Puppy Trim: For the Shih Tzu puppy that has a thick coat and enjoys playing outdoors and getting dirty but still wants to look cute, this might be the style to choose. It is cool in summer and warm enough in winter. Trim the hair on the head 1 to 2 inches all over and trim the ears to blend in with the head. Shape the head to emphasize its rounded appearance. Leave the beard 3 to 6 inches long.
The puppy trim lets your puppy keep a full tail along with a cut that emphasizes a pretty body and cylindrical legs, all in a hair length ranging from 1 to 3 inches.
Kennel Clip: This is the easiest haircut to maintain because most of the hair has been removed. Clip all of the body (with a #4, #5, or #7 clipper blade) except for the end of the tail, which ends in a tuft. Leave a tuft of hair over the skull to emphasize the head’s rounded appearance. Trim the feet and ears. This is a great haircut for the summertime and an ideal haircut for owners who have little time or desire to groom their Shih Tzu.
Body Clip: Clip the body with a #4, #5, #7, #10, or #15 blade. Trim the hair short on the back and trim the legs 1 to 2 inches in length. Shape and bell the legs to flare out at the feet. Trim the tail at the base and leave it intact for the length of its curvature. Trim the head to accentuate a rounded look, keep the beard, and trim the ears to a bell shape to complement the leg trim. This is another great summer style with easy maintenance.
Schnauzer Style: Using a #5, #7, #10, or #15 blade, trim from the skull down the neck and to the chest and body, with the trim going in the direction of the hair growth. The clipper trim stops at the bottom of the rib cage and the bottom one-third of the legs. The hairs from these areas are trimmed with scissors to a cylindrical shape and left 1 to 2 inches long. Keep the beard, and trim the ears lightly to offset a short topknot. Leave the tail in a tassel.
Cocker Cut: The Cocker cut lets your Shih Tzu keep more of her hair than most cuts and gives a sense of overall balance. Clip the body with a #5, #7, #10, or #15 blade, from the top of the back of the neck to the base of the tail. If you imagine a parting about one third of the way down the side of the body (to the top of the fore limb), that’s where the clipping ends. From that point on, trim the chest hairs and hairs on the sides of the body and the leg hairs about 4 to 5 inches in length. Taper the legs down to the feet, round the ears, and flag the tail.
Full-Furnishings Clip: Furnishings refer to all the long hair responsible for embellishing and accentuating the look for which the Shih Tzu breed is recognized and famous. Furnishings include the beard and topknot and long hairs on the ears limbs (also called skirts or pants on the hindquarters), belly, face, and tail. In the full-furnishings clip, only the neck and back are clipped (in a Cocker-style clip), while the legs, sides of the body, and tail are left full length or trimmed level with the grooming table.
This style is difficult to maintain and requires the most time and work. When properly maintained, it is also the most aesthetically appealing and impressive style.
The time and effort you invest in your Shih Tzu’s coat and skin will keep her looking beautiful and in top condition. As you become more familiar with the Shih Tzu standard and develop more skill at grooming, you will find ways to groom your dog so that you can enhance her features to more closely reflect the ideal Shih Tzu.
The more you practice, the more skilled you will become, and the better your little “lion dog” will look. Even if your Shih Tzu isn’t competing on dog shows, she will always be “best in show” at your home!
