ATTN: For those here who groom their Yorkies by themselves
 

For those who groom theirs at home I like your feedback on this. I've mentioned here before that when I first got mine I had zero experience with grooming & had to bring him to the groomers and get hit for $50 each time plus I didn't like the fact I had to leave it with them for hours god knows what they do to your babies.

And lastly, I really thought the way they do it which is shampoo 1st then cut is kinda backward cause as you know Yorkie's hair is dirty & smelly after they're shaved so I wanted to wash them after the cut. Then after going through a few expensive brand name Clippers like Andis & Wahl which were loud, heavy, and just couldn't do the job.

So I watched some You tube videos and began to do it myself and with luck I tried them with my cheap $20 cordless Remington men's beard trimmer from Amazon. To find out it cuts like butter through even my Maltese thick heavy matted coat. And I use it for areas around ears, eyes no problem.

Now I can groom both Yorkie & Maltese with my eyes closed, and bath them afterwards so that they'll be clean & smell fresh much longer, save money, and feel safe than bringing them to the groomers. So if you have a Yorkie, which is even much easier than a Maltese coat you don't have to spend an arm & leg for a expensive dog clipper.

Ok so my question is this, now that we're getting close to the warm season I plan on shaving mine really close to the skin like last summer. Does yours yip & cry then run all over the place after you shave him/her really close? Mine went a little bonkers even though the beard trimmer never touched his skin so there was no heat burns of any sort that I can see but it took me a good 15 min of coaxing him until he settle down. And I'm not sure was it because he was pissed off at me for shaving all his hair :p or his skin was indeed hurting him in some way? This time I'll be better prepared with some Noxzema face cream to sooth his skin & put him in a small tub filled with cold water. Any advice or comments as to why he reacts that way after I gave him a buzz cut? Does it really hurt him or is he just being a big baby after losing most of his hair?

yes mine freak when I groom the sanitary areas real close. Lola hides in the closest for a few hours on and off and looks her bum like what did you do to me. I dont know that Noxzema would be a good tough that might sting.

Hmm...I don't know...could be just fear, but do you think the shaver is pulling the hair or knots? Bc that would def hurt.

Mine doesn't. I keep him pretty short year round so it must not phase him anymore. I tried cheap clippers like you did. It definitely didn't work for us! After 6 months of use, Kaji's soft coat broke the clippers. Oops! ;) I have dog clippers now that Mimimomo recommended with a sale link and they're amazing! I don't have to stop every 5 mins like I use to. I'm glad the beard trimmer works for you! It would have been nice to not have to spend $30-$50 more than you did on good trimmers. At least now, I'm not paying anyone else to do a hack job on Kaji. I can do it myself. :p

I groom my yorkie because I don't want to spend that much money on something I can do myself. :) I don't use clippers, I actually use the scaredy cut grooming kit which is just scissors with guides. They work really well too. But every time I cut his hair, he likes to run around like a crazy dog. He doesn't whine or anything, but he'll do it every time.

The beard trimmer is probably pulling hair, especially tangles and mats, as others suggested above. I use a beard trimmer for ears, but it is not strong enough for in between paw pads. Razor burn is also risk with any clipper and it takes practice to avoid it. Maybe one of the professionals here can explain the best ways to avoid it.

I would definitely skip the Noxema. Be careful what you put on your dogs because they will lick themselves and ingest it.

sorry I misread...i use Andis professional clippers. they were like 200 bucks but so worth it. i did pull keylo's hair with the guard on but once I took that off and did it free hand it didnt pull her fur again so I know it was the guard. yes those clippers may not be sharp enough and be pulling as suggested above.

ps I should keep them groomed so they are used to their sanitary areas being short....need to be better about that.

I imagine if you're clipping him really short, he's getting poked by all the hairs in any folds of skin or where skin touches skin (ask a guy how it feels when they start to grow a beard or skip a day or two of shaving). I suggest you clip him a tad longer, so the hair doesn't irritate him.

Also, the bath before clipping will help your blades last longer, bc you'll only be clipping hair, instead of hair and dirt, oils, and whatever else gets in their coats.

I like to bathe after grooming because I don't want little hairs all over and if you do it the 'groomers' way they have to be completely dry or you'll rust your clippers but I am not looking for show quality cuts either so I guess it just depends. molli hates her arms done and will whine and wiggle but I know I'm not hurting her, she's just trying to see if she can get me to stop by being pitiful. I got Andis clippers on super sale so I got lucky, I've not tried beard trimmers, if your sure it's not pulling on the hair they may just need more time to get used to it. I highly recommend learning to groom yourself, I have heard way to many groomer horror stories

How close are you talking? I use the #1 guard and that's pretty short. Never had either cry during/after though. On any sensitive area, I only use scissors. For the back of the ears and pad hairs, I take the guard off to shave.

Noxzema? I've never heard of anyone use that... Or.. were you joking? Sorry, being Monday, not quite awake. :(

I keep Blazer relatively short. I use my husband's Wahl hair clippers with a variety of blade guard sizes. I do go a little shorter during the summer- a #2 if it is really hot out, but usually a #3-he has never reacted the way you mentioned. I use my husband's beard trimmer on Blazer's ears only, it seems to pull any longer hair than that.

I haven't done a full grooming on Yoda, but I have trimmed up his face, ears, sanitary areas, and nail clips. Now that I have a better feel for what looks good on him, I wouldn't be averse to giving it a try. I'll keep an eye on this thread for tips.

Also, it seems I have a yak at home this winter too! He is super ready for his spring cut, if only spring would actually arrive! The yard is still completely covered with snow. UGH!!

My breeder the late Roberta Rothenbach has a wonderful grooming video that I think is still available at The Yorkshire Terrier Club of America. Crystal was a champion before I got her at 3yrs old and used to being groomed so I had no problem. I kept her long and groomed her myself until I had to have her put to sleep at the age of 14. The grooming video was a great help for grooming but not for a broken heart.:aimeeyork

Andis & Wahl are excellent clippers...I have both & they're very quiet, but they were over $100/ea. I find human clippers to be noisier & it vibrates more.
What kind of blade are you using? It sounds like clipper burn. That's when the skin gets irritated from being cut too short & it can cause serious burns & red skin. They do have safe sprays to soothe the skin, made especially for dogs, like this: https://www.espree.com/productcat.asp?sc=1&s=23&p=295

Any blade under 7F (1/8" blade cut) will leave a very close shave & likely cause irritation, esp on a thinner haired silky dog. They can get sunburn too.

I use Oster clippers on mine. I think it is a personal preference as I did hair for 25 years and used a pair of Osters that my dad used for 20 years before me lol. (funny the style of them has changed very little in all those years). So when it came time for dog clippers that was my choice. They are a little pricier but to me when it comes to hair, human or dog, you get what you pay for. I don't shave mine down but when we cut laddy short last year we never had any issues with burning.

Also, you might want to check the blade every so often to make sure the clippers aren't hot. I learned the hard way that it helps to touch the blade multiple times during a trim.

I've never had an issue with the pups going crazy after being shaved. I've gone as short as a #2 blade. I typically will use a #3 and its normal for any pup that get shaved after having longer hair to rub on the ground, simply because it a different feeling for them, mine do. But bonders, never !

Could be that you had a few snags and pulled his hair. If I plan on shaving mine I will first use scissors to cut any and all tangles before I use the clippers. That way you can avoid all those snags and pulling. I also wash than shave. But for those who do the opposite you will notice that after the wash if you run the clippers over them again you will even it out. Also, if you keep your blades cleaned with rubbing alcohol and oiled it will prolong their life and keep them from rusting.

Noxzema? not sure why you would use that, not sure anyone would put it on their dog. I think I would skip that . .

I have Andis cordless clippers. I love them. The blades on a dog trimmer is made more "heavy duty" then a beard trimmer. My DBF uses one. I am growing Galen's coat so I am only giving under body a clipping but I really think you need a dog clipper. I got mine at Ollie's for cheap. You can find them on line at Amazon or sometimes even at Homegoods.

Also noxzema should not be put on Dogs. It would make him sick. Good luck :)

I groom some myself and sometimes I take her to the groomers but sit with her as she clips and shaves Lola. Recently I had the groomer shave down her underbelly really close. While I saw NO burns or nicks and everything felt as smooth as butter it drove Lola nuts so much so that she licked under her chest non stop till she wound up with raw red spots. I kept rubbing a little Vaseline over the area to sooth it and put her in an over the head cotton stretch dress that had elastic around the lower tummy so she could not get to the spot that bothered her. Do not use Noxema, it has menthol in it and to me I remember that stinging when I used it years ago. Anytime you put something topical on a dog you need to either put them in a head cone or cover the area with something like a shirt or a onesie, if you don't they will like all the crème off.

My advice is not to shave your dog so short that if feels like a crew cut to them, instead leave a little bit of hair, this will protect the dog against the sun, yorkies are meant to have hair, so while I understand you not wanting long hair, you don't have to shave them down to achieve an easy to manage hairstyle for you and a comfortable length for them to handle the hot weather and sun in the summer

I am sure most of you have dogs that roll around after a bath and grooming, I am thinking that when shaved crew cut style it must feel prickly to them, I think perhaps that is why they might not like it. LOL just me trying to think like a dog, what do you guys think?

Hi y'all, I appreciate your feedback. 1st I brought up Noxzema cause some of my friends use it when they get sunburn or rash it helps cool the skin that's all. It does make my face very cool & soothing when I apply it to my face.

As for the beard trimmer, like I said I was very surprised that it was able to cut through my Maltese thick matted coat like butter whereas the Andis & Wahl that I bought from Amazon & Costco were crappy & useless.

The $20 Remington was quiet, light, cordless, shaves their hair with ease cleanly. Both my Yorkie & Maltese I think like it as they just stand there while I do my thing, no quips or nothing.

It's just my Yorkie runs off yipping when I shaved him close last summer. Wherever I point the beard trimmer, hair would just come off clean like a laser. Other times when I groom him normal he's totally happy-happy. He actually likes it when he's clean and handsome.

He's got really crusty & flaky skin right now from me switching his food but I'll go back to the good grain free kibble. And I like to shave him close again next month so that I can scrape off all the flaky skin but this time I'll be more prepared with a nice cold soothing bucket of water and gentle shampoo for him to soak in. Maybe add some epsom salt too.

As for the Noxzema, I found this from 24 Hour Emergency Care Clinic – Houston, TX:

Home Care for Sunburn | Emergency Care Houston

What is Sun Burn – A sunburn is a form of radiation burn that affects living tissue, such as skin, that results from an overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, commonly from the sun. When spending any length of extended time outside it is important to always remember to apply and RE-APPLY (this is imperative) sunscreen all over your body throughout the day. Failure to do so could result in sunburn and potentially permanently damage your skin. However, should your fun in the sun result in a burn try these home remedies to help ease the pain and potentially speed up your recovery.

1. Use Noxzema facial cleanser. Noxzema was originally devised to provide relief from sunburns. Here’s what to do: Buy a 334ml container (without a pump) of Noxzema
Original Cold Cream. Begin applying a thick layer of Noxzema to the affected area as soon as you get home and suspect a burn. Do not wait to see if your skin turns red. You should be able to see a layer of white. Let it sit. When most of the moisture has been absorbed by your damaged skin, apply more Noxzema on top. Do not rinse off, as doing so will just dry your skin out further. Continue applications every 2 to 8 hours depending on the severity of your burn.

2. Brew 3 or 4 tea bags in a pitcher of warm water. When the tea is almost black, remove the teabags and let the liquid cool to room temperature. Gently dab the sunburn with a cloth soaked in the tea. Apply as much as you’d like, but do not wash it off. Don’t be shy, the more, the better. If the burn is severe dab your skin with the teabags directly. Try to do this at bedtime so it can “work its magic” overnight. Shower it off the next morning and you’ll see and feel a big difference. *Be careful with clothing, as tea liquid stains.

3. Use a cool cloth dampened with skim milk to rest on the burned skin. The coolness relieves the initial fire, and the milk creates a protein film that helps ease the ensuing discomfort.

4. Apply the juice of a tomato to your skin. If the burn is very recent (still red and not peeling), Tomato juice is acidic but it doesn’t hurt and helps the redness. Note: eating tomatoes regularly is probably more effective against being sunburned than using them after the fact.

of course you could forgo all that if you did not buzz your dog down to the point you gave him razor burn, especially since it's not needed, but then he is your dog and I guess you know best..... I bet he will just love that nice cold soothing bucket of water, because as we all know most yorkies love to be plunged into icy water:rolleyes:

I have Oster's too!! I have had them since I was a kid and I LOVE them! They've got a ton of use over the years because I groomed while I was growing up. Now, as an adult, I use them on the boys. Of course, I've had to buy new blades and sharpen them over the years, but the clippers still run great....even after I've dropped them a few times over the years.

If you are thinking you are burning your pup, they do make a clipper coolant that will cool the blade. I used to have to take breaks if I was shaving bigger dogs. If you are using beard trimmers, maybe they get hot quicker. You can always use a guard and clip the hair a bit longer.

Typically, I bathe and then shave. Dirty hair clogs up and dulls the clippers much quicker. It's also easier for me to brush and blow out a dog and get an even clip after the bath. Sometimes if a dog was severely matted where it looks like you are shearing a sheep, I'd do a quick clip first to get out the mats and then bathe and then I'd have to go back and clean up and smooth out the clip after the bath. If a dog is really matted, it's really better to get all of the dirty hair off first because it's hard to scrub the skin and get the dog clean with all of the gross matts that hold dirt inside. Again though...I am talking about severe cases. If a dog is already shaved short, or isn't massively tangled, I wash them first.

My older dog runs around like crazy trying to rub to dry off after his bath...he sometimes does the same thing after I clip his back and he does the same thing when he has a flea on him. When he gets clipped, I've chalked it up to him trying to get all of the loose, itchy hair off. I do know some dogs will almost act embarrassed after they get their hair clipped, like they are naked or something. Some hide, some hunch down low when they walk and act all timid at first...I think it's because it feels weird to them.

Hopefully, after your pup gets used to being shaved, it won't be a problem.

This is not a burn from a hot clipper blade...it's from clipping too short, it causes irritation.

They fall asleep when I clip them it's really funny I think the vibrations do it. I just spray mine down with organic ACV mixed 50/50 with filtered water and rub it into the skin to soothe any scratches on them.
I just bought the Wahl peanut, was using vidal sassoon before but they were a bit clunky.
I love the peanut I even used it on my own hair and replacement blades are available at Ren's pet depot so I'm happy

Those Wahl peanuts are great (but they're loud)...for the paw pads, sanitary trim, tipping ears...but not for the body. That's a very close shave, I think the blade on the peanuts are #40 (or #30?), it's a surgical blade. The ones vets use to shave the hair off the patients b4 surgery.

The irritation happens & gets exasperated by the dog licking or scratching it. For example, they'll be fine after the groomer's but once they get home couple hrs later, they would be all red & scratching themselves all over, sometimes even breaking open a sore.

Thanks for the tips. It came with guards. It's much sharper and a cleaner shave than what I was gettin before.

That's great that you're using the guards...using a #40 or #30 under the guards will give you a very clean cut.
I was referring to the OP, I don't think she was using any guards over the blade...