A Word to the New Puppy Owners - re: Grooming

[kristykins]

Hey guys... I feel the need to share with the new Yorkie owners!!

the biggest lesson I learned with my first puppy... BRUSH THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY! even when they're tiny babies, and their furr is so soft and pretty you think "i don't need to brush everyday". At least that's what I thought. Until he got bigger and I had to take him to a groomer and he was completely matted to the skin. it was completely my fault. I spent days trying to de-matt him but it was too bad and eventually he had to be shaved. His head looks okay but the back end of his body just looks silly and I'm counting down until his hair grows back !!

So, I just wanted to let you know that if you want to save your pup from having to get shaved. It's not pretty to see their beautiful black coats get completely shaved trust me!!

Here's two photos of my little munchkin post-shaving. He still looks adorable from the front but he's SO scrawny from the neck down ! (hence the photo from the front lol)

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...t_winnie-1.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b..._winnie2-1.jpg

[Yorkiekids]

He's still looks adorable, and I think what happened to you happens to a lot of people. They look perfect and you think they won't matt up. The next thing you know is you have one ball of matts.

[kristykins]

yeah I think it happens to lots of people also.

when I was picking up Winston from getting groomed, there was a couple buying a new baby at the breeder and i said "whatever you do, make sure you brush him a lot!" lol (mainly because they saw my reaction to him being shaved)! hahaha

[tjdmom]

Probably depends on whether they are silky or cotton but I have to say, I was told not to brush every day as it overworks the coat and can damage it. However, I use a capful of emu oil (almond oil I hear works good as well) in a cupful of water for a final rinse and Zoe does not matt at all. It's amazing! I only brush her when I bath her which is every 4-5 days although I've gone as much as 9 days and still no matts although she was getting a little smelly . I don't usually go 9 days though.

[kristykins]

hmmmmm can you get emu oil at any normal store? Ill have to try it

[SevenGirl]

Thanks for the tip! Your furbaby looks adorable with his new cut!

[kalina82]

aw he looks so cute!!! more pictures please!

[tjdmom]

I got mine here..
http://www.dog-bows.com/cgi-bin/TheF...Touch/shop.cgi

I also heard that you can get almond oil at GNC and it's cheaper and works good as well. Our local GNC does not carry any oils....

[hartygirl]

oh yes that happened to me! Addy is shaved right now and the pic is on my avatar. She looks really cute although she is a handful to brush! We are now working every night on grooming. Glad to know I'm not the only one out there with a super cute shaved yorkie!

[littlewhip]

Same thing happen with me, molly was so full of matts when I tryed to brush her there was no way i could get them out, they were also close to her skin, I had to have her shaved, that was about 5 weeks ago and its slowly growing back,

before & after

[Ozzies Mom]

I am taking Ozzie tomorrow to get groomed and I am so upset because I didn't even realize he had gotten that way I know he will have to be shaved too....... Oh well, thank God for little clothes to cover him up

[kristykins]

Originally Posted by SevenGirl

Thanks for the tip! Your furbaby looks adorable with his new cut!

thank you !!!! Yeah his new cut certainly took some getting used to. Having to say goodbye to his baby hair was very sad, but oh well

Oh & hartygirl - your Addy looks precious at least they are adorable no matter what! haha.

I posted a few new haircut/playing photos of Winston here:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=95037

[kristykins]

oh..and its funny how their hair grows back in all silky and soft !!

[MIZBROWN]

Oh... thats it... He's still quite a cutie! And its only hair, it grows back... I just did the same thing to Meka a few weeks ago for the same reasons.... Though, I didnt shave her as low - but its still a drastic change. And since we're in Cali, she appreciated not having such a thick coat in the heat. So dont feel bad

[myla57]

How true!! I found out the hard way that you have to brush baby Yorkies everyday. I got Rowdy at nine weeks, I already have a five year old Yorkie that I rescued so I thought I'd groom Rowdy just like her. Wrong!! Those little babies are totally different. Their coat is changing everyday for about two years. Anyhow, new owners remember to groom everyday or you will be like me and have to put the baby through the pain of de-matting. Fortunely my groomer helped me out and Rowdy didn't have to be shaved. But I did get a lesson from the groomer not to let a Yorkie go a day without brushing.