Shih Tzus are harder to potty train than most breeds, but not impossible
Yes, Shih Tzus are genuinely more difficult to housetrain than Labs, Golden Retrievers, or German Shepherds. This is not a training failure on your part. The breed has specific traits—small bladder capacity, stubborn temperament, and a historical role as a lap dog rather than a working dog—that make them slower learners than breeds bred for obedience. Most Shih Tzus take 4 to 6 months of consistent training to be reliably housetrained, compared to 8 to 12 weeks for easier breeds. Some take a full year.
The good news is that Shih Tzus are not untrainable. They respond well to patience, routine, and positive reinforcement. The difference is that you need to expect a longer timeline and adjust your expectations accordingly. A Shih Tzu that has accidents at 5 months old is not broken—it is on schedule for the breed.
Key Takeaways
- Shih Tzus have smaller bladders than larger breeds and cannot physically hold urine as long, so they need more frequent outdoor breaks—typically every 2 to 3 hours for puppies.
- The breed was developed as a companion dog, not a working dog, so they lack the natural drive to please that makes other breeds easier to train.
- Crate training works better for Shih Tzus than for some breeds because they naturally avoid soiling their sleeping area, but the crate must be the right size—large enough to stand and turn around, not so large they can eliminate in one corner and sleep in another.
- Accidents happen during the learning phase; punishing a Shih Tzu after the fact teaches fear, not bladder control, and actually slows training.
- Most Shih Tzus housetrain faster with a consistent outdoor schedule tied to meals, naps, and playtime rather than on-demand access to the yard.
Why Shih Tzus have smaller bladders and need more breaks
A Shih Tzu weighs 9 to 16 pounds as an adult. Their bladder capacity is proportional to body size, so they physically cannot hold as much urine as a 60-pound Labrador. A Shih Tzu puppy under 4 months old can typically hold urine for only 2 to 3 hours. An adult Shih Tzu can usually manage 4 to 6 hours, though many owners find their dogs ask to go out more frequently than that.
This is not laziness or stubbornness—it is anatomy. If you leave a young Shih Tzu alone for 8 hours, an accident is not a training problem; it is a physical impossibility. The breed's size means you have to build your schedule around their bathroom needs, not the other way around. Owners who work full-time often find they need a dog walker or midday break during the first 6 months.
The breed's independent temperament slows training progress
Shih Tzus were bred for 1,000 years as lap dogs for Chinese royalty. They were not bred to herd sheep, retrieve ducks, or obey commands when ready. This history shows up in their personality: they are affectionate but independent, and they often decide whether a command is worth following. This is different from a Border Collie or Poodle, which were bred to work closely with humans and read their handler's intent.
A Shih Tzu does not housetrain faster because you want it to. It housetrains on its own timeline. This means consistency matters more than intensity. Yelling at a Shih Tzu for an accident teaches it to hide and eliminate in closets, not to ask to go outside. Rewarding outdoor elimination with genuine enthusiasm—treats, praise, play—works much better because it gives the dog a reason to care about your preference.
Crate training works, but size matters more than you think
Dogs naturally avoid soiling their sleeping area, and Shih Tzus are no exception. A properly sized crate becomes a tool that works with the dog's instinct rather than against it. The crate should be large enough for the dog to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably—but not so large that the dog can eliminate in one corner and sleep in another. Many owners buy a crate sized for the dog's adult weight, then use a divider panel to make it smaller for the puppy.
The crate is not punishment. It is a safe space and a training aid. A Shih Tzu left in a crate for too long will eliminate out of desperation, not defiance, which teaches the opposite of what you want. Puppies under 4 months should not spend more than 3 to 4 hours in a crate at a time. Older puppies and adults can manage longer periods, but even adult Shih Tzus should not be crated for more than 8 hours without a break.
The crate works best when paired with a schedule: crate time after meals, after play, and before bedtime, with an when ready trip outside when the door opens. This creates a predictable rhythm that the dog learns to anticipate.
Punishment after the fact teaches fear, not control
If you find an accident 30 minutes after it happened and scold the dog, the dog does not learn "I should not eliminate indoors." It learns "When my owner finds pee, bad things happen." This teaches the dog to hide and eliminate in closets, under furniture, or behind doors—places where you will not find it when ready. It does not teach bladder control.
A Shih Tzu caught in the act of eliminating indoors can be interrupted with a sharp "no" and when ready taken outside. If the dog finishes outside, reward it. If you find an accident after the fact, clean it thoroughly with enzymatic cleaner (regular cleaners do not remove the scent that draws the dog back to the same spot) and move on. The dog has already forgotten what it did.
Punishment also increases stress and anxiety, which can actually trigger more frequent urination. A stressed Shih Tzu may eliminate more often, not less.
A consistent schedule works better than on-demand outdoor access
Some owners assume that leaving a door open to the yard gives the dog freedom to housetrain itself. For Shih Tzus, this usually backfires. Without a structured schedule, the dog does not learn to associate going outside with a specific routine. It straightforward goes out when it feels like it, and may still eliminate indoors at other times.
A schedule ties outdoor breaks to predictable events: after waking up, after meals (usually 15 to 30 minutes after eating), after playtime, and before bed. A young Shih Tzu on this schedule goes out 6 to 8 times a day. An adult on the same schedule might go out 4 to 5 times. The dog learns that elimination happens outside, at specific times, and that good things (treats, praise, play) follow.
Write the schedule down and stick to it for at least 2 to 3 months. Consistency is what teaches the dog, not the number of times you take it out. A Shih Tzu taken out 4 times a day on a strict schedule will housetrain faster than one taken out 8 times a day randomly.
Expect setbacks and know what causes them
Even a well-trained Shih Tzu may have occasional accidents. Common triggers include a change in routine (a new person in the house, a move, a change in feeding time), stress, illness, or straightforward a day when the dog's bladder is fuller than usual. A single accident does not mean the training has failed. It means something changed.
If accidents suddenly increase after weeks of success, consider whether something in the routine shifted. Did the dog's feeding time change? Is someone new in the house? Is the dog sick? Is the weather preventing outdoor breaks? Identifying the trigger often solves the problem faster than restarting training from scratch.
Some Shih Tzus develop a preference for eliminating on certain surfaces—grass, gravel, or pee pads—and may refuse to go on others. If your dog will only eliminate on grass but you live in an apartment, you may need to create a grass patch on a balcony or use a dog walker with yard access. This is not stubbornness; it is a preference that developed during training.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it usually take to housetrain a Shih Tzu?
Most Shih Tzus take 4 to 6 months with consistent training, though some take up to a year. This is longer than many other breeds. Consistency matters more than speed—a Shih Tzu on a strict routine will housetrain faster than one with an irregular schedule, even if the irregular schedule includes more outdoor breaks.
Can I use pee pads to housetrain a Shih Tzu?
Pee pads can work, but they often confuse the dog about where elimination is acceptable. The dog may learn that indoor elimination is fine as long as it is on a pad, then struggle to transition to outdoor-only elimination later. If you use pads, place them consistently in the same spot and gradually move them closer to the door over weeks, then outside.
What should I do if my Shih Tzu has an accident at night?
Nighttime accidents in puppies under 4 months are normal—the dog cannot physically hold urine all night. Limit water intake 2 to 3 hours before bed, take the dog out right before sleep, and use a crate at night so the dog will not eliminate in the bed. Most Shih Tzus can sleep through the night without accidents by 5 to 6 months old.
Is my Shih Tzu housetrained if it has not had an accident in two weeks?
Two weeks is a good sign but not a may provide. Most trainers consider a dog reliably housetrained after 4 to 6 weeks without accidents. Even then, changes in routine, stress, or illness can trigger occasional accidents. Consistency with the schedule should continue indefinitely.
Do male and female Shih Tzus housetrain differently?
There is no significant difference in housetraining difficulty between males and females. Both respond to the same training methods. Spaying or neutering does not change housetraining ability, though it may reduce marking behavior in males.