Do Shih Tzus Shed? Tips To Control Shedding | InPetCare

Shih Tzu is one of my most favorite dog and due to their special appearance and lovely nature, they are getting more and more popular every single year. They tend to be very high energy and affectionate dog. You may want to know if Shih Tzu dog sheds or not.

Do Shih Tzus shed?

Yes, Shih Tzu is one of the kind breeds of dogs that shed a lot. It is one of the breed dogs whose coat is made up of hair instead of fur that shed their hair daily.


So, you will need to apply the proper grooming method to keep their shedding at a minimum.

There can be tons of reasons behind large amounts of shedding from Shih Tzu but there are some ways and tips that you can follow to manage it.


Actually, every people know that dog furs/hairs is not one of the most favorite things to deal with but when you adopt a Shih Tzu, you can do whatever it takes to keep them as they are very affectionate and loving dog.


So, every Shih Tzu owner needs to learn what they can do to be prepared and what are the things that they need to keep in mind about their shedding

In this guide, I am going to give you some space of information about why do they shed so much, what are the elements that can affect your Shih Tzu shedding, and some tips for shedding season.


In those tips, I will tell you what you should do and what you should not about their shedding. Along with that, I am also going to give you some space of information about their abnormal shedding and its causes.


But before we learn what are the tips that you can learn to control its shedding, let’s know why do they shed so much.

Why Shih Tzu Shed So Much?

The first thing that you can notice in a Shih Tzu is that it comes with hair instead of fur on its coat. So, normally just like humans, their hair also sheds daily and you will need to comb their hair daily to manage it.

Apart from that, many people are living in the United States who are allergic to the danders that every dog produces – can easily get trapped in your dog hair.

Frankly speaking, there is no truly hypoallergenic dog present in this world that doesn’t shed. Some shed less while some shed more. If you have an allergy issue then maybe there is another breed that you can consider instead of Shih Tzu.


However, Shih Tzu is a very popular breed of dogs that is mostly and particularly gold in colder climates. There is one of the biggest myths that we truly believe that Shih Tzu does not shed at all.

Let me tell you and clear you that Shih Tzu dogs do sheds, however, you may notice that not as much as aggressively shedding than another dog breed. One of its major reason that contributes to excessive shedding in dogs is its hair length and its texture.


Actually, their hair can grow much longer than fur and it can easily reach the floor. On the other hand, its hair is generally thinner than fur. That is why it is normal to notice some frequent shedding from your Shih Tzu.

Their coat needs frequent renewal and due to do that, they will need to shed old hairs to make some space for new hair growth. There are two stages through which your Shih Tzu goes one is the telogen phase and the other one is the catagen phase.

The telogen phase is the resisting phase in which their remaining hair reaches its full length and held securely in places by the hair follicles, while on the other hand in the catagen phase, they will need to shed some hair and it is popularly known as the forestage.


In this phase, it’s hair follicles shrink to a very minimum which results in cutting off the blood supply to the hair shaft. Due to the sudden cut off blood supply to the hair shaft, their hair shaft detaches and starts falling out.

Shih Tzu can easily adapt well in the winter season and also popular as winter breeds just like husky and mountain dogs. This is the main reason behind them having a double coat. The double coat consists of an outer coat and an undercoat.


Actually, the undercoat is such close to the skin, it becomes very softer and acts as an insulation against harsh temperatures weather which means that whether it’s cold or hot, they can easily adapt well.


The outer coat mainly consists of longer hair which protects the dog against water, snow, and ice. This type of coat is one of the greatest features for any winter dog because it gives proper protection against the winter element and keeps them warm and nice throughout the year.


On the bad side, it also means that it will have lots of hair on it that can shed aggressively. You can easily notice that a Shih Tzu comes with long sized hair on their outer coat which can definitely affect their level of shedding.

Apart from that, individual Genetics also plays an important role and part in their shedding but no matter what, Shih Tzu is going to shed for sure.

Their shedding can be minimized in the summer season while there shedding can also get reverse as the season changes. Most of the time, they tend to shed aggressively in the spring and autumn and also in Summertime.


This is common because they need to layer up for the winter season to keep themselves warm and nice. In the winter season, Shih Tzu fur/hair gets thicker and dense as soon as they feel the winter approaching.


While, in the summertime, they only need to wear fewer layers of hairs, it is especially for a double-coated dog, they will definitely need to shed more to prepare for the heat. The opposite happens for winter.


This process is also known as growing out of their hair and it really happens at each season change. You will notice this kind of shedding typically more Apparent as soon as summer approaches.


In this season, their undercoat needs to make some room for the appropriate layer. This process can take place for a few weeks typically, it has been observed that it takes almost three weeks but you need to be aware of.


These reasons are the basic genetic reasons behind a Shih Tzu shedding a lot. Other reasons can contribute and can happen which can indirectly result in more shedding than expected.


I am giving a list of that reason down here as well as some ways to help you and your dog through which you will be able to manage the shedding perfectly.

Things That Factor Into The Amount Of Shedding

We already talked about why your Shih Tzu shed so much but some other things can determine how much your Shih Tzu is going to shed in the future.


Some of these factors are controllable and can be easily controlled by you but most of them will not be. There are lots of genetic aspects that involve these factors as well as environmental factors.

Here are the biggest things that factor into how much your Shih Tzu is going to shed.

Elements That Can Affect Your Shih Tzu Shedding

There are few elements that can really affect your Shih Tzu shedding, let’s take a look at it.

Type of Coat

This is the first thing and the first element that can really affect your Shih Tzu shedding. It totally depends upon the quality of Shih Tzu you have. The shedding process can be different depending upon the type of coat.


Most times, Shih Tzu comes with a thick double coat and in that situation, you may experience some moderate amount of shedding or even aggressive shedding depending upon other factors and elements.


So, if a dog comes with a single-layered coat they will shed minimum to moderate while if a dog comes with a double-layered coat then they will shed more heavily.

Age of the Shih Tzu

This is the second factor that can determine the amount of shedding. If your Shih Tzu is a puppy that you will not notice them shedding aggressively.


At that moment, the shedding will be little to nothing but when a Shih Tzu reaches to the year or yeah and a half mark, you will notice their shedding to be increasing to a heavier moderation.

Season

If you notice a dog shedding in some months aggressively while in some months not so much then it is caused by temperature changes. It can also depend on/change by other factors like sunlight hours.

Most of the time, during spring-autumn, your dog will need to shed their hair to allowing a new thicker hair to grow in that can keep them warm in upcoming winter days.


Apart from that, the opposite happens as soon as the summer approaches. When the days become longer than night and the sun shines for hours then it’s a clear signal that your Shih Tzu is going to shed its winter coat that was grown during autumn.

Bathing

It is also a signal to a Shih Tzu that makes the shedding heavier than normal. The main reason behind the aggressive shedding is the massage motion created while you a Scrub in your Shih Tzu down for a good washing.


This process losing their hairs and the shampoo that you use can break up their skin natural oils that were holding some dead hairs on their coat. Bathing is a good way to help your Shih Tzu shed their old dead hair while making them prepare for the new.


Here are some shampoos that we recommend you to use that can really help you in keeping your Shih Tzu healthy and will allow you to help your Shih Tzu shed their old dead hairs and skin.

Shampoo	Best For	Why To Buy	Check on Amazon
Earthbath Shed Control Shampoo	Aggressive Shedder	It can Remove Dirts and Dead/Loose Hairs From Your Dog Skin. It also Smells Nice. Best Rated.	View on Amazon
Healthy Breeds Herbal Shampoo for Dry Itchy Skin	For Long Haired Dog Breed	It works best for Long Haired Dogs and Prevents Dryness. It can relieve Your Dog From any Kind of Itch. 5 Star Rating	View on Amazon
Oster Oatmeal Essentials Shed Control Dog Shampoo	Perfect For Any Dog Breed That Shed	It smells good. It can kill itchiness and can also reduce the amount of shedding. Amazon Choice & 4.7 rated.	View on Amazon

The Heat Cycle Of A Female Shih Tzu

Last but not the least, the heat cycle of a FEMALE Shih Tzu can also Trigger the shedding cycle and at that moment, you may experience an extreme amount of shedding from your Shih Tzu.


This type/kind of shedding is somehow related to the fluctuating hormone levels inside your female Shih Tzu body.

Excessive Shedding / Abnormal Shedding

Maybe you will not some excessive shedding or abnormal shedding from your Shih Tzu and it can become very difficult for you to deal with. If yOU noticed an unusual shedding then it is very concerning.


Noticing tons of shedding from a Shih Tzu when it’s not the right time of the year or it’s more than usual then there could be an underlying health issue. Adding to that, BALDING and itching are also the signs that this kind of shedding is not good for your dog.


In that situation, you don’t need to be very panicked as you need to deal with it very calmly. Some things can be easily fixed if you learn it properly. If you are too concerned then it will always be great to double-check with your veterinarian.


Here are some reasons why your Shih Tzu will shed out of season:

Normally, the healthy coat is usually a good sign that indicates your dog is healthy but if it starts to become very messy or dull then it’s a clear sign that there is usually something else going on with your Shih Tzu.


Sometimes the best solution is to switch your Shih Tzu food or shampoo. Food allergies are one of the most common ones and if you are not feeding your Shih Tzu with the right amount of Nutrition then the shedding would be heavier.

Tips For Shedding Season

It is natural for dogs to shed their FUR / HAIR and there is nothing that you can do to completely stop them from shedding. However, there is something that you can learn and manage it properly.


If shedding is not the thing that you are ready to deal with or face with then maybe Shih Tzu is not the best match for you. Some ways can really help you and your dog out when the shedding season approaches and also throughout the year.

These tips are not only going to keep your dog shedding to a minimum but also going to keep your house a little bit cleaner from its allergic danders. These tips can come very handy in shedding season for every single dog owner, it doesn’t matter if it’s Shih Tzu or any other dog breed.

What To Do About Shedding In The Shedding Season

Brush Your Dog Coat With An Appropriate Brush

The best and the important thing that you can do is to brush your Shih Tzu coat throughout the year. You should always brush your Shih Tzu coat every single day if you don’t have time then maybe twice a week.


Normally, you should always use a brush that SUITS your dog’s coat. Most of the time, it has been observed that dogs with short hair need Pin Brush. Apart from that, the other BRUSH that you can use actually it can work perfectly with your Shih Tzu is a soft bristle brush.


If you want, you can try this brush out as it is going to work perfectly with your Shih Tzu. It is a very good quality Amazon choice soft bristle brush and trusts me, you will be surprised to see how much a little brush can make a difference.


Plus, this soft bristle brush can also feel more comfortable for your Shih Tzu. Apart from that, you should always make sure that you clean the brush of hair as you continue to brush their coat.

Brush Your Dog Coat Outside Your Home.

If you are someone who has allergies to animals/dogs then it is always recommended and will be the best thing to brush your dog’s coat outside. Make sure that the wind is not blowing the hair away from the house.


Brushing your dog coat outside your home will keep the mess outside and will make sure that it doesn’t collect inside your home. You will also save some time and you will not have to vacuum nearly as much.


If you are going to brush your dog coat indoors then you need to make sure that you vacuum your house floor right away. Always use a good quality of vacuum cleaner that can pick up those small thin hairs and straight hairs.


If you don’t have a good vacuum cleaner in your home and if you are wondering to invest in a good quality vacuum cleaner that you can also take our recommendation. Here is the link to the vacuum cleaner that can easily clean all the loose hairs from your floors and your home.

Bath Your Shih Tzu Once Every 4 to 6 Weeks

We would not recommend you bath your Dog every week but it is always recommended to bath for Dog once every 4 to 6 weeks and you should always make sure that you use proper quality of shampoos that can help your dog getting free from all loose and dead hairs.


A good bath is also a good way to stop shedding. It will make sure that your dog is getting rid of every dirt and anything else that makes your dog so itchy.


you can also use a good conditioner as well but we would recommend you to focus more on the quality of shampoo. I have shared some recommendations above you can check it out.

What Not To Do About Shedding In Shedding Season

Do Not Shave Your Shih Tzu

Most of the peoples can easily get tempted to shave him so that he or she can get rid of those excessive shedding but you are only going to do bad things for your dog and can also put them too much at risk.


Whenever you shave a dog / Shih Tzu or any kind of dog that has a double coat that protects them from any Harsh temperature, you put them at risk because they don’t have any kind of protection from the sun and it can result overheating because there is no way to regulate their body temperature.


Apart from that, they can also easily get insulated when it’s cold. Shaving is also going to make them feel uncomfortable and itching.

Don’t Bath Your Shih Tzu Too Often

When you bath your dog too often, it makes their skin look unnatural and dry. Dry skin can irritate your dog and make him feel very itchy. Apart from that, if you use shampoo too often in your dog then it can also remove all the natural essential oils from its body leaving the skin so dry.


You should always use a natural shampoo to bath them once every 4 to 6 weeks. If your dog’s lifestyle is more surrounded by outdoor activities and it gets muddy that it is OK to wash him / her off really well but just try to not make it a Habit.

Don’t Buy The Cheapest Food

I think that you should avoid buying any kind of the cheapest food that you can find. Cheap food is considered as the main bad quality food and most time, it has been observed that this kind of food doesn’t have the right balance of nutrients and it can really make your dog sick. It can also result in showing less Shiny coat and unhealthiness

Tips To Control Shedding

Some tips for you that can help you out in controlling your Shih Tzu shedding. You can’t stop your dog completely from shedding but these tips can help you in keeping your dog shedding at a minimum. So, let’s learn these tips.

Shih Tzu Diet

A diet plays an important role in determining how much your dog is healthy and how much their coat will look natural, will become healthy and will always Shine.


So, you just need to be very cautious about their dietary routine and if you’re following a good diet routine then you can add some value to it by following these tips.

Food

You should always pay close attention to your Shih Tzu foods because it can directly affect their coat and shedding.


You should always consider feeding your dog / Shih Tzu with healthy nutrients dense diet that can really help your Shih Tzu to maintain their Shiny coat and help to minimize its shedding.


You should always check the ingredients whenever you buy any kind of dog food AS high-quality foods only contain high-quality ingredients in it. When it comes to the shedding consideration, you should always look for the fish oil or fish meal content/ingredients in your dog food.


So, always make sure to check the ingredients when you buy any kind of commercial dog food. High-quality dog food can help your dog in maintaining its coat healthiness and Shinyness.


Here is Our Recommendation in Proper Nutrient-Dense Dog Food that will ensure your Shih Tu healthiness and will fulfill their all nutrient requirements.

Best Food	Why To Buy	Check on Amazon
Stella & Chewy’s Freeze	It Contains all the raw nutrients that your dogs actually need. Plus, it is 100% Grain-free 🙂 ?	View on Amazon
Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Dog	It contains AIR-DRIED NUTRITION and tastes good to your beloved dog. Best rated Nutritious Food?	View on Amazon
Taste of the Wild Pet Food	It is known as one of the tastiest food to dogs that contain wild salmon. It is a protein-rich food that can strengthen your dog muscles and it’s hair follicles.?	View on Amazon

Supplements

You should always try supplements for shedding. You should never ignore the power of supplements because it can make a difference in how much your dog is going to shed. By using a proper supplement, you can set the correct expectation.


However, taking a supplement or adding a supplement in their diet routine is not going to magically stop their natural shedding process but It may help lessen the severity.

You should consider feeding them or adding supplements like Omega and fatty acid. Omega and fatty acid supplements come very handily when someone wants to improve it’s Shih Tzu healthy and its coat.


It does not only promote its healthy skin and fur but it also reduces the risk of joint pain or any kind of inflammation. There are many types of Omega supplements available in the market but the best type of supplements that are good for your Shih Tzu skin and hair is derived from fish.


You should go for the Omega supplement that is made from the wild fish rather than farmed pond fish. Some other supplements that you can feed the Shih Tzu to control its shedding levels is flaxseed oil, Alaskan Salmon oil, linolenic acid, and cold-pressed hemp seed oil.

Grooming

Grooming plays an important role in making your dog not only clean but also making sure that their shedding frequency remains minimum. Because your Shih Tzu coat is very dense and thick, you will need to do the proper grooming method on their coat.


Now, here I am going to share some steps that can help you in keeping your Shih Tzu shedding at a minimum.

Brushing their coat in the right method

Because your Shih Tzu coat is very thick, you will need to use a good quality of the brush and a good tool that can really Get deep Enough into that thick coat to remove all loose hairs stuck in the coat.


This is the best way to prevent excessive shedding and to remove all those loose/dead hairs that often get stuck in your Shih Tzu dense coat. Brushing is the best practice that you can do to eliminate the amount of hair getting spread throughout your home.


These hairs tend to get stuck deep into Shih Tzu’s coat. This is the best practice that you can do to eliminate the amount of their hair getting spread throughout your home.


Most of the time, these dead hairs can get covered with their natural oils that get discharged from their skin. It can really start to get very smelly if not removed.


Removing these loose hair become very important and crucial for you that can help you out in speeding the shedding process and can improve your dog’s overall health.

Bathing Your Shih Tzu

As I told you earlier, you don’t need to bath for Dog too often as it can make their skin dry and can result in more shedding. You should always bath them once a month or once every 6 weeks.


Apart from that, you need to make sure that you use a natural and best shampoo on their Coat that can keep their coat healthy. A good shampoo for thick layered dog / Shih Tzu is the gold that can help in removing all kinds of loose and dead hairs from its thick coat.


Adding to that, you should also dry their hair perfectly after bathing them. You should use a good towel or you can also use a cold blow dryer. When you are using a cool blow dryer and you need to make sure that it’s in a cool mode because high temperature can harm your Shih Tzu skin.


When you use a blow dryer, it not only helps in drying out their skin but also helps with the finished look. It can also help you in blowing off any excess fur that is ready to fall out.

Grooming Tools That You Need For Shedding Shih Tzu

Grooming Glove

Best Glove	Feature & Why to Buy	Check on Amazon
Grooming Glove – Gentle Deshedding Brush Glove	It can remove all dead hairs, loose furs, and dirt. Using this product on your dog will be a painless and fun experience for your dog	View on Amazon

It is a great option for first-time dog owners and can help your Shih Tzu with shedding. When you wear a grooming glove then the needed work becomes very minimum because you just need to slip in the glove over your hand and run your hand over your Shih Tzu coat.


It is really going to feel like a treat to your Shih Tzu and can really help with shedding. It’s actually a Win-Win situation for both of you and if you are really looking for something that can lessen your work and easy to use and efficient enough then this is only made for you.


This tool is not only durable and easy to use but also very handy when it comes to shedding.

Good De-shedding Tool

Best De-shedding Tool	Feature & Why to Buy	Check on Amazon
FURminator Undercoat Deshedding Tool	It can help you in de-shedding their most loose hairs in minutes and lessen your efforts and work.	View on Amazon

You can easily get surprised by the work done by a de-shedding tool because it is something that really works well in pulling out the loose hair from the depth of your Shih Tzu coat.


By using this de-shedding tool, you will be surprised at how much your hair actually comes out. This tool is only made to help you out with your double-layer dog shedding.


This tool is not only durable but also comes very handy when it comes to lessening your effort. It feels very nice to hold and its only purpose is to reach the deep into the coat and remove all those dead and loose hair.


This type of de-shedding tool can work best with Shih Tzu that has a Double coated layer in their body.

Bristle Brush

Best Bristle Brush	Feature & Why to Buy	Check on Amazon
Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker/bristle Brush	It can help in getting rid of any kind of mats without any pain. Your dog will feel great too. Amazon Choice and Best Rated Popular Brush. It’s a slicker brush that acts as a bristle brush too and can add a great finish.	View on Amazon

It doesn’t matter what tools you have used that have been mentioned above, there is one final step that everybody needs to follow. A bristle fining brush is going to do exactly what you think.


It can add a finished look to your dog coat. This bristle brush can get rid of any kind of danders, dandruff, and Debris off the coat. This is a great brush to use and we would recommend you to use it after you use a de-shedding tool on your Shih Tzu coat.


These three products are great when it comes to protect their hair, to pull out all loose and dead hairs, and to get rid of any kind of allergens and irritants.


These tools and products can also keep your Shih Tzu / hair moisturized and healthy food Shih Tzu. You can either use a de-shedding tool or a glove or both but you need to make sure that you add that product with a good bristle brush.


You can take our recommendation and all the products that have been mentioned here are one of the best products that you can find online. These products are not only reliable and durable but can also give you a long-lasting effect.

Other Dogs That Shed

Dogs That Don’t Shed Much

Final Thought

I hope that I managed to give you some space of information about your Shih Tzu shedding. If you have any questions regarding your Shih Tzu then you can comment below and I will try to give your answer as soon as possible.


I hope that you do check our other post because it can really help you in solving the most kind of problems that you may face in the future with your dog. Now its time to say goodbye so, see you in the next post, till then, take care, and goodbye.

Taniya

94% of pet owners say their animal pal makes them smile more than once a day. In 2007, I realized that I was made for saving Animals. My father is a Vet, and I think every pet deserves one. I started this blog, “InPetCare”, in 2019 with my father to enlighten a wider audience.