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Types of Dryers:

There are at least four types of dryers you can use at home for your Shih Tzu the same as a professional would use. These are:

1. A cage dryer.

2. A floor dryer.

3. A wall dryer.

4. A Pet dryer.

Cage Dryer: After your bath your Shih Tzu, towel-dry and place your Shih Tzu in a cage. A professional cage dryer will hook onto the cage. Set the dryer to either warm or hot. Your Shih Tzu should dry in a short period of time.

Floor Dryer: A floor dryer is used for blow-drying. A floor dryer will usually have a stronger blow than a cage dryer. Floor dryers are usually mounted on a movable stand. You can move the dryer in a variety of positions.

Wall Dryer: A wall-mounted unit is also available. The maneuvering for blow-drying is done with a hose. There are several advantages to this type of dryer. They are:

1. Does not take up space on the floor. 2. The hose is easy to maneuver. 3. Since the blow is stronger through the hose, the dryer requires less electricity.

Pet Dryer: Just about any human hair dryer can be used as a pet dryer. Some companies manufacture special made pet dryers. They work fine, but will not give you the same look as a professional dryer.

Source: StainGlassShihtzu 

A Shih Tzu is one of the rare breeds that actually have hair like humans instead of fur. A Shih Tzu’s hair is its crowning glory.

Blow-Drying:

The reason for blow-drying your Shih Tzu’s hair after a bath is to get the coat as fluffy as possible. You want a lush, powder-puff look. To blow-dry a Shih Tzu’s hair:

1. Place the damp dog on the table. 2. Work from rear to front. 3. Hold the dryer in one spot. As the hairs blow apart, brush the Shih Tzu’s coat out once again. 4. Brush until the area is completely dry. 5. Move on the next spot.

To get a good blow-dry of your Shih Tzu’s hair be especially systematic. Otherwise, some areas will look kinky and curly. If the Shih Tzu’s hair dries too quickly, dampen the kinky areas and blow them dry.

If your Shih Tzu’s coat is heavy and thick, you will need a stronger dryer with a more powerful air flow to achieve the desired look. Do not brush your Shih Tzu’s hair heavily while blow-drying. Light, quick strokes are best.

If you have your Shih Tzu’s hair cut short, you can use a regular cage and towel dry.

Source:  StainGlassShihtzu

i really want to have this! this will help me to save a lot…..dog grooming is soo soooo expensive….i usually take my dogs to their salon for every two weeks and im spending 1k for each visit….and all they have to do is to give them a trim, bath, clean the ears and paws….hahaay…i can do it naman..the only problem is wala akong pasensya sa matting! kaya i have to send them to their salon to fix their matted hair especially on sushi’s case..hahay…when i get back i’ll try to have this..hehehe

anyways, check this too San Diego casinos 

Shih Tzus are cute and fluffy. They are sometimes called chrysanthemum dogs because of their flower like snouts. Their hair covered their eyes and owners should knot it to show their cute faces and to prevent eye diseases.

Mho-mho, my cousin’s dog (still a shih tzu breed) got an eye disease, it’s a cataract and he is just 2 months old. He got it from his snout’s hair…we thought it would be forever coz it really covered his whole right eye. So, the vet treated it…and it was gone! It was just an early stage of cataract…to prevent this kind of disease…here’s a simple tip..

As the Shih-tzu has big eyes, it is more susceptible to eye infections. Use a moist cotton ball to clean the skin around the eye. Do this atleast once every week.Take care that no discharge gets deposited for a long time. Consult your vet in case of any redness or imflammation.

Does George Lindemann Jr own a shih tzu? He might need this article….

I was attracted to their hair. So, I decided to get two shih tzus, hihihi..

I tried to maintain Sushi’s long wavy hair; I bought lots of combs and brushes, different types of dog shampoo and conditioner and sent her to the dog spa almost every two weeks. But, as time went by her hair was tangled and matted and it became worse! Then her groomer suggested to give her a puppy cut, buh bye long hair….but her new cut was soo nice, it looks good on her J good thing she doesn’t need a hair transplant on the matted portion of her hair, hihihi

An article that would help us to care for our shih tzu’s hair, taken from ezrine articles. 

The standard coat of a Shih Tzu should be luxuriously long and dense with a good wooly undercoat. The hair on top of the head may be tied up. When a Shih Tzu is completely brushed and combed the Shih Tzu should have a sleek look. The beard come to a point and a long, luxuriant moustache flows over the beard.

Method of making a Shih Tzu or Shih Tzu puppy topknot:

1. Part the hair from the ear on both sides of the head.

2. Gather up in one hand the hair in the middle and slip on a latex band at the base.

3. The band may have to be wrapped around twice to make it secure.

4. A ribbon or barrette is recommended to be attached to latex band.

How to make your own Shih Tzu or Shih Tzu puppy bows:

1. Cut one yard of ribbon. The ribbon can be any width you desire.

2. From this yard of ribbon, cut another piece about 5” long. Splice this in half lengthwise.

3. Cut the remainder of the yard in half. This material should give you enough for two ribbons or bows.

4. Wrap one of the long pieces around two fingers. Slip the folded ribbon off your fingers and double it over.

5. With a utility scissors, snip off a piece at the corners in a “V” shape, but not a sharp V, for you will lose any thread of support. There should be a piece of ribbon left at the centerfold to hold it all together.

6. Take one of the spliced pieces (5”) and tie the ribbon at the centerfold securely.

7. Separate each fold by gently pulling out and twisting each fold out from the center. Do both sides. When all the folds are pulled out and twisted, the bow is completed. All that remains is to fasten the bow to a tuft of hair, using the ends of the center splice to tie the knot. Cut off any excess ribbon that remains.

Care of the Shih Tzu or Shih Tzu puppy’s ears:

Because of the long hair covering the Shih Tzu puppy’s ears, problems can develop when the ear gets little air. Clean the excess hair out of your Shih Tzu puppy’s ear canal (not the ear flap) to improve air circulation and help prevent infection.

Care of the Shih Tzu’s eyes:

Shih Tzu generally have large eyes with shallow sockets. A Shih Tzu’s eyes are more prone to injury than most other breeds. If your Shih Tzu puppy’s eyes are red or cloudy or tear excessively, or if your dog squints and rubs at his eye, have a vet look at your Shih Tzu puppy’s eye to determine the cause.

 

I was so happy when I finally have Sushi in my arms! The first thing that came into my mind when she arrived was her grooming I didn’t have any idea about grooming…so her first weekend was spent on a vet visit for a consultation and a whole body grooming, she was so fluffy after the grooming and I love her scent..so i bought a dog cologne for her

Here’s a complete guide for shih tzu’s grooming from The Shih Tzu Spa 

Bathing- It is very important to bathe your shit-tzu every other week. Use a tablespoon of shampoo for a litre of water. Whisk up some foam generously, in a baby tub and rinse your dog thoroughly.Dilute some conditioner in water in pour a generous amount on your Shih-tzu. This will help reducing tangles as well as keep the coat soft. Be very careful when you choose the shampoo. Check the pH so that you do not end up buying a shampoo that is too acidic. They can dry out the coat of your dog. Even bathing too often will reduce the natural shine of the coat. Your doggie has a short muzzle, he will tend to get more dirty in the process of sniffing or rubbing things. So it is important to clean the face of your dog twice a week. Use a soft brush to do this. Clean the feet and the area under the eye and rinse well. Brush your dog before and after bath. Plug the ears with cotton balls so that water does not seep into the ears and cause infection. Also take care not to let any shampoo get into the eyes. Use a benign ointment for the eyes if necessary. If any residual shampoo is there, just wash with lukewarm saline water. Clean the anal gland of your dog regularly. Take the help of the vet if necessary. Wrap your dog in a towel and give a thorough blow dry but do not blow hot air directly on the face.

Brushing & trimming - The coat of the Shih-tzu requires regular brushing in order to prevent it from getting tangled and matted. If you prefer floor length hair for your dog, keep a wire brush handy. Start brushing from the extreme ends like feet and legs. Brush in gentle downward strokes to reach the belly and then the back. Use a coat conditioner to keep hair silky and shiny.Be gentle with tangles. Never ever pull them as this may cause pain to the dog. Treat the hair as you would treat your own! Use a softer comb near the eyes, feetpads and under ears. In case you want to remove excess hair in the ear canal, apply some ear powder and pull gently.Also keep the hair around the mouth short so that your dog does not gather food there. The last stage is trimming around your puppy’s bottom area and tail. The tail should be brushed and trimmed short. This way your puppy can go to the toilet easily. The hair can be trimmed with scissors to keep this area free from hair. It is a good thing to check this area daily to ensure that no deposition of excreta is attached to the hair.

Teeth - Shih-tzu teeth are prone to Periodontal disease, Gingivitis and Plaque. So brush yor dog’s teeth twice everyday with dog toothbrushes and dental cream. Also encourage your dog to chew on a dog kibble so that it does not develop plaque easily.

Ear Care - Examine your dog’s ears once every week. Use a cotton swab daubed in ear solution to wipe the ear canal in order to remove all dirt and ear wax.

Eye Care - As the Shih-tzu has big eyes, it is more susceptible to eye infections. Use a moist cotton ball to clean the skin around the eye. Do this atleast once every week.Take care that no discharge gets deposited for a long time. Consult your vet in case of any redness or imflammation.

Nail Care - Always clip nails after bath when they are soft and easy to clip. Do not cut the red streak as this may cause bleeding. In case it bleeds,use styptic powder to stop it.

Hair-do - You can also make fancy hair-dos with your Shih-tzu’s long tresses.You can part the hair and tie it up with light rubber bands and then pin the pig-tails up in top knots. This will also prevent the hair from getting into the eye. Only make sure that it is not too tight to make the dog feel uncomfortable. Even whiskers can be attached upwards with pins. In case your dog is going for a show,keep the hair plaited all day in thin braids. When you will undo them, your Shih-tzu will have soft flowing curls all over. This way you can easily give your Shih-tzu a wonderful new makeover. So take out some time and let your imagination take wings. Have fun grooming your pretty Shih-tzu