The Barbie Effect: Visions of the Perfect Yorkie

[BayleighL]

Originally Posted by BayleighL

Thanks for all your fun real-life-with-yorkies tales! If this upload works, here's our little girl on an average (well, above average) day taming the bear rug.

Will find more pics later. BTW, this bear-taming monster is just under 5lb.

[Doodlebug]

Aww she is a cutie, spoiled rotten, no doubt, as she should be. She has a pretty, shiny coat. I thought you meant that you dressed her in clothes when you said "Barbie". I was picturing her in feather boas and pearls. Lol

[matese]

Originally Posted by canana

You're not biased at all! Piper is a definite cutie patootie!!

I feel the need to join your boat of how I like others to see Casie, and then what she usually looks like when we go on our walks (because for some reason, she needs to mess up her hair right before we head out)!

Lol, Casie is just to cute. They always have to re-do their hair style to their likings lol.

[mrssabes]

Originally Posted by BayleighL

We have a 2.5 yr old little girl. She's the envy of all when we are out and about. Yet still I find myself expecting her to look like the pictures of show pups all groomed perfectly and posing for the picture ALL the time. It's like the Barbie effect or whatever male stereotype one might hold as the image of perfection. I have to contain my desire to primp this poor pup into oblivion. Anyone else like me??

Wow, sorry for some of the harsh responses from other posters. I took your post as that you're a proud parent of a gorgeous Yorkie and wanted to start a friendly discussion about expectations and standards. I'm sure your fur baby feels your love and affection when you "primp" her. (And yes, I believe Yorkies can feel pride: just look at the way they trot!<g>)

I work for a performing arts center and I love it when parents dress up their little girls in party dresses and princess crowns when coming to our shows. (And the boys in little shirts and ties, although I'd LOVE to see a boy come in with a crown some day!<g>) I really don't see it as reinforcing gender stereotypes or creating body issue images. Instead, I see it as parents creating special moments with their kids.

While I brush and comb Fabian before taking him out, I also post photos of him on Instagram after getting wet and dirty playing in the grass. I love both sides of him.

[BayleighL]

Originally Posted by Doodlebug

Aww she is a cutie, spoiled rotten, no doubt, as she should be. She has a pretty, shiny coat. I thought you meant that you dressed her in clothes when you said "Barbie". I was picturing her in feather boas and pearls. Lol

We have 7 grandkids so most of our pictures are of them! It's hard to sift back through to find the occasional photo of our pup sitting still in her Halloween costume or a dress! Honestly, most of our pictures are off the moments that spur me to think there out to be more primping. lol Like this one - lounging with bear

[Jkpal]

For sure, for sure on their wanting to do their own do! (oh, and I might be just a tad biased toward Pipe---but only a little, tiny bit). Love that baby of yours, Canana--adorable with personality amundo!!!

[Russpilot]

I dont bother too much with trying to primp mine up before we go out. They are pretty cute on their own and if they think that I have tried to do something special, I swear they immediately will hit the floor and roll around until they have decided that they are sufficiently frumpy and grungy. Then they look up at you with that satisfied look on their face, shake once really good and they are ready to roll.

[BayleighL]

Originally Posted by mrssabes

Wow, sorry for some of the harsh responses from other posters. I took your post as that you're a proud parent of a gorgeous Yorkie and wanted to start a friendly discussion about expectations and standards. I'm sure your fur baby feels your love and affection when you "primp" her. (And yes, I believe Yorkies can feel pride: just look at the way they trot!<g>)

I work for a performing arts center and I love it when parents dress up their little girls in party dresses and princess crowns when coming to our shows. (And the boys in little shirts and ties, although I'd LOVE to see a boy come in with a crown some day!<g>) I really don't see it as reinforcing gender stereotypes or creating body issue images. Instead, I see it as parents creating special moments with their kids.

While I brush and comb Fabian before taking him out, I also post photos of him on Instagram after getting wet and dirty playing in the grass. I love both sides of him.

I have been involved with several arts productions and enjoy the special moments for kids and parents. When parents do all those things for their kids enjoyment it works out well. I date myself a little when I refer to the Barbie effect in that during the emergence of the feminist movement in the 60s when everyone was sure that all eating disorders for girls were because every girl wanted to be Barbie - or Twiggy. We know it's a lot more complex than that now.


One time we were out and our little girly pup was wearing her lime green harness and someone referred to her as a boy. Well, I AM reconsidering lime green. lol

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by mrssabes

Wow, sorry for some of the harsh responses from other posters. I took your post as that you're a proud parent of a gorgeous Yorkie and wanted to start a friendly discussion about expectations and standards. I'm sure your fur baby feels your love and affection when you "primp" her. (And yes, I believe Yorkies can feel pride: just look at the way they trot!<g>)

I work for a performing arts center and I love it when parents dress up their little girls in party dresses and princess crowns when coming to our shows. (And the boys in little shirts and ties, although I'd LOVE to see a boy come in with a crown some day!<g>) I really don't see it as reinforcing gender stereotypes or creating body issue images. Instead, I see it as parents creating special moments with their kids.

While I brush and comb Fabian before taking him out, I also post photos of him on Instagram after getting wet and dirty playing in the grass. I love both sides of him.

I don't think the "harsh" responses were that bad. It's just scary to think someone might only care about the looks of their dog. That is actually how a lot of dogs end up in shelters. We must remember these dogs are living beings.

[BayleighL]

We all tend to be sooooo serious these days. Next time I'll add a bunch of LOLs and emojis to signal my intent!

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by BayleighL

We all tend to be sooooo serious these days. Next time I'll add a bunch of LOLs and emojis to signal my intent!

Going by your other posts it didn't sound like you being serious but I donno lol

[BayleighL]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Going by your other posts it didn't sound like you being serious but I donno lol

Yorkies just inspire fun! So between all our concerns for feeding, health, training, losing our companions.....it's nice to lighten up and focus on all the fun we have daily.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by BayleighL

Yorkies just inspire fun! So between all our concerns for feeding, health, training, losing our companions.....it's nice to lighten up and focus on all the fun we have daily.

I was thinking about the original question and although I don't make them look like perfect yorkies when we go to pet events and for pictures I can kinda be a crazy mom lol. I pick out their outfits or if it's to hot for clothes their bandanas way in advance and try to make them alllook good together. I also plan groomings around certain events lol.

[dinkster]

What a fun thread!
No, we are not into making Dinky a "Barbie" or in his case a "ken" doll.
In fact, I love it when his hair is a little too long. HE's just a little bit more adorable than usual. But we keep his hair pretty short because we like him clean and it's easier to keep him clean with short hair.
He definitely gets more oohs and aahs when he is a bit more shaggy.

[dinkster]

Originally Posted by matese

My boy sports a puppy cut 365. I love to mush him up and not fear matting like my girls did. When we go out he wears his bandana, a scrunchie in his top knot and his dreamy eyes look and the ladies melt lol, the men lol, forget it they are worse then the women lol. Then he comes home and rolls in the moss lol.

Hilarious!