Published 7/20/09 4 months ago | Views 749 Grade C Pets & Animals / Dogs

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Grade C Views 749
Last edited 2 months ago

Bathing a dog may be hard, but bathing a long haired dog is even harder. Shih Tzus are small dogs and their fur has special needs as it can stain or become tangled easily.

Step 1

Visit local pet supply stores or shop online for brushes, combs, shampoos and conditioners formulated specifically for your dogs fur needs.

White coats may need shampoos specifically to keep the fur white and clean looking and that will remove under eye tear stains.
If the coat is easily knotted you should invest in conditioners/cream rinses that will eliminate tangles.
Since the fur may tangle around flea collars you can also look for flea shampoos
Look for Oatmeal, natural shampoos or consider buying an anti-microbial shampoo from your vet if your dog has sensitivity to grooming products.

Step 2

Prepare the materials needed.

Step 3

Turn on the water in your sink or tub.

Step 4

Fill the tub so the water is about an inch or an inch and a half, and not too warm or cold.

Step 5

Make sure the water is luke warm and gently place your dog in the water.

Step 6

Speak in a reassuring manner and never yell at your pet while bathing it. The pet could begin to associate bathing with punishment and become scared of baths.

Step 7

Avoid leaving your pet unattended in the tub, it could attempt to jump out with wet paws and become injured, it could also slip under the water and inhale water which can lead to serious respiratory problems.

Step 8

Squeeze a quarter sized amount of pet shampoo into your hand.

Step 9

Massage gently into the coat, including the back, sides, neck, front legs, back legs, bottom, withers, tail, and chest. Use more shampoo as needed.

Step 10

Move up to the head and ears. Rub shampoo on the head and work your way down from forehead to muzzle, and try to avoid getting shampoo into the eyes and nose.

Step 11

Follow the directions for the type of shampoo you are using. Some medicated or flea shampoos suggest leaving the shampoo lathered on the dog for several minutes.

Step 12

Rinse your puppy completely until all traces of shampoo are gone.

Step 13

Repeat with conditioner. Look for detangling conditioners or, if needed, a conditioner that will enhance the color of your dogs white coat.

Step 14

Be sure to rinse completely.

Step 15

Carefully lift puppy onto a dry towel, and wrap puppy in it and hold for several minutes in towel to absorb most of the water. After holding the towel with the puppy for several minutes, it should be lightly damp but not sopping wet.

Step 16

Use an additional towel or a very large towel if your pet has longer hair.

Step 17

Put the hair dryer on lowest setting with warm heat and carefully dry fur as needed.

Not all dogs will tolerate a hair dryer and may become scared.
Work with your dog to let it become familiar with the sound and blowing of the hair dryer. It may take time but most all dogs can eventually be taught to tolerate it.

Step 18

Comb and/or brush the puppy's whole body well. Your puppy should now be a cute, soft, silky, plush, adorable, and fluffy little shih tzu.

Step 19

Use another towel to dry up any water or spills.

Step 20

Clean the tub, brushes, towels etc.

Step 21

Take your Shih Tzu to a professional groomer regularly for trims and cuts.

These are hard to master and require specialty tools. Although you can control mats and do some basic trimming at home you should use a professional groomer for major cuts.
Most grooming services at a professional groomer also include expressing anal glands, nail trims and other services that are more complicated to maintain at home.

Tips

Even though the puppy shampoo is tearless, try not to get it in your puppy's eyes, as it might irritate them. *If your dog will tolerate it you can put cotton balls in ears to prevent water from getting in and causing ear infections.
To prevent burns, always put hair dryer on lowest setting. Always double check the temperature of the water before putting your dog in the bath. Your dog doesn't need to be bathed in the same temperature you bathe in. Keep the water slightly warm and never hot. *Keep your puppy warm to avoid colds and other sicknesses.
Try to move slowly, calmly, and gently, to avoid frightening your dog.
Have several towels handy in case your dog saturates one or more towels while drying.
Grooming a Shih Tzu and cutting the fur takes skill. You may find it best to maintain the coat by taking it to a skilled groomer every few months and just bathing or controlling mats between grooming visits

Warnings

Do not use people shampoo on dogs, it dries out their skin and fur.
Always use lukewarm water to avoid scalding or chilling your dog.
Don't bath a puppy too often, it dries out their skin and fur. Be careful when bathing your puppy and DO NOT get water in their nose because they can choke to death. To avoid this, put puppy's head down when rinsing head or use a washcloth to wash the face.