Yorkshire Terriers are small dogs with big personalities, and their coats are just as unique. They have a fine, silky texture that requires regular grooming to prevent matting.
The ideal coat length for a Yorkshire Terrier is around 2-3 inches, but owners can choose to shave their dog for various reasons. Some owners prefer the low-maintenance aspect of a shaved coat, while others may need to shave their dog for health reasons.
Yorkshire Terriers can be shaved in various ways, including a full-body shave or a partial shave, which can help reduce shedding and prevent heatstroke in warm weather.
When to Get First Haircut
At three to four months, you can take your Yorkshire terrier puppy for a "Sanitary trim" to get them used to the grooming process.
This early start is crucial, as it helps the puppy get comfortable with being handled and reduces the risk of behavioral problems later on.
Already at this young age, the puppy's soft and fluffy coat needs to be trimmed to mimic natural molting, which doesn't occur in Yorkshire terriers.
By three to four months, the puppy's coat is already growing rapidly, and trimming it helps to prevent matting and tangling.
By the seventh month, your Yorkshire terrier is ready for model haircuts, and regular trimming will help maintain their beautiful coat.
The common misconception that trimming before one year is detrimental to the quality and growth rate of the hair is simply not true.
In fact, trimming is essential for maintaining a healthy and well-groomed coat, and it's best to start early to get into a regular routine.
Hairstyles and Cuts
The Yorkie Puppy Cut is a popular choice among Yorkie owners, and it's easy to see why - it's low maintenance and still looks adorable. This cut trims the entire body to a very short even length, usually around 1-2 inches.
Check this out: Yorkie Terrier Hair Cuts
You can modify the Puppy Cut to suit your taste, choosing the length of the hair on the body, legs, and head. Some people prefer to leave the legs and head a bit longer than the body for a more unique look.
The Yorkie Westie Cut is another option, which involves shaving the entire body or leaving a small amount of hair, typically around 3-4 centimeters. The head is where the groomer will focus, trimming and "edging" the beard and hair around the eyes.
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Hairstyles for Males and Females
The Yorkie Puppy Cut is a popular hairstyle for Yorkshire terriers, also known as the Teddy Bear Cut. It's a low-maintenance style where the entire body is trimmed to a short length, but not completely shaved.
This cut can be modified to suit your taste, with options to vary the length of the hair on the body, legs, and head. Some people prefer to leave the legs and head a bit longer than the body.
The Puppy Cut is a great option for Yorkies, as it creates an angelic and attractive look without being too high maintenance. The hair is kept roughly one or two inches long all over the body, including the head, ears, and legs.
The Yorkie Schnauzer cut is another popular style, where the body and back are cut very short to completely shaved, while the legs and tail are left long. The beard is often left long, and the top of the head is trimmed much shorter.
Recommended read: Long Hair Yorkie Terrier
Westie Cut
The Westie Cut is a unique and stylish look for your West Highland White Terrier.
This cut involves shaving the entire body, leaving only a short layer of hair, typically 3-4 centimeters long.
The head, however, is where the groomer will slightly trim and "edge" the hair.
You can customize the length of the beard and the hair around the eyes to your liking.
Shaving Methods
To shave your Yorkie safely, start by showing them the trimming machine or clippers to help them become relaxed. The shaving process should begin from the neck and work its way down to the tail.
You can buy professional leashes used in pet grooming salons if you're having trouble holding and shaving your dog simultaneously. These leashes can help keep your Yorkie secure and prevent them from running off mid-shaving.
The Andis Proclip Professional Animal Grooming Clippers are a top choice for shaving Yorkies. They provide a safe, high-speed professional shaving experience and come with 4 different sized blade guards.
To prepare for shaving, bathe and brush your Yorkie to ensure they have no skin irritations and all tangles are removed. This will make the shaving process much smoother and more comfortable for your dog.
Here's a step-by-step guide to shaving your Yorkie:
- Use the clipper guard labeled as a half-inch and apply the provided oil to the blade.
- Leash up your Yorkie and secure the leash to something sturdy.
- Begin shaving your Yorkie, starting at the neck and working your way down.
- Use the same with-the-grain, downwards technique to continue shaving the remainder of your dog.
- Trim around your Yorkie's face using safety scissors specifically designed for pet grooming.
- Bathe them to remove any excess hair and brush them afterwards.
Is Shaving a Good Idea?
Yorkies have a unique coat that's more like human hair, which means they require daily combing and cleaning to prevent tangles, dullness, and dirt.
Shaving Yorkies is a delicate process that demands precision to avoid hurting them.
Their hair can easily get tangled and dirty if not properly groomed, making them high maintenance dogs.
Shaving might seem like an easy solution to shorten brushing time, but it comes with many precautions that need to be taken care of.
Yorkies need to be combed and cleaned daily to keep their hair from getting tangled and dirty.
Shaving Tools and Techniques
Shaving your Yorkie requires the right tools and techniques to ensure a safe and successful experience.
The first thing you need to consider is the type of clippers to use. According to Example 4, the Andis Proclip Professional Animal Grooming Clippers are a top choice for shaving Yorkies. They provide a safe, high-speed professional shaving experience and are designed to reduce hair getting clogged during trimming.
To use these clippers effectively, you'll need to follow some basic techniques. As mentioned in Example 5, it's essential to bathe and brush your Yorkie before shaving to remove any tangles or skin irritations. You should also apply oil to the blade and show the clippers to your Yorkie to help them get used to the sound.
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Here are the top steps to follow when shaving your Yorkie:
- Start with a half-inch clipper guard and apply oil to the blade.
- Leash up your Yorkie and secure the leash to something sturdy.
- Begin shaving your Yorkie, starting at the neck and working your way down.
- Use the same with-the-grain, downwards technique for the remainder of the body.
- Use safety scissors to trim around the face.
- Bathe and brush your Yorkie afterwards to remove excess hair and dry them thoroughly.
Remember, shaving needs to be done slowly and carefully to avoid any discomfort or pain for your Yorkie.
Designer Haircuts
Designer haircuts for Yorkies are becoming increasingly popular, with many owners opting for creative and interesting styles to make their pets stand out.
More and more people are looking for ways to make their Yorkies look like other breeds, such as lions, Schnauzers, or Chinese crested dogs.
A variety of figured carving of the body will be suitable for Yorkies with a fairly thick coat and normal fatness.
These designs can be used to hide some disadvantages of the pet's body, such as a not perfectly flat back.
However, many fantasy dog haircuts are effective only in the first two to three weeks after grooming.
The hairstyle may lose its original appearance after bathing or walking in the rain, and most of them need regular care.
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The "Asian" Yorkie trim is a popular and fashionable option that dramatically changes the familiar Yorkie image.
This style involves shearing the body, neck, chest, and belly with a trimmer, while leaving the hairs on the ears long.
The coat on the paws is left long and only slightly trimmed from the bottom, and the tail can be any length.
This option greatly simplifies the care of the dog, but if you want to return to the classic look, it will take about half a year to grow the hair back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my Yorkies hair grow back after being shaved?
Yorkies' hair will regrow after being shaved, but it may take time to become indistinguishable from their original coat. Note that close clipping, not razor shaving, is used in dog grooming.
Sources
- Yorkie haircuts for males and females (60 + pictures) (yorkie.life)
- Different Yorkshire terrier (Yorkie) hair styles. (bubblesdoggrooming.co.uk)
- http://pets.thenest.com/brush-yorkie-5667.html (thenest.com)
- http://www.yorkieinfocenter.com/yorkie-grooming (yorkieinfocenter.com)
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- grooming salon (bringfido.com)
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- Yorkie brushes (askyorkie.com)
- Yorkie Shaved: Pros and Cons of Grooming Your Yorkshire Terrier (yorkshireterrrier.com)
- duckytheyorkie (instagram.com)
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