Teaching A Shih Tzu Puppy To Accept His Collar And Leash

Teaching a Shih Tzu puppy to accept his collar and leash Learning to walk on a collar and leash is the basis of all further training for every Shih Tzu puppy. Until the Shih Tzu puppy has learned to accept the collar and leash, it will be impossible to perform any additional training. The first step toward getting the Shih Tzu puppy to accept the collar and leash is to find a collar that fits the dog properly. It is important that the collar be neither too light or too heavy, neither too thin nor too thick. A collar that is too light for the Shih Tzu can be easily broken, while a collar that is too heavy may be uncomfortable for the Shih Tzu puppy to wear. It is also important that the width of the color be appropriate for the size of the Shih Tzu. Determining the proper length of the collar is relatively easy. Simply wrap a tape measure or a string lightly around the Shih Tzu's neck to get an accurate measurement. It is important that the tape measure not be tight, just slightly snug. Most collars are sized in two inch increments, so you may have to round up to get a properly sized collar. For instance, if the Shih Tzu has a 13" neck, you would buy a 14" collar, and so on. After you have purchased the perfect collar, the next step is to put it on the Shih Tzu and allow him to wear it around the house. Do not be dismayed if the Shih Tzu whines, paws at the collar or otherwise tries to remove it. This is normal, and the Shih Tzu should not be punished for it. It is best to simply ignore the Shih Tzu and allow him to work out his own issues with the collar. The Shih Tzu should be allowed to wear the collar 24 hours a day for a number of days to get used to the feel of the collar on his neck. After the Shih Tzu is accepting the collar well, it is time to start introducing the leash. A lightweight leash works best for this process. Simply attach the leash to the Shih Tzu's collar and allow him to walk around the house with it. The Shih Tzu should of course be supervised during this process in order to make sure he does not get the leash caught on anything. Getting the leash caught or snagged could frighten the Shih Tzu and create a leash phobia that will be hard to overcome. In the beginning, the leash should only be attached for a few minutes at a time. It is important to attach the leash at happy times, such as playtime, meal time, etc. It is important for the Shih Tzu to associate the leash with happy things. When the leash is not attached to the Shih Tzu, it is a good idea to keep it near the Shih Tzu's food and water bowls. The Shih Tzu should be encouraged to investigate the leash, and to discover that it is not something to fear. After the Shih Tzu is used to walking around with the leash attached, take the end of the leash in your hand and just hold it. Allow the Shih Tzu puppy to walk around. If the Shih Tzu puppy bumps into the end of the leash, just allow the Shih Tzu puppy to react and move as he desires. The goal of this exercise is to simply allow the Shih Tzu puppy to get used to the feel of the collar and the leash. It is important to allow the Shih Tzu puppy plenty of time to get used to wearing the collar and leash before ever attempting to lead the Shih Tzu puppy. It is best to perform this exercise in the home or other environment where the puppy feels safe and secure. After the Shih Tzu puppy is comfortable and content walking on the leash in the home, it can slowly be taken outside. It is best to make these outside trips very short at the beginning, and to lengthen them slowly over time. Some Shih Tzu puppies take to the collar and leash immediately, while others may require some additional time.