Shedding puppy hair?

[Maria Juliano]

My two shih tzus have an appointment with the groomer's tomorrow morning. I'm thinking of cutting Lina's hair short because she's shedding quite a bit lately. She has fine, straight hair. Giotto has thick hair and he doesn't shed at all.

I read that shih tzus will shed their puppy hair around 7-12 months. Is this true?

[Amy Siggers]

I have also heard that and my husband is going to die when Cassie starts shedding because I told him these breed of dogs dont shed. Of course he'll have to understand that they HAVE to lose their puppy hair to get their adult hair in.. Cassie is so funny right now because she has this little afro thing going on! She goes to the groomer next Friday and boy does she need it! I bathe her every Saturday and make her smell good and look pretty but she doesn't look anything like she does when she gets back from her groomer.. She is great! Look at these 2 photos I took at lunch today.. The one with her tongue hanging out is after we were through playing and the other one is the look she gave me when I told her it was time for mommy to go back to work and she had to go to her crate. I swear these dogs are so awesome! She makes my life complete!

[Maria Juliano]

Hi Amy,

OMG! Cassie is sooo cute!! I love both pictures...I love the little red tongue :p I'm yet to capture a picture with their little tongues hanging out...waiting for the right moment. Will take pictures of them ( after their hair cut tomorrow ) and post some. If it weren't that I read in my shih tzu books that our breed sheds their puppy hair, I would of thought there was something wrong with Lina. Hopefully the hair cut it's going to keep them cooler as well. I took them for a walk ( just got back ) and noticed they were panting quite a bit. The temperature here is in the 80's.

[Jody Bidlack]

It is believed that the shih tzu breed was derived by crossing Lhasa Apsos and Chinese pugs. So their fur is probably somewhat similar. Lhasa Apso puppies shed their baby fur, and it is common for their adult fur to end up a little lighter in color than their baby fur. My Lhasa, Leo, started shedding his fur at about 8 months old. He never had fur falling out and being stuck to the furniture or carpet. It was more like his underfur came out and made matts on him. He was at least 14 months old before the matting stopped. I had to brush him constantly until the baby fur shed stopped. I also chose to keep his hair short to make it easier.
Jody

[Maria Juliano]

It is believed that the shih tzu breed was derived by crossing Lhasa Apsos and Chinese pugs. So their fur is probably somewhat similar. Lhasa Apso puppies shed their baby fur, and it is common for their adult fur to end up a little lighter in color than their baby fur. My Lhasa, Leo, started shedding his fur at about 8 months old. He never had fur falling out and being stuck to the furniture or carpet. It was more like his underfur came out and made matts on him. He was at least 14 months old before the matting stopped. I had to brush him constantly until the baby fur shed stopped. I also chose to keep his hair short to make it easier.
Jody

Hi Jody and Welcome!!

You are right the Shih Tzu is related to both the Lhasa Apso and the Chinese Pug. That makes my dogs and Leo distant relatives.;)

My Lina is the only one who is shedding, I find hair just about every where. I brush her hair sometimes twice a day with a slicker brush...the brush is always full of hair. I hate to cut her hair short ( she has a silky coat ) but with the warm weather setting in here in Northern Va. it's best that I do. At least she will look more like her brother Giotto, he already got a "puppy cut" the last time he went to the groomers.

How old is Leo? Post some pictures of him and let us know more about him.

[Patti Ramsour]

Cassie is too cute!!!!!!!! I didnt really notice Maggie shedding hair at a young age....but I do notice now that when her hair starts to get a little longer I will find little clumps around from scratching. That is a problem she has had since I got her as a puppy.....The vet gives her allergy shots but they only last a week and I dont think they are good for her anyway. She doesnt get hot spots and mostly scratches when she wakes up. It can be waking up from her kennel, my bed, the floor, or furniture! He also said something about allergy testing but the success rate in that is slim and very expensive. I keep Maggie in a puppy cut because it is easier to maintain and plus it makes her look more like a puppy!


Patti & Maggie

[Maria Juliano]

Cassie is too cute!!!!!!!! I didnt really notice Maggie shedding hair at a young age....but I do notice now that when her hair starts to get a little longer I will find little clumps around from scratching. That is a problem she has had since I got her as a puppy.....The vet gives her allergy shots but they only last a week and I dont think they are good for her anyway. She doesnt get hot spots and mostly scratches when she wakes up. It can be waking up from her kennel, my bed, the floor, or furniture! He also said something about allergy testing but the success rate in that is slim and very expensive. I keep Maggie in a puppy cut because it is easier to maintain and plus it makes her look more like a puppy!


Patti & Maggie

Welcome Patti and Maggie--I just read your 1st post... sorry I missed it. Please let us know about your baby Maggie and post some pictures of her.

There are no dumb questions in here, so post away!

[Jody Bidlack]

Leo is 16 months old. I will attempt to post a pic within the next few days.
Jody

[Amy Siggers]

Hi Amy,

OMG! Cassie is sooo cute!! I love both pictures...I love the little red tongue :p I'm yet to capture a picture with their little tongues hanging out...waiting for the right moment. Will take pictures of them ( after their hair cut tomorrow ) and post some. If it weren't that I read in my shih tzu books that our breed sheds their puppy hair, I would of thought there was something wrong with Lina. Hopefully the hair cut it's going to keep them cooler as well. I took them for a walk ( just got back ) and noticed they were panting quite a bit. The temperature here is in the 80's.

Ya know, Cassie has been doing hte same thing (panting easily). Both my boys play ball 4+ days a week at the ball field and I take her with us all the time because its late when we get home and I can't bear the thought of her staying home alone after we get home from work! She doesn't do much physical exercise at the ball field but I have to constantly keep water available for her because she pants and her little tongue hangs almost to the ground. She is only 3 months old and only has her puppy cut and it wouldn't be good to get her hair cut too short at such a young age would it? Also, I dont want to get her shaved! lol... The temp here is around 75 right now but next month it'll get to be in the upper 90's! We are wanting to take her on our boat with us each weekend during the summer (alot of it is shaded because it is a ski boat) and I also wanted your advice on that too.. We will make her a little bed under where my husband drives (nice and cool under there) and always have her water and food available so it should be fine right? Sorry to bombard you like that but you just seem to know alot more than I do!

[Maria Juliano]

Ya know, Cassie has been doing hte same thing (panting easily). Both my boys play ball 4+ days a week at the ball field and I take her with us all the time because its late when we get home and I can't bear the thought of her staying home alone after we get home from work! She doesn't do much physical exercise at the ball field but I have to constantly keep water available for her because she pants and her little tongue hangs almost to the ground. She is only 3 months old and only has her puppy cut and it wouldn't be good to get her hair cut too short at such a young age would it? Also, I dont want to get her shaved! lol... The temp here is around 75 right now but next month it'll get to be in the upper 90's! We are wanting to take her on our boat with us each weekend during the summer (alot of it is shaded because it is a ski boat) and I also wanted your advice on that too.. We will make her a little bed under where my husband drives (nice and cool under there) and always have her water and food available so it should be fine right? Sorry to bombard you like that but you just seem to know alot more than I do!

Shih Tzus do not like hot, humid weather... cutting their hair short will make them more comfortable, besides, their hair grows fast.

In my opinion, I think it's wonderful you can take her on the boat to introduce her to all the "family" fun. I would suggest you buy her a doggie life vest ( just in case. )

Have fun!

[Jesse Cruz]

hi ladies,
ok amy, cassie is an absolute doll. literally! she doesn't look real, she's is soooooo freaking cute! i remember chloe at 3 months old, she was so tiny she fit in my hand. just like cassie!

maria, i don't ever recall seeing chloe shed. maybe that's why she got so matted last time. i do like the puppy cut, chloe looks great right now and bailey looks like a peach with his new haircut. my little man! i do love how they look with longer hair but in the summer its so much better for them to have the puppy cut.

[Amy Siggers]

I will definately buy her a little life vest! Thanks for that reminder! I think of Cassie as one of my children and I would never leave my children at home while I went to the ball field to watch another child, nor would I leave them at home when I went out on the boat so I dont do it to her either. It even breaks my heart when we go to dinner on Friday nights and have to leave her at home.. I wish places like Wal-Mart allowed pets.. I am going to buy one of those pet carriers that you hang from your shoulder like a purse to take her to the ball field in so I dont draw so much attention when we first get there. Do you have any experiences with these?

[Amy Siggers]

hi ladies,
ok amy, cassie is an absolute doll. literally! she doesn't look real, she's is soooooo freaking cute! i remember chloe at 3 months old, she was so tiny she fit in my hand. just like cassie!

maria, i don't ever recall seeing chloe shed. maybe that's why she got so matted last time. i do like the puppy cut, chloe looks great right now and bailey looks like a peach with his new haircut. my little man! i do love how they look with longer hair but in the summer its so much better for them to have the puppy cut.

okay..sooo...where are the pictures of their new do's? lol

[Jesse Cruz]

you should definitely get the carrying bag. i have two: one that looks like a gym bag and another one like a big pocket book. its easier to walk around with them in it while shopping because no one notices. i just put it in the cart and stroll away.

i was exhausted last night and just couldn't muster up the energy to download the pics. maybe 2nite or the weekend. ;)

[Amy Siggers]

I guess I'll let you off the hook this time :D

Cassie goes to the groomer today so I will take some pics of her when I get her home and post them Monday!!

[Jesse Cruz]

hi, i posted pics of chloe and bailey in the pic thread but i'll put it here also.
this is after the groomer. i couldn't get a really good shot of bailey, he does not sit still.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y46/JesseCruz/DSC00156.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y46/JesseCruz/DSC00149.jpg