I take Joey to petsmart and they seem to be the only ones that can do what I want with his hair. Ive tried "real" groomers who supposedly have 20+ years of experience but they make him look horrible.

I use the Madan 6" metal comb on Gracie first. It gets right down to the skin and gets tangles out easily. I also use a spray conditioner or detangler when I comb her, especially on the ends. Usually I use the Yorkie Sheen spray.(10% off code here on YT) It gives just enough slip without causing the hair to get greasy. When she is tangle free I then use the small Madan brush to fluff her fur out. Brushing before removing tangles can be more difficult and painful.

When Gracie was a puppy I would comb her when she was asleep on my lap. Just lightly so I didn't disturb her too much. By the time I got to her belly she would be awake but I would be mostly done. Giving her a treat when finished really changed her attitude about grooming. She looked forward to the treat. If you comb and brush her a couple of times a day, if she needs it or not, she will learn to accept grooming as a regular part of her life. Being consistent is really important.

I wouldn't let that woman shave her. Find someone that can give her a nice puppy cut and that won't cut her all the way down to the skin. I just trimmed a little at a time off Gracie's puppy coat. Daily combing and conditioning kept her fur nice and she did not need to be shaved. She will be 3 in May and has never been shaved. We did have her coat cut to just under her belly last summer but it grew back in by winter. She gets cold so easily that she would be really uncomfortable is she was shaved.

Today I am going out to get some detanglier and a comb and start working on her hair. I will definitely start brushing her while she's relaxed on my lap so she'll get used to it. Being a new yorkie mom I guess I didn't realize the importance of this :confused: but the groomer really made me feel bad like I was a bad mommy, lesson learned.

Don't feel bad! Trust me - ALL of us have gone through things like this. If it makes you feel any better, I was brushing Yoshi with a slicker brush & breaking all of his hair for months :( It also took me 4 different groomers before I found one that I was comfortable with. No one wants to leave their little puppy with someone they don't like. It sucks being nervous the whole time they're away. Here's another tip...I think Dawn already mentioned this. It really does work. If you don't want to spend the money on a detangler, you can also mix some conditioner & water in a spray bottle. About 1:20. It works just as well as a detangler & it's free :) You're really going to LOVE the Madan brush & the mustache comb. They really do make a huge difference in the whole grooming process. Little Ellie is a cutie pie! Good luck!

Thanks :). I just may use the conditioner idea since I need to get some for her anyway. I'm hoping I like this new groomer too it definitely makes me nervous leaving her with a stranger especially hearing horror stories :(. Having her has been a learning curve but I wouldn't trade her for the world! :love

:thumbup:I want to second this about the Madan brush as my Avery would not let me near him with any brush. He LOVES to be combed with the long metal comb. I bought brush after brush and he hated it. Then I read so many good reviews of the Madan brush so I bought one. Worth every penny! He loves it. It's almost like he thinks he's getting a massage at the spa :animal36

That said, I do brush him at least once a day, usually in the evening when he's tired and lays down for a nap because he's relaxed and I always give him a couple treats so he associates that time with only good things. He remains mat and tangle free this way.

You can also use just a teensy bit of coconut oil (I use 100% organic virgin coconut oil), rub it all over your hands and 'massage' the mats. The oil will 'vanish' into her hair and skin...and yours...and make the hair slippery enough that you can pull small bits of hair out of the mat with your fingers, the end tooth of a wide tooth comb or a 'rat tail' etc. until it is not tangled any more. Plus, if she licks the oil, it is good for her, too. "Montana" brand (maybe "Montana Land" but "Montana" is in the brand name and that's the one you want) Emu Oil will work, too...always use TINY amounts...you just don't need much since teeny tiny bits go such a long way with emu and/or coconut oil. They LOVE the emu oil, too. :p

I am so glad for you that the first groomer put your hackles up enough for you to walk away. If she had not reacted the way she did, you might have left your baby only to come back to get her and find her shaved down to the skin. I'd say, "bullet dodged!" :D She is adorable...good luck.

I think a lot of first time owners of long haired dogs run into the same issues. They don't really seem to need to be combed everyday when they are puppies but that is really when they need it because they have to learn to accept being groomed from a very early age. Even a pup that is going to be kept shaved all it's life needs to be calm and under control when it goes to the groomer. If someone takes a puppy to the groomer that has not been groomed on a regular basis the poor thing is going to freak out.

I think once you get going with the comb and get out any tangles you will be good to go. Once she accepts the regular grooming she will be one gorgeous glamor girl. A groomer would have no excuse for shaving a baby that has no tangles. It doesn't sound like your little girl had much to begin with.

I have 2 brushes/combs. one for me and one for Abby. She will only let me brush her while she is chewing her brush,when I'm done I put the brushes away and off she goes. Ruffy on the other hand is a total disaster.

You guys are the best thanks for all the great advice and support!

nice and easy will work :) JK

see another groomer

She is adorable, love her ears!! I hope you'll post more pictures of her after her groom!!

I actually do see what the groomer was talking about as I've had pups with hair like this in the past (identical to your picture). Just looking at her picture, I can tell you she is at least knotted in her chest and back. Once their hair starts changing, they often start tangling close to the skin, all over. Unless you are an experienced dog owner used to dealing with long haired breeds, you aren't going to see it. The brush you used skipped right over it. Use a comb from root to tip and you will see what she was talking about. She told you not to bath her because bathing a dog with already tangled/matted hair will make it worse, it sets them in more so please take her advice and don't bath her until all those tangles are out because you will only make it worse.

I can also understand why she said to shave her. Getting these out will be time consuming, not exactly the best for the groomer or puppy especially if the puppy hates being brushed. Shaving is the least time consuming and least uncomfortable solution for the puppy. If I were a groomer and a similar situation arose I would have said the same thing because grooming those knots out can be hard for a puppy to handle but I also would have took the time to show and explain to you what I meant because not everyone automatically knows these things and the groomer just came across as rude by not explaining herself.

Your not a bad mom at all, you just didn't know, many of us don't, it's a learning process. I admit, prior to getting a yorkie, I would have been the same way. Usually a simple brush will not work for a yorkie puppy as they don't reach the hair close to the skin. This is why a good brush and comb is important. If you can run a comb all along her hair from root to tip, your good to go as it will catch any tangles, snags or knots that the brush missed and you would be surprised how much the brush does miss.

I too love the madan brushes and combs Jenny sells and highly recommend them!! :thumbup::thumbup:I would also try the Espree detangling spray she has, I think it will do the trick for you getting rid of those knots as least painfully as possible.

I got my new madam brush today and I'm thrilled! I spoke with another groomer yesterday who agreed if her tangles were to close to the skin she should be shaved. So as much as I don't like it, it looks like that is what I may have to do. Got some great advice from all of you and I learned a valuable lesson. Jenny's email about the size of the shaver blades is great and I'm going to bring that with me to the groomer! No matter what my baby Ellie will always be beautiful to me :)

I'm so picky with groomers. Some just work and treat our babies like a factory. Just shave them completely and next, I would get a second opinion. Let them know that you want to keep the hair long if they condition it in for a while it should be fine. I love the long coat ;)

I agree! I'm taking her to someone different, the groomer that wanted to shave her just turned me off! I too love the longer hair its so pretty.