The Shih Tzu is an ancient Chinese companion breed whose name means "little lion," developed over centuries to be a cherished palace lapdog for emperors and nobility. Bred for no purpose other than companionship and affection, the Shih Tzu is friendly, outgoing, and famously devoted, a sturdy little dog with a flowing coat and a sweet, sociable temperament. It is happiest at the center of family life, getting along with everyone, and it has charmed its way into homes worldwide as one of the most popular companion breeds.
That pure-companion nature is the key to training one. The Shih Tzu is intelligent and people-oriented, so it responds well to gentle, reward-based training, but it also has a genuine stubborn streak, can be slow to house-train, and is a flat-faced (brachycephalic) breed whose exercise and heat must be managed. It is sensitive too, so harshness backfires. Be patient and consistent with house-training, keep training gentle and rewarding, exercise sensibly for a flat-faced dog, and stay on top of grooming, and you get a delightful, affectionate companion. Lose patience or rely on force, and the stubborn streak digs in.
This guide covers what works with a Shih Tzu, week by week, built around how a sweet, slightly stubborn companion breed actually learns.
What Makes Training a Shih Tzu Different
Four breed traits shape your approach.
1. Friendly but a touch stubborn. The Shih Tzu is affectionate and people-oriented, so it takes well to reward-based training, but it has a genuine independent, stubborn streak. It cooperates for short, rewarding, game-like sessions and resists drilling and pressure.
2. Slow to house-train. Like many toy breeds, the Shih Tzu has a small bladder and can be slow to house-train, and the stubborn streak does not help. A strict, consistent schedule and patient, reward-based methods, without scolding, are what get you there.
3. Brachycephalic, so exercise and heat need care. The Shih Tzu's flat face means it can struggle to breathe in heat or during hard exertion. Keep exercise gentle and cool, use a harness rather than a collar, and watch for labored breathing. The breed is low-energy and a true companion, not an athlete.
4. Sensitive, sociable, and coat-intensive. The Shih Tzu reads your mood and wilts under harshness, so keep training gentle. It is friendly with everyone, which makes socialization pleasant, and its long, flowing coat needs serious, regular grooming.
Week-by-Week Training Plan for Your Shih Tzu
Below is the framework we use at TailorPup for a Shih Tzu-specific 12-week plan. Run it at home; the order and emphasis are the point.
Weeks 1 and 2 : Foundation, Socialization, and House-Training
Build engagement with high-value rewards and socialize broadly, which is easy with this friendly breed. Run three to four short sessions a day: name, mark eye contact, reward. Start house-training on a strict schedule from day one, use a harness, and begin gentle grooming handling for the heavy coat. Our puppy basics guide covers the foundations.
Weeks 3 and 4 : Core Commands
Lure sit and down, mark, reward, and add cues once reliable, keeping sessions short, gentle, and game-like to work with the stubborn streak. End on a success, and never let frustration creep into your tone with this sensitive breed.
Weeks 5 and 6 : Gentle Leash Work and House-Training
Use a harness, never a collar on a flat-faced dog, and stop-and-stand for any pulling; the Shih Tzu rarely pulls hard. Keep house-training patient and consistent, rewarding every success outdoors and avoiding all scolding for accidents, since the breed can be slow here.
Weeks 7 and 8 : Recall, Quiet, and Cool Exercise
Build recall indoors and in safe areas, paying well. Shape quiet if the Shih Tzu alert-barks, rewarding calm and managing triggers, and keep exercise gentle and cool, watching the breed's breathing given the flat face. See our barking guide if needed.
Weeks 9 and 10 : Mental Work and Grooming
Channel the breed's intelligence with gentle trick training, food puzzles, and short games, which suit a companion dog and do not strain its breathing. Keep up the demanding grooming so the long coat stays mat-free and handling stays positive, or keep the dog in a shorter "puppy cut."
Weeks 11 and 12 : Generalization
Prove the skills in the real world: calm leash walking, reliable house-training habits, quiet on cue, and settled, friendly behavior. These last two weeks are about patient consistency and proofing the house-training and manners rather than new skills.
Common Shih Tzu Training Mistakes
Three mistakes show up repeatedly with this breed.
Mistake 1 : Losing patience with house-training. The Shih Tzu can be slow to house-train, and the stubborn streak plus scolding makes it worse. A strict schedule and patient, reward-based methods are what work. Accept that it may take longer than with a larger breed.
Mistake 2 : Overexerting a flat-faced dog. The Shih Tzu's brachycephalic build means it can overheat and struggle to breathe during hard exercise or in warm weather. Keep exercise gentle and cool, use a harness, and watch for labored breathing. This is a genuine welfare matter.
Mistake 3 : Using harsh handling or coddling. Harshness shuts the sensitive Shih Tzu down and entrenches the stubbornness, while coddling instead of training breeds demanding behavior. Keep training gentle, rewarding, and consistent. The full list is in our Shih Tzu training mistakes guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Shih Tzus easy to train ? Reasonably, with a gentle, patient approach. They are friendly and intelligent, so reward-based training works, but the stubborn streak and slow house-training take patience. Keep sessions short, rewarding, and game-like rather than repetitive.
Why is house-training my Shih Tzu so hard ? Toy breeds have small bladders and the Shih Tzu has a stubborn streak, so progress can be slow. A strict schedule, frequent opportunities, and patient reward-based methods, without scolding, are what get you there. Many take longer than larger breeds.
How much exercise does a Shih Tzu need ? Modest: short, gentle daily walks plus play, kept cool because of the flat-faced build. The breed is a low-energy companion that should not be over-exercised or worked hard in the heat, where breathing becomes a concern.
Do Shih Tzus have breathing problems ? As a brachycephalic breed, they can, especially in heat or during exertion. Keep exercise gentle and cool, use a harness, watch for labored breathing, and choose carefully bred dogs with more open airways.
Is positive reinforcement effective for Shih Tzus ? Yes, ideally. The friendly, sensitive breed thrives on gentle reward-based training and shuts down or digs in its heels under harshness, which also worsens the stubborn streak.
Do Shih Tzus need a lot of grooming ? Yes, if kept in the long coat, which needs daily brushing to prevent matting; many owners choose a shorter trim for easier care. Either way, building grooming tolerance early is worthwhile.
Are Shih Tzus good family dogs ? Yes, excellent ones. They are friendly, affectionate, and sociable, good with children and other pets, and well suited to apartments. They simply need patient house-training, gentle handling, sensible cool exercise, and regular grooming.
Why TailorPup Was Built for Shih Tzus
A generic plan ignores what really matters with this breed: slow house-training, the stubborn streak, and the exercise and heat care a flat-faced dog needs. That mismatch is why standard advice can leave Shih Tzu owners with house-training struggles and a dog that has dug in its heels.
TailorPup builds a 12-week plan around your specific dog: its companion nature, its age, and the behaviors you are seeing. For a Shih Tzu that means gentle, patient, game-like reward-based methods, a patient house-training schedule, sensible cool brachycephalic-aware exercise, and grooming handling built in.
Daily 12-minute sessions plus weekly adjustments based on your dog's progress. Free for 7 days, no card required.
Start your Shih Tzu's plan free at tailorpup.com →
Related: Shih Tzu Training Mistakes · Recall Training · Puppy Training Basics · Barking Solutions