How to Cut a Shih Tzu's Hair

How to Cut a Shih Tzu's Hair

The Shih Tzu is a small dog breed with a spectacular coat that usually reaches the ground, as can normally be seen in dog competitions. However, if your furry friend stays at home, we recommend you cut their hair shorter for convenience. This way they will still look gorgeous and will be cooler in the summer. At OneHowTo.com, we tell you how to cut a Shih Tzu's hair.

Steps to follow:
1

To cut your Shih Tzu's hair, we recommend first that you give your furry companion a good bath with warm water. In this way you will remove the dirt and any residue that may hinder the passage of the scissors. In addition, you will remove dead hair that may make the haircut difficult. You can consult our article on how to bathe your dog at home and then be sure to dry the whole coat thoroughly.

2

While your Shi Tzu's hair dries, check that the clippers you use have sharp and undamaged blades. Leave them turned on so that the dog gets used to the noise they make. Think that the more relaxed the dog is, the easier the whole cutting process will be. Once your dog's hair is dry, brush all its hair well so that there are no knots.

3

The best haircut for your Shih Tzu is known as the puppy cut. In this way, it will not have long, tangled and dragging hair. Such manes require constant care and daily grooming. Also, it is not very comfortable for your dog. With a puppy cut haircut, your dog will end up very beautiful and with very short hair, which will be easier to take care of. You have to use clippers with a number four blade.

Image: flickr.com
4

Your Shi Tzu is a small dog, so before cutting its hair, place it on a table or raised surface at least up to your chest so you can pick it up and see it well. If you know your dog and know that it will not be still, find someone to help you and hold it while you cut its hair.

5

You must start by cutting the hair on your dog's face. To shave the hair from its face, be very careful with the ears and eyes. So it does not move and is as relaxed as possible, caress it to calm it. If you are afraid of using the clippers on its face, you can also cut its hair with round-tip scissors.

For hairs inside its ears, you can use a hemostat to puck its hairs.

If you have a Shih Tzu, you might know they need a lot of dental care. You might want to read our article about natural dental care for dogs.

6

Then cut the hair on its body. Remember to shave the hair in the direction of hair growth. To do it well you should start at its spine and move the machine towards its ribs. You should also cut around and under its tail following the hair growth and be very careful with its anus. Regarding the hair of the legs and tail, it can stay a little longer.

7

If you're not sure of the style you should cut your dog's hair, you can bring it to the hair salon for the first time and then cut the hair as it starts growing.

If you want to read similar articles to How to Cut a Shih Tzu's Hair, we recommend you visit our Pets category.

Tips
  • Check for any possible wounds your dog may have while you're cutting so they can be treated in time and don't get worse.