Obedience · Shih Tzu
How to Teach a Shih Tzu to Lie Down
Updated · How we write our guides
Short answer
Teach your Shih Tzu to lie down by luring them from a sit using a high-value treat on a comfortable, non-slip mat. Sitting on the floor provides low-pressure encouragement, allowing you to mark and reward when their elbows touch the surface.
Shih Tzus are charming, affectionate companion dogs with a playful yet independent personality. While their gentle nature makes them delightful household pets, their occasional stubborn streak means training requires patience, clarity, and enticing rewards. Teaching the Down cue provides an essential foundation for long-term impulse control, helping curb attention-seeking barking and soothing tendencies toward separation distress by establishing a reliable settle behavior. Because toy dogs are sensitive to their environment and close to the ground, learning to lie down must be paired with low-pressure encouragement and comfortable surfaces. With consistent, micro-session training and pea-sized, high-value treats like freeze-dried chicken, your Shih Tzu will happily master this fundamental posture without ever feeling pushed or overwhelmed.
How to do it
Step-by-step
Tick off each step as you practice it — your progress is saved on this device.
Step 1: Prepare the Training Area and High-Value Treats
Place a plush, non-slip mat on the floor, as Shih Tzus routinely resist lying down on cold or slick hardwood surfaces. Prepare tiny, pea-sized bits of freeze-dried beef liver or roast chicken that suit a toy breed's small jaw and maintain their enthusiastic focus. Sit comfortably flat on the floor alongside your dog to avoid towering over them, which can unintentionally intimidate small companion dogs. Keep training bursts strictly between three and five minutes long so your Shih Tzu stays mentally engaged without tuning you out.
Step 2: Lure from a Sit Toward the Paws
Ask your Shih Tzu to Sit, then hold a treat right in front of their nose to capture their attention. Slowly move your hand straight down between their front paws and angle slightly inward toward their chest. Keeping the food lure tight against their muzzle prevents them from standing up and walking forward to grab it. If their hindquarters pop up immediately, reset gently without giving the reward and lower your hand at a slower pace on your next repetition.
Step 3: Mark and Reward the Elbow Drop
Watch closely for the precise instant your Shih Tzu's elbows and belly rest fully upon the soft surface. Immediately say your marker word, such as 'Yes!', and deliver the treat right on the floor between their front paws. Delivering the treat flat against the floor prevents them from popping back up into a sit or into your lap. If your dog hesitates with elbows hovering slightly above the mat, mark and reward those intermediate downward dips to build their confidence.
Step 4: Fade the Food Lure to an Empty Hand Gesture
Begin the exact same downward motion using an empty hand shaped like a flat palm facing the ground, keeping your treats out of sight in a pouch. When your Shih Tzu follows the bare hand motion and settles their body into position, mark 'Yes!' and immediately feed a treat from your opposite hand. Practice this empty hand signal across six to eight repetitions per session for a couple of days. If your dog hesitates without the food scent present, briefly rub a treat on your fingertips to provide an enticing cue.
Step 5: Introduce the Spoken Down Cue
Say the verbal cue 'Down' in a warm, pleasant voice exactly one second before offering your downward hand gesture. This deliberate one-second pause gives your dog's brain time to process the spoken word and predict the physical signal that follows. Mark with 'Yes!' and reward on the floor as soon as their elbows hit the mat. Avoid repeating the verbal cue multiple times if they do not drop; simply remain still, wait a moment, and re-cue using the clear hand signal.
Step 6: Build Duration to Establish a Calm Settle
Once your Shih Tzu lies down promptly, pause for two to three seconds before marking to teach them that the cue means remaining on the floor. Deliver two or three small treats in steady succession directly between their paws while their elbows stay down, reinforcing relaxed stillness. End the repetition by giving a cheerful release word like 'Free' and tossing a treat a foot away so they stand up. If they pop up before your release word, shorten the duration to just one second and rebuild duration incrementally.
For the Shih Tzu
Pro tips
- Sit directly on the floor at your Shih Tzu's level during early practice to remove looming body pressure and keep their affectionate focus on you.
- Keep treats cut down to the size of a grain of rice so your toy dog stays eager without getting full or spending excess time chewing.
- Pair your down training with a portable travel mat to provide a comforting, familiar settle zone that helps relieve separation anxiety when visiting new environments.
Owners ask
Frequently asked questions
Why does my Shih Tzu stand up or walk forward instead of lying down?
Shih Tzus have compact backs and short legs, so drawing the lure forward pulls their entire center of balance onto their front feet. Instead of moving your hand outward, lower the treat straight down and nudge it slightly back toward their chest between their front paws. This mechanics adjustment encourages their rear to remain anchored to the floor as their front end folds downward.
Can I practice this cue on my tile or hardwood floor?
It is best to avoid bare tile or slick wood during the learning phase because toy breeds dislike cold surfaces against their bellies and easily lose footing. Using a warm rug, rubber-backed mat, or familiar dog bed provides stability and physical comfort, making your dog much more willing to assume a vulnerable posture. Once your Shih Tzu understands the behavior fluently, you can gradually practice on different household surfaces.
How does learning to lie down help reduce my Shih Tzu's barking?
Lying down is physically incompatible with the frantic pacing and jumping that often accompany demand or alert barking. When you transition the down cue into a designated Place or settle protocol, your dog learns an alternative relaxation response that lowers physiological arousal. Rewarding calm stillness helps manage barking episodes before your dog goes over threshold.
What should I do if my Shih Tzu ignores my cues and seems stubborn?
What owners interpret as stubbornness in this breed is usually boredom, confusion, or low reward value. Keep training sessions under three minutes, avoid repetitive drilling, and upgrade your rewards to irresistible treats like tiny bits of string cheese or cooked chicken. If your dog wanders off or disengages, end the session without frustration and try again later before a regular mealtime.
Spotted a mistake or something out of date? Email us — we review every report, fix the guide and update its date. Our guides are general education, not a substitute for a certified trainer or veterinary behaviorist.
