Last Modified: 1/25/08

For potty training your Shih Tzu I always recommend using a cage (Picture). Many new owners will choose to section off an area for their puppy or may use a bathroom as a space. As this may work for some puppies I will assure you it will not work for all. Puppies need a place to retreat to where they will feel safe. If this is not provided you will find that they are likely to misbehave. You may also want to consider a cage for the very reason that no one can predict the future. Many areas are facing damage by nature that has not been seen in over 20 to 60 years. If you face a natural disaster, you may find yourself in a situations where your dog is unwelcome unless crated. Do not expect a shelter to accept your dog with just a leash and, if you are forced to put your dog elsewhere, he will end up in a crate for his own safety. You may also have to have your dog stay over night at a vet's or kennel over night for a few days if he is sick or if you are required to travel without him and cannont find a friend to take him. You may say that will not happen all you want, but just talk to someone who lived through Katrina or anyone who has been forced to kennel their dog when they had done all they could to prevent the possibility. You cannot see into the future and if your dog, whom has never been in a crate, is ever kenneled in a stressful situation you may very well make him sick with the added stress of confinement. Do your dog a favor and at least have him used to being confined to a crate, if not all day, at night or while you are gone. You will be grateful you did if the unthinkable happens.

1. Setting up the bed:
Cover the floor of the cage with an old towel or blanket. Put the stuffed animal and bed in one end and the food dish and water bottle/dish in the other end- if training shih tzu or similar breed. If you are training a breed with a food schedule, leave the food out; you may or may not want to leave the water in the crate. Toys go wherever the puppy puts them. If you have hard floors where the crate will be going, please remember that the floors are cold in the winter and you should place a towel, blanket or carpet sample under the crate to maintain warmth. You may also cover the crate with a blanket if it is really cold.

2. Establish his area:
Leave the puppy in the cage when you are busy, at work, sleeping, or any time you are not watching him. At first he should be in the cage about 85% of the time. Do not move the crate from room to room; this will only confuse him. This applies to ALL breeds.

3. Request, Identify, and Praise:
Put the puppy in the cage at bedtime. First thing in the morning carry him out to the desired place. Puppies are normally unable to walk to the door without leaving a few trails behind them. If you are worried about being baptized bring a towel with you to cover his bottom until you get him out. If he wakes you up in the pre-dawn hours he may need to go sooner and cannot wait for you. Sorry, but you really should get up and take him out.

Put him down and tell him what you want: “Potty!” When he starts to go tell him what he is doing: “Good boy, good potty!” When he is finished praise him. Do the same thing for a bowel movement. Continue to do this every time and be consistent. Only allow him to play when he has relieved himself. He only needs 2 minutes to start going potty. If he takes any longer pick him up, without showing any emotion towards him or giving him any attention, and put him, calmly, back in his crate. If you know he really needs to go, walk away and come back to take him out in 5 or 10 minutes. If you think he may not need to go badly come back in 30 to 60 minutes and try again. Keep repeating these steps until he goes outside. Do not allow him to come inside unaided until he has gone outside. Otherwise, he should be carried.

When you think it is time for him to go again, take him out and make your request. If he does “go” then praise him, but if he does not, make your request again. If after 2 minutes he has not gone then pick him up without showing any emotion and without talking and put him back in his cage for a couple of hours or until he acts like he might need to “go” again. Then take him out and repeat the process.

4. Reward:
The reward for his good potty is a run around the house; do not use treats! He should only be allowed in one room at a time. Pick the room you are in most, usually where you keep the crate, and block his access to every other room. Allow him to run around while you are watching him closely and following him around furniture. If you do not have the time, he needs to go back in his crate. Many pupies will go outside and then go again once inside. You need to be there to watch for signs that he will go again. When you see the sign for another potty break, clap your hands, shout "no" in a deep voice, stomp your foot, make any loud, sharp noise to get his attention and take him back out and follow the steps from #3. Repeat until he goes potty outside.

5. Graduation:
After a week or more you have him going outside and he running around that main room for more than an hour without soiling the floor, leave him on his own in that room for a time, without supervision or not watching him as closely. Come back and check under and behind furniture and anywhere else he may have soiled. If the room is clean, he has mastered that room and can move on. If not, do not punish him for the crime (you were not there to see the act), but return to watching his every move in that room and try again in another week or two.

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