Brushes for Shih Tzus

A Shih Tzu in full coat is hair rather than fur, which means it keeps growing and it mats rather than sheds. The coat will not sort itself out, and a week of skipped brushing shows up as felt against the skin rather than tangles on the surface.

Brush to the skin or it does not count

The commonest mistake on this breed is brushing the outer coat only. It looks tidy and feels smooth while a solid mat forms underneath. Part the coat in lines and work from the skin outward, one section at a time. Follow with a comb to check: if the comb will not pass cleanly to the skin, that section is not finished.

The friction points

Under the collar or harness, in the armpits, behind the ears and on the legs where they brush together. Those are the places a Shih Tzu mats first, and they are the places most owners brush last.

A puppy coat and a growing-out coat need more, not less

The change from puppy coat to adult coat is when most Shih Tzus get badly matted, because the shedding puppy hair is trapped by the incoming adult hair. The same happens when a short trim is being grown out. Both phases need daily attention for a few weeks.

Little and often, on a calm dog

A medium or small head gives the control you need around the face, ears and legs. Short sessions keep the dog cooperative, which matters more on a breed that will be groomed its whole life. Our 4-in-1 shampoo detangles as it cleans, which makes the post-bath brush much shorter.