Dealing with Shih Tzu Accidents: Tips for House Trainin
Select Resting and Elimination Areas
Little Snow has a natural tendency to defecate away from the resting area. Puppies, upon being born, are unable to defecate on their own. The mother dog uses her tongue to stimulate the puppies' anal openings, prompting them to excrete.
The mother dog also licks clean the puppies' feces to prevent soiling the den, which also serves as a safety measure to avoid leaving a scent that could attract predators.
Therefore, once the puppies are capable of excreting independently, they will choose to do so at a location distant from their living quarters.
Cultivating a Fixed Elimination Habit in Puppies
After eating, puppies enjoy playing around and may stop or squat, indicating a need to defecate. It is crucial not to allow them to urinate or defecate on sofas, beds, or play areas.
Firstly, establish a designated elimination spot and prepare a dog litter box or place a pee pad on the ground.
When the puppy urinates or defecates anywhere but the designated spot, firmly and loudly reprimand it. Use paper towels to quickly clean up the mess and place the soiled paper towels in the litter box or on the pee pad. Teach the puppy this is the correct behavior, and be patient. Puppies, much like children, may sometimes be unable to hold it in and will excrete unexpectedly. However, consistently guiding them will eventually lead to good habits that will persist even as they grow older.
Even if you see the puppy defecating, immediately take it to the correct spot to reinforce the lesson.
Training Adult Dogs for Fixed Elimination
Once an adult dog has established its "bathroom," it should consistently use this same spot for elimination.
Since adult dogs can hold their bladder, it's best to schedule regular elimination times, such as in the morning and evening.
You can take your dog out for walks in the morning and evening to encourage elimination. The scent of other dogs' feces can stimulate the adult dog to excrete. Of course, always carry paper towels to clean up after your dog outside and be a responsible pet owner.
