How to Groom a Tibetan Spaniel

Tibetan Spaniels are small but proud animals. They strongly resemble the Pekingese, but have a less voluminous coat which lies closer to the body. The double coat is of medium length and is soft to the touch. They require a dedicated owner, as they need a full grooming every 4 to 6 weeks and a general grooming at least once a week.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Slicker brush
• Pin brush
• Metal comb
• Scissors
• Powder

1. Brush out the coat frequently with a slicker brush, pin brush or metal comb, as needed. Brushing regularly removes clumps of shed hair which can become stuck in the undercoat. The undercoat hair has a woolly, thick texture which only becomes more matted and tangled when wet, so always thoroughly comb out your Tibetan Spaniel's coat before a bath. They shed an average amount of hair, but once a year it should come out profusely in huge clumps.

2. Scissors stain hairs around the eyes. Tibetan Spaniels tend to leak from the eyes and the best solution is hair removal. Have a friend help you when doing this as it can be extremely dangerous. One of you should hold the dog's head firmly, but gently, to keep him from moving.

3. Clean all the crevices of the dog's face with a soft, moist cloth and put a small amount of powder on it afterwards. The powder helps absorb excess moisture and prevent skin irritation.

Tips & Warnings

• This breed has feathering on the ears, back of forelegs, tail and buttocks (which has longer hair than the rest of the body).
• Tibetan Spaniels generally live for about 12 to 15 years.
• Don't use scissors that are too sharp when trimming away hair around the eyes. This only invites disaster.
• Due to the fact that these dogs have very short, flat faces, they may overheat quickly or have respiratory problems.