Shih Tzu Haircuts

The Shih Tzu breed of dog is one of the most popular across the world. Originating from China, their name translates to ‘lion dog’; they have long been bred to be a companion dog, and not a hunter despite their name. Being a companion dog means they simply love being around people. They love attention from people, and will happily follow their owners around from room to room for cuddles, play time and anything else that’s fun.
For these reasons, the Shih Tzu is incredibly popular as house pets.

They have actually been bred to have such a gorgeous appearance. From their long flowing coats to their gorgeous big eyes, you will struggle to find someone who doesn’t find the breed adorable. Despite their short stature, they can grow impressive coats, which can grow to rather long lengths. This has led to a massive increase in Shih Tzu haircuts and styles, with various different looks achievable for the dog.

So getting a Shih Tzu haircut leaves owners with several possibilities on how they want their pet to appear. Whilst many can do regular cuttings and trims themselves, these more often than not are just out of necessity – the grooming upkeep for a Shih Tzu is not a simple one. Regular brushing, bathing and trimming will be needed for a truly wonderful, show worthy coat, which is why many seek out professional groomers to achieve the desired look.


Lets’ take a look at some of the most popular Shih Tzu haircuts –

The Puppy Cut

Perhaps the most common Shih Tzu haircut, the puppy cut is often chosen for its practicalities rather than style. Not that this style leaves a Shih Tzu looking any less adorable, it is a way to decrease the amount of grooming required compared to other cuts.
The hair is cut down to only a few inches, and is perfect for the dog during periods of warm weather and will prevent overheating. Brushing will still be needed, yet it will significantly lower the amount of times you will need to detangle. There is no set style for other sections of the dog with this cut; hair around the ears can be trimmed to suit, as can the chest hair.

The Teddy Bear

shih tzu haircut

This type of Shih Tzu haircut got its name due to the fact the style will leave the dog resembling a cute teddy bear. The great thing about this style is that it can be combined with others, as it is referring to the facial hair of the dog, which is styled to give ta fluffy appearance of a stuffed toy like a teddy bear.

So if you were to give your Shih Tzu a puppy cut where you take the length down to 1-2 inches, then proceeded to leave enough facial hair that can be fluffed to give it a rounded, teddy bear appearance. This will work for various lengths of the puppy cut, allowing the chance to combine lengths to create the ideal look.

The Top Knot

The top knot is probably the most recognisable Shih Tzu haircuts. It involves gathering the hair around the top of the head, and tying it upwards in a knot, keeping the hair well out of the dogs face. Obviously this is only possible with long haired styles, and is one of the most popular looks for those who are keeping a long coat.

Many love to accessories this look with a ribbon, bow or hair clip. For example, female Shih Tzu’s are often made to look that little more feminine with the top knot look, with the addition of a colourful bow or ribbon to complete the look – not to say you can’t adorn your male Shih Tzu with a top knot either!

The rest of the body hair is kept shorter, to help accentuate the longer front that should fall down to the side leaving your Shih Tzu looking as charming as possible. Not tying a top knot will leave the hair falling down towards the sides, yet this can get in the way if its eyes and face, which can be a nuisance for the dog.

The Fancy Top Knot

Shih Tzu Fancy Top Knot
Shih Tzu Haircut Fancy top knot

This can also be known as a show cut top knot, due to the utter extravagance of the cut that is usually left solely for show dogs. The look involves leaving a long amount of hair over the entire coat and styling the top knot into something a little more complex. This is quite impractical for daily maintenance, and it will need several daily brushes just to look good enough – otherwise expect long tangles and matting forming.
When trying out new and different Shih Tzu haircuts, remember to experiment with various aspects of different styles. You could leave parts of the face and legs long whilst cutting down the rest. You can shave the cat far down too, and combine it with other longer sections such as the tail. The sky truly is the limit, and just like us humans, getting a different style every now and then is always a good idea just to keep things fresh!