How to Groom a Shih Tzu at home, a Step-by-Step Guide

Shih Tzu dog grooming is required to maintain this breed healthy and comfortable. You may spend more money if you take your dog to a groomer every two or three weeks. But, you may save money on dog grooming by doing it yourself in a few simple steps.

Grooming your dog is a terrific way to bond with them, and it’s also a good time to check for any skin or coat issues. Shih Tzu dogs are a lovely breed with a long flowing coat that glides gracefully across the floor. They take additional time every day to groom them like a show dog, despite the fact that they are stunning with their long floating coats. The coat, however, can be shortened and they will still look gorgeous and will be a lot easier to groom.

This article will provide a step-by-step approach to grooming a Shih Tzu dog at home. Continue reading to learn the instructions.

About the Shih Tzu Dog Breed

Shih Tzu’s are lovely dogs that make excellent lap dogs. They have cute physiques that can be kept up with regular upkeep and trims.

It’s a little dog with enormous dark eyes and a velvety long coat that can win anyone’s heart. Shih Tzu is a Chinese breed that was initially imported to the United States.

The Shih Tzu dog breed is particularly cute, standing around 11 inches tall and weighing around 7 kilograms. Some healthy Shih Tzu’s, on the other hand, can weigh up to 10 kg.

Tools required to Groom Shih Tzu at Home

Grooming a Shih Tzu dog does not necessitate a comprehensive grooming kit, and you may begin with a basic kit. You may even add more kits to it as you become more comfortable grooming your dog.

The basic grooming kit for your Shih Tzu dog includes:

• brush with flexible pins
• fine slicker brush
• comb
• Scissors
• Dog clippers
• Non-slip mat
• Nail trimmer
• shampoo
• Ear-cleaning solution
• Towels
• Hair dryer

Steps for Grooming a Shih Tzu at Home

Grooming a Shih Tzu dog breed is essential because of its long, float coat. Shih Tzu hair can grow to be floor length if the coat is left unclipped. They are prone to tangles and matting due to their lengthy coat. You can, however, groom your Shih Tzu dog at home using the procedures outlined below.

1. Preparing and Brushing

Brushing your Shih Tzu on a regular basis keeps your coat healthy and free of mats. As a result, the first step in grooming is to get your Shih Tzu ready for brushing.

• Keep everything that you’ll need handy

Grooming your Shih Tzu necessitates the use of a few particular materials, which may be bought at your local pet store or grocery store. Other materials required include towels and a hairdryer.

A gentle dog brush with rubber teeth that is gentle and effective on your dog’s coat is required. Grooming also necessitates the use of dog nail trimmers and electric hair clippers designed specifically for dogs.

Aside from these, a dog shampoo specially developed for usage on dogs is required. This is due to the fact that human shampoo can be unpleasant to the dog’s skin.

• Select the space for grooming

It is critical to find a secure area where your Shih Tzu may be groomed. You can select an isolated location outside or a secluded space indoors, such as the bathroom. There will also be convenient access to water in the bathroom for bathing the dog.

Place a towel on the floor to keep you and the dog from slipping and to keep the mess to a minimum. Also, before brushing your pet outside, check the temperature and weather, as being too hot or too cold can make your dog uncomfortable.

• Soothe your pet

It can be stressful for your pet if this is their first time getting groomed. Hence, before beginning the grooming process, consider relaxing your dog to make them feel at ease.

Place your Shih Tzu dog in your lap and praise it in soothing tones to calm it down and get it ready for grooming.

• Brushing the Shih Tzu

Brush the Shih Tzu’s skin gently with the brush and comb through the hair until the comb reaches the end. Brush your dog’s face gently, as food may have become caught in its muzzle while eating.

Brushing the Shih Tzu every day can keep their hair silky, but you can brush them twice or three times a week if you want.

• Work on the tangles

To remove knots and mats, work gently on them. Start from the bottom of the matted hair and gradually work on the tangles with the brush for a more dramatic result.

2. Bathing The Shih Tzu

Bathing the Shih Tzu will eliminate the filth and make the dog smell good. It will also eliminate any undesirable matted hair.

• Get the dog’s coat wet

Soak the dog’s coat in lukewarm water instead of cold water, as cold water might be harmful to the dog’s body temperature. Hot water can also be detrimental for the dog because it can burn the skin off of them.

• Bath the dog with shampoo

Carefully massage a dog-friendly shampoo into the dog’s eyes, making sure they are clear. When the shampoo has formed a lather, gently wash it with lukewarm water. Additionally, when bathing, rub your hand over the dog’s fur to assist rinse the shampoo out. As any residue can irritate the Shih Tzu, ensure that all of the shampoo is cleaned off of the skin.

• Wash the eyes of Shih Tzu

After washing your dog, use clean water to clean around his eyes to eliminate any mucous. Clean fingertips or a soft wet cloth can be used for this. After that, use a hairbrush to remove any matted fur. Remember that if you leave the mucus around the eyes for too long, it will discolor the Shih Tzu dog’s fur around the eyes.

• Dry the dog’s hair

After bathing, remove the dog from the bath sink and wrap it in a towel. Rub the dog gently so that it feels warm and the towel absorbs any excess water. A hair dryer can also be used to completely dry the dog’s hair. However, when drying your dog, set the hairdryer to the lowest setting possible because a higher setting will burn your dog’s skin.

3. Grooming the Shih Tzu

Grooming the Shih Tzu dog include correctly caring for their nails, face, and teeth. Many people find it difficult to groom their Shih Tzu at home, but it is actually rather simple.

• Comb the hair

After the Shih Tzu’s fur is almost dry, use a soft brush to gently comb the fur down its back. Concentrate on matted fur to assist remove any further knots or tangles caused by bathing.

• Trim the nails

Because Shih Tzu nails are fragile and small, trimming them requires more care. Do a clean and quick cut with the nail clippers and your fingers. This will assist to keep the dog’s nails from fraying. Make sure you just cut the white section of the nail and not the pink part, which contains the tissue and may bleed if severed.

• Clean the ears

Clean the Shih Tzu’s ear gently with an alcohol-based cleaning solution designed for dog ears. These products are available at any pet store. Pour a few drops of the solution into the dog’s ear and gently rub it on the ear skin with a cotton ball. Wipe away any residual moisture from the ear with clean cotton balls after cleaning with this solution.

• Clean the teeth

Use a double-sided toothbrush and dog toothpaste to gently clean the dog’s teeth. Gently scrub the dog’s teeth and gums with the toothbrush. You can begin cautiously and work for extended periods of time to remove any gums from the teeth. Brush your dog’s teeth on a daily basis for best benefits. Again, only use dental paste designed specifically for dogs.

Conclusion

Maintaining your Shih Tzu at home is simple, and you can groom the dog with a little skill. Grooming Shih Tzu nails, hair, teeth, and eyes at home should only take a few minutes at a time. We hope you found this information useful in grooming your Shih Tzu at home.

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