7 tips to groom your Shih Tzu easily

7 tips to groom your Shih Tzu easily - Ever seen a man walk the road with long hair, and untrimmed nails and gnarly teeth? Frightening isn’t it? Just like humans, a Shih Tzu to needs a proper grooming routine to look cute and fluffy. Their cuteness arises from the thick coat which needs to be well maintained and groomed from time to time.

There are professionals who take care of the grooming needs of your pet. However, if you want to save on the cost and want to groom your pet on your own, then listed below are some tips that might help you out.

Here are the 7 tips to groom your Shih Tzu easily:

1. Choose your products wisely

If you want to groom your pet on your own, you need to choose wisely and have considerable knowledge about the products you want to use. Choose a suitable comb for brushing, and choose a proper quality of shampoo and conditioner as well. Remember what that cheap shampoo does to your hair? Well, similarly, a cheap shampoo for your pet might compromise the quality of their coat.

2. Restrict the grooming time to 5 minutes

Grooming for long hours can make your pet agitated. Just imagine; someone doing your hair, nails, and face for hours. How would you feel? Restrict the time limit for grooming to five minutes only, per week. However, if your Shih friend needs to bath, then increase it to 10 minutes.

3. Wash, only if dirty

One of the biggest predicaments that many Shih Tzu owners have is whether they should bathe their pets regularly. It is a strict NO. A dogs coat comprises of various natural oils that is self-cleaning and keeps their coat shiny and fluffy. Only if they have dirt on their coat or mud, or unless they smell, then they do not need a bath. You can do this one every month or one every two months, depending upon your pet’s requirements.

4. Check their eyes thoroughly

Eyes are an important part of Shih Tzu has they derive their adorable quality from those puppy eyes they make. Now the area around their eyes might be red sometimes due to two reasons- one, they might be tear stains, or two, there’s a yeast infection. Clean the eye area daily with a clean and damp cloth. You can even use wipes made for canines. If the coloration still persists, then take them to the vet immediately.

5. Start at a young age

It is important to start grooming your dogs from a young age. They get accustomed to the grooming routine and stay clean at all times. Moreover, dogs are not really so open if you start grooming them suddenly. They might not trust you with specific areas, like the paws and might even bite you. Thus, it is imperative that you make your pet trust you and make them as comfortable as possible during the grooming process.

6. Make it pleasant for them

For dogs, it is not usually easy for them to simply sit for hours while you groom them. Thus, you need to make it more pleasurable for them. Start with the grooming process when they are calm and in a good mood. They are more likely to comply then. Start by patting them all over the body. While grooming, keep the treats nearby and introduces a reward system, to make them enjoy the process. Don’t forget to tell them how good they are and how much you love them while you tend to their grooming needs!

7. Brush up

Brushing is an important aspect of grooming and plays a vital role. Always brush backward and mist it up with some water before you brush their coat. Do it gently! Start with the feet of the Shih Tzu, then the legs, belly, back, tail and finally the face. Also, do not forget to trim occasionally.

Seems a lot of work eh? Well, with time you will get accustomed to it and will take only a few minutes. So happy grooming!