How to Groom a Shih Tsu

The shih tzu is a great pet, but it must be combed at least every other day, and bathed every two or three weeks. The shih tzu is a long-haired dog with a second undercoat that is dense and woolly, compared to the long, silky outer coat. Parasites and germs can harm the shih tzu's skin if the dog is not groomed regularly.

Things You'll Need

  • Grooming brush
  • Teasel (pick-like comb)
  • Grooming scissors
  • Electric trimmer
  • Dog soap
  • Shine enhancer (optional)
  • Water
  • Dog hair clip or band
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Instructions

  1. Bathing

    • 1

      Run a lukewarm bath for the dog in your bathtub.

    • 2

      Place the dog in the bathtub and use dog soap to wash its coat.

    • 3

      Rinse out all the soap and, if you like, apply a shine enhancer to the dog's coat before removing the dog from the tub.

    • 4

      Quickly and thoroughly dry the dog. You do not want to let it get cold, because this could lead to illness.

    • 5

      Run a comb through the dog's hair to ease out any knots.

    Hair Care

    • 6

      Dry the dog completely either with a towel or a hair dryer on a low setting.

    • 7

      Using a grooming brush, thoroughly brush the dog's hair, including the underside.

    • 8

      Using the electric trimmer, lightly trim the underside hair and around the anus. Also trim the hair under and in the dog's ears.

    • 9

      With the teasel, gently fluff up the top hair on the dog's head.

    • 10

      Using a clip or band, secure the hair on top of the dog's head away from the eyes.