Although Shih Tzus are eager to please and quick to learn, Shih Tzu training, specifically house breaking needs persistence and consistency due to the this breed's stubborn personality. As pack leader, the rules must be made consistently clear to avoid Small Dog Syndrome, a behavior in which the dog believes he is the pack leader to humans.

Being a toy dog, the main purpose of Shih Tzu is for companionship and house pet. Since this breed needs and likes to be around people, it is therefore appropriate to train them how to behave accordingly. Obviously, Shih Tzu training is different from training a dog as large as Great Dane or as brave as a Bull Terrier. When training, you must consider this breed's size, temperament, characteristics as well as training methods and equipment appropriate for this dog this small.

Since there are various dog training tools or equipment to choose from, you have to be very careful which one is right and can help you create a well-mannered spunky little dog. Some of the first purchases you will need to make for your dog include:

Collars. A dog collar has other better purpose than just a fancy material around the neck of a dog. Apart from fashion, it can be used for control and identification. Tags containing the dog's identification are often placed on dog collars. In Shih Tzu training, collars are ideal to control the dog for they provide handle for grabbing. There are different types of collars: buckle collars or flat collars, break-away collars and stud collars fall are considered basic collars. Training collars include flat collars, slip collars, prong collar, martingale collar, shock collar and wolf collar. For your Shih Tzu, it is important that the weight of the chain and the size of the links are appropriate to the size and weight of your Shih Tzu. Misuse can put you or your Shih Tzu in danger. Usually collars are often used together with;

Leashes. Dog leashes, just like collars, are great tools to help you control your dog. Dog leashes differ in materials, lengths and styles. When buying leashes, choose which one is right for your Shih Tzu. Chain and woven nylon leashes are strong, however, nylon cannot withstand chewing if your dog is fond of that. It is therefore a great idea to use chain leashes if you haven't dealt with your dog's chewing behavior.

Rewards. Regardless of dog breed or training objective, rewards such as food treats and toys are great tools to reinforce your dog to obey command. No wonder they are called positive reinforcers.