First Grooming - should I trim her face?

[Sookie]

I just took Kalina to a groomer for an evaluation and to maybe make an appointment. I told them that I want her trimmed around the butt but not so short that it's really noticeable. I also want her paws trimmed (very hairy feet) and her nails trimmed and her ears shaved. I asked if they were familiar with doing Yorkie puppies. They said that they were and that they would do all those things and trim her face. I told them I didn't want her face trimmed because I want to grow her hair. They said that it's standard to trim the face of a Yorkie because right now she can't see.

I don't think I should get her face trimmed. I don't want to have to go through the growing back stage. She is a very, very hairy little thing but I don't think she can't see.

I'm looking for information from others - do you get your Yorkie's face trimmed? Should I?

Oh, they also said she would be there for 4 hours. I think that's too long for a little puppy. What do you guys think?

[LoveMyJake]

I trim Jake's face, and I really love that I can see his face better and I can see his eyes. Just tell them to trim it up so it looks neater, not to cut it short, if that's what you want.

[Anna Lou]

I trim Zoey's face just a little around eyes and she has bangs or the visor cut. IWhen I was trying to make up my mind whether to do this, she actually had lost a spot of hair were I had been trying to keep it out of her eyes.

[Sookie]

I am trying to grow her into a show cut just because I want to see how well her coat grows. I'm not sure if I should trim her face at all. Anyone?

[LoveMyJake]

Originally Posted by Sookie

I am trying to grow her into a show cut just because I want to see how well her coat grows. I'm not sure if I should trim her face at all. Anyone?

Maybe trim it just a little bit so that no length is actually being taken off, but trimming does help it to grow in better. good luck! Can't wait to see pics!

[HighlandYorkies]

Why don't you start by trimming her yourself....you will soon get used to it, and it's the best way to get your puppy used to being trimmed....she knows you, and you can be firm with her by voice, and she will not be scared by strangers, and you can also trim what you want to, without handing her over, and maybe getting a disaster back sometime - I personnaly wouldn't let anyone near my dogs with a pair of scissors or trimmer - I think you know yourself what you want, and it's a learning process.
Put it this way - she is tiny, and you won't notice mistakes at her age, and by the time she is a year, and has a good coat on her, you will be an expert and she will be used to you, and letting you trim her no bother....that way you can experiment. You can also get her used to the noise of clippers beforehand, and seeing scissors coming towards her, so she isn't scared.
Just take your time, and do a tiny bit at a time until it gets easier to do.
Put her fringe inbetween two fingers, so one of your fingers is against her eye area, and cut the hair between your fingers....that way you will not get her eyes....also, it will be wonky the first few times until you can trust her to stay still with a tut tut, then you can cut without fingers, nice and straight - it's not difficult, really
Better you than some stranger doing what they have to, to get the dog trimmed for your return, eeeeek !
It's a matter of what you feel is best.....yourself versus the groomer.
I taught myself and I am totally confident now.
By the way - she has a fantastic coat !
I tie a ponytail in my girls sometimes, but I ended up trimming the hair around their eyes as it keeps the area cleaner, and I give them a fringe which looks fab....I have to keep my boy (PIC 2) clipped due to him peeing on his legs if it's long.
See my three below.
Debra x x x x

[MyFairLacy]

I wouldn't reccomend trimming her face unless it is to even it up some. If you are trying to grow a show coat, you really aren't supposed to trim the coat at all except the feet and tips of ears. I used to have Lacy trimmed in between her eyes because someone told me I should and didn't like it but was afraid to try to grow it out again. Last year I finally started letting it grow to where the hair along the sides of her muzzel layed down flat and the hair in between the eyes and up was pulled straight back into a top knot.

1. Back when the hair was trimmed in between her eyes - looks like a triangle

2. Growing out - you can see I had to use a ponytail to hold some of those shorter hairs as they grew out. And I just had to let the sides grow out and train them to start laying down flat.

3. All grown out. I think it looks much better now

I recommend just letting it grow. The short hairs that don't all go into a ponytail now will eventually grow out, and you will just have to train the sides to start laying down flat. Those hairs hiding her eyes now will grow out with patience. Cutting the hair can take a very long time to grow back out..

[ILUVSADIE]

I only let the groomer trim her bottom, feet, and tips of ears. If you start trimming the face or around the eyes, it will take FOREVER for it to grow in. I guess it depends on what you want - everybody has a different opinion!!

Good Luck!!

[twalla]

Sam's first grooming he had his face trimmed and now he has it done every other trip - I personally like it that way. I keep him cut short tho bc for our lifestyle, it works best for us.


http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70913

[Sookie]

Thanks everyone. Your puppies are adorable. I have decided not to trim her face AT ALL - just trim around her feet to make them more even and trim her ears so they stand better and cut her nails. I'll also neaten up her butt area a little bit too. I'll post pics on Monday and thanks again to all of you.

[Yorkiekids]

I would insist that I don't want any length taken off. Shapings ok, but no length. Sometimes groomers act like the dogs belong to them.

[Sookie]

Well, I took Kalina Saturday and everything was great. My avatar shows her with her beautiful little orange bow. Her ears were shaped and trimmed but no trimming was done to her face at all. I think she looks adorable.