Although grooming is usually a fun activity, some dogs may react negatively towards it. This could be for a number of reasons including previous neglect, being reminded of going to the vets or just general feelings of unease.

You must bathe your dog every four to six weeks. A haircut every 10-12 weeks is also necessary. Brushing your long-haired dog daily can give you a longer gap between professional grooming visits. If you cannot do this daily, bringing your dog to the groomer more often can maintain your dog's coat health.

For some people, this is the biggest challenge - wanting to play with the dogs. It's very, very hard to control the impulse of wanting to play with dogs while in the salon. So many friendly dogs and puppies come into the shop and all they naturally want to do is play.

Be prepared to describe how you want the ears, tail, face, feet and body to look. There are literally hundreds of ways we can groom a Shih Tzu, so don't ask the groomer to “make her look like a Shih Tzu”. With so many options, it is up to you to tell us what you want.