How to Properly Care For The Shih Tzu Coat

AUGUST 29, 2016 | WRITTEN BY JENNY NOLAN OF CLEANERPAWS.COM

As most Shih Tzu owners will have experienced at one time or another, if you do not correctly care for your pet’s coat you can sometimes be left with a tangled mess of hair.

Fully grown Shih Tzu have a double coat of thick hair which means if not groomed it can mat easily, taking you more time in the long run to restore the coat to the tidy, clean look your dog deserves.

Sketch of a Shih TzuShih Tzu

There are many stages to your Shih Tzu’s coat.

Depending on how old your Shih Tzu is you may have to deal with puppy fluff, to a silky adult coat.

And if you’re in the transitional period when your dog is still less than year old you may think there is no end to the grooming needed to keep up an immaculate coat.

But bear with it, once your pet’s adult coat is fully grown brushing does become easier.

How to Groom a Shih Tzu Coat?

Depending on the age of your Shih Tzu as already mentioned you will go through many different stages of grooming.

What you will already be aware of by now, regardless of the age of your pet is that grooming your Shih Tzu’s coat is a full time job.

Keeping a Shih Tzu looking fresh and beautiful is a demanding job but won worth the time both for you and your dog.

The coat of your Shih Tzu will mat extremely easily meaning if possible you should look to brush your dog’s coat at least once a day.

Brushing your dog’s coat once a day means you can prevent any tangles and keep your Shih Tzu’s coat mat free, however if every day isn’t possible once every other day should still allow you to keep the coat feeling and looking fresh.

If however, you are reading this because you are looking to start to groom your dog once their coat is already matted than don’t fear.

As explained the two very thick layers of hair on your Shih Tzu mean matted coats are just part and parcel of being an owner.

If this is the case than its important that you thoroughly brush both layers of your Shih Tzu’s coat with a metal comb to remove any tangles and to ensure you are completely de-matting your dog’s fur.

To get your dog used to the grooming process of being brushed frequently it is advised you begin getting your pet used it from an early age.

Up to the age of around 9 to 10 months your Shih Tzu will only have a single outer coat which may not always look as if it needs brushing.

Even if this is the case, to acclimatize your pet you should begin to brush the coat gently, relaxing your pet beforehand and rewarding them after if needed.

This will make the grooming process a much more enjoyable experience for both you and your dog in the future.

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