Popular for their lush coat, celebrity-like demeanor, the Shih Tzu makes for a great companion dog. Their lush coat just demands to be combed, and the princess-nature of this breed may end up bossing you around. You can’t have this little cute dog have what it wants all the time, even though that’s exactly what many pet owners want to do.

House training is badly needed. You might be having difficult early sessions when training your Teacup Shih Tzu, since that dog has a strong sense of self, to the point of being very stubborn. Scolding the little ball of great fur might lead it to become socially withdrawn, and you don’t want that.

You must be level-headed with your Shih Tzu. When you punish your dog too much, that may only end up in confusing your dog. It might just engage more in the behavior you want it to stop doing. Because of the punishment, the dog might even become socially withdrawn.

It’s got very little control of when it relieves itself, that dog, so you should at least know that. You need to be ready to clean up, since that potty and peeing thing can happen anytime. Positive reinforcement is key, as lack of this may end up with a Shih Tzu that’s uncooperative.

Training a Shih Tzu may not be easy, as it’s hard to make it do what you want: all you can do is provide a setting and a set of routines where it can pee and potty conveniently. If you can do that, the dog will be easier to house train.

You Shih Tzu, as with any dog, will perform its pottying business, whether you’re aware of it or not. There are telltale signs of pottying or peeing that you need to watch out for. These signs are whining, crying, pacing anxiously, and sniffing the ground. You need to act quickly when you see these signs – bring the dog outside, or to a designated potty area indoors.

As a rule, Shih Tzu usually need to go right after they wake up or after eating, so take them out after these and praise them when they relieve themselves on the spot that’s designated. Your dog needs to learn to do its deed pretty much based on your schedule, but since that’s not always possible you may need to set up a schedule the dog can easily remember over time. Since we all can’t be available to let the dog out every few hours, it’s best to have a designated and confined area in the house covered with newspapers.

When the Teacup Shih Tzu tends to wait till it walks up to the right spot, that’s always a great sign. Praise your dog when you see this – every time you see this – because that means it’s getting used to holding off its pee or poop until it gets to the designated relieving area.

Resource Box

A Teacup Shih Tzu is a particular type of Shih Tzu. If you’re looking for such a breed, your best bet is to contact a reputable breeder. Be informed, however, that a Teacup Shih Tzu, as with any kind of Shih Tzu, demands constant grooming so its lush coat can remain tangle-free.