13 Easy Steps to Grooming A Shih Tzu At Dwelling

Perky and irresistibly cuddly, the Shih Tzu breed is among the most adored canine breeds on this planet – and rightly so! Shih Tzus flaunt glamorous, flowing coats and charming, floppy ears. 

These lovely lapdogs return a minimum of 1,000 years. They originated in Tibet again within the seventh century, and have been provided as presents to the Chinese language royalty.

At this time, Shih Tzus are referred to as joyful little balls of fluff that simply love being spoiled, and look finest with a good quantity of grooming. 

And for those who’re questioning whether or not grooming a Shih Tzu at house is feasible, the reply is sure!

With correct preparation and the precise instruments and gear, you may give your furry child a snazzy lower and a professionally groomed outcome. 

Proceed studying beneath to seek out out how one can correctly and safely groom your Shih Tzu at house.

Grooming A Shih Tzu At Dwelling

Grooming your Shih Tzu at house strengthens your bond with them and helps you discover ways to look after them higher.

Right here’s a useful video that can assist you get an concept of methods to groom Shih Tzu at house and do a pet lower haircut.

Now that you’ve a greater concept on how grooming a Shih Tzu appears like, you possibly can comply with the precise steps we’ll talk about beneath so you possibly can groom your canine at house.

For this information, we’ll lay down the steps for probably the most well-known lower Shih Tzus can rock – the pet lower.

This haircut offers your small canine buddy a clear, easy-to-maintain look and makes them seem even cuter. And relying in your preferences, you may give your Shih Tzu a pet lower with brief or lengthy ears. 

Are you prepared? Now let’s get began with the DIY grooming course of! Observe these 13 straightforward steps to grooming a Shih Tzu at house, from begin to end. 

1. Put together Your Workspace and Grooming Gear

Earlier than anything, discover an space that’s roomy and comfy sufficient on your grooming session. 

Do you’ve got a desk with a flat, clear floor? Then that may function your grooming workspace.

In case your rambunctious little pet likes to squirm round, you might wish to get an adjustable grooming arm with an adjustable clamp and a haunch holder.

A grooming arm will assist management extreme shifting whereas protecting your pet snug. Right here’s one among our suggestions you could simply purchase on Amazon:

Earlier than grooming a Shih Tzu at house, it’s essential to arrange the mandatory provides to make the entire course of successful. Listed here are all of the instruments and gear you’ll want on your DIY grooming session:

For Hair Brushing	For Bathing	For Cleansing the Eyes, Ears, and Enamel	For Nail Trimming	For Doing a Pet Reduce
A canine brush with versatile pins	Canine shampoo and conditioner	Smooth moist wipes for eyes	Canine nail trimmers/filer	Electrical clippers
A high-quality slicker brush	Non-slip mat	Ear-cleaning resolution		Blunt-tipped scissors
A dematting comb	A twig nozzle for the sink/tub	Cotton-tipped swabs
A metal comb	Hairdryer	Cotton balls
	Clear towels	Washcloth

2. Get Rid of Matted and Tangled Hair

When grooming a Shih Tzu at house, it’s essential to take away any matted or tangled hair to make bathing simpler. Thick knots of hair can be denser when damp and harder to take away. Moreover, tangles within the coat may additionally snag the clippers. 

Listed here are a number of instruments you need to use to do away with matted and tangled hair:

Pin Brush

Use a pin brush when you have a long-haired grownup Shih Tzu, ideally a 16-millimeter to 20-millimeter brush.

Slicker Brush

You need to use a slicker brush for a short-coat Shih Tzu. It successfully removes particles and unfastened strands with out hurting your pet. And it additionally helps get rid of mats and tangles.

When selecting a brush, choose one with high-quality bristles to deeply penetrate your canine’s coat with out scratching the pores and skin. For instance, Hertzko’s Self-Cleansing Slicker Brush, which you may get on Amazon, does a fantastic job at safely eradicating matted or tangled hair.

De-matting Comb

A de-matting comb, however, works wonders in de-tangling hard-to-reach spots from tricks to roots, particularly within the face, neck, and paw areas.

This Coastal Pet Safari de-matting comb helps take away cussed mats. And it’s splendid for canines with lengthy, matted coats or coarse hair.

Alternatively, you need to use a de-matting spray in case your fluffy canine has cussed matted hair. 

Metal Comb

Lastly, use a easy metal comb (additionally known as a greyhound comb) to do away with extra hair and small mats. A light-weight comb with high-quality and coarse tooth, like Andis, is a wonderful software when grooming a Shih Tzu at house. 

To forestall undesirable matting, it’s finest to keep up a brushing routine that retains your Shih Tzu’s double coat wanting nice. 

Take time to frequently brush your canine child’s hair to make your grooming classes much less demanding.

3. Bathe and Dry Your Canine Fastidiously

Now that you just’ve efficiently de-tangled your Shih Tzu’s hair, the following step is to present your canine a pleasant tub to make sure your canine is totally clear. 

Maintain the following tips in thoughts when bathing your canine: 

• Place your Shih Tzu on a non-slip mat to forestall pointless slipping. 
• Use lukewarm water so your canine feels snug.
• Keep away from getting water on the face, particularly up the nostril. Shih Tzus don’t like their faces getting damp. Nonetheless, be certain to cleanse areas across the mouth and eyes correctly. 
• Maintain your canine’s head upward whereas massaging the shampoo. This helps forestall liquid from stepping into the eyes. 
• Use a bathe nozzle to reduce spillage. Run the water into your palm first to make sure the spray isn’t too sturdy. You possibly can additionally let the water trickle out of your hand onto your canine to start with so your canine feels much less anxious. 
• And ensure to rinse completely to forestall residue buildup.

It’s essential to make use of high quality canine shampoo and conditioner to keep up your Shih Tzu’s stunning, wholesome coat.

When selecting, choose a hypoallergenic, all-natural canine shampoo and conditioner with out harsh chemical substances or synthetic dyes. Some formulations are specifically made to assist alleviate itching and dry pores and skin. And a few are made for delicate or irritated pores and skin.

When you don’t know which shampoo and conditioner to purchase, right here’s an choice you possibly can strive:

Moreover, drying your Shih Tzu requires mild pats – no harsh rubbing! Patting them dry will assist forestall cut up ends on their coat. Then, you need to use a hairdryer on the bottom warmth setting whereas evenly brushing the coat together with your fingers.

4. Maintain Your Shih Tzu Relaxed

Shih Tzus are sometimes playful and energetic, however they will additionally get simply frightened or anxious when being groomed. 

So, when grooming a Shih Tzu at house, all the time make sure that you’re giving them a much less demanding expertise by taking the grooming course of slowly.

Create a soothing background sound that they’re acquainted with, like turning on the TV or enjoying some calming music at a low quantity. Or you can too strive enjoying together with your canine’s paws to assist your pet really feel extra snug. 

It’s additionally finest to include easy grooming habits into your canine’s common routine. Brush your fluffy pet regularly, play with their paws and ears, and gently therapeutic massage their head every now and then.

This manner, your Shih Tzu will squirm much less and really feel extra snug with being touched when grooming time comes. 

Moreover, give your pooch loads of tasty treats and reward them loads when grooming them. Keep away from scolding them in the event that they carry on wiggling, particularly if you’re clipping their nails.

It’s essential that you just keep calm and affected person all through the grooming course of so your Shih Tzu feels much less nervous. 

5. Clear That Lovable Pet Face

Shih Tzus, significantly light-colored ones, shortly choose up dust, particles, and meals particles that might get caught of their double coat. Moreover, moisture retention additionally results in discoloration. 

To maintain your perky little canine wanting clear and exquisite, it’s important to scrub their face every single day.

And to do that, you need to use grooming wipes to successfully do away with tear stains, dust, and moist buildup across the eyes. 

Here’s a grooming wipes choice on your pooch that’s unscented and mild on the eyes:

Listed here are fast tricks to take away stains and dust with grooming wipes: 

• Swipe across the eyes to take away seen stains. 
• Swipe over your Shih Tzu’s cheeks and down the chin. 
• Wipe their face twice each day after meals. 

6. Clear Your Canine’s Ears

The subsequent step in grooming a Shih Tzu at house is cleansing their ears, which is finest executed with a cleansing resolution for canines.

Select an ear cleaner that lightly but completely cleanses and deodorizes a canine’s exterior ear canal. Listed here are our high 3 suggestions:

You’ll want to comply with the producer’s directions fastidiously. We advocate that you just pour a number of drops from the ear cleanser bottle over a cotton wool ball. Then, gently rub it into your pet’s ears. And at last, wipe away any leftover resolution with a dry cotton wool ball. 

Routinely cleaning your Shih Tzu’s ears helps forestall ear infections. And you are able to do this round one to 2 occasions weekly to keep up clear, wholesome ears. 

7. Brush These Pearly White Enamel

Dental hygiene is one other essential a part of your Shih Tzu’s grooming routine.

Brush your Shih Tzu’s tooth weekly utilizing a dual-headed brush for small canines just like the beneath choice.

One of these toothbrush has a small brush on one finish and an even bigger brush on the opposite finish. And it helps simplify the method of cleansing hard-to-reach mouth areas. 

Alternatively, you need to use a finger toothbrush with delicate silicone bristles for mild but thorough cleansing. 

And naturally, don’t overlook to decide on a toothpaste that’s specifically formulated for canines. 

8. Clip the Nails

Now it’s time to present your fabulous pooch a paw-dicure! A part of grooming a Shih Tzu at house is protecting their nails well-trimmed. 

As talked about earlier, when grooming, it’s finest to boost your canine in a means that makes them snug. And with regards to clipping their nails, it’s finest to show them to the sounds and sensations of nail trimmers whereas they’re nonetheless a pup. 

Earlier than trimming the nails, put together a pet first help equipment with a clotting agent like styptic powder. Within the unlikely occasion that you just hit the “fast” (the vein in the midst of the nail), it’s best to instantly dab some styptic powder to cease the bleeding. Over time, this vein will recede and will let you trim your pup’s nails shorter. 

Subsequent, discover out what place works finest on your canine. Some Shih Tzus prefer to be held, whereas others want to take a seat at a desk or sprawl on the ground. 

When nail filing time comes, begin evenly touching your Shih Tzu’s paws. Contact the areas round and in between the toes. 

Give your little pooch treats everytime you’re enjoying with their paws, so that they affiliate the exercise with a optimistic expertise.

Nonetheless, make sure you reward good conduct solely. Don’t hand out treats when your canine retains on shifting, biting, and resisting. Your objective is to assist them be calm, obedient, and nonetheless. 

As soon as your fur child begins responding positively, you possibly can then begin clipping their nails. Be mild and take it slowly. 

Begin making small cuts on the nail with the clippers. Solely lower the white portion of the nail. And cease slicing when you see the black dot, which signifies the beginning of the fast. 

Alternatively, you need to use a nail grinder as an alternative of a nail clipper. This software is normally costlier, however makes it straightforward to trim your canine’s nails swiftly and extra safely. 

So, when you have a fussy and delicate pooch, right here’s a canine nail grinder we advocate:

After trimming your pet’s nails efficiently, don’t overlook to strengthen good conduct with delectable treats. 

9. Snip Hair Between the Paw Pads

The subsequent step to grooming a Shih Tzu at house is protecting their paw pads well-trimmed.

This helps forestall your rambunctious fluffball from sliding on slippery surfaces that might lead to damage. Additionally, sustaining well-trimmed paw pads prevents dust buildup and matting. 

Right here’s a step-by-step information on methods to trim the hair in your pooch’s paw pads:

• Gently brush the underside of your pet’s paw with a slicker brush. This makes the hair between paw pads simpler to trim.
• Glide the electrical clipper evenly over your canine’s paw pads, making certain that the hair is even with the pads.
• Fastidiously lower extra hair between the toes whereas spreading the paw pads.

Relying in your canine’s clipper mannequin, you need to use a #40 blade to trim their paw pads.

And don’t overlook that if you’re grooming a Shih Tzu at house, give them extra treats as you undergo each step of the grooming routine. 

10. Snip Across the Physique

The pet lower, additionally known as the summer season lower, is among the hottest hairstyles for Shih Tzus.

This haircut is if you trim the hair 1 to 2 inches in size to create a neat, low-maintenance look. And to keep up this look, you’ll must trim your furbaby’s hair each three months or so.

To make the grooming course of simpler, it’s finest to carry your pet in place by placing them on a flat, clear desk that’s outfitted with an adjustable grooming arm.

Nonetheless, you might not have to do that when you have a well-behaved pooch that’s snug with being groomed. 

You need to use a #10 blade on your cordless electrical grooming clipper to trim your canine’s hair. Relying in your chosen grooming clipper, you’ll have to make use of totally different blades when trimming particular elements of your canine. 

In our case, we love utilizing this grooming clipper from Amazon when trimming the canine’s physique:

When snipping across the physique, first, evenly trim the fuzzy elements round your canine’s groin space whereas holding one leg up. Make certain to take further warning when snipping hair from the stomach and delicate areas. 

Connect a clipping comb guard to guard your canine’s pores and skin from direct contact with the clippers. Adjustable clipping combs sometimes are available various measurements to swimsuit totally different pet hair lengths. 

Subsequent, maintain your canine’s face upward and begin trimming down the neck. Proceed trimming to the center of the physique as you make downward strokes from the highest of the pinnacle. 

Go away the pinnacle untouched for now, so you possibly can later see what the physique appears like and how one can make the pinnacle look proportionate to the remainder of the physique. 

And don’t overlook to brush the physique swiftly each as soon as in awhile earlier than persevering with the haircut to do away with unfastened hairs. 

If you’re clipping, you’d wish to go along with the grain within the hair for probably the most half. Repeat the method and shortly, you’ll get a great sense of the precise pace and stress to attain a easy, balanced lower. 

11. Clip Across the Legs

Grooming a Shih Tzu at house additionally means clipping across the hair on their legs.

So, now that you just’ve evenly trimmed the physique, begin clipping hair round every leg whereas protecting your Shih Tzu in place.

Simply do the identical swift downward strokes in a single course to attain a clear lower. You possibly can maintain every leg as much as trim the internal space extra completely. And clip from the highest of the leg all the way down to the foot. 

12. Begin Trimming the Head

When grooming a Shih Tzu at house, you possibly can’t overlook trimming their head and face!

To do that correctly, add a snap-on comb atop the #30 blade to present your Shih Tzu a cute pet look whereas defending delicate areas.

Trim the highest of the pinnacle easily with the clippers, after which use a pair of round-end scissors to create a well-balanced facial form. You’ll must continuously examine if the scale of the pinnacle suits the remainder of the trimmed physique. 

After trimming your Shih Tzu’s head, you possibly can then use scissors to clip the ears and snip away any uneven hair lengths on the face. It’s as much as you to resolve whether or not you wish to hold the ears brief or lengthy. 

13. Do Some Ending Touches

The ultimate step to grooming a Shih Tzu at house is to easy any uneven areas. This helps guarantee your charming pooch appears fantastically groomed.

You may also use a brush or comb to examine your furbaby’s coat carefully and spot any tough areas. Take your time to trim as crucial, making certain that your canine’s new haircut appears clear, constant, and easy. 

Closing Ideas: Protecting Your Shih Tzu Properly-Groomed at Dwelling

Grooming a Shih Tzu at house means placing in loads of effort and time to do it frequently. And we hope, that with these steps, you’ll be capable to correctly and safely do it together with your pooch at house.

Don’t overlook that with correct preparation and high quality instruments, you possibly can hold your furbaby joyful, wholesome, and beautiful always.