The earliest ?Lion Dog? in Tibet had long hair, were small in size and similar to the Maltese in type. As Tibet and China exchanged traditions and beliefs of culture and religion, the exchange of dogs became a two-way affair as well. The Chinese definitely interbred their small dogs, which were of many varieties, with the Tibetans with long hair, and the people of Tibet no doubt interbred their small dog with those from the Chinese people.

The outcome of this interbreeding eventually became the Shih Tzu. The Chinese called the Shih Tzu ?Tibetan Lion Dog.? The Apso was also involved with the interbreeding practices. The Tibetans called the Apso, ?ApsoSeng Kyi? or ?Apso Lion Dog.?

The Chinese tried to retain the characteristics they admired, which was the unnaturally short face and broad head, the wide barrel-like chest and the low-to-the-ground look.

The Tibetans, however, could not hold these same characteristics because of the climate and environment of their land. Tibet is an area of high altitudes. The very short face with restricted nasal development (which incidentally gives many Shih Tzu lovers a great pain to deal with at times) and the heavy body and short legs of the Chinese Shih Tzu would be at a disadvantage in these conditions. They could not breathe and survive in the high altitudes of Tibet. The Lhasa Apso could survive in Tibet. The Tibetans produced a dog slightly modified from the Chinese dog of a similar ancestry which was the Lhasa Apso.

The Tibetan Terrier (also involved in the exchanges between Tibet and China) is probably closes to the basic canine with a long head, compact and natural in conformation. Then comes the Apso, which begins to show the influence of some of the Chinese type. This influence resulted in a smaller dog, shorter on leg than the terrier relative, shorter nose than the terrier, and the teeth and jaw formation revealed a shortening of the face. The eyes are more frontally placed.

The eyes of the Shih Tzu have always been one of its most valued signature characteristics. I have never met a Shih Tzu that did not have a warm expression that radiated through its eyes. Some Shih Tzu has this characteristic greater than others. They are almost human-like.

When comparing the Shih Tzu to the Apso, one can see the most distinct Chinese characteristics. I have had Shih Tzu that look as if you are absolutely looking right at a Chinese in person. I am amazed at how the Chinese accomplished this. It truly was a work of art, as they did not breed according to pedigree as we do. They bred according to a picture of their minds of what they wanted the Shih Tzu to look like. Most of the time, their goal was to create the Shih Tzu to resemble what they thought a Lion should look like, and they apparently also, created Shih Tzu to resemble themselves in the face.

Smallness must have been fashionable and something of a status symbol in both the Apso and the Shih Tzu as well as the Pekingese. The Pekingese were also involved in the interbreedings to reduce size.

It should be noted here, however, that this article addresses the history and development of the Shih Tzu breed. The American Shih Tzu Club?s Code of Ethics clearly states it is against their rules, ethics, standards to breed our present day Shih Tzu with any other breed. It must be understood that this article is not an endorsement of any kind of practice that is against the rules and regulations of The American Shih Tzu Club or the American Kennel Club. This is an article regarding the history and development of our Shih Tzu.

Connie Limon is a 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 are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

By the 1930′s, the Peking Kennel Club was faced with the existence of a variety of colors. The Peking Kennel Club wanted to do justice to the facts of history regarding the highly favoured Imperial color of Tawny or honey-coloured or Golden – The Yellows. At that time, their Shih Tzu standard read: All colors permissible, single and mixed. Tawny or honey-coloured highly favoured. The British Shih Tzu standard read: All colors permissible, but adds the words, a white blaze on the forehead and a white tip to the tail are highly prized. And now the French Shih Tzu standard of the mid-1950′s comments honey-colored and white are rare and much appreciated.

It has been said the color white in Shih Tzu is recessive and such Shih Tzu should not be bred. However, there is fact that a leading French breeder in Peking – not the Countess d’anjou – had a large number of all-white Shih Tzu. There is question of who actually appreciated the all-white Shih Tzu. Was it the Westerners more than the natives of the Peking? This question arises out of the fact that there seems little doubt that a a pure white dog, being the color of mourning to the Chinese people, was not an asset, because the Chinese people truly hate to be reminded of death. The aversion did not apply to the white markings on the head or the tail. This could also account to the scarcity we now have of the all-white Shih Tzu. Down through time, the American Kennel Club judged them in the Miscellaneous Class, which ran all colors are allowable but in general the darker shades predominate. The white blaze, collar, socks and tail-tip combine to create a highly prized ensemble of a Shih Tzu.

Since the Chinese regarded the yellow-colored Shih Tzu as especially precious we can also understand that it was particularly difficult for westerners to get hold of them. In the Lion Dog Through the Looking Glass (a publication during the 1950′s) it is told that the black and white, and grey and white were the first found on the market at street fairs in China, yet even in their cases exportation was at first forbidden. It seems to me we can conclude, the Shih Tzu owners and breeders of Peking, The Chinese People, were extremely possessive of the Shih Tzu in their favoured color, of Yellow, yet were also somewhat possessive of all of the other colors as well. The Shih Tzu was surely very highly treasured by the Chinese people in those days. They were selfish with them. Makes one think they knew something about them very secret and most likely it was something that brought them great emotional pleasure. All humans are drawn to anything that brings them great emotional pleasure.

When it did become possible to export specimens of the breed, the least favoured colors were the most easily obtainable. Some years later, in the Great Britain show ring the dominant colors were black and white, grey and white and shades of brindle and white with a few solid blacks. Even today, these are the same exact colors I started out with in my breeding of the Shih Tzu. I have a few of the Chinese Yellow, honey, or golden colors. Most plentiful to purchase for me has been the black and the white, the grey and white and the brindles. I still tend to believe our deep hershey chocolate color is a new color in the breed, as is the blue. The American Kennel Club has just recently added the color blue to their list of colors on their AKC registration forms.

Color in the Shih Tzu is so fascinating and to me are the most beautiful shades of several basic colors of the black, gold and grey. We might even owe the highly prized white tips to the tail and on top the head to the very early French breeder who had the all-white Shih Tzu that left us few descendants. White still seems to be harder to find, and does not seem as popular as the blue and chocolate in the years of 2000. I have one white female, Bailey of whom I am hoping to produce other solid whites, but also the chocolates and blue’s as I mate her to my different males. Visit us and sign up for our NEW weekly ezine for future breedings to see what we come up with.

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Keeping the attention of a shih tzu while training is not always easy. Shih Tzu can be easily distracted, and it is important to not allow the training sessions to be sabotaged by boredom. Making training fun for the shih tzu and the human alike is vital to creating a happy, well adjusted and well trained shih tzu.

Providing random positive stimuli during the day is a great way to keep the interest of the shih tzu. Doing things the shih tzu enjoys, like walking in the park, riding in the car, and playing with other dogs, is a great way to keep the shih tzu?s attention and reward him for small successes.

For instance, in order to reward the shih tzu for coming to you, for instance, ask the shih tzu to come to you, without giving any clues about a walk, a car ride, or other treats. After the shih tzu has come to you and obediently sat down, attach the leash and start the reward. This can be either the aforementioned walk in the park, ride in the car, or anything else the shih tzu likes to do.

Providing some kind of reward, whether a treat, a special outing, or just a scratch behind the ears, every time the shih tzu does something you want, is a great way to keep your shih tzu motivated. If the shih tzu knows something great is going to happen every time he obeys your command, he will be motivated to please you every time.

Distraction training

When training any shih tzu, it is important to not let distractions disrupt the training. The shih tzu must be taught to ignore distractions, such as other people, other dogs, other animals and loud noises, and focus on what is being taught These types of distractions can even be used as rewards when training the shih tzu to come when called.

For instance, if your shih tzu enjoys playing with other dogs, whether in a local dog park or with the neighbor?s dogs, let him play freely with those other dogs. Then go into the park or yard and call your shih tzu. When he comes to you, provide lots of praise, treats and other rewards, then immediately allow the shih tzu to go back to playing with his friends. Repeat this several times and praise the shih tzu each time he comes to you. The shih tzu will quickly learn that coming to you means good things (treats and praise) and not bad ones (being taken away from the park).

If the shih tzu does not master this particular type of training right away, try not to get discouraged. So called distraction training is one of the most difficult things to teach. Dogs are naturally social animals, and breaking away from the pack is one of the most difficult things you can ask your shih tzu to do. Most dogs will be understandably reluctant to leave their canine companions, but it is important to persist.

Training the shih tzu to come to you may require some creativity on your part at first. For instance, waving a favorite toy, or a lure, is a great way to get your shih tzu?s attention and put the focus back on you. If your shih tzu has been clicker trained, a quick click can be a good motivator as well.

Once the shih tzu begins to get the hang of coming when called, you can begin to reduce and eliminate the visual cues and focus on getting the shih tzu to respond to your voice alone. It is important that the shih tzu respond to voice commands alone, since you will not always have the availability of a toy or other lure.

Connie Limon is a 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 are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

House training is one of the most important elements of creating a well trained shih tzu and trusted family member. Problems with house training and similar issues are the number one reason that dogs are surrendered to shelters, so properly house training your shih tzu can literally save his or her life.

House training a shih tzu puppy does not need to be difficult, but it is important to take the process seriously, plan ahead and take things slowly. Some shih tzu will be easier to house break than others, so it important to work with your shih tzu. Rushing the process can be counterproductive and cause you to have to start all over again.

When it comes to house training a new shih tzu puppy, it is important to know what to expect. Unless the owner is able to supervise the shih tzu puppy round the clock, it is difficult to complete the house training process until the shih tzu is at least six months old. It is important to know this ahead of time so you can be prepared. Young shih tzu puppies have bodies that are constantly changing and growing, and shih tzu puppies younger than six months often have not developed the bowel and bladder control they will need to be properly house trained.

When the owner is not at home, the shih tzu puppy should be confined to a small room and the entire floor should be covered with paper. Of course it is important to puppy-proof the room, that is removing any items on which the shih tzu puppy could be injured. In the beginning, the shih tzu puppy will most likely eliminate anywhere within the room. In addition, the shih tzu puppy will probably play with the papers, chew them, etc. This is perfectly normal and should not be grounds for punishment or distress. Cleaning up each day should simply be part of the routine of living with a new shih tzu puppy. Simply clean up the soiled papers and put down new ones each day.

Time for paper training

During the time that the shih tzu puppy is confined in its little den, it will begin to develop the habit of eliminating on paper. After a little time has passed, the shih tzu puppy will begin to exhibit a preferred place to eliminate. After this preferred spot has been established, the area that is papered should be slowly diminished. The first papers to be removed should be those that are furthest away from the ?toilet?. Eventually, the owner will have to lay down only a few papers. If the shih tzu puppy ever misses those papers, it means that the papered area has been reduced too much and too soon.

After the shih tzu puppy is reliability doing its business only on the papers that have been left, the papers can be slowly and gradually moved to a location of your choice. The papers should be moved only gradually, as little as an inch a day. If the shih tzu puppy misses the papers, again it means that they have been moved too soon and too far. In this case it will be necessary to go back a few steps and start over. It is important not to become discouraged. The shih tzu puppy will eventually understand the concept, and you will be able to choose your shih tzu?s toilet area and move on to the next step.

House training when the owner is home

Obviously the more time you can spend with your shih tzu puppy the faster the house training will go. The objective should be to take the shih tzu puppy to the toilet area every time he needs to do his business. In most cases this will be either every 45 minutes, right after each play session, after he first wakes up or right after he eats or drinks. It is important to provide effusive praise for the puppy when he eliminates in the established toilet area.

As the shih tzu puppy becomes more used to using his toilet area, and as he develops improved bladder and bowel control, he will be able to begin spending more and more time outside his den with his owner in the rest of the home. It is important to begin this process by allowing the shih tzu puppy access to one room at a time. It is also important to allow the shih tzu puppy in the extra room only when he can be supervised. When you must leave the room, be sure to put the shih tzu puppy back in his den.

Connie Limon is a professional shih tzu breeder in Indiana. 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

Everyone who owns a Shih Tzu puppy or Shih Tzu dog will eventually have to deal with and correct less than desirable behaviors on the part of their companion animal. There are a number of behaviors that should be nipped in the bud, including:

Jumping up on people

This is one of those behaviors that many owners inadvertently encourage in their animals, since jumping up, wagging his tail and the like can be adorable in a young Shih Tzu puppy. When that Shih Tzu puppy is older, larger and heavier, however, this jumping up behavior ceases to be cute and begins to become annoying and even dangerous.

A large, heavy dog jumping up on people can be dangerous to young children and even to some adults, since a large, 100 pound plus dog can easily knock down a child or small adult. Since you as the owner are responsible for the behavior of your dog, it is important to nip this problem behavior in the bud. Not to worry your Shih Tzu will never 100 pounds, however, you still need to be cautious and nip this behavior in the bud before it causes you problems.

The best time to do that, of course, is when the Shih Tzu puppy is still small and easy to handle. When the Shih Tzu puppy jumps up on you or someone else, gently place the Shih Tzu puppy?s feet back on the floor. When the Shih Tzu dog remains standing there, be sure to praise it extensively.

It is also important to give the Shih Tzu puppy an alternative to jumping up. Shih Tzu puppies jump up on people to express their enthusiasm, so it is important to redirect this energy in a more socially acceptable direction. Try teaching the Shih Tzu puppy to present his paw instead of jumping up.

When teaching the Shih Tzu puppy to not jump up on people, it is important to be consistent. Consistency is important in any training program, and all members of the family must understand that the Shih Tzu puppy is not permitted to jump on them.

Pulling, charging and tugging on the lead

One problem you definitely want to nip in the bud is this one. It is important that the Shih Tzu puppy learn to respect the collar and leash now, when he is still small and light enough to handle. Teaching this lesson to a 3 pound Shih Tzu puppy will be much easier than teaching the same lesson to a 12 pound Shih Tzu dog.

Using a good strong body harness or head collar can be a big help when training a Shih Tzu puppy not to pull, or to retrain a Shih Tzu dog that has already learned to pull on the leash. When first fitting a harness, it is important to allow the Shih Tzu puppy to walk around wearing it, so that he can get used to wearing it.

The first thing your Shih Tzu puppy must learn, and the basis of all subsequent training, is teaching your Shih Tzu to heel. Teaching your Shih Tzu to walk quietly at your side on a loose lead is the basis of all Shih Tzu training, and until your Shih Tzu puppy has mastered this vital skill he will be unable to move onto more advanced training.

When walking with a Shih Tzu puppy on a leash, it is important to always keep slack in the leash. If the Shih Tzu puppy begins to pull on the leash, the handler should quickly change directions. The Shih Tzu puppy will then find itself lagging behind instead of forging ahead. The leash will be loose except for the split second it takes to change directions. It is important for the handler to use a quick tug of the leash, followed by an immediate loosening, when teaching this lesson.

When teaching the Shih Tzu puppy to walk properly, it is important to never allow the Shih Tzu puppy to pull you around, or to forge ahead on the leash. Allowing the Shih Tzu puppy to pull you around will teach him exactly the wrong lesson.

Connie Limon is a 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 are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

Whelping a litter Shih Tzu puppies can sometimes be physically and emotionally exhausting for both you and the Shih Tzu matron. Before you take your well deserved rest, be certain the Shih Tzu matron and Shih Tzu puppies are comfortable, each Shih Tzu puppy has nursed well, the heat lamp is not too close, and the heating pad is not turned up too high. At this time it is crucial to maintain proper environmental temperatures. Newborn Shih Tzu puppies are incapable of controlling their own body temperatures. Chilling to any degree leaves newborn Shih Tzu puppies susceptible to infectious disease. Room temperature should be maintained at about 85 degrees Fahrenheit for at least their first few days.

Initially offer your Shih Tzu dam only soft, messy-type foods and supplements of a high quality milk replacement added to her food. I like using Pedigree Lamb and Rice canned formula with Just Born milk replacement powder sprinkled on top or mixed within.

Most Shih Tzu dams are ready for a good meal once whelping is over and the puppies are all settled in nursing well. However, do not worry if she refuses one or two feedings during her first 24 hours of motherhood. Do not expect her to leave her newborn Shih Tzu puppies. If she is too exhausted to eat right after whelping, she will be ready by the next day most usually.

To prevent serious cleanup problems, place four interlocking layers of open newspaper on the floor over heavy plastic film such as that used by painters. Plastic sheeting covered by newspaper saves all flooring, is nonporous, makes any cleanup easy and is inexpensive to purchase.

Use Clorox bleach, ? cup to a gallon of water to disinfect the Shih Tzu whelping box and immediate area. You will need to disinfect daily.

Two days following whelping, offer your Shih Tzu matron soft food mixed with a high quality dog food. I use HealthyPetNet Life?s Abundance and have found it to be the absolute best food for my Shih Tzu.

Your Shih Tzu dam should be seen by a veterinarian for a postpartum examination within 24 hours of whelping. It is not uncommon for a Shih Tzu dam to retain one or more placentas, large amounts of blood and other body fluids in the uterus. It is also possible that she retained one or two Shih Tzu puppies as well. All of these need to be expelled immediately. Retention will predispose the Shih Tzu dam to infection. Many veterinarians will give the oxytocin shot within the first 24 hours of whelping to help her expel any retained fluids, placental material and/or puppies.

Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Pet clothing is offered on the website. Discounts are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

The same tensions that occur in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder occur in dogs and Shih Tzu occasionally. Arising out of stress and conflict the obsessive-compulsive behaviors have some soothing effects on mood. Prevention of dogs from engaging in their particular compulsions can create anxiety in its own right.

There are two factors that seem to be necessary for the development of compulsive behaviors in dogs and Shih Tzu occasionally. Obsessive-compulsive behaviors are more often seen in the larger breed of dogs.

1.Genetic predisposition

2.Environmental stress that will trigger the expression of the behavior.

The stress can either be a sudden type of high-grade stress or a less severe long-standing pressure that causes a sudden or gradual onset of the condition. The behavior pattern that emerges will depend on the particular breed. In general, longhaired large breeds of dogs may over groom, herding breeds may chase or hoard and a pure predatory breed may bite, mouth or chase objects. In comparison to human obsessive-compulsive behaviors, a human may over groom by applying their lipstick over and over or continually rearranging their hair or even the hand washing ritual with the washing of the hands over and over again.

All the behaviors performed by compulsive canines are essentially normal behaviors. They are just performed over and over again and out of context. The same occurs with humans. There is nothing wrong with washing your hands repeatedly, but if you wash your hands several hundred times a day you have a problem. Psychiatrists treat the human problems on a case-by case basis. Veterinarians remain divided regarding the significance of canine overly expressed behaviors.

One of the big breakthroughs of canine obsessive-compulsive disorders came with the fairly wide acceptance in human medicine of the obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders. These disorders are of a compulsive nature and have certain causal and physiological features in common. Basically, humans no longer have to be a hand washer, hoarder, or checker to have OCD relating to concerns over personal safety. Instead a more general description involving other repetitive behaviors as well is the most current theory. If susceptible humans under various forms of stress react by performing various compulsive behaviors related to their own species such as grooming, exercising, gathering, hunting, dogs are probably doing the same. Dogs are self-groomers, predators and imbibers, which are a few of their naturalistic behaviors that become obsessive with them. For example, when stressed, a dog may begin to groom themselves excessively, or they may drink water excessively.

Lick granuloma in the canine is equivalent to hand washing in the human. Affected dogs lick their wrists or hocks excessively, over-cleaning or over grooming themselves until the skin in these regions is ulcerated. For years, no one knew why dogs engaged in this pointless, mindless behavior. Now, veterinarians are seeing the OCD link and with this understanding are able to treat the condition much more effectively. Lick granuloma primarily affects larger breeds of dogs such as Labradors, golden retrievers, Great Danes and Dobermans. Individual susceptibility and environmental influences are also required for the full expression of the behavior. Affected animals are usually anxious, sensitive, and high-strung and may give an impression of a generalized anxiety disorder. Environmental factors include various stresses and conflict situations, including separation anxiety or boredom.

Fortunately, the disorder of obsession-compulsive behaviors is not very prevalent in our beloved Shih Tzu.

Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

Coming when called is a vital skill that every shih tzu must learn, both for its own safety and that of those around it. A disobedient shih tzu that refuses to come when called could easily be hit by a car, get into a fight with another shih tzu, or suffer a variety of other bad experiences. A well trained shih tzu that comes when called can safely be taken out to play in the local park, at the beach, on the hiking trail, or anywhere else the owner and shih tzu may wish to go.

Basic training to come when called is relatively easy and straightforward, and involves providing praise, treats and other perks when the shih tzu does as his owner wants. After these basic come when called training exercises are mastered, there are a number of fun exercises that can be introduced to challenge the shih tzu and pique its interest.

Making training into a fun game is one of the best ways to motivate shih tzu and handler alike. It is easy for training sessions to become routine and boring, and it is important to keep them from degenerating into this state.

Before beginning any food based training exercise, it is important to make sure that the shih tzu is properly motivated and ready to respond to treat based training. Testing the shih tzu is simply a matter of taking a piece of his regular food and waving it in front of the shih tzu?s nose. If the shih tzu shows great enthusiasm for the food, it is ready to start the training. If not, it is best to wait until the shih tzu is in a more receptive mood.

The treats that work best for treat based training games like hide and seek are cut up quarter inch or smaller pieces of chicken, cheese or liver. In other words, something your dog will love. It is best to use very small pieces to avoid overfeeding the shih tzu during the training sessions.

One great game for you and another family member or friend to play with your shih tzu is simply back and forth recall. This is a great exercise for teaching your shih tzu to come whenever it is called by a member of the family. Shih Tzu often learn to only respond to one person, and this can be a problem when other people are watching the shih tzu. That is one reason why professional shih tzu trainers always insist on working with the owner as well as the shih tzu. A well trained dog must learn to respond to whoever is in charge, not just the owner or usual handler.

In the back and forth recall game, two or more people stand approximately ten yards apart, in a safe place like a fenced in yard. One person calls the shih tzu and asks him to sit and say until another person asks the shih tzu to come. When the shih tzu responds to the command to come, it is rewarded with a treat. Most shih tzu respond wonderfully to this exercise and love playing this game. When playing the back and forth recall game, it is important that only the person who called the shih tzu be allowed to give the shih tzu a treat.

After the shih tzu has mastered the back and forth recall game, the humans in the game can start to spread further out, thus turning the back and forth recall game into a fun game of hide and seek. The hide and seek game starts with two or more people in the center room of the house. Every time they call the shih tzu to come, they spread out further away from where they started. As the game continues, one person will be at one end of the house, while another may be at the opposite end. What makes the hide and seek game so much fun for the shih tzu is that he must seek out the person to get the treat, instead of simply running up to a person in plain sight. This type of seeking behavior appeals to many of the shih tzu?s natural instincts. After all, dogs are naturally hunting animals, and seeking out food is second nature to them.

Connie Limon is a 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 are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

Every shih tzu owner must eventually deal with some unwanted behaviors on the part of their four legged companions. Some of the most frequently encountered training problems with shih tzu puppies and shih tzu dogs alike are jumping on people and performing those amazing feats of escape.

Jumping up on people

Jumping up on people can be a cute trick for shih tzu puppies, but it quickly becomes a problem behavior as the shih tzu gets older, larger and heavier. A very heavy shih tzu can easily knock a child or even a small adult off his or her feet, so jumping on people can be a dangerous problem as well as an annoying one.

The reason shih tzu puppies and older shih tzu jump on people is obvious ? they are excited and happy to see them. Many people are reluctant to discourage this exuberant behavior, but it is important to redirect that happiness and energy in other ways. Many well meaning owners, family members and friends inadvertently encourage this jumping up behavior by picking the shih tzu puppy up, kissing it or otherwise providing encouragement.

This type of inconsistency is anathema to proper shih tzu training, and in order for the shih tzu to be trained not to jump, every member of the family must recognize and accept the importance of the training. If one member of the family allows the shih tzu dog to jump up while other family members do not, the shih tzu will understandably become confused and frustrated. The training must be firm, kind and consistent in order to be effective.

One way to redirect the shih tzu dog?s happiness and excitement from jumping is to teach him to lift his paw when greeting you. This ?shaking hands? posture is an acceptable way for the shih tzu to show his happiness and his respect. Many people even teach their shih tzu to do simple tricks, like rolling over, instead of jumping on people.

Escaping and roaming the neighborhood

A responsible shih tzu owner would never dream of allowing his or her shih tzu to roam the neighborhood freely. Allowing a shih tzu to roam on its own is irresponsible, dangerous (to the shih tzu and the neighborhood), and probably even illegal. Most towns have ordinances which prohibit dogs from being allowed to roam around free, so you could be in legal trouble if your dog is found wandering the neighborhood unattended.

Of course sometimes that wandering shih tzu is not the owner?s idea, and many dogs perform amazing feats of escape when left on their own. The temptations for unattended dogs are many, including passing bicycles, joggers, children, cats and other dogs. It is much easier to prevent escapes than to recapture a loose shih tzu, so let?s talk about some preventative measures every dog owner can take.

Removing the motivation to escape is a big part of the solution. A bored shih tzu is much more likely to spend his day plotting the great escape. A shih tzu that is surrounded by everything he or she needs, like lots of toys, a soft bed, and plenty of fresh clean, water, is more likely to spend his or her day contentedly sleeping or playing with toys until the owner returns.

In addition, a shih tzu with lots of pent up, unused energy is likely to try to escape. Try incorporating several vigorous play sessions with your shih tzu into your daily routine. Make one of those play sessions right before you leave. If your shih tzu has a chance to work off his or her energy, chances are he or she will sleep or relax much of the day.

Of course dealing with the shih tzu is only half the problem. It is also important to make the property as escape proof as possible, through proper fencing and other measures. For shih tzu that dig, it may be necessary to extend the fence underground by placing metal stakes in the ground every few feet. For shih tzu that jump, it may be necessary to make the fence higher. And if none of these measures work, it may be necessary to confine the shih tzu to the house when you are not at home.

Connie Limon is a 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 are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

Teaching a shih tzu to come when called is also called ?recall.? Recall is actually a series of behaviors. You want to make your shih tzu think that coming when called is the best thing that happens in his life. Practice a lot. Increase the distractions gradually so your shih tzu learns that coming to you is always more rewarding than anything else there is to do. Reinforce with different kinds of rewards.

Follow the recall with one of your shih tzu?s favorite things ? food, a toy, freedom, or playing with another dog. When your shih tzu is distracted, time your ?come? cue for the moment the shih tzu can most easily disengage from his other activity. Avoid repeatedly calling your shih tzu when you know he won?t or can?t come to you. Go get him instead. While you are teaching your shih tzu to come, never end your shih tzu?s play or fun by calling him to you. Always be enthusiastic and upbeat when your shih tzu comes to you.

Teach your shih tzu each part of the chain of behaviors separately. For food rewards, try chicken, liver, cheese, sardines, and other smelly, yummy, soft treats.

Teaching your shih tzu the cue: Go into a low stimulation environment where you and your shih tzu can be alone, like a bathroom or a bedroom. Say the word you have chosen for your cue, such as, ?come!? and give your dog a treat. Repeat this exercise 10 to 20 times. Do this exercise several times for two or three days.

Teach your shih tzu the beginning behavior by capturing it: When your shih tzu is about to come to you anyway, say ?come!? just before he gets to you, then say ?yes!? and give your shih tzu a reward.

When you take your shih tzu for a walk, suddenly call him and take several steps back. When your shih tz turns to follow, say ?yes!? and give him a reward. Tell your shih tzu what a great shih tzu he is! After a couple of practices, add in the sit and/or a collar touch. Say your shih tzu?s name, come, sit!?

Increase the distance and speed gradually. Start by calling your shih tzu a few feet, then a few more until you can call him through your house and across your backyard. Practice away from home in fenced areas, or in an open area using a long line for safety.

Teach your shih tzu to pay attention when you ask, separately from teaching ?come!? To get your shih tzu to pay attention to you, work attention games into everyday life. For 10 days or so every time your shih tzu looks your way reward him with praise, affection, or a treat. Do this throughout the day. After a couple of days of rewarding the natural check in, start occasionally saying your shih tzu?s name and reward him when he looks your way.

Putting it all together: When your shih tzu has learned all the pieces, you can start putting the behaviors together. The entire chain of behaviors are: responding to your request for attention, coming to you quickly, sitting or accepting a collar touch, waiting for the release. Practice several times and at various times during the day in low distraction environments to set your shih tzu up for successes. Only use your cue for recall when you are very certain he will come to you to help your shih tzu succeed. Keep practice sessions light and fun.

Connie Limon is a shih tzu breeder. She is publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com