First things first, brush, brush, brush, before every bath brush the coat out, making sure you get all the way down to the skin, and never leave even the tiniest matt or tangle, because if you do, it will be a HUGE tangle  and mat when the bath is done.  I have found that a good children's detangle is a wonderful thing to use daily and before bathing to get those tiresome mats and tangle out and keep them out.

Keeping a Shih Tzu' s whites white can be a challenge of monumental proportions, but I think these tips will help considerable. We use water bottles to for water.  This helps keep their faces and rough a little drier.  We also feed dry dog food kibble and small size kibble for small breeds. Bottled water is also a help because some waters are harder than others, and have certain minerals in them that can cause discoloration.  Minerals such as iron, etc. Whitening is an ongoing grooming activity and needs to be addressed every day with daily grooming/cleaning and routine bathing.

Periodic bathing is very important.  Everyone ask, how often do I bath my puppy?  I always tell them, when they get dirty.  I have found that when a puppy or dog is dirty they need a bath.  No one wants to be around a smelly dirty dog, and since they are a part of your home and family, you want it to be a positive experience for everyone and not one that sends everyone shrieking and running from the room when the dog or puppy enters. Bathe your dog as you normally do using your shampoo of choice. I do use human shampoo one my dogs, and then a good Whitener and brightener shampoo secondly. If the whites are extremely dirty for some reason (grass stains, rain, leaves, grit, sand, mud,  and salt (which can be toxic to your dog) from winter road mixes, etc, etc., etc., in these instances be sure to use extra shampoo and work it in really really well establishing a thick lather and suds.  You may have to re-wet the puppy or dog a little in this process. (Always work the shampoo from the body out in the direction of coat growth. Going "against the grain" will result in a huge matted mess you will regret, and I nor anyone else will have to explain again!   A fine "jet" stream from a spray bottle will help get the shampoo deep into the coat before you begin working it into a good lather. You can get a good spray bottle at one of the Retail Super Stores, other retail stores or beauty supply stores. 

An extra heavy shampooing such as should remove all the dirt and will go a long way to helping  remove some of the staining on the white areas of the dog. Lather the dog and work the shampoo in for about 8 - 10 minutes then rinse your dog really well with warm water to ensure that all the shampoo is out and the coat is again thoroughly wet down to the skin. Be sure the water is not to hot and burn your little fur baby.  Check the temperature on the inside of your wrist. It should be warm, but not hot or cold.  Cold water tends to close the hair follicle and "seal it up and hold the stains in." The Shih Tzu's skin's are really water resistant and will actually repel the water while the are being bathed just as your skin is water repellent.

Step two is much the same as the first except you want to use a brightening and whitening shampoo.  Using a  dedicated whitening shampoo made to remove stains and rewash the white areas. There are multiple whitening shampoos from which to choose. If you are using a dog shampoo for the regular cleaning, chances are that the same company makes a whitening shampoo and that should be your first try. Whitening shampoo from the same brand name as the general cleaning shampoo should ensure compatibility and prevent any irritating or allergy triggering reactions. This is not common, but it doe occasionally happen.  Watch for reddening skin, (more than usual with bathing, rashes, skin scratch, etc.).

If, like me, you use a good quality human shampoo (I particularly like the Aussie products available at most retailers) for regular bathing, try any whitening shampoo as your first choice. I have had particular success with Cardinal Gold Medal Blue Diamond Shampoo available at Petsmart and the Coat Handler brand of shampoo available online at Cherry Brook.  There is a link to it on my hot links page. Also Pet Edge offers a wonderful selection of shampoos and certain ones will work better for the stains your puppy or dog gets. (It never ceases to amaze me that a blue shampoo can make things brilliantly white.) Apply the shampoo and work it in thoroughly and in accordance with directions let it sit for a time. Cardinal recommends 5-10 minutes,  I give it 10 minutes and often 12-15 for particularly stubborn stains. Once it has "processed" for the recommended time rinse the coat clear of shampoo and complete the bathing with a good conditioning treatment. I also use a good human leave in conditioner that I mist on just before blow drying. (The whites can be conditioned as they are naturally a softer coat texture than the grizzle but be careful not to soften the grizzle coat if you are showing. The grizzle coat is what gives the Shih Tzu coat that Poof! If you don't show your dog and you like a softer coat you can condition the grizzle just like the white.)

Make sure the coat is thoroughly dried before letting your now clean Shih Tzu loose. A wet coat will stain incredibly quickly and those stains  set in more stubbornly and quickly if the coat is wet when he stain happens.

Taking the time for daily whitening can be accomplished in short order and goes along way in keeping pristine coat. Around the face and beard area which typically gets very wet while drinking and stays at least damp the white beard can stain from pink to a dark brown depending on how "wet mouthed" the dog is, how much water he/she gets and how sloppy an eater he/she is. After brushing out the beard and affected upper chest area the coat can be sprayed with a hydrogen peroxide or lemon water solution. I like the peroxide for speed and "intensity" of results. Be cautious though not to wet the coat down to the skin as peroxide will dry the skin and may even cause burning if enough gets on the skin directly, especially if there is food debris or dirt on the skin with which it will react. If this occurs immediately rinse you pet with cool water until all shampoo or peroxide is gone.  Generally about 8 - 10 minutes.  CAUTION, DO NOT get this in your dog or puppy's eyes! Once the peroxide has finished processing with the protein part of the stain (foaming and heating stops) rinse the area with a damp face cloth and dry thoroughly. The beard will now be free of food debris and much whiter than when you started. If the coat is not quite dry enough corn starch is a good additive. I use the Cornstarch baby powder, and you can apply it with a makeup brush or small eyebrow brush. It both dries any remaining moisture and whitens the hair.

Another more subtle method is  baking soda mixed with a small amount of  water to make a paste and then rub into the stained white areas willassist in the removal of some stains. This will not be as ultimately effective in removing large or dark stains as the peroxide, but it is gentler to the coat and less drying to the skin. As well this mixture will not heat up like the peroxide, but again it is less effective.

Also available if the coat is essentially clean are a variety of chalks and/ corn starch are available where you purchase show supplies. (Cherry Brook) These are specific blends of chalks ground to very specific consistency for use in the show ring. They have no cleaning properties at all  but cover up or mask stains. Also a little mink oil spray available at most retail stores in the shampoo sections gives them that "Show Glow"!  Use sparingly or you will have a oily coat!

Of course a pound of prevention is far better than cure than trying to correct the problem afterwards. By limiting your dog's access to outside factors such as mud, rain, grass, etc. you will substantially help in keeping him/her bright, white and clean, but after all they are dogs and they love to be outside and play and by  the perverse laws of fate, which guide children and dogs they are only interested in these things when freshly bathed! Once our little beauties are  dirty again these items are of absolutely no interest whatsoever to them and they will disdainful walk around them or refuse to walk in them at all and insist on being carried!

Water bottles for water are a huge help as well, as is feeding dry kibble instead of wet canned foods. Bottled water without minerals and additives is also a help. 

I hope this helps you with all of your coat questions and helps you with bathing your Shih Tzu.  Here is a list of the product I have mentioned and general places they can be found.

1. Regular Shampoo - Human or Dog

2. Whitener Brightener Shampoo - Pet Shampoo

3. Conditoner - Human or Dog

4. Leave In Conditioner - Human

5 . Detangling Spray - Human Children

6. Mink Oil Spray

7. Spray bottles

8. Pin Brush

9. Slicker Brush

10. Rat Tailed Comb

11. Metal Comb with both wide and narrow teeth

12. Plastic hair pick