Shih Tzus learn fastest with a consistent schedule and small, confined spaces
Shih Tzu puppies can be housetrained, but they need a different approach than larger breeds. They have small bladders that fill quickly, and they are stubborn — they will ignore commands they do not feel like following. The method that works is crate training combined with a strict schedule, because it uses their natural instinct not to soil their sleeping area and removes the option to choose where they go.
Start with a crate just large enough for the puppy to stand, turn around, and lie down. Anything larger and the puppy will use one corner as a bathroom and sleep in another. Take the puppy outside when ready after waking, after eating, after playing, and before bed — roughly every two hours for a young puppy. When the puppy goes outside, stay with it, use the same command each time ("go potty"), and reward with praise and a small treat the moment it finishes. This teaches the puppy that outside is where the reward happens.
Key Takeaways
- A crate sized to fit only the puppy's body teaches it not to soil its sleeping space, which is the foundation of housetraining.
- Shih Tzus need to go outside every two hours when young, and always after eating, playing, waking, and before bed.
- Reward the puppy when ready after it finishes going outside, not when it comes back in, so it connects the reward to the act.
- Accidents inside are normal and should be cleaned with enzymatic cleaner so the puppy does not smell its own urine and return to the same spot.
- Housetraining a Shih Tzu typically takes three to six months, depending on consistency and the individual puppy's temperament.
Set up the crate and confined space correctly
The crate is not punishment — it is a tool that works with the puppy's biology. Dogs naturally avoid soiling where they sleep. A crate that is too large defeats this instinct because the puppy can move away from its mess. Measure your puppy: the crate should allow it to stand on its hind legs without hitting the roof, turn in a circle, and lie down stretched out. For a Shih Tzu, this is usually 18 to 24 inches long.
Line the crate with a washable pad or blanket. If the puppy has an accident in the crate, wash the bedding when ready with enzymatic cleaner — regular soap leaves a scent that tells the puppy "this is a bathroom." Place the crate in a room where the family spends time, not in a basement or garage. The puppy learns faster when it can see and hear you.
When you cannot watch the puppy, it goes in the crate. When you are home and watching, the puppy stays in a small, gated area — a bathroom or kitchen corner works well. This prevents the puppy from wandering into another room and having an accident out of sight. The smaller the space, the faster the puppy learns.
Build a schedule and stick to it
Shih Tzu puppies under four months old need to go outside every two hours during the day, plus when ready after eating and drinking. A typical schedule looks like this: outside first thing in the morning, then every two hours (8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m.), plus after meals and before bed. At night, take the puppy out before you sleep and expect to go out once or twice during the night until the puppy is four to five months old.
Write the schedule down and post it on the refrigerator. Everyone in the household must follow it — if one person skips a trip, the puppy gets confused and has an accident. Set phone reminders if you work from home. The consistency is what teaches the puppy's bladder to empty on schedule.
As the puppy gets older, the intervals lengthen. At four months, most Shih Tzus can hold it for three to four hours. At six months, four to five hours. By one year, the puppy can usually make it through the night and wait until morning. Do not rush this — pushing the intervals too fast causes setbacks.
Reward the right behavior at the right moment
The reward must come when ready after the puppy finishes going outside, not after it comes back in. The puppy needs to connect the reward to the act of going potty, not to coming inside or following you. Use a high-value treat — something the puppy loves and does not get any other time, like a small piece of chicken or cheese. Praise enthusiastically at the same moment: "Good potty! Good girl!"
If you wait until the puppy is back inside to give the treat, the puppy thinks it is being rewarded for coming in, not for going potty. This is why many puppies learn to go outside and then come in and have an accident — they do not understand what earned the reward.
After a few weeks, the puppy will start to anticipate the reward and will go potty faster. Once the behavior is solid (usually around four to five months), you can reduce treats and rely more on praise, but keep rewarding occasionally so the puppy stays motivated.
Handle accidents without punishment
Accidents happen. Shih Tzus are small and sometimes have weak bladder control early on. Never punish the puppy — yelling, hitting, or rubbing its nose in the mess teaches the puppy to fear you and to hide when it needs to go, which makes housetraining harder.
If you catch the puppy in the act, interrupt calmly ("uh-oh"), take it outside when ready, and reward if it finishes outside. If you find an accident after the fact, clean it up without comment. Use an enzymatic cleaner (like Nature's Miracle or Rocco & Roxie) that breaks down urine at the molecular level. Regular cleaners leave a scent that tells the puppy "this is a bathroom," and the puppy will return to the same spot.
Accidents are information: they tell you the schedule is too long, the puppy is not getting enough outdoor time, or something changed (a new food, stress, or illness). Adjust the schedule or check with your veterinarian if accidents increase suddenly.
Recognize signs the puppy needs to go out
Shih Tzus often show the same behaviors before they need to go outside: sniffing the ground, circling, whining, or going to the door. Learn your puppy's signals and take it out when ready when you see them. Some puppies are obvious; others are subtle. The more you watch, the faster you will recognize the pattern.
During the day, do not wait for signals — stick to the schedule. Signals are useful at night or when you are away, but during active housetraining, the schedule is more reliable than waiting for the puppy to tell you.
Transition from crate to full house access gradually
Do not give the puppy full house access until it has gone at least two weeks without an accident. Even then, expand the space slowly. Open the crate door while you are watching, and let the puppy move between the crate and the gated area. If there are no accidents for another week, open the gate to a second room. If an accident happens, go back to the smaller space and try again in a week.
Some Shih Tzus are housetrained by four months; others take six months or longer. Stubbornness is part of the breed. Patience and consistency matter more than speed. Once the puppy has full house access and stays clean for a month, you can stop using the crate during the day, though many owners keep it as a safe space the dog chooses on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to housetrain a Shih Tzu?
Most Shih Tzus are reliably housetrained between three and six months, though some take longer. The breed is stubborn, so consistency matters more than speed. A puppy that has one accident a week at four months is still learning normally.
Can I use puppy pads instead of taking the puppy outside?
Puppy pads teach the puppy that it is acceptable to go to the bathroom inside, which confuses the housetraining goal. If you must use them, place them in a specific spot and treat them like an outdoor area — reward the puppy for using them, then gradually move them closer to the door and outside. Most trainers recommend skipping pads and going straight to outdoor training.
What if my Shih Tzu has an accident in the crate?
This usually means the crate is too large, the puppy was left in too long, or the puppy is sick. Check the crate size first. If the puppy is the right size for the crate, reduce the time between outdoor trips and see your veterinarian to rule out a urinary tract infection or other health issue.
Should I use a bell on the door to teach the puppy to signal?
Teaching a puppy to ring a bell when it needs to go out is possible but usually comes after basic housetraining is solid. Start with the schedule and reward system first. Once the puppy is reliably housetrained, you can add a bell if you want, but it is not necessary.
What if my puppy regresses and starts having accidents after being housetrained?
Regression usually signals a change: a new food, stress, a move, or a health issue like a urinary tract infection. See your veterinarian first. If the puppy is healthy, go back to the crate and schedule for a few weeks to reset the routine.