How to Train a Shih Tzu to Pee and Poop Outside
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Introduction
Your Shih Tzu, Luna is a breath of fresh air in your usually noisy household. Regardless of whether there is an argument, Luna brings you all together. Her wagging tail can’t help but deflate any tension. She is also a firm favorite when guests are over. But guests see the best side of Luna. You, unfortunately, also see some of the downsides. The main issue is her toilet habits. Your clean kitchen floors and even your carpets are often used as Luna’s personal toilet.
Training your Shih Tzu to pee and poop outside, therefore, will come with some well-needed benefits. Firstly, you won’t have to worry about the unpleasant spread of bacteria around your house. Neither will you have to come downstairs to the unpleasant aroma of Luna’s midnight pee. If you can tackle this problem you may be better equipped to tackle other issues too.
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Defining Tasks
Thankfully, training Luna to pee and poop outside isn’t as complicated as you might think. The trick is getting her into a consistent routine of going in a specific spot. To get her into that routine, you need to find the right incentive. Food is often an effective motivator with Shih Tzus. You will also use a verbal command to give you greater control over Luna’s toilet habits.
If your Shih Tzu is just a puppy then training may take just a week or two. This is because they aren’t in a set habit yet and they should respond swiftly to training. If they have had years of going to the toilet wherever they like, however, then you may need up to six weeks. Stick to training and your floors and furniture will thank you. You also won’t have to worry your guests will tread in something unpleasant.
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Getting Started
Before you start work, you will need to gather a few things. A training leash, treats or the dog's favorite food broken into small pieces will be needed. You will also need a clicker and a toy for one of the methods below. Some antibacterial or other cleaning spray will also be required.
Set aside a few minutes at several points through the day for training. In addition, the more you are around to clear up accidents, the sooner you will reach that end result.
Once you have all of that, just bring patience and some poo bags, then work can begin!
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The Routine Method
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Meal times
Make sure you feed your Shih Tzu at the same times each day. This will allow you to predict when they will need the toilet so you can take them outside accordingly. You simply cannot get them into a toilet routine easily if they eat at different points each day.
Hydration
Make sure the dog has access to a water bowl at all times. If they are dehydrated, predicting when they will need the toilet will be challenging. So make sure you regularly top their bowl up.
Early morning
Once you have given the pup their breakfast, secure them to a leash and take them outside to go for a pee and a poop. They are likely to need to go around 15 to 20 minutes after a meal.
After dinner
Make sure you take the dog out again after dinner in the evening. If your Shih Tzu is always outside when they need to go for a pee and a poop, then they will have no choice but to get into a habit of going out there.
Accidents
Make sure you clean up accidents quickly and completely. If a dog can smell that they have been to the toilet in a spot before, then they will be more likely to go there again. So get out the antibacterial spray and give it a good clean.
The Environment Method
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Same spot
It can help to take your Shih Tzu to the same spot every time. So find an accessible place outside that is close by. This is simply because they will feel more at ease and comfortable if they go there regularly.
Privacy
You wouldn’t appreciate it if someone stared at you when you went for a pee or a poop, so turn around when your dog is about to go. This will relax them and speed up the whole process.
A previous visit
If they seem uneasy and are struggling to go, wipe some of a previous visit down in the area. If it smells like they have been there before, they will be more likely to go there again. It’s a quick, albeit unpleasant, way to help them go to the toilet.
Reward
Make sure your Shih Tzu gets a generous reward whenever they have finished going to the toilet in the right place. You can use treats or play around with a toy for a minute. You can also give them some verbal praise.
Lose the treats
Follow the steps above until your dog is no longer having any accidents. At this point they will be in a consistent routine and you can gradually cut out the treats. Just make sure to continue taking them outside regularly each day.
The Verbal Cue Method
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Always be ready
The key is always being outside when your Shih Tzu needs to go for a pee and a poop. So secure them to a leash regularly throughout the day and head outside to the same spot. If they are a puppy, you will need to take them out even more.
‘Toilet time’
Just as the pup is about to go or starts to go, give a ‘toilet time’ command. Give it in a playful, high-pitched tone. You want this to feel like a game. You can use any word or phrase you like for the instruction, Shih Tzus can learn hundreds of different commands.
Reward
Once the dog has finished doing its business, give them a generous reward. It could be a treat or a toy. You can also click now if you use a clicker when you train. Just make sure your Shih Tzu gets their reward within a few seconds of finishing their business.
Cut out the treats
Now you simply need to practice. Always give the command and take the dog out until accidents become a thing of the past. At this point they know to only go for a pee and a poop outside, so you can gradually phase out the treats.
Avoid punishment
It is important you do not punish your pup for any accidents. If you scare them then they may start relieving themselves in submission. This is an even bigger challenge to overcome, so remain calm at all times.
Written by James Barra
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 04/13/2018, edited: 01/08/2021
Training Questions and Answers
Luna
Shih Tzu
Four Months
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
Pooing inside my house
Dec. 27, 2022
Luna's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello, I recommend following the Crate Training method from the article I have linked below. Since pup is a little older, you should be able to push potty trips every 45 minutes and pup being able to hold it in the crate for 1.5 hours, to potty trips every 1.5 hours when you are home, and pup being able to hold it in the crate for 3 hours. Start with potty trips closer together though until pup is consistently not having accidents in the home while you follow a strict schedule. The Crate Training method is usually the best method for harder potty training cases, and tends to prevent the most accidents during the potty training process. Make sure you follow the instructions in the article for how to properly set up the crate size-wise and bedding wise. Also, know that there tends to be a 15-45 minute delay between a puppy eating and needing to poop, even if they already peed. So if you feed, take outside immediately, then crate or give freedom without allowing for that time between meals and the urge to poop to hit, it can lead to accidents with poop. Puppies also tend to need to poop after a lot of movement or excitement or anxiety so spend extra time walking pup around on leash to encourage a poop after those events if pup hasn't already pooped recently. Crate Training method for potty training: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-puppy-to-poop-outside Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Dec. 27, 2022
Sparkle Hughes
Aidi
One Year
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
Never know when my shih tzu has to pee or poop I recently adopted her.
Sept. 27, 2022
Sparkle Hughes's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello, Generally a dog will need to poop 15-45 minutes after eating, after a lot of movement - like excited play or a long walk, or when really nervous. Many adult dogs poop on a general schedule - one in the morning, sometimes again in the afternoon, then in the evening. If pup hasn't pooped yet in the morning for example, whenever you take them outside in the morning assume they may need to poop still and keep them either tethered to you with a hands free leash while inside, taking back outside every hour to try until they poop in that part of the day, or crate them during the hour between potty trips, until they learn to hold it and go while outside only. For potty training in general, check out the Crate Training method from the article linked below. Make sure that the crate doesn't have anything absorbent in it - including a soft bed or towel. Check out www.primopads.com if you need a non-absorbent bed for her. Make sure the crate is only big enough for her to turn around, lie down and stand up, and not so big that she can potty in one end and stand in the opposite end to avoid it. Dogs have a natural desire to keep a confined space clean so it needs to be the right size to encourage that natural desire. Use a cleaner that contains enzymes to clean any previous or current accidents - only enzymes will remove the small and remaining smells encourage the dog to potty in the same location again later. The method I have linked below was written for younger puppies, since your dog is older you can adjust the times and take her potty less frequently. I suggest taking her potty every 3 hours when you are home. After 1.5 hours (or less if she has an accident sooner) or freedom out of the crate, return her to the crate while her bladder is filling back up again until it has been 3 hours since her last potty trip. When you have to go off she should be able to hold her bladder in the crate for 5-7 hours - less at first while she is getting used to it and longer once she is accustomed to the crate. Only have her wait that long when you are not home though, take her out about every 3 hours while home. You want her to get into the habit of holder her bladder between trips and not just eliminating whenever she feels the urge and you want to encourage that desire for cleanliness in your home - which the crate is helpful for. Less freedom now means more freedom later in life. Crate Training method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-puppy-to-poop-outside If she is not already used to a crate expect crying at first. When she cries and you know she doesn't need to go potty yet, ignore the crying. Most dogs will adjust if you are consistent. You can give her a food stuffed hollow chew toy to help her adjust and sprinkle treats into the crate during times of quietness to further encourage quietness. If she continues protesting for long periods of time past five days, you can use a Pet Convincer. Work on teaching "Quiet" but using the Quiet method from the article linked below. Tell her "Quiet" when she barks and cries. If she gets quiet and stays quiet, you can sprinkle a few pieces of dog food into the crate through the wires calmly, then leave again. If she disobeys your command and keep crying or stops but starts again, spray a small puff of air from the Pet convincer at her side through the crate while saying "Ah Ah" calmly, then leave again. If she stays quiet after you leave you can periodically sprinkle treats into the crate to reward her quietness. Quiet method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bark Only use the unscented air from the Pet Convincers - don't use citronella, it's too harsh and lingers for too long so can be confusing. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Oct. 3, 2022