We were recently asked by a Shih-Tzu group to provide grooming and maintenance recommendation. Thought we post it here to share with you guys as well!
Shih
Tzu’s are a fantastic breed that are quite popular with owners from all
walks of life. Bred to be a companion and family dog, the Shih Tzu’s
don’t need much time for exercise or play. But their fantastic and
luxurious coats do require ample grooming time and attention. Planning
ahead and making proper decisions based on your family’s daily schedule
will allow owners to achieve a haircut that keeps your pet healthy,
happy and looking great.
General Grooming Tips:
Along with the basic grooming necessities for all dogs, remember Shih
Tzu’s are a brachycephalic breed (smooshed in noses!) and require extra
attention on their face. It is important to wipe out the crevasses and
wrinkles in their face and to keep the areas around the nose, eyes and
beard clean as they can accumulate “gooeys” and become smelly. Tear
stains are common in many breeds and can happen with Shih Tzu’s. Tear
Stains can be the result of many different factors including diet,
environment/allergies, and heredity. Consulting with your vet is the
best way to work on identifying the cause and best solution to tear
stains. To keep their eyes and face clean consider facial cleaners and
wipes for dogs. These will remove the gunkies but not the stains from
the hair.
As Shih Tzu’s have hair and not fur, they require more grooming from
their owners. Regular brushing and combing is necessary to avoid matts
and tangles. Mats are knots that form in the hair and pull and inhibit
air flow to your pet’s skin which can cause irritations. It is
incredibly unfair to your pet to have them de-matted if the mats are
severe as it is a very painful process for them. This is why your
groomer will typically insist on shaving off the mats. There is no
substitute to brushing and combing at home and it is essential to
maintain the coats for Shih Tzus. Many owners overlook the benefit of
using a leave in conditioner when combing and brushing at home. These
products are widely available and come in convenient spray bottles. If
you keep your Shih Tzu in a longer coat, using a leave in conditioner
is a must to prevent breakage and split ends. Brushing and combing of
beards and tails is extremely important as well and should not be
forgotten.
Shih Tzu’s have fantastic coats which can be styled in many different
manners depending on coat quality/texture and owner preference. When
Shih Tzu’s are in a full show haircut, their coat is left long and
flows down to the ground. To achieve this look the hair is never cut in
order to preserve the length. Small amounts of trimming, especially
around the feet, would be the extent of the haircut but remember that
proper nail and ear care is still important. This style of cut is not
practical for most homes where Shih Tzu’s are pets and not show dogs.
To avoid “breaking coat” show Shih Tzu’s and other drop coat breeds
(Maltese, Yorkie, etc.) have their hair banded or braided at all times
when not showing and great care is taken to preserve their appearance.
From AKC website
For homes where the Shih Tzu is a pet and will regularly interact with
other members of the family, a simpler style to maintain is needed. If
you wish to have a more practical haircut that retains a similar look
to show dog, consider speaking with your groomer about a perimeter
trim. Here you would only trim the feet, legs, undercarriage (hair that
hangs down on body) and rear. This keeps the hair longer but not so
long as to drag on the ground. In addition, the trimming will remove
broken hairs and split ends which keeps a healthy look to the coat. The
tail and face length and trimming is completely up to the preferences
of the owner. Remember that while this haircut might not be as long as
a showcut, it still requires an owner to invest a good deal of time
each day to combing and brushing the coat to prevent matts and tangles.
From Spot Pet Care – Longer hair on face and head
If you are looking for a cute haircut that is easier to maintain, the
most important factor will be the length of the body hair. A good body
length would range from 1/8” up to 2” in body length depending on the
owner’s willingness/ability to groom at home. The longer the hair, the
more time needed at home. Once a body length is selected, the legs
would be blended to be slightly fluffier than the body. The head and
face are typically round although some owners prefer a more square
look. Owner’s can choose long or short hair on the head but remember
that bows and barrettes require a long top knot or else they will
quickly fall off so let your groomer know of this ahead of time. For
the least amount of brushing, combing, and care go with a shorter
haircut. Longer hair will require daily brushing and combing to avoid
tangles and matts. 1” to 2” of body hair still fits within a “fluffy”
and cute cut depending on coat type.
From Spot Pet Care – Short face, head and body cut.
