Tips on Grooming Shitzus

There's nothing better than the love between a dog and his owner. Not only do you have a companion that loves doing everything you do, but they also enjoy being with you all the time. Our only responsibility is to take care of their every need, including the dreadful bath. Keeping a shih tzu well groomed can sometimes be a daunting experience because their hair can get matted easily. Unless you are entering your dog in a show, it's usually recommended that you keep his hair short, which can make him look like a little teddy bear.

Things You'll Need

• Bathtub
• Dog shampoo and conditioner
• Blow dryer

Instructions

1. Bathe your shih tzu. When you give your dog a bath it may be easier to do it in the sink or in a bathtub with a detachable shower head. For puppies, use a tearless shampoo. For adult shih tzus, use a deep conditioning shampoo. When lathering up, be sure to avoid the nose and eyes and pay close attention to their feet and bottom area. You may need to dilute the shampoo a little because shih tzus tend to have sensitive skin. After shampooing and conditioning, make sure you rinse well, checking the water temperature before you use it on the dog. Make sure there are no traces of shampoo and conditioner on their hair as it could lead to irritations.

2. Blow dry her hair. This is something you should get your dog accustomed to at a very early age. Blow drying their hair makes the grooming process much smoother and keeps their hair from getting tangles. You can use a standard blow dryer or a professional one. Just make sure the temperature is set low so you don't burn your shih tzu. While blow drying her hair, run a brush through her hair at the same time. This can speed the hair drying process and help prevent matting.

3. Brush his hair. You will need a bristle brush and a comb on his hair after blow drying him. The bristle brush is for general combing that helps bring the oils from the skin throughout the hair. Be careful around the eyes while brushing his hair so as to avoid scratching him. The next step in brushing his hair is to brush the ears. Take great care in this area, too. Shih tzu's hair tends to be silkier in this area and it tends to tangle quicker. For tangles, use the comb to gently work the knot out. If your dog has really bad tangles, the best suggestion is to take him to a professional groomer to have the hair completely shaved off and start over again.

4. Clip, snip and swab. This is usually left for the groomer. However, if you are experienced in this area it can save you some money. Clipping the nails can be the hardest part. It's uncomfortable for the dog and it can be hard to tell where to clip. There are special nail clippers that can make this an easier process for you and your dog. Don't forget to snip the hair around her eyes, as it tends to get into her face and can irritate her eyes. Lastly, swab her ears with a small amount of hydrogen peroxide on a cotton ball. Swipe the cotton ball through her ears to clean out any wax build up. If your dog happens to have ear mites, a veterinarian can prescribe medicine to get rid of them.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to groom your dog yourself but are a little leery on the nails and ears, many groomers will clip the nails, swab the ears and take the ear hair out for you and let you do the rest. They typically won't charge you for a full grooming service. Shih tzus usually need to be bathed once every 2 to 3 weeks. However, they should be brushed on a daily basis if you keep their hair long.

• Getting your dog accustomed to being groomed is a slow process and you need to have patience. It is highly recommended that you start getting your dog used to it at a very young age.