.: Shih Tzu - Teaching Your Shih Tzu To Use A Collar And Lead
By:Connie Limon
Category:Home / Pets and Animals
Walking on a collar and lead is an important skill that every shih tzu must learn. Even the best trained shih tzu should never be taken outside the home or yard without a sturdy collar and leash. Even if your shih tzu is trained perfectly to go off lead, accidents and distractions do happen, and a collar, with proper identification attached, is the best way to be sure you will get your beloved companion back.
Of course before you can teach your new shih tzu puppy to accept a leash, he or she must first learn to accept wearing a collar. The first step is to choose a collar that fits the shih tzu properly. It is important to measure the shih tzu puppy’s neck, and to choose a collar size accordingly. After the collar has been put on the shih tzu puppy, simply let him or her get used to it. It is not unusual for a shih tzu puppy to try to pull on the collar, whine, roll or squirm when first introduced to a collar.
The best strategy is to simply ignore the shih tzu puppy and let him or her get used to the collar. It is a mistake to either punish the shih tzu for playing with the collar or to encourage the behavior. Distracting the shih tzu puppy often helps, and playing with a favorite toy, or eating some favorite treats, can help the shih tzu puppy quickly forget that he or she is wearing this strange piece of equipment.
After the shih tzu has learned to accept the collar, try adding the leash. Hook the leash to the collar and simply sit and watch the shih tzu puppy. Obviously, this should only be done either in the house or in a confined outdoor area. The shih tzu puppy should be allowed to drag the leash around on its own, but of course the owner should keep a close eye on the shih tzu puppy to ensure that the leash does not become snagged or hung up on anything.
At first, the leash should only be left on for a few minutes at a time. It is a good idea to attach the leash at mealtimes, playtime and other positive times in the life of the shih tzu puppy. That way the shih tzu puppy will begin to associate the leash with good things and look forward to it. If the shih tzu puppy shows a high degree of fear of the leash, it is a good idea to place it next to the food bowl for awhile to let him get used to it slowly. Eventually, he will come to understand that the leash is nothing to be afraid of.
After the shih tzu puppy is comfortable with walking around the house wearing the leash, it is time for you to pick up the end of the leash for a few minutes. You should not try to walk the shih tzu puppy on the leash; simply hold the end of the leash and follow the shih tzu puppy around as he or she walks around. You should try to avoid situations where the leash becomes taut, and any pulling or straining on the leash should be avoided. It is fine for the shih tzu puppy to sit down. Try a few games with the collar and lead. For instance, back up and encourage the shih tzu puppy to walk toward you. Don’t drag the shih tzu puppy forward, simply encourage him to come to you. If he does, praise him profusely and reward him with a food treat or toy. You should always strive to make all the time spent on the leash as pleasant as possible.
It is important to give the shih tzu puppy plenty of practice in getting used to walking on the leash in the home. It is best to do plenty of work in the home, since it is a safe environment with few distractions. After the shih tzu puppy is comfortable walking indoors on a leash, it is time to start going outside, beginning of course in a small, enclosed area like a fenced yard. After the shih tzu puppy has mastered walking calmly outdoors on a leash, it is time to visit some places where there are more distractions. You may want to start with a place like a neighbor’s yard. Walking your new shih tzu puppy around the neighborhood is a good way to introduce your neighbors to the new shih tzu puppy, while giving the shih tzu puppy valuable experience in avoiding distractions and focusing on his leash training.
Shih tzu puppies sometimes develop bad habits with their leashes, such as biting or chewing on the leash. To discourage this type of behavior, try applying a little bit of bitter apple, Tabasco sauce or similar substance (just make sure the substance you use is not toxic to dogs). This strategy usually convinces shih tzu puppies that chewing the leash is a bad idea.
Article keywords: shih tzu, shih tzu puppy, shih tzu puppies, dog, dogs
Article Source: http://www.articles32.com
Connie Limon is a professional shih tzu breeder. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts on shih tzu puppies are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com
.: New Pets and Animals Articles
1). A First Aid Kit For Your Dog
In a time when "always be prepared" is a mantra repeated by everyone, pet owners would do well to take up that mantra as well.
2). Choosing an Obedience Training Class for Your Puppy or Dog
If you have decided to enroll your four-legged friend in an obedience training class, there are a few tips to keep in mind to make sure that your choice is the right one. Choosing a dog trainer requires much more than simply selecting a name at random from the phone book and, when it comes to your pet, nothing but the best will do.
3). The Truth Behind Creepy Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs are one of the cutest animals on the face of the earth, they are plump little fur-balls that love to play and squeak. However some people say that they have creepy guinea pigs!
4). Tips and Tricks Caring for Adult Size Ferrets
Through the lifecycle of ferrets, they are born quite small, and grow quite quickly until they are fully grown adult size ferrets. When they are at this size they are almost the length of two male hands, and they are quite long and slender with short limbs, which makes them quite humorous to look at.
5). Learn Everything There Is To Know About Parrots Sounds
Nowadays parrots have become very desired and popular pets for bird-fanciers. Of course, one the reasons is the bright colors of the birds plumage. But another and the most important motive is parrots ability to reproduce human speech.
6). Some Reasons To Get Yourself A Pug Mix Breed
Pug mix is a cross between a Pug and another breed. Nowadays a term designer dog is wildly used to name hybrid dogs that have been selectively bred.
7). Dog Beds - Are They Fun Or Functional?
Is a dog bed really necessary or just another toy? Find out the answer and how to select the right dog bed for your dog in this article
.: Top Pets and Animals Articles
1). Winter Dog Agility Training
Yes, its cold outside, but don't stop your dog's agility training. Depending on where you live, there might be snow on the ground from November through March, but thats no reason to give up your agility training. Bring your training indoors, right at your own home.
Get creative with your training locations. Do you have a hallway, basement, or garage? Then you have a place to train! Before it snows and your equipment is frozen to the ground, store some in your garage, shed, basement, or put a tarp over it.
2). Stop Dogs Eating Dog Poop (Coprophagia)
Dogs eating poop is a disgusting and nonsensical habit from our human point of view. Find out why your dog does it, and how to put a stop to it.
3). Dogs That Refuse to Eat - What Causes This and How Can it Be Resolved?
When a pet dog refuses to eat, the problem is either physical or psychological. When a pet dog refuses to eat, his owner pleads with him and tries to tempt him with food fed by hand. If the dog is sufficiently neglected and bored he may try this to get attention. An intelligent owner will counter this common canine play by giving his dog companionship by playing with him and taking him for a daily walk.
4). The Mixed Breeds – More than Mutts
Many of the world’s best pets, most loved companions and smartest dogs are mixed breeds, or "Muts". But think about it, all of today’s most popular breeds were at one time unrecognized. Today’s mixed breeds may very well appear in tomorrow’s dog shows.
5). Stages of Whelphing a Litter of Puppies
Your dog being pregnant can be a nerve racking time for owners who have not had the experience before. Just like with human babies the first is the most challenging and if you intend on doing this often – don't worry it gets easier with practice.
Follow some of these tips for making the birthing process as easy as you can for your dog.
Labor
Generally dogs give birth after about 63 days of pregnancy.
6). The Oranda Goldfish
Learn about this beautiful gold fish that has been fancied for centuries.
7). How To Stop A Dog From Chewing
Most normal dogs will bite and chew. While you cannot completely erase this behavior, you can regulate it and influence the dog’s behavior.