Ear Cleaning: Cleaning the ears of your Shih Tzu is a simple chore. With the Shih Tzu being a long-haired breed, problems can arise if ears nor cleaned regularly. The hair in the ears of a Shih Tzu will grow long, knot up, mat and eventually interfere with proper functioning of the Shih Tzu?s ear canal. Infection of your Shih Tzu?s ears can result.

You will need a bottle or can of ear powder easily obtained through pet supply manufacturers. Squirt the powder directly into the ears of your Shih Tzu. The hair will become dry and brittle and is easily plucked out with your fingers. Pluck the hair out of your Shih Tzu?s ears with a quick, firm motion until the ears of your Shih Tzu look clean. You can also use a hemostat to pluck the hair out of your Shih Tzu?s ears.

Be sure to purchase ear canker powder as it has the additional benefit of helping to control canker and ear mites in your Shih Tzu. Swab your Shih Tzu?s ears gently with a cotton swab dipped in mineral oil or rubbing alcohol.

Nail trimming: Keeping your Shih Tzu?s nail trimmed is important. Without regular trimming, your Shih Tzu?s nails may grow so long that they actually throw the Shih Tzu off his natural balance and act as a source of irritation. Neglecting to trim your Shih Tzu?s nails also detracts from the look of an otherwise well-groomed Shih Tzu.

Nail trimmers and techniques: Guillotine type nail trimmers are the best to use on your Shih Tzu. Hold the trimmers vertically. Grasp the foot of the Shih Tzu firmly, hold the leg up towards you, carefully trim each nail of your Shih Tzu. It may sometimes be unnecessary to trim the nails on the hind feet of your Shih Tzu as they seem to grow much slower than the fore feet. If dewclaws are present on your Shih Tzu, trim the dewclaws as well. The shorter you keep your Shih Tzu?s nail, the better, and frequent trimming will help tighten the feet and improve the dog?s balance. Be careful about the ?quick.? The ?quick? is a vein that can be easily observed in most white and light-colored Shih Tzu when the toenails are ?white.? The ?quick? is more difficult to identify in toenails of darker colored Shih Tzu. More often that not, these are black rather than white in the darker colored Shih Tzu.

Nail bleeding: If the nails of your Shih Tzu bleed after trimming, or if you trim them to close to the ?quick,? there is no need for alarm. Always have on hand one of the antiseptic coagulants which you can purchase through any pet supply manufacturer for your Shih Tzu. These substances will stop quickly any bleeding. Using a cotton swab dab a little of the powder on the bleeding toenail of your Shih Tzu and hold it with a little pressure for a few seconds. The bleeding should stop quickly.

The best time to trim the nails or clean the ears is before you bath your Shih Tzu so that all traces of blood or powder will be washed away. However, the nails of your Shih Tzu will be softer right after bathing.

Nail grinding: A finishing touch in trimming nails is the use of a nail grinder for your Shih Tzu. A nail grinder will polish off the rough edges of the Shih Tzu?s nails. The Oster Corporation makes a nail grinder favored by many professional groomers and handlers. Caution is advised when using a nail grinder on your Shih Tzu?s nails. If the Shih Tzu bends his head during the process, some part of the fringes could get caught in the grinding wheel causing the Shih Tzu considerable pain.

If your Shih Tzu objects strenuously to nail grinding, it is advisable to not force the issue since grinding is mostly for a cosmetic effect.

Connie Limon is a shih tzu breeder. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

The shih tzu with a long, flowing coat and an arrogant air is beautiful and captures the heart of many who own and professionally show the breed. Satisfaction, joy and pride can result from conditioning and growing a beautiful coat of hair for the shih tzu. For the showring, this is an absolute must. The complete protrait of a showring shih tzu is one that is draped in a long luxurious coat that has been maintained and groomed properly. This can also be accomplished by sending the shih tzu to a handler getting the shih tzu ready for the showring. If you have the time, patience and ability yourself, whether your shih tzu is a pet or a show dog prospect, you certainly are very fortunate indeed. Most likely you will receive rave reviews everywhere you and your shih tzu go.

A lot of shih tzu owners, however, do opt for the shorter cuts. In my opinion, the shih tzu is just as cute and lovely. Maintaining the longer coats is a fulltime job. It takes hours and hours of careful brushing and most often daily brushing. One of the most important aspects of the procedure is your ability to remain faithful to a schedule.

Start with good health from the inside. Be sure you keep your shih tzu free from parasites and you feed a good, quality, nutritious dog food. I highly recommend HealthyPetNet Life’s Abundance pet foods, treats and grooming supplies. I am a faithful user of these products myself and I am completely satisfied with the results evident in my shih tzu. I have a few that I try to keep in long coat. It is very time consuming, but I must admit when I see these romping around in my yard or moving about, I get an extra kind of thrill inside to behold their beauty. So I must say, a beautiful, long coat on a shih tzu is probably my favorite. I just don’t have the exact ability and time to maintain all of mine in that long coat and those I do, are still not as perfected as they could be. Personally, I have just not developed the skills to do so. I believe I have the ability. That ability has not been developed. Maybe some day…..

Whatever you feed your shih tzu, dry food is always superior. And I would think that if you are going all out for a long coat for your shih tzu, you probably will need to add some extra supplements. Again, I would recommend HealthyPetNet Life’s Abundance Daily Nutritional System, which is the dry food with a daily supplement, and add to that, their skin and coat supplement, plus add their health bar for skin and coat, which is full of antioxidants. The decision belongs to you, your vet and to your handler, if you use a professional handler or groomer.

I have found where I live that most of the groomers do not like to mess with a long coat. And when I do get this done, the expense is far greater than a simple hair cut. I do have one groomer in particular, only one I have found within driving distance who halfway was descent in combing out and grooming my long haired shih tzu. Then, the expense was so great, I could not afford using her that often. I keep most of my short at this time. The cost for me would have been at least $70 per month for one dog and that is going every two weeks. For the shih tzu lover of long, long hair, it is wise to learn how to do it yourself, yet, also you got your time and labor involved in that. Time is something most of us seem to never have enough of.

Good coats are inherited in many lines. I really do have some show dog coats of hair in my bloodlines at Stain Glass Shih Tzu, and one day I hope to be able to at least take a course in grooming. When I do, I most likely will include what I learn through the course in my articles and e-books I will offer to others. Most likely, this is coming soon. It is just not totally right it seems to not at least have one very long haired shih tzu in the crowd. For some bloodlines, to grow a long and flowing coat is impossible. You will see beautiful and cute faces, wonderful personalities still, but the coat of some of the shih tzu bloodlines just will not grow. There is no other choice in that matter but to the keep it clipped. One of the goals of my breeding program is to continually search for the bloodlines that most closely meet the AKC standard for a long, flowing coat. I am very partial to the smaller sizes, but even in those, I search for the long flowing coat of hair. My Holly, Simon, Danny Boy and Jane Jane all have this type of coat. Holly probably had the best of all. It was extremely long and thick, but guess what, time was not on my side about keeping it that way, so I had to opt for a shave down to start all over. She is still just as cute and perky, and I think she has been very happy with her new haircut. I was saddened to tears almost, but my own fault. A person has to allocate the time to grow these beautiful long coats or else hire someone else to do it for them. That is just the starting point for the entire process.

There are lots of products to help us deal with the shih tzu that do not have the better coats of hair. And as I mentioned before, HealthyPetNet products is always my first choice. There are, however, dozens of other products you can try that may suit you and your shih tzu even better. If you have the time and money, it can be a very enjoyable hobby. I have too many hobbies concerning the shih tzu right now anyway, but…..I do plan on gaining more skill at coat handling and grooming. I just recently bought my first clipper, a must for the types of work I am in at this time – raising puppies. Many times, shih tzu moms need to be completely shaven down for the sake of cleanliness and this is a routine I follow with mine. In my plans is a special grooming room with all the bells and whistles – a nice tub – tables and all the right equipment. Even for the person who has only one shih tzu, having the exact equipment needed and the lighting and tubs can be a very fun experience and much more rewarding than using the family bathtub and a small space in the corner of one very dimly lit room. I tell you what…..my plans include a nice grooming room with all the bells and whistles. I just hope I am not 95 before I can afford that. I plan to live to be 100 years old. And then, I plan an afterlife for myself, not as a shih tzu of course, but just as a soul that lives on….that’s a whole other topic however.

Connie Limon publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts on shih tzu puppies are offered to subscribers. Weekly updates of available puppies. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

When you set up your Shih Tzu Groom Shop work area, have everything close at hand. Leave plenty of space for your work area.

The Grooming Table

Your Shih Tzu Groom Shop grooming table should be in the lightest part of the room. Near a window is an ideal spot for your grooming table. Use a pegboard on the wall nearest your Shih Tzu grooming table. The pegboard should hold almost all your grooming tools. Grooming tools that are within easy reach is most efficient. Put up a shelf to store spray cans and any items you can?t hang from a pegboard. Your Shih Tzu grooming table should be the center of the d?cor. A grooming table with a swinging tray underneath for additional storage of frequently-used tools and products is a most desirable feature.

Cages

Your cages in the Shih Tzu Groom Shop are best on a wall near your table. The cages, like your other equipment, should be set up for maximum efficiency. You should start your Shih Tzu Groom Shop with a minimum of a unit of four cages. You can add cages as your business increases. With two cage units you should be able to handle as many as ten Shih Tzu per day. If your business grows larger, you can devote a separate room just for cage units. A back room is usually an ideal spot for this.

Bathtub

When you install your tub consider your height. The tub should be installed waist-high for the operator?s comfort. A nice place to store bathing materials is beneath the tub.

The rest of the work area in your Shih Tzu Groom Shop should be planned and organized with an eye toward expansion. As your Shih Tzu Groom Shop business grows, you may need to hire another groomer, or bather, or more helpers. You will need to plan on adding three or more grooming tables.

Don?t forget a comfortable chair for times when one can sit during the day. A separate room for a break area is ideal.

Electrical Power

One of the most important things your Shih Tzu Groom Shop must have is sufficient electrical power. The more power the shop has, the better. Good lighting is a must. Daylight is the best light of all. Lots of windows can provide your Shih Tzu Groom Shop with much daylight and also places to display other for sale items. Regardless of the amount of daylight your shop has, however, you will still need your lights on at all times. Outlets in the right places and sufficient current to support the load are an absolute necessity.

Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

There is a professional and an amateur way to bath your Shih Tzu. Bathing your Shih Tzu should be done only after the coat is thoroughly brushed and combed. The professional will prepare all necessary materials to be ready at hand before putting the Shih Tzu in the tub. These materials are a sponge, bristle brush, container of shampoo and a heavy towel. A hose attached to the faucet with a spray is most helpful. Water temperature should not be too hot or too cold.

Start at your Shih Tzu?s hindquarters and completely soak the Shih Tzu. Use your hands if necessary to force the water through the Shih Tzu?s coat. Some Shih Tzu have coats that is more water resistant than others. Do not fill the tub with water. Let the water run freely down the drain. To correct bath your Shih Tzu is more like giving it a shower than a bath.

Once the Shih Tzu is thoroughly soaked, saturate the sponge with shampoo and from the rear to front, shampoo every part of the Shih Tzu. Areas that are frequently overlooked of the Shih Tzu are the anus and the foot pads. Be especially careful about shampooing around the eyes of your Shih Tzu. Always use a tearless shampoo to wash the face and around the eye area of your Shih Tzu. A toothbrush works well to wash around the eyes and on either side of the nose just under your Shih Tzu?s eye.

After shampooing your Shih Tzu, take the bristle brush and work the shampoo thoroughly into the coat. Rinse all the shampoo out of your Shih Tzu?s coat. Rinse your Shih Tzu until the water runs completely clear of any suds and shampoo. Take care not to get water directly in the eyes of your Shih Tzu. You can cover the eyes with one hand when rinsing your Shih Tzu?s face, and cover the ears (by placing your thumb over the ear canal) when rinsing near your Shih Tzu?s ears.

If the Shih Tzu is extremely dirty, one shampoo may not be enough. You may need to shampoo your Shih Tzu twice.

When you are certain the Shih Tzu is thoroughly clean, squeeze the water out of the Shih Tzu?s coat with your hands as much as possible. Use a heavy towel to squeeze as much water off the Shih Tzu as possible. Use a cage dryer on the Shih Tzu?s coat to get it damp-dry. The next step is to blow dry your Shih Tzu.

Shampoos: What is a good shampoo and what is a good cr?me rinse to use on your Shih Tzu? A good shampoo for the Shih Tzu is one that cleanses the Shih Tzu thoroughly and does not contain any harsh detergents harmful to the skin and coat of the Shih Tzu. I like using HealthyPetNet shampoos.

A good shampoo will lather up to a good foam. It will have good feel to the hands and a nice scent of which both you and your Shih Tzu will enjoy using. A good shampoo will leave the coat of a Shih Tzu free of all dirt, grime and grit? It should leave a white coat of a Shih Tzu sparkling white.

Special shampoos: There are many good Shih Tzu shampoos manufactured for specialized needs of the Shih Tzu. There are shampoos to highlight the specific color of the coat of a Shih Tzu. There are shampoos that will do well on the very softer coated Shih Tzu. There are tangle-remover shampoos and many more you can use on your Shih Tzu. You need to experiment and find one good, all-purpose shampoo for your Shih Tzu. You should also be aware of the need for a medicated shampoo if necessary for your Shih Tzu, and a safe flea and tick shampoo for the flea and tick season. You might even find that adding a ?tick dip? after the regular shampoo of your Shih Tzu. Be sure you mix the dip according to the manufacturer?s directions.

Cr?me rinse: A cr?me rinse is recommended to use after shampooing your Shih Tzu. A cr?me rinse will help keep the mats out of your Shih Tzu?s coat. To find a good cr?me rinse for your Shih Tzu is much like finding a good shampoo. The cr?me rinse you use on your Shih Tzu should perform well. It should have no negative after-effects. Does the coat of your Shih Tzu feel soft and clean afterward? If so, then this is a good sign the cr?me rinse is appropriate for your Shih Tzu. If you can dilute the cr?me rinse with several parts of water without losing potency, this often proves even better for the coat of the Shih Tzu.

Connie Limon is a shih tzu breeder. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

The pins of your brush should make contact with the skin at the beginning of the brush stroke. From there, make a straight stroke outward to the ends of the hair. Try to teach your dog (and I say this in a do as I say, and not do as I do, because this is a very hard thing for me to teach my dogs to do….but that is me….and I need more practice. So with practice it can be done, and if you are planning to have the long coat of hair on your shih tzu, you will need to teach the dog to lie still on his side. Brush one layer at a time, then pull another layer and repeat the process until you have brushed to the center part of your dog. So the dog is on its side and you begin brushing at the lower end of the body and work your way up to the top part of the body to the part. Once you complete one side, turn the dog over and repeat the process.

Start out slow, and start midway in the body. Do the legs, the tail, the feet, the head and stomach area last. These can be some of the touchiest areas on the shih tzu.

If you run into static electricity you can try a mixture of two tablespoons or less of your favorite creme rinse mixed with two cups of water in a spritzer bottle and lightly spray that on each layer as you are brushing. Put on some relaxing music for the both of you and try to make an enjoyable time of bonding.

After thorughly brushing the dog, run a wide tooth comb through the layers. What I do is have several types of combs on hand. I have one very wide tooth comb, a regular comb and a very small comb that is actually best to use on the face or the feet. With a comb, you can then get even closer to the skin and drag at each and every tangle. Not really drag out, but gently remove the tangles that get very close to the skin. And if you keep up on your brushing daily you won’t have a big problem running your combs through the coat slowly and gently.

After the bath,when blow drying your shih tzu, turn the temperature down as the hair begins to dry. You can put your shih tzu in a cage with a dry towel in the bottom after they have bathed and you have toweled dried. Allow the dog to shake out as much extra moisture as possible. Turn the dryer in the direction of the cage to blow-dry some of the moisture from the coat while you are not brushing. This can reduce the brushing time and takes some of the stress out of brushing and drying the hair at the same time. You will have a nicer affect if you finish the drying process out of the cage while you brush the hair out.

Now for that beautiful, finishing touch – the topknot and bow. The absolute best way to become a pro at this would be to watch a pro do it, such as a professional dog groomer or handler.

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Connie Limon publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts on shih tzu puppies are offered to subscribers. Weekly updates of available puppies. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

Do not wait too long to start grooming your Shih Tzu. It is hard to make brushing a positive experience if you wait until your Shih Tzu is matted and start by yanking out the mats and tangles. If this becomes necessary, carefully clip out mats, then begin working with your mat-free Shih Tzu to acclimate it to grooming.

When you use scissors to remove mats, snip a few hairs at a time. Be sure you have clearance between the mat and the skin. If your Shih Tzu puppy is too wiggly to do this safely, please seek the help of a professional groomer.

Do not bathe your Shih Tzu puppy too frequently. You will risk drying out its skin and coat. Bathe your Shih Tzu puppy no more than once weekly and every two weeks if possible.

Create a positive association with bath time using the following steps:

1.Let him hop into his bathtub to eat treats you toss on the tub floor (without water in the tub). You can also place him in the tub if he cannot jump into the tube and feed him treats. Provide a nonskid surface on the tub floor.

2.To accustom your Shih Tzu puppy to towels try touching him, then rubbing him with the corner of a towel and feed him a treat. Gradually work up to more vigorous toweling. No water at this time.

3.Introduce the blow-dryer by starting with a handheld pet or human dryer set on low and hold a few feet away from him, turned so it does not blow on him. Feed treats during the process. Gradually bring the dryer closer and start by moving the air across his toes, then his legs. Continue until he is accustomed to the warm air blowing all over his body.

4.While he is standing in the tube, soak a sponge in warm water and dribble it over him. Allow your Shih Tzu puppy to shake it off, and then offer a treat. Gradually work up to turning the faucet on and allow him to stand in the water. Gently begin hosing him with the warm water.

5.Take a small amount of dog shampoo (I strongly recommend using HealthyPetNet shampoos instead of human shampoos). Lather a small part of his body. Rinse. The next time you are at this step, increase the soaping and rinsing until you are bathing the entire dog.

If you will follow these steps slowly, you should be able to teach your Shih Tzu puppy to enjoy his bath time, which will make this very important routine much easier for the both of you.

Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

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