How to Keep Your Shih Tzu Groomed & Clean

The Shih Tzu is a small, popular dog with a slightly stubborn nature but great people skills. Because they love to be around humans, this breed can get temperamental if left alone for long periods of time. The dog has a double coat; the top layer is long and luxuriant, the bottom coat is short and woolly. Because of this layering, these dogs must be clipped, groomed and cleaned regularly. Caring for a Shih Tzu requires basic grooming supplies and a little patience.

Things You'll Need

  • Canine nail clippers
  • Pin brush
  • Face comb
  • Medium-tooth comb
  • Blunt-end scissors
  • Hemostat
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Baby powder
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Instructions

    • 1

      Bath your Shih Tzu every other week with a tearless dog shampoo and conditioner. The conditioner helps to minimize the amount of matting and knotting. Since Shih Tzus are small dogs, you can bath them in a sink, small tub or a bath tub with a slip-resistant mat.

    • 2

      Get your Shih Tzu's fur clipped every eight to 12 weeks. Keeping it clipped regularly will make it easier to manage.

    • 3

      Brush and comb your dog for 15 minutes a day. Start training your Shih Tzu as a puppy to sit still while you groom her. Using a pin brush or bristle brush, brush her fur in long, sweeping strokes. Use the medium-tooth comb to remove any mats or snags you didn't get with the brush. Avoid making twisting or turning motions with the brush or comb.

    • 4

      To remove fur mats, first apply conditioner to the problem areas. Separate the mats as much as you can with your fingers, then use the pin brush to get the mats out. This requires patience, but eventually the tangles will come out.

    • 5

      Trim his nails with a canine toenail clipper once a week. Push away the surrounding fur with your index finger and place your thumb between the paw pads. Locate the quick -- the pink part of the nail -- and clip below this part, toward the nail's point. Clipping the quick can cause pain and bleeding, so be careful. Trim the nails parallel to the pads, a little bit at a time, until the blunt end is pink or moist.

    • 6

      Use a fine-tooth face comb to smooth out the fur on her face and around her eyes, as needed.

    • 7

      To avoid facial staining, keep the fur around his eyes trimmed short and pay close attention to the moisture in his eyes.

    • 8

      Keep your Shih Tzu's ear fur trimmed short to avoid irritation, or remove it gently with a hemostat.

    • 9

      Trim the hair around your dog's anus weekly. Apply baby powder to the area and brush it in. This will help prevent stains and help control odor.