Shih Tzu Information Center

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Grooming for the Shih Tzu - Baths, Nails & More

This Tzu needs a bath! Which can be fun!

How Often?

Your Shih Tzu will need a through bath every 2 - 3 weeks if he or she stays relatively clean. If your dog runs through mud or their fur becomes dirty from any activity, it is suggested to give your Shih Tzu a bath as soon as possible. A dirty coat is not only uncomfortable for your dog, it also will mat easier and can lead to skin irritation. Puppies may need to be bathed more often, as they tend to get messy bottoms when they eliminate. Trimming the fur around the anus will help with this issue.

Anal Glands

A dog has anal glands that can fill up with bodily fluids. If this buildup is not released; they may pop when you least expect it; thus making a huge mess as the dog rubs their bottom across the floor. To prevent this from happening, you may opt to release the fluid yourself or you may wish to have a professional do this. The task of taking care of the anal glands is a somewhat messy one and the odor can be quite overwhelming. If you are up for this, you certainly may opt to save the trip to the animal clinic and perform this on your Shih Tzu yourself. After a few times, your dog will become used to this grooming necessity. This is best done in the bathtub, right before bath time. One on each side of the anus, these can be released by covering them with a thin washcloth or some tissue and gently squeezing up and out.

Trimming Fur

It is suggested to set aside a certain time to look over your Shih Tzu and see if there is any small snipping that needs to be done to the fur. Most find it easy to use bath time for this. You can do this gentle grooming right before your dog goes into the tub.

Feet: You will want to check the fur that grows between the pads on the paw of your Shih Tzu. The fur should be trimmed so that it is level with the pads.
Ears: Keeping your dog's ears clean is very important. Mats should never be allowed to begin in this area, as they may reduce air circulation and lead to an infection in the ear canal. Most dogs will not enjoy having the inside of their ear touched; however as long as you do not penetrate deep enough to touch the ear drum, your Shih Tzu will not be in pain. You can use a Hemostat tool or you may use your finger tips to pull out excess, long hairs. A Q-Tip should be used to clean out any dirt or ear wax; again using care to not touch the eardrum.

How to Properly Bathe Your Shih Tzu

Bathing a Shih Tzu is a bit more involved than putting your dog in the tub and scrubbing away. However, the process is not overly complicated or time consuming. This can actually be a great time for your and your dog to bond together.

All dogs appear to be so vulnerable, tiny and cute when they are full of suds or soaking wet; it is usually a fun time for the owner! If the owner shows a nice, happy attitude and talks in a gentle and loving voice, a Shih Tzu will learn to enjoy bath time also.

Before you put your Shih Tzu in the tub, you should brush over their coat first. Even if you have just brushed them the day before, this is a good way to make sure there are no mats; as wet mats are harder to remove than dry ones.

To give your dog a proper bath an owner should:

Use lukewarm water
Use a high quality dog shampoo
Use your hands to lather up your Shih Tzu and scrub every area of the body
Use a toothbrush to clean the area under the eyes
Thoroughly rinse out the suds
Apply a quality conditioner

The Drying Process

The Shih Tzu should have their coat blow dried for proper grooming. Once your dog is out of the tub, you should wrap many towels around your dog and use a patting motion to soak up excess water. Spray a light leave in conditioner before you begin. As you use the blow dryer, use your hand to work through the fur. Once you see that the fur is separated, you can then finish off by using a brush while you dry.
See Grooming-How To
For more detailed info
on grooming your dog

The Details of Grooming

This, of course, is an overview of grooming. Grooming is one of the most important elements of taking care of your Tzu.
An owner must have the full & complete details of:

Brushing and combing
How to deal with disasters
Nails & dewclaw details
The exact step-by-step instructions for each part of the Tzu's body
The difference in grooming a short cut VS a long coat
What ruins a Shih Tzu's coat...and Much More! To learn how you can have all of these details, just click here.

Nail Care

It is easiest to trim the nails of your Shih Tzu right after a bath and before the blow drying process. While your dog is wrapped in the soft towels and their nails are wet; this is an optimal opportunity to be able to clip the nails. Using the proper nail clipping tool, very careful clip above the red streak. If you cut too low, the nail will bleed. If this accidentally occurs, use styptic powder to slow down the bleeding. Your goal is to carefully clip the nails exactly where they begin to hook over. Many owner do opt to have a professional dog groomer take care of this tricky grooming task.