Expert Tips on Shih Tzu Dog Grooming
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- by Adam
- 04 Apr 2025
- 0 Comments
Shih Tzu, also known as the "Lion Dog" is a short, compact dog breed that originated originally in China but gained popularity all around the world due to their affectionate nature. These little beings typically weigh around 9 to 16 pounds and stand around 9-10 inches long. The coat is double, a dense interior and a long silky exterior that grows long and needs upkeep.
Their dense, long luscious coat is one of the reasons why this breed has high grooming requirements. They are highly prone to tangles, matting, skin infections, ear infections and even eye infections which is why regular cleaning is a must at all costs. Hair cuts such as the puppy cut is a popular choice among owners because of it being low maintenance.
Of course there are other popular styles to choose from and different ways to trim/cut a Shih Tzu’s hair, read here; our top 10 favorite grooming styles for Shih Tzu.
The way you choose to groom your Shih Tzu aids to their well being. For example Shih Tzu's have flat face and prominent eyes which need regular care, excessive hair around their eyes can result in eye infections and irritation, it can also disrupt their breathing by adding to their already existing condition.
| Grooming Task | Frequency and Mode of Conduct for Grooming a Shih Tzu Dog |
| Face wiping | Has to be done daily, especially around the mouth and eyes. |
| Brushing the coat | A long coat needs to be brushed daily for at least 10 minutes. A short coat can be brushed every other day, hence a 1-3-day period depending on the coat length. |
| Baths | Bathing is essential every 3 weeks, however the time duration between baths can increase or decrease depending on any under lying skin conditions. |
| Nail trimming | It needs to be trimmed every six weeks, which may vary depending on individual growth rate. |
| Applying paw and nose balm | Can be done once a week, depending on seasonal variations. If dog has drying/peeling problems, it can be done up-to 3 times a day. |
| Ear cleaning | Should be done every 1-2 weeks with wipes or wash their ears with a cleaning solution every six weeks or as per your vet's recommendation. |
HOW DO YOU GROOM A SHIH TZU DOG?
| Supplies | How to use them |
| Pin Brush | For a medium to long coat, we recommend a 16mm or 20mm pin brush but in a small size so that it can reach all parts of your petite dog. Our groomers love a Chris Christensen Little Wonder pin. |
| Bristle Brush | For short-length or shaved coats, our groomers recommend a bristle brush such as the Safari bristle brush in small sizes. It has excellent bristles and is easy to grip. |
| Two-Level Comb | The side of the wider tooth is for the main body, while the narrow tooth side is for smaller body parts such as the paws and face. We recommend the Li'l Pals double-sided comb with super sturdy metal teeth, which are ensured to last long. |
| De-Matting Tool | When matt removal gets tough Safari de-matting comb should be your go to. It helps remove all kinds of matt but with minimal damage to the coat. |
| Rounded-tip scissors and thinning sheers | For small areas such as around the eyes, ears, and around the anus, we recommend you use rounded-tip scissors for safety. They help prevent accidental poking, especially if your dog is fussy. Thinning sheers help thin our long coats and ears to make them more manageable. |
| Straight Scissors | Help trim around various parts of the body, very useful for snipping at knots and adding finishing touches post grooming. |
| Clippers and Guard Comb Attachments | For trimming the fur, we have our favorite Andis clippers and guard comb attachments to help our groomers customize the look you want them to create for your pooch. |
Brushing a Shih Tzu
You will need to brush your Shih Tzu regularly depending on the length of its coat, and with our list of tools, you can easily determine the perfect brush fit for your dog. Make sure to go thoroughly around the armpits, behind the face (under the ears), the back of the thighs, and around the anus. These are high friction areas that need special attention as they are more likely to matt and catch dirt and debris; these areas are more prone to harbor bacteria and catch infections as well.
Tip: Use detangling spray if the fur is too knotted. Always brush both before and after the bath.
Bathing a Shih Tzu
Regularly bathing your Shih Tzu will help keep their coat clean and healthy. You can do it as often as three weeks, as recommended, or alternate as per individual needs. Regular bathing routines help promote a healthy coat and contribute to its growth. A weak hair shaft that is dirty will likely matt or break on its own. Thorough shampooing will make for a clean, manageable coat. Similarly, conditioning will also aid in the process by nourishing and hydrating hair strands. Be sure to follow with thorough rinses until water runs clean.
You can use brightening shampoos and high quality conditioners to boost their hair shine and make them sily in texture.
Learn how to bathe your Shih Tzu here: https://www.allshihtzu.com/bathing-a-shih-tzu.
NOTE: Too many baths can cause dry skin (even with great products), and not enough can lead to unpleasant smells and skin issues. To keep them clean and have them smell fresh you can wipe them down daily with a grooming wipe. This will rid of any urine splashed or debris that can cause bad odor.
Caring for a Shih Tzu’s Nose
A Shih Tzu's nose is prone to getting sunburned in the summers and dry and chapped during the winters. You should clean them up with facial wipes and then apply nose balm every week. No more chapping, peeling, and dryness.
Caring for a Shih Tzu’s Paws
Hot surfaces in summers and cold icy surfaces can split the skin on the paws. There is a condition known as snowballing that is when snow is trapped between the dogs toes, it then felts and refreezes again into ice which damages the paw. Therefore, apart from trimming the hair under their paws, you must also apply paw wax every 1-2 weeks depending on their condition.
Caring for a Shih Tzu’s Ears
Each week or once every two weeks you should consider cleaning your dogs ears. This will help remove excess hair, remove wax buildup within the canal, and remove any gunk or debris stuck in them. It is extremely important you practise them because Shih Tzu's are highly prone to ear infections due to their long floppy ears. You can Flush the ears with ear cleaning solution every month.
Trimming a Shih Tzu’s Nails
Once every 6 weeks, their nails will require trimming. If they grow too long they will curve and become quite painful for the dog. Depending on the type of surfaces your dog walks on may alter this time period. However, your sign should be when the nails start clicking against surfaces when your dog walks.
Trimming a Shih Tzu
It is not advised to try fancy cuts on your Shih Tzu at home , you will need to have them professionally groomed every 3-6 weeks. But, if you want to groom your Shih Tzu at home here is a little guide to trim them.
To trim the body, start by holding your grooming sheers at a 45 degree angle to the skin, lift the hair between two fingers at the height of 1-2 inches and snip away uniformly throughout. The hair around the legs and paws should be shorter to avoid any debris accumulation in this area. You can use a clipper as well if familiar with it to achieve the same results. The tail should align in length with the rest of the body, so just trace the outline at your desired length.
Using rounded tip scissors you can trace the outline of the head as you trim along it. Make sure to have a rounded effect to match their natural shape, keep combing as your make small cuts to match. Do no trim too close to the eyes or nostrils.
Ears should be shaped with the help of thinning sheers, and you should hold the ears as you snip away. Shih Tzu's often have their eyes covered with bangs, which have to be cut in order to clear their vision. Hold the bangs between your fingers and trim off the excess hair until you can see their eyes. Trim along the muzzle and cheeks; you don't see any excess hair growth in this area. Hold the hair between your fingers and snip along in small sections while combing over it.
DOES A SHIH TZU SHED HAIR?
Yes, Shih Tzus shed, but they are considered to be low-shedding dogs. Instead of heavy seasonal shedding like some breeds, Shih Tzus loses hair more gradually. This breed has a double coat, and as their hair continuously grows, loose hairs are often trapped in the coat rather than falling to the ground.
IS IT OK TO SHAVE A SHIH TZU?
We would not advise you to shave your pooch. Their double coat helps regulate body temperature and has their over all well-being depend on it. In some cases it may even result in heatstroke and them catching cold during winters. It also causes an increase i the risk of sunburn as well as skin infections.
CONCLUSION
To conclude, the dense, luscious coats of a Shih Tzu requires extensive care and grooming. You can not shave them but you can opt for more manageable cuts such as the puppy cut. Regular grooming, brushing and opting for short trims help reduce matting.
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