My new shih tzu!!!

Congratulations! I love shi tzu's. Here are a couple of links to some sites that you may find helpful in taking care of your new puppy. http://www.petcaretips.net/basics-taking-care-new-puppy.html http://www.dog-breeds.net/New_Puppy_Care.htm And here is one about Shi tzu's http://www.findoutaboutdogbreeds.com/Shih_Tzu.html Good Luck!

I Have no clue but I'm looking into getting a maltese for Christmas

Congrats on the new puppy. I use puppypads for my mini pins. For them to use when I can't get them out side. I lined up their cage with puppypads. Easy to clean up. I also would put my mini pins on their lead outside mt front door. When they barked. They came in. Now they don't bark unless they want in. I also give them a treat. Evwery time they would go to the bathroom outside. But only if I would see them go.

Other than love and attention I suggest you check this site http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/shihtzu.htm As for house breaking, each dog takes a different amount of time to 'get it'. Since this is a small breed dog, her bladder is small and she will have to void it more often than a larger dog would. So I suggest every two to three hours for a walk or a trip outside, this can be extended to four hours when she is older. Simply take her out at regularly scheduled times, even if she has had an 'accident', don't punish her if she has one, she really won't understand why she is being scolded, after all, for her it is natural, mom used to clean up after her ya know? As for food, I suggest you consult with your vet to make sure you meet her particular dietary needs. Treats? Again consult your vet. As for training her the basics, sit, stay, come, you show her sit, by placing your hand on her hips and lightly pressing down while saying sit. When she performs make a big deal of it, treats are not neccesary for this as a reward. Come use her name often and use hand signals, when she approaches you on her own tell her come, she will learn to associate that sound with the command. Stay is a fun one...sit her and move away telling her to stay. Don't expect her to stay long, after all she thinks she should be with you, but each time she does stay for a few moments return and tell her how good she did. Training dogs isn't as hard as some might make it seem, rewards and praise for behaviors you approve of and none for those you don't.