OMG! My poor hound!

[Zabuza]

I think its great that you keep your dogs so short and they really get to be dogs! i am not interested in having the really long coat on my dog. BVut it is going to snow tonight and he is shivering. I guess that is my main concern. We r not wealthy plus we live on an island, making it harder to go get him something warm to wear in the short term. So far we have cut down an old soccer sock which he is wearing as a tube top. it seems to help. all is not such a big deal. This too shall pass! LOL.

[gracielove]

Never take a dog to the groomers with tangles in the hair unless you want a shaved dog. It is difficult to get any groomer not to shave a long haired dog as it is. Groomers are so accustomed to having people come in with matted dogs that the owner wants groomed that pretty much all they do is bathe and shave. There are few that actually know how to trim up a long haired dog.
There has been many a sad Yorkie owner posting on here because they took their lovely fluffy pup to the groomer and picked up a naked dog! Sadly, not many groomers are trained in how to bathe and NOT shave but just do enough snipping to make a pup look neat and well groomed again. It takes a bit of skill to tidy up a long haired dog but anyone can shave all the hair off one.

[Marhcarter]

Originally Posted by Zabuza

I think its great that you keep your dogs so short and they really get to be dogs! i am not interested in having the really long coat on my dog. BVut it is going to snow tonight and he is shivering. I guess that is my main concern. We r not wealthy plus we live on an island, making it harder to go get him something warm to wear in the short term. So far we have cut down an old soccer sock which he is wearing as a tube top. it seems to help. all is not such a big deal. This too shall pass! LOL.

I will say having short hair makes it easier to keep them dressed. Long hair is a terrible nuisance if you want to dress your pup, because you WILL have tangles if you didn't before. Also, a yorkie coat is so thin that in cold weather, a sweater is preferable, I think. I'm kinda glad Huey hates being dressed, because I like him long but hate the fight that ensues with the comb out later!
I like the tube sock idea. While he may not be a fashion icon, I bet he is warm! You can also use the sleeve of an old sweatshirt to make a little sweater for him with the wrist part as the collar, if the shirt is big enough.

[maggiefromnj]

I know many of you will not use petsmart, but I've never had a bad experience at either of my two locations. They do make a point to have you sign a piece of paper where you authorize a certain level of cut. I guess they could still do it by accident or something, but it takes the ambiguity out of "start over" if you don't authorize a shave down on the form...

Maggie is a yorkiepoo, so her hair tends to grow fluffy and I like to keep it shorter so she doesn't look "fat". I can't get it through the awkward stage to see what it would do if I ever let it get long.

[gracielove]

Gracie has long hair and we don't have problems putting clothing on her. I do stay away from tight sweaters and coats and use things that go on and off easily. She gets groomed twice a day and bathed weekly so her hair is in good condition.

This time of year fleece is nice for staying warm. Since Yorkies do not have an undercoat they can get cold even when the coat is long. Some days she only needs a T-shirt and other days she might wear a sweater dress or fleece jacket or shirt. Dresses usually only get used for special occasions and in warmer weather unless it is a sweater dress since she loves to roll herself up in a blanket and pretend she has been taken prisoner while fighting her way out. Not very girly I guess.

As far as signing a paper at any grooming facility: I would read the fine print closely especially at one of the chain stores. They have a lot of law suits against them for various reasons. If your dog gets hurt at a grooming facility you don't want to have signed away your rights (not that you have many) as a pet owner.

[chestermama]

Im sorry that happened, they do get cold easily

[Oddsock]

Any before and after pictures? Poor chilly baby, hope you can get some sweaters soon. We used socks to begin with. I cut the ribbed end off an elasticy sock used it as a collar on a wooly sock for Pippi when she was tiny, for the night time. She also had a heater under her bedding. (we didn't have heating on in the bedroom)
It would take a big sock now..she's still a pup but a chunky girl. lol

Hope your little one adapts quickly. Mine (Caleb and Ishmael) love being clipped down, they run around like spring lambs after.

[Verbena]

Originally Posted by Zabuza

i will repeat-the boy was NOT matted and had only a tangle or two. I definitely agree that if it was bad he would be better off to be shaved. Its Ok tho. I'm getting used to it and he seems not to have noticed. Except he is shivering. Definitely time for adding to his wardrobe. I now have a Chinese Crested Yorkie!!

I have had a Chinese Crested Yorkie too . . . . Check petsmart and Walmart. They have sweaters cheap

[AlecM]

Originally Posted by Zabuza

I think its great that you keep your dogs so short and they really get to be dogs! i am not interested in having the really long coat on my dog. BVut it is going to snow tonight and he is shivering. I guess that is my main concern. We r not wealthy plus we live on an island, making it harder to go get him something warm to wear in the short term. So far we have cut down an old soccer sock which he is wearing as a tube top. it seems to help. all is not such a big deal. This too shall pass! LOL.

So, keeping ours "half long" for now, but absolutely love you using an adapted soccer sock - awesome!