shih tzu grooming

Grooming

You will need a bristle brush and comb.

Starting at the head taking extra care around the eyes gently brush the hair away from the eyes with the bristle brush. If the hair is falling into the eyes this can be trimmed with scissors or if you are going to take your puppy to a grooming parlour, your groomer will do this for you. Care must be taken when working around the eyes at all times. It is important that the hair is kept away from the eyes as it can irritate the eye and cause infection or ulceration.

The next stage is to brush your puppy’s ears, tangles do occur more frequently here so it is important to brush this area regularly. Again the hair can be trimmed short and if you prefer again can be carried out at the grooming parlour. The hair inside the ear must be removed also, again this should be carried out by someone who is experienced.

When grooming the face it is good to get into a routine of checking eyes, ears and mouth for any sign of irritation. If you do discover anything unusual do contact your veterinary surgeon as soon as possible as this may prevent any infection setting in. The hair around the mouth should also be kept short as this will enable your puppy to eat and drink more easily; it also prevents the hair around the mouth gathering food.

On completion of grooming the face continue first with the bristle brush and then comb down the neck and body ensure there are no tangles. Getting your puppy used to having its legs and feet groomed is important as nails and hair between the pads needs the most frequent attention. Start by gently brushing the legs with the bristle brush then comb ensuring the inside of the legs is also groomed will help your puppy get used to this. It will also make life easier for everyone including your puppy if this is done, especially when at the grooming parlour it causes less stress for everyone. Nails and hair between the pads must be kept short at all times. Care must be taken if you trim the nails yourself as they can bleed if trimmed too short. This task is better being carried out by someone who is experienced.

The last stage is grooming around your puppy’s bottom area and tail. The tail should be brushed through with the bristle brush followed by the comb and again the hair can be trimmed short. The hair around your puppy’s bottom should be kept short so that your puppy can go to the toilet easily. The hair can be trimmed with scissors to keep this area free from hair. It is a good idea to check this area daily to ensure that no excrement has become attached to the hair.

Deciding when to have your puppy clipped for the first time does depend a lot on how quickly the hair has grown. It is better even if a whole body clip is not required to call in and let your puppy get used to the atmosphere in the parlour. My local grooming parlour encourages this from a very young age as it results in less stress for everyone including your Shih Tzu in years to come.

How often will clipping be required? Again this depends on the rate that the hair grows and what style you like to have your Shih Tzu trimmed in. On average probably about every eight to twelve weeks and your dog will still need to be bathed and brushed in between times.