Grooming

Keeping the Shih Tzu coat gorgeous is demanding. Daily brushing and combing is necessary to prevent tangles, as is frequent bathing, as often as once a week. In fact, many a Shih Tzu lover gives up and hires a professional groomer to clip those long locks short. Gone is some of their beauty, but so is the chore of daily brushing. If you trim the coat short and want to keep it that way, plan on grooming appointments every six to eight weeks.

If you do groom them yourself, make the experience as pleasant as possible for both you and your Shih Tzu, starting during puppyhood. After all, you're going to be doing this a lot. When brushing, you want to make sure that you brush all the way down to the skin. Most experienced Shih Tzu groomers teach the dog to lie on their side while they brush the coat in sections; it's easier to brush that way and more comfortable for the dog.

At about ten to twelve months of age, the Shih Tzu coat changes from puppy fluff to a silky adult coat. During this stage, you'll probably think the coat mats faster than you can brush. Don't give up! This is temporary, lasting for about three months. Once the adult coat comes in fully, brushing gets easier.

The Shih Tzu's nails should be trimmed monthly, and their ears checked once a week for dirt, redness, or a bad odor that can indicate an infection. Wipe them out weekly with a cotton ball dampened with gentle, pH-balanced ear cleaner to prevent problems. Hair grows inside the Shih Tzu's ear canal, and this sometimes needs to be plucked if the dog gets a lot of ear infections.

The Shih Tuz's face, like a toddler's, also needs daily attention. They get dirty after eating, and their eyes tear up readily, so it's necessary to wipe their face regularly with a soft cloth dampened with warm water.

Many small breeds are prone to dental problems, and the Shih Tzu is no exception: it's important to take good care of their teeth. Regular tooth brushing with a soft toothbrush and doggy toothpaste will keep their gums and teeth healthy.

Comb out under the eyes with a fine-toothed comb daily - we like using a flea comb, remove any eye gunk, wash under the eye with a warm wet cloth, dry the area as best as you can. Faces stay wet when pups are teething, so daily eye care will help with face staining, yeast build-up, etc.

Top knots should be fixed daily.  Get your puppy used to hair bands, bows, and fixing the top knot from day one if you want to have a top knot.  If the hair under the top knot is not frequently combed out it can create a hot spot under the band.  Be kind and fix top knots daily.

Check the ears daily.  The hair in the ears should be plucked regularly to keep it free from buildup and prevent infections. Plucking a little here and there will be much easier on your dog than trying to have one giant session of plucking.  If you begin to see dark discharge or the inner ear has a yucky smell you may have an ear infection starting. If caught early you can treat it at home instead of going to the vet for medication. Brush the outer ear hair daily to keep them mat free and smooth. Pay close attention to the back of the ears, this is where most mats form on the ears.

Daily brushing, combing and dematting are essential. Regardless of the length of your puppy/dog's coat, you will need to brush daily - if you don't brush daily, and make it a pleasant experience, your puppy will forget - and become adverse to being brushed.  Pay close attention to the areas under the legs, 'armpits', behind the ears, under the eyes, etc. Just brushing the top layer is the easy part, please make sure that you brush the under layers, all the way down to the skin. Look up a few videos to watch online and learn how to properly care for a long coat if you want to keep your dog in a 'show coat'.  Even if you keep your puppy in the teddy bear cut you'll need to brush daily - mats form quickly and will be painful if you have many to deal with or may even require a complete shave if it is bad enough.

Feet - check feet daily.  The hair on the feet grows just as fast as the rest of the body.  The hair between the toes can get matted as well and can become painful to walk on. The hair can also cover the foot pads making it hard for your dog to gain traction on slippery floors. Trimming hair on the bottom of the feet is essential.

Skin - as you groom daily, check the skin under the hair.  Make sure there are no sores under top knots, between toes, between foot pads, near the genitals, on the main body.  Many skin problems can be easily fixed if you catch them early.

Teeth - Brush them daily. Shih Tzu have notoriously trouble-prone teeth.  They have shallow tooth roots, gums get inflamed easily, and they can lose adult teeth early on if you don't pay attention to their oral health.  Brushing teeth daily can be an easy process if you start young. Your Shih-tzu pup is used to having things in their mouths, - we put our finger in their mouths, rub their teeth with a puppy toothbrush, and have oral routines we follow daily/weekly. Your puppy will easily be ready for daily oral care. Having a yearly dental cleaning at the vet, starting usually about year 3-4, or sooner if your vet suggests it. Conscientious oral care is a great way to prolong the life of your precious dog.