There are lots of ways to groom a Shih Tzu. The “casual look” is ideal for the Shih Tzu that stays at home and goes on family outings. The “show look” requires a great deal of time and grooming skill. A short haircut or body clip is great for the practical-minded owner who only has time for a low-maintenance coat.
Topknots and Trims
The type of topknott and trim you select for your Shih Tzu will depend on how long her hair is, how much time you have to spend on grooming, convenience, and practicality. Its also matters what your dog will be doing. Will she be lounging in the living room or will she be on the show circuit? If you plan to exhibit your Shih Tzu, plan on a great deal of work and grooming to maintain the coat in luxurious condition.
There are several types of topknots, body trims, leg trims, and tail trims for Shih Tzu. Certain styles of leg trims go best with particular types of body trims. With practice and experience, you will discover which topknots, trims, and cuts show off your pet’s qualities and hide her minor flaws, producing the balanced, classic look of the regal Shih Tzu.
Puppies
Puppies look cutest if their hair is cut to emphasize their rounded heads. Most puppies won’t have hair long enough for a topknot until they are 5 or 6 months of age. Cut the topknot with scissors so that all the hairs are about 2 inches long. Leave the beard and mustache to grow longer, up to 6 inches. Trim the ears to blend in with the facial hair to accentuate the round head.
The topknot styles you create for your Shih Tzu are limited only by your imagination. You can trim the topknot to various lengths or you can let it grow long. You can part the topknot and secure it to the ears with elastics, plastics, or bows. It’s fun to select bows that go well with your pet’s coat color.
To make the topknot stand up higher, comb it straight back, tease it gently, section it, band it, and curl it with a curling iron (as is done for the show ring). Curling and teasing, plus a dab of hair gel, give the topknot more support to help it stand up higher on the head so that the neck looks longer and graceful.
Kennel Cut
Shave all of the hair except for over the forehead. Cut the forehead hair and trim the ears with scissors to create a rounded skull appearance. Blend the ears in well with the sides of the head. Keep the hair out of the eyes but do not trim the base of the muzzle.
For a different variation of this cut, allow the hair to grow all over the top of the head and keep it trimmed with scissors to a length of 1 to 2 inches to form a full topknot. Comb and trim the ears and beard to emphasize a rounded appearance.
