Grooming is the headline of a Shih Tzu handover
Grooming comes first for a Shih Tzu because the coat does not pause while you are away. Tell the carer whether your dog is kept in a long coat or a shorter clipped style, how often she is brushed, and which spray, brush and comb you use to work through tangles without hurting her. Explain the topknot routine if she wears one: how the hair is gathered, what band you use and why it matters for keeping hair out of her eyes. Warn the sitter that skipping several days creates mats close to the skin, especially behind the ears, in the armpits and around the collar area.
Eyes, face and breathing in warm weather
Eyes and face care belong together in a Shih Tzu briefing. Show the carer how you wipe the eye corners and facial folds gently each day, what normal tearing looks like for your dog, and which changes mean a vet visit: pawing at an eye, keeping one eye half closed, unusual cloudiness or a sudden increase in discharge. Because Shih Tzus have short faces, add the warm-weather rules: short walks in the cool of the day, shade and water always available, and no vigorous play in heat. Heavy panting, noisy breathing that worsens or wobbliness means stop and contact a vet promptly.
Feeding, treats and the table habit
Feeding notes for your Shih Tzu should give the food, measured amounts, meal times and where she eats. Be honest about begging: this breed has perfected the pleading stare at the table, and a soft-hearted boarder can add a surprising amount of extra food in a week. State the treat rule clearly, including which chews she has and how her teeth cope with them. Note any foods that upset her digestion and ask the carer to report appetite changes rather than tempt her with richer food.
House-training honesty and daily rhythm
House-training needs frank wording in a Shih Tzu handover, because many are slow to become reliable and some quietly use a corner indoors when it rains. Tell the carer your dog's real routine: how often she goes out, the words you use, where she prefers to toilet and what you do after accidents, which should be cleaning without scolding. Give her walk lengths, her play preferences and her sleep arrangements, including whether she expects to sleep on the bed, since a boarder needs to agree that before the first night, not during it.
Health record, contacts and permission
Health information rounds out the handover: vaccination status, your vet's name and number, an emergency contact and any monitoring your vet has asked for, written in the order you follow it. Mention her skin and ear habits too, such as scratching patterns you watch for or how often her ears are checked after baths. Finish with written permission for emergency veterinary treatment and how you want progress updates sent while you are away.
Writing the topknot, eye-wipe and toileting details into a KinsLe Care Pass gives a first-time sitter your Shih Tzu's fussy routine in full, ready to follow day by day.