How to cut a Shih Tzu: cutting dogs for boys and girls at home, photos of hairstyles and video tutorials on grooming

Kinds

Haircut happens:

everyday (hygienic);
exhibition (demonstration);
original.

Casual

Hygienic grooming of your Shih Tzu should be carried out every month. This procedure is necessary for the animal’s comfort, disease prevention, and easier coat care. For everyday haircuts, hairs are usually cut in the area of the ears, under the nose, around the eyes, on the pads of the paws, and in intimate places. This look is easy to do on your own.

Exhibition

A demonstration haircut is needed to prepare your pet for an exhibition. Only a properly groomed dog has a chance to take a prize, so it is better to entrust this procedure to professionals. Difficulties may arise at home. The Shih Tzu exhibition haircut technique includes several stages:

hygienic hair removal;
trimming fur;
collecting a ponytail on the head (top note);
putting on papillots.

Original

Fancy hairstyles are given to dogs to create a bright, expressive image. Before starting modeling, hygienic grooming is carried out. Among this type of hairstyle, the following haircuts are most common:

Teddy bear;
under a small puppy;
Korean.

These options are ideal for Shih Tzus in the summer, when long hair creates additional inconvenience for dogs of this breed. The first two haircuts are very similar, but there are significant differences between them. Such hairstyles can be done either with a machine or with scissors.

The teddy bear haircut gives your Shih Tzu the appearance of a soft toy. To create this hairstyle, you need to evenly shorten the hair over the entire body, leaving a length of 5 cm. This will make the dog’s coat look like velor. Inside the ears, the hairs are completely removed, but on the head and muzzle the hair remains as before – long.

To make an adult Shih Tzu look like a puppy, an appropriate haircut is used. When doing a “puppy” hairstyle, the hair on the head is modeled in the form of a beret, and the hair on the face is cut quite short. The coat on the body is shortened to a length of 2.5-4 cm.

The Korean hairstyle is considered the most creative and unusual. This option is characterized by uniform shortening of the hair on the body of the Shih Tzu, as well as cutting off the hairs on the paws in the form of cuffs. The haircut on the head is done in the form of a long bob, then the hair is braided into braids. Creating an Asian style involves using scissors and a machine.

In a Korean haircut, bright accessories are always used.

Paw care

It is necessary to inspect the paws regularly. Plant seeds, plants themselves, thorns, and glass can get stuck there.

If the dog has walked on fresh fuel oil or asphalt, its paws should be greased and then washed with soap.

In winter, another scourge is chemicals. After every walk, you must wash your paws, otherwise the chemicals will corrode the skin. To avoid problems, your dog can be trained to wear special shoes.

Trimming claws must be done extremely carefully. It is important not to touch the vessel. In dark-haired dogs, the living part of the claw is difficult to see. You should cut into small pieces, monitoring your pet’s reaction. If the vessel is touched, the bleeding surface must be treated with ferrous sulfate powder (it is better to always keep it in the first aid kit).

As you can see, grooming a Shih Tzu requires some effort. But in return, the pet will thank you with a luxurious appearance and fun play. If home care is burdensome for you, you can always turn to professionals.

Step-by-step guide to cutting your Shih Tzu at home

At home, in natural conditions, the Shih Tzu is washed and then thoroughly dried. If there are tangles in the wool, it is moistened with water from a spray bottle or an aerosol, and the tangled areas are sorted out with your hands or a trimming knife (tangle cutter). Brush your pet in any case.

Using a machine, the fur on the body, neck and chest is shortened to the required length (up to 2.5 cm), and the “skirt” is removed. The machine is guided according to hair growth.

The base areas of the Shih Tzu's tail, abdomen, and groin are also carefully treated using a tool.

In intimate areas, long hair is cut with scissors. All hairs are removed between the paw pads. They work on the limbs with tools from top to bottom. As a result, the dog's legs should have straight column lines.

You should trim your Shih Tzu's face using scissors. At the same time, the eyebrows are trimmed and the beard is shortened along an oblique line. In the area around the eyes and nose, excess hair must be trimmed, and stray hairs must be removed from the ears.

The final stage of cutting a Shih Tzu is thinning out the areas treated with a machine with scissors. It is needed to give the dog a more neat and well-groomed appearance.

How to cut a Shih Tzu using scissors and clippers

There are other combinations of how to cut a Shih Tzu using scissors and clippers. So, for example, leave the hair on the back short, make a lush flare on the paws, and make the tail voluminous. Either leave the fur on the paws and tail long, trim the body to a clipper, trim the ears and beard to medium length, and create a short “hedgehog” on the head. You can cut your pet’s hair like a lion; there are a lot of options, it all depends on the owner’s imagination.

If for some reason it is not possible to do model haircuts yourself, you can use the simplest option on how to cut your Shih Tzu beautifully on your own. To do this, you will need an animal clipper that can handle thick undercoat and dense outer hair well.

Treat the neck, back, shoulder blades to the elbow, sides, throat and front of the chest with a machine in the direction of hair growth using a 4 mm blade. Trim the hair on the head and ears, remove excess hair around the eyes. The belly and chest can also be cut short with a clipper or left as a “skirt”. Where the “skirt” will begin and end depends on the wishes of the owner. Trim the hair on the front legs in even columns, from top to bottom. Trim the area near the anus and genitals short with scissors. Trim the hind legs into even columns, just like the front legs. From the groin to the middle of the paw, cut vertically (from top to bottom), then round to the very bottom. Cut the back surface in a straight line. Shorten or clip the inner surface of the thigh. Remove fur from between fingers. The tail is cut to the owner's taste in harmony with the rest of the haircut.

Watch a video of how a Shih Tzu gets a haircut in a salon:

A set of necessary tools and accessories

To groom your Shih Tzu on your own, you will need several items that can be purchased in specialized stores.

List of tools:

rotary machine or trimmer with a set of attachments;
scissors with pointed and rounded ends, thinning;
a brush with stiff bristles;
metal comb;
trimming knife or welt cutter;
tweezers for removing hair from ears;
shampoo;
conditioner balm;
spray or aerosol.

Tips for caring for your Shih Tzu's coat

The thick hair characteristic of the Shih Tzu breed requires special attention and care from the owner. Systematic coat care begins after the pet reaches the age of 1 year.

Fur combing is carried out daily during the molting period and once every few days at normal times. Using a brush helps prevent the pile from becoming tangled and tangled. If the hairs are very tangled, they are sorted out with a comb, and in difficult cases they are cut with a clipper.
Combing is carried out over slightly moistened fur to prevent damage and electrification.
Frequent brushing makes the coat soft, shiny and silky. The dog looks neat and tidy. The Shih Tzu breed standard provides for straight, long hair throughout the body and short bangs that do not cover the dog's eyes.
To keep the coat clean, they resort to water procedures. Bathing water is heated to 39-40˚C, washing is done in the bathtub. Shampoos, balms, and conditioners are used as special products. Residues of hygiene products can cause irritation on the skin, so the dog is thoroughly dried with a towel and the long fur is dried with a hairdryer.

Do you give your dog haircuts?

Differences in haircuts for boys and girls

A haircut for boys usually involves shortening the hair as much as possible. Particular attention is paid to the groin and anus areas. The best hairstyle for a male dog is considered to be the “teddy bear” haircut. For girls it should be slightly different. On female Shih Tzus, it is advisable to leave the hair longer, arranging the hair on the head in the form of ponytails or braids, decorated with accessories.

Expert opinion

Anna Abramenko

An avid dog lover. Experience in veterinary medicine since 2009.

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The puppy cut is universal and suitable for both sexes.

Simple and complex Shih Tzu hairstyles

Long-haired show specimens that have not been trimmed, or with a model haircut that suggests the presence of long hair on the head, can be given all sorts of hairstyles, decorating them with bright, beautiful accessories.

Shih Tzu hairstyles can be simple or complex. Simple ones are done by dog owners at home so that their fur does not fall over the eyes and does not cause discomfort to the dog. Complex or fancy ones are usually made for participation in exhibitions. This work is entrusted to professional groomers.

The photos below show various Shih Tzu haircuts and hairstyles:

Care after haircut

To maintain the natural showiness of a Shih Tzu dog, you need to follow certain rules.

It is recommended to periodically carry out the following actions:

Moisturize and comb your pet's fur. A metal comb and a massage brush are suitable for this.
Once every 1.5 weeks, bathe the animal in warm water. It is recommended to comb your dog immediately before and after washing. Also, tangles are removed before the procedure.
Use conditioner balm when washing.
After bathing the dog, use an antistatic spray or fixative with silk particles.
Keep your Shih Tzu's hair on the top of his head and beard in ponytails.
For walks, use silk overalls, which protect the wool from dirt and tangles.

How to bathe a Shih Tzu

You can bathe your dog once every 10 days. Before the procedure, you need to untangle the tangles, otherwise it will be more difficult to do so afterwards.

The water temperature should be 37-38°C. You need to start washing from the back. You should not pour water directly on your head: dogs have a hard time getting water into their eyes, nose and ears.

For washing, you can use shampoo for long-haired breeds. It is important not to rub the wool in all directions - it will get tangled.

To avoid drying out your hair with sulfates, the shampoo can be diluted with water. Then apply the resulting foam to a sponge and wipe the wet fur in one direction.

After this, the cover should be slightly wrung out (carefully so as not to tangle), and then wrapped first in one, then in a second towel. You can dry it with a hairdryer and a powder brush.

Basic mistakes

Grooming a Shih Tzu, especially the first one, is a very important undertaking. A novice dog breeder may make various mistakes during this process. The main ones that affect the appearance, health and behavior of the dog:

cutting completely dry or too wet wool (leads to damage to the structure of the coat);
neglect of disinfection of instruments and cleanliness of hands;
leaving tangles, not combing the animal before the procedure;
lack of final thinning;
shaving the mustache and eyebrows (for dogs these are organs of touch);
careless use of the machine, leading to cuts and skin irritation;
the pet is located in an inconvenient place, which creates discomfort for him and the owner;
sudden movements during the procedure, causing fear in the Shih Tzu.

Tips and tricks

The dog can have its first haircut from a young age (from 6 months), so that it immediately gets used to this difficult procedure. Moreover, it is not necessary to do all the manipulations. They start small. When the dog remains calm and does not run away, it is rewarded. In this case, the animal will associate the haircut with positive emotions.

If the owner of the Shih Tzu is not confident in his abilities, then the first procedure should be carried out by a professional. But there is another solution to the problem: turn to video tutorials in which the process is commented in detail.

It is recommended to take your pet for a walk before grooming. Experienced groomers also advise you to first draw a mental diagram of your Shih Tzu’s future hairstyle. In addition, you need to think through the procedure in advance so as not to get confused. This is especially important during the first haircuts at home, when the owner has no experience at all.

Shih Tzu hair should be cut on a flat surface. It should not be located too high or low. A rubber mat is laid on it to prevent the paws from slipping. During the procedure, it is necessary to contact the dog and behave affectionately with it. It is easier for animals to relax when they hear the owner’s voice and feel his stroking.

Cuts left accidentally after the procedure must be treated with hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine.

Reviews

Elena: “My favorite Ronya is the owner of a wonderful thick coat. When it grows back, I take him to a dog beauty salon. There, Shih Tzus get a comprehensive haircut. After this, the dog is transformed. We don’t go to exhibitions, but for myself I want the dog to look great.”

Natalya: “Daisy the Shih Tzu lives in our house. Relatives and friends admire this beauty. And achieving a spectacular look for a dog is very simple. Every day we comb her, and once a month, together with my husband, we cut her hair and make braids or ponytails.”

Dmitry: “My son loves dogs, and I decided to give him a Shih Tzu puppy. The dog became a great friend to us. But in autumn and spring this breed sheds heavily. Therefore, during the off-season, I always call home a groomer who gives the dog a teddy bear haircut.”

Features of keeping a Shih Tzu

Before getting a dog, pay attention to weak points - ears and eyes. In general, dogs of this breed have good health, but if you do not take care of their eyes and ears, bacteria accumulate in them.

It is clear that the dog needs to be cut, and it is important to carefully trim the places where the hair gets into the eyes and interferes with a full view. If these hygiene procedures are not followed, the dog will simply bump into it and may inadvertently damage the eye sockets.

The ears tightly cover the hearing aid, so air ventilation there is simply necessary. To do this, the fur is slightly removed from the ear area, and it is important to treat the ears with a special anti-germ solution.

Uncut wool is neatly tied into ponytails - top notes, bows are pinned (the main attributes of the breed), and some also have braids on the sides. A Shih Tzu with pigtails is not only a funny sight, but also a neat looking dog from a hygiene point of view.

The anal area requires caution; the hair is cut without touching important organs; this is a mandatory procedure.

The nails are trimmed after the hair between the toe pads has been removed.

You need to wash your dog at home once a week with a special shampoo and conditioner. Brush it as desired, usually twice a week is enough. To do this, you need to take a soft brush; a comb with non-sharp metal teeth (massage) is perfect. There is a special comb for parting. The correct tools, including scissors, can be purchased at dog shows.

For walks, rings and tape measures are used especially for long-haired breeds. These leashes will not interfere or tangle the fur. For walks or just at home, breeders wear special silk overalls for their puppies. They are sewn with the seams facing outward so that the wool does not cling to their edges.

It is more convenient to feed the dog from a narrow bowl, then the fur on the face will not get dirty and the Shih Tzu will remain dry and clean. Some breeders of show dogs braid, that is, long hair is “packed” into curlers - this is very convenient, the hair is protected from contamination and tangling.

Then they weave it again, and before the exhibition they unravel it again and simply comb it, finally decorating the bangs with a bow.

As you can see, there are subtleties in home care, but there are also advantages - you can get used to it, especially when the result is visible. A well-groomed Shih Tzu is such a charm that it is impossible to resist its charm.

It does not shed, therefore it is suitable for allergy sufferers; its fur structure is similar to human hair.

Shih Tzu is also an absolutely positive dog; it can withstand any grooming procedure without aggression.

Photo and video review

To familiarize yourself with hairstyle models, it is recommended to look at photos of all options. In the video you can see several Shih Tzu haircuts performed by professionals. This is the best guide for a beginner.