Tibetan Spaniel Grooming

Tibetan Spaniels' smooth, medium-length double coats are relatively easy to care for. Below you'll find further details on maintaining these dogs' coats, plus descriptions of popular Tibetan Terrier hairstyles.

"Tibbies" have medium-length, double-layered coats that don't require a huge amount of care, so Tibetan Spaniel grooming is not too time-consuming overall. They shed lightly year-round (and more heavily during the fall and spring shedding seasons), so these little dogs will need brushing twice a week (and 3-4 times per week during shedding season). They'll also need baths every couple of months, and depending on your preferred hairstyle, they'll require clipping/scissoring every three months or so.

To brush a Tibbie: first wet the coat with mist from a spray bottle, then use a slicker brush to go through the coat in typical line-brushing fashion. Once every couple of weeks, it might be good to also go over the coat with an undercoat rake to remove any dead hairs. During shedding season, brush them more often, and use the undercoat rake at least once a week to aid in the shedding process.

If you're following the brushing with a bath, Tibbies are small enough to be bathed in the kitchen sink. Use canine shampoo (and conditioner, if desired); rinse well, towel-dry, then give the coat another quick brush-through to make it look clean and healthy.

Tibbies will need a haircut about every three months. Some owners learn to cut their dogs' hair themselves, while others rely on professional groomers; either way, it's a good idea to see a groomer at least once, as he or she can provide additional tips on how to groom a Tibetan Spaniel in general.

Here are descriptions of three popular Tibetan Spaniel haircuts:

• Puppy Cut: In this "low-maintenance" style, a Tibetan Spaniel is shaved close (1.5-2 inches) all over. Some owners choose to leave the hair on the legs, tail, and neck ruff a bit longer. Can be done at home with instruction from a groomer.
• Lion Cut: This creative style makes a Tibbie resemble a tiny lion. The head, chest, neck ruff, front legs, and front half of the body are left at full length; the rear half of the body, hind legs, and tail (except for the tip) are shaved very short. Probably best done by a groomer.
• Teddy Bear Cut: Turns the Tibbie into an adorable little stuffed animal. The body hair is shaved to about two inches; the leg and facial hair, and the neck ruff, are carefully rounded and sculpted to look like a teddy bear. Can be done at home with a groomer's instruction--but might take a bit of practice.