This Study Will Perfect Your Shih Tzu Bath:Read Or Miss Out
In this article, you will not only get answers for the most frequently asked questions about Shih Tzu Bath, but also learn how to properly give a bath to your Shih Tzu at home.
How Often to Bathe a Shih Tzu?
Shih Tzu’s coat requires a bath about every month or so to wash out any dirt that can cause tangles and to keep it hydrated and gorgeous.
Bathing Tzu at Home
If you do shih tzu bathe process yourself, make some decisions first about location and products.
Where to bathe a shih tzu?
The bathroom or kitchen sink: Because your shih tzu is small, you may decide to bathe your shih tzu in the sink. The sink is a convenient height, and you don’t have to stop down to bathe her (like you would with the bathtub).
The bathtub: If you don’t mind bending over, the bathtub can be a convenient place for bathing.
A basin, indoors or out: A basin is portable so you can wash your Shih Tzu wherever it’s convenient.
An infant bathing tub: This tub is ideal for small dogs because they usually come with a non-skid surface in the bottom, so your little shih tzu won’t slip and slide.
Now,
How to Bathe a Shih Tzu
Now it’s time to bathe shih tzu and here is best way to bathe a shih tzu.
Just follow these simple steps for Complete Shih Tzu bathe:
Before you start running the bathwater, gather all your grooming supplies:
- Nylon collar and leash, to keep your dog from jumping out in the middle of the shampoo
- Brush and comb
- Spray conditioner
- Cotton balls for your dog’s ears
- Petroleum jelly for her eyes
- Shampoo
- Creme rinse
- A sprayer attachment or big cup for rinsing
- A big fluffy towel
- Blow-dryer with cool setting Keep all your grooming items in a big basket so you can easily grab the basket and take it right to the bathroom.
Brush and comb your Shih Tzu’s coat thoroughly. Tangles tighten when wet, so you want your dog’s coat to be completely tangle-free before you bathe her. (Check out the “Brushing and combing the shih tzu coat” )
Put a nylon collar or harness and leash on your Shih Tzu if she tends to try to run away when wet. Some Shih Tzu don’t mind bathing at all or wouldn’t think to jump out and run away, but if you have a runner, this equipment helps you keep hold of her. Just loop the leash over the faucet or your wrist. Or, if you bathe your Shih Tzu in the bathroom, just shut the door. Whether you use a leash or not, never leave your Shih Tzu unattended, even for a minute. He can drown or jump off the sink and choke himself.
Plug her ears and protect eyes. Put a small piece of cotton in each ear to keep the ear canal dry. Because Shih Tzu ears are dropped, moisture can get trapped inside and cause infection and smelly ears. Put a small dab of petroleum jelly in the corner of each eye, to keep water and soap from irritating the Shih Tzu’s sensitive eyes.
Run lukewarm water into the bathing container. Depending on what kind of bathing container you use, you can start running the water at this point and use the running water to help get your Shih Tzu wet, or you can run the water into the tub as the first step, and then get your dog ready. Be sure the temperature of the water isn’t too hot or too cold (about body temperature is fine). If it feels comfortable when you run the water over the inside of your wrist, it should be fine for your Shih Tzu.
Put your Shih Tzu into the bath. Make this step fun and reassuring by talking to him/her gently and telling how much fun this will be. After your shih tzu is used to bathing, putting him/her in the water won’t be a big deal, but you may need to reassure your shih tzu quite a bit the first few times.
Wet your shih tzu coat with a sprayer or by filling a cup with water and pouring it overcoat. Thick coats take a while to get really wet, so make sure the coat is wet all the way down to the skin.
Put about a quarter-sized dollop of shampoo into your hands and rub them together; rub the shampoo into your dog’s coat. Apply the shampoo carefully so you don’t get any into your Shih Tzu’s eyes. Scrub the shampoo all over, including paws, tail, tummy, and rear end.
Rinse the shampoo thoroughly. Rinsing takes a long time (especially for long coats), so when you think you have all the shampoo out, keep rinsing. Periodically squeeze or press on the coat to get the water out. Rinse, rinse, rinse! Soap residue can cause nasty tangles and skin irritations.
Apply conditioner or crème rinse so your Shih Tzu’s coat is smooth and manageable. Rinse again. And again.
When you’re sure your Shih Tzu is squeaky clean, take your Shih out of the bathing container and wrap in the big fluffy towel. Dry the coat gently so you don’t break off hair — blotting, pressing, and squeezing the coat. Don’t rub it. After you dry her, she’ll shake and get out even more water than you thought possible, which will probably get you wet, so be ready. Praise her for being such a good girl!
Blow-dry. After towel-drying, use your steel comb to make a long part from the crown of your Shih Tzu’s head all the way to the tail. Now, blow-dry the hair on a low or cool setting, gently brushing the coat out as you dry it so it hangs down nicely on both sides of the part. Some dryers come with stands so you can use both your hands to hold the dog and the brush. If your dog has a short coat, you don’t need to part it. Just blow-dry and brush until it’s soft and fluffy.
Shih Tzu Bathing Tips
If the surface you choose for bathing is slick, get a bath mat or other small nonslip mat for the sink or tub, so your Shih Tzu doesn’t feel insecure, sliding around on the slick surface.
More…
If you still have any questions about how to bathe a shih tzu, watch this short video about bathing a Shih Tzu.
Mostly Shih Tzu owners bathe their puppies once in a month or when it is required. If your shih tzu have any medical condition or skin allergy then ask your vet.
Find More at Shih Tzu Grooming
