Shih Tzu Grooming Tips

Like every other dog, Shih Tzu requires to be groomed regularly. Grooming a Shih Tzu includes nail clipping, bathing, hair cutting, etc. The only thing that requires special attention in case of Shih Tzu grooming, is its long silky fur which needs combing on a regular basis. Given below are a few Shih Tzu grooming tips.

Shih Tzu Grooming Tips for Bathing
The first thing that should be kept in mind while bathing a Shih Tzu, is to use a pet shampoo and not the one used for humans. The dog's coat requires a mild shampoo and hence use a dog grooming shampoo recommended by a vet. Shih Tzu is one of the non shedding dog breeds and hence grooming for Shih Tzu is quite easy. See that you do not bathe a Shih Tzu until it gets dirty. If you bathe it frequently, the oils present on the dog's coat get removed and can harden the dog fur. Brush them before and after the bathing to avoid tangle formation. Insert some cotton balls in its ears to avoid water from going into its ears. Read more on pet care.

Shih Tzu Grooming Tips for Brushing
Brush your Shih Tzu at least twice a week. Use a brush that is recommended by a vet. You can use a wire brush or any brush used for dogs, from a pet store. Frequent brushing will help to avoid tangles and remove dirt. While brushing your Shih Tzu, see that you start from the bottom and end at the top. Start brushing from feet, legs and belly, in a downward direction and then move towards the back. Use a different brush for the face area. See that while grooming the coat, you brush completely till the skin, to remove all the tangles. Shih Tzu should be brushed regularly, if possible on daily basis, to maintain its silky soft hair. Read more on dog care.

Shih Tzu Grooming Tips for Teething
Shih Tzu is a dog that is susceptible to many dental problems because of its small jaw. So brush your Shih Tzu's teeth at least twice a week. Use a recommended dog toothpaste and brush for brushing its teeth. Once in a year, take your Shih Tzu for professional teeth cleaning. Initially it will take time for Shih Tzu to adjust with teeth brushing. Start with teeth wiping and then slowly move towards brushing the teeth. While brushing its teeth, see that you pay special attention to the teeth in the back portion. If you notice any infection or cavity, contact a vet immediately.

Shih Tzu Grooming Tips for Nail Clipping
The best time to clip your Shih Tzu's nails is after bathing it. After a bath, the nails become soft and nail clipping becomes easy. Ensure that you not cut the quick of the dog. The quick region contains nerves and it can bleed if cut by mistake. So please make sure you do not hurt your Shih Tzu while nail cutting. Use a nail trimmer and proper Shih Tzu supplies and trim its nails once in a month.

Shih Tzu Grooming Tips for Tear Staining
The beard and face portion of Shih Tzu gets stained due to many reasons and you will always want your Shih Tzu to look clean all the time. Food, water and tear saturation can be reasons for a Shih Tzu's dirty face. These dogs secrete tears because of their typical eye structure and these tears can stain the dog's face. To avoid this staining, keep the face hair short. Short hair will surely reduce the staining of face due to tears. Wipe the face gently on a regular basis and keep your Shih Tzu white all the time.

Shih Tzu Grooming Tips for Hairstyle
You can give different looks to your Shih Tzu by making cute hairstyles. There are plenty of Shih Tzu grooming styles, but many pet owners like to keep the Shih Tzu hair short, since they are easy to maintain. Try and experiment with the length of the hair all over the body. You can keep the length of the hair on face short, while those on the back and legs can be kept long. Check on the Internet for some sweet Shih Tzu haircuts and clip off the hair using clippers. Haircuts for Shih Tzu makes the dog look more adorable. Tie some cute ribbons on its long hair to improve its looks.

Shih Tzu is a very cute toy dog and makes one of the best family pet dogs. You can save hundreds of dollars by using the above mentioned grooming tips for Shih Tzu. You can go for professional dog grooming once in a while but regular grooming can be easily done at home and you need not spend too much on it. Grooming your pet at home is fun and makes for a good connection between you and your pet dog.