The 7 Best Haircuts For Shih Tzus

What are the best haircuts for Shih Tzus?

If you are fortunate enough to own a Shih Tzu puppy or dog, you are already aware that this breed is famous for its affectionate and playful personality, as well as its loving temperament. You likewise know that their beautiful coat–which hangs straight down naturally like an adorable mop–could heavily shed, easily tangle, and be really uncomfortable for your dog.

You might also be aware of the fact that these dogs can go completely bald and still look adorable. In other words, Shih Tzus are quite versatile when it comes to haircuts and hairstyles.

Moreover,it could also cause overheating during warmer days, which is actually dangerous to your Shih Tzu’s health. This is due to the fact that these dogs have a long, double coat that could trap heat and needs regular grooming. The solution? Shih Tzu haircuts.

Dogs from this breed are usually recognized by their long, glorious flowing coats, which consumes a lot of time and takes real effort to maintain properly.

Oftentimes, Shih Tzu owners go for a different haircut for their pet; a style that could be a little more convenient to handle, or maybe one that could be more comfortable for their Shih Tzu.

There are several choices when it comes to Shih Tzu haircuts, and the haircut style that you pick depends on your lifestyle and your personal preference.

Shih Tzus have a lot options when it comes to their haircuts. The haircut style that you pick for your Shih Tzu pup relies a lot on the effort and time that you’re ready to put into keeping it.

However, if you haven't taken much time to examine the different styles available for your Shih Tzu, then now is a great time to do so! Here we will take a look at some of the options available for this cute dog that will fit into virtually any lifestyle with ease.

Let us take a closer look at popular haircuts for Shih Tzus:

The Puppy Cut

The puppy haircut is among the lowest maintenance cuts available for a Shih Tzu. The coat is cut short over the entire body (about a couple of inches), including the ears and tails. Since Shih Tzus don’t like warm temperatures, this haircut could be an ideal choice for summer months, and in fact, is usually referred to as the summer cut.

Although this is a low maintenance cut, it still requires regular brushing to keep the grime and dirt from building up, even though you would not need to do it every single day.

Nonetheless, if you don’t have any plans of getting your Shih Tzu in a dog show, and are limited on time, this haircut can be the best cut for your Shih Tzu.

The Puppy Cut with Longer Ears and Tail

This haircut is basically the same as the puppy cut. However, it keeps the tails and ears long.  It is all a matter of personal choice.Maintaining this cut is more or less like the puppy cut. However, you will need extra effort to keep those long ears and tails from becoming nasty and smelly.

Moderate Length Puppy Cut

This Shih Tzu haircut is a variety of the classic puppy haircut that keeps the majority of the coat a bit fuller.It is a popular style that lets a little more air in to reach the dog's skin than the traditional puppy cut.

It is excellent for cold and cool weather, but can also work if you live in warmer area where your Shih Tzu has occasional off-leash play in cooler areas of the yard.

The ears and tails remain long with this haircut, which is an advantage in keeping dirt and grime away from it.

If you are considering transitioning your Shih Tzu from a long and full coat to a puppy cut, this haircut might be a great in-between one to pick to help your pup transition.

Teddy Bear Cut

Go Google a Shih Tzu with this style and you would see why it is adorably called the teddy bear cut.

This haircut focuses on the hair that is on your Shih Tzu’s face, giving it a rounded shape and making it fluffy.Wider cheeks and longer hair in the face makes this cut a good choice for pet owners who prefer to go out with their Shih Tzu without needing to brush its coat every single time they step out of the house.

The Teddy Bear Cut comes with long ears and tails, making it easier to maintain than other cuts. However, frequent brushing is still necessary as dirt and grime can easily collect on your Shih Tzu's face even though it has been given a rounder shape.

With the teddy bear cut, your Shih Tzu would look like the classic, adorable teddy bear toy. This haircut is generally about your dog’s face, so you could choose to pair it with whatever length of puppy cut on his body.

Lion Cut

Indeed, lions are huge cats, but there are some dog breeds that could pull off a lion cut. This haircut, just like the teddy bear cut, concentrates on the hair around the Shih Tzu’s face.

Nevertheless, this haircut is better paired with a short cut on the whole body, commonly trimmed to approximately a couple of inches in length.

With this cut, the Shih Tzu’s hair around his face is styled in a mane-like manner around the face and his head.

Sometimes, this haircut could include a trimmed tail and a tuft at the tip to make it look like a lion’s tail. The general effect is that your dog resembles a small and cuddly lion.

The lion cut is a relatively easy cut to keep since most of the Shih Tzu’s fur is kept short. However, make it a point to keep up with your Shih Tzu’s hair around the face to prevent tangles and stray hairs that could poke your dog in the eyes and result in irritation or even infection.

Practical Top Knot

When you picture a Shih Tzu in your mind, chances are high that the pup would be donning the classic top knot, also referred to as the iconic Shih Tzu hairstyle. The practical top knot is easily formed by getting some of your pup’s hair together at the top of his head and tying it with a hairclip or a rubber hairband.

With this cut, the hair is supposed to cascade down, even though when it is partnered with shorter haircuts, the top knot could be kept shorter as well.

A practical top knot is an ideal way to keep annoying stray hairs out of your pup’s eyes.

You could even use your Shih Tzu’s top knot to define her personal style; include a braid or two, or other creative styles that you could whip up.

Top Knot Show Cut

The top knot show cut is the ultimate Shih Tzu haircut. It is the style that you would typically see in dog shows; the gorgeous long coat flowing across the show floor. This haircut isn’t for the regular family pet, since it’s is too high maintenance. Also, it could be very hot for your Shih Tzu.

To maintain a show cut properly takes a huge amount of time, effort, dedication, and, in most cases, money. These reasons are why the top knot show cut is normally only seen on show Shih Tzus.

You have to be prepared and willing to brush your Shih Tzu’s hair several times a day to prevent tangles. You should also use quality shampoos, dog conditioners, and leave-in spritzes or de-tangling sprays.

Trimming your Shih Tzu's top knot is also a necessity to avoid tangles, so it may be in your best interest to bring your pet to professional groomers every week.

Regular dog grooming is very important, and you should opt for this cut if you’re ready to commit to the care that it needs.

With all of these things considered, the top knot show cut is often seen not only on competition dogs but also for Shih Tzus that are trained as therapy and service dogs. It could look stunning with a short haircut and help those working pups maintain their hair without becoming too heavy or bulky.

How Often Does a Shih Tzu Need a Haircut?

The frequency of your Shih Tzu’s haircut depends largely on the haircut that you select, but on average, their coat has to be trimmed at least every month. Their coat grows quickly, and it is important to keep up with consistent brushing and haircuts to keep your Shih Tzu’s hair from becoming matted and tangled. Another factor that could affect the frequency of your pup’s haircut is the temperature. Shih Tzus don’t deal with heat very well, so a lot of owners decide to keep their dog’s coat trimmed when the temperatures are warm and let their hair grow out during the cooler months.

A big factor to remember when looking at the frequency of your pet's haircuts is their overall health. If your dog is physically or emotionally stressed out, his hair may become matted and tangled faster than usual, so you should be on the lookout for signs that could mean that it will be time for a haircut.

The amount of fur that your pup has may also play a role in how often her hair gets trimmed; dogs with longer coats generally need haircuts more frequently. Whatever cut you choose for your Shih Tzu, make sure he is comfortable and doesn't get too overheated during warmer months.