|
Pien
Ji Shih Tzu-
Where Type Meets Temperament |
|
|
|
|
I have seen sites and books that say don’t bathe until 6 months old- don’t bathe frequently, etc. My suspicion is that these people either keep theirs in a kennel or raised cage- and even breeders I know who DO keep their dogs that way don’t subscribe to infrequent bathing. Once a week is fairly normal for a Shih Tzu in coat, a little less after a cut-down. That said, you DO need to be careful about drying the skin. Most places recommend using a dog shampoo because their pH is different, and I usually do, but my most sensitive dog does well with Suave or Pantene, and I have no qualms about using them . RINSE, RINSE, RINSE. Leaving soap in is a BIG problem. Your dog will scratch and be uncomfortable. Then use a nice leave-in conditioner. Try to keep the insides of the ear dry. (They are prone to infection if they have water in them.) You can put a small piece of cotton ball in the ear to help this. Hopefully, you have a sink with a spray hose. (If you don’t, it’s really worth adding one- it makes bathing much easier.) The part that is most likely to be a problem is their faces, and that gets much better if you are careful about how you wash them. Tip the head way up, wash and rinse the top of the head so none goes in the eyes. Then drop the head and come slowly to the muzzle from by the ear. Don’t spray in the nostrils, ears or the eyes. Once your dog learns that you aren’t going to drown him, he’ll get much easier. After bathing, use an ear cleaner. You can get EpiOtic through the KV Vet website. This will also help prevent ear problems. You can also use apple cider vinegar, and there are many other commercial ear preps. Just make sure to clean the ear after washing. Dampness breeds yeast infections. Then I wrap mine in a towel and sit with them for 20 minutes or so before blow drying. They love this ‘together’ time, and it makes them like baths more! Blow drying- high air is ok, but med to low heat. Brush while drying. MAKE him lay down while you work up the side, and roll over for you to dry the belly. He’ll get used to it very quickly if you are firm. You need him to understand that he has to be good for grooming. Pay special attention to behind the front legs (the arm-pits) and behind the ears as these areas are very prone to matting. If you do get matts, while the coat is damp, saturate with cream rinse and gently comb them out, then rinse. Olive oil can help combing out bad ones. If a little undercoat is coming out, it's time for the slicker brush. This will take out the undercoat without tearing hair if used gently. |
|
Copyright © Pien Ji Shih Tzu, 2001-2008 Pien Ji Puppies are only sold on Spay/Neuter contracts.
|
