Do Shih Tzus Shed? A Complete Guide for Pet Parents

Shih Tzus are one of my favorite toy dogs because they are friendly, cute, and affectionate. If you’re thinking of having a Shih Tzu visit or coming and living with you in your home.

Something that you will likely be considering, one of the first things that you would likely be wondering about is: “Do Shih Tzus shed?” If you’re an allergy sufferer or just want to get educated regarding the grooming needs of this breed of dog.

Then this complete guide will provide you with information about what you’ll need to cope with Shih Tzu shedding and their coat.

What Type of Coat Does a Shih Tzu Have?

Shih Tzus share their characteristic long, flowing, silky coat with their heritage. Shih Tzus have a double coat made up of:

• A top coat: That flowing, silky coat gives the Shih Tzu a dignified, lion-like appearance.
• An undercoat: The undercoat is soft, thick, and insulating, warming the dog up when it is cold and cooling it down when it is hot.

Most Characteristically Representative Features of Their Coat 

• Length: Developing coat that will sweep across the ground when unclipped.
• Texture: Coat silky to the touch, as opposed to coarse in other breeds. 
• Grooming/Maintenance: It sheds less than other coats, but it still requires regular grooming to prevent matting and tangling. 

Do Shih Tzus Shed?

The Answer: Yes, but Minimal Shedding

Shih Tzus will shed, but it’s a different scenario with other dogs. Instead of shedding huge hunks of fur all over your home, Shih Tzus shed slowly and gently. Their beautiful coat doesn’t fall out in big clumps but rather mats in the coat itself until it can be brushed off.

This is the scoop about what to expect:

• Minimum visibility of shedding: Shih Tzus shed little, and you wouldn’t see fluffy puffs of hair floating about and in your home, particularly as opposed to undercoat-type dogs like Golden Retrievers or Huskies.
• Hair vs. Fur: Well, yes, dogs do have fur (that is, the natural shedding kind, of course). However, Shih Tzus have hair that behaves somewhat like human hair. It doesn’t grow any faster and sheds no quicker either.
• Ongoing hair growth: Shih Tzus’ hair grows continuously, and they never shed like other dogs. Therefore, they will require their hair to be clipped in turn. 
• Light, rare shedding: While Shih Tzus rarely shed at all, they shed one coat within a few months. So, if you don’t brush them frequently, hair gets entangled in the coat, tangling and matting.
• Less dander: Shih Tzu is a lower dander-producing breed, perfect for people with mild allergies.

Why Don’t Shih Tzus Shed Like Other Dogs

Shih Tzus do not shed like other dogs for a few very good reasons:

1. Hair-like Coat: While fur-coated breeds shed very easily, Shih Tzus have human hair that grows. Their longer growth cycle makes their shedding much less noticeable.
2. Growth Cycle: Shih Tzu coats arrive extremely slowly at a much reduced pace than the coat grows, and you will never be able to encounter those enormous shedding cycles that other canines experience. They hardly ever shed.
3. Double Coat Structure: Shih Tzus have a double coat—a soft, flowing outer and a soft, fluffy under. The undershirt sheds hair and will not shed on your house floor, but it must be brushed every day to eliminate concealed hair prior to matting.

Shih Tzu’s Grooming Needs

While the Shih Tzu sheds less, their coat is still long and needs regular grooming to be glossy, clean, and mat-free. Otherwise, you’ll have their coat full of mats and sore in seconds.

Grooming Activities You Need to Do

• Brushing: Shih Tzus must be brushed daily to avoid matting, tangling, and shedding loose hair. They possess a silk coat and must be brushed using a slicker or a pin brush.
• Bathing: Shih Tzus must be bathed regularly to keep their coats as good, healthy, and shiny as possible. Bathing every 3-4 weeks is perfectly okay unless they get unbearably dirty and stinky. 
• Trimming: Since their coat will never fully mature and “break” into a soft undercoat with a hard, long outer coat, you will be trimming them all the time. If you’re not careful, you can have a long flowing, beautiful coat or just a “puppy cut.” 
• Eye Care: Facial tear staining accumulates on Shih Tzus. Tear stain and facial clean-up remove dirt and grime from the coat and skin.

Tools You Will Need to Brush With

• Slicker brush: Works best on brushing their shiny coat.
• Pin brush: Works best at dematting and untangling.
• Comb: Works best at using stainless steel combs to find tangles out. 
• Clippers or scissors: Trimming hair from their face, body, and paws.
• Shampoo and conditioner: Dog shampoos that condition and soften their fur.

Shih Tzus Shed More in Warmer Seasons

Even though Shih Tzus shed relatively less, there were times now and then when you could see a bit more shedding hair:

1. Seasonal Shedding: Like any other pet, Shih Tzus shed a little more in some warmer seasons, such as spring and summer. However, the shedding is minimal in comparison to other dogs.
2. Shedding Puppy Coat: Shih Tzus will shed their puppy coat to adulthood at 10-12 months. They will shed some extra in between as they move from their smooth, fuzzy puppy coat to their smoother adult coat.
3. Disorders of Stress and Illness: Shih Tzus will shed their hair because of stress, tension, or illness (allergy, parasites, or skin disease). If they lose excessive coat or shed excessively, take them to the vet.
4. Nutritional Deficiencies: Poor diet due to a lack of quality primary nutrients or insufficient fatty acids will cause dullness or thinning of the coat. Make your Shih Tzu eat top-quality, well-balanced dog chow.

Pregnancy May Cause Excessive Shedding in Females 

If you have a pregnant Shih Tzu, then you might be asking, Do Shih Tzus shed due to pregnancy?

It is difficult to answer since not all Shih Tzus experience the same excessive level of shedding during pregnancy, or even after.

While it is said that losing hair when pregnant is not common for all, but some female Shih Tzus do loss hair when they are pregnant due to hormonal issues, that to during the last stages of pregnancy.

Are Shih Tzus Good for People with Allergies?

Shih Tzus are otherwise hypoallergenic in that they shed less but are not completely allergy-free. If you or any member of your family has a dog allergy, kindly take note of the following:

Key Facts Allergic Sufferers Should Know

• Less Dander: Shih Tzus shed less dander compared to high-shedding dogs, but no dog is technically hypoallergenic.
• Growth on and off Hair: Shih Tzu hair grows on and off, so they shed dander and fur in fewer numbers, keeping the exposure low.
• Daily Grooming is Essential: Daily washing and grooming are essential to allergy sufferers so that dander and saliva allergens do not make it to the coat. Spend time with a Shih Tzu to determine whether and how you are allergic to it. Bathing and house cleanliness also contain allergens.

Shedding and Hair Tips for Working at Home

Shedding Shih Tzus, but it will take them a little work to provide you with a clean house experience:

Grooming Tips

• Brush daily to prevent mats and tangles. 
• De-shed once a year with a de-shedding tool to remove loose undercoat hair.
• Clip your dog every 4–6 weeks for ease.

House Cleaning Tips

• Vacuum frequently with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter to catch allergens. 
• Shampoo your dog’s bed frequently and his toys weekly to prevent hair accumulation on them.
• Use lint rollers to quickly remove hair from clothing and furniture.
• Eat well-balanced: Feed your Shih Tzu good-quality food with high omega-3 fatty acids to maintain its coat in good condition. Over-shampoo your Shih Tzu not more than once a month.
• Annual visits to the vet: Take your Shih Tzu to the vet once a year to keep him parasite-free and free of skin diseases and thereby prevent hair shedding.

FAQs

Here are a few questions and queries that others have asked that you might feel informative for your knowledge at the same time.

Do Shih Tzus Shed?

Yes, Shih Tzus shed, but they do not shed anywhere near as much as all other dog breeds.

Since they lose an active process of losing and even shedding their hair, they would be good enough for an owner who would not complain about having some dog hair in his or her house but would rather still want to maintain the daily grooming habit.

During regular grooming, Shih Tzus are not hard to groom when shedding. It’s having a Shih Tzu that equals hours and hours of grooming, fretting over their health, and just basically being tuned in to every mood of theirs, but the payoff is they’re low-shedding and outgoing and will bring happiness to your life for many, many years.