How to Wash, Comb, and Groom your Lhasa Apso and Shih Tzu Breeds
© Chris Chamberlin
The Lhasa and the Shih Tzu have glorious topcoats and undercoats that are a groomer's nightmare, especially if the owners don't keep up the grooming at home.
Ideally, a groomer would like to see these breeds every couple of weeks. This is expensive, so training yourself and your dog at home will help keep the cost down when professional services are required. You must be willing to invest time and energy into growing out your dog's coat. If not, consider the shorter puppy clips that maintain healthy skin and coat without the hassle.
Brushing and Combing Out the Coat
To make your job easier, train your dog to lay on its side to be brushed. Take hold of his front and rear legs and cradle his torso against your arm as you lay him down on his side. He might balk or try to get up, but keep your arm along his ribs, and, if necessary, hold his head down. Some dogs may whimper and cry, but don't be fooled - he is not being hurt, just restrained against his will. Talk softly and reassure him, and soon he will relax.
Once he has learned to lay still, use your fingers to pull apart tangled hair. Cutting the mat will only lead to broken hair and more mats. Also, too much hair can be lost if the mats are cut open, which is undesirable for a show dog. Concentrate on the underbelly and be sure to remove any tiny tangles with a fine-tooth comb, as any left unchecked can develop into huge mats.
Preliminary Trimming and Cleaning
Once the body is mat-free, work on the head with a good steel comb, and remove debris from the corners of the mouth and eyes. You might need to soften these areas by washing with warm water first. With a pair of blunt nosed scissors, clean away any hair a good half inch around the anus to keep the area free of odorous stool particles.
Clip away any hair under his feet between the pads with a good clipper and #15 blade or scissor it away if it is difficult to clearly see the bottom. Check to see if there are mats between the toes (there often are) and remove the mats with scissors. Remove any excess hair from the ear canal and clean with a good ear cleaner. Because these dogs have fold-over ears, moisture can lead to ear infections and ear mites.
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