Hair growth; Is this normal????
 

Hello, I am a first time Yorkie parent and have a question on my baby boy's hair. He is six months old and the hair down his back about half way is almost nonexistent. The rest of his hair is very thin, but getting long. Is this normal? He is a pure breed and both his parents have normal looking hair. He is 2.5lbs and is very healthy. I knew he would be very tiny, both parents, and their prior litters, are all in the 3-3.5lb range. "Bully" (Bboy), is very adorable, has beautiful coloring, and very very loving. I am just worried about his hair and fear it may never come in completely, or become any thicker. I comb him everyday and he also gets Omega 3 daily. Is there something I could be doing to help his hair come in any quicker?

He could just have a silky coat that is thinner and slower to grow but is the desired coat with yorkies

Thank you, I was terribly worried that he would never have all of his hair.

Welcome to Yorkie Talk. Do you have some photos you can share of Bully? I agree with Chachi, could be that he has a silk coat which can appear sparse at first and slower growing.

Is the hair on his back that appears shorter possibly in line with his wee wee? If he is a leg lifter and hits his coat, this can cause damage and make the hair break/appear shorter.

His hair that is very very short, has never even came in yet. It starts between shoulder blades and right down middle of his back, including tail area. What is left of his tail, lol. I will post pics of him when I return home later on today. You all are so helpful, I appreciate your comments very much.

Some dogs are small, because of genetics, some are small because of physical problems. How do you know that he's very healthy? Has his liver been tested? If what your describing is true, " hair down his back about half way is almost nonexistent", this is not normal at all, even with those dogs whose hair is thin. The hair itself is thin, not there is barely any hair. What does your vet say about the condition? I would not supplement, until I found out what was causing the problem. Are you feeding a good quality puppy food? I personally would get a through vet check, if you catch some problems early enough, you can prevent damage from being done.

Do you use topical flea treatments? My Wheaten terrier had hair loss because of them.

I agree . . Can you post a pic. I think your pup has a silky coat

Joey has a silky coat, but never was his hair on his back "almost nonexistent." Silky hair is usually thinner than a cotton coat, but they still have a lot of hair, the strands of hair are thinner. This isn't normal.

I really feel totally stupid asking, but could someone tell me how to post a pic on here of him? My laptop went to electronic heaven several months ago, so I use my cell phone for everything. My vet gave him clean bill of health, also she told me that any type of Purina puppy food is fine to feed him, and is only food I have ever given him and never given him table scraps. Our vet also approved the Omega 3 and is currently getting 1ml dose daily. I have never used a topical flea treatment, and probably will never be able to use that type of flea treatment since he is under 4lbs, and is unlikely he will ever reach a weight of 4lbs. I only use a mixture of distilled white vinegar and water to deter fleas. I only lightly mist him with that mixture on rare occasions. I am highly allergic to insect bites, so I am extra cautious with Bully as well. I use a mild puppy shampoo as well. I do remember when I purchased Bully from the breeder, she mentioned that the vet who she uses was excited about this litter being an all "Blue" litter. She told me that type of litter is rare. This being my first Yorkie, I don't even know what that means. I have done a ton of reading about Yorkies, but still haven't read anything about a "Blue' litter.

Oh my goodness, I can't imagine why a vet would be excited about this. I think she's referring to "blue born." The term blue born is different than what standard means when it describes coat as "blue and gold." Blue born is a problem with a recessive gene and these dogs can have a host of problems. Some are so sick, they don't live past the age of one, others are only mildly affected, and it may only be cosmetic with little or no hair on the body. They are prone to skin problems and care should be taken so that they don't get sunburned. The breeder should have neutered both dogs who produced this pup and you should do the same. Here's what one sites says:

Sorry to say, no supplement will help this condition, but the Omega 3 might help with the skin and keep it from becoming overly thick.

I tried to upload a pic for you, but it kept saying error,and I tried several times. My dogs nose is very black, and I know that if my dog has that problem, his nose could still be black. Just wanted you to know his nose color. The way my breeder talked about the vet being happy with the litter, I took it as she was pleased with their color. I have pics of Bboy on my Facebook, if you would like to look at my Facebook?? Most of his hair is long, and I can see hair coming in where it isn't as plentiful as the rest. I don't even have a pic on my profile, nor do I know how to fix that. I feel so dumb on here, you would never believe I was a 4.0 student when I was in college for criminal justice! I will eventually figure out how to navigate on here!!

I have been reading about blue born pups, my pup was born with black and brown hair colors. I saw him when he was five weeks old, when we went to meet the litter and make my choice as to which pup I wanted. I read that blue borns are all born greyish in color. Is this true?

LOL, no worries! Posting photos here can be a challenge because the photo files have to be resized. There is a maximum file size. Doing this is on a phone is harder than a computer. Sorry I don't have the exact instructions and cannot find the info in the forum for you.

You can private message me links to your Facebook photos and I would be happy to re-size them for you while you are figuring things out. You can also put the photos in Photobucket and post links here.

Unfortunately some breeders would be happy with this, that doesn't mean it's good for the dog. Sorry, I can't help you with the photos, I know you can do it from a phone, but I'm not sure of the details.

I think a true blue born is greyish, but there a degrees of the condition. Sounds like your baby won't be impacted health-wise, but you should not breed him. Were you planning to breed?

No, I do not want to breed him. I just wanted him for a pet. But to be quite honest, I am thinking of trying to trade him, or sell him. I was heart set on this breed for their looks!! I fell in love with all the fluff, and clearly my dog is lacking why I wanted one in the first place. He is only 2.5 lbs and is 7 months old now. He is very cute, just not what I thought I was paying for.

Ugh!!

I am very sorry to hear you feel this way about your pup. Good looks are fun, but a bond with a pet should go much deeper than a little hair.

Can you upload a photo to photobucket and post a link here? Maybe if we saw a photo of your pup we can help you figure out what is going on with his coat that you don't like.

Someone is shocked or disgusted by my frustration, disappointment, and honesty? Do you know anything about me or where I have been to get to this point? I am not heartless or an uncaring person by far! I am a 44 yr old full time stay at home wife, mother, and grandmother, that has dedicated my life to others. I had to have my tubes tied after my second son, due to medical complications. My husband had a cardiac arrest 17 years ago which led to his defib and pacemaker devices. DR's did not think he would survive the night, given a one percent chance to even survive the night, he was out of rehab and back to work within ninety days of being released from the hospital and physical rehabilitation. We took in our great niece from birth, was not in our plans, but we lovingly and openly accepted her. Our sons were almost through high school, people thought we were in sane. We made the decision then that I would quit my job to give her all of my attention and nourishing and the love she so deserved. Her mother was a very young teenager, could not provide for herself, let alone a new infant. She was addicted to drugs, a lot of troubles, we sacrificed many things with not one ounce of regret! When she was seven I went back to school part time to earn my degree, I wanted to work with child welfare services. I was a quarter way in with a 4.0 GPA, then my oldest son was deployed. He is an MP with the US ARMY, and he had a wife and a three week old son to care for. He asked me to quit school and take care of my grandson, so his wife could work and go to school. I did, again, no regrets. Three years later, I am still providing day care for my grandson full time. Thru all of this my husband is the bread winner in our house hold. I am still at home giving my all and then some to my family. We have made many financial sacrifices so I could be everything to everybody, whenever they need me. I asked for nothing for myself, nothing. However it has been a long time hearts desire that I have had to have a beautiful Yorkie. My husband a yr ago handed me a thousand dollars, told me to get my fur baby. What did I do? Accidentally came across a sad, sad puppy mill. I rescued and paid for two sister designer puppies. One was very ill, I took her to vet and loved and nurtured her to a healthy state. I have trained them myself, and very well i might add. They even ring a bell at our back door to alert us that they need let out. So for the last year I have pinched every penny that I could, to save for my Yorkie. I couldn't ask my husband for the money, I didn't contribute to the first thousand he gave me. I have no income, he went without to give me something, that is how caring he is. I was so excited to have found a breeder I could afford, shame on me for not researching more than I did. She did not tell me the mother was a blue born, and that my puppy may have issues, I did not know he could or would have hair issues. Had I known and been told, like she should have told me, I would not have chosen that breeder, or puppy!! I am not a breeder, I do not have a lot of money, or have a chance at first pic of litters several times a year. I, like anyone else have the right and deserve to get the dog that thought I was getting. I am not some bum who begged for a freebie, I paid good money and anyone else in my position would be just a bit frustrated and upset too! Walk in my shoes, then see how it feels before judgements are made. If sacrificing and loving and then being excited and expecting what I paid for and waiting for, for so long, is wrong, then maybe I am a horrible person.

Fair enough. I think, though, what I would say regarding this is that there is no sure way to know how any puppy will develop. If you had your heart set on an exact look, I think you'd have been better off buying an adult where the color had already set, the size, etc.


With puppies, you just can never tell how they will develop.


Believe me, I do understand what you're saying. Teddy has a cotton coat, which I was very disappointed to learn, but had I done my research (instead of just assuming all Yorkies are the same cuz my other two were by luck - not design) then I would have known and my expectations would have been different.


The puppy has bonded with you at this stage, I have no doubt, so it is hard for some people to grasp that you would want to get rid of it based on its coat. But, if you are going to hold that against the dog, then I would probably say that putting him with someone who would truly love him for himself and not his fur would be the best thing.


Then, I would suggest buying a 2-3 year old Yorkie and waiting for as long as necessary until you find the right one. Although, a dog can be beautiful and have behavioral problems or not be perfect in some other way. These are the risks we take when we invite a life into our home.


Good luck.

I recognize how that would be frustrating, but you can never control how a puppy is going to look. For example, with yorkies you may be expecting the traditional silky type coat and get a pup that has a cotton coat. Or you may think the coloring is going to be one way, but it turns out another. You can't control the looks of an animal.

No kidding, I know you can not control the looks of a dog!! I also realize there are different coat types, just like I realize the color can change several times, and there is no way of knowing a lot of things, and none of those are the issue!! But I did expect, and why wouldn't I, that my dog would have hair! If I wanted a hairless dog, I would have been looking for a Chinese breed. If the breeder had been honest with me and told me that my dogs mother was a blue born, I wouldn't be on here even discussing this, because I would not have bought a dog from that breeder!! The breeder should never have let her dog breed in the first place. People have dogs for a lot longer than I have had mine and buy, sell, and trade them, for money making purposes, don't those dogs form a bond with the owners, or is there a special breed that know they are working dogs and know not to bond with their owners that I don't know about? Dogs can have lots of issues and things can come up at any given time, I am not disputing that. I have other dogs, my dogs are all very well trained and taken care of, and loved very much. But I also have the right to be told the truth about a potential purchase, and not be left in the dark, just so the breeder could sell her pup and make her money. Nobody has mentioned how wrong that is!!! You don't think I care or love this dog that I have been raising and spoiling for all of these months??? I had been asking the breeder about the hair growth, and she just kept telling me not to worry he is fine, his hair is just slow coming in. Not til recently did I even know there was such a thing as a blue born. By the way the breeder worded things, I thought she was referring to the blue as in the color blue. She knew that, that is what she wanted me to think. Now I find out something so devastating and realize my dog may have many skin issues, issues that financially I probably can not afford. That hurts me and I am trying to be responsible and do right by my dog. I am thinking I may need to find him a new home with an owner that is willing and able to care for his medical issues. I am at least being honest, which is more courtesy than what was given to me.

Yes! That is exactly what I meant by "Ugh!" Thank you for translating for me ;)


Perhaps you should not read so much "judgement" into the comments of posters, but more a concern for the sweet puppy who thought he found a forever loving home and does not. I imagine this must be difficult for you but it is unrealistic to think you could post this and not have comments made on how sad some might feel for the puppy involved. That doesn't mean they don't feel sad for you or all the difficult times you have been through also but that is not what you originally posted and so that is not what was being commented on.


I will hope that this puppy finds a loving forever home and you find the perfect dog.

Lady you have a bad attitude. I was not rude to you so I am not sure why you are getting an attitude with me but you need to relax. But now I AM going to be rude.

No, I do not think you love your dog. I think you were honest before when you said you wanted a fluffy little yorkie and that's why you want to trade or sell him. You never once mentioned financial concerns or concerns for his well-being. You didn't even know about those things until you came to this board and were told what blue born meant. By all means get rid of your dog, it's yours and you can do what you want, but cut the BS and while you're at it curb your attitude.

See? THIS is all you've said in regards to why you wanted to get rid of him. :thumbdown:thumbdown:thumbdown:thumbdown

Bboy's Mom, thank you for sharing photos with me of your boy. He is absolutely adorable. I would say you hit the jackpot on sweet face and overall cuteness.

I didn't see any cause for concern that he has a health issue that is affecting hair growth. He may just be in the awkward puppy stage, or he may not have inherited genes to produce a long Yorkie coat. As I wrote, environmental factors can also affect coat: activity, clothes wearing, hair products. Good food can also factor.

Unless you see something in his skin or he is scratching, I would not be concerned that his coat is indicative of a health issue.

Anyway, as promised, here is my sweet Teddy as a gangly, funny looking 8 month old:
Attachment 402774

Teddy is beautiful! :D