To teach your Shih Tzu tricks, even the simple ones, you need to get hold of some good snacks, go to an obscure suitable place and try to keep the training sessions to ten to fifteen minutes or your Shih Tzu will begin to get bored. Remember when he gets something right give him lots of appreciation and a reward snack, though beware not to get him over ecstatic or he might lose focus.
Teach your Shih Tzu to give you his paw
To train your Shih Tzu to give you his paw, initially get him to sit, then as you say the word ‘paw’ take his paw in your hand and offer him a snack. After that repeat this, and after a couple of tries don’t take his paw so fast. State the word ‘paw’, count to one and after that take it. You must see that he is raising his paw up as you state the word. If he doesn’t then return to stating it at the same time. Do it a few more times then slow your reaction once again. After two or three sessions most Shih Tzus pick this trick up rather easily.
Teach your Shih Tzu to give you a high five
Like a great deal of tricks the high five is a progression of an easier trick, in this case the paw trick. Hold a snack in between your fingers and raise your hand just a bit higher than you would raise it for the paw trick. Your Shih Tzu will assume you wish to perform the paw trick and will grab the snack with his paw as we taught him in the prior trick. Once he reaches up you say “high 5” and give your Shih Tzu the snack. When your Shih Tzu has actually mastered the paw trick this one will likely be really simple to master and with just a couple of sessions he will be accomplishing it on hand signal rather than your voice.
Teach your Shih Tzu to jump through a hoop
Before you start this 1 I would simply like to ask you to be a little reasonable and not suspend the hoop too high as you don’t really want your Shih Tzu to injure himself while practicing the trick. Set your Shih Tzu to one side of a hula hoop, get him to take note of your hand on the other side of the hoop. Place a snack in your hand and offer the Shih Tzu the command to stop sitting. At first he might try to walk around or under the hula hoop. If this takes place start again. Your Shih Tzu wants the treat and will quickly discover that going around or below doesn’t get it so he’ll soon start going through it. If he does, say “hoop” and offer him the treat. He’ll soon be leaping through the hoop upon the command of “hoop”. When I first began teaching this trick I owned a medium sized dog, so I began with the hoop six inches from the ground and slowly lifted it to waist high. In the event that you have a smaller dog you may wish to begin with the hoop touching the ground so he simply goes through the hoop and then gradually lift it as he gets accustomed to the trick.
I trust you have enjoyed learning these 3 tricks you can teach your Shih Tzu. Have patience with your Shih Tzu and above all, have fun!
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Shih Tzus
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