The Shih Tzu is a small, friendly and very charismatic dog with a luxurious long coat. That coat is one of the breed’s main features — it can grow very long, fall beautifully along the body and give the Shih Tzu its recognisable look. But beautiful hair needs regular care. Without brushing, timely clipping and hygiene, long coat tangles quickly, forms mats and starts to hurt. So Shih Tzu grooming is not only about looks. It is an essential part of everyday care.
What is a Shih Tzu’s coat like?
Shih Tzu coat is long, dense and needs consistent care. It grows almost continuously, so without clipping it can become very long. It also tangles easily — especially where it rubs or stays damp. Areas that need the most attention:
- behind the ears;
- the neck;
- armpits;
- belly;
- paws;
- under the tail;
- around the muzzle.
That is why a quick surface brush is not enough.
Why brush a Shih Tzu regularly?
Mats are one of the most common problems in long-coated dogs. At first hair may only lightly tangle. Then a small snarl becomes a tight mat that is hard to undo. Mats pull hair, irritate skin and make the dog uncomfortable. Do not wait until it is serious. Regular home brushing keeps the coat healthier and makes the groomer’s job easier.
How to brush a Shih Tzu at home
The main rule: do not rush and do not force through tangles. Work gradually in small sections and make sure tools do not scrape the skin. Pay extra attention behind the ears, under the legs and on the belly. If the coat is badly matted, do not cut mats out with scissors yourself — skin can sit very close inside the mat. Safer to see a professional groomer.
Clip or keep the long coat?
It depends on lifestyle and how much home care you can give. If you can brush thoroughly every day, a longer coat is possible. For many pet Shih Tzus a comfortable clip is more practical. Shorter coat:
- is easier to brush;
- tangles less;
- stays cleaner;
- needs less daily time.
It does not have to be very short. A good groomer can choose a length that looks nice and suits that dog.
Why not clip a Shih Tzu yourself?
The internet makes it feel like one video is enough to learn anything. Professional grooming is more than running a clipper over hair. A groomer must understand the breed, proportions, and how to shape the muzzle, paws, ears and hygiene areas. The Shih Tzu face is especially tricky. A wrong scissor move near the eyes or nose can injure the dog, and an uneven home cut can ruin the look. Leave scissors to professionals.
Special focus: the muzzle
The Shih Tzu muzzle needs regular care. Because of head shape, hair around the eyes and face gets dirty quickly. Keep it clean and trimmed. During grooming a specialist can tidy the eye area and give the face a neat shape. Redness, eye discharge or other unusual changes belong with a vet — not DIY cosmetics.
Bathing a Shih Tzu
Bathing matters for long coats. Use dog-specific products. After washing, dry thoroughly — especially dense hair next to the skin. Damp coat tangles easily, and poorly dried underlayers can cause odour and irritation. In a salon, bathing and drying means working the coat, straightening it and preparing it for finishing — not just “blow-drying the dog”.
Grooming is more than the coat
Full care is not only a haircut. For a Shih Tzu also important:
- nail care;
- ear cleaning and checks;
- paw care;
- hygiene clip;
- keeping the eye area clean;
- coat care in sanitary zones.
Regular care means you do not wait until a problem is obvious.
How often should a Shih Tzu see a groomer?
There is no one schedule for every dog. It depends on coat length, growth speed, lifestyle and home care. A short or medium clip can be maintained regularly as hair grows. A long show-style coat needs much more home work and regular professional visits. Set the plan with your groomer based on that dog’s coat.
First grooming: earlier is better
If you have a Shih Tzu puppy, do not wait until the coat is long. Introduce grooming gradually — brushing, handling paws, ears and muzzle, dryer sound. First visits can be short and calm. The goal is not a perfect style yet, but a positive attitude. Later sessions become much easier.
Home care + professional grooming
Best results come from both. You brush and watch the coat at home. The groomer periodically washes, dries, brushes, styles and helps with hygiene. That is far easier than waiting months until the coat is one big mat.
A final word
The Shih Tzu is made to turn heads. Behind the beautiful long coat is regular work. Proper brushing, timely grooming, muzzle, paw and nail care protect looks and comfort. You do not have to choose between beauty and practicality. The right clip keeps a Shih Tzu beautiful, neat and comfortable. At Star Grooming we tailor care to each pet — coat condition, lifestyle and temperament.