The Ultimate Guide to Shih Tzu Long-Hair Grooming — From Brushing to Grooming Schedules

Skin & CoatBreed HealthMeongsiljang Veterinary Advisory Board

Shih Tzus are a quintessential long-haired breed that requires daily brushing. We’ve compiled the essential grooming tips every owner should know, including brushing, bathing, facial hygiene, and grooming schedules.

Why Is Shih Tzu Grooming So Tricky?

A long-haired Shih Tzu sitting calmly on the grooming table.

Shih Tzus have a long, double coat that grows like human hair, so they’re prone to tangles and skin issues if not brushed daily. Daily brushing is essential. Skipping even one day can lead to knots in the undercoat, which may quickly tighten into mats that pull on the skin. Additionally, because their long facial hair around the eyes and mouth often leads to tear stains, bad breath, and dermatitis, maintaining facial hygiene is just as important.

Shih Tzu Coat Characteristics — Why Do They Tangle So Easily?

Shih Tzu fur is long and soft, with a double coat consisting of both a topcoat and an undercoat. While they shed minimally, their hair rarely falls out naturally, so loose strands remain trapped in the coat and easily tangle. Areas prone to friction—such as behind the ears, under the armpits, on the inner hind legs, and beneath the tail—are especially susceptible to matting. Because of this coat structure, grooming a Shih Tzu is less about occasional grooming sessions and more about daily maintenance.

Daily Brushing Routine — 5 Minutes Is Enough

The key to effective brushing is short, frequent sessions. Just five minutes following these steps can help prevent matting: - Pin brush: Brush along the direction of the outer coat to loosen large tangles. - Comb (tail comb): Run through to the undercoat to check for mats. - Behind the ears and armpits: Pay close attention to areas prone to friction. - Around the face: Gently use a short-toothed comb around the eyes and mouth. - Under the tail: Finish by cleaning this area, which is easily soiled after elimination. If the brush gets stuck, do not pull forcefully. Instead, apply a detangling spray and gently separate the strands with your fingers.

Grooming the undercoat of a Shih Tzu with a comb

What You Must Never Do During Home Care

Cutting tangled fur directly with scissors is the most common cause of accidents. Shih Tzus have thin skin that can easily get caught in the tangles and pulled up, leading to frequent cuts from scissor blades. If the matting is severe, don’t force it—instead, ask a professional groomer to safely remove it using a mat splitter. Additionally, using human shampoo or high-heat settings on a dryer can also irritate your dog’s skin.

Facial Hygiene — Tear Stains, Bad Breath, and Gum Care

Shih Tzus are brachycephalic breeds with large eyes and short muzzles, which often leads to excessive tear production. The fur around their mouths is also prone to becoming soiled with food and saliva. To prevent tear staining, gently wipe the area around their eyes daily with gauze moistened with lukewarm water or a specialized eye cleaner. It’s best to clean around their mouth after every meal, as damp or soiled fur can contribute to bad breath. Since periodontal disease is the most common cause of halitosis, maintaining oral hygiene through regular brushing helps prevent both bad breath and gum disease. Consistency matters more than frequency when it comes to brushing, so gradually build the habit by practicing a little each day until your dog becomes comfortable with it.

Comparing Maintenance Difficulty by Hair Style

Item	Full Coat (long hair maintained)	Puppy Cut (medium length)	Summer Cut (short)
Daily Brushing Time	10–15 minutes	5 minutes	2–3 minutes
Matting Risk	Very high	Moderate	Low
Grooming Salon Visit Interval	3–4 weeks	5–6 weeks	6–8 weeks
Recommended Owner	Ample grooming time	Average household	Beginner/senior dog owners

It's best to choose a style based on the owner's available grooming time and the Shih Tzu's activity level

Bathing and Drying — Once Every Four Weeks Is the Standard

The bathing schedule for a Shih Tzu should be tailored to its skin condition. If there are no specific skin issues, bathing every three to four weeks is generally sufficient. However, for dogs at risk of recurrent pyoderma or Malassezia dermatitis, veterinary textbooks recommend more frequent medicated baths, once or twice a week, as this helps remove irritants, allergens, and microorganisms, thereby reducing itching and skin lesions. Therefore, the key is to adjust the frequency based on the dog's skin condition rather than strictly limiting baths. Use a low-irritation shampoo formulated for dogs, rinse thoroughly, gently press out excess water with a towel, and dry completely with warm air. Leaving the undercoat damp can lead to dermatitis or fungal skin infections, so be sure to brush and detangle the coat after drying.

A Shih Tzu being dried with a towel after a bath

Visiting a Professional Groomer — When and What to Request

Home grooming alone isn’t enough to properly care for the fur between paw pads, trim the sanitary area around the anus, or pluck ear hair. It’s best to visit a professional groomer every 4 to 6 weeks for a hygiene-focused grooming session. When making your request, be specific about not only the desired length but also details like “prioritize detangling matted areas,” “keep the fur around the eyes short,” and “trim the fur between paw pads.” Sharing a reference photo can greatly reduce miscommunication.

If You See These Signs, Stop Grooming and Go to the Vet

If you notice any of the following symptoms during grooming, it may indicate a condition requiring veterinary care rather than simple skin irritation. - Coin-shaped hair loss and dandruff on the skin → Suspected fungal dermatitis or similar conditions - Red rash and licking between the paw pads and toes → Possible allergy or Malassezia infection - Brown discharge and foul odor from the ears → Possible otitis externa - Black hyperpigmentation and thickened skin on the belly and groin → Signs of chronic skin issues In particular, pets with atopic dermatitis often develop secondary infections such as pyoderma (Staphylococcus) or Malassezia dermatitis. The earlier you detect changes like itching, hair loss, lichenification, or hyperpigmentation, the easier it will be to manage and recover. Therefore, if you suspect any of these symptoms, do not force the grooming session to continue; instead, have your pet examined by a veterinarian.

Reviewed by a veterinarian

Dr. Tony — Punnawat Phongkittirak

Veterinarian

A veterinarian who majored in veterinary medicine at Khon Kaen University, Thailand, and completed the IVSA program at North Carolina State University in the United States. Drawing on clinical experience at animal hospitals, he works in the pet healthcare field and is dedicated to building a digital care environment that connects pet parents with veterinarians.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to shave a Shih Tzu’s coat short?

Trimming your pet’s coat short during the summer or when matting is severe is acceptable. However, since the skin will be exposed, it’s important to protect against UV rays and adjust walking times accordingly. We do not recommend shaving too short (below 0.5 cm), as it can cause significant skin irritation.

My dog’s tear stains are really bad—can grooming alone fix them?

Tear stains often don’t disappear with hygiene care alone. They can be caused by blocked tear ducts, eyelid abnormalities, or allergies. If there’s no improvement despite daily cleaning, it’s a good idea to have your pet examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist.

Do Shih Tzus shed?

Shih Tzus shed very little compared to most other breeds. However, the loose hair doesn’t fall out naturally; instead, it stays trapped within the coat and tangles. Therefore, regular brushing to remove this dead hair serves as their equivalent of seasonal shedding care.

The matting is so severe that I want to cut it with scissors. Is that okay?

I absolutely do not recommend it. Mats pull on the skin, making it easy for scissors to accidentally nick the skin in areas you can’t see. It’s safer to have a professional groomer remove the mats with specialized clippers, or to shave the coat short once and let it grow back.

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References

[1] BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Dermatology, 4th Ed — Chapter on Breed-Predisposed Skin Conditions

[2] Clinical Atlas of Canine and Feline Ophthalmic Disease, 2nd Ed — Brachycephalic Ocular Syndrome

[3] Hall-Fonte DL et al., Hepatocutaneous syndrome in Shih Tzus: 31 cases (1996-2014), JAVMA 248, 802-813, 2016