Arizona Sunrise Shih Tzus & Poos

Purebred Shih Tzu Puppies

Puppy Training

Puppy Developmental Periods Defined

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All puppies go through developmental periods where they develop behavioral habits that stick with them throughout their lifespan. All breeders including Shih Tzu breeders need to instill appropriate behaviors that line up with the developmental periods. Responsible breeders should set program goals that align with the puppies’ developmental needs.

It is important to meet litter needs in a developmentally appropriate fashion. Working a litter too fast, too slow, or in an improper manner may have detrimental effects on the puppies in the litter. A good breeder will know when and how to properly socialize. The key is breeder education! Knowledge is power!

Below is a list of the developmental periods that puppies go through:

Birth to 2 weeks-(The Neonatal Period)-Puppies rely heavily on their mother. They rely on their sense of smell, taste, and touch to get around the whelping box.

2-3 weeks-(The Transitional Period)-The puppy’s eyes and ears begin to open. Puppies become more aware of littermates and begin to try to walk.

3-12 weeks-(The Socialization Period)-This is the prime time for a breeder to properly socialize puppies. Puppies should also remain with their mother and littermates for most of this period to learn important skills such as bite inhibition. Puppies absorb everything very quickly during this stage. Also, fear is at an all-time low, minus short fear periods. A good breeder will know how to recognize a fear period and will adjust the curriculum until the fear period comes to a halt.

Puppies should be exposed to a wide range of stimuli during this sensitive period as well to promote ideal brain and emotional development. Working puppies through a developmentally appropriate curriculum during this stage is of utmost importance. Puppies learn faster and quicker during this period than in any other period of development. The socialization period only takes place once in a dog’s lifetime!

13 weeks to puberty-(Juvenile Period)-A puppy’s early behavioral habits begin to take even more shape. This stage is often equivalent to the human teenage years! Puppies are growing rapidly, have a newfound independence, bounds of energy, and hormones are starting to surge. Puppy training will be of incredible benefit during this stage.

6 months to adulthood-(The Adolescent Period)-Much of your puppy’s behavior is now solidified. Training is still very beneficial to continue reinforcing behaviors that are desirable. This period ends when social maturity is reached. The timeline varies depending on the breed. Shih Tzus are typically fully grown by 10 months of age.

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Why is my Puppy Whining all the Time?

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purebred liver Shih Tzu puppy sitting on a blanket full of fall leaves.

I always tell my clients that having a new puppy in the home is equivalent to having a new baby. Puppies like babies are not able to use their words to tell us how they feel. Whining or crying is your puppy’s way of trying to tell you something. Puppy owners must learn to speak their new puppy’s language.

Also, try and remember to be patient! Your puppy has just been taken away from everything he or she has ever known. Whining in the beginning is very normal. The good news is that puppies are very adaptable. With love, guidance, and patience they will grow into amazing family members.

One of the most common reasons for whining will be your puppy’s need for human attention. If your puppy cries whenever you enter the room your puppy might be craving human touch. When it comes to temperament, some puppies have a high human focus. They’re like stickers. They always want to be stuck to you!

This doesn’t mean you should always pick your puppy up every time he or she whimpers. Remember when I said that puppies are like babies? It is your job to figure out why your new baby is crying. You don’t want to pick up your puppy every time he or she whimpers. This will just teach your puppy that whining is an acceptable behavior.

Instead, I recommend first and foremost, making sure your puppy’s needs are met. Does your puppy need a hug and cuddle session with his or her favorite humans? Has your puppy eaten enough and had plenty to drink? Does your puppy need to go potty? Is your puppy in need of an exercise session or some mental stimulation? Is your puppy still acclimating to his or her new home and missing mom or siblings? Is your puppy not feeling well?

Once you find out why your puppy is whining it will be much easier to meet his or her basic needs. On the other hand, remember you don’t need to pick up your puppy every time he or she cries. Your puppy needs to learn how to self-soothe. You can help the process go smoothly by providing your puppy with a snuggle puppy and toys that provide mental stimulation. Feel free to browse my list of ideas for keeping your puppy busy here.

Tip for Success

I thought it would be great to end this blog post with a tip that I feel helps with puppy whining. Whenever you’re getting ready to pick up your puppy stand in front of him or her and freeze. Avoid picking up your puppy until he or she is calm and remains still.

This way you’re not rewarding the negative jumping up and whining behavior. You may have to walk out of sight and watch from a distance until you see the desirable behavior if your puppy is relentless. When you catch your puppy being calm and displaying appropriate behavior pick him or her up and give a big hug, praise, and maybe even a treat!

Always remember to reward the positive and ignore the negative when it comes to whining. The exemption to the rule is if your puppy is hurt. In this case, don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian. A good trainer will come in handy as well! Follow the following link if you desire more information on online puppy school from Baxter & Bella: https://www.baxterandbella.com/.

They always say it takes a village to raise a child properly. I believe it takes a village to raise a puppy properly as well! If everyone in the family is on board, consistent, and patient the puppy will have all the tools necessary to be successful. In no time at all your puppy will be grow up and you will miss the puppy days of the past.

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How to Safely Introduce Two Dogs to Each Other

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Two purebred liver Shih Tzu puppies for sale in my responsible breeding program on a white rug.
Liver Shih Tzu Brothers & Best Friends

If you plan on bringing a new puppy or adult dog home and already have a dog at home this is a good read for you! Dogs have their special way of getting to know one another. We as humans must take the necessary steps to help the introduction go smoothly.

Dogs are social creatures and they learn a lot of valuable information by interacting with other dogs. You may observe that they use their noses to learn about one another. Sniffing is a huge part of the investigation process. Often dog introductions are a wonderful match from the start. Other times, time and patience come into play.

The human needs to observe the interaction to make sure things are going well. Pay close attention to body language. The dog’s body should not be tense. Their ears shouldn’t be pinned back. The dogs should look relaxed and curious. If either dog looks anxious or afraid this could be a red flag.

It is common for the greeting to be short. One dog may simply walk away and go about his business after the introduction. Another scenario that may play out is that the dogs may not greet one another at all in the beginning. They may simply not be interested in interacting at the moment.

Some tips for helping the dog introduction go smoothly include the following:

  • Ideally, have the meet and greet take place in an open neutral space so the dogs have room to flee if necessary.
  • You may want to have both dogs on a leash to start.
  • Keep meet-and-greet sessions short.
  • Be cautious with resources such as food and toys until a relationship is established.
  • If possible, know the temperament of both dogs.
  • Make sure your new puppy/dog has a safe place when you’re not able to observe the dogs interacting. A playpen, spare room, or crate works well.
  • Praise positive interactive behaviors.
  • Redirect negative interactions and separate for a while.
  • Have a trainer lined up just in case any issues arise.
  • Join an online dog training program like Baxter & Bella for more tips for success. (https://www.baxterandbella.com/)

My biggest tip for success is to be patient. The getting to know one another process often takes time. Your dogs may become best friends overnight or it may take time for them to acclimate to one another. Either way, be there to patiently facilitate the process and step in when necessary. Hopefully, a lifelong canine friendship will be right around the corner.

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The Lifesaving Puppy Recall

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The Puppy, Puppy, Puppy recall is a lifesaving recall that I use with all of the Shih Tzu puppies in my responsible breeding program. Essentially, when the puppies first start lapping up liquids or puppy food the breeder chants Puppy, Puppy, Puppy. The goal is to imprint the recall into the memory of each puppy. Imprinting is a form of learning that happens during the early stages of a puppy’s development. Over time, the lifesaving recall becomes a permanent part of the puppy’s memory.

When puppy owners bring their new Shih Tzu puppy home they should continue to use the recall a couple times of a week. When the puppy comes after hearing the recall be sure to offer a high reward treat. The end goal is that your Shih Tzu puppy will come to you immediately if he or she is ever in danger simply by hearing those special words…Puppy, Puppy, Puppy! I hope you enjoy the video below that demonstrates me using the Puppy recall. Click on the Instagram Icon at the top or bottom of my website to be redirected to even more educational videos and so much more!

Puppy Recall in Action

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