First and foremost, there is no such thing as the perfect Shih Tzu puppy or dog for that matter! We may love our puppy so much that we become blind to his or her faults. But, in reality, all puppies, even those born in a responsible breeding program are a work in progress! It is up to the new puppy owner to continue socialization where the breeder left off. Furthermore, all Shih Tzu puppies can benefit from a good trainer.
I like to compare new puppies to toddlers. Puppies get into everything, and I mean everything! If you leave a pair of your favorite $100 running shoes in mouth reach, I can almost guarantee they will become your puppy’s new favorite chew toy. Puppies don’t know how to discriminate. They are self-gratifying creatures that need to learn what behaviors their humans expect from them.
I cannot over-emphasize providing your puppy with a safe place like a puppy playpen when you’re not able to supervise. This is a safe place for your puppy to hang out while you’re busy. Also, make sure to provide your Shih Tzu puppy with plenty of exercise and interactive toys. Remember, a sleepy puppy is a well-behaved puppy!
More importantly, keep reminding yourself that this phase is only temporary. Your Shih Tzu puppy will mature and begin to understand what you expect of him or her if you continue to provide a nurturing, loving, and consistent upbringing. The outcome will be a dog that will be there to provide you with many years of unconditional love! For a list of Arizona dog trainers click here. Also, be sure to check out the following link from BringFido if you need a dog trainer and live out of state. (https://www.bringfido.com/)
