Here is what I did this morning to a poor matted shih tzu puppy. Not what I was going do but I for one think it's kind of cute, the owner disagreed of course. She used to seeing him in full coat. Oh well, next time she'll brush him maybe?
I was trying to save his face but his cheeks where to matted (oh and he bites for brushing, how nice) so I clipper them like you might do a on poodle. Also clippered in fronf of his eyes b/c that was matted and crusted with junk. Poor thing. Anyway, then he has a little beard up front and off with the matted ears. I scissored the topknot by hand kind of the way you may round it off on a poodle, except obviously you can't treat the hair exactly the same since it doesn't stand well on it's own.
Personally I think it's cuter in person than in the photos, he was doing weird things in his photo with his ears. I would like to see him keep this type of face with a slightly longer body so she didn't look so scrawny. Next time maybe.
I thought of this thread while I was going him haha so I took a photo.