How to Train a Bichon Shih Tzu Puppy

To begin, choose small, tasty treats, that your puppy loves. If your puppy is very food motivated, then you can also use her own dog food instead of treats. After you have gathered your treats, decide what command or trick you would like to train her how to do first. When you first begin, choose something easy, since many harder commands and tricks build on easier ones. Good commands to start with are: 'sit', 'down', 'attention', 'touch', 'come', following, name recognition, 'speak', and 'quiet'.

After you have chosen which command or trick you are going to teach your puppy, then go to a calm location together. When you are in a good spot, show her the treat, and slowly lure her into the position or into doing the behavior that you are teaching. Since she is small, you will probably have to sit down or crouch to do this.

As soon as your pup begins to do the command or trick that you are trying to teach, tell her the word for that command. For example, if you are luring her into the 'sit' position, as soon as she begins to sit when you move the treat from her nose toward the back of her head, tell her to "Sit".

As soon as your puppy completes the command, praise her and give her a treat. For example, if you are teaching her how to 'sit', then as soon as her bottom touches the floor, praise her and give her a treat. Try to praise her the second that she sits down so that she will make the connection between sitting and being praised and rewarded, sooner.

Repeat luring your puppy into the position or behavior that you are training. Do this until she begins to do the behavior before you have finished luring her, as soon as she sees the treat, you begin to move it, or she hears your verbal command.

When your puppy will do the behavior that you are teaching before you lure her all the way, then begin to phase out the treat lure. To phase out the treat lure, hide the treat and give her the verbal command, then wait seven seconds before luring her into the position. Repeat this until she will do the behavior in response to just your verbal command. The seven seconds in between the verbal command and the lure give her time to think and to listen to the command, so that she will learn the verbal command better.

The first time that your pup does the behavior in response to just your verbal command, give her five treats, one at a time. Give her just one treat at all other times. After she has done the behavior in response to your verbal command, continue to practice, until she will do the command consistently. When she can do the command consistently, then gradually decrease the frequency of your treat rewards, until you have replaced them with just life rewards, such as going for a walk, being fed dinner, being petted, being thrown a toy, and being allowed to greet other dogs or people. Continue to practice often and in new locations.

To begin, choose what command you would like to teach your puppy. Fill a small Ziploc bag or treat pouch with treats or kibble, and place the bag into your pocket or hook the treat pouch onto yourself, so that your rewards will stay close by.

Watch your puppy throughout the day. Anytime that he begins to do the behavior that you are trying to teach, tell him the verbal command for that behavior while he is doing it. For example, if you are trying to teach Fido the 'down' command, then as soon as he begins to lay down, tell him "Down" in a calm voice.

Right when your puppy completes the behavior that you are trying to teach, praise him and offer him a treat. For example, if you are teaching him the 'down' command, then as soon as his chest touches the floor and he relaxes into the 'down' position, praise him and give him a treat.

Look for opportunities to catch and reward your puppy for doing the behavior that you are trying to train. Remember to tell him the verbal command while he is doing the behavior every time that you catch him. Do this until you have caught your pup doing the behavior at least thirty times.

After you have caught your puppy doing the behavior at least thirty times, test whether or not your puppy has learned the command by calling him over to you and giving him the verbal command. Repeat the command up to five times in a row, waiting ten seconds between each command. If your puppy does the behavior that you have been training in response to your verbal command one of the times, then praise him and give him five treats, one at a time, the first time that he does it.

If your puppy does not do the behavior when you tell him to, then go back to catching him doing it for longer. After you have caught and rewarded him for doing the behavior at least ten more times, test him again. Repeat testing him and practicing until your puppy will do the command when you tell him to.

When your puppy will do the behavior that you are trying to train in response to your verbal command, then practice the command with him until he can do it consistently, and remember to have fun with your puppy!

To begin, choose what command you would like to teach your Bichon Shih Tzu puppy.

Gently move your puppy into the position that you are teaching him, or show him how to do the behavior by offering him physical assistance. For example, if you are teaching your puppy how to 'touch' a bell to alert you when he needs to go outside, then gently lift his paw while telling him "Touch", and ring the bell with his paw.

As soon as your pup does the behavior that you are teaching, with your assistance, praise him and offer him a treat.

Repeat assisting him in doing the behavior until he begins to do the behavior on his own when you reach for him, tell him the verbal command, or show him a prop that you are using.

When your puppy can do the behavior without your help when given the verbal command, then practice the command with him until he can do it consistently. When he can do the behavior in response to your verbal command consistently, then begin to practice the command in new locations and around different types of distractions. Start with easier locations and distractions, and gradually work up to harder ones as your puppy improves. Congratulations on teaching your puppy something new!