Dog Grooming in Tampa
15417 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL, USA
Shih Tzu Hairstyles
Puppy cut
Asian Fusion Inspired Styles-Longer Beard
Asian Fusion Inspired Styles-Longer Beard
This dog has medium length ears and beard.
This by far is our most requested style, it is about one inch long on the body with a little longer hair on the legs. The face is rounded with medium short ears.
What to expect
- Length guide: coat is trimmed the same all over, usually 1 to 2 inches.
- Coat types that work best: straight, long, or cottony coats.
- Maintenance: brush a few times per week to prevent tangles and keep the trim fresh.
Groomer’s notes
- This cut is perfect for families who want a low-maintenance, tidy style.
- Because the coat length is uniform, it’s easy to maintain at home between salon visits.
- Brushing every other day keeps the coat fluffy and helps prevent matting in high-friction spots like armpits and behind the ears.
Quick tip: The Puppy Cut is adaptable, go shorter in warmer months or leave it longer in winter while still keeping the even, clean look.
Asian Fusion Inspired Styles-Longer Beard
Asian Fusion Inspired Styles-Longer Beard
Asian Fusion Inspired Styles-Longer Beard
These styles are characterized by a very short body, flared long legs, and a tied up top knot, This dog sports a medium length beard..
What to expect
- Length guide: The trunk of the body is trimmed very close (1/8 to 1/4 ").
- The legs are kept full length, trimmed around the feet giving a bell bottom effect.
- Coat types that work best: straight, long, or silky coats that grow continuously.
- Maintenance: brush a few times per week to prevent tangles and keep the trim fresh.
- Follow the top knot guidelines for maintaining to pony tail.
Groomer’s notes
- This cut is perfect for those who love a stylish look on their dog, while reducing maintenance.
- Because the coat length is short on the trunk of the body, the dog can wear clothing without the worry of matting being caused from friction.
- Always brush the top knot area from the roots to the tips before tying. This helps avoid hidden tangles that tighten under a band.
- Use a light mist of detangling spray on dry or slightly damp hair to ease styling and reduce breakage.
- Choose soft, fabric-covered bands rather than elastic-only ties to avoid pulling the hair.
- If your dog rubs off the knot frequently, shorten the tied section slightly and keep a bow for special outings rather than daily wear.
ASIAN FUSION INSPIRED STYLES-Short BEARD
Asian Fusion Inspired Styles-Longer Beard
ASIAN FUSION INSPIRED STYLES-Short BEARD
Asian Fusion inspired Styles are typically characterized by a very short chin along with an oval shaped mustache.
What to expect
- Length guide: The trunk of the body is trimmed very close (1/8 to 1/4 ").
- The legs are kept full length, trimmed around the feet giving a bell bottom effect.
- Coat types that work best: straight, long, or silky coats that grow continuously.
- Maintenance: brush a few times per week to prevent tangles and keep the trim fresh.
- Follow the top knot guidelines for maintaining to pony tail.
Groomer’s notes
- This cut is perfect for those who love a stylish look on their dog, while reducing maintenance.
- Because the coat length is short on the trunk of the body, the dog can wear clothing without the worry of matting being caused from friction.
- Always brush the top knot area from the roots to the tips before tying. This helps avoid hidden tangles that tighten under a band.
- Use a light mist of detangling spray on dry or slightly damp hair to ease styling and reduce breakage.
- Choose soft, fabric-covered bands rather than elastic-only ties to avoid pulling the hair.
- If your dog rubs off the knot frequently, shorten the tied section slightly and keep a bow for special outings rather than daily wear.
Summer Cut
Puppy cut with a top knot
ASIAN FUSION INSPIRED STYLES-Short BEARD
This is a practical favorite for active dogs. It keeps the coat short and tidy, making it easy to clean and perfect for pups that spend a lot of time outdoors, boarding, or playing hard at the park.
What to expect
- Length guide: coat is clipped close to the body, usually ¼ to ½ inch, with the legs a little longer.
- The face and feet are rounded.
- The ears and tail can be lightly tidied, or trimmed up shorter.
- Coat types that work best: straight or wavy coats, as well as coats that are prone to tangling.
- Maintenance: low-maintenance style that only needs quick brushing once or twice a week to stay neat.
Tools we recommend
- Slicker Brush to lift and fluff the coat.
- Comb for finishing and catching hidden tangles.
Groomer’s notes
- This cut is popular with owners who want their dogs cool, comfortable, and easy to manage.
- Because the hair is clipped short, mats rarely form, but regular brushing still helps spread natural oils and keeps the coat shiny.
- A Summer Cut is often used for summer months or for dogs who board frequently, since it’s easy for caregivers to manage.
Puppy cut with a top knot
Puppy cut with a top knot
Puppy cut with a top knot
The Top Knot keeps long head hair out of your dog’s eyes while giving a neat, classic look. We leave the hair on the skull and top of the muzzle long enough to gather comfortably into a small pony or bun, then secure it with a soft band or bow. This style suits dogs with silky, flowing hair, and it keeps their vision clear while still letting you show off tidy long locks.
What to expect
- Length guide: leave roughly 2 to 4 inches on the top of the head so the hair gathers without pulling.
- Coat types that work best: straight, long coats.
- Maintenance: daily gentle brushing through the top knot area and a quick re-tie each morning keeps the knot neat and prevents tangles.
Groomer’s notes
- Always brush the top knot area from the roots to the tips before tying. This helps avoid hidden tangles that tighten under a band.
- Use a light mist of detangling spray on dry or slightly damp hair to ease styling and reduce breakage.
- Choose soft, fabric-covered bands or latex bands to avoid breaking the hair.
- If your dog rubs off the knot frequently, shorten the tied section slightly and keep a bow for special outings rather than daily wear.
Quick tip: check the scalp under the knot regularly for any redness or tightness. A loose, comfortable tie is the goal so your dog stays happy and the style lasts longer.
Full Coat
Puppy cut with a top knot
Puppy cut with a top knot
You love your dogs coat, and so do we. This style usually keeps full coat around the eyes, however, some of our clients like that area trimmed.
Daily maintenance
- Brush daily: Use a pin brush and steel-tooth comb to gently brush the coat down to the skin to prevent mats and tangles.
- Use conditioner: Lightly spray the coat with a leave-in conditioner to keep it moisturized and prevent breakage.
Groomers notes
- Brushing: The most crucial step is daily brushing and combing down to the skin to prevent mats. Always use a detangling or coat conditioning spray (a light mist is enough) as you brush to avoid hair breakage and static.
- Tools: Use a pin brush (20mm for adults) and a steel, two-level comb designed for small toy breeds.
- Technique: Work in sections. First, comb to separate the hairs, then brush to remove debris, spritzing with a leave-in conditioner as you go.
- Face and Eye Care: Daily wiping of the face is essential to prevent tear stains and the accumulation of debris around the eyes and mouth. Use pet-safe facial wipes or a dedicated tear stain remover product. Keeping the hair out of the eyes with a topknot (ponytail) or a careful trim around the eyes helps prevent irritation and excessive tearing.
The best tools to maintain your Shih Tzu's coat
The Pin brush
The pin brush is a must have for caring for your Shih Tzu with long hair. The Maxi Pin Vip is my personal favorite.
Pro Tip: This brush is best for all areas of the coat that are 3" or longer.
Flexible slicker brush
I use the Paw Brothers Flexible Slicker, this brush helps to prevent tangles and nots in coats that are less than 3" long. This brush is also used for the long haired dogs around the feet and mustache.
Pro Tip: Use this brush to remove those pesky hitch hikers from your dogs coat.
Face Comb
The face comb is an essential piece of equipment for keeping around the eyes clean on your Shih Tzu
Pro Tip: Clean and comb the eye area daily to help prevent staining.
Fine/Medium 7.5 " comb
The Fine/Medium comb is an essential piece of equipment to have in your coat care toolkit.
Pro Tip: Use this comb after the brush out to check for tangles and prevent mats.
Tear Stain Prevention
This is an amazing product for removing and softening eye crusts. I use it in the salon regularly. This product also softens food that has crusted in the beard and mustache.
Pro Tip: Keeping the eye area clean is a secret to preventing tear stains and eliminating odor around the eye area.
Rat Tail Combs
The Rat Tail Comb is very helpfull for tying up top knots.
Pro Tip: Creating straight lines when tying up the top knot prevents matting and makes the ponytail more comfortable.
Latex Bands
Anti Static Spray
Anti Static Spray
Latex Bands prevent breakage in your dogs topknot, when compared to rubber bands
Pro Tip: Always make sure to slide a comb between the skin and the band once the ponytail is put in for safety reasons.
Anti Static Spray
Anti Static Spray
Anti Static Spray
A good quality anti static spray helps to reduce static in the coat making brush out sessions a breeze.
Pro Tip: Once you have set the part in your dogs coat, mist the part with Magic Mist to set the part and keep it in place.
Bows
Anti Static Spray
Bows
Bows are adorable on your little Shih Tzu, a perfect finish to that pretty topknot.
Pro Tip: Tying a small section in line with the back corner of the eye in front of a second section where your add the bow will keep those little hairs from loosening out and getting into the eyes.
Caring for your Shih Tzu's coat
How to prevent matted hair.
So, you want to grow your dogs hair longer. I hear this a lot. Dogs are beautiful with long flowing coats. That natural, scruffy, shaggy, puppy look is adorable. You try to keep the hair brushed, you really honestly do.
But your dog is young. She needs to learn. She doesn’t like it, That’s okay, that’s what a professional is for, right? Wrong! Pet groomers are actually pet stylists. The one responsible for caring for the condition of the dog is the owners of the dog. The reason for this is that the maintenance of the coat is a constant routine. The level of difficulty depends upon the length of the coat, and other factors such as:
1. Do you wash the dog?
2. Does the dog swim or go into a wading pool?
3. Do you leave a harness on the dog?
4. Does the dog wear clothing?
5. If the dog is in full coat, or has a lot of hair around the neck, does she wear a collar?
6. If you wash your dog, do you that very same day, thoroughly brush and comb that dog over every inch of it’s body?
All of these factors determine the amount of work necessary to maintain the coat. I specialize in maintaining a full coat. My own dogs, and many of my clients dogs have had coats in amazing condition.
It is a labor of love. The secret is dedication. It is not a chore, it’s actually a bonding time for you and your pets IF and only IF both of you enjoy it.
Sometimes it can become frustrating, the dog fights the brush, or you give the dog a quick bath with no brushing only to later realize that was a disastrous decision. Or you leave the cute Christmas sweater on for 3 days while we have freezing temperatures, only to end up with a completely shaved down dog.
Sometimes, clients think, no worries, the groomer has special techniques, special tools, and wonderful conditioning treatments that they are trained to use in the event that your dog gets a few little mats. And to an extent, this is true.
The problem is, when we brush out matted hair, it hurts. And when the dog already hates the brush, it can be traumatizing. Sometimes I can do it once, to save the dogs coat, but the next time, the dog says NO. I often have clients prefer for me to save the coat, to please keep the hair that I trimmed short underneath the last time, and to let the coat grow. But if the coat is matting at this shorter length, why should we grow it longer?
The dogs owner must listen to the pet. If the pet cannot tolerate the brush, then keep the hair shorter until the training and routine are established.
The routine and tools depend on the desired length of coat and the type of coat that the dog has. Long flowing silky coats benefit from the use of a Pin Brush, and a Comb, a Chris Christensen Buttercomb, and a Face Comb.
Cottony bushy coats benefit from the use of the flexible slicker brushes, a Long Pin Slicker, and the Chris Christensen Poodle Combs.
The type of pins on the slicker depend on the depth of coat and the area you are brushing. I use both and go back and forth using both brushes on each dog, using the stiffer shorter pins on mats, the legs, and sometimes under the arms, and the longer pins in the areas where the hair is longer and thicker.
Most slicker brushes either have short pins or angled pins. The short pins are useless for penetrating a coat that is more that a half inch long. I do not recommend any brushes with plastic coated tips.
Brushes with sharply angled pins have a lot of drag and pull in a thick coat. This can make brushing very uncomfortable for the dog. Therefore, the brushes that you choose need longer pins that are not too sharply angled.
People often ask, “Should I brush every day ?” Or “How often should I brush?”. The answer is different in each situation.
My own dogs have always been brushed on bath day, with the exception of long top knots (which is every 1-3 days) . The length of the coat determines the frequency of the bath days. Long, flowing coats every 5 days, Puppy cuts every 7-14 days. Summer cuts every 7-21 days. This system works only if you are very diligent to completely brush and comb the dog from one end of its body to the other on the same day as the bath is done.
If you are not washing the dog as regularly as I do, more frequent brushing is recommended.
Professional MAINTENANCE SERVICES
At Grande Style Dog Grooming in Tampa, we offer weekly and bi-weekly maintenance services to assist you with the care of your dogs' coat, providing personalized grooming services tailored to your pet's specific needs.
These are set as standing appointments on a routins schedulele to suit your needs.
