Remember when you are trying to housebreak a new puppy, even those that usually use the backyard sometimes go in the house. The trick is to never give the puppy the opportunity to go in the house. Set aside several days to housebreaking and reinforce what she learns. Warning: It may take weeks, even months or up to a year sometimes to completely housebreak a new puppy. Just be consistent, patient and use the same set of instructions for the puppy for each training session, which should be many during the day. Count on taking your new puppy to the spot many, many times in a day. This is extremely important: Taking the puppy to the same spot, down the same pathway, out the same door many, many times during the day. At night, teach him to sleep in his sleeping spot until morning and then start the routine all over again. At first, this will be about every two hours. You will learn exactly how many times your puppy needs to urinate and defecate during the process until you can just take them out those amount of times during the day. Be sure you take her out at key times like: after sleeping, after eating, and after playing. When you are too busy to supervise her, keep her in her own space or on a leash with you so she can't go off and relieve herself in the house. Puppies usually don't have to go often overnight, however there are exceptions. Try to just take puppy out just before going to bed and first thing upon getting up in the morning. If this is not possible, you might try taking her out only once during the night hours and eventually not at all. You want your puppy sleeping through the night without having to relieve itself and then to the relieving spot first thing in the morning.

If your puppy relieves itself in the house and you catch her in the act, issue a sharp "NO." Then immediately and calmly take her to the correct spot and give your command (a command everyone must use). If you find the spot later where puppy has relieved itself. Do not scold the puppy. She will not know what you are talking about after the fact. Just clean it up. Simple Solution works well.

When you have to go out and leave the puppy at home, take her out just before leaving, and upon return, take her out.

Owners who consistently stick to this plan will find their shih tzu usually learn to go outside very quickly. Some shih tzu will learn in a day or two. Other shih tzu may take a week, or a month or even up to a year, but not usually this long, if you the owner will be consistent with training.