Shih Tzu grooming in Malaysia: cuts, cost

A Shih Tzu in Malaysia needs its coat brushed to the skin every day and a full groom every 4 to 6 weeks. Most owners here choose a short puppy or teddy cut, which is far easier to keep free of mats in our humidity than a long coat with a topknot. At PGH, inside Main Place Mall in USJ 21, Subang Jaya, a typical 5 to 8 kg Shih Tzu pays RM45 for a bath, RM80 for a basic groom, RM120 for a full shave, RM130 or RM160 for a scissor and shave, and RM200 for a full scissor. The AKC standard puts the breed at 9 to 16 pounds, about 4 to 7 kg. It is also flat-faced, so it copes badly with heat. A short clip makes brushing easier, but shade, air-conditioning and cool walking times protect a Shih Tzu more than any haircut. Wipe the eyes daily and check the ears weekly.

We run a grooming salon and pet hotel, not a vet clinic, and we do not sell or breed dogs. The PGH prices below are what we charge. The breed and health sections summarise the AKC, The Kennel Club, VCA and a peer-reviewed study. They are not a diagnosis, so take any health concern to your vet.

What is a Shih Tzu like as a pet?

The AKC describes a small, sturdy toy dog, 9 to 10.5 inches tall at the shoulder and 9 to 16 pounds, with a life expectancy of 10 to 18 years. It was bred as a palace companion in China, and the AKC calls it outgoing and affectionate. The Kennel Club rates it as a small dog that needs up to an hour of exercise a day and suits a flat or apartment, which makes it a good fit for a Malaysian condo.

Three things shape how you groom it:

• The coat. The AKC standard calls it "double-coated, dense, long, and flowing". The Kennel Club lists the breed as one that does not shed and needs grooming every day.
• The face. A short muzzle and large, round eyes. VCA lists the Shih Tzu among brachycephalic, or flat-faced, breeds.
• The heat. The AKC says that because of their heavy coats and short faces, Shih Tzus do not tolerate heat well.

Why does a Shih Tzu coat mat so fast?

A Shih Tzu's hair keeps growing and does not drop onto the floor the way a Beagle's does. Loose hair stays in the coat and tangles with the hair around it. Mats start close to the skin, where you cannot see them, and in our humidity they tighten as they dry after a bath or a walk in the rain.

The first places to mat are behind the ears, under the collar, in the armpits, on the belly and between the back legs. Brushing only the top of the coat leaves those areas untouched. The AKC advises daily brushing with a wire brush with flexible pins, working through the coat in layers so you reach the skin.

Once a coat is matted, brushing it out hurts. A severely matted coat needs dematting or a shave at extra charge, and the result may be shorter than you wanted.

Which Shih Tzu haircut should I choose?

Style	What it looks like	PGH service	Upkeep at home
Puppy or teddy cut	Body clipped short, head rounded by hand	Scissor & shave (head)	Brush several times a week, face daily
Teddy cut with fuller legs	Short body, head and legs shaped by hand	Scissor & shave (head & legs)	Brush legs and face daily
Full scissor	Longer, fluffier coat shaped all over by hand	Full scissor	Daily brushing to the skin
Long coat with topknot	Coat left long, hair on the head tied up	Basic groom to keep it clean and tidy	Daily brushing, topknot redone daily
Full shave	Whole body clipped short	Full shave	Easiest, brush a few times a week

Puppy or teddy cut. This is the most practical cut for a pet in Malaysia. A short body is quick to brush and dries fast after a bath, and the rounded face keeps the look most owners want.

Topknot. The AKC standard ties the hair on top of the head up, and the AKC tells owners to comb the moustache and topknot daily. It keeps hair out of the eyes. It is a show-style look that takes daily work in our climate. If you want to keep the long coat, plan on brushing every day.

Full shave. A fair choice when the coat is matted or you cannot brush daily. See the shaving section below.

The more of the coat the groomer shapes by hand, the longer the groom and the higher the price. What each service includes is in dog grooming prices explained.

Should you shave a Shih Tzu in Malaysia's heat?

A short clip is fine for a Shih Tzu. The coat keeps growing, so it grows back. A shave has two limits worth knowing:

• It does not fix the heat problem. A Shih Tzu struggles in heat mainly because of its short face, not its coat. A clipped Shih Tzu still needs shade, water and air-conditioning on hot days.
• Skin needs some cover. A coat clipped to the skin leaves pale skin open to strong sun. Ask for a short clip that leaves some coat, and keep a freshly clipped dog out of the midday sun.

When it is the right call: a matted coat, a dog with a skin problem your vet wants to reach, or an owner who cannot brush daily. A short, mat-free coat is kinder than a long, matted one.

How often should a Shih Tzu be groomed?

Task	How often
Brush and comb to the skin	Every day for a long coat, several times a week for a teddy cut
Wipe eye corners	Every day
Check and clean ears	Weekly
Trim nails	Every 3 to 4 weeks
Full groom at a salon	Every 4 to 6 weeks

The Kennel Club rates the breed as needing grooming every day. Our full schedule by coat type is in how often should dogs be groomed?, and the early warning signs are in signs your pet needs grooming.

How do you clean Shih Tzu tear stains and eyes?

The AKC advises gently cleaning the corner of the eyes with a damp cloth every day. Tear stains are the reddish-brown marks where tears keep the hair under the eye wet. A daily wipe and a face trim or topknot that keeps hair off the eyes help most.

Take more care with a flat-faced dog's eyes than with other breeds. The Kennel Club says some brachycephalic dogs have shallow eye sockets, so the eyes are more prominent and at higher risk of injury, ulcers and dryness. A red, cloudy or squinting eye, or a sudden rise in tearing, needs a vet, not a stronger wipe.

How do you look after a Shih Tzu's ears and face?

The AKC standard describes large, heavily coated ears. Hair and wax hold moisture inside a floppy ear, so check the ears weekly for smell, redness or discharge. Ear cleaning is part of every basic groom at PGH, and a dog that scratches or shakes its head a lot should see a vet.

The face needs daily attention too. Comb the moustache and beard, where food and water collect, and dry the face after meals.

Is a Shih Tzu at risk of heatstroke in Malaysia?

Yes, more than many breeds. VCA explains that flat-faced dogs breathe through narrowed airways, that signs are often worse in hot or humid weather, and that they overheat more easily because they cannot pant and cool themselves well. A UK study of dogs under veterinary care found brachycephalic dogs had 2.10 times the odds of heat-related illness compared with dogs of medium skull shape.

In practice:

• Walk early in the morning or after sunset, never at midday.
• Keep the dog in an air-conditioned room on hot days, as VCA advises for affected dogs.
• Never leave a Shih Tzu in a parked car.
• Watch for loud, heavy breathing, tiredness or collapse after exercise. These are signs to take to a vet.
• Keep the dog lean. VCA notes obesity worsens breathing problems.

How much does Shih Tzu grooming cost at PGH?

The AKC range of 9 to 16 pounds puts most adult Shih Tzus in the 5 to 8 kg row. Small or young dogs fall in the 2 to 4 kg row, and heavier dogs in the 9 to 12 kg row.

Weight	Bath	Basic	Full shave	Scissor & shave (head)	Scissor & shave (head & legs)	Full scissor
2–4 kg	RM40	RM70	RM100	RM120	RM150	RM180
5–8 kg	RM45	RM80	RM120	RM130	RM160	RM200
9–12 kg	RM50	RM90	RM120	RM140	RM180	RM230

Prices checked October 2026. Prices are for reference. The final price depends on size, coat condition and behaviour.

A basic groom includes a bath with a shampoo matched to the coat, a blow dry and brush-out, nail trimming, ear cleaning, a sanitary and paw-pad tidy, and a face and feet tidy. Extras that often apply to a Shih Tzu:

• Dematting: RM15 to RM150, depending on how much matting there is.
• Director cut: +RM50 for small dogs.
• Tooth brushing: RM10 to RM15.

Your groomer explains the service and price and gets your approval before starting. Full prices are on the dog grooming page.

Going away? Every room in the dog hotel is individual and air-conditioned. The Deluxe Room is RM50 a night.

Send your Shih Tzu's weight, a photo of the coat and the cut you want on WhatsApp. PGH is inside Main Place Mall, USJ 21, Subang Jaya.