Kiddie pool days are fun until it's detangling time
Bao loves splashing in the little kiddie pool we set up for her but her coat mats so fast afterward if I don't get to it within the hour. Routine now is: pool time, immediate towel dry, leave-in conditioner spray, then a full brush-out before she's allowed to just relax. Sounds like a lot but honestly beats dealing with a full mat later. Curious what other long-coated breed owners have figured out for post-water coat care in summer.
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Ah, the eternal trade-off of a beautiful coat, joy in the water followed immediately by labor on land. Freya would never deign to enter a kiddie pool in the first place, so you have my genuine admiration
Solid system, most people skip the leave-in conditioner step and pay for it later with mats. If anyone's considering the breed, listing page here: https://allinpets.com/pets/dogs/shih-tzu/
The immediate-dry-and-brush window is everything with a long coat, wait even 20 minutes too long and it's a different job entirely. General summer care piece touches on some related routines: https://allinpets.com/blog/dogs/rules-for-spending-time-with-your-pet-outdoors-in-summer-20/