Options for haircuts for Shih Tzu

Decorative breeds of dogs with abundant hair coat allow owners to work on the image of a pet. Choosing the right shih tzu haircut can bring a victory at the exhibition or earn millions of enthusiastic feedback on social networks. But in order for a pet to demonstrate truly spectacular images, the care of its coat must be professional. What are the best grooming options for shih tzu? What should be considered in the process of self-cutting the extra length?

There are quite a lot of styles and models for shih-tzu haircuts. There are fashionable options for the design of animal hair, show versions, hygienic types of processing. Each of them deserves special attention. In addition, there are popular hairstyles for the summer and winter, allowing the dog's body to be quite comfortable thermoregulation.

The simplest haircut is hygienic, which means removing mats, overgrown wool. It is used in puppies and dogs of pet-class, not participating in exhibitions, in nursing females. The regularity of the procedures should be 15-30 days. Be sure to remove the hair between the paw pads, trimmed the anus and groin area.

A short summer haircut "under the puppy" allows you to give the look of the pet the lightheartedness and enthusiasm peculiar to young animals. In this case, all the hair on the body is trimmed with a machine under the length of 2.5 cm. A shorter version is not recommended, since skin irritation can be obtained.

Dogs of a show class need competent underlining of their pedigree attributes. The canonical hairstyle of shih tzu dogs implies the formation of a proper parting from the top of the head to the tail of the dog. Wool falls along the entire length of the tips of the paws, it looks flowing and silky. The cover is shortened only in the area around the eyes, and the beard with a mustache is carefully formed.

The most popular among shih-tzu breeders is a short haircut. During shortening, the coat begins to resemble the dense plush characteristic of soft toys. The head and muzzle of the dog acquire a rounded shape with exquisite lines. Long hair on the back of the head is collected in a neat bun or tail.

Cute Asian-style looks are widely popular among Shih Tzu breeders. Korean haircut allows you to give the dog the look of a character from the anime. To do this, the maximum length of hair is preserved on the head and ears, pigtails or tails are formed on both sides of the head. The beard and mustache shortly cut, forming a rounded silhouette of the muzzle.

The highlight of the Korean-style haircut is the creation of a short “skirt” on the paws, the body almost loses its coat, only plush is preserved here. For a pet, you can choose stylish clothes, tie bows or use bright hairpins.

All shih-tzu breed dogs require careful care, regardless of gender and age. What is the difference between grooming girls and boys? Exhibition haircut - one for all and does not imply a significant departure from the canonical silhouette. But in the grooming - hygienic or fantasy - there are variations.

Looks good on boys shih tzu haircut "teddy bear." Universal - unisex - is considered to be a “puppy-like” hairstyle, which gives youth and enthusiasm to a dog in any age category. Girls have traditionally been cut more fancy - in Korean style or more variably, leaving elongated hair on the head, lines on the legs, forming playful tails or pigtails.

When shih tzu dog breeding is done at home, it is necessary to take care of the complete set of necessary tools and accessories necessary for each groomer. Among them must be:

• rotary type clipper;
• trimmer with a set of additional nozzles;
• conventional and thinning shears of a convenient size;
• a set of brushes for disentangling wool;
• metal comb;
• koltunorezka or a special knife for trimming;
• tweezers for plucking excess hair in the ears;
• a spray bottle or spray to facilitate scratching;
• shampoo and balm for care.

Grooming of a puppy and an adult dog traditionally begins with bathing and combing. Dirty wool can not be processed as it should, and also need to remove and disassemble the mattes. At home, you can independently work out your head and paws, but only a real master can cut the animal beautifully according to the scheme for the exhibition or use modern equipment.

The order of hygiene - shih tzu everyday haircut - will be as follows.

• The hair coat is shortened to a length of 2.5 cm by a machine on the chest, neck, and body of the animal. "Skirt" is also clipped under the total length. Keep the machine only for hair growth, using a special nozzle.
• Carefully cut out the groin and anal area, abdomen. It uses a machine without attachments, you can choose a separate miniature version for trimming delicate places. Long hairs are pre-removed with scissors.
• The hair between the paw pads is completely removed. Legs cut from top to bottom. Limbs after shearing should look smooth, without distortion of proportions.
• How to cut the face at home? This is where scissors come in handy. For the beard it is necessary to maintain an oblique angle, eyebrows are trimmed in the direction of growth. Sticking hairs are removed in ears, the haircut should be short around the nose and eyes.
• All parts of the body cut by the machine in the final of the grooming must be milled with scissors.

Repetition of the procedure is carried out as necessary, taking into account the speed and intensity of growth of the coat.

How to properly care for the hair of shih tzu dogs after grooming? A trimmed pet will look spectacular only if enough attention is paid to it. Among the measures recommended to maintain the attractive appearance of the animal are the following.

• Regular combing of wool with special anti-tangle sprays. The procedure is carried out using a metal comb and a special brush with stiff bristles.
• Periodic bathing of the animal - on average, three times a month, every 10 days.Before and after this procedure, the wool is thoroughly combed, and the mats are removed. During the wash, conditioner and balm are used.
• After taking water procedures - thorough treatment of wool with antistatic compounds or special aerosol fixatives.
• The formation of "tails" for everyday wear. They are created on the beard and crown of the animal.
• The use of silk silk overalls during each walk.

When mowing shih tzu by inexperienced craftsmen or by the owners themselves, mistakes are often made that can be avoided.

But if possible, it is better to immediately contact the specialists. The stress experienced during the creation of the first haircut by both the dog and the owner can lead to a distortion of the silhouette or painful sensations in the animal.

You can often hear about the following common mistakes made during grooming:

• excessive moistening or drying of the hair during the haircut - can lead to disruption of the normal structure of the hair;
• poor disinfection, neglect of hygiene;
• attempts to cut without unraveling tangles, combing;
• refusal of filing;
• complete removal of hairs in the eyebrows, whiskers (including vibrissae);
• inexperience in handling the machine, skin damage;
• excessively loud and noisy actions that frighten the dog.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that you can cut shih-tzu with a puppy. Already from the age of 6 months it is necessary to gradually accustom the animal to small hygienic procedures that allow keeping the wool in order. For the calm behavior of a pet, it is worth praising and encouraging, securing positive emotions from grooming. In this case, as they grow older, the dog will not associate the grooming process with something unpleasant.

Groomers can easily cope with the whims and nervousness of animals. Before the start of the haircut, you must always walk the animal, then buy it. Only clean, slightly moistened wool will allow you to give your hair the desired shape.

When grooming shih-tzu at home, you should arrange a place to do the work. It should be non-slip, well lit, without drafts. There should be enough space around the haircut for two people - when a pet needs to be fixed, it should be convenient for both the master and the assistant. In advance it is worth stocking up an antiseptic in case of cuts.

How to make a homemade haircut for Shih Tzu, see below.