Teaching a shih tzu puppy or a shih tzu dog proper socialization skills is vital to the safety of both your dog and other dogs and people with whom he comes into contact. A properly socialized shih tzu dog is a happy dog, and a joy to be around for both humans and animals. A poorly socialized shih tzu dog, or one with no socialization at all, is a danger to other animals, other people and even his own family.
Socialization is best done when the shih tzu puppy is as young as possible The socialization lessons a young shih tzu puppy learns are difficult to undo, and it is important to remember that the socialization skills the shih tzu puppy learns will affect his behavior for the rest of his life.
A shih tzu dog that is properly socialized will be neither frightened of nor aggressive towards either animals or humans. A properly socialized shih tzu dog will take each new experience and stimulus in stride, and not become fearful or aggressive. Shih tzu dogs that are not properly socialized often bite because of fear, and such a shih tzu dog can become a hazard and a liability to the family who owns it. Improperly socialized shih tzu dogs are also unable to adapt to new situations. A routine matter like a trip to the vets or to a friends house can quickly stress the shih tzu dog out and lead to all sorts of problems.
Socialization is best done when the shih tzu puppy is very young, perhaps around 12 weeks of age. Even after 12 weeks, however, it is important that the shih tzu puppy continues its socialization in order to refine the all important social skills. It is possible to socialize an older shih tzu puppy, but it is very difficult to achieve after the all important 12 week period has passed.
There are some definite do's and don't when it comes to properly socializing any shih tzu puppy. Let's start with what to do. Later in this article we will explore what to avoid.
Socialization do's
Make each of the socialization events as pleasant and non-threatening for the shih tzu puppy as possible. If a shih tzu puppy's first experience with any new experience is an unpleasant one, it will be very difficult to undo that in the shih tzu puppy's mind. In some cases, an early trauma can morph into a phobia that can last for a lifetime. It is better to take things slow and avoid having the shih tzu puppy become frightened or injured.
Try inviting your friends over to meet the new shih tzu puppy. It is important to include as many different people as possible in the shih tzu puppy's circle of acquaintances, including men, women, children, adults, as well as people of many diverse ethnic backgrounds and ages.
Also invite friendly and healthy dogs and puppies over to meet your puppy. It is important for the shih tzu puppy to meet a wide variety of other animals, including cats, hamsters, rabbits and other animals he is likely to meet. It is of course important to make sure that all animals the shih tzu puppy comes into contact with have received all necessary vaccinations.
Take the shih tzu puppy to many different places, including shopping centers, pet stores, parks, school playgrounds and on walks around the neighborhood. Try to expose the shih tzu puppy to places where they will be crowds of people and lots of diverse activity going on.
Take the shih tzu puppy for frequent short rides in the car. During these rides, be sure to stop the car once in a while and let the puppy look out the window at the world outside.
Introduce your shih tzu puppy to a variety of items that may be unfamiliar. The shih tzu puppy should be exposed to common items like bags, boxes, vacuum cleaners, umbrellas, hats, etc. that may be frightening to him. Allow and encourage the shih tzu puppy to explore these items and see that he has nothing to fear from them.
Get the shih tzu puppy used to a variety of objects by rearranging familiar ones. Simply placing a chair upside down, or placing a table on its side, creates an object that your shih tzu puppy will perceive as totally new.
Get the shih tzu puppy used to common procedures like being brushed, bathed, having the nails clipped, teeth cleaned, ears cleaned, etc. Your groomer and your veterinarian with thank you for this.
Introduce the shih tzu puppy to common things around the house, such as stairs. Also introduce the shih tzu puppy to the collar and leash, so he will be comfortable with these items.
There are of course some things to avoid when socializing a shih tzu puppy. These socialization don'ts include:
Do not place the shih tzu puppy on the ground when strange animals are present. An attack, or even a surprise inspection, by an unknown animal could traumatize the shih tzu puppy and hurt his socialization.
Do not inadvertently reward fear based behavior. When the shih tzu puppy shows fear, it is normal to try to sooth it, but this could reinforce the fear based behavior and make it worse. Since biting is often a fear based behavior, reinforcing fear can create problems with biting.
Do not force or rush the socialization process. It is important to allow the shih tzu puppy to socialize at his own pace.
Do not try to do too much too soon. Young shih tzu puppies have short attention spans, and continuing lessons after that attention span has passed will be a waste of your time and your puppy's.
Do not wait too long to begin. There is a short window in which to begin the socialization process. A young shih tzu puppy is a blank slate, and it is important to fill that slate with positive socialization skills as early as possible.
Connie Limon is a professional shih tzu breeder in Indiana. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts on shih tzu puppies are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com
Need a New Recipe? You don't have to rely on leftovers anymore, since you can visit popular sites that offer free recipes to enliven your dinner table for family or guests.
Planning Weddings on a Budget You're newly engaged! You're excited! You can't wait for the big day! But how do you plan for the big day without breaking your wallet? Rose Baylor helps yo...
Cockatiel Illnesses All you need to know about major diseases, their symptoms and their available cures of cockatiels. Have a healthy and happy cockatiel with these tips.
How Many Megapixels Do We Need? Are you having megapixel envy each time you walk by the camera section of your favorite electronics store? So do I. But, do we really need more and more pixels?...
Pay Per Click for Your Work at Home Business Pay per click is seemingly a simple way to market your work at home business. Pay per click is an advertising tool that works just as it sounds. Major search ...
5 Tips to Enjoying Your Day Spa Visit Visiting a day spa can be intimidating for the uninitiated. These five tips will help you be at ease and get the most out of your visit.
The Divided Language Takes a look at the differences between American English and British English. Reading this article may save you some embarassing episodes.
Vertical Platform Lifts I wish I would've looked into vertical platform lifts a long time ago. After 18 years of caring for my sweetheart as a full time home caregiver ....
Marketing - The Way To Make What Youre Really Worth You only have so much time in a day right? So wouldn't it make sense to focus as much of your time as possible on the things that produce the highest payoff. I ...
Why You Need Run Survey Do you have a list of e-mail addresses of your customers or
prospects? Do you have a list of e-zine subscribers? If you
have their permission, send them an e-ma...
How to Make Money from Internet Auctions If your business is not using eBay and other Internet
auctions, you could be missing out. Here are just a
few ways of generating additional income, profits a...
Building Liner Ponds Surprisingly enough, it is usually in mid-summer that many
gardeners begin to think about installing a small pond or
water garden. Ponds don't need to be weeded...
Philosophical Discussion of Distribution Systems To properly understand marketing one needs to understand the natural march of distribution from a colony of ants to Wal-Mart's Distribution System. Efficient sy...
Print this page