Walking Your Shih Tzu

A daily walk with your dog should be an enjoyable experience for both you and your dog. However, many of us know that sometimes that just isn’t going to happen. Some days, your dog may be more hyper than others and you will find yourself correcting and barking commands the whole way. With others, maybe your dog is just hyper every day on your daily walks. This is completely understandable and you should not get angry. A walk is such a wonderful thing for your dog. He loves to look around and learn about the different things around him. He also loves the chance to socialize with other people and animals.

My dog, Maxwell, loves to meet new dogs and cats. In fact, sometimes I think he enjoys the cats more than the other dogs! On our little excursions, he tries to pull at the start and then towards the end, after he’s tired himself out, he begins to slow down and keep my pace. I was told once that the only reason he pulls is because he thinks he can get away with it. So, following that theory, if you correct every time the pulling occurs, eventually, your dog will learn that he isn’t going to get away with it and stop pulling.

But, to stop this pulling, you must have the correct leash and collar. First and foremost, never use a chain-linked leash! It is hard on the hands and is just too heavy. Use a soft nylon leash, about an inch thick and around 6 feet long. I have tried all different methods with my pulling, hyper dog, from a body halter type collar to a choke collar and the best one to use is something called a Halti (also known to some as, The Gentle Leader).

The Halti/ Gentle Leader is the safest, most effective training collar there is. Instead of pulling your dog at the neck, it wraps around the muzzle, pretty much working as a horse’s reins. You simply lift the leash and the muzzle goes up and the mouth closes tight. There is no force used, just a easy motion upwards. The dog immediately stops any unwanted behavior (such as begging and pulling). It is a general training collar; therefore, you can even teach your dog to sit using it!

Never tolerate pulling or crossing in front from left to right. It can be dangerous for both you and your dog. Although, once you are off city streets and in a big park with lots of running space, do not hesitate to give your dog the freedom to roam. For this, I use a retractable leash that extends out somewhere around 15 feet. You can lock in the length you want to give if you don’t want to or it isn’t safe to give the whole length of the leash.

If you both follow the general rule of a walk (no pulling, keep to one side, and eyes on, it should prove to be a relaxing and enjoyable experience for the two of you. Above all, please remember that once you reach a safe running area it is important to let your dog just be a dog and continue the training on the walk back home!

The above is general information always ask your veterinarian about the care of your Shih Tzu puppy or dog!