shih tzu grooming. Does it matter how soon to start?

[bkspea]

My shih tzu penny is 4 1/2 months old her coat is getting pretty long. Is it ok to take her to the groomer and have them give her a good trim getting all that hair off or do i need to wait until she is older. we have had her trimmed in the past but not a full cut yet. Thanks Kara

[merrow]

it is best to take her while she is young and she will get used to it much faster as a pub rather than as an adult

[rjpaints]

Yes defanitly get her in as soon as possible. As a former groomer we loved the onles who got them used to it early. On the coat changing it isnt going to matter when you clip them shorter, if its going to change it will do it whether you get her clipped or not.

[minnie50]

We had two shih tzu for years and the best advise I ever had was to get them used to laying on their back so you can brush them easily on the underside too . All Systems has a wonderful brush that will help you get
down deep in the coat because after they are six months old they will start
to mat and their coat will get very beautiful and thick so you do need to brush through it every day with special attention to behind the ears. There are some darling puppy cuts that they
can do now and as she grows into adulthood too and it is so much cuter than cliping them back. I just love that breed....ours used to sneeze to get
our attention rather than bark.

[minnie50]

Our double coat came in at 6 mos but they say 10 to 12 ( all different)

http://stfsc.bizland.com/grooming.htm

[micki]

Yes start early, and routinely. The neighbor's Maltese was taken in very young for nails and eye, face trim and did well afterwards but then someone was very ill and the dog was a little neglected grooming wise, they had an awful time at the groomers. I wish I had known I would have taken her in for them.

[Suz]

we like to see our puppies at 3 months old - and give the owners a lesson as well as the dogs!!! had a westie at 8 months the other day total nightmare and the breeder had got her brushing the dog with a hound glove - we then had to clip the whole coat off she was so matted!!! it was stressfull for the dog despite us being very careful she was terrified as she wasnt even used to being brushed.
Normally clip pups at 6 months give their coats chance to develop!!

[stacy1]

the yonger she is the better the quicker she gets used to being at a grooming shop or groomed at home the easier it will be for everyone involoved

stacy

[doggroomer]

There's nothing worse (for a groomer) than having to teach a dog (and sometimes owner) what a brush is.

[Moo]

Old thread.