Hair growth and grooming styles
 

How long does it take for a yorkie's hair to grow long (to the ground)? My girl is 8 months old and the hair on her back is about 2 1/2 inches long (I adopted her at 6 months so I don't know if she was every cut).

Also, what are the different types of cuts that you can get for Yorkies - I'd like to know what to ask for when she goes to the groomers. Actually, I'd like to learn how to do it myself if anyone has any suggestions on how to learn.

Thanks!

This is how I cut my little boy! He is very messy and doesn't like to be groomed.

Villette had a great grooming site on one of these threads. It tells a lot about different cuts and how to do them yourself. I think it was on YTCA website.

Both of my yorkies went to the groomers recently and got a puppy cut. They both look like little teddy bears.

When I took Josie to the Groomer's all I asked is that he keep her teddy bear face, even her out and trim her ears. He was so great! Did exactly what I asked him to do. I will definitely go back. :thumbup: :aimeeyork

Hi...Lots of people get what's called a Puppy Cut - it's adorable - short on the face and shorter on the body - Then there IS a schnauser cut - which is self explanatory - What I would do.... is look in the gallery/albums or on the net for pictures of what you like.... and print one out when you see it...

As far as how long it takes to grow to the ground - that depends on the yorkie - and really..long hair is hard to keep up with...It's work and you have to be serious about every day grooming or you'll end up with matts or knots...Chanel had her full coat touching the ground at 1-1/2 years old ...but she has hair that grows really fast. Back then...it was so much work I got her cut in a puppy cut and she looked adorable

This is a good grooming link - I groom my girls but I took them to get professionally done for a long time - I just got tired of bad cuts and high prices - Good luck !

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...=grooming+link

You are so good Villette - you are my hero! Someday I want to be organized - Just like you.

Thanks
 

Thanks everyone for the information and cute pictures. I'll definitely check out that link Villette!

I'm not interested in having a long haired dog at this point - though I really like brushing/combing my girl daily, much to my suprise (I've always had very short haired BIG dogs so this whole thing is a new experience for me). But I was curious how long it would take to grow that long.

[QUOTE=Laura]This is how I cut my little boy! He is very messy and doesn't like to be groomed.

I love the cut he has. I showed it to my husband and he agrees that if we ever get Sophie's hair cut this is how we are having it done. He is just precious. :thumbup:

Thanks Sophie'smom! and Terrierlove - there is still plenty to brush every day, just not as much! :)

growing coat
 

I think I can help you on both ends:

Whether your Yorkie’s coat will ever touch the ground depends on the type of hair she has and how you care for it. For most pet Yorkies, the coat NEVER touches the ground because it breaks off about half way down the leg. We had one wooly coated Yorkie growing up (he had dark, black hair and a course very thick coat that matted easily) grew to the ground with no help from us. His hair was exceptionally strong and grew fast. I had one cottony coated Yorkie growing up and one now. Both were kept short because the matting is beyond reason with this time of coat. Lastly, there’s my show girl who has a pure silk coat. Her coat DOES touch the ground (albeit for some breakage here and there) but please understand that she is in wraps 90% of the time and gets bathed and oiled WEEKLY. If I didn’t do that, her coat would break off just as my other silk coated Yorkies used to do.

My other “silk coated” yorkie (her name was Maggie) was a scrappy housepet who loved to play basketball, run around and get into stuff. But since her coat was so nice, we simply kept it in a Silky Cut. Sort of long, but all around – above her knee. So she looked very “Yorkie” but wasn’t always a mess. I don’t recommend a long, floor length coat for a pet Yorkie unless you are committed to the upkeep. In addition to everything else, your dog will, excuse me here, walk through her pee and get into the ends of her coat (esp true with a female who squats), step and trip on her coat and mat up. Doesn’t sound like much fun for you or her! If your Yorkie has a wooly or cottony coat, I’d suggest a terrier clip or teddy bear clip. There’s some great clipping photos on the YTCA website you can look at to get ideas.

I started learning about Yorkie grooming by watching videos and reading books. I got one from 3m, which although British, was pretty good. There was another one I got from a person on this message board, priavetly worked which wasn’t bad either. Recently, I bought another CD from http://www.sweetyblue.com on top knots which was excellent. I hear they are coming out with a whole series of tapes soon. Lastly, but not least, I learned a lot by going to dog shows, asking questions of more experienced show handlers and by picking YT’s very own “Arlene” (president of Pure Paws shampoos and Yorkie breeder) brain a lot. Arlene has bathing and conditioning instructions for Yorkies on her website. http://www.purepaws.net

That's a lot of great information, Yorkiepower. And a reality check. I must admit I wondered what people do with all the pee pee that gets on the long hair! Sounds like growing a coat that long is a very specialized thing to do. My girl is pretty scruffy - and I love her that way! I'd like to learn to do the grooming myself because I feel very protective of her and I've heard not-so-nice things that can happen at groomers. So far every groomer I've talked to will not allow me to stay so I'm not interested. No matter what the treatment it is a stressful experience for them (I am sensitive to this because I volunteer in a shelter environment - a very state-of-the-art shelter and it still isn't pleasant for dogs).

This is a great thread and very helpful!!

As I was looking back at older thrads I thought this would help many new comers as well as myself.

Thanks!!


I groom my scotties and I will tell you that it is much less stressful for them. When I was on the learning curve and I took longer I would do it for a while and let them down for a while. I always give a special treat after the session. They never protest. :)

Thanks.
Actually, after writing about the sweetyblue video tape #1, I visited the site and noticed that the newest video is available. So I purchased it and it came on friday. Just finished watching it tonight. Lots of info and new tricks - for example, the tape recommends wrapping with both plastic and paper, using the plastic to protect the paper. Think that's a great idea! The tape is excellant. Highly recommend it. For people who just love looking and gorgous Yorkies, you've got to check out the sweetyblue website anyhow!

http://www.sweetyblue.com
:)

video clips on YTCA website
 

Here's some clips on how to cut down a Yorkie's coat:

http://www.ytca.org/grooming_clips1.html

The puppy cut is precious but if you want the long coat, it's best to not ever cut it. True, it is a high maintenance job, but I think the pay off is worth it!