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There are several key learning periods during a Shih Tzu’s life. Understanding when these periods occur and what the implications are to the Shih Tzu’s ability to learn are helpful to the owner in understanding how to approach training the puppy, young adult, and aging senior.

Neonatal. Puppies are born with their eyes closed. In addition, they aren’t quite finished developing many of their sensory abilities. Despite this, research has shown that picking up puppies and stroking them gently for several minutes every day can make them more receptive to touch and more social toward humans later in life. Because this period is literally in the hands of the Shih Tzu breeder, it is important for the owner to know what kind of early socialization the breeder has given the puppy to better understand what issues the puppy may develop as he matures.

Shih Tzu tend to recognize other Shih Tzu.

Two to Three weeks. Puppy eyes open about two weeks and hearing kicks in about a week later, so very early, basic socialization skills may begin when a puppy is three weeks old; however, until the Shih Tzu is more fully mobile (beginning at five weeks) the real socialization skills don’t start.

Four to Five weeks. At this stage, the puppy’s brain is getting closer to operating on full capacity. While larger breeds are capable of more complex learning at this point and can begin learning basic commands, Shih Tzu pups are still not very sturdy on their feet. Compared to other breeds, they are extremely slow in developing: they are slow to teethe, slow to develop immune systems, and slow to grow and thrive.

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Though research is evolving on this subject, it appears that early separation of pups from their moms causes increased anxiety and aggression in the adult animal. It is possible that such young puppies haven’t had enough interactions with other puppies and dogs to completely learn how to behave appropriately or react to other dogs’ behaviors.

Six to Twelve weeks. Once the puppies are up and running (so to speak) and their eyes are fully opened, they begin learning how to get along with other dogs. They’re prewired to understand how to communicate, but learning how to behave nicely with other dogs takes lots and lots of practice.

Your Shih Tzu will have learned the early rules of the road from his mom and littermates. Keep in mind that some dogs are better moms than others and the extent to which they teach their puppies not to bite too hard (bite inhibition) and to have good dog manners may vary.

What your puppy learns from his experiences with his mom, littermates, and other dogs in the breeder’s home could vary dramatically depending on where he was raised. At a puppy farm for example, he may have been raised by an inexperienced or frightened dam, had little time with his littermates (since many are weaned very early for a quick sale), and had no interaction with other well-mannered, healthy, adult Shih Tzu.

Because Shih Tzu puppies are so slow to develop, they generally are not released to new homes until they are 12 weeks of age. Getting a Shih Tzu pup at 12 weeks (as opposed to eight) is good for a couple of reasons. Not only will the puppies have had lots of time to play with other dogs (both puppies and adults) but the knowledgeable breeder will have taken advantage of this time period to work on the pups’ socialization skills with people.

If you purchased your Shih Tzu prior to 12 weeks of age, the responsibility for this critical socialization period and how it is managed falls on you. More on this later; however, it is important to know that it is not the quantity of experiences that molds the dog during this time, but the quality of the experiences.

A Shih Tzu’s eyes do not open until two weeks of age.

First Fear Period (Eight Weeks)

Right around week eight of a puppy’s life, it appears that frightening experiences have a more traumatic and lasting effect on the puppy than perhaps any other time during his life. If your puppy is not sold until he is 12 weeks old and is with a knowledgeable breeder, this won’t be an issue for you.

If, however, you are taking your puppy home at eight weeks, it is advisable to avoid things that could potentially scare your pup, such as not-too-friendly people or strange things or places during that first week. Or, if you do take your Shih Tzu puppy out and about, be careful to put your pup only in situations that you can control. Avoiding bad experiences at this point is more important than trying to rack up the positive experiences.

Also, whether your Shih Tzu is eight, 12, or 16 weeks old, it is important to understand that your puppy is not immune to disease. Until he has received his entire series of puppy vaccinations (usually between 16 and 20 weeks of age), your puppy can become infected with a deadly virus. (For more information on how to limit your pup’s exposure to disease while he’s receiving his vaccinations, see Chapter 4, “Safety First.”)

Second Fear Period (One Year)

A second time period in which fearful experiences seem to have more permanent effects occurs roughly at about a year of age. If you notice that your Shih Tzu is suddenly a bit more wary of things at this time, don’t panic. It should pass, but just make sure that you watch for signs of stress.

Shih Tzu may be able to understand more than 200 words and short phrases.

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Some research indicates that what you feed your growing puppy may affect his intelligence. Researchers for lams released a study (2005) that shows the importance of at least two nutrients for the neurological development of a puppy’s drain; in particular, the study noted that natural fish oils and “appropriate dietary concentrations of DMA [Docosahexaenoic Acid]” increase the trainability of a young puppy. As puppy foods begin to be offered on the market that are a direct result of this research, perhaps the real question is not whether you should feed your Shih Tzu “brain food,” but rather if you’re up to raising an even smarter Shih Tzu!

Maturity (18 months to two years). When a Shih Tzu hits sexual maturity, a funny thing can happen: he may try to improve his pack status (if you have other dogs in the home) and/or exert his dominance with you or another household member. Fortunately, the Shih Tzu is not a breed that is inherently pushy. If you’ve been working on your dog’s basic obedience, as well as good living skills, this period shouldn’t present any problems.

Aging Shih Tzu. The Shih Tzu is a relatively healthy breed and many dogs can live fifteen years or more. Once your Shih Tzu hits ten or 12 years of age, he is considered a “senior.” During this period of his life, it is important to continue to stimulate his brain and provide enriching activities for him. This, in combination with certain foods that are thought to help slow the degeneration of a senior dog’s cognitive abilities, can help your senior dog remain brighter and more aware well into old age.

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Researchers) continue to delve into how nutrition can improve cognitive function in the aging dog. Foods enriched with antioxidants have been shown to reduce the behaviors related to cognitive degeneration and may possibly reverse some of the harmful effects of aging on a senior dog’s brain.

During this phase of your Shih Tzu’s life, it is important to keep providing new experiences—this can be accomplished with outdoor walks, visits to new locations, and training new commands, skills, or sports. Since learning may be a little slower, it’s important to be patient, set your senior up for success in learning new skills, and keep it fun, as always.