The Best Shih Tzu Puppy Names
Picking your puppies name can be a challenging time, whether your looking to match your pup’s personality, or name them according to their gender, the choices can be overwhelming.
Our top male name for your Shih Tzu puppy has to be Brody which originates from a Scottish castle. We also liked the female Shih Tzu name Poppy as it rolls easily off the tongue for training your pup.
However, not to worry if your not a fan of our top names, as we have listed out plenty more down below to help you figure out which name is right for your Shih Tzu.
Background History To a Shih Tzu
Before digging into some more name ideas for Shih Tzu’s, we only thought it was fair to get to know some more about where Shih Tzu’s come from and there breed.
Shih Tzu’s are believed to have originated from China and are rumoured to be a cross between Lhasa Apso and Pekinese dog breeds.
Their temperament is said to be very loyal and outgoing, with lots of affection and attention needed from there owners due to them being very social dogs.
Male Name Ideas For Shih Tzu’s
If you wondering what to name your new male Shih Tzu puppy and you are looking for some inspo, we’ve got a few ideas below to keep your mind ticking.
- Buddy
- Chance
- Cooper
- Leo
- Henry
- Charlie
- Bruno
- Teddy
- Alfie
- Duke
- Cody
- Remmy
- Louie
- Jasper
- Thor
- Hank
- Jax
- Ace
- Bear
- Harry
When choosing your Shih Tzu male name you should ensure it suits your puppy and its personality, also make sure you can say and repeat it easily or shorten its name down for a nickname as you will be repeating this word a lot in the future.
Female Name Ideas For Shih Tzu’s
For some cuter less masculine female Shih Tzu names you could name them after flowers, people or even food! I mean who doesn’t want a dog named cupcake?
- Poppy
- Delilah
- Nala
- Luna
- Cupcake
- Lily
- Hazel
- Daisy
- Flo
- Holly
- Stella
- Summer
- Lola
- Dixie
- Chloe
- Rosy
If you are getting stuck with finding a female Shih Tzu name for your puppy why not try a more gender-neutral name such as ginger, smidge or even popcorn!
Tips For Choosing Your Shih Tzu’s Name
Before deciding on a life long name for your pup, you want to be sure you are choosing the right one which suits your furry friend.
There are some other factors such as sounds and syllables which can be useful in figuring out which name is right for you to use to call your dog.
We have put together a couple of tips & tricks for choosing the best Shih Tzu puppy name below.
Familiarise Yourself With Your Puppy First
Observing your puppy and getting to know it for a couple of days before naming it is the best way to decide what works for its personality.
For example, if your dog is excitable you might want to call it Jumper, or if your dog is too interested in your food you could call it Muffin!
This is often the best road to take if you are indecisive about names as you will often draw inspiration from the puppies behaviour or looks.
Go for a name with one/two syllables
The name of your Shih Tzu should be easy and quick to say. A two-syllable or one syllable name makes it much easier to repeat over and over again or recall quickly during a walk.
If you have younger family members too, this short word will be easier for them to pronounce.
Don’t use rhyming words
Choosing a Shih Tzu name that rhymes with commands such as ‘Bo’ and ‘no’ may confuse your Shih Tzu puppy as they will respond to sound of the word, not the meaning.
You should avoid naming your dog with any other rhyming words used in your household too such as peoples names.
Go for a name with a unique sound
Identifiable sounds for dog names will get there attention quickly during training and recall. Sounds such as repeating words like ‘JoJo’ will also get there response quickly.
You could also try and use sharp letters such as ‘c’ and ‘k’ in your dog’s name as these have a very distinct sound when pronounced.
Trust your instinct
The best tip of all we have for choosing your dogs name is to not overthink it.
Go for what you want and try not to overthink the process too much, at the end of the day it’s a life-long name which you want to enjoy saying over and over again so trust what you want.
How To Teach Your Shih Tzu Its Name
Now you have chosen your Shih Tzu puppies name, you might be wondering how to get you puppy to know that this name is theirs.
This can be done via response training, which is pretty easy to pick up by most dogs but requires a little consistency and rewards for the dog to remember its name.
We have listed out some training steps below.
- Plan short training sessions five times a day – Shih Tzu’s and dogs in general have a pretty short attention span and will lose interest quickly if your training sessions are too long. To solve this, plan for 5-minute sessions where you call your dogs to name up to 5 times a day or less.
- Choose a quiet place to train – Where you train your dog there should be little distractions that will take his attention from you when you say his name.
- Use a happy and clear voice – Always call your dog in a positive higher pitched voice as this will make them more likely to respond and come to you. If your dog is still having trouble coming when it hears its name, try tugging on the leash gently when speaking its name.
- Reward when your Shih Tzu comes – Whenever your pup recognises its name and comes, you should reward him with a treat so as he can learn and repeat this behaviour in the future.
Other Continual Training Tips For Teaching Your Shih Tzu Its Name
After the initial training steps for teaching your Shih Tzu puppy there name, you can try some other tips so as you can be continually reinforcing there name daily.
- Slowly stop giving them treats – As your puppy starts to learn his name you can stop giving him treats every time he comes, this way he will learn his name is associated with positive reinforcement but does not depend on it.
- Try recall with fetch – To test your dog you can try throwing balls or sticks then calling their name to bring the item to you, this will strengthen their bond to there name even more.
- Constantly say their name – When feeding, bathing, walking or playing with your Shih Tzu try to say their name continuously so as they can get used to the sound and have positive associations with it.
- Have patience – No matter what, your Shih Tzu will eventually learn its name, this breed is known to be a little stubborn so it may take time, but they are fast learners too so don’t give up!
How To Re-Name Your Shih Tzu
If you have decided to get an adult Shih Tzu or you are adopting your dog from a shelter, by chance, your Shih Tzu might have had a previous name.
Changing names for a Shih Tzu can be a little stressful and confusing so it’s a good idea to follow these steps below to make the name changing process smoother.
Keep The New Name Similar
It’s best to keep your dog’s new name similar to the old one (if you know it), this will make it easier for your to dog to latch hold of the new name as they will associate it with a similar sound.
Follow The Original Name With a New One
To retrain your Shih Tzu with its new name, try the process of calling it with its original name followed by its new one, this will grab your dogs attention, to begin with, and help it to distinguish its new name.
Phase It Out
Eventually, instead of calling your Shih Tzu with both names, starting phasing the old one out and using it less, then over time your dog will start to respond to only its new name.
Don’t Give Up!
Your Shih Tzu may be reluctant to switch names at first, especially if it is in a new environment, so understand the process might take some time, but you shouldn’t give up.
Frequently Asked Questions About Naming a Shih Tzu
What’s the most common name for a Shih Tzu?
In history, the most common name for a Shih Tzu was ‘lion dog’ due to their appearance.
Is it bad to rename my Shih Tzu?
It’s not bad to re-name your Shih Tzu but you should weigh up if it’s really necessary or not. When a Shih Tzu is a puppy, it is probably okay to switch to a new name within the early stages as they haven’t latched on to one yet.
However, changing your Shih Tzu’s name as an adult can be stressful for you and your dog while making them unresponsive too.
What should base my Shih Tzu’s name off?
A good way to name your Shih Tzu is by getting inspiration from its looks and behaviour or favourite food! Some even name their dogs from there colour such as ‘Midnight’.
What’s the easiest way to teach my dog the new name?
The best way to teach your Shih Tzu its new name is through consistency and positive reinforcement, different breeds will learn quicker than others, so it’s important to remain patient.
Final Words
Overall, whatever you decide to name your Shih Tzu is completely up to you and what feels right for your new furry family member, just make sure it is easy for your dog and everyone to understand, then your on to a winner.
