A Shih Tzu's combined session belongs on a raised, non-slip surface where she cannot wander off, run in one unhurried order: coat, paws and claws, ears, teeth. This is a small dog with a great deal of hair and a short, flat face, so work in a cool room, keep stages short, and let her settle between them. Have the steel comb, pin brush, small clippers, cotton pads, dog ear cleaner, and a tiny finger brush ready before you lift her up.
Comb the Shih Tzu's coat out completely first
A Shih Tzu's coat only looks easy when it is fully combed, so work in sections from the ends of the hair upward, holding the roots with one hand so a tangle never pulls on skin. The comb must glide to the skin everywhere; a brush skimming the surface leaves felted mats forming underneath at the armpits, behind the ears, and where a harness rubs. Part the hair on the back and check the skin as you go, and keep the fall of hair over her eyes tied up softly so you can see her face while you work. If the coat is clipped short instead, the same comb-through still matters, just in minutes rather than half an hour.
Small paws and quick claw tips
A Shih Tzu's paws hide long hair between the pads, and that hair mats into tight pellets that change how she walks, so part the toes and trim or comb those tufts level with the pads. Check each pad for redness and the skin between the toes for irritation from trapped moisture. Her claws are small and often dark, so take only the hooked tip with small clippers, one foot at a time, and stop for a break if she starts pulling away. Dewclaws on the front legs curl fastest because they never touch the ground, so check those first rather than last.
Ears hidden under heavy feathering
A Shih Tzu's ears hang under thick hair, and air barely moves in the canal, so lift each flap and look closely at the opening before you clean anything. Hair growing inside the ear opening can be gently teased out a few strands at a time with fingers if she tolerates it, but never dig for it. Wipe the visible folds with a cotton pad dampened with dog ear cleaner and dry the flap afterwards. Brown discharge, a musty smell, repeated head shaking, or scratching at one ear in a Shih Tzu deserves a veterinary look, because this breed's ear shape lets an irritation deepen out of sight.
Teeth in a crowded little mouth
A Shih Tzu's teeth sit crowded in a short jaw, and food packs between them, so the teeth stage matters more here than the size of the dog suggests. Lift her lips gently, one side at a time, and work a small finger brush along the outer tooth surfaces with dog toothpaste, angling into the gaps where the cheek teeth overlap. Check the front teeth too — small breeds often keep a retained baby tooth beside an adult one, and that doubling traps debris. Loose teeth, bleeding, or a mouth she suddenly guards are vet questions, not brushing problems. Wipe tear staining under her eyes with a damp cloth as a finishing touch, since those damp tracks irritate the skin folds of her flat face.
Sharing a session this detailed
A Shih Tzu's session has more small stages than most dogs', and quality drops when one person tries to rush all of them in one sitting every time. Splitting the stages across the household keeps each one done properly — combing by whoever is most patient, teeth by whoever she trusts most at her mouth. Jot down what you noticed, like a mat starting behind the left ear, so the next person checks it. KinsLe Care Teams supports exactly that rhythm for a Shih Tzu, assigning each stage of her session to a family member and stamping every completed task with the time it was done.