How do I Groom a Shitzu?

If you own a dog, it is important to groom it properly, especially if your dog has a flowing, long double coat. The Shih Tzu is an example of one of these breeds. The compact, playful, loyal and gentle Chinese dog breed is known for its long hair, which requires daily attention and care.

Things You'll Need

  • Comb (rat tail or metal comb with narrow teeth)
  • Bristle brush
  • Scissors
  • Conditioning shampoo for dogs
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Instructions

    • 1

      Begin at your Shih Tzu's head. Before starting any brushing, make your dog's coat slightly damp with water. A dry coat can lead to breakage of the hair. Use a bristle brush to softly brush the hair away from your Shih Tzu's eyes. If hair is falling over your dog's eyes, affecting its ability to see, trim it off with scissors. Hair falling into the eyes can also trigger irritation, which can ultimately lead to ulceration and infection. Closely observe the mouth, ears and eyes for any indications of possible infection. Notify your veterinarian if you notice anything out of the ordinary, such as redness.

    • 2

      Groom your Shih Tzu's ears. The ear area of Shih Tzus is particularly prone to tangling and knotting. Pay close and frequent attention to this area. Other parts of a Shih Tzu's body that experience frequent matting are the areas behind the legs and the neck. These areas can all be especially sensitive, so exercise caution.

    • 3

      Groom your Shih Tzu's body. Use the bristle brush to get rid of any tangles and knots on the dog's body, and then use the comb to make sure none are remaining. Start at the neck area and then travel all the way down to the legs and feet. Begin by gently grooming the legs, then take care of the inside sections of the legs with the comb.

    • 4

      Brush your Shih Tzu's tail and bottom section. Brush the tail with the bristle brush and then follow it up with the comb. Cut the hair in the area short if necessary. Keep the hair around your dog's behind as short as possible to make it easy for it to relieve itself.

    • 5

      Bathe your Shih Tzu. The dogs require baths approximately once or twice a month (depending on how often they are outdoors, of course). Before you bathe your dog, get rid of its tangles, because bathing can make them worse. Place a non-slip mat in your bathtub and fully soak your dog's coat, keeping water away from its nose. Use a conditioning shampoo that is intended for dogs and lather it onto the head and face, keeping it out of the eyes and nose. Then shampoo the entire body, paying close attention to the feet and behind area. Finally, thoroughly rinse your Shih Tzu off. Squeeze out extra water that is in your dog's coat and wrap the dog in two thick towels for about 15 minutes, and then use a blow dryer to dry its coat. To make the drying process faster, brush the coat to separate the hair.