Pets that make great companions and lap dogs are the shih tzus.Their cute bodies are maintained by regular grooming and haircuts.Professional grooming can be hard on the wallet, so many people choose to groom their pets at home.This requires brushing and bathing your pup, as well as a bit of hair and nail trimming.
Step 1: Purchase what you need.
You will need a few items to groom your dog at home.You can find most of the items at your local pet store or grocery store.towels and a hairdryer are items that you probably have lying around the house.You will need a curry brush with rubber teeth that will be gentle on your dog's coat.The electric hair clippers and dog nail trimmers are made for use on dogs.Purchase a product that is specially formulated for dogs.Don't use human hair on your dog.Certain types of dog hair and sensitive skin can be treated with certain dog wash varieties.It is possible to make formulas for puppies.
Step 2: The space is ready.
To groom your dog at home, you need to find an area that they cannot escape from.If you want to do the grooming outside, make sure it is in an enclosed space like a garage or a fenced-in yard.If you want to keep your dog out of the house, use the bathroom and close the door.You will have easy access to water in the bathroom when you bathe your dog.Put some towels on the floor to keep you and your dog out of harms way.Put a nonslip surface in the sink or bathtub to protect your pup from slipping and hurting itself.If the weather permits, you should groom your dog outside.Your dog could be uncomfortable if the weather is too hot or cold.
Step 3: Take care of your dog.
It can be difficult for dogs to get used to the process of grooming.Before you start grooming your dog, take a few moments to calm it down and make it feel safe.Try petting your dog in your lap.This will calm your dog down and make it feel better for grooming.
Step 4: There is a brush.
Place the brush on the skin and comb through until you reach the end of the hair.Food tends to get stuck in the muzzle of a dog, so it is important to brush it.Rub the brush down its legs, moving it from the base of the hair to the tips.Try to brush your dog at least two or three times a week.
Step 5: The tangles need to be worked out.
You will need to gently work through tangles and mats to get rid of them.Start at the bottom of the hair and use the brush to work out the tangles.As you make your way up to the base, work on little pieces at a time and keep unraveling the hair.The best way to deal with tangles is to make sure they don't develop in the first place.
Step 6: Wet the dog.
Bathing your dog will help it smell better and prevent matted fur.The bathing process requires you to get your dog's coat wet.Warm water can be used to soak your dog's coat.The water should be warm.It can be dangerous for your dog to have a body temperature that is too cold.Water that is too hot can cause your dog to get burned.To prevent your dog from slipping, place it on a non-slip surface in the tub.
Step 7: The dog should be washed.
Make sure to stay clear of your dog's eyes by gently massaging the dog friendly shampoo into its fur.Once the water has been poured over the dog's fur, use a small bowl or cup.Rub your hand on the dog's body to help wash it out.It is important to wash your dog's skin as any left behind could cause serious irritation.
Step 8: Your dog has eyes.
If your dog's fur is still wet, rub around his eyes with clean water to get rid of the rheum.If your fingers are clean, you can use them to remove mucus.Don't poke your dog in the eyes.You can use a hairbrush or a small pair of scissors to get rid of matted fur.The hair around your dog's eyes can be discolored if you leave the rheum on for too long.If your dog has lighter colored hair, this is especially true.
Step 9: The hair needs to be dry.
Take your dog out of the water and put it in a towel.Rub the dog to get it warm and to absorb some of the excess water.If you want to dry your dog's coat, you can either use a hairdryer on the dog or let it air dry.When drying your dog, use the lowest setting on the hairdryer.It could burn your dog's skin if you use a warmer setting.Dogs are scared of the noise that the hairdryer makes.Before you use the noise on the dog, try to introduce it slowly.
Step 10: Take care of your dog's hair.
Once your dog is warm and its fur is dry, take a soft brush and comb its back.When you brushed the dog before its bath, remember to take care of matted fur.This will help remove tangles that happened during the bathing process.Start at the base of the hair and comb all the way to the tips.The best way to remove tangles is with this method.
Step 11: The dog needs to trim his nails.
You can make a cut with your fingers if you hold the nail clippers in the palm of your hand.Attach your dog's nail to the hole in the clippers and make a clean cut.The dog's nails will be less prone to fraying.The white part of the nail needs to be cut.The live tissue in the pink part will bleed if you cut it.If you're nervous about trimming your dog's nails, ask your vet tech to show you how to do it.You could use a nail grinder to buff your dog's nails.If you accidentally cause your dog's nails to bleed, put some cornstarch on it.
Step 12: The dog needs to have his hair cut.
Use a Number 10 blade electric hair clipper to trim your dog's hair.The number 10 is long enough to not cut your dog's skin.A haircut for a shih tzu involves shaving the rest of the dog's body to the desired length and trimming the beard and ear hair on the face.You can use the trimmer to shorten the dog's hair.During this part of the process, you should use a leash to keep your dog in place.
Step 13: Your dog has ears.
Dog ears are intended for use with an alcohol-based cleaning solution.Any pet store can sell this kind of product.Rub the solution on the skin and hair around the dog's ears with a cotton ball.massage the ear from the top side to get the cleaning solution all over the surface after folding the dog's ear back over.Use a cotton ball to wipe the cleaner off.You can gently comb the hair around the dog's ears with a fine comb at this point.This will help prevent mats from forming.Make sure you don't get the cotton balls into the dog's ears.If you want to clean your dog's ears, place it on its side on a flat surface.Make sure your dog's ears are clean after a walk by checking them immediately.If these items are not removed, they could get into the dog's ears.
Step 14: Your dog has teeth.
A double-sided toothbrush and toothpaste is made for dogs.Any pet store can sell these items.Put the toothbrush in your dog's mouth and try to clean its teeth.While your dog gets used to the new process, start slowly and work your way up to longer sessions.Your dog's teeth need to be brushed daily.If your dog has trouble adjusting to the toothbrush, you can purchase a finger brush that will slide onto your finger.The process will help your dog get used to it.Purchase toothpaste that is intended for use with dogs.There are ingredients in human toothpaste that can be harmful to dogs.