How to Groom a Shih Tzu

The floor length, silky fur coat of the Shih Tzu is a spectacular standout in any dog competition. However, for owners not used to the rigors of dog grooming, grooming a Shih Tzu may seem a time consuming process. If you are considering a Shih Tzu as a pet, familiarize yourself beforehand with the care and grooming a Shih Tzu will require. Then ask yourself honestly if you are able to devote the time needed. If the answer is yes, then welcome to the world of Shih Tzu grooming! There are many subtleties of style and care that you and your Shih Tzu can experiment with. The following guide will tell you how to groom a Shih Tzu, with links to websites that offer dog grooming products. All links are at the end of the article.

1. Brushing. Brush your Shih Tzu often so that large mats don't have a chance to form. Fine fur and shedding puppy coats tend to tangle quickly and may require brushing every day. Adult coats and coarser fur may only need brushing once a week. You can also simplify grooming needs by clipping your Shih Tzu's coat short (also known as a "puppy clip"). This is only if you don't plan on entering your Shih Tzu in dog shows, as there are conformation standards for grooming that owners must adhere to. You will use five products for regular brushing - a spray bottle, coat conditioner, a slicker brush, a rat tail comb, and a metal comb. Fill the spray bottle with water and a capful of conditioner. Then lightly spritz your dog's coat. Using the slicker, work upwards from the feet to the legs and belly, saving the body and tail for last. This is the best way to tackle mats and avoid making tangles worse. Next, use the rat tail comb to part the coat. Finally, use the metal comb to brush out the moustache and ears. Use your fingers to loosen the worst mats, rather than rip at them with a brush. Saturate really tough mats with the coat conditioner before you work at them.

2. Bathing and Trimming. Bathe your Shih Tzu at least once a week in lukewarm water, as frequent bathing will help keep tangles to a minimum. However, do not bathe a matted dog, as wet hair will only make tangles worse. Make sure your dog is completely combed out before a bath. Keep the following supplies handy - an old toothbrush, dog shampoo, dog conditioner, Q-Tips, two or three bath towels, trimming scissors, and your spray bottle filled with water/conditioner mixture. Try to make the dog's experience as calming as possible. If your bath or sink has a shower hose, use that. Otherwise, keep a cup handy for wetting and rinsing the dog. Also consider purchasing a rubber mat for the dog to stand on in the tub or sink. This is much less upsetting than skittering around on a slick surface. First, trim away your Shih Tzu's excess hair. There's no need to bathe hair you're going to trim anyway. Start with the hair between the pads of the feet and trim so the hair is level with the pads. Then, having the dog stand on all four feet, trim the tops of the paws so that hair is level with the surface the dog is standing on. Next, check the ear hair length by gently pulling out hair with your fingers and trim overly long hair (the length depends on your preference). You can then gently clean away dirt and wax just inside the ears, but do not go too deeply into the ear canal or you risk injuring the eardrums. Once trimming is done, you're ready to bathe. Wet, lather, and rinse twice, concentrating on the legs. Use your fingers or the toothbrush to clean away crust beneath the eyes or around the mouth. Wash the head last, as that's usually the area that dogs hate the most. After shampoo, follow with conditioner (avoid the face), let sit for a few minutes, and rinse again. Squeeze away excess water, and then wrap your dog in a dry towel. Keep the dog wrapped in the towel for at least five minutes to soak up as much water as possible - you might even discard the damp towel and re-wrap in a dry towel. This is also a good time to check your dog's claws and trim them if they need trimming.

3. Blow-drying. Brush your dog's hair gently as you dry to separate the hair. Once dry, part the dog's hair and put the hair at the top of the dog's head into a topknot with a latex band. This will keep hair out of your dog's eyes.

4. Eye Care. Check your Shih Tzu's eyes daily and clean away any secretions with a damp cloth.

5. Bottom Care. The least enjoyable dog grooming task with a Shih Tzu is clearing away fecal matter. You may notice your dog "scooting" by dragging its bottom on the ground. This usually means your dog is trying to clean away fecal matter. Rinse the area with warm water, use a damp cloth to loosen any crust, and then blow dry once clean.

6. Preventative Care. Wipe your Shih Tzu's face with a damp paper towel after eating, to clear away food stuck to moustache hair. Comb the moustache and topknot daily. Keep a sharp eye out for ticks and fleas and treat immediately. And you may ask your vet to show you how to express your dog's anal glands - disgusting, but less expensive that regular vet trips.

American Shih Tzu Club An in-depth guide to further care for your Shih Tzu

Bow Biz Amazing selection of dog bows

Botanical Dog Natural and organic dog grooming products

Cain and Able Spa quality dog bathing products