Training Your Shih Tzu: Barking, Housebreaking & Basic Manners

Shih Tzus are affectionate and people-focused—but they’re also stubborn, smart, and perfectly capable of running your household if you let them. Training is not optional. If you skip it, you get barking, accidents, and a dog that thinks “come here” means “let’s negotiate.”

Housebreaking: Why It Feels So Hard

Shih Tzus can be slow to house train because they’re small, close to the floor, and often coddled. To fix that:

Take them out every 2–3 hours, plus after meals, naps, and play.
Use one toilet spot so the scent helps trigger the behavior.
Reward immediately after they finish, not once you’re back inside.
Limit unsupervised freedom indoors; doors closed or puppy pen used.

Stopping Excessive Barking

Shih Tzus will sound the alarm at everything if you don’t set boundaries. The goal is not “never bark” but “bark, then stop when asked.”

Teach a “quiet” cue using treats. Let them bark once, say “quiet,” then reward the moment they pause.
Close blinds or block views if they spend hours policing the street.
Increase mental exercise—bored dogs bark more.

Basic Commands That Actually Matter

Focus on functional skills, not tricks:

Come: For safety. Always pay well when they respond.
Stay/Wait: Keeps them from door-dashing.
Leave it: Stops them from grabbing trash, dropped pills, or food they shouldn’t have.
Settle: A cue for lying down calmly on a mat or bed.

Socialization and Preventing Clingy Behavior

Shih Tzus like their people. Without boundaries you get separation anxiety, not “bonding.”

Practice leaving them alone for short periods from day one.
Use a crate or safe area, give a chew or stuffed Kong, and leave without drama.
Return low-key. No huge greetings for short absences.

When to Bring in a Trainer

If barking, separation anxiety, or aggression is getting away from you, don’t wait months hoping it disappears. It won’t. Look for a force-free trainer who has small-breed and brachycephalic experience.

Use MyPetAtlas to find local trainers and behaviorists, then sanity-check their methods against the temperament traits described in the Shih Tzu breed overview. You want someone who understands that this is a companion breed, not a working dog you can just “dominate” into obedience.

Summary

Training a Shih Tzu is about consistency and clear boundaries, not force. Housebreaking, barking control, and basic manners are non-negotiable if you want a dog that’s easy to live with. Put in the work early and you get a calm, polite lap dog instead of a shaggy dictator.