| When you first begin to talk to your shih tzu, I | | | | jumped in my lap and took her paws and patted |
| feel like the shih tzu will find your voice new and | | | | my each side of my cheeks. I could hear her |
| interesting. The shih tzu has been use to the | | | | saying with her body language of compassionate |
| voice of the breeder and whoever else had | | | | pets on my face: "please cheer up ma-ma, it is |
| contact. This newness will soon wear off and | | | | not so bad, I love you, now just stop that crying, |
| your voice will become one of great familiarity to | | | | my ma-ma." And I immediately stopped the tears |
| your shih tzu. By this time if you have not started | | | | and chuckled at her, hugged her up close and was |
| to teach your shih tzu that words can have great | | | | quite cheered up, relieved from the frustration I |
| and wonderful meanings you might have a harder | | | | was just feeling. Now this same Coconut has |
| time regaining the shih tzu's attention when you | | | | done things that have truly annoyed me, but at |
| are engaged in training lessons. The first step is to | | | | this moment in time, we bonded in such a unique |
| teach your dog its new name and to say the | | | | and special way, it has strengthened me to |
| new name before an enjoyable event such as a | | | | endure those times she annoys me.....Shih tzu |
| walk will hopefully convince your shih tzu that it is | | | | understand so much more than we realize they |
| worthwhile to listen to all you have to say.It is | | | | do about their owners, and their loved ones. Still, |
| fine to have meaningless conversations with your | | | | there are certain words you will need to teach |
| shih tzu and even to pour your heart out to your | | | | your shih tzu that will always have that same |
| shih tzu if you so desire, or to murmur sweet | | | | meaning. These words would be your basic cues |
| nonsense while you pet her. Words you want to | | | | for behaviors you want such as "sit," and use it |
| have actual meaning for the shih tzu should | | | | only when you actually mean for your shih tzu to |
| "always" have that same meaning.An interesting | | | | "sit."Connie Limon is a professional shih tzu |
| memory I have of my Coconut (who is still with | | | | breeder in the Midwestern state of Indiana. She |
| me at Stain Glass Shih Tzu and pictured in this | | | | publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A |
| article) is that in a very particularly frustrating | | | | professional newsletter with a focus upon health |
| time for me I was crying aloud. Out of all the shih | | | | and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts on |
| tzu (who are by nature very compassionate), | | | | shih tzu puppies are offered to subscribers. |
| Coconut came to me quickly when I sat down, | | | | |