Shih Tzu – The Melody Of Brushing And Combing Your Shih Tzu

These five steps are the fundamentals of Shih Tzu and any dog
breed grooming procedure are:

1. Brushing and Combing 2. Bathing 3. Blow Drying 4. Ear
Cleaning 5. Nail Trimming

The Shih Tzu is typical of a longhaired breed requiring constant
coat care and most frequently require services of a professional
groomer.

Brushing and combing melody: Brushing out the coat of a Shih Tzu
is the most important step in Shih Tzu dog grooming. The
importance of regular Shih Tzu brushing is underscored by the
fact that a Shih Tzu can be made presentable by brushing alone.
Brushing your Shih Tzu is the foundation for all that follows
and more time and effort should be devoted to it. The main
ingredient to brushing the coat of a Shih Tzu is “manual labor.”
Thorough Shih Tzu brushing is mandatory before bathing since
wetting a tangled, matted coat will only cause the coat to
tangle and mat more. Combing out the Shih Tzu coat is a close
second step to brushing. Combing the Shih Tzu coat should be
considered an accompaniment to brushing, thus creating a melody
of brush and comb, brush and comb, brush and comb the beautiful
coat of your Shih Tzu.

Brushing and combing techniques: The approach to your Shih Tzu
consists of starting each step from the hindquarters. The theory
behind this approach is if the Shih Tzu cannot see what you are
doing, he will be less likely to object. Staring from the
hindquarters proceed to groom the Shih Tzu systematically, part
by part, step by step.

The actual technique of correct Shih Tzu coat brushing and
combing is to first grasp the left rear leg of your Shih Tzu and
while holding part of the hair in one hand brush the other part.
To get to the undersides of your Shih Tzu’s leg, lift the leg of
your Shih Tzu up and while holding firmly with one hand, brush
the undersides.

Lay down your brush and pick up your comb. The main function of
the comb is to find and remove tangles, mats or knots left in
the Shih Tzu coat after brushing. Run the comb through the leg
coat you just brushed out. If you find a knot in the Shih Tzu’s
leg coat, hold the bottom part of the knot firmly with one hand
and comb or tease out the knot with the other.

When you are finished brushing and combing both hindlegs of your
Shih Tzu, do exactly the same with the two front legs of your
Shih Tzu. When all four legs of your Shih Tzu are done, go back
to the hindquarters of your Shih Tzu. This time, you will
concentrate on the tail of your Shih Tzu. Proceed to do the
entire body coat of your Shih Tzu, first left side, then right
side, then underside, then the front or chest areas of your Shih
Tzu. The most systematic way of brushing out the body coat of
your Shih Tzu is from rear to front, layer by layer, lifting up
with one hand a layer of Shih Tzu coat and brushing down to the
skin with the brush hand.

The final step is the head, including the ears. The heavy
furnishings on the head of your Shih Tzu is part of their
beauty. No effort should be spared in thoroughly brushing and
combing this area of your Shih Tzu. You now have the face of
your Shih Tzu to do. Once you have mastered the technique of the
brushing and combing melody, no area of your Shih Tzu should
present a problem. Combing your Shih Tzu is always the final,
finishing touch.