Tibetan Terrier Grooming

Tibetan Terriers have long-haired, hanging coats--and the hair tends to mat on a regular basis. These dogs, therefore, need frequent grooming to keep their coats healthy, clean, and mat-free. See below for details on coat maintenance, brushing, and various Tibetan Terrier hairstyle options.

Tibetan Terriers, like other breeds with long, hanging coats, tend to develop mats and tangles in their fur quite easily; hence Tibetan Terrier grooming needs to be an almost daily habit. They will need brushing (described in more detail in the "Brushing" section) nearly every day, baths every 3-4 weeks, and, depending on the owner's preferred hairstyle, clipping or scissoring once every 3 months or so.

When bathing your TT, using a clean outdoor space is best; a kiddie pool is ideal. Give the dog a quick brush-through beforehand (as you'll brush more thoroughly afterward), then use a hose (or a large cup, if using an indoor tub) to wet the TT's coat. Use canine shampoo and conditioner (available at pet stores) to clean the coat section by section, then towel- or blow-dry the coat. Finish with a deep, thorough brushing as described in the Brushing section.

TTs, whether with a full coat or with a sculpted hairstyle, will require a trim every 3 months or so. While a lot of people learn to cut their dog's hair at home, it's useful to visit a professional groomer at least once, as the groomer can provide useful tips on how to groom a Tibetan Terrier in general.

When brushing a Tibetan Terrier, a simple rule to remember is that the more often you brush, the lesser the chances of the fur becoming matted or tangled. Brushing these dogs should take place 4-5 times per week (and daily for owners who show their dogs).

The best brush for a Tibetan Terrier is a medium pin brush, either with or without rubber tips; a good grooming comb will also be necessary to work through stubborn mats. First, thoroughly wet the coat with mist from a spray bottle. Begin brushing at the underbelly and legs--which means it'll probably be good to teach your TT to lie on its side. Work through the fur with the pin brush, using deep, quick strokes, and brushing in the direction of fur growth. Next brush the body starting at the shoulders and working your way back. Finish with the head, ears, and facial furnishings using both the brush and the comb.

Mats (which on TTs are found most often around the ears, anywhere on the underbody, and on the legs) can be worked through using your fingers and the greyhound comb. Try to separate the mats into smaller ones, and gently work through the separations until the mat is gone. Stubborn mats will need to be cut out with clippers or scissors.

For the Tibetan Terrier, matted hair can unfortunately be a common issue. These dogs' long, double-layered coats develop tangles regularly on the legs, underbody, and around the ears, especially during shedding season when the dead hairs from the undercoat tangle with the long outer coat. And if left unchecked, the tangles can quickly develop into mats, which are very difficult to remove without just cutting them away. The first, best defense against tangles: consistent brushing! If your TT does get a tangled coat, though, here are two ways of dealing with them.

• Use your fingers. Though this method requires more time and patience, it's the preferred one because it's less damaging to the coat. Simply use your thumbs and forefingers to separate the hairs, going strand by strand if necessary. If you like you can spray de-tangling solution on the snarl beforehand to lubricate the hairs. You can also use scissors to cut the tangle in half (or even fourths) to get the untangling process started.
• Use a de-shedding tool. Another school of thought is to stop tangles from developing by using de-shedding tools to help remove dead hairs from the undercoat. With the sharp, fine teeth of a tool like a Furminator, Tibetan Terrier dogs will shed less--and in turn, the coats won't tangle as much. The problem with using de-shedding tools is that they often remove healthy hairs along with the dead ones, which can make the coat look uneven. Using your fingers is definitely better.

Of course, if you have a mat or tangle that's impossible to undo, the only option is to cut it out with scissors--but this should be a last resort.

Because the breed's fur is so prone to matting, many owners choose to give their Tibetan Terrier short haircut styles like a Puppy Cut or something similar. While show dogs will need to have their full coats, other owners choose from numerous grooming styles for their Tibetan Terrier. A few of the most popular ones:

• Puppy Cut: In this style, A Tibetan Terrier is clipped short (about 1.5-2 inches) all over, reducing the occurrence of matted fur. Some owners choose to leave the hair on the face, head, ears, and tail a bit longer. With instruction from a professional groomer, this cut can easily be done at home.
• Teddy Bear Cut: Similar to a Puppy Cut, but a little longer; the body hair is cut fairly short (2-3 inches), but the hair on the face, legs, and tail are left longer, and carefully sculpted and rounded to make the dog resemble a teddy bear. Can be done at home with a groomer's instruction.
• 3-Layer Cut: Also called the "3-Stack," this cut sees the hair on the face and ears cut to about shoulder length; the body hair is cut to about 3 inches from the ground; and the leg hair is cut to just above the ground. The cut gives the coat the appearance of three distinct "levels." Best done by a professional groomer.