Shih Tzus were bred to be companions, and their long double coat is part of the charm. It is also the part that needs the most work. Left alone, that coat mats faster than almost any other small breed, and the mats form where you cannot see them: behind the ears, under the collar, in the armpits and along the belly.
The haircut you choose decides how much of that work lands on you. A long show coat looks spectacular and needs daily brushing. A teddy bear cut looks almost as good and needs a fraction of the effort. Below are twelve Shih Tzu haircuts groomers actually ask for, what each one suits, and how often it needs a trim to hold its shape.
Popular Shih Tzu Haircut Styles
1. The Puppy Cut
The most requested Shih Tzu haircut, and the easiest to live with. The whole coat comes down to one length, usually between one and two inches, including the face and legs. Nothing is left long enough to tangle.
It suits almost every Shih Tzu, and it is the style we recommend to first-time owners who are still learning how fast this coat moves. Expect to rebook every six to eight weeks before it starts looking shaggy.
2. The Teddy Bear Cut
The teddy bear is the puppy cut with the face shaped rather than simply shortened. The muzzle is rounded, the cheeks are left slightly fuller, and the ears are blended into the head so the whole face reads as one soft circle.
It is the single most searched Shih Tzu face, and it is worth knowing why it works: Shih Tzus have a short muzzle already, so rounding the hair exaggerates the feature people love. Every four to six weeks keeps the shape crisp.
3. The Teddy Bear Face with a Longer Body
Some owners want the rounded teddy bear face but are not ready to lose the body coat. This is the compromise: the face is fully shaped, while the body stays at two to three inches.
Be honest with yourself about brushing before choosing it. The longer body still tangles, and a comb needs to pass cleanly through to the skin a few times a week. It works beautifully when the brushing happens and badly when it does not.
4. The Lion Cut
The body and legs are clipped short while the head, neck and chest stay long, giving a mane. Often the tail is left full with a plume at the end.
It is a bold look and genuinely practical, because the mane is the easiest area to brush and the clipped body cannot mat. Shih Tzus carry it well thanks to the broad head. Plan on every six to eight weeks.
5. The Summer Cut
A shorter version of the puppy cut, usually half an inch to one inch, taken down over the body and belly where heat builds.
In Texas, Florida and Arizona summers this is the kindest choice for a double-coated dog that was never built for that climate. We do not shave to the skin, because the coat still does a job protecting against sun and insects.
6. The Kennel Cut
The shortest practical option, clipped close with a single blade across the whole body. The face is tidied but not sculpted.
This is often where a severely matted coat has to end up, and there is no shame in it. A dog that has been uncomfortable for weeks is better off starting again. From here you can grow back into any other style on this list.
7. The Top Knot with a Long Coat
The classic Shih Tzu look. The coat is kept long and the hair above the eyes is gathered into a top knot so the dog can see properly.
The top knot is not decoration. Shih Tzu hair grows straight into the eyes and causes real irritation if it is left. If you love the long coat but cannot commit to daily brushing, keep the top knot and shorten the body.
8. The Show Coat
Floor length, parted down the spine, with the face furnishings left full. It is the breed standard and it is stunning.
It is also a serious commitment: daily line brushing, regular bathing, and wrapping between shows. Very few pet Shih Tzus live in this coat, and that is a sensible decision rather than a failure.
9. The Practical Cut
A middle ground many owners settle into: body clipped short for easy upkeep, legs left a little longer so the dog does not look bare, face shaped softly.
It photographs well, it survives a muddy walk, and it forgives a missed brushing session. For most households this is the style that actually lasts.
10. The Asian Fusion Cut
A styled look borrowed from Japanese and Korean grooming. The body is short, the legs are left full and shaped into straight columns, and the head is rounded with the ears blended in.
It takes a skilled groomer and more time in the chair, and the leg furnishings need brushing. Worth asking for if you want something distinctive.
11. The Male Shih Tzu Cut
Not a separate technique so much as a styling preference. The muzzle is left slightly squarer than round, the topknot is skipped, and the body is kept shorter and blockier.
Owners often ask for this when they feel the classic rounded teddy bear reads too soft. Same maintenance as a puppy cut.
12. The Puppy’s First Haircut
A Shih Tzu puppy’s first appointment should be short and deliberately unambitious: a light tidy around the eyes, feet and sanitary area, a bath, and plenty of time to get used to the dryer and the table.
We book these around sixteen weeks, once vaccinations are complete. The goal is not a haircut. It is a puppy that walks into the van calmly for the next fifteen years.
Keeping Your Shih Tzu’s Haircut Fresh
Whichever style you pick, the coat between appointments is what decides how the next groom goes.
| Style | Groom every | Brushing at home |
|---|---|---|
| Kennel cut, summer cut | 8 weeks | Once a week |
| Puppy cut, practical cut | 6 to 8 weeks | Twice a week |
| Teddy bear, lion, Asian fusion | 4 to 6 weeks | Three times a week |
| Long coat with top knot | 4 weeks | Daily |
| Show coat | 4 weeks | Daily line brushing |
Use a slicker brush to separate the coat and a metal comb to check your work. If the comb snags, the brush did not reach the skin, and that is exactly where mats start. Pay attention to the friction points: behind the ears, under the collar and harness, the armpits and between the back legs.
If you find a mat that does not loosen with gentle brushing, stop. Pulling hurts, and scissors near matted hair cause more cuts than owners expect, because the skin lifts into the tangle. Tell your groomer and let them deal with it safely.
Mobile Grooming for Shih Tzus
Shih Tzus are small, often anxious around other dogs, and brachycephalic, which means their short muzzle makes heat and stress harder to handle than for a long-nosed breed. A busy salon floor is not an ideal environment for them.
Kontota grooms one dog per appointment in a fully equipped van parked at your home. No car ride, no waiting room, no kennel time between stages, and no cage dryers. Every appointment runs our 27-step process, which includes the bath, a full blow out, the haircut, nail trimming, ear cleaning, teeth brushing and a face wash.
For a Shih Tzu, the one-on-one time matters more than it does for most breeds. Shaping a rounded teddy bear face takes patience, and a dog that is calm sits still for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should a Shih Tzu be groomed?
Every four to eight weeks depending on the style. A kennel or summer cut can stretch to eight weeks. A teddy bear cut needs four to six to hold its shape, and a long coat needs a groom every four weeks plus daily brushing at home.
What is the most popular Shih Tzu haircut?
The teddy bear cut, by a wide margin. It keeps the rounded face owners love while taking the body coat short enough to stay out of trouble between appointments.
At what age should a Shih Tzu get its first haircut?
Around sixteen weeks, once vaccinations are complete. Keep the first visit short and gentle. Early positive appointments decide how a dog feels about grooming for the rest of its life.
Why does my Shih Tzu mat so quickly?
Shih Tzus have a double coat with hair that keeps growing rather than shedding out. Loose hair stays trapped in the coat instead of falling away, and it tightens into mats at the friction points. Brushing through to the skin a few times a week is the only thing that prevents it.
Should I shave my Shih Tzu in summer?
A short summer cut is a good idea. Shaving to the skin is not. The coat still protects against sun and insects, so we take it down to half an inch or one inch rather than bare.
Can a mobile groomer do all these Shih Tzu styles?
Yes. Every style on this page is done in our vans. The van carries its own water, power and grooming table, so there is no difference in what can be achieved, only in where it happens.
The best mobile grooming for your fur baby
Your Shih Tzu does not need to ride across town for a good haircut. Kontota brings the groomer, the van and the full 27-step process to your driveway, grooms one dog at a time, and has them back inside before the afternoon gets away from you.
Check mobile dog grooming cost for your dog’s size, or get an exact figure in about a minute with our instant price estimator.
Call 800-216-6103. Open 7:00am to 10:00pm, seven days a week.
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