|
Grooming and Caring for Your Shih Tzu
One reason Shih Tzu are so popular is for their luxurious, dense,
flowing double coats. The long hair on their heads is often tied in an
adorable top knot so they can see better and to show off the way they
naturally carry their heads high. However, these stunning coats must be
brushed every day, or at a minimum every other day. Some people will trim
their Shih Tzu’s hair short to simplify grooming. This is a better alternative
than allowing a pet’s hair to become matted and dirty, but doing so wastes
one of the best features of the Shih Tzu.
The time you spend lovingly grooming your little dog will pay off in closer
bonding and even more devotion from this naturally trusting and affectionate
companion. You may fall in love with the Shih Tzu’s flowing hair, but if
you do not have time to spend bathing and brushing a long-haired dog, or the
finances to pay for regular grooming, you would be happier if you adopted a
different breed. If you purchase your Shih Tzu for rowdy romps in the
backyard (which she will enjoy), you will need to groom her even more
frequently to keep her hair free of tangles and matting. Still, a Shih Tzu
requires less grooming than some other long-haired dog breeds.
Start Your Grooming Ritual Early
Begin brushing your Shih Tzu puppy daily—even if only for a couple
of minutes and even if his immature coat doesn’t really need to be brushed—
and you will establish the brushing habit for both of you. Make this a time of
closeness and gentle care and you will be rewarded by years of loyal
friendship from your Shih Tzu. This is also a great job for older children, if
you train them how to properly groom your Shih Tzu, and will teach a
loving child valuable lessons in patiently nurturing and caring for another
living being.
Some Shih Tzu owners report that at about 10 to 12 months of age, a
Shih Tzu’s coat will change. You may become discouraged in your brushing
because mats may seem to form faster than you can untangle them.
Fortunately, this condition is only temporary and lasts about three weeks to
one month.
Bathing and Brushing Tips
Mats usually occur because the dead hair that naturally falls out gets
knotted in the dog’s long hair. Be sure to remove the mats before you bathe
your Shih Tzu. Since dirty coats mat more quickly, you’ll want to give your
Shih Tzu a bath at least once every two weeks, and once a week is better. To
remove tangles, saturate them for a few minutes with cream conditioner.
Don’t rip or tear the mats out; instead carefully separate the strands of hair.
Never brush a totally dry coat. If you aren’t bathing your dog, you can
use a spray bottle to dampen the hair, brushing from the ends to the roots
and working from the bottom up.
Placing a towel on the bottom of the sink when bathing your Shih Tzu
will give him the feeling of having more secure footing while bathing.
Placing your hand under your dog and holding him securely with one hand,
soak him with lukewarm water, shampoo his body, and rinse thoroughly.
Then wet his head and clean his topknot using no-tear shampoo. You’ll find
a wide variety of shampoos and dog grooming aids at a well-stocked pet
store. When bathing your Shih Tzu, be careful not to get water in his upturned
nose. And don’t forget to clean the inside corners of his eyes with a
damp washcloth soaked in warm water.
After his bath, cuddle him in a dry towel to make him feel secure and
to help his thick coat dry more quickly. You may want to use a small
handheld blow dryer on the lowest setting to dry his coat, being careful to
keep the blast of air away from his large, sensitive eyes. Gently clean your
Shih Tzu’s ears with a cotton swab dipped in mineral oil, being careful not
to push the tip too far into the ear, which could injure the delicate eardrum.
|
|
“Your Shih Tzu And You”
Learn Everything You Need To Know About Raising, Training, And Caring For Your Shih Tzu.
Click Here
|
|
|
