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In a hurry? Call or text (669) 281-0022 and Ace will book you directly.
In a hurry? Call or text (669) 281-0022 and Ace will book you directly.
Every 3 to 4 weeks. A shih tzu's hair coat never stops growing and never sheds out on its own, so the interval matters more than it does for almost any other breed. Here is the full schedule and why skipping a cycle costs you a shave-down.
Same as human hair, not fur. Grows without stopping and never sheds out on its own, which is the opposite problem from a shedding breed.
Loose hairs stay tangled in the coat instead of falling out, which is exactly how mats start between baths.
This is the interval that keeps the coat brushable; waiting longer compounds into mats that a bath alone can't fix.
Our small tier. Shih tzus are consistently under 20 lbs, so they land in the lowest price band every time.
A shih tzu's coat behaves like human hair, not fur. It grows continuously and almost nothing falls out on its own. That sounds like an easy trade for a low-shed house, but the loose hair a shedding breed would drop onto the floor stays put on a shih tzu, tangling with whatever grows in next to it. Skip a bathing cycle and those small tangles have weeks to compound into a real mat.
The 3 to 4 week bath cadence is not arbitrary. It is the window that keeps the coat brushable before mats set in behind the ears, under the collar, and in the armpits, the friction points where tangles start first. Bathing without brushing first makes it worse, not better, since water tightens a mat rather than loosening it.
A missed cycle usually means a shave-down. Once mats set in past a certain point, a groomer can't safely brush or cut around them, and the only remaining option is to shave the coat short. Staying on schedule is what keeps that decision off the table.
Brush before water touches the coat, wash, then dry with airflow and a brush together. Air-drying sets new tangles into a wet hair coat.
Book the maintenance bath between clips, or the clip itself — our groomers (12+ years of experience) do the full groom at your door.
Tear staining sets fast on a white or light face. A quick daily wipe under the eyes keeps it from turning into a permanent brown streak between baths.
Brush to the skin, then a metal comb. If the comb catches, a mat is starting under a coat that looks fine on the surface.
If your vet has prescribed a medicated bathing plan for skin issues, that plan wins over this one.
Not strictly. A shih tzu is small enough for a sink, and if you brush thoroughly before every bath and dry completely afterward, a home wash on a strict 3 to 4 week schedule can work fine for a young, cooperative dog.
Where we earn the $75 is the brush-out and the dry. A hair coat this mat-prone needs a real brush-through before water touches it and a full blow-dry with a brush working through the coat at the same time, not a towel and air-drying, which sets tangles instead of preventing them. Under an hour, in your driveway, flat price.
The schedule builder already knows the shih tzu coat. Answer a few questions about your dog's age, coat length, and grooming visits, and it turns the cadence above into dates you can act on.
Build the schedule, freePoodles, Maltese, and shih tzus share the same continuously growing coat. See our poodle bathing guide for the shared matting logic, or check our included nail trim for small dogs.
Full shih tzu wash, brush-out, and blow-dry in the van at your driveway, $75, every 3 to 4 weeks.
or text us at (669) 281-0022
Owner-operated · Local service
I run Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash myself, and I’ve brought on groomers with 12+ years of experience — so now every cut, from a tidy trim to a full breed haircut, happens in the van at your curb. Every visit is one dog at a time: warm water, a full brush-out, a proper dry, and a haircut if you want one, with no salon drive and no cage waiting. The van is open to you the whole time — stand at the door and watch every minute if you like. Big dogs, heavy shedders and nervous seniors are the reason this service exists.
What our customers say
Wonderful experience! Ace did an amazing job grooming my Siberian Husky. She can be a little difficult and anxious during grooming, but Ace was incredibly calm and patient, which really helped keep her calm and comfortable too. She looked absolutely beautiful, clean, and fluffy when he was finished. I really appreciated the care and attention Ace gave her and would definitely recommend!
Ace at Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash was absolutely wonderful with my senior dog. He was so gentle and patient with him, which meant everything to me given his age -- I could tell he genuinely cared about his comfort throughout the whole process. Beyond the excellent care, Ace was warm, loving, and clearly an animal lover at heart, while also being completely professional from start to finish. It's rare to find someone who balances that kind of tenderness with real expertise, and my dog came out looking and smelling great without a hint of stress. Highly recommend Ace and Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash. Price is great!
Ace was punctual & accommodating. He was friendly & outgoing not only me & my husband but toward the dogs as well, calling them by name on our very first booking. Dogs came home clean & unstressed which is never the case when they’re washed at the groomer’s shop, around other dogs. Highly recommend.
Wonderful experience! Ace did an amazing job grooming my Siberian Husky. She can be a little difficult and anxious during grooming, but Ace was incredibly calm and patient, which really helped keep her calm and comfortable too. She looked absolutely beautiful, clean, and fluffy when he was finished. I really appreciated the care and attention Ace gave her and would definitely recommend!
We booked Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash for our 90-lb German Shepherd, Koda, who hates the groomer. Ace parked the van right in our driveway in Willow Glen, walked her up the ramp himself — no lifting, no cage, no other dogs — and I watched the whole wash from my doorstep. Bath, nails, ears, and she came back inside dry and calm. Flat $95 exactly as the website said, no surprise charges. We've already booked next month. 😊❤️
Ace did a great job with our little old chihuahua mix. Our appointment was for the evening and he came prepared with warm water, and made our sure our dog was comfortable the entire time. Don't let the lack of reviews on yelp scare you away, his prices are good, and he takes time to ensure that good work is done.
He did such an amazing job with my dog! He came out looking so nice, clean, and well-groomed, but what stood out to me most was how happy and comfortable he seemed afterward. You can really tell he was treated with care throughout the entire process. I'm extremely pleased with how everything turned out and would definitely recommend him!
Overall, we had a very positive experience with our first mobile grooming appointment. Although he arrived a little late due to a minor scheduling miscommunication, Ace was very kind, communicative, and especially patient with our dog, who can be anxious about grooming. He took the time to help him feel comfortable, completed the grooming efficiently, and our dog seemed happy and in great spirits afterward. We really appreciated his gentle approach and care!
SUCH a great - and easy! - experience! Asa was immediately responsive (I love when businesses actually answer their phone!), worked Moose in within 24 hours, was communicative throughout, bought unscented products specifically for us, did a great job with my 12 year old doodle … all in all: amazing service!
Ace at Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash was absolutely wonderful with my senior dog. He was so gentle and patient with him, which meant everything to me given his age — I could tell he genuinely cared about his comfort throughout the whole process. Beyond the excellent care, Ace was warm, loving, and clearly an animal lover at heart, while also being completely professional from start to finish. It's rare to find someone who balances that kind of tenderness with real expertise, and my dog came out looking and smelling great without a hint of stress. Highly recommend Ace and Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash.
Ace was great with my 3 small dogs. They got washed and towel dried, their ears checked, their nails trimmed. One star off because he trimmed one nail too far and it bled for a long time, plus distressed my already anxious dog. Important to know that this service isn't van-based (yet). Ace brings a portable wash station to set up outside. He brings his own water and supplies. He doesn't do any hair cuts, just basic wash and towel dry. I'll call him again in the future!
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