Shi Tzu Grooming Life Stages – Puppyhood!
Shih Tzu grooming need not be complicated. That said, the Shih Tzu coat varies greatly throughout this little dog’s life. As a Shih Tzu owner it is a good idea to learn exactly what you can do to best groom your Shih Tzu from puppyhood right through to old age.
This article will introduce you to the grooming needs for your Shih Tzu during his puppyhood, so you know exactly what to do and when to do it.
Grooming your Shih Tzu Puppy
Shih Tzu grooming should begin on day one, even if the puppy coat is barely ready for a soft brush through. This is because early grooming gets you Shih Tzu puppy mind ready for grooming at every stage of his life too.
The Shih Tzu puppy should also have his nails cut (if they are too long) and his teeth brushed. This too will get any baby ready for the later life stages where all of this is a necessary area of Shih Tzu grooming and general care.
The puppy coat can begin to shed as early as three months and as late as nine. The young coat is extremely soft and silky, it’s quite short in comparison to that of an adult Shih Tzu.
The first big shed (which is quite a mass shedding) happens only when the coat is ready to leave the body. You can tell when the transformation, from puppy to adult coat, is happening by how easy it is to get a strand of the hair free with your fingers or a comb. The puppy coat that is ready to shed is known as the blown coat.
Shih Tzu Grooming – Early to the Salon
If you are aiming to take your puppy to the groomers regularly then it’s important to take your young Shih Tzu along early, even just for a visit and the experience the sights, sounds and smells of the groomers.
This is because if you wait and then take an adolescent Shih Tzu to the groomers for the first time could be subjecting the little dog to stress. Introducing your Shih Tzu to anything new should be carried out as early as possible in his life. So puppy social visits to the groomers is a great idea.
Grooming your Shih Tzu Puppy at Home
If you are planning to groom your Shih Tzu puppy at home throughout his life then it’s a good idea to groom him with a soft brush and comb, if only for a few minutes, every day. You may want to cut the hair from above his eyes, or tie it up and check his little body for any lumps, bumps or sore patches.
Never pull hard on your puppy’s hair or press a comb down hard on his coat because if you hurt your puppy at this early stage in his life he will never forget. Puppyhood is a sensitive learning time for the Shih Tzu and it’s easy to start fears and phobias.
With learning in mind always make your Shih Tzu grooming pleasant and positive for your puppy and he will come running every time the kit comes out.
