The best thing about owning a Shih Tzu is the huge number of adorable Shih Tzu hairstyles and looks that you can try on him or her.
Regular grooming and styling are ideal for dogs with long hair. Especially for this breed since its long hair can easily get matted and dirty when kept long.
The style can also help keep your pooch cool since Shih Tzu’s have a double coat that keeps them warm in the winter. But may be too uncomfortable in warm temperatures.
From pigtails to top-knots, you can be very flexible when it comes to choosing the best Shih Tzu hairstyles that showcase your pooch’s personality.
Adorable Shih Tzu Short Hairstyles
The puppy cut is the most popular of the short hairstyles because it is easy to do and suitable for any climate. This style is about 1 to 2 inches (ca. 5 cm) from the base.
Your pup can still sport that soft and adorable fur without any risks for matting and tangling due to the shorter length. This style is also very flexible.
You can leave the chest area with a longer length and feather the ears a little for a bit of flare and personality. Common variations are the puppy cut with the hair on the ears kept long at 4 to 5 inches (ca. 13 cm) and the tail left untouched or trimmed by a few centimeters.
This is great for female pups since it gives the illusion of loose pigtails and gives an adorable frame around the face.
The teddy bear
This is actually a variation of the puppy cut. The difference lies in how the face hair looks, which is long and fluffy to create a teddy bear effect.
This is combined with any type of cut for the body, so you can have a puppy cut, shave the hair close, or keep it long.
The Close Shave
This is perhaps the easiest and most comfortable style for your dog in the summer. Shaving close to the skin will keep your dog’s hair smooth and will keep him cool.
If you do not want to deal with a lot of shedding and want a style that is low maintenance this is the style for your dog.
Of course, you can still keep his face hair a bit longer for character. You can also opt for a close shave and keep the hair on the legs long as well.
Long Hairstyles
Top Knot
Long hairstyles are perfect for top-knots but you can use this style if your dog’s hair is close-shaved, just as long as you have enough length on top for a knot.
You can do this by gathering the top hair together and securing it with a clip. This knot is extremely practical for keeping hair away from his eyes and mouth.
The Show Cut
The show cut is a variation of the top knot. This is not a day-to-day style but rather a show hairstyle and works best in dogs with full coats.
You can achieve the show cut by gathering the hair in a neat knot, with the tip of the hair fanning out gracefully from the clip or ribbon holding it together.
This requires smooth and glossy hair. So, you need to do daily coat brushing’s in order to get this smooth, glossy sheen. This is probably one of the highest maintenance hairstyles for Shih Tzu’s. But it is not practical since the long coat can predispose the dog to overheat.
Considerations when Choosing Adorable Shih Tzu Hairstyles
When it comes to Shih Tzu hairstyles, you also have to factor in the amount of time you can set aside for grooming. If you have one dog, grooming is easy, but not so when you have three or four.
You may need to set appointments with the groomer or choose a hairstyle that is easy and quick to do. Groom and trim your pooch every 4-6 weeks. This is also a great way for you to try out different styles on your dog.
Having enough length to work on won’t be a problem, Shih Tzu’s hair grows quickly. However, you may also want to keep the coat short in the summer.
Long hair is impractical and may even be harmful during hot weather. Short hairstyles are definitely easier to manage. And will keep your dog cool and comfortable.
