Shih Tzu – Bathing Your Shih Tzu

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 crème 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.

Crème rinse: A crème rinse is recommended to use after
shampooing your Shih Tzu. A crème rinse will help keep the mats
out of your Shih Tzu’s coat. To find a good crème rinse for your
Shih Tzu is much like finding a good shampoo. The crème 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 crème
rinse is appropriate for your Shih Tzu. If you can dilute the
crème rinse with several parts of water without losing potency,
this often proves even better for the coat of the Shih Tzu.