Shih Tzus CAN be quite headstrong, but then, their name means "lion", so I guess that says a lot. They can be a handful to train, but most of the Shih Tzus that I have known have been very obedient, so they've got to be pretty good to work with. I've always wanted one, just because I love hairy dogs, and I love to brush them! Maybe someday!
Ghilly
Try clipping the nails of a hard headed bulldog. There is no trainer in the world that will make it any more pleasant for either of the indivduals involved. LOL
thanks!
I think I'll do agility for now and when it ends in 6 weeks I'll see if obedience will be necessary. She is pretty good... but I would like her to listen 100% of the time, without any hesitation =)
The breed definitly tends to be sweet, affectionate and eager to please, however, Harlie has quite a strong little personality. She is not often affectionate, she used to bite and fight like heck whenever i would manipulate her (cut her nails, wash her...) And although that;s been worked out of her now, she still has a much stronger character then I expected.
Hehehe, hopefully dogs don't take after their owners too much ;o)
thanks again!
I agree with Ghilly if Harlie is not very compliant with you now around other dogs. If she is then the classes may end up being no more than expensive playtime. I have never owned a Shih-tzu but know many people that have them. All but one, which was an abused rescue are very compliant with their owners. It seems to me that they are just that way.
Usually you can wait up to six months before you rule out obedience classes so you have time to think about it.
The fact that she is with you at work everyday gives you a bit of an advantage also. I wish I could take my dogs with me everywhere. They love to go out and about which is a bit strange for bullies but then again their daddy is a bit strange also. LOL
Good Luck, whatever you decide should work out fine.
I would still take her, because the one thing she will get out of the classes that she may not get at the park or in other social situations is learning to obey commands and having to execute them with other puppies around her. It's one thing to socialize her to play well with other dogs, it's another to have her learn to ignore them and pay attention to only you when you need her to, and obedience classes will help immensely with that.
Ghilly