Shih Tzu Grooming & Care (Coat, Eyes & Topknot)
How to groom and care for a Shih Tzu — brushing the long coat, preventing mats, the topknot, eye and fold care, ears, nails, teeth and bathing.
By Matt, founder · 19 June 2026 · Lived-experience guidance, not medical advice.
The Shih Tzu's flowing coat is one of the most recognisable in the dog world — and it is also the part of owning one that demands the most consistent hands-on care. The breed's coat grows continuously, mats readily, and frames a flat face with large, vulnerable eyes that need looking after every day. The good news is that, with a sensible routine and realistic expectations, a Shih Tzu is very manageable. Here is how to groom and care for one properly.
Understanding the Shih Tzu coat
Shih Tzus have a long, dense, double coat that, unlike many breeds, keeps growing rather than reaching a set length. Left long, it can reach the floor — beautiful, but high-maintenance. Because the coat is so dense and fine, it tangles and mats easily, particularly in friction areas such as behind the ears, in the armpits, on the belly and around the back legs. Many owners choose a shorter 'puppy clip' to make daily care far easier and more comfortable for the dog; a show-style full coat is a serious commitment. Whichever you choose, the key is consistency — little and often beats occasional marathon sessions.
How often to brush
A kept-long coat needs daily brushing and combing right down to the skin, because mats form close to the skin where you cannot see them. Even a shorter clip benefits from brushing several times a week. Use a slicker brush followed by a metal comb to check you have reached the skin — see our grooming brushes for suitable tools. Regular brushing removes loose hair, prevents painful mats, spreads natural oils, and gives you a chance to spot any skin problems, parasites or sore spots early.
Professional grooming and the topknot
Because the coat grows continuously, most Shih Tzus need professional grooming every six to eight weeks for a clip, tidy, bath and nail trim — an ongoing cost worth budgeting for. The hair on top of the head grows long too, so many owners tie it up in the breed's traditional topknot, or have it trimmed, to keep it out of the eyes. Keeping facial hair off the eyes is not just cosmetic: hair rubbing on the eye causes irritation and can lead to injury in this prominent-eyed breed.
Eye and facial-fold care
The Shih Tzu's large, prominent eyes and flat face need daily attention. Gently wipe away any discharge, keep the hair around the eyes trimmed or tied back, and check daily for redness, cloudiness, squinting or a dog rubbing at its eye — all signs to see a vet promptly. The folds of skin on the face should be kept clean and dry to prevent fold dermatitis; wipe them with a damp cloth and dry thoroughly. Tear staining is common and is mostly cosmetic, but a sudden change in discharge is worth a vet check. Our honest health guide explains the eye conditions to watch for.
Ears, nails and teeth
Grooming is about far more than the coat:
- Ears. Shih Tzus have hairy ear canals that trap moisture and wax, so check the ears regularly and clean only the visible part with a vet-approved cleaner if needed. Watch for odour, redness, scratching or head-shaking, which suggest infection.
- Nails. Trim every few weeks if they are not worn down, taking only the clear tip and avoiding the pink quick. Overgrown nails are uncomfortable and affect how a dog stands and walks. See our nail care range.
- Teeth. Small breeds are especially prone to dental disease, so brush the teeth with dog toothpaste regularly and keep up vet dental checks. Browse dental care for toothbrushes and chews.
Bathing
Shih Tzus need bathing more often than many breeds — typically every few weeks, often alongside professional grooming — because the long coat traps dirt and the face needs keeping clean. Use a dog-specific shampoo, rinse really well, and dry the dense double coat thoroughly down to the skin, as a damp coat encourages matting and skin problems. Brush the coat out as it dries to prevent tangles forming.
Exercise, diet and routine
A Shih Tzu is a small, fairly low-energy companion that suits gentle, regular exercise — around an hour a day split into shorter walks plus play — but as a flat-faced breed they should not be over-exercised in warm weather. Feed a good-quality, complete diet in measured portions and judge condition by feel under that thick coat; the pet calorie calculator helps you get it right. Start grooming young, keep sessions short, calm and rewarding, and your Shih Tzu will learn to accept — even enjoy — the daily care this glamorous breed needs. For more, see our guides on family life and lifespan and health.
*This is general guidance. If you find sore skin, stubborn mats, an ear, eye or dental problem you cannot easily manage, see your vet or a professional groomer.*
Sources
- The Kennel Club — Shih Tzu coat and grooming (thekennelclub.org.uk).
- PDSA — grooming, dental and skin care for dogs (pdsa.org.uk).
- Blue Cross — grooming your dog (bluecross.org.uk).
- RSPCA — dog grooming and flat-faced breed care (rspca.org.uk).
Common questions
Do Shih Tzus need a lot of grooming?
Yes. The Shih Tzu has a long, dense, double coat that grows continuously and mats easily, so a kept-long coat needs daily brushing and combing down to the skin, plus professional grooming every six to eight weeks. Many owners keep their dog in a shorter 'puppy clip' to make daily care far easier. Beyond the coat, Shih Tzus need regular eye care, the facial folds kept clean and dry, ears checked, nails trimmed and teeth brushed.
How do I stop my Shih Tzu's coat matting?
Prevention is far easier than cure: brush and comb daily for a long coat, working a slicker brush and metal comb right down to the skin where mats form, and focus on the friction areas behind the ears, in the armpits, on the belly and the back legs. Keep the coat thoroughly dry after baths, as damp fur mats quickly. Many owners opt for a shorter puppy clip to make matting much easier to manage.
What is a Shih Tzu topknot and do I need one?
The topknot is the traditional way of tying up the long hair on top of a Shih Tzu's head so it stays out of the eyes. It is not purely cosmetic: keeping facial hair off the large, prominent eyes prevents rubbing, irritation and injury. If you prefer, you can simply have the hair trimmed short around the face instead. Either way, keeping hair away from the eyes is an important part of daily Shih Tzu care.
About the author
Matt — founder, Giddy Pets
Matt started Giddy Pets to make getting pets the good stuff simpler and fairer. Everything in these guides comes from real life with pets and a lot of trial and error — it's practical guidance, not veterinary advice. If a guide gets something wrong, tell him directly.