YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post - does matted hair mean they have to be shaved?

kenshinvt · 08-31-2008, 11:03 AM

My fiancee took Gir to go get his first haircut yesterday. He is now around 4 months old. She got a call back from the groomer that his hair was matted and it would be too painful, etc. for him if she brushed it out. Therefore, she needed to shave him.

My fiancee stopped by and the groomer showed her some minor matting on his legs and stomach. We usually brush him with a soft bristled brush and hadn't noticed any substantial matting. Definitely not enough to really catch the brush. The groomer said soft bristled brushes tend to "give" over the matted areas, so you don't notice it's there.

So Gir is now completely shaved, except for his face which is closely cropped. He looks ridiculous.. like a miniature schnauzer or perhaps a lion. Is this the normal/accepted way to deal with any perceived matting? A close-to-the-skin shave? Part of me feels suspicious that this groomer was just opting for a lazy way out of the puppy cut we requested.. Then again, I don't groom dogs for a living.

08-31-2008, 11:03 AM	#1
kenshinvt Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 23	does matted hair mean they have to be shaved? My fiancee took Gir to go get his first haircut yesterday. He is now around 4 months old. She got a call back from the groomer that his hair was matted and it would be too painful, etc. for him if she brushed it out. Therefore, she needed to shave him. My fiancee stopped by and the groomer showed her some minor matting on his legs and stomach. We usually brush him with a soft bristled brush and hadn't noticed any substantial matting. Definitely not enough to really catch the brush. The groomer said soft bristled brushes tend to "give" over the matted areas, so you don't notice it's there. So Gir is now completely shaved, except for his face which is closely cropped. He looks ridiculous.. like a miniature schnauzer or perhaps a lion. Is this the normal/accepted way to deal with any perceived matting? A close-to-the-skin shave? Part of me feels suspicious that this groomer was just opting for a lazy way out of the puppy cut we requested.. Then again, I don't groom dogs for a living.