Shih Tzu Grooming Guide: From Daily Face Wipes to Full Coat Care

Shih Tzus are high-maintenance dogs trapped in small bodies. If you want the big, flowing show coat or even a neat, low-maintenance “puppy cut,” grooming is not optional. Skip it and you get mats, infections, and expensive shave-downs at the groomer.

Real Talk: Long Coat vs Puppy Cut

You have two realistic coat options:

Long / show-style coat: Gorgeous, but requires near-daily brushing, strict bath schedules, and serious product.
Puppy cut (short trim): Much easier to maintain, still needs regular brushing and professional grooming every 4–8 weeks.

If you work full-time, have kids, or know you won’t brush every day, don’t lie to yourself. Start with a puppy cut and focus on keeping that tidy.

Daily Grooming Non-Negotiables

Whether your Shih Tzu is clipped short or not, make these daily habits:

Face and eye wipes: Use a damp cloth or dog-safe wipes to clean tear stains and eye gunk. Shih Tzu eyes are exposed and prone to irritation.
Quick brush-through: 5 minutes with a slicker brush or comb to prevent tiny tangles from becoming mats, especially behind ears and under the harness.
Paw check: Look between pads for debris, redness, or matting.

Shih Tzu eyes and breathing are particular weak points. For a deeper health overview including eye red flags to never ignore, read the dedicated Shih Tzu breed article on MyPetAtlas.

Weekly & Monthly Grooming Tasks

Ears: Check for redness, smell, or discharge weekly. Clean with a vet-approved ear cleaner if needed.
Teeth: Brush several times per week. Small breeds like Shih Tzus are dental disaster-prone if you ignore this.
Baths: Every 3–4 weeks for most pets. More frequent if the coat is long and you’re controlling matting.
Nails: Trim every 2–4 weeks; don’t wait until they click loudly on hard floors.

Bathing Without Creating Mats

Bad bathing creates mats. Do it properly:

Brush thoroughly before the bath. Never bathe a matted dog.
Use lukewarm water and a gentle dog shampoo.
Rinse longer than feels necessary; leftover shampoo causes itchiness.
Gently towel-dry, then use a dryer on low with brushing to prevent tangles.

Working With a Professional Groomer

If you’re not going to do all grooming at home, find a skilled groomer. Don’t pick at random. Shih Tzus have specific needs: short muzzle, prominent eyes, sensitive skin.

Ask to see before/after photos of Shih Tzus they’ve groomed.
Explain exactly how short you want the face, body, and ears.
Be honest about how often you’ll brush at home—so they can choose a realistic style.

Use a local directory like MyPetAtlas to find groomers with strong small-breed reviews and Shih Tzu experience, then cross-check their reviews with your vet’s recommendations.

Desensitizing Your Shih Tzu to Grooming

If your dog hates being brushed, that’s on the humans. You have to train grooming like any other skill:

Start with 10–15 seconds of gentle brushing, then treat and stop.
Pair nail touch and clipper sounds with snacks, not restraints and yelling.
Never wrestle or pin your dog for long sessions; that just teaches them to fight harder next time.

Summary

Grooming a Shih Tzu is work. If you want low effort, you chose the wrong breed. But with a good routine, the right groomer, and a bit of training, you can keep your dog comfortable, clean, and genuinely cute instead of matted and miserable. For long-term skin, eye, and breathing considerations that influence grooming choices, keep the MyPetAtlas Shih Tzu guide handy and use MyPetAtlas.com to find local pros who actually know what they’re doing.