My Shih-Tzu needs a cut, but I need to do it.........

[mickee311]

I don't have the $30 to take him to the groomers and won't for a while. But this boy desperately needs a cut. I have cut my girl's hair at home with DH's clippers and did just fine. BUT, she is a patient dog who doesn't have thick fur. Leeroy (my boy), his hair is extra thick and he is matted on his back legs and I can't brush it out. How do you go about doing this with the dog having such thick hair? And how do you keep them calm? I've tried cutting his bangs in between grooming trips and he won't have it. I'm wondering if he will let me do any of this at all. Does anyone else clip their dogs at home with regular clippers? Any tips? I want to get him done, I know he's hot and those mats have got to go.

[leezza]

Oh, good luck with that : ) sounds like when I used to bath my cat....oh yeah!

On the serious side though: how about asking DH to help you out, one person hold him the other do their best with the clippers......or you might ask around your friends you never know maybe someone can help you out.

Kind Regards,
leezza

[baxjul]

I used to clip my Cocker Spaniel before she died. I would have to get her in a corner. I had to use scissors, because she hated the clippers. It took awhile, but she looked good.

[wanderinggrandma]

My DD has a Shih-Tzu and after getting called by the groomer 2 x's in one visit about how bad he was acting and to not expect a good cut, decided to do it herself.

I really perfer how he looks when she does it. She uses good sharp hair scissors, but I think any sharp scissors will do. The uses her fingers as a gauge and clips him into a "puppy cut". He is pretty good until the its time to trim his belly. Then DH stands him up, with back legs on the table and she trim reallly fast!

She does this outside on a table. It is not a perfect look, but they are so cute it just adds personality in my opinion.

[PrairieRose]

To get the mats out, just sit in a chair with a towel over your lap and him on the towel. Keep some treats nearby and VERY carefully feeling with your fingers and using your fingers between his skin and the mat, CAREFULLY trim bits of the mats out. If you start small and don't try to pull them out you can get most of it out and then you'll have to comb out the rest. Sometimes after you get most of it out you can shampoo them and use lots of conditioner on the mats and a wide tooth grooming comb and get the rest of it out. It takes forever and lots of patience and understand it's not exactly a pleasant experience for the animal..... . Sometimes you may have to do it in shifts, letting him rest in between. Give him treats for being such a good boy all along the way.....

[Cricket1]

I have no idea, I just had to say how darned cute he is!!! My sister had a shih tzu (tan) and he was such a darling little muppet. Good luck!

[FrugalMomof3]

I always give my Shitzu a cut here at home, he's not that bad either, he just fidgets but I get him done and he always looks so adorable. I bought the dog clippers from the pet store and I've given him his haircut atleast 3-4 times so they already paid for themselves.

[Lori Biever-Launder]

Once he has been groomed, brush him daily so he won't have the mats. It is MUCH easier to do this than to fight a squirming, upset puppy with a pair of scissors in you hands!

[mickee311]

Thanks guys. I'll make the attempt at it today, if I can get him calm.

Cricket--The avatar isn't Leeroy, that's one of his puppies. Here's Leeroy now, needing a cut.

[wanderinggrandma]

Good luck! You can do it. He is very cute!!

[mickee311]

Well, I got most of him. He refused to let me do his legs and most of his head. I cut his bangs, so he can see now and his body is nice n smooth. Well, kinda choppy, but I know he's a lot cooler and feels better.