?
Carpet, Floor cleaner*
Puppy pads?
Crate/Cage

?- if you want
* - before dog arrives
The others you should get soon


Shih tzus are very smart and will remember things if you say "no" Sternly.

For training and tricks.

How to let her know what "Sit" means - works for every trick
put her bottom down gently and say "sit" then give her a treat
do this multiple times till she starts getting it
stop putting her bottom down say "sit" and give a treat if she does it. if not keep putting her bottom down
eventually stop giving treats and see if she still does it

Look at these 2 sites

http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/training/shihtzu.html
http://www.inch.com/~dogs/cratetraining.html\




EDIT
Your friend's crate was too big she had enough room to not lay in the poop. Ask the store what size is good for your dog. I suggest getting one thats right for her adult size and has a divider for when shes growing.

Mine came with a divider. Try Midwest crates from Petsmart. Ask them to help you

Answer 8

To house train a dog, you want to catch the dog in the act. If you find him peeing in the house strongly say NO! and drag him outside. Make sure when he pees outside praise him a lot. (tummy rubs, treats, etc) Same with puppy pads. Let him get used to his new home before you try to housebreak him.

Answer 9

Shih-Tzu doggies could be residing house experienced, even deaf dogs could be residing house experienced. i'm hoping the vet positioned you in touch with a coach which could help with deaf dogs. you may desire to coach them sign language! 6 weeks is the minimum age. it might count extra on the dimensions than the impressive age. The tiniest puppy interior the muddle might might desire to stay with mom longer.

Answer 10

make an area for him and put newspaper there and go from there or when ever he starts to go try 2 stop it and say no and put him whereever u want him 2 go 4 a while