Wuraola Ademola-Shanu

10 Tricks to Teach Your Shih Tzu Who says you can’t teach your Shih Tzu tricks? Atimes it might seem your little fur baby is incapable of learning tricks; however, with time, proper amount of practice and patience, your Shih Tzu will be able to learn. Apart from instilling discipline, teaching your Shih Tzu tricks is a great way to bond with him. Want to learn fun tricks to teach your Shih Tzu? Read along. 1. Respond To The Clicker This is the first trick every dog including your Shih Tzu must learn. To teach your dog to respond to the clicker, click and give him a treat. Repeat about thirty times. This will teach your Shih Tzu to associate the clicker with the treat. To maintain this connection, it is important to click and then treat. 2. Shake Hands This trick is one of the cute tricks your Shih Tzu can learn. It is quite simple and easy to teach. Naturally, your Shih Tzu paws at you when he wants something. To teach him to shake, present a fisted hand with treats inside, so that he has no other choice than to paw at your hand since he can’t get the treat with his mouth. Once he continues to paw, begin to use the command “Shake”. After repeating it severally, your Shih Tzu is bound to learn this trick. 3. Sit Pretty Making your Shih Tzu “sit pretty” is just so adorable. Apart from Shih Tzus being cute, making your dog learn this trick gives you the opportunity to take cute pictures of your Shih Tzu and post it on Instagram and other social media sites. Apart from being a great exercise, it also allows your Shih Tzu to strike an adorable pose which helps with his balance and building his core muscles. However, ensure that your Shih Tzu is healthy for this as it can strain him if he already has health issues. 4. Hug This trick is good to teach your Shih Tzu as they will be able to put their paws around you and hug you back when you hug them. If you want your Shih Tzu to master this adorable trick, you need to be patient with the pace your dog learns. Also, remember that it’s a bit simpler for your Shih Tzu to learn to hug if he already knows how to “sit pretty”. 5. High Five Teaching your Shih Tzu to high five is so easy and is a great way to make kids laugh. To teach, start by commanding your Shih Tzu to sit, and reward him with a treat. Next, dangle a treat in front of him but slightly out of reach. Repeat the command “high five” as you gently tap one of his feet. When you do this, he will likely raise his foot to paw at the treat in your other hand. As he raises his foot, catch it with your free hand. Immediately you make contact, give your Shih Tzu the treat and shower him with lots of praise. Keep repeating these steps until your Shih Tzu learns to raise his foot automatically whenever you give the command. If your shih tzu requires a bit of encouragement to lift his foot off the ground, gently tap the inside of his knee with your finger until he bends his leg. As soon as he raises his paw, tickle the bottom of his foot gently to motivate him to raise it higher. Keep repeating the command slowly and firmly until he leans it. 6. Name When your Shih Tzu looks at you click and treat. Repeat 2 to 4 times. Say his name as he looks at you. Repeat 5-7 times again. Repeat the process until he masters the trick. 7. Stand Have your Shih Tzu lay down. Allow him to stand up. When he stands, click and treat. Repeat severally until he learns that he needs to stand up if he wants to get his treat. 8. Fetch This trick tells your Shih Tzu to pick up an item you point to. To teach him, get one of his favorite toys and place it on the ground. Allow him to pick it with his mouth. Click and treat. Repeat this severally. When he starts to pick his toy without hesitation, begin to use the command “fetch” when you click and treat. After repeating it severally, see if he obeys. If he doesn’t, be patient and repeat till he learns it. 9. Spin Using a touch stick, guide him around in a circular motion. As he makes a full turn, click and treat. Keep doing this severally, and eventually give the command by using a hand signal (circular motion with index finger). Use the touch stick less. When your Shih Tzu can spin without the touch stick, command him with your hand till he masters the trick. 10. Put Toys Away To teach your Shih Tzu, get a large box or basket. Gather all his toys and put them in a pile. Point to each toy and say “fetch”, then “bring it” and then “drop it” into the basket. When he does this, click and treat. After he gathers all his toys into the basket, reward him with a treat and show him affection. Keep repeating the process till he masters the trick.