Shih tzu grooming is not as bad as most people think. Don't let a fear of grooming keep you from owning one of these incredibly loving little dogs.

The only thing that needs to be done on a daily basis is brushing which takes between 10 to 15 minutes. You will need to use a wire brush that you can purchase at a pet store.

If you are planning on showing your dog, you need to consult with a breeder about the requirements, but generally, show dogs wear their hair down to the ground.

Brushing may need to be done daily but other grooming task need only be done on a bi-weekly or monthly basis. There should be a bi-weekly bathing and through cleaning of the ears and teeth. Since Shih Tzus have such short noses, they put their faces very close to the ground, and their faces get dirty.

When you bathe them, be sure you use pet shampoo because it has a different Ph balance than human shampoo. Always blow dry the hair so that if your dog likes roll around in the grass he won't pick up anything.

On a monthly basis you need to clip their nails and pull the excess hair from their ears. Be sure to purchase a good quality dog nail clipper or one of the popular rotary filing tools like Pedipaws. If all this sounds like too much for you, but you still want a Shih Tzu, then opt to employ the services of a professional groomer or have your Shih Tzu's hair cut in one of the adorable puppy cuts. Shih Tzu may even be shaved and still look like a Shih tzu, with their trade mark flowing tails.