A more suitable question to ask is what works well for you. Thankfully your little fur baby is small so even if he does decide to squirm about or shake all the water off of him and onto you, you will be able to control the situation. Nevertheless, now is the time to training him/her to stay still while you bathe or you will end up with an adult who will get you all wet. We are not a professional grooming salon but we do have a kitchen sink, and that works great! Just how to you get started? Assemble the things you will need:

• Bath mat with a non-skid backing for the sink
• Shampoo & Conditioning Rinse
• Sink, with a spray nozzle if possible; if not you will need to reposition your Tzu periodically to get him thoroughly washed and rinsed
• Large cup
• Cotton Balls for ears if desired
• Hair Dryer
• A gentle voice and a few dog treats

Before bathing your Shih Tzu, remember to brush the coat thoroughly making sure that you remove any knots from the coat. Knots tend to get worse when they get wet. Beyond that, bathing a Shih Tzu is like bathing a human infant. If you make it an enjoyable experience, your fur baby will love all the attention and pampering. Always keep a hand on your dog at all times, even if they have never tried to jump out of the sink. Shih Tzu need frequent baths, but not so frequent that the shampoo dries out their hair. Most reliable sources that I have seen tend to recommend bathing your Shih Tzu about ever three weeks. Certainly if he gets dirty, he will need a bath sooner. Most Shih Tzu love the outdoors and just as human children do, they will find every mud puddle in their path. There is even Shih Tzu that loves to swim and if they do not have access to a pool will try to swim in their water dish. I personally bathe my dogs once per week. They all seem to crave the extra pampering.

Personally, I like to use the kitchen sink. However, you can also use your bathtub, an infant bathtub, or a large plastic container. Place the small towel or skid free mat on the base of the sink so your Tzu won't slide around. Add a little warm water and lift your dog gently into the sink. You do not need a lot of water, or your Shih Tzu may become fearful. An inch of water is fine. First, get him fully soaked using a spray or cup for pour water over his entire body. Use a good quality dog shampoo. I like to use a hypoallergenic dog shampoo. If your dog is under a year old, you might want to use a puppy shampoo. Do not use your own shampoo, as human products tend to dry out the coat of your Shih Tzu. If your dog is white or has a mostly white coat, a whitening shampoo works well. If your dog is scratching, you might consider an oatmeal based shampoo.

Instead of placing the shampoo directly on the dog, I like to put some in a cup and add warm water. I mix it thoroughly and then pour it onto the coat, making sure I do not get it in their eyes. I work it into lather, especially on their pads, as their feet tend to get dirtier than the rest of them. Since most dogs do not like their faces washed, I leave that part until last. If you are careful, you will be able to put shampoo on their head, on the hair around their muzzle, and the ears and chest. You can use a wash cloth if you prefer but since the face area gets very dirty it is a good idea to keep the shampoo on for a few minutes before rinsing.

Rinse with warm water. You should express his anal glands while in the tub. Next, I use a conditioning rinse, but once again, I mix it in a cup filled with warm water. I then pour it over the coat and massage it in. I like to keep it on for a minute or two if the dog will allow. If I am massaging, he usually does not protest at all. I will then rinse it out. Some people like to keep just a trace of the conditioner on the coat. This helps with brushing, but do not leave so much on that the hair becomes oily. Have a towel handy and ready to go because the first thing your Shih Tzu will do is shake off the water.

If you wrap him up in a towel quickly, he will not be able to spray water on you. Pat gently dry, but do not rub his coat as this will tangle the hair. Keep him wrapped in a towel while you prepare to blow him dry with a hair dryer.

Use the low or cool setting of your blow dryer. I like to hold the dryer with one hand and brush with the other, but that is only because my dogs have become accustomed to laying still. If you are doing this on a table I recommend you keep one hand on the dog at all times if they are not tethered in some way. It is also helpful if someone holds the dryer for you so you have an extra free hand. You can also purchase dog dryers if you prefer that mount or are free-standing, allowing you do have your hands free for brushing.

Bathing can become an enjoyable experience for both you and your dog and provides an opportunity to bond with your dog. Always keep it positive and have some extra treats around if your little one resists. A dog bone that can be chewed by you are blowing her dry will create all the distraction she needs so you can get the job done.