Breed Guides Aug 10, 2026  ·  André — Unleash'd K9

Shih Tzu Training: Small Dog, Same Rules

Small Dog, Same Rules

The Shih Tzu is one of the most spoiled breeds in dog ownership. Owners treat them as accessories, lap pets, or babies. They get hand-fed, carried everywhere, allowed on every piece of furniture, never crate-trained, never leash-trained, and never asked to do anything resembling work. By age 2, the dog is reactive, demanding, possessive, occasionally biting, and impossible to leave with a sitter.

The breed is not the problem. The training (or absence of training) is. Shih Tzus are dogs. The same rules that apply to a Rottweiler apply to a Shih Tzu — the dog is just smaller. The size of the dog does not change the necessity of the structure.

Here's how to actually train one.

What Shih Tzus Are

The Shih Tzu is a Tibetan companion breed bred for centuries to live alongside royalty as a lap pet. The genetics produce a dog that is:

• Small (10 to 16 pounds typical)
• Affectionate and people-oriented
• Independent-minded with selective obedience
• Sturdy for their size (more athletic than the toy-breed reputation suggests)
• Brachycephalic (flat-faced, affecting heat tolerance and breathing)
• Long-coated (requiring serious grooming commitment)

The breed is intelligent and trainable. The challenge is that owners rarely train them because the small size hides the consequences of bad behavior. A 12-pound dog who lunges at strangers is "cute." A 12-pound dog who growls over the food bowl is "spoiled." A 12-pound dog who never learned to walk on a leash is "carried."

Small dogs absolutely can bite seriously (especially small children), and the dog's quality of life suffers when they're untrained regardless of size.

The Spoiled Toy Dog Spiral

The pattern we see in 80% of Shih Tzu cases at Unleash'd K9:

1. Puppy is treated as a baby (carried, hand-fed, allowed on every surface) 2. Puppy never crate-trained ("she doesn't like it") 3. Puppy never leash-trained ("she's so small, I just carry her") 4. Puppy gets everything on demand (food, attention, access) 5. Adolescence begins — the dog starts demanding, growling, snapping 6. Owner is shocked because "she was such a sweet puppy" 7. Behaviors escalate as the dog has been trained that demanding works 8. Family calls a trainer when the dog has bitten a child or visitor

The fix is the same structural framework we apply to any dog, with the additional challenge of undoing 1 to 3 years of bad habits. It takes longer to retrofit than to install correctly from the start.

Training the Shih Tzu

Foundation

Same as every breed: sit, down, place, recall, threshold control, impulse control, leash skills. The Shih Tzu can learn all of these. They're trainable to family-pet standards. Most owners simply never try.

The Leash Reality

A Shih Tzu must walk on a leash. Not be carried. Not ride in a stroller. Walk. The dog needs the exercise, the mental stimulation, and the environmental engagement that leash walking provides. Carrying the dog everywhere produces the over-bonded, environmentally-anxious dog who panics at every novel situation.

Use a properly fitted harness or martingale collar (the breed's neck is small and a flat collar can slip). Use a 6-foot leash, never a flexi. Build the same loose-leash skills you would build for any dog.

The Crate Reality

Crate training is non-negotiable. The Shih Tzu needs a safe space, a structured rest period, and a tool for management during travel, illness, or guest visits. The "she doesn't like it" excuse means "I never properly conditioned the crate." Properly introduced, every Shih Tzu learns to love the crate within 1 to 2 weeks.

The "No Furniture" Question

I don't tell every Shih Tzu owner the dog can't be on the couch. I tell them the dog needs to ask, and the dog needs to leave when asked. That's the structure. If your Shih Tzu can be invited up and asked to leave reliably, the couch is fine. If your Shih Tzu has claimed the couch and resists when you ask them to move, the couch is the source of resource guarding and needs to be removed entirely until the structure is rebuilt.

The Resource Guarding Pattern

Shih Tzus are commonly resource guarders. The breed is naturally possessive of high-value items, and the typical lifestyle (free access to everything, no earned-privilege structure) makes the guarding worse over time.

Common Shih Tzu guarding targets:

• The owner (especially when other family members or strangers approach)
• Specific furniture (favorite couch spot, the bed)
• Food bowls and treats
• Toys (especially soft toys the dog has claimed)

The fix is the same impulse control framework we use for any breed. Small dogs get the same treatment as large dogs. The size doesn't change the protocol.

The Brachycephalic Reality

Shih Tzus have a moderately to severely brachycephalic structure depending on the line. This affects:

• Heat tolerance. Even more than other small breeds, Shih Tzus are vulnerable to overheating. Pre-7 AM and post-8 PM walks only in summer. Watch for labored breathing constantly.
• Exercise capacity. The breed cannot do extended high-intensity exercise. Walks should be moderate-pace and varied. No long runs.
• Veterinary anesthesia risk. The brachycephalic profile increases anesthesia risk for surgeries and dental cleanings. Use vets experienced with the breed.
• Eye sensitivity. The prominent eyes are vulnerable to injury and irritation. Be mindful of environments with debris, sand, and irritants.

The Common Shih Tzu Cases

What we see most often:

• Resource guarding the owner from family members or partners
• Demand barking and demand behaviors that have escalated over years
• Reactive on leash because the dog was never properly socialized
• Refuses to be left alone (separation behaviors that built from constant carrying)
• Bites delivered to children or visitors during the dog's protective episodes
• Adolescent dogs whose "cute" puppy behaviors have become serious problems

For Shih Tzu cases, private sessions work well because the owner often needs significant mindset adjustment along with the dog's training. Most Shih Tzu owners are not used to enforcing structure on a small dog, and the coaching matters as much as the dog work.

For severe cases or for owners who can't break the habits themselves, the 4-week board and train provides the dog-side reset and the transfer sessions teach the owner how to maintain the new dynamic.

The Move

If you have a Shih Tzu and the cute puppy phase has become a demanding, possessive, occasionally biting adult, the breed isn't broken. The structure is missing. The fix is the same as for any dog — small or large.

Book a free assessment or text 786-755-5857. We work with Shih Tzus and small breeds regularly. We'll tell you what your dog actually needs (often more than you think) and exactly how to provide it.

Structure creates calm. Calm creates reliability. The rules are the rules. Even at 12 pounds.

The Final Word on Shih Tzus

A properly trained Shih Tzu is one of the most pleasant small dogs to live with — affectionate, calm, welcome anywhere, easy to travel with, structured around family life. The breed has more capacity than most owners give them credit for. The treatment they receive is what determines the dog they become.

Unleash'd K9 | North Miami, FL | unleashdk9.com | 786-755-5857
Making Sit Happen.