Tips For How to Groom Hair on the Face of a Shih Tzu Dog

A messy shih tzu face.

Grooming a Shih Tzu is not like grooming any other dog. The long hair can get messy without regular grooming. Not only will it look bad, but ungroomed hair can get into a Shih Tzu's eyes causing irritation and in the worst case, infection. Grooming the hair around a Shih Tzu's eyes can be a dangerous and nerve-wracking experience--a scared or jerky dog near scissors is never a good idea.

Things You'll Need

• Bristle brush
• Comb
• Trimming scissors

Instructions

Grooming

1. 

   A well brushed shih tzu.

   Make sure the dog is comfortable being handled and groomed before tackling the face. This means brushing the dog every day for at least fifteen minutes at a time until he relaxes and doesn't squirm when the brush comes out. Put the dog on the surface, preferably non-slip, where the grooming will take place. Handle the feet, and brush and touch the hair around the face for a good portion of the time. The idea is to get the dog used to being touched so he doesn't squirm about when it comes time to bring out the scissors. Once the dog is comfortable, bring out the scissors and open and close them well away from the dog's face so he gets used to the noise during grooming. Throughout this process make sure the dog is used to having his head held still with one hand while the other brushes or snips.

2. 

   Too much hair in the eyes.

   Brush the dog for five minutes a day at least once a week. Keeping the dog neat and tidy will help a lot when it comes to taking care of the shih tzu's face. There are several areas of the dog that tend to tangle easily including under the ears, the back of the thighs, around the bum and under the front legs. Take care to not only get under the ears but also behind them. Always brush the hair on the dog's face away from the eyes.

3. 

   Eyes need to be clear of irritation.

   Keep an eye on the facial hair to figure out when it is time for another trim. When the eyes become irritated they leak and turn the facial hair brown and smelly. Long chin hairs will get caked and stained with food. When these things start happening the hair has gotten way too long and is overdue for another trim.

4. 

   Clamp the hair between the fingers to protect the dog.

   Trim the hair on the mustache and chin as closely as possible. Around the eyes trim the hair so that it doesn't touch the eyes or interfere with them in any way. To make the trimming job last longer, trim the hair shorter. Either hold the dog's head still with one hand while trimming or put the hair between two fingers, keeping the hand and fingers in between the scissors and the shih tzu's face. Holding the dog's head still is more practical for close trims around the chin while threading the hair through the fingers works best for hair around the eyes.

Tips & Warnings

• Investing in a good quality pair of scissors will go a long way toward making the process easier.

• Taking the dog on a long walk before grooming will help her relax and give you a better chance of her staying calm through the process.

• Don't ever trim around the shih tzu's face when she is agitated or upset.

References

• The Shih Tzu Club : Care

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish