Why is my Shih Tzu so stubborn? (And how to train one)
You ask your Shih Tzu to sit. They look at you, blink slowly, and wander off to sniff the sofa instead. It’s tempting to call that stubborn — but a Shih Tzu ignoring a cue usually isn’t defiance. It’s a small, independent-minded dog deciding your request wasn’t worth the effort.
The short answer
Shih Tzus were bred for centuries as palace companions, not working dogs — nobody needed them to herd, retrieve, or take orders under pressure. That history left them independent, easily bored by repetition, and unmoved by pressure or scolding. What looks like stubbornness is closer to “I don’t see the point,” and it responds far better to fun, rewarding training than to insistence.
Why Shih Tzus seem so stubborn
1. Bred to be a companion, not a worker
Most famously trainable breeds — Border Collies, Labradors, German Shepherds — were bred to work in partnership with a handler, which makes following cues intrinsically rewarding to them. Shih Tzus were bred to sit on laps in Chinese imperial courts. Nobody selected them for eagerness to obey; they were selected for charm and companionship. That history is still under the coat.
2. Low tolerance for repetition
Drill a Shih Tzu through the same “sit, down, sit, down” routine ten times in a row and you’ll usually lose them by rep four. It’s not that they can’t learn it — most pick things up quickly — it’s that repetitive, low-reward drilling bores them, and a bored Shih Tzu disengages rather than push through it.
3. They read the cost-benefit, not the command
A Shih Tzu is more likely to weigh up whether listening is worth it than to obey automatically. If the sofa smells more interesting than your treat, the sofa wins. This is genuine independence rather than defiance — the same trait that makes them confident, unbothered little dogs in most situations.
4. Small-breed house-training is genuinely slower
If the “stubborn” behaviour you’re fighting is house-training, it’s worth knowing that small breeds like Shih Tzus have small bladders and take longer to reliably signal than larger dogs — it’s physiology, not a training failure. Consistency and a tight schedule get there faster than frustration; our new puppy first-week checklist covers a workable routine if you’re just starting out.
5. Harsh corrections backfire
A Shih Tzu that’s been told off for not listening tends to shut down or avoid training altogether, not try harder. They don’t have the temperament for pressure-based methods, and pushing harder usually buys you a dog who’s even less interested in engaging.
If a normally responsive Shih Tzu suddenly starts ignoring cues they know well — especially “come” or their name — it’s worth ruling out hearing loss or vision changes before assuming it’s behavioural. This is especially common in older Shih Tzus and is easy to miss because the dog still looks alert and happy.
How to train a Shih Tzu that actually listens
- 1Keep sessions short — three to five minutes, several times a day beats one long drilling session every time.
- 2Use high-value rewards. Kibble often isn’t exciting enough; try small pieces of chicken or cheese for anything new or hard.
- 3Make it a game, not a test. Add movement, praise, and enthusiasm — a flat, repetitive tone is the fastest way to lose a Shih Tzu’s interest.
- 4Train before meals, not after, when they’re more food-motivated and alert.
- 5End on a win. Stop while they’re still engaged rather than pushing until they check out.
- 6Be consistent across the household — a cue that means “sit” from one person and “maybe sit” from another teaches inconsistency, not obedience.
A Shih Tzu isn’t being difficult on purpose — they just need a reason to bother, the same way an independent-minded breed like the Korean Jindo does. Understand the Shih Tzu’s temperament — companionable, confident, low-drive for obedience — and training stops feeling like a battle of wills and starts feeling like negotiation you can actually win.
Frequently asked questions
Are Shih Tzus one of the hardest dogs to train?
They’re often listed among the more challenging breeds for obedience training, but that’s about motivation, not intelligence. Shih Tzus learn quickly with reward-based, short, engaging sessions — they just don’t respond well to repetition or pressure.
How do you discipline a stubborn Shih Tzu?
Skip discipline in favour of redirection and reward. Ignore unwanted behaviour where possible, reward the behaviour you want the moment it happens, and keep corrections calm and brief. Harsh discipline tends to make a Shih Tzu shut down rather than improve.
Why does my Shih Tzu ignore me when I call them?
Usually it’s low motivation in the moment — whatever they’re doing is more interesting than your call. Build a strong recall with high-value rewards in low-distraction settings first, then gradually add distractions, rather than testing recall somewhere they’re likely to fail.
Is it normal for Shih Tzus to be hard to house-train?
Yes — small breeds generally take longer to house-train than large ones due to smaller bladders and faster metabolisms. With a consistent schedule, frequent trips outside, and reward for success, most Shih Tzus get there; it typically just takes patience rather than a different approach.
