Crate Training Your Shih Tzu.
One of the best things you can do for your Shih Tzu puppy early in life is crate training.
Many people believe that confining your puppy to a crate is cruel. But, crate training and confining are 2 different things.
Crate training your Shih Tzu will actually be beneficial to him. And, they generally learn to enjoy their crate.
Many people also assume that crate training is difficult, but this isn't the case at all.
Dogs naturally avoid soiling the area where they will eat and sleep which is one of the reasons why crate training is important.
The first step in crate training your Shih Tzu is to take note of the times when your puppy likes to eat, sleep, and 'potty'. This will help determine the best times for the crate training sessions.
As stated before, crate training is not about keeping your dog confined for extended lengths of time.
Crate training is intended to give your Shih Tzu a space of his own. Just as a child needs the personal space of his/her bedroom, crate training needs to be handled with the care that given a family member.
You should remember also that, done correctly, crate training will enhance the lives of both you and your Shih Tzu.
There are bound to be a bumps in the road along the way when your puppy might 'mess' in the crate but he/she should not be punished for this. It is almost certain that it would not have been intentional.
Crate training is one of the best methods of potty training a puppy. So,it is never too early to begin crate training your Shih Tzu puppy.
While it might seem that your Shih Tzu puppy doesn't like crate training at first, (many dogs will fuss, whine and bark when first starting the crate training), most crate trained dogs learn to love their crate as their own place, much like children have their favorite blanket for security that they will carry around.
You should begin the crate training with short periods of 10 to 15 minutes, then, slowly build up to longer periods of up to two hours as they become more accustomed to their crate.
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