| |
Looking
for tips on how to groom your Shih Tzu?
Basic
Steps
It is important
to groom
your Shih Tzu regularly, as the Shih Tzu's dense
undercoat and long silky outercoat have a tendency to become
very matted (which can be painful to remove). There are a
few basic steps that are involved in grooming
your Shih Tzu and maintaining its coat.
Comb and brush your Shih Tzu at least every other day
- Use a detangling spray or
a mix of water & conditioner to moisten the coat prior
to brushing
-
Use a metal comb, a slicker brush, and a pin brush (without
balled ends)
- To effectively brush your
Shih Tzu's hair, lift up the top layer and brush the hair
closest to the skin
first, then brush
and comb the outer layer
- First, use a slicker brush
to brush out your Shih Tzu
- Then, use a wide-toothed comb
to get rid of any hair that was left behind
Cut and
file your dog's nails after giving them a bath (the warm water
will make the nails softer and easier
to trim). Also, by trimming the nails regularly, only the tips
will require cutting and filing.
Brush your
dog's teeth once a week to reduce tartar buildup (use a pet
toothbrush & pet toothpaste).
Simply put a bit of toothpaste
on the toothbrush and rub it against the front of the teeth.
It's not
necessary to brush the backs of
the teeth. If you prefer, you can buy a finger brush, which
is a small
rubber toothbrush that fits over
your finger. These brushes are often easier to manoeuver.
Clean your
Shih Tzu's ears with a cotton swab and ear cleaning solution
after baths
Trim the
hair in the ears to reduce the risk of infection. You can also
use blunt tweezers to pluck out
excess hair that has grown too
far inside the ears.
Use a stain
remover to remove tear stains around eyes.
Trim and
wash the area around the anus daily to prevent mats of feces
(if the area becomes matted,
it can become infected and sore,
resulting in serious health problems)
Make sure
your Shih Tzu gets regular hair cuts.
Using scissors, trim the hair on your Shih Tzu's feet and around
their pads every two weeks
Use dog
bows or dog
barrettes to keep the hair out of your Shih Tzu's
eyes. Since Shih Tzus can
grow to be various sizes, you
can choose from a 3/8"
dog bow, a 5/8"
dog bow, or a 7/8"
dog bow
for a Shih Tzu's topknot, depending
on your dog's size. Two 3/8"
dog bows or two 5/8"
dog bows
would also look adorable as a
pair of ear bows!
Bathe your Shih Tzu
every 4-6 weeks (because Shih Tzus are mostly indoor dogs, more
frequent
baths are not necessary).
Bathing
Your Shih Tzu
Below you
will find a step-by-step guide to bathing
your Shih Tzu. You can bathe your Shih Tzu in a kitchen
sink, a laundry tub or a bathtub. Put a non-skid mat down before
you start to make sure your dog doesn't slip.
Remove
any collars,
dog
bows, dog
barrettes or clothing your Shih Tzu is wearing.
Gently
brush the fur to remove any knots or tangles using a dog comb
or brush.
Wet
your dog thoroughly. Try not to get too much water in your Shih
Tzu's eyes or ears.
Squirt
shampoo in a thin line down the center of your dog's back (don't
apply the shampoo in a swirl
or zig-zag pattern). Apply as
much shampoo as you need at this point, rather than reapplying
halfway through the procedure.
Work the
shampoo down through the hair with your fingers.
Pour water
down the middle of your dog's back to rinse it.
You can
either use a plastic cup to pour water onto your dog, or you
can use a spray nozzle if you
have one. If you're using the
spray nozzle, make sure it's aimed downwards to minimize tangles.
Work the
water through your Shih Tzu's hair until all shampoo is gone.
Apply conditioner
to your dog's hair and work it in through the hair with your
fingers.
Rinse
your Shih Tzu as you did with the shampoo. Again, make sure
there are no traces of
conditioner left, as it can irritate
the skin.
Gently
dry your dog with a clean towel. Don't completely dry the coat
- leave it damp for brushing
(this prevents hair from breaking
while it's being brushed).
If
you like, you can use a blow dryer instead of a towel to dry
your dog. Again, make sure the hair is
not completely dry, because it
still needs to be brushed.
Gently
brush the fur to remove knots.
Finish
off the look with a beautiful dog
bow. Since Shih Tzus can grow to be various sizes,
you can
choose from a 3/8"
dog bow, a 5/8"
dog bow, or a 7/8"
dog bow for a Shih Tzu's topknot, depending on
your dog's size. Two 3/8"
dog bows or two 5/8"
dog bows would also look adorable as a pair of
ear bows!
Things
to Remember
If your
Shih Tzu has a soft, cottony coat (instead of a silky one),
have the coat trimmed in a puppy
cut for easier maintenance.
When buying
a pin brush, don't buy one with balls on the end of the pins
(it will break the coat).
When bathing
your Shih Tzu, never leave them unattended in the
tub or sink. They could try to jump
out (and injure themselves), or
they could slip and fall.
Use lukewarm
water when bathing
your Shih Tzu. If the water is too hot, it could
hurt your dog or
make them uncomfortable.
Don't brush
your Shih Tzu's coat when it is completely dry. Instead, use
a detangling spray or a mix
of water & conditioner prior
to brushing.
Don't use
natural bristle brushes.
Remember
to only use pet toothpaste (no human toothpaste) when brushing
your Shih Tzu's teeth.
When cutting the hair of your Shih Tzu, the topknot should be
longer than the rest of the body
(that way, it can be pulled back
and secured with a dog
bow).
How
to Get Your Shih Tzu Used to Grooming
Don't force
your Shih Tzu into being groomed if they don't like it. Ease
into it - start with smaller time increments. If your Shih Tzu
doesn't like to be touched or groomed in a certain spot (ie.
feet, ears, or muzzle), start with simply touching the spot
for a second or two. Make sure you reward your Shih Tzu after
every time you have touched the spot and they have been okay
with it.
Make
a regular grooming routine so your Shih Tzu can get used to
it.
Keep the
sessions short and to the point. Don't let them drag on, or
your Shih Tzu will get antsy.
Give your
Shih Tzu treats and reward them for keeping still and letting
their feet, ears, and muzzle
be touched.
Believe
it or not, grooming can actually be enjoyable for your Shih
Tzu. If you get them used to it early on, they can grow to
like it and end up looking forward to being groomed.
Top it off with a great bow!
BowBiz Dog Bows offers a variety of top quality, handmade bows for all sizes of Shih Tzus - from puppy to adult. Many assorted, unique styles for all occasions. Top rated and highly recommended.
|
|
|
|
Around
AD 624, it is believed that Fu