Schedule
Most pups would need to pee after napping, after eating, after playing, so be ready to take your pup outside frequently in the beginning. Then, as you take them outside, make sure that you are using your leash to train your Shih Tzu and show them precisely where you’d want them to go.
Feedback
Ensure that you can praise your pup when they successfully relieved themselves outside and ensure that you could stop them if they have an accident inside. Keep in mind that when you miss their accidents inside, you also miss opportunities to train your Shih Tzu pup, and it is actually rehearsal of the improper behavior. Remember: this could even work against you.
Consider it this way: even in your absence, your Shih Tzu still gets feedback. When your pup has to go and eliminate, it does not feel good, but when they are done, they automatically feel relieved. And always keep in mind that dogs do what feels rewarding.
If there’s no one around to tell them that they are wrong, then they would tend to think that they are right. Unfortunately, rehearsal of the improper behavior would only set your Shih Tzu up for failure in the long run.
Responsibility
Once your pup understands that they have to go outside to do their business, it is time to let them carry the responsibility to inform you in one way or another that they need to go potty. You could train your Shih Tzu puppy to ring a bell or sit and stare at you.
So, remember these four primary elements that you need to understand to train your Shih Tzu puppy successfully: supervise them, schedule their potty, give them instant feedback, and give them responsibility.
