How to Train a Shih Tzu Puppy to Poop Outside

Your new pup is very cute. He’s friendly, excitable and loving – what you’ve always hoped for in dog. But there’s one thing that isn’t cute and that’s his ability to poop just about anywhere. He will poop behind the sofa, on the welcome mat, and even right on your lap if you let him. It’s not in a Shih Tzu's natural instinct to know where to poop and where not to – they will need to be trained. You may have noticed that he doesn’t seem to go in his bed area. Dogs will usually not poop where they sleep, but any other place is fair game – and they will poop anywhere. So, to house train your new pup, try any of these three methods. In good time you’ll stop sniffing every time you enter a room and start enjoying your time with your new pal! 

In order for you and your Shih Tzu puppy to live together, they will need to respect the rules of the house. One of those rules is no pooping on the carpet! Reasonable enough, I’d say. This is something that all dogs, no matter their size or intelligence, can learn to do. It may take a couple of weeks to form the habit of going outside, but once they’ve got the hang of it, there is little you need to do to keep the training up – it should become instinct.

It’s important to house train puppies from a young age. Once they have learned that they can go anywhere, they will continue to do so. But if you catch them early, it will be a much simpler process. It’s much more difficult to train older dogs not to poop inside, so the recommendation is always to start early! Begin as soon as your puppy comes home. 

Like all training, rewards are useful for encouraging good behavior. You can choose to use small treats, but this is optional. A treat is useful for capturing their attention, but this isn’t necessary with house training, you just need a positive reward for correct behavior. Options for alternative rewards include love, attention, or their favorite toy.

It is very important not to scold your puppy if he does have accidents. This could cause him to hide when he does need to go, which will worsen the problem! Training using fear and intimidation is not successful, it can lead to anxious and aggressive dogs which will only lead to further problems. Instead, encourage desired actions and reward correct behavior.

Patience is key on this one. It may be frustrating to you that your pup cannot control himself. But remember, it took you years to become potty trained! So give your little guy a break and be prepared to commit to this training regime. Let’s get started!