Shih Tzus are natural stunners. With their double coat, they require little to put on a show. The long, luxurious coat could also mean that they are high maintenance. But are Shih Tzus high maintenance? The frequency of grooming is one of the top factors that indicate whether a dog requires heavy maintenance. This brings us to the question of the day: How often should a Shih Tzu be groomed?
How Often Should a Shih Tzu Be Groomed
Grooming is part of the basic care for any dog, and Shih Tzus are not left out.
Yes, Shih Tzus require grooming. They even require grooming more than other dog breeds.
Shih Tzus have a unique combination of factors that causes them to need more grooming than other breeds.
A Shih Tzu has big eyes, tangly hair, and a shortened head.
This combination means that if you own or are thinking of owning a Shih Tzu, grooming should be one of the top things on your mind.
As opposed to other dog breeds that have fur, Shih Tzus have hair.
Types of Grooming for Shih Tzus
Dog grooming involves a range of different activities.
Let’s see the different grooming activities and how often Shih Tzus need them.
Hair Brushing
Because of their double hair coat, this is the commonest grooming activity for Shih Tzus.
You should brush their hair at least once a day.
The frequency of hair brushing for Shih Tzus is dependent on the length of the hair.
If your pooch has long hair, you have to brush the hair every day to keep it from getting tangled and matted.
This is so that the lower layer of the hair does not get trapped in the outer layer, a process that will prevent proper shedding.
Brushing long hair regularly will also help to prevent the buildup of dirt.
If your pooch has short hair, you can brush it at least once a week.
If you shave your Shih Tzu then you won’t need daily or even weekly hair brushing until it starts to grow out again.
I keep both of my Shih Tzu’s shaved. It usually takes a few weeks before they have enough hair to brush.
Here’s the hairbrush I use:
Nail Trimming
You can trim your Shih Tzu’s nails by yourself or leave them to the professional groomer.
Give them a nail trim every time they get a haircut.
Nail trimming can be kept to every four to six weeks.
Nail trimmers typically come with a grooming set, but if you want to get just nail trimmers, these work well.
Bathing
Shih Tzus have sensitive skin and can develop dry skin and other skin conditions when they are bathed too regularly.
You should restrict bathing your Shih Tzu to when they get a haircut.
At the most, you can bathe your Shih Tzu every three weeks. There is really no reason to do it more often than this.
If you do, you may remove all of their natural skin oils which will make their skin dry.
My Truman has really sensitive skin. This shampoo has worked well for him.
Teeth Brushing
Teeth brushing is part of the basic dog grooming activities.
Teeth brushing helps to keep your pooch’s teeth healthy.
You also get rid of bad odors when you brush your dog’s teeth.
Brush your pooch’s Shit Tzu’s teeth once a week.
Be sure to start brushing their teeth when they are a puppy. If you want until they are older, you will have a major fight on your hands trying to get the job done.
I’ve tried several toothbrush kits and this one has worked the best for my two Shih Tzus.
Ear Cleaning
Pair ear cleaning with face cleaning.
While cleaning the ear of your Shih Tzu, check for any form of abnormalities, ranging from excessive hair growth in the ear to abnormal odor, and excessive wax production.
Overall, ensure that you check your dog’s ears every few weeks.
This way, you will be able to pick up any infection before it gets serious.
Hair growth left unattended can lead to ear infections.
I know that Truman has issues with his ears, so I have the groomers remove any extra hair, but if you’re looking for something you can use in between hair appointments, this works well.
Eye and Face Cleaning
Clean your Shih Tzu’s face every day.
Your pooch needs daily eye and face cleaning because it is more prone to eye issues, including tear staining.
Focus on the areas around the eyes and around the mouth.
Both of my Shih Tzus have a lot of difficulty with tear staining. I used these cloths daily.
Haircutting
Work towards cutting your Shih Tzu’s hair every four to six weeks.
The length of the hair could mean that you require more regular haircuts.
The hairstyle you choose will also determine the frequency of haircuts.
I’ve never been very good at cutting my dog’s hair, so I take them to the groomers.
But, if you want to give it a try yourself and save some money, then this grooming set works well.
Let’s see some of the haircut options for Shih Tzus.
Puppy Cut
A puppy cut keeps the length of the hair to about one to two inches.
This is a low-maintenance haircut that is perfect for summers.
Teddy Bear Cut
As the name suggests, this cut gives your pooch a fluffy, rounded face.
This cut only focuses on the face. The rest of the body can have any length of cut.
Regular Top Knot
The regular top knot haircut is made from securing the hair at the apex of the head of the dog with a clip.
This haircut requires more maintenance than the others mentioned above.
The hair on the rest of the body can be kept low or high, according to your preference.
The Top Knot Show Cut
This is a high-maintenance and impractical cut typically seen on show dogs.
The hair on the face and the rest of the body are left long.
Since the hair is left long, it is brushed regularly, several times a day.
General Shih Tzu Grooming Tips
Grooming tips for Shih Tzus differ according to the length of their hair.
For long-haired pooches, focus on keeping the hair away from the eyes and mouth to minimize irritation.
Also focus on their friction areas such as the collar, behind the ears, and around the tails when brushing the hair.
For short-haired pooches, do not neglect hair brushing, even if the hair is short.
Also, focus on the friction areas mentioned above.
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Do Shih Tzus Have Fur or Hair?
Related Questions:
Are Shih Tzus Hypoallergenic?
Shih Tzus are not exactly hypoallergenic.
They shed but are not heavy shedders.
Because they are not heavy shedders and do not produce allergy-inducing material, they could be described as hypoallergenic.
When is the Shedding Season for Shih Tzus?
Shedding season is the period when dogs lose more hair.
For Shih Tzus, it is the transitionary period between winter and spring.
They grow thicker hair because of winter.
As winter becomes spring, they begin to lose the hair.
To keep the skin of your dog healthy, be sure to pay more attention to grooming during the shedding season.
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Should I Leave the Collar On My Shih Tzu All Day?
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To Sum it All Up:
Shih Tzus require more grooming than many other dog breeds. Get them groomed often, at least every few weeks. Grooming activities like hair cutting should be carried out at intervals ranging from every few days to every few weeks.
Please Note:
This article is informational only and does not substitute for veterinary advice. Always check with your veterinarian if you are concerned about your Shih Tzu’s behavior. This article should not be considered in any way as veterinarian advice.
