Shih Tzu Does your pet have short hair or long?

lenagroomer · 03-29-2008, 06:26 PM

I definitely agree, but the option is out there to keep the face long but just trim the visor short out of the eyes. I know I would personally keep it short just out of preference, but who knows!

Durbkat · 03-29-2008, 06:29 PM

With Snoopy you have to trim the hair between his eyes and in front of his eyes and on top of his head as his hair flops straight down and covers his view.

Love's_Sophie · 03-29-2008, 07:18 PM

If I had a Shih OR a Lhasa I would keep his or her coat natural and have the topknot pulled into a pony tail or two...I would do as little trimming as possible...Lol!! But I am a groomer, so I know to keep that dog fully combed out each day or every other day, depending on the dog's coat...AND I enjoy doing it!! Tehehehe.

But as far as those who like their dogs faces, or 'visors' trimmed, it all is a matter preference...

doggone6 · 04-01-2008, 10:58 AM

Here is our Shih Tzu Gus at 7 months (he's now 9 months):

As you can see, he is in coat and it's still growing; the topknot is now in three bands (two sections) for maintenance wear. He is brushed out fully and the topknot re-done daily, bathed weekly, pads/ears/nails/ sanitary twice a month. I'm a groomer and former handler and not only like the look but the time spent maintaining it (plus, I know how to do it). However, it would probably be a bit much for most people.

I think hair length is really a personal preference.

Chicster · 04-01-2008, 11:30 AM

Gus is SO cute!! I don't think I'd ever seen his picture before

doggone6 · 04-01-2008, 12:33 PM

LOL! Yes, Gus is cute...and he knows it! He is also The Emperor of All (just ask him). Very, very hard not to spoil rotten but I keep trying!

So what's the status on your Pom puppy, Chicster?

Chicster · 04-01-2008, 01:45 PM

So far so good, thanks for asking!

The 3 boys in the CR litter are the ones in my signature picture. I'll know in about 4 weeks which ones are available to pet homes and then I'm set to go out and meet them

They are at 3 1/2 weeks in the picture, and it's been a week since then so I'm eagerly awaiting my next puppy update! Patience truly is a virtue... thank goodness for dogforums or I would have no outlet for my dog obessions

doggone6 · 04-02-2008, 04:54 PM

Ummm.the third one appears to have the best earset. All are darling! Keep me posted.

pmh · 05-11-2008, 06:07 PM

I had a shih Tzu for 14 years, she died this past March. But when I took her to the groomers when we lived in the city, they always asked if we wanted a 1/4 inch, 1/2 inch or inch cut etc. We kept ours in the 'teddy bear' cut most of the time. Occassionaly if she got into something and got a mat, then we would clip her down. Then the past few years, she was getting old and we kept her clipped really short as it was more comfortable for her.

At the end of June we will have two new little Shih Tzu girls coming to live with us. I hope to learn how to groom them myself. Since we live in a rural area now, and not many groomers know how to clip Shih Tzu.

Franny Glass · 05-18-2008, 03:39 PM

When it comes to shih-tzu, the possibilities are all but endless. I groom one to have what I call "Hammer Pants". His body is short but his head and legs are long. I think it looks somewhat ridiculous, but the owner likes it, and I guess it does have charm.

I have a shih-tzu and a lhasa apso mix. I clip both their bodies with a #7 blade, their faces with a #10 blade, and I scissor their tails (I leave the tails long). They both have mohawks as well, but the shih-tzu's never stands up properly and looks more like a flower on his head than a mohawk (adorable, I think). The lhasa mix has a very nice coat that would probably be gorgeous long, but as he is prone to FAD and other skin allergies, I clip him short for comfort. The shih-tzu (who I sincerely doubt is a purebred shih-tzu, not that I care) has a very thin crunchy outer coat and an even thinner crunchier undercoat. I'm sure he'd look awful in coat, but all is well as he is also clipped short for the ease of caring for skin allergy symptoms.

micki · 05-20-2008, 03:20 PM

my dogs are clipped now but Joy was never clipped for 7 years just a sanitary trim and feet

.Here are pics of Smooch growing into his coat and him clipped this year.FooFoo's sister never cut in 2 years and allowed to play in mud and all that stuff.

groomerwantabe · 05-21-2008, 08:24 PM

My shih tzu's hair was kept about mid length. I washed and bathed her every two week or so and tried to brush her out atleast once a week and she really wasn't bad about getting tankles.

.:i_love_amos:. · 05-31-2008, 09:56 AM

we keep jj's hair well we shave him bald in the summer...

in the winter we keep it about medium length...so he can stay warm!

MyRescueCrew · 06-05-2008, 04:06 PM

I usually tell the groomer to give Jake, my shih tzu, a regular shih tzu type puppy cut. However, Jake is getting older, his athritis is horrible, and he has very bad allergies and seems miserable lately. His grooming appointment is tomorrow and I am going to tell them to shave him completely bald -- body, ears, face and all, except for his tail. Someone told me they'll probably use like a #10 blade, which I'm clueless on blades. Anyways, he probably won't look picture perfect that way, however I know he'll feel tons better.