Shih Tzus are harder to potty train than many breeds, but not because they lack intelligence
Shih Tzus have a reputation for being stubborn during potty training, and that reputation is earned. The breed was developed as a companion dog for Chinese royalty, which means they were bred to be independent-minded and to do what they wanted rather than what a handler asked. This trait makes them slower to housetrain than, say, a Labrador Retriever or a Border Collie, which were bred to take direction from humans.
The difficulty is not that Shih Tzus cannot learn where to go to the bathroom. They can. The difficulty is that they often do not see why they should care what you want. A Shih Tzu may understand that you want them to go outside, but they may decide that going on the living room rug is more convenient, and they are willing to accept the consequence. This makes the training process longer and requires more consistency from the owner than it would with a more obedience-driven breed.
Shih Tzus also have small bladders and fast metabolisms, which means they need to go out more often than larger dogs. A young Shih Tzu may need to go outside every two to three hours during the day. If you cannot meet that schedule, accidents will happen regardless of how well the dog understands the rule.
Key Takeaways
- Shih Tzus were bred to be independent and make their own decisions, which makes them slower to housetrain than breeds bred for obedience.
- The breed has a small bladder and fast metabolism, so puppies need outdoor breaks every two to three hours during the day.
- Consistency matters more with Shih Tzus than with other breeds — missing a potty break or failing to enforce the rule once will set training back.
- Crate training works better for Shih Tzus than punishment-based methods, because the breed responds poorly to being scolded.
- Most Shih Tzus can be reliably housetrained by six months old if the owner maintains a strict schedule and does not skip outdoor breaks.
How long potty training usually takes with a Shih Tzu
A Shih Tzu puppy typically takes four to six months to be reliably housetrained if the owner follows a consistent schedule. Some individual dogs housetrain faster — by three months — and some take longer, up to eight or nine months. The difference usually comes down to how strictly the owner sticks to the schedule and how quickly the dog decides that following the rule is worth the effort.
Adult Shih Tzus that were never housetrained can take longer, sometimes six months to a year, because they have already developed habits and have less motivation to change them. A dog that has spent two years going wherever they want in the house will not suddenly decide to go outside just because you want them to.
The timeline also depends on whether you are home during the day. If you work outside the home and cannot let the dog out every two to three hours, the training will take longer because the dog will have more accidents, and each accident teaches them that going inside is acceptable.
Why punishment does not work with this breed
Shih Tzus respond poorly to scolding, yelling, or rubbing their nose in an accident. The breed is sensitive to tone of voice and will shut down or become anxious if you punish them harshly. A frightened or anxious Shih Tzu is harder to train, not easier, because fear interferes with learning.
Punishment also does not teach the dog where you want them to go — it only teaches them that you are angry. A Shih Tzu that has been scolded for an accident may learn to hide and go to the bathroom in a closet or under a bed instead of in front of you, which makes the problem worse.
The most effective approach with a Shih Tzu is to reward outdoor bathroom breaks heavily and ignore accidents indoors. Praise and treats when the dog goes outside, and a matter-of-fact cleanup with no emotion when they go inside. This teaches the dog that going outside is the choice that gets them what they want.
Crate training as the foundation for housetraining
Crate training is the single most effective tool for housetraining a Shih Tzu. Dogs naturally avoid going to the bathroom where they sleep, so a properly sized crate — large enough for the dog to stand, turn around, and lie down, but not so large that they can go in one corner and sleep in another — will motivate the dog to hold it until you let them out.
The crate should be introduced gradually and should never be used as punishment. A Shih Tzu that sees the crate as a safe space will be more willing to spend time in it. Once the dog is comfortable in the crate, you can use it to structure the day: crate time, outdoor break, supervised playtime, crate time, outdoor break, and so on.
Most Shih Tzus will not go to the bathroom in their crate if they have been given a recent outdoor break. This means that crate training removes the guesswork from housetraining — you know the dog will not have an accident while crated, so you can focus on rewarding outdoor breaks and preventing unsupervised indoor accidents.
The outdoor schedule that works best
A Shih Tzu puppy should go outside first thing in the morning, after meals, after playtime, after naps, before bedtime, and any time they show signs of needing to go (sniffing, circling, whining). This usually means at least six to eight outdoor breaks per day for a young puppy.
The timing matters. Most puppies need to go within fifteen to thirty minutes after eating, so take your Shih Tzu out shortly after every meal. Similarly, they usually need to go within a few minutes of waking up from a nap. If you can predict when they need to go, you can be outside to reward them when they do.
As the dog gets older, the bladder capacity increases and the schedule can stretch out. By six months old, most Shih Tzus can hold it for four to six hours. By one year old, they can usually hold it for six to eight hours. However, even adult Shih Tzus do better with at least three outdoor breaks per day — morning, midday, and evening.
Dealing with accidents without making things worse
Accidents will happen during housetraining, especially in the first few months. The way you respond to an accident matters. If you catch the dog in the act, you can interrupt them with a calm "outside" and take them out when ready. If they finish outside, praise and reward. If you find an accident after the fact, clean it up thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner and move on.
Do not yell, do not rub the dog's nose in it, and do not drag them to the spot. These responses teach the dog to fear you, not to go outside. A Shih Tzu that is afraid of you will learn to hide and go to the bathroom in secret places, which makes housetraining much harder.
Enzymatic cleaners are important because they break down the urine at a chemical level. If you use a regular cleaner, the dog can still smell the urine and will be drawn back to that spot. A dog that returns to the same spot repeatedly is not being stubborn — they are following their nose to a place that smells like a bathroom.
When to consider other factors like health problems
If a Shih Tzu is having frequent accidents after six months of consistent training, a veterinary check is worth doing. Urinary tract infections, diabetes, and other health conditions can cause a dog to lose bladder control or to need to go out more often than normal. A vet can rule out these problems with a straightforward urinalysis.
Shih Tzus are also prone to ear infections and skin issues, which can make them anxious and distracted during training. If your dog seems uncomfortable or is licking or scratching frequently, a vet visit may help with both the underlying problem and the housetraining progress.
Age is also a factor. Very young puppies (under eight weeks) have limited bladder control and should not be expected to hold it for long periods. Very old dogs may develop incontinence as their muscles weaken. In both cases, the problem is not stubbornness or lack of training — it is biology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Shih Tzu be housetrained by three months old?
Some Shih Tzus housetrain faster than others, and a few can be reliably housetrained by three months. However, three months is on the early side for the breed. Most Shih Tzus need four to six months of consistent training. If your puppy is having occasional accidents at three months, that is normal and does not mean training is failing.
Is it harder to housetrain a Shih Tzu than a Chihuahua?
Shih Tzus and Chihuahuas are similarly stubborn and similarly slow to housetrain. Both breeds were bred as companion dogs and both have small bladders. The timeline and the methods are roughly the same for both breeds. If you have successfully housetrained one, the other will follow a similar pattern.
What should I do if my Shih Tzu refuses to go outside in bad weather?
Some Shih Tzus dislike rain or cold and will hold it rather than go outside. You can help by providing a covered potty area, using a dog raincoat, or going out with the dog for moral support. If the dog still refuses, bring them back inside and try again in thirty minutes. Do not let them go inside — that teaches them that refusing to go outside is a winning strategy.
Will my Shih Tzu ever be housetrained if I use puppy pads?
Puppy pads can slow down housetraining because they teach the dog that going to the bathroom inside the house is acceptable. If you use pads, place them near the door and gradually move them closer to the outside. Many trainers recommend skipping pads entirely and going straight to outdoor training, because it is faster overall.
How do I know if my Shih Tzu is housetrained?
A housetrained Shih Tzu can go through the day without accidents and will signal when they need to go outside (by going to the door, whining, or sniffing). Most Shih Tzus are considered reliably housetrained when they have gone at least four weeks without an accident and consistently ask to go outside.