Breed · Long coats that mat
Shih Tzu grooming: daily brushing, puppy trims and tools
AKC's Shih Tzu coat facts: daily brushing in layers to the skin, a bath every three or four weeks, the topknot, puppy trims and the tools that fit.
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Short answer
AKC tags the Shih Tzu's long, flowing coat as Double and rates its shedding 1 of 5. A long coat needs daily brushing with a flexible-pin wire brush, layering the hair so you reach the skin, plus a bath about every three or four weeks (AKC). Core tools: long-pin slicker or pin brush, comb, small trimmer. Avoid brushing only the top layer; if daily work is too much, AKC suggests a puppy trim by a professional groomer.
Key facts
- Coat type (AKC)
- Double[1]Breed standard: luxurious, double-coated, dense, long and flowing; a single coat is a fault.
- Coat length (AKC)
- Long[1]
- Brushing (AKC guidance)
- Daily for a long coat, in layers to the skin, with a flexible-pin wire brush[1]
- Clipping and shaving
- Optional puppy trim by a professional; head hair trimmed short or tied up[1]The standard allows trimming the feet, the bottom of the coat and around the anus for neatness.
Watch out for
- Layer the coat: AKC says to part the hair and brush layer by layer so you reach the skin; surface brushing leaves mats underneath.
- Keep hair out of the eyes: AKC says the hair on top of the head should be trimmed short or tied into a topknot, and the eye corners gently cleaned with a damp cloth.
- Never cut a mat out with scissors; VCA says clippers only, and a groomer or vet for severe tangles.
- Grinders can catch the long foot hair (VCA); trim the paw hair first or use a clipper.
What fits
Product details below are the seller's own description unless a source is shown. Pick the variant named for each item.
Long-pin slicker
Extra-long-pin slicker brush for curly and doodle coatsChoose the single brush; any color.
The closest catalog match to the flexible-pin wire brush AKC describes; the seller lists it for long coats. A pin brush has no catalog pick yet.
Sold by Stone's Store
Paw trimmer
LED paw trimmer with nail-grinder headChoose the white trimmer, not the spare cutter head.
For the feet, which the breed standard allows trimming for neatness.
Sold by lazyishhouse Official Store
Clipper
Rechargeable pet hair clipperChoose the standard version.
For tidy-ups between professional trims; AKC suggests a professional for the puppy trim. The seller doesn't state blade lengths.
Sold by YiHong Kuchi Store
Nail clipper
Scissor-style pet nail clipper with LED lightChoose the gray clipper.
A clipper avoids the hair-snagging risk VCA notes for grinders.
Sold by Shop1105233629 Store
Daily: brush in layers from the skin out, comb the mustache and topknot, and wipe the eye corners with a damp cloth (AKC). Every three or four weeks: a bath, then dry and brush out fully. Between trims: tidy the feet and the bottom of the coat.
No catalog pick yet for a pin brush, a metal comb or a dog dryer. See how to line brush a dog and how to trim dog paw hair.
Questions
How often should a Shih Tzu be brushed?
Daily if the coat is long. AKC says to use a good-quality wire brush with flexible pins and to layer the hair so you reach the skin, and to comb the mustache and topknot daily.[1]
What is a puppy trim?
A short all-over pet clip that cuts down on brushing. AKC suggests having a professional groomer clip a Shih Tzu into a puppy trim if you don't want to spend time on a long coat.[1]
How often should I bathe a Shih Tzu?
AKC suggests a bath about every three or four weeks to keep the coat clean and at its best.[1]
Is the Shih Tzu single-coated?
No. AKC tags the coat type as Double, and its breed standard describes a luxurious, double-coated, dense, long coat, listing a single coat as a fault.[1]