Grooming a Shih Tzu

 The Shih Tzu dog breed makes a wonderful pet, but caring for this dog can be a difficult task. This article provides some Shih Tzu care tips for owners to make the process easier.

Shih Tzus are loving, affectionate, and gentle pets. He loves to be around people, especially children and shows a lot of affection. Apart from giving a Shih Tzu the love and attention it deserves, the only thing to care about is grooming. This breed has long, flowing hair that requires careful care to keep it free from the tangle. The good thing is that this dog is not very removable and does not leave hairs all over the house.

Dog grooming is an important part of dog care. The main aspect of grooming a Shih Tzu involves taking care of its long coat, which consists of a top coat and an undercoat. This can be done by a professional hairdresser, which can be quite expensive or can be done at home. Here are some instructions on how to groom your Shih Tzu at home.

Bathing

Bathing is an integral part of Shih Tzu grooming, but bathing is not necessary unless the coat becomes dirty or the dog smells bad. However, if you are really picky, you can bathe the dog in a bath or bathtub once a week. Use lukewarm water for bathing. Lay a non-slip mat on the floor surface so that the dog does not slip when it gets wet. Have all personal hygiene items on hand before taking the dog for a bath. Use dog shampoo and conditioner to wash your hair. Remember to brush before wetting the fur, otherwise, any lumps, if present, will set and be very difficult to remove. Once this is done, gently dampen the dog's hair. This breed likes to be handled with care and will be more cooperative if not rushed. This is especially true in puppy grooming. After the dog's hair is wet, apply diluted shampoo and rinse. Then apply a diluted conditioner and wash the dog again. As with humans, be careful not to get the shampoo and conditioner in the dog's eyes, ears, or nose. It is better to dry the Shih Tzu with a towel, as it is sensitive to the hot air of the dryer, but you can dry it if your dog doesn't mind. For a puppy, wrap him in a towel to dry. It may take several towels for it to dry completely. Once the coat is dry, brush it out again to avoid tangling. Sometimes you may not have time to bathe your dog. In this case, you can use dry shampoo to clean your dog.

Brushing

Brushing a Shih Tzu's coat is a very important part of a grooming session. This should be done daily, or at least every other day. Tools needed for this purpose include a wire brush, a curved comb, a metal comb, and a plastic comb. To be able to comb long hair properly, it is recommended to use a comb with long teeth of about 3 to 4 cms. Contrary to what may be believed, hair should be combed starting from the ends and then moving up to the roots. Begin by brushing the dog's paws, then the legs, belly, back, and tail. Special attention should be paid to the dog's face, ears and armpits. This should be done carefully, so as not to pull the hair in the place where it is tangled, as this can be very painful for the dog. Be on the lookout for fleas when brushing the fur.

Hair Trimming

Trimming the hair is optional. There are different styles of hair care for Shih Tzu. You can keep the coat long or short. For a longer coat, you can tie the hair on the top of the head into a bun and trim it around the eyes, ears, muzzle, and paws. For a shorter coat, you can cut the hair in layers with dog shears or scissors. This can be difficult to do at home, so you can do it at a dog salon that cares for Shih Tzus. Some people go for puppy biting, which involves completely shaving the dog. A size 7 sheet is recommended for doing this.

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