Puppy hair?? HELP!!! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

SnowWa · 12-14-2005, 07:05 AM

My 14-month old pup's hair is driving me crazy. It is the worst stuff I have ever seen --- even if he is one of the cutest pups I have ever had.

His hair is extremely oily. It is very thin. It mattes and is very difficult to comb. And, he is changing color and looks even worse during this process.

His hair seems to be going through a terrible puppy stage. His roots (body, sides, and stomach) are growing out silver. I have no idea what texture this new silver growth is - but it appears that it's the black that is growing out that is causing all the trouble. His hair grows fast.

He is the biggest boob in the world as far as getting brushed. He cries when I hold the brush (before I have even touched him).

I don't want to spend a lot of his puppyhood trying to comb out this unruly hair - hurting him - and making him hate to be groomed. So, I have cut his hair short (over his body) - about 1/2 inch...and I am going to keep it this way until I seen some improvement. Let's hope I do!

The hair around his face and head and legs seems to be a little easier to manage. But in these areas, he doesn't have the silver growing in and the unruly black stuff growing out. These areas, however, are changing to a very light tan.

As far as his eyes go - I have never seen anything except dark brown/black in any of his pictures.

At this point, I almost don't even know what to say about his hair - because in a week or two, it will probably be totally different.

1) Do you agree with my keeping him short for a while?

2) Does puppy hair change when a dog becomes older.

3) Did any of you have to go through this with your puppy's coat.

There are a couple of pictures of him in the photo gallery, but he has changed a lot since then (only a couple weeks) with all silver coming in, etc.

Thanks a lot for any answers or thoughts.

Carol Jean

YorkyKids · 12-14-2005, 07:54 AM

hahaha you got a lot going on there! LOL Yep this stage of growth can drive one crazy. It really sounds from your description that this baby has a very soft cottny woolly coat. I will line up the symptoms as you typed them. <g>
<<<<<worst stuff I have ever seen
His hair is extremely oily.
It is very thin.(I think you may mean FINE ??)
It mattes and is very difficult to comb.
And, he is changing color and looks even worse during this process.
His hair seems to be going through a terrible puppy stage.
His roots (body, sides, and stomach) are growing out silver. I have no idea what texture this new silver growth is - but it appears that it's the black that is growing out that is causing all the trouble. (this is classic many soft coated black Yorkies have silver on the body sides and stomach)
His hair grows fast.(Yes soft coats grow very very fast) >>>>>>

ALL OF THE ABOVE are the classic description of a wooly coat. For ease I would suggest you keep him cut down. Being a big boob is no joke. Pulling even a little matte out of a coat of this type is painful. So you are right.....for his peace of mind and yours keep him short. there is really no reason for a pet to have the long floor flowing coat. It's a pain in the arsh to maintain. Poor baby I can just picture his cries. Keep him cut short! NO do not waste his puppyhood hurting him. I agree with this completely. Having a short coat is more practical for pets. 1/2 inch is good. This leaves some length to give him a little warmth. No there should not be any silver in the tan areas around the face or legs. And yes it is probably a different texture easier to manage.

<<As far as his eyes go - I have never seen anything except dark brown/black in any of his pictures. >>snip

If you are wanting to see "eye shine" you can 1) shine a flashlight in his eyes in subdued lighting in the room get down on the floor on his level or 2) take a picture with a flash with him looking straight on into the camera.

1) Do you agree with my keeping him short for a while?
YES

2) Does puppy hair change when a dog becomes older.
SOMETIMES. BUT WILL NOT CHANGE FROM WOOLY TO SILKY

3) Did any of you have to go through this with your puppy's coat.
YES ABSOLUTELY! I have a male Yorkie here who is TWO wins from getting his championship! He is silky now but his coat as a puppy was very very strange with constant matts everyday. I almost sold him at 12 weeks because I thought he was a soft coated wooly dog. BUT HE HAD THE GREEN EYESHINE! So I held him back and around 6 to 7 months the silk started to come in.

mustangbee · 12-14-2005, 08:00 AM

I would keep the puppy cut.
If his hair grows fast, just keep it short for now.
Soon he will have a great Adult Coat,
If you brush him a lot now, and with it short it sould be easy,
he will learn to like to be brushed when he's older.
Good luck!

Carolina girl · 12-14-2005, 08:30 AM

Keeping your pup cut short is the key to good grooming. I kept her in a puppy cut through the summer. She is 10 months old and I groom her and she grooms me. LOL Continue to brush every day and treats treats treats is the key. HTH

My2Furbabies · 12-14-2005, 08:34 AM

I don't know much about yorkies coats but it sounds like you might have to keep it cut! Gidget also has fine hair but hers doesn't get matted! But if it did I would definitely keep it cut! Good luck!!!

SnowWa · 12-14-2005, 09:12 AM

Thank all of you so much.

YorkyKids - Thank you for all the information you gave me.

Honestly - I did shine a flashlight in his eyes - and saw nothing.

Then I took a couple of pictures with my camera (with the flash) - and his eyes looked brown to me. However, if I really reved up the pixels - a very tiny spot in the center of the eye appears to almost be green - but I am really searching to see this. And, it certainly wasn't his entire eye.

Thank you again. Looks like I have a wooly coat. Time will tell for sure!

Carol Jean

YorkyKids · 12-14-2005, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnowWa

Thank all of you so much.

YorkyKids - Thank you for all the information you gave me.

Honestly - I did shine a flashlight in his eyes - and saw nothing.

Then I took a couple of pictures with my camera (with the flash) - and his eyes looked brown to me. However, if I really reved up the pixels - a very tiny spot in the center of the eye appears to almost be green - but I am really searching to see this. And, it certainly wasn't his entire eye.

Thank you again. Looks like I have a wooly coat. Time will tell for sure!

Carol Jean

Here's an example of a "green eye shine" this pup was 6 months old in this pic. Hope it loads correctly. He is now 1 year old and has very dark very silky coat. Many breeders do not believe in the "eye shine" theory but in my experience it holds true nearly all the time. There is a scientific explaination for this theory but it is quite long and involved.
Green shine = silk can be dark blue to the extreme of platinum/silver color. I find the EXTREME silk coats to be very very light in color. This is not good either except pet/companion people seem to want that color! It is so beautiful! But not correct. Sigh
Red shine = cotton/wooly usually black. Coat has a redish tint in the bright sunlight.
Yellow shine = clerical grey color. This coat is gray/blue in color but lacks the silken feel of true silk. It does "appear" to be the correct color but the blue tint or blue reflection is not there. In fact there is no reflection at all leaving just a flat gray coat color.
Hope this helps.

SnowWa · 12-14-2005, 11:10 AM

WOW - no way do my dog's eyes look like that!

In fact, I don't see any color (except for the a few tiny somewhat green pixels in the very middle of a brown eye).

If anything - and this is stretching a little also - his eyes may look a little hazel - nothing that really stands out though.

Thanks again -

I cut him short this morning. He looks a lot better - except for white/silver roots and what I call icky black toward the ends. I think when this black is gone - his coat will be improved.

It was my intention to keep him in a puppy cut all the time anyway - only because it is neat and clean, easier to care for, and I think it's cute. So - my having to keep him short is just fine with me.

This loveable little dog of mine is definitely pet quality. He will be neutered when the time is right. I think his ears are a little big - legs may be a little long - he will weigh more than 7 lbs - and now we know his coat leaves a little to be desired. I imagine though that there are lot of people who would breed this little guy. I don't think we need to breed to "improve the standard," but we should at least breed to "maintain the standard."

I certainly have a very cute loveable little dog with just enough feistiness to round out his personality.

Thanks again - Carol

yorkieusa · 12-14-2005, 12:10 PM

Picture showing Kacee's eye shine taken months ago...

SnowWa · 12-14-2005, 02:59 PM

WOW again!!!! And, I suppose Kacee has beautiful silky hair!!!

Thanks for your picture also.

Carol Jean

12-14-2005, 07:05 AM	#1
SnowWa YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA Posts: 2,992	Puppy hair?? HELP!!! My 14-month old pup's hair is driving me crazy. It is the worst stuff I have ever seen --- even if he is one of the cutest pups I have ever had. His hair is extremely oily. It is very thin. It mattes and is very difficult to comb. And, he is changing color and looks even worse during this process. His hair seems to be going through a terrible puppy stage. His roots (body, sides, and stomach) are growing out silver. I have no idea what texture this new silver growth is - but it appears that it's the black that is growing out that is causing all the trouble. His hair grows fast. He is the biggest boob in the world as far as getting brushed. He cries when I hold the brush (before I have even touched him). I don't want to spend a lot of his puppyhood trying to comb out this unruly hair - hurting him - and making him hate to be groomed. So, I have cut his hair short (over his body) - about 1/2 inch...and I am going to keep it this way until I seen some improvement. Let's hope I do! The hair around his face and head and legs seems to be a little easier to manage. But in these areas, he doesn't have the silver growing in and the unruly black stuff growing out. These areas, however, are changing to a very light tan. As far as his eyes go - I have never seen anything except dark brown/black in any of his pictures. At this point, I almost don't even know what to say about his hair - because in a week or two, it will probably be totally different. 1) Do you agree with my keeping him short for a while? 2) Does puppy hair change when a dog becomes older. 3) Did any of you have to go through this with your puppy's coat. There are a couple of pictures of him in the photo gallery, but he has changed a lot since then (only a couple weeks) with all silver coming in, etc. Thanks a lot for any answers or thoughts. Carol Jean __________________ http://tinypic.com/ipxhmb.jpg A Yorkie is worth a thousand words.

12-14-2005, 08:00 AM	#3
mustangbee Donating YT 9000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: North Carolina :) Posts: 10,616	I would keep the puppy cut. If his hair grows fast, just keep it short for now. Soon he will have a great Adult Coat, If you brush him a lot now, and with it short it sould be easy, he will learn to like to be brushed when he's older. Good luck! __________________ Friends are God's way of apologizing for our relatives. "Love & Support Our YT Members" Gina & Princess Member of the SSLS

12-14-2005, 08:30 AM	#4
Carolina girl YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Aiken, South Carolina Posts: 320	Keeping your pup cut short is the key to good grooming. I kept her in a puppy cut through the summer. She is 10 months old and I groom her and she grooms me. LOL Continue to brush every day and treats treats treats is the key. HTH __________________ Love is... when your puppy licks your face even though you left him alone all day! Izzabella and Cindy

12-14-2005, 08:34 AM	#5
My2Furbabies YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: MS Posts: 6,247 Blog Entries: 1	I don't know much about yorkies coats but it sounds like you might have to keep it cut! Gidget also has fine hair but hers doesn't get matted! But if it did I would definitely keep it cut! Good luck!!! __________________ Chloe & Stewie

12-14-2005, 09:12 AM	#6
SnowWa YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA Posts: 2,992	Thank all of you so much. YorkyKids - Thank you for all the information you gave me. Honestly - I did shine a flashlight in his eyes - and saw nothing. Then I took a couple of pictures with my camera (with the flash) - and his eyes looked brown to me. However, if I really reved up the pixels - a very tiny spot in the center of the eye appears to almost be green - but I am really searching to see this. And, it certainly wasn't his entire eye. Thank you again. Looks like I have a wooly coat. Time will tell for sure! Carol Jean __________________ http://tinypic.com/ipxhmb.jpg A Yorkie is worth a thousand words.

12-14-2005, 07:54 AM	#2
YorkyKids Currently Suspended! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Posts: 144	hahaha you got a lot going on there! LOL Yep this stage of growth can drive one crazy. It really sounds from your description that this baby has a very soft cottny woolly coat. I will line up the symptoms as you typed them. <g> <<<<<worst stuff I have ever seen His hair is extremely oily. It is very thin.(I think you may mean FINE ??) It mattes and is very difficult to comb. And, he is changing color and looks even worse during this process. His hair seems to be going through a terrible puppy stage. His roots (body, sides, and stomach) are growing out silver. I have no idea what texture this new silver growth is - but it appears that it's the black that is growing out that is causing all the trouble. (this is classic many soft coated black Yorkies have silver on the body sides and stomach) His hair grows fast.(Yes soft coats grow very very fast) >>>>>> ALL OF THE ABOVE are the classic description of a wooly coat. For ease I would suggest you keep him cut down. Being a big boob is no joke. Pulling even a little matte out of a coat of this type is painful. So you are right.....for his peace of mind and yours keep him short. there is really no reason for a pet to have the long floor flowing coat. It's a pain in the arsh to maintain. Poor baby I can just picture his cries. Keep him cut short! NO do not waste his puppyhood hurting him. I agree with this completely. Having a short coat is more practical for pets. 1/2 inch is good. This leaves some length to give him a little warmth. No there should not be any silver in the tan areas around the face or legs. And yes it is probably a different texture easier to manage. <<As far as his eyes go - I have never seen anything except dark brown/black in any of his pictures. >>snip If you are wanting to see "eye shine" you can 1) shine a flashlight in his eyes in subdued lighting in the room get down on the floor on his level or 2) take a picture with a flash with him looking straight on into the camera. 1) Do you agree with my keeping him short for a while? YES 2) Does puppy hair change when a dog becomes older. SOMETIMES. BUT WILL NOT CHANGE FROM WOOLY TO SILKY 3) Did any of you have to go through this with your puppy's coat. YES ABSOLUTELY! I have a male Yorkie here who is TWO wins from getting his championship! He is silky now but his coat as a puppy was very very strange with constant matts everyday. I almost sold him at 12 weeks because I thought he was a soft coated wooly dog. BUT HE HAD THE GREEN EYESHINE! So I held him back and around 6 to 7 months the silk started to come in.

12-14-2005, 11:10 AM	#8
SnowWa YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA Posts: 2,992	WOW - no way do my dog's eyes look like that! In fact, I don't see any color (except for the a few tiny somewhat green pixels in the very middle of a brown eye). If anything - and this is stretching a little also - his eyes may look a little hazel - nothing that really stands out though. Thanks again - I cut him short this morning. He looks a lot better - except for white/silver roots and what I call icky black toward the ends. I think when this black is gone - his coat will be improved. It was my intention to keep him in a puppy cut all the time anyway - only because it is neat and clean, easier to care for, and I think it's cute. So - my having to keep him short is just fine with me. This loveable little dog of mine is definitely pet quality. He will be neutered when the time is right. I think his ears are a little big - legs may be a little long - he will weigh more than 7 lbs - and now we know his coat leaves a little to be desired. I imagine though that there are lot of people who would breed this little guy. I don't think we need to breed to "improve the standard," but we should at least breed to "maintain the standard." I certainly have a very cute loveable little dog with just enough feistiness to round out his personality. Thanks again - Carol __________________ http://tinypic.com/ipxhmb.jpg A Yorkie is worth a thousand words.

12-14-2005, 12:10 PM	#9
yorkieusa Crazy about Kacee! Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 21,173	Picture showing Kacee's eye shine taken months ago... Attached Thumbnails __________________ Karen Kacee Muffin 1991-2005 Rest in Peace My Little Angel

12-14-2005, 02:59 PM	#10
SnowWa YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA Posts: 2,992	WOW again!!!! And, I suppose Kacee has beautiful silky hair!!! Thanks for your picture also. Carol Jean __________________ http://tinypic.com/ipxhmb.jpg A Yorkie is worth a thousand words.