Grooming the Shih Tzu

COAT

The Shih Tzu's coat is luxurious, double-coated, dense, long, and flowing, with a slight wave permissible. The hair on top of the head is tied up, and per the breed standard, trimming for neatness around the coat, feet, and anus is permitted, but excessive trimming is a fault — this is meant to be a presented-natural breed, not a heavily sculpted one. All colors and markings are permissible and considered equally correct.

Unlike most double-coated breeds, the outer coat grows continuously rather than cycling through a typical shed, meaning a Shih Tzu in full coat can grow hair that sweeps the floor if it's never cut. That continuous growth is also why the coat tangles and mats so readily — every day of new growth gives the dense undercoat another chance to lock into the outer layer.

CHARACTER

As the sole purpose of the Shih Tzu is that of a companion and house pet, it is essential that its temperament be outgoing, happy, affectionate, friendly, and trusting toward all. That warm, people-focused personality generally makes Shih Tzu willing, even enthusiastic, partners at the grooming table — a real advantage given how much hands-on time this coat actually requires.

Recommended Cindra Grooming Products

• Cindra Moisturizing Shampoo
• Cindra Moisture Plus Conditioner
• Cindra Cleansing Shampoo
• Cindra Texturizing Shampoo — useful if the coat lacks body
• Cindra Reconstructor — a heavy, repair-grade conditioner for broken or damaged coat
• Cindra Sculpting Gel — used to shape and add body to the topknot
• Cindra Maxi Care Leave-In Conditioner

Common Coat Problems & Solutions

Source: adapted from Cindra's internal grooming reference archive.

Hands On Grooming Guide

Always brush before bathing, never after — a coat with any tangles will turn to felt once wet, making the problem dramatically harder to fix. Use a slicker brush worked all the way to the skin, followed by a steel comb through the entire coat to confirm no mats remain; if the comb catches anywhere, a mat is still there even if the brush passed over it cleanly.

Pay particular attention to the breed's five classic mat-prone zones: behind both ears, under both armpits, around the collar area, between the hind legs, and around the base of the tail. These areas see constant friction during normal movement and mat faster than the rest of the body.

Bathe roughly every 3 to 4 weeks for most pet Shih Tzu, fully saturating the dense double coat before shampooing and rinsing completely — leftover residue is a common, avoidable cause of skin irritation in this breed. Dry with a low-heat blow dryer while brushing through the coat in sections to prevent it from drying matted.

Topknots & Face Care

The Shih Tzu's facial hair grows just as continuously as the body coat and needs its own routine. Hair above the eyes has to be kept clear of the cornea — through a topknot tie, regular trimming, or a puppy cut that keeps facial hair short enough to never fall into the eyes. Hair that repeatedly contacts the eye can cause progressive irritation that, left unaddressed, may advance to a more serious problem.

To set a show topknot, use Sculpting Gel to shape and add body, using the handle of a rat-tail comb to catch any stray hairs as you go. To take a topknot down, apply Moisture Plus and let it sit for 5 minutes before working it loose with your fingers — never pull a tied topknot out dry.

The beard and mustache accumulate food and water residue after every meal, which is a common source of staining and odor if not addressed — wipe the muzzle after eating and drinking, and comb through the beard daily as part of routine brushing.

Long Coat vs Puppy Cut

A full show coat is left long and flowing, parted down the back, with the facial hair gathered into the breed's signature topknot. This look requires daily brushing without exception and is the most time-intensive option by a wide margin.

Most pet owners instead choose a puppy cut — trimmed to a uniform one to two inches all over — or a teddy bear cut, which keeps a similar length but rounds the face for a softer look. Both dramatically reduce daily brushing demands while still requiring regular maintenance. Neither is more correct for a companion dog; it's purely a question of how much daily coat-care time you want to commit to.

Do Shih Tzu Shed?

Very little. Hair doesn't fall out on a typical shedding cycle the way it does on most double-coated breeds — loss mostly happens during brushing or when hair breaks, which is part of why the breed is often described as hypoallergenic, though no breed is completely allergen-free. Minimal shedding doesn't reduce the need for brushing, though: hair that doesn't fall out stays in the coat, where it can mat if neglected.

Puppy vs Adult Coat Care

Quick Grooming Schedule

Shih Tzu Grooming Resources

• How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog
• How to Choose Dog Shampoo by Coat Type