Potential Shih Tzu Problems

by Rebecca Simpson

You love your new little Shih Tzu but you can probably expect some problems, if you haven’t already begun to experience them. Shih Tzu problems usually stem from the dog’s hereditary disposition and personality as much as anything else. Environment usually does not have much of an effect on a Shih Tzu unless that environment is very negative. So the better you understand your dog the better equipped you will be to deal with any potential problems that may spring up during training.

The Shih Tzu hates loud noises and a lot of clatter and commotion. They feel pressured and a lot of tension when there is something loud going on or a lot of people are running around.

The natural response for a Shih Tzu that feels this kind of tension is to start biting and this is why a Shih Tzu is often said to not be a great dog for kids. Not every Shih Tzu is the same but this behavior is known to be common to the breed.

Of all of the Shih Tzu problems you will encounter none will be more aggravating and frustrating that the little dogs arrogant attitude. They are very regal animals that have a bit of Chinese royalty in their blood and they never forget that. It takes a long time to get the Shih Tzu to understand that they are not the boss and you are, and even when you think they understand it they are still going to do pretty much whatever they want to do.

Shih Tzu dogs can be playful when they want to be but they do not require a lot of exercise so any activity they do get is on their terms. They are not very likely to fetch a stick for you and they certainly won’t be playing catch with a Frisbee thrown by you any time soon. If you are looking for a rough and tumble play dog then the Shih Tzu is probably not for you.

Probably the most frustrating, and common, of Shih Tzu problems is that their arrogance and stubbornness can cause them to not take to housebreaking at all. If you are in the middle of housebreaking a Shih Tzu, which will be a several month process even in the best of cases, and something spooks the dog then you are back to square one.

They are very stubborn animals and in order to win you have to be more stubborn than they are.

The Shih Tzu literally has a mind of its own. It is not waiting for you to teach it commands and train it, it is going to do whatever it wants to do and you have to figure out how to make sure that it listens to you on the things you want it to do. It is frustrating and never easy but if you love your little dog then it is very much worth it in the end because a Shih Tzu can be a very loyal and loving pet.

About the Author:

About the author: Rebecca Simpson is an avid lover of the Shih Tzu and has a popular website where you’ll discover how to have a happy, healthy and well behaved Shih Tzu. Among other topics there, you can also learn all about Shih Tzu Training plus a whole lot more.

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