Miso
5 years old · Kennebunkport
Gold and white, in a short puppy cut year-round. He supervises the entire groom from the table like a small foreman.
Breed Grooming Guide 5.0 · Southern Maine
Shih Tzu Dog Grooming.
Shih tzus have a true long, double, hair-type coat that grows to the floor if you let it — and a flat face that needs a groomer paying attention. K-Pup grooms shih tzus one at a time in a quiet mobile trailer at your house: no crate time, no waiting room, no other dogs barking at a nervous little dog.
Cuts & Coat Care
From full coat to a clean puppy cut.
Almost every shih tzu owner we meet wants a manageable length that still looks like a shih tzu. Here's how the options actually differ. The breed standard is on the AKC Shih Tzu breed page.
Puppy Cut
One even length — usually half an inch to an inch — over the whole body, with a rounded head. It's the most popular shih tzu trim for good reason: comfortable, easy to brush, and it still frames that face.
Teddy Bear Trim
Slightly longer than a puppy cut, with a fuller, rounder head and muzzle. Softer look, a little more brushing at home. Great for owners who want fluff without a floor-length coat.
Full Coat & Topknot
The traditional long coat with the hair tied up out of the eyes. Beautiful, and a genuine daily commitment — we're happy to maintain it, and we'll be straight with you about what it takes.
Face, Feet & Sanitary Only
A quick tidy between full grooms: eye area cleared, muzzle trimmed, pads and feet cleaned up, sanitary trim and nails. Shih tzus often need this on a two- to three-week rhythm.
Built For Little Faces
The face, the eyes and the coat that never stops.
Eyes come first
Shih tzu eyes are large and prominent, and hair falling into them causes real corneal irritation. We clear the eye area carefully every visit, clean the corners, and keep the muzzle short enough that it isn't wicking moisture back into the face.
Brachycephalic breathing
Flat-faced dogs stress and overheat faster. We work in a climate-controlled trailer, keep sessions short, skip heated dryers on the face, and give breaks — a shih tzu should never be pushed through a long groom.
Ears and skin folds
Heavy drop ears and facial folds trap moisture. Every groom includes ear cleaning, hair removal where needed, and drying the folds — the single best defense against yeast and irritation.
A double coat that mats to the skin
Shih tzu hair grows continuously over a soft undercoat, which is why it pelts so fast around the collar, behind the ears and in the armpits. We line-brush to the skin and will always choose comfort over saving a length that's already matted.
The American Shih Tzu Club has thorough grooming and health resources, including guidance on eye care in the breed.
Services
Shih Tzu grooming services.
01
Full Shih Tzu Groom
Brush-out, bath, gentle dry, your chosen trim, face and eye area shaped, ears cleaned, nails, pads and sanitary.
02
Bath, Brush & Face Tidy
Deep bath, conditioner, full brush-out, eye-area trim and nails — the two-week maintenance visit many shih tzus need.
03
Teeth Cleaning
Anesthesia-free brushing. Shih tzus have crowded small-breed jaws and are highly prone to tartar and gum disease.
Our Process
How we groom a Shih Tzu.
Every shih tzu appointment follows the same order, start to finish, in the trailer in your driveway. Typical appointment time: about 2 hr, one dog at a time.
Gentle intake and face check
Shih tzus are small, brachycephalic and often anxious in busy salons. We settle the dog in the quiet trailer and check eyes, face folds and ears before starting — no crate, no waiting, no other dogs barking.
Comb out and de-mat
That double coat mats behind the ears, in the topknot and under the harness. We comb to the skin and, where a mat is tight to the skin, clip it out short rather than pull — comfort wins over length every time.
Tearless bath and face wash
A tearless facial shampoo cleans the muzzle and eye area where tear staining collects, and a full-body wash with a silkening conditioner keeps that long coat sliding instead of knotting.
Low-pressure dry
Flat-faced dogs need careful drying — we keep air off the face, use lower velocity around the head, and watch breathing throughout. The body coat is straight-dried so it hangs correctly.
Puppy cut or full coat trim
Most Maine shih tzus go in a practical puppy cut with a rounded head and short muzzle so the face stays clean. If you're keeping coat long, we scissor the skirt level and tidy the feet and sanitary area.
Eyes, ears, nails and topknot
We trim the eye corners for clear vision, clean and pluck ears as needed, clip and grind nails, and finish with a bow or a neat topknot — your call.
This is the full step-by-step process K-Pup Dog Grooming uses for shih tzus in southern Maine.
Client Spotlight
Our favorite shih tzus.
A few of the shih tzus we look forward to seeing on the schedule — regulars from around southern Maine who hop up on the table like they own the trailer.
Lulu
2 years old · Kennebunk
Keeps her top knot long and everything else practical. Her face trim is the most detailed ten minutes of our week.
Gus
12 years old · Arundel
A brindle senior with cloudy eyes and perfect manners. We keep the groom short and gentle, and he goes home for a nap in the sun.
Fun Facts
The best things about shih tzus.
We groom a lot of shih tzus, and every one of them reminds us why the breed has such a loyal following. Here's what we love about the shih tzu.
Bred for palaces
Shih tzus were companion dogs in the Chinese imperial court for centuries. They have not forgotten this and will remind you.
Hair, not fur
Their coat grows like human hair, so it barely sheds — but it will mat right down to the skin without regular brushing and trims.
The name means lion
"Shih tzu" translates roughly to lion dog, a nod to the Tibetan lion-dog imagery their look was bred to echo.
Small dog, big steadiness
They're famously unbothered — good with kids, good with cats, and good with a mobile groomer parked in the driveway.
Face care is real care
Flat faces mean tear staining and food in the beard. A short face trim and daily wipe keeps skin healthy between visits.
Happy apartment dogs
A couple of short walks and a sunny spot is a full day. Perfect for downtown Kennebunk or a condo in Saco.
Related Breeds
Similar coats we groom.
shih tzus share brushing, drying, and trimming needs with these breeds — each guide covers coat care, timing, and pricing for mobile grooming in southern Maine.
Akita Dog Grooming
Breed-tailored bath & trim
American Eskimo Dog Dog Grooming
Breed-tailored bath & trim
Australian Cattle Dog Dog Grooming
Breed-tailored bath & trim
Beagle Dog Grooming
Breed-tailored bath & trim
Belgian Malinois Dog Grooming
Breed-tailored bath & trim
Bernese Mountain Dog Dog Grooming
Breed-tailored bath & trim
Services
Services for your Shih Tzu.
The visits shih tzus book most often, and what each one includes.
from $55
See every service and price →Senior Dog Grooming
Short, low-stress grooms built around arthritic hips, deaf ears, and dogs who can't stand for an hour.
Read more →from $55Anxiety-Free Grooming
One dog at a time, no crate, no other dogs barking — grooming for pups who fall apart in a salon.
Read more →from $85Matted Dog Grooming
Humane dematting, honest shave-down advice, and why a short haircut is sometimes the kindest option.
Read more →guideFirst Groom: What to Expect
Never used a mobile groomer before? Here's exactly what happens, what we need from you, and what it costs.
Read more →guideFull Groom vs Bath & Brush
Not sure which one to book? A straight comparison by coat type, price, and how often each is needed.
Read more →$20–$170Grooming Prices
What mobile grooming actually costs here, why prices vary by dog, and what's included at every tier.
Read more →Where We Groom Shih Tzus
Shih Tzu grooming across southern Maine.
Searching for a shih tzu groomer near you? We bring a calm, small-dog-friendly setup right to your driveway across southern Maine. See all our locations →
Kennebunkport Shih Tzu GroomingKennebunk Shih Tzu GroomingCape Porpoise Shih Tzu GroomingGoose Rocks Beach Shih Tzu GroomingArundel Shih Tzu GroomingBiddeford Shih Tzu GroomingSaco Shih Tzu GroomingWells Shih Tzu GroomingOgunquit Shih Tzu GroomingYork Shih Tzu GroomingOld Orchard Beach Shih Tzu GroomingScarborough Shih Tzu Grooming
Shih Tzu Grooming FAQ
Questions shih tzus owners ask us.
How often should a shih tzu be groomed?
Every 4–6 weeks for a puppy cut, and every 2–4 weeks if you're maintaining a full coat. Most owners also want a face and eye tidy between full grooms, since the muzzle hair grows into the eyes quickly.
What's the best haircut for a shih tzu?
For most owners in Maine, a puppy cut at half an inch to an inch. It stays comfortable through summer humidity and winter snow, brushes out in minutes, and keeps the classic round shih tzu head.
How do I stop tear staining?
Keep the hair around the eyes short and the area dry, wipe daily with a damp cloth, and rule out blocked tear ducts with your vet. Grooming manages it; it's rarely eliminated entirely in light-coated dogs.
Is mobile grooming safe for a flat-faced breed?
It's often better. No car ride, no crate, no waiting in a hot, loud salon, and we control the temperature in the trailer. We also keep sessions short and skip heated dryers on the face.
Where in southern Maine do you groom shih tzus?
We serve Kennebunkport, Kennebunk, Cape Porpoise, Goose Rocks Beach, Arundel, Biddeford, Saco, Wells, Ogunquit, York, Old Orchard Beach and Scarborough, from York up through Scarborough.