The great thing about owning a Shih Tzu is that you can try out a variety of different haircuts and styles that will get people stopping you in the street for a pat.
There are a lot of different options that you can try, and in this article, we outline some of our favorites for you and your dog groomer to try!
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Haircuts For A Shih Tzu
Regardless of whether your Shih Tzu has a long or short coat. You have to find the haircut that would suit them the most. A haircut is there to accentuate your personality and frame the details of your face.
It is also applicable to dogs. There is a haircut out there that suits you and your dog’s unique style. Their long, flowing coats often identify Shih Tzusaree. The shine and length of their coats can take quite a lot of time to look after. The frequency of haircuts also plays an important role.
There is an extensive effort that goes into properly maintaining the exquisite visual look of a Shih Tzu. More often than not, owners of a Shih Tzu choose a contrasting haircut for their puppy.
The main objective of choosing a hairstyle for owners is that it is easy to handle. Maybe they prefer a style that may be a little simpler to maintain. There is also a possibility of going for one that may be more comfortable for the Shih Tzu.
Although there are multiple choices in the market when it comes to choosing a certain haircut for your Shih Tzu, at the of the day, the ideal choice is one where your dog will not require an insurmountable level of effort from your end.
The best haircut choice for both parties involved depends on one core factor. The time and effort that the person is looking after the Shih Tzu are willing to put in. There is a myriad of haircuts from which you can choose to style your Shih Tzu. Some of the best haircuts include:
- The Puppy Cut
- Practical top knot
- Puppy Cut which has long ears and a longer tail
- The Moderate Haircut
- Lion cut
- The Teddy bear Haircut
Teddy Bear Shih Tzu Puppy Cut
The Shih Tzu is an intensely small breed compared to all the other dogs. Hence, they have the tendency to overheat quite quickly. The shorter the coat of the dog, the likelihood of this happening will also increase.
Owing to this characteristic, the puppy cut is the recommended choice of action for most dog owners. It is a safe choice, especially for the beginning period. Then over time, you can trial and test to see what the tolerance level of your Shih Tzu is.
You can give space for the hair to grow and then gauge how well your dog can handle it. It will also give the dog owner a better idea of what it takes to keep up with the maintenance requirements of every haircut.
There is a slight difference between the teddy cut and the haircut. Probably the distinctness will only be noticeable to a trained eye.
The Teddy Bear Cut involves cutting evenly around the entire body of the Shih Tzu. The sole factor that distinguishes it from the puppy cut is the kind of dog. The Teddy Cut is generally tailored for dogs that are curly-haired. These comprise of:
- Poodles
- Labradoodles
- Goldendoodles
Puppy Cut
It is also the reason why the Teddy Bear Cut is also called the Poodle or Doodle cut. The hair has to be normally retained at around 1-2 inches long. You should properly align all parts of Shih Tzu’s body with the face.
In contrast, the Puppy Cut is one length across the animal’s body. The commonly accepted length of the hair is the same all over, including the body, legs, tail, head, and ears.
A Puppy Cut is a tailor-made style with a set of clippers that have been firmly fixed with an extended guard comb across the blade.
Unique Female Shih Tzu Haircuts
There are three primary options when it comes to raming the hair on your Shih Tzu. There is the choice of trimming, shaving, or grooming their coats.
Female Shih Tzu has shown to be more confident, authoritative, assertive, and self-assured as compared to their male counterparts. Their overarching appearance should be in alignment with their personality traits.
As an owner of a female Shih Tzu, it is why you should go for super cute haircut styles. These will give your pup the necessary accessories for standing out. It will leave your puppy feeling and looking at its finest throughout every season.
Male Shih Tzu Hair Cuts
Some gender-specific grooming habits are applicable to our dogs as well. Ultimately we want our men to look like men and our girls to be symbols of their gender.
There are certain categories of dogs that have hair like humans. These include our Shih Tzus, Poodles, “Doodles,” and Lasa Apso.
The catch here is that these breeds require haircuts consistently. You do not require any professional help in creating intensive hairstyles such as a top-know-show cut. Ideally, a male Shih Tzu’s coat hair should be short.
The most highly voted choices for haircuts on a male Shih Tzu are:
- The Lion cut
- The Puppy cut
- The Teddy bear
One of the main concerns for dog owners when it comes to clipping or trimming their dogs’ hair is the length. You can rest easy knowing that even if you botch your dog’s haircut, it will recover quickly.
It does not take exceptionally long for your dog’s coat hair to grow again if it can have its coat become substantially long.
So, it will be back to its original state in no time. It generally takes between 12-24 months for the entire hair body to reach floor length again.
Summer Shih Tzu Hair Cuts
The length of your Shih Tzu’s body may be more crucial than you would think. In the scenario where the cut of the dog has a coat of hair that is too short.
They can develop ingrown hairs. These can create painful lesions on their skin. It is why we must be highly careful about how much hair is being trimmed off.
Even in the summers, you have the option of going for either small or medium-length haircuts. Some of the best options include:
- The Puppy Cut
- The Long Ear Puppy Cut
- The Lion Cut
- Cone Paws
- The Teddy Bear Cut
- The Practical Top Knot
- The Top Knot Show Cut
- Teddy Bear 2 (with 2 to 3-inch hair on the body and long cone-style hair on the legs)
A summer cut depends on the breed of dog you are responsible for. If you feel your dog requires a trim, make sure that it has been critically performed. There is a chance that any negligence may actually result in a disturbance of your dog’s natural cooling system.
The Shih Tzu Haircuts Puppy Cut
The number of visits you take with your dog to the groomer will speak volumes about the attention you pay to them. The regularity of these visits will be highly cognizant of the size of your Shih Tzu. Another dependent variable in this process is also the unique coat that your specific dog has.
Although there is a golden rule to streamlining the frequency of these visits, a good rule of thumb is to take them to the groomers once every month. If you think that might not be a suitable fit for your busy schedule. You can opt to take your Shih Tzu for a haircut every six weeks.
The weather conditions also play a significant role in deciding when you take your dog to the groomer. In summer, owners should take the initiative to take their dogs for a haircut more often.
Also, go for a shorter hairstyle when the sun is out. A puppy cut would give your dog an easy breezy look in the warmth of the blazing sun.
Another key factor that we should be particular about when it comes to your puppy’s haircut is the length. If your dog has hair too long, it will make them go through unnecessary discomfort. While too short hair can also be risky for your Shih Tzu.
Normally when it comes to a puppy’s cut, you should opt for the fur to be one inch down. The maximum leverage that you should allow your groomer is 2 inches. It would be around 2.5-5 cm in length.
Please take caution when cutting the fur on some points of the Shih Tzu, such as their head, tailor, or ears. It is because these areas require more precision. You should be specifically pay attention to prevent any nicks on the skin of the dog.
Shih Tzu Haircuts Lion Cut
Not everyone is fond of having to spend hours on end on grooming alone. If you happen to be someone who falls into that category, then you make choices of a haircut accordingly.
If you want to opt for a low-maintenance haircut, the shorter one is the best. The primary options for a short haircut include the puppy or the lion cut.
The lion cut is an extremely edgy haircut that will give your little furry friend a lot of personality. This badass haircut, combined with the tiny body of the Shih Tzu breed, makes for an adorable blend.
The lion cut involves shaving the top of your dog’s chest. Along with this, the top three-quarters of their legs and tail are also trimmed. The outcome is the tail and leg hair that resemble a lion’s paws and tail tuft.
In the process, steer clear of curing away the hair around the Shih Tzu’s neck and face. This hair will play a critical role in producing the shape of a lion’s mane later on.
Although, if you are a person who wants to show off the swanky hairstyle of their dog, there are other choices. The top knows show cut should be your immediate choice if you want to show your dog. Another option is the go-to style. It makes your dog look out together but also gives them a distinctive outlook.
The Companionship Of A Shih Tzu
A dog is the reflection of its owner. So whatever attire you keep your dog in is going to say a lot about a person. The appearance of your Shih Tzu will cause others to make an immediate judgment about you as a caregiver.
Therefore whenever you take your dog out for a haircut, put some thought into it. Pay attention to the identity you want your little friend to have.
However, also consider the practical aspects of the entire ordeal. The best decision would be one where there is a balance between the two aspects.
Giving a dog a roof over its head is an immense responsibility. Please make sure you are aware of what it entails when you take this leap. Grooming is an extremely vital part of being a dog owner, ensuring that you manage to do justice to the title.
Giving your Shih Tzu a new haircut with each season or changing it after a while will freshen up its mood as well as yours. It is the same feeling of newness when humans get a haircut.