Shih Tzu Grooming Guide: 9 Tips for a Healthy and Beautiful Coat

Shih tzus are one of the most popular small-breed pet dogs and it’s not hard to see why. These little gremlins are nutty fuzzballs with attitude and the most adorable underbite. You have to stay on top of shih tzu grooming, though. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a tangled hairball in place of a dog! We got you, though. There’s no need to break the budget with a groomer. With a little practice, you can give your buddy a comfortable and cute haircut at home.

Just the Facts About Shih Tzus

There are tons of shih tzus facts we could include, but we’ll limit ourselves to these interesting tidbits:

• In English, people commonly pronounce the name of this breed as “sheed-zoo” or “sheet-su.” In Chinese it is prounced “sher-zer.”
• Shih tzus have been around for a thousand years. However, they descend from even more ancient dogs in China dating back 3,000 years!
• Pekingese and pugs are two other toy breeds that have been bred into shih tzus over the centuries. The breed today is a hybrid of them.
• Their name means “little lion.” Legend has it that the God of Learning traveled around with a little dog that could turn into a lion! And it certainly suits the temperament of these fierce little guys.
• Another Chinese nickname for them was “chrysanthemum-faced dog.” This was because the hair of their face sticks out all over the place like the petals of a chrysanthemum flower.
• Chinese communists tried to exterminate all shih tzus because they were dogs kept by wealthy people. Only seven males and seven females are the ancestors of every living shih tzu today.
• They are part of the toy dog group. The average shih tzu weighs only 9-16 lbs. (4-7 kg) and stands 10 in (25 cm) at the withers. Their coats have a wide variety of colors.
• Breeders consider this a “high needs” breed. They bark a lot, need lots of companionship, and require a lot of grooming.
• Despite the trouble they can cause, shih tzus are popular family pets. They are small, good with children and other dogs, and most of all, CUTE!

When To See a Groomer

Clipping your dog is stressful for both you and the pup. A groomer has the right tools and skills to do it as quickly and painlessly as possible. Before deciding to handle your shih tzu grooming at home, consider some reasons you might want to go to a groomer:

• If you’re going to show your dog, then of course let the pros do it until you develop professional-level grooming skills yourself.
• Some people choose to go to a groomer when their dog is particularly matted. Completely shaving down a matted dog can be difficult and painful. Which of course is why you should brush your dog regularly before it gets to that point.
• Going to a groomer saves you time and a lot of trouble and clean up at your house. It all depends on what you have more of: time or money.
• Some people want a particular kind of haircut that is a little too complex to do on their own. Even with a simple puppy cut, it can be helpful to have the groomer do it first. Then you can just trim it in the future, rather than having to reproduce the entire look yourself.
• A messed-up dog haircut is no big deal. The hair will grow back.
• If you don’t know what you’re doing, you could nick your pup’s skin or pull their hair painfully. These things could cause them to be afraid of grooming. You don’t want your dog to grow distrustful of you, either.
• A groomer has expensive professional-grade clippers and shears that can take care of your dog without pulling their hair. If you’re going to do it yourself, you need to make an up-front investment in good tools.
• Many owners appreciate having a groomer clip their dog’s nails. If this is done improperly, they can hurt and bleed.

Tools You’ll Need

To get started grooming your dog at home, the minimum equipment you’ll need will cost $280-$380. Consider how much your groomer charges. This will help you estimate how many times you’ll need to groom your own dog to recoup the cost. It’s probably less than you think.

Electric Clippers

This will be the most expensive investment for shih tzu grooming. Yes, you can find electric clippers for $30-$50 online. But seriously consider something more in the $200-300 range if you’re going to do this more than once. Cheaper clippers dull more quickly and pull at the dog’s fur. They can also overheat and burn your pet or burn out. You’ll have to take frequent breaks to let them cool off. Two popular brands are Andis and Oster.

Grooming Shears

These are scissors specifically designed for cutting hair. They can range in price from $15 or so up into the thousands. In this case, it’s ok to go with something less expensive. Shears are not difficult or expensive to sharpen or replace when they get dull. If you get scissors for $30 or less, you’ll be fine.

Combs and Brushes

A steel comb is recommended because unlike a plastic one, the teeth will not bend or break. The teeth should be long enough to penetrate the dog’s thick hair down to skin level. Some combs have teeth more widely spaced on one end and narrower on the other end. This is especially useful when working out mats. You can start with the wider teeth to make big separations in the mats, then work on these individually with the smaller teeth.

A bristle brush of any brand is recommended, but a slicker brush is also extremely helpful with a dog with fine-textured hair like a shih tzu. It has small wire filaments that can tame frizzy hair and pull out loose hair. You’ll want to use it several times a week to cut down on shedding. For your combs and brushes, honestly any brand will do. There’s no high technology involved here. Expect to spend $10 or so on each.

Nail Clippers

Clipping a dog’s nails is often one of the tasks owners loathe the most. If you cut one too short, you’ll find out with a yelp, some blood, and a dog that will lick its paw and maybe even limp. If that happens, apply styptic powder to the nail to promote clotting and stop the bleeding. But as an alternative, a vet or groomer will do them for you, often quite cheaply. But if you make a practice of just cutting a little of the end of each nail with each haircut, you’ll get used to it and it won’t be terrible.

Don’t try to use human nail clippers. Buy the kind specifically designed for a dog. Some even have a convenient LED light at the business end to help you see what you’re doing, and that’s well worth the investment. Count on spending $10-$30. If you prefer, you could try grinding the nails with a Dremel tool, but the noise and vibration may be more upsetting to your dog than a quick quiet clip of each nail.

Hair Cutting Steps

Caring for your shih tzu’s coat can be simpler or more difficult depending on what you’re trying to do. We’re assuming you are a regular pet owner who wants a simple, relatively low-maintenance grooming style. So, we’re just going to describe the basic “puppy cut” that will keep your shih tzu looking cool, young, and cute no matter their age. At each stage below, work with your dog in a gentle but firm manner so that they feel safe despite the strange sounds and sensations of grooming. Feel free to give them a small puppy treat along the way and take frequent play breaks to make the whole experience more enjoyable.

1. Brush

Brush your shih tzu to remove any mats. If the hair is extremely matted and tangled, you may have to shave the dog close to the skin rather than making the little guy endure the pain of trying to work them all out. But with regular brushing and haircuts, this should not be a problem in the future. Brushing should always be done before bathing, as wet hair can make tangles worse.

2. Bathe

Use warm water to give your little one a bath. Make sure to use a good quality dog shampoo, not human shampoo or soap. Dog shampoo is formulated to moisturize the hair better and avoid the itching and irritation the ingredients in human shampoo can cause to their skin. You can towel-dry your pup or use a hairdryer on a warm but not hot setting. Keep your other hand on the dog’s fur as you use the hairdryer so you will always know what the temperature feels like and can protect the ears and eyes from the noise and wind.

3. Restrain

If your dog is not used to sitting still for grooming, get someone to hold them in place or put their collar on and attach the leash to something to hold them in place. This is not just for your convenience but for the dog’s safety as well. If not restrained, they may jerk suddenly and get cut or try to jump off the table. If you have your dog restrained by a leash while it is on a table or counter, do not leave them unattended even for a moment as this can be a dangerous choking hazard if they try to jump down or get tangled up.

4. Clip

Your electric clippers will come with guards of various lengths to help control the length of the haircut. If you want a short haircut for summer, choose a #5 blade guard. For longer hair, try #3 or #4. Start anywhere on the body (not the head, tail, or ears, which need extra attention), and gently clip the hair uniformly all over. Be careful not to trim too close to the body or work too long in one area, as this can inflame the skin, causing “clipper burn.” If needed, apply a skin ointment or spray formulated for dogs to soothe the area.

5. The Head

Use a longer clipper blade guard to trim your dog’s head and face. If it still looks too long, you can go back over it with a shorter guard. Use scissors or grooming shears to trim the ears to the length you desire. Be very careful not to cut the ears themselves. Find the edge of the ear and hold it between two fingers of one hand. Then slowly clip the hair with the scissors. Some people like their dogs to have a topknot. If that’s what you like, then first gather the hair of the head in a gentle bunch. Comb it upward and trim the ends. Then put it in your dog’s favorite bow or hair tie. At this point, you’ll need to sit down before you faint from an overdose of cuteness!

6. The Backside

Dogs are understandably sensitive about anything you try to do around their anus and groin area. Work slowly and carefully there with clippers and scissors to create a short, hygienic haircut. Small dogs like shih tzus can develop infections and other issues with their anal glands. During the bathing or grooming process, you can press gently with two fingers on the 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock positions on each side of the rectum to empty these glands once a month or so.

7. The Paws

Dogs are also sensitive about their paws, so be gentle as you use the clippers and scissors to shorten the hair to the desired length. Some owners prefer to cut the hair on the paws shorter for hygienic reasons. As dog owners, anything we can do to cut down on muddy pawprints is welcome. As you are working on the paws, gently feel between the paw pads to make sure no rocks, sticks, or hard chunks of mud have gotten wedged there. In the wintertime, balls of snow between the pads can take a while to melt and can cause the skin to dry out and crack.

8. The Tail

Unless your dog is so severely matted that you are shaving all of it down, most of the time you’ll prefer to use scissors to shape the tail to the length you like. Hold the tail out straight and brush the fur down to trim it to the desired length. If you want to cut it close to the skin with scissors, use two fingers of the left hand as a guide to keep from nicking the skin.

9. Last Look

Give your pup the once-over one more time and use your scissors to trim up any places you’ve missed. Look at the face from the front to make sure the ears, mustache, and beard have been trimmed evenly. Then give that face a kiss because what else is a shih tzu face for?

Grooming is More Than a Haircut

Your dog will need a haircut and to have its nails trimmed about every four to six weeks. Bathing should take place about every three weeks or so. This depends though on the weather and your lifestyle. Baths and haircuts should be less frequent in the winter and if your dog spends most of their time indoors and doesn’t get dirty. Here are some other grooming tasks that need to take place between haircuts to keep your dog healthy and to make those haircuts easier:

• Shih tzus can have eye problems. You can help care for them by using hypoallergenic canine eye wipes to clean tear stains and irritants away from the area around the eyes. This should be done daily.
• Brush the coat every one to three days to reduce matting and remove loose hair.
• Apply dog nose balm and paw pad wax as needed to prevent chapping and painful splits in the skin as a result of hot or cold weather conditions.
• Wipe the areas of the ear you can reach with your finger with a dog ear wipe every week or two. This helps remove wax and debris that can contribute to ear infections.
• Use dog toothpaste to brush your Shih tzu’s teeth a minimum of three times a week, although you can do it up to twice a day if you like.

It’s All In the Attitude

It’s true that shih tzus need more maintenance than some other breeds of dog, so if your family is very busy and just won’t have time to care for this type of dog properly, then investigate some other breeds. A small, short-haired dog such as a chihuahua or Boston terrier may be right for you. But if you do have time to spend providing some special care to your dog, this can be a fun bonding time that can vicariously make you feel as pampered as your pet!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Pattarit S/Shutterstock.com