I have decided to dedicate a page to this because I have had many people request specific information on how I trim my dogs. This is a cut I keep all my dogs in when they are finished showing and it is time to just be a house mouse. 

I have taken the time to put up photos so you can take them to your groomer and say "I want this." Many groomers just want to shave a Shih Tzu all over because it is the easiest thing for them. I believe, their hair cut can make them look absolutely adorable or it can make them look homely.  

1. Below is a side view of the cut. I shave the entire body leaving the tail, legs, and ears. I also leave a mustache and beard which I will show you later. 

2. In the next photo I pulled back the hair on her head to show you how I trim the hair between the eyes. I start at the back of the stop of the nose and end at the upper corner of the eyes. I also trim down around the eyes behind the mustache. All of this helps to keep the hair out of their eyes. Some people chose to shave all the hair off the top of the nose. If you like this look and it suits your dog better, go for it. 

3. Next I pulled down her beard to show how I trim all of the face off except the mustache and beard. I come up under the beard only leaving a small amount. Enough to make the flower of hair on the face that Shih Tzu are famous for. I shave the neck all the way up to the back of the head and around the ears. 

4. I scissor the head to give them that nice round shape. I also shave the hair off their muzzle with a tiny shaver to give them that kissable face.

5. In the next set of photos Sophie is modeling how I cut down legs. If a dog mats easily and I find their legs are getting much to matted between their weekly baths I will just cut them off. Sophie is old and she likes to lick and chew on herself so she mats more.

Notice how everything else is the same except the legs.

To demonstrate how different a Shih Tzu looks in full coat and after a hair cut below are a few photos of Maggie. One in full coat when she was showing and the others cut down. I promise its the same dog.