Shih Tzu Grooming Made Easy: Everything You Need to Know

January 20, 2025 • By Ash Montgomery

Shih Tzus are known for their adorable faces and long, flowing coats. Top knots are a key feature of this breed's look and keeping those silky locks looking pristine is no easy feat! If you’ve recently welcomed a Shih Tzu into your home, you’ll want to know how to properly groom them.

Grooming a Shih Tzu is often a multi-step process, explains Giulia D'Ignazio, a professional dog groomer and owner of Brandy's Canine Grooming. “Typically, in our salon, we remove the eye boogers before the bath. Depending on the condition of the hair, we will bathe them first or do a pre-shave.”

Luckily, the right tools and a little patience can go a long way in keeping your Shih Tzu clean and healthy.

Essential Grooming Tools for Shih Tzus

Grooming your Shih Tzu with ease means starting with the right tools. Without them, you might find yourself tangled in knots!

Here are some Shih Tzu grooming tools to have on hand:

Slicker brush: A slicker brush is the easiest way to detangle and remove mats from your Shih Tzu's coat. It's fine, wire bristles help work through knots gently without damaging your dog’s skin.
Combs: After brushing, a wide-toothed comb is great for checking for any lingering tangles.
Scissors: Consider having rounded-tip grooming scissors on hand for safe, precise trimming, especially around your dog’s eyes.
Nail clippers: Regular nail trimming is key to keeping your pup’s paws in good shape. Just like any other dog, Shih Tzus need regular nail trimmings.
Dog-friendly shampoo: Using a quality, dog-safe shampoo is important. Giulia notes, “Most Shih Tzus we see here have skin conditions, so you have to be extra cautious when grooming them.”
Grooming wipes: Due to the unique structure of the Shih Tzu’s face, their protruding eyes need extra TLC with some gentle eye wipes. Additionally, their hairy, floppy ears need extra attention to remove trapped dirt and moisture with ear wipes.

Prepping Your Shih Tzu for Grooming

Before you dive into the world of brushes and shampoos, it’s important to set the stage and ensure your Shih Tzu is ready for the grooming session.

A calm pup is much easier to groom than a stressed one. Here are some things to consider:

Start with a calm environment: Make sure the grooming area is quiet and free of distractions. A calm environment will help your pup feel at ease and avoid unnecessary stress.
Check for mats and tangles: Give your dog a quick once over for mats and tangles, especially behind the ears, under the armpits, and around the legs. It’s best to know what you’re getting into right away.
Use positive reinforcement: Praise and reward your pup throughout the process. Consider having treats close by so that you can regularly reward your pup during the grooming process.

How to Brush a Shih Tzu

Brushing your Shih Tzu regularly is one of the easiest things you can do to keep them well-groomed.

Without regular brushing, their long, double coat can quickly become matted which can lead to skin irritation.

Here are some tips to make your brushing session effective:

Start from the bottom: Start from the feet and legs and work your way up your dog's belly until you're at their back. Brush in layers to make sure you are getting all the way down to the skin.
Work through tangled areas: If you come across a tangle or mat, it’s best to work with your fingers. Consider using a detangling spray. If needed, you can cut through stubborn mats with rounded-tip grooming scissors.
Brush the entire coat: Make sure you get everywhere, including your dog’s legs, belly, armpits, and tail.
Keep it regular: Exactly how often your Shih Tzu needs brushing will depend on different factors like their coat length and activity level but if you keep noticing mats, you likely need to brush more often.
Handle mats carefully: These long, double coats can mat easily which can be very uncomfortable for your dog. If your dog is extremely matted, Giulia notes that the best thing to do is to have your dog shaved down completely. This should only be done by a professional dog groomer as shaving a double-coated dog can cause problems with their ability to regulate their temperature.

Bathing Your Shih Tzu

Bathing your Shih Tzu is an important part of their grooming routine, but too much bathing is also not ideal! Too many baths can strip away the natural oils in your dog’s coat, while too few can leave your dog a little stinky.

Giulia recommends bathing your Shih Tzu every 4 to 6 weeks, to keep their coat clean and shiny. Of course, if your dog particularly stinks or rolls in something unpleasant, an extra bath may be needed!

Here are some quick steps for a safe bath for your pup:

Prepare the bath or shower area: Bathe your dog in warm water and fill the tub or sink with just enough water to cover your pup’s body. You just need enough to rinse your Shih Tzu well!
Wet their coat: Use a cup or handheld shower head to soak your dog's coat. Make sure to avoid the face and ears, as water can easily startle them or cause ear infections.
Lather with care: We recommend starting with only a small amount of shampoo. If your Shih Tzu has particularly long fur, you may need to spend some time working the shampoo all the way to the skin. Use a dog-safe shampoo, like Earth Rated’s Double Coat 3-in-1 Dog Shampoo.
Rinse thoroughly: Even the best shampoo can cause irritation if left on your dog for too long. This is a step where it pays to be thorough.
Dry carefully: Shih Tzu fur can hold onto moisture for a fairly long time. A quick towel dry can help remove excess water. You can also use a blow dryer on a low setting to dry their coat if your pup is comfortable with the noise.

Trimming and Styling

Shih Tzus require regular trimming and styling to maintain their long coats. Giulia recommends trimming your Shih Tzu every 6 to 8 weeks for shorter cuts and every 4 weeks for longer ones.

There are 5 Shih Tzu grooming styles that are popular within the Shih Tzu dog community, whether you tackle this at home or get help from a professional.

Puppy cut: The puppy cut is extremely common among pet Shih Tzus, as it’s much lower maintenance than other cuts. This cut is typically short all over, except for the face, where the fur remains longer to give that adorable “puppy” look.
Teddy bear cut: The teddy bear cut involves trimming the body to a medium length, keeping the face and ears fuller to enhance that round, fluffy shape. This makes the dog look very similar to a teddy bear, hence the cut’s name. Similar to the puppy cut, this style doesn’t require much maintenance, making it a good choice for pet parents.
Lion cut: As the name suggests, the lion cut keeps the hair long around the head and face to mimic a lion’s mane, and the fur on the body is kept shorter to look similar to a lion.
Top knot show cut: This is the cut you typically see among show Shih Tzus. The fur is kept very long, almost touching the floor and the hair on the head is put up into a top knot. This cut is very high-maintenance and usually requires professional grooming.
Practical top knot: Unlike the top knot show cut, this hairstyle is much more popular amongst Shih Tzu pets for its practicality. The dog’s coat is still kept long but not as long as the show cut. The hair on the top of the head is also gathered into a top knot to keep the dog’s hair out of their eyes.

These Shih Tzu grooming cuts are often done by a professional. But, you can learn how to do very simple cuts at home. If you decide to go this route, keep in mind; it probably won't look perfect!

Caring for Ears, Eyes, and Nails

To safely groom around sensitive areas like eyes and ears, Giulia advises training your Shih Tzu to be able to hold still from a very young age. She notes, “We usually hold a treat as a distraction and trim around these areas.”

Ears

Shih Tzus have long, floppy, hairy ears which can be more susceptible to ear infections.

Cleaning your dog’s ears regularly and trimming the hair can help prevent infections.

Gather supplies: For the easiest solution, get Earth Rated’s Pet Ear Wipes. Have grooming scissors on hand to trim the ear hair.
Check for signs of infection: Look for redness, swelling, or unusual odors, which can indicate an ear infection and will need veterinary attention.
Trim the ear hair: If everything looks clear, and you feel comfortable, gently trim any hair that has accumulated inside your dog's ear. With your fingers, gently remove the hair you’ve trimmed.
Wipe the parts you can see: Wipe the parts of your dog’s ear that you can see. You don’t want to go too deep into the ear canal, as this could damage your dog's ear and cause discomfort.

Eyes

As Shih Tzu’s hair is very long, it can often fall into their eyes and irritate them. Giulia recommends using rounded-tip scissors to trim around the eyes as they are safer.

Shih Tzus often develop tear stains due to the way their facial structure drains their tears. Regular cleaning can help prevent the buildup of stains and eye boogers. Keeping your dog’s eyes clean can also help prevent eye infections.

Use a gentle cleaner: Shih Tzus often have sensitive eyes, so it’s important to use a hypoallergenic product like Earth Rated’s Pet Eye Wipes.
Wipe gently: Always be very gentle around your dog’s eyes. Try to hold your dog as still as possible and gently wipe, especially where stains accumulate. In some cases, having a helper hold your dog still may be necessary.
Dry the area: We recommend making sure the area is dry, which may involve patting around your dog’s eye with a clean cloth.

Nails

Keeping your pup’s nails trimmed is crucial for their comfort and mobility and to avoid painful broken nails or overgrowth.

Use the right tools: A pair of dog nail clippers or a nail grinder works best.
Identify the quick: The quick is the pink part of the nail that contains blood vessels. Trim only the tip of the nail to avoid cutting the quick.
Trim in small stages: Start by trimming a little at a time and stop if you see a pinkish hue.
Take breaks as needed: Many dogs cannot sit long enough to have all of their nails done all at once. In this case, consider taking lots of breaks and rewarding your dog well with treats and praise.

Grooming Tips in Different Seasons

You may need to adjust your Shih Tzu’s grooming routine as the seasons change due to their double coat.

Here are some seasonal Shih Tzu grooming tips:

Spring: If your dog has allergies, consider wiping down their fur and paws with grooming wipes after outdoor play to reduce pollen and other allergens. Additionally, your dog will blow their winter coat during this season so focus on brushing out the old coat.
Summer: Continue to brush your dog’s coat to remove dirt and dander buildup. Regular brushing at this time will help to prevent mats.
Fall: As your dog blows their summer coat to make way for their winter coat, you’ll need to increase your brushing to remove the old, dead hair.
Winter: Keep the fur between your dog’s paw pads short to prevent snowballs! These can be uncomfortable for your pup, and they’re hard to get out.

Common Grooming Mistakes to Avoid

Shih Tzus need a lot of grooming attention, so it isn’t surprising that there are a lot of potential oopsies to be made, too!

Overwashing

Bathing your Shih Tzu too frequently can strip their coat of natural oils, leaving their skin dry and itchy. Instead, Giulia recommends that double-coated dogs like Shih Tzus be bathed every 4-6 weeks. If your pup rolls in something, particularly smelly, you can use grooming wipes in between baths.

Incorrect Brushing

Brushing only the surface of the coat can lead to hidden mats. These can slowly work their way against the skin, where they can produce sores and skin irritation. When brushing, do your best to brush both their top coat and undercoat and check hidden areas like under your dog’s arms for knots, too.

Using the Wrong Tools

Using grooming tools for the wrong coat type or dull scissors can harm your Shih Tzu’s coat and skin. Avoid pin brushes, which are designed more for curly-coated dogs, and consider investing in high-quality grooming tools, especially since you’ll likely spend a lot of time grooming your pup!

Earth Rated’s Grooming Solutions

Regular grooming is necessary for your Shih Tzu’s health and happiness. It reduces matting and prevents skin problems, helping your pet to look and feel their best.

Earth Rated makes grooming simple with products designed to prioritize making the whole experience quick & easy. Our grooming products are gentle on your pup’s skin while also providing a thorough clean. Check out the entire collection here.