13 Easy Steps to Grooming A Shih Tzu At House

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

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

At present, Shih Tzus are generally known as completely happy little balls of fluff that simply love being spoiled, and look greatest with a good quantity of grooming. 

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

With correct preparation and the suitable instruments and gear, you can provide your furry child a snazzy minimize and a professionally groomed end result. 

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

Grooming A Shih Tzu At House

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

Right here’s a useful video that will help you get an thought of how you can groom Shih Tzu at residence and do a pet minimize haircut.

Now that you’ve got a greater thought on how grooming a Shih Tzu seems to be like, you possibly can observe the precise steps we’ll talk about beneath so you possibly can groom your canine at residence.

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

This haircut provides your small canine buddy a clear, easy-to-maintain look and makes them seem even cuter. And relying in your preferences, you can provide your Shih Tzu a pet minimize with quick or lengthy ears. 

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

1. Put together Your Workspace and Grooming Gear

Earlier than the rest, discover an space that’s roomy and cozy sufficient on your grooming session. 

Do you will have a desk with a flat, clear floor? Then that can function your grooming workspace.

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

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

Earlier than grooming a Shih Tzu at residence, it’s necessary to put together the required provides to make the entire course of a hit. Listed here are all of the instruments and gear you’ll want on your DIY grooming session:

2. Get Rid of Matted and Tangled Hair

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

Listed here are a couple of instruments you should 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, decide one with tremendous 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 an amazing job at safely eradicating matted or tangled hair.

De-matting Comb

A de-matting comb, then again, 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 superb for canine with lengthy, matted coats or coarse hair.

Alternatively, you should 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 tremendous and coarse enamel, like Andis, is a superb instrument when grooming a Shih Tzu at residence. 

To forestall undesirable matting, it’s greatest to take care of a brushing routine that retains your Shih Tzu’s double coat wanting nice. 

Take time to recurrently brush your canine child’s hair to make your grooming periods much less anxious.

3. Bathe and Dry Your Canine Fastidiously

Now that you simply’ve efficiently de-tangled your Shih Tzu’s hair, the subsequent step is to offer your canine a pleasant bathtub to make sure your canine is totally clear. 

Preserve 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. Nevertheless, be sure that to cleanse areas across the mouth and eyes correctly. 
• Maintain your canine’s head upward whereas massaging the shampoo. This helps stop liquid from moving into the eyes. 
• Use a bathe nozzle to attenuate spillage. Run the water into your palm first to make sure the spray isn’t too sturdy. You could possibly 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 necessary to make use of high quality canine shampoo and conditioner to take care of your Shih Tzu’s stunning, wholesome coat.

When selecting, decide a hypoallergenic, all-natural canine shampoo and conditioner with out harsh chemical compounds 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.

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

Moreover, drying your Shih Tzu requires light pats – no harsh rubbing! Patting them dry will assist stop cut up ends on their coat. Then, you should use a hairdryer on the bottom warmth setting whereas flippantly brushing the coat along with your fingers.

4. Preserve Your Shih Tzu Relaxed

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

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

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

It’s additionally greatest to incorporate easy grooming habits into your canine’s common routine. Brush your fluffy pet incessantly, play with their paws and ears, and gently therapeutic massage their head every so often.

This fashion, 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 so much when grooming them. Keep away from scolding them in the event that they carry on wiggling, particularly while you’re clipping their nails.

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

5. Clear That Lovely Pet Face

Shih Tzus, notably light-colored ones, rapidly decide up grime, particles, and meals particles that would get caught of their double coat. Moreover, moisture retention additionally results in discoloration. 

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

And to do that, you should use grooming wipes to successfully do away with tear stains, grime, 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 grime 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 every day after meals. 

6. Clear Your Canine’s Ears

The following step in grooming a Shih Tzu at house is cleansing their ears, which is greatest accomplished with a cleansing answer for canine.

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

You’ll want to observe the producer’s directions rigorously. We advocate that you simply pour a couple of drops from the ear cleanser bottle over a cotton wool ball. Then, gently rub it into your pet’s ears. And eventually, wipe away any leftover answer with a dry cotton wool ball. 

Routinely cleaning your Shih Tzu’s ears helps stop ear infections. And you are able to do this round one to 2 instances weekly to take care of clear, wholesome ears. 

7. Brush These Pearly White Enamel

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

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

Any such 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 should use a finger toothbrush with mushy silicone bristles for light but thorough cleansing. 

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

8. Clip the Nails

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

As talked about earlier, when grooming, it’s greatest to lift your canine in a means that makes them snug. And on the subject of clipping their nails, it’s greatest to reveal 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 support package with a clotting agent like styptic powder. Within the unlikely occasion that you simply hit the “fast” (the vein in the midst of the nail), you must instantly dab some styptic powder to cease the bleeding. Over time, this vein will recede and help you trim your pup’s nails shorter. 

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

When nail cropping time comes, begin flippantly 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, in order that they affiliate the exercise with a constructive expertise.

Nevertheless, remember to reward good habits 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 light and take it slowly. 

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

Alternatively, you should use a nail grinder as an alternative of a nail clipper. This instrument 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 bolster good habits with delectable treats. 

9. Snip Hair Between the Paw Pads

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

This helps stop your rambunctious fluffball from sliding on slippery surfaces that would end in damage. Additionally, sustaining well-trimmed paw pads prevents grime buildup and matting. 

Right here’s a step-by-step information on how you can 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 flippantly over your canine’s paw pads, making certain that the hair is even with the pads.
• Fastidiously minimize extra hair between the toes whereas spreading the paw pads.

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

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

10. Snip Across the Physique

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

This haircut is while you trim the hair 1 to 2 inches in size to create a neat, low-maintenance look. And to take care of this look, you’ll should trim your furbaby’s hair each three months or so.

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

Nevertheless, it’s possible you’ll 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 completely 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, flippantly 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 usually are available various measurements to go well with completely 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 seems to be 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. 

While 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 suitable velocity and strain to realize a clean, balanced minimize. 

11. Clip Across the Legs

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

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

Simply do the identical swift downward strokes in a single course to realize a clear minimize. You could possibly maintain every leg as much as trim the interior space extra completely. And clip from the highest of the leg right down to the foot. 

12. Begin Trimming the Head

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

To do that correctly, add a snap-on comb atop the #30 blade to offer 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 should always test if the scale of the pinnacle matches 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 quick or lengthy. 

13. Do Some Ending Touches

The ultimate step to grooming a Shih Tzu at house is to clean any uneven areas. This helps guarantee your charming pooch seems to be superbly groomed.

You can even use a brush or comb to examine your furbaby’s coat intently and spot any tough areas. Take your time to trim as mandatory, making certain that your canine’s new haircut seems to be clear, constant, and clean. 

Remaining Ideas: Maintaining Your Shih Tzu Effectively-Groomed at House

Grooming a Shih Tzu at residence means placing in loads of effort and time to do it recurrently. And we hope, that with these steps, you’ll have the ability to correctly and safely do it along with your pooch at residence.

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