Do not let the tiny size or the regal, pampered look fool you. The Shih Tzu, for all its lapdog charm, is a clever, independent little dog with its own agenda, and training one requires patience, consistency, and a sense of humor. Bred for over a thousand years to be a companion to the imperial court of China, the Shih Tzu has never had to work for a living, which means it sees no reason to obey commands simply because you asked. It will, however, do almost anything for a treat, a bit of praise, and a chance to make you happy, which makes training this little lion a genuinely rewarding experience, provided you approach it the right way.

This guide walks you through step-by-step obedience training for a Shih Tzu, covering the setup, the foundational commands of sit, stay, down, come, and loose-leash walking, and the schedule, socialization, and common mistakes that shape a well-behaved little companion. The most important thing to understand is that a Shih Tzu responds to gentleness, not force. These are sensitive, sometimes stubborn dogs, and harsh training methods will only make them shut down or dig in their heels. With patience, positive reinforcement, and consistency, you can train a Shih Tzu to be a well-mannered, confident little dog that is a delight to live with and to take anywhere.

Getting Started: Set Up for Success

Before you begin, gather the right tools and set your expectations. You will need a well-fitting harness, since a collar can put uncomfortable pressure on a Shih Tzu’s delicate trachea, a light, comfortable leash, and a supply of small, soft, high-value treats that are easy for a small mouth to eat quickly. Shih Tzus are food-motivated, which is a gift for training, but keep the treats tiny, about the size of a pea, and factor them into your dog’s daily food allowance to prevent weight gain. Choose a quiet training spot with few distractions, and keep sessions short, just five minutes at a time, a few times a day, because a Shih Tzu’s attention span is brief and its patience for repetition is limited.

Consistency is the key to training this breed. Use the exact same word for each command every time, paired with the same hand signal, and make sure everyone in the family uses the same words and rules. Reward within a second of the correct behavior so your Shih Tzu connects the action with the treat. And keep the tone light and fun; Shih Tzus respond to happy, encouraging voices and to training that feels like a game. If a session is not going well, stop, do something easy and rewarding, and try again later. With patience and consistency, even this independent little breed will learn, and it will enjoy the training sessions you share.

Step 1: Teach Sit

Sit is the first command to teach your Shih Tzu, and it is a useful foundation for everything else. Hold a treat just above your Shih Tzu’s nose and lift it slowly up and slightly back over its head; as it follows the treat with its eyes and nose, its rear end will naturally lower into a sit. The instant its bottom touches the floor, say “sit” and give the treat and praise. Repeat this a dozen times in a short session. Because Shih Tzus are small, you may need to lower yourself to their level, and you may find that a particularly food-focused little dog tries to jump for the treat instead of sitting; if so, keep the treat low and move it slowly.

Once your Shih Tzu is sitting reliably for the lure, add the word just before the motion, then begin fading the treat, using only the hand signal and rewarding with a treat sometimes and praise other times. Practice sit in different rooms and with gentle distractions, and use it as a polite default before meals, before going outside, and before being picked up. A Shih Tzu that sits on cue is a dog you can manage easily, and because this breed can be a little willful, the calm impulse control that sit teaches is genuinely valuable.

Step 2: Teach Stay

Stay is a valuable command for a Shih Tzu, teaching patience and impulse control to a breed that is used to getting its own way. Start with your Shih Tzu sitting, hold up a flat palm, say “stay,” and take a single small step back. If it holds for even a second, step back in and reward. Gradually build the duration, then the distance, always in small steps, and always reward your Shih Tzu in the stay position before releasing it with a clear word like “okay” or “free.” If it breaks the stay, calmly reset and try a shorter duration; never punish the break, since this sensitive breed will simply become anxious.

Practice stay in short sessions throughout the day, building up to thirty seconds, a minute, and eventually a few minutes, and practice it in different locations. Use stay before meals, before opening the front door, and before putting on the leash, so it becomes a useful everyday behavior. A Shih Tzu that will hold a stay is a dog that is safe and easy to manage, and teaching it this command also builds the calm, patient temperament that makes the breed such a joy to live with. Be patient; small, consistent steps are the secret to success with this breed.

Step 3: Teach Down

Down is a calming command that is very useful for a Shih Tzu, and it is especially handy at the groomer, at the vet, and during quiet times at home. Start with your Shih Tzu sitting, hold a treat at its nose, and lower it slowly to the floor between its front paws. As it follows the treat down, its elbows will touch the floor; the moment they do, say “down” and reward. If your Shih Tzu stands up instead of lying down, keep the treat closer to its body and lower it more slowly, or try luring it down from a low surface. Some Shih Tzus take longer to learn down, so be patient and generous with rewards.

Once your Shih Tzu is reliably lying down for the lure, add the word, fade the treat, and practice down in different settings. Use down as a settling behavior during grooming, which is particularly useful for a breed that spends so much time at the groomer, and during calm moments at home. With practice, down becomes a signal for your Shih Tzu to relax and settle, which is a wonderful skill for a companion dog that will spend much of its life indoors with you.

Step 4: Teach a Reliable Come

Come, or recall, is an important command for any dog, and it is one a Shih Tzu can learn with patience. The golden rule is that coming to you must always be a happy, rewarding experience; never call your Shih Tzu to you for something it dislikes, and never scold it when it arrives, even if it took its time, because the arrival is the behavior you want to reinforce. Start indoors with few distractions: crouch down, say your Shih Tzu’s name and “come” in a bright, happy voice, and encourage it to come to you with open arms and a treat. The instant it reaches you, reward generously and let it go again, so coming to you is always a good thing.

Build the behavior gradually, increasing the distance and practicing in different rooms, then in a safe, enclosed outdoor space. Because a Shih Tzu is small and not built for speed, you generally will not need a long training leash, but practicing in enclosed areas keeps it safe. Practice recall when your Shih Tzu is distracted, by a toy or a smell, and reward the fastest responses most generously. With consistent, positive practice, your Shih Tzu will learn that “come” means good things, and it will trot happily to you whenever you call, whether you are at home or out for a walk.

Step 5: Loose-Leash Walking

Walking a Shih Tzu on a loose leash is very achievable with consistent training, and using a harness makes it comfortable and safe for this small, delicate breed. Start in a quiet area and reward your Shih Tzu the instant the leash is slack, taking a few steps and marking and rewarding each success. If it pulls ahead or stops to sniff, be patient; use a gentle encouragement and a treat to bring it back beside you, and reward it for walking with you. Because a Shih Tzu’s legs are short and its pace is slow, keep walks at its speed and do not expect long distances; a short, pleasant walk is plenty.

Practice loose-leash walking in different quiet locations, then gradually add mild distractions, and always reward your Shih Tzu for checking in with you. Remember that a Shih Tzu will naturally want to stop and investigate interesting smells, so allow some sniffing time, which is excellent mental enrichment for a small dog, and then reward it for continuing to walk with you. With patience and consistency, your Shih Tzu will learn to walk pleasantly on a loose leash, making daily walks an enjoyable routine for both of you.

Building a Schedule, Socializing, and Avoiding Mistakes

Consistency and patience are everything with a Shih Tzu. Aim for two to three short training sessions of five minutes each day, at roughly the same times, and practice one skill at a time until it is solid before adding another. Because Shih Tzus are independent and can be stubborn, do not be discouraged if progress is slower than you would like; celebrate every small success and keep sessions positive and fun. House training, in particular, requires patience with this breed, which can be slow to learn; a consistent schedule, frequent potty breaks, and crate training or puppy pads will help enormously in the early months.

Socialization is important for a Shih Tzu, which can become shy or wary if not exposed to the world from puppyhood. Introduce your little dog to a variety of gentle people, friendly dogs, and new situations, always in positive, controlled ways, and reward calm, confident behavior. The most common training mistakes with this breed are using harsh methods, which make a sensitive Shih Tzu anxious and stubborn, and being inconsistent with rules, which confuses an independent dog. Also avoid the mistake of letting a small dog get away with everything; Shih Tzus may be tiny, but they still benefit from clear, kind boundaries and basic manners. With patience, consistency, and plenty of positive reinforcement, your Shih Tzu will be a confident, well-mannered, and wonderfully affectionate companion for many happy years.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary or professional dog training advice. For persistent behavioral or health concerns, always consult a certified professional trainer or a licensed veterinarian.