Tangled hair!! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

chuckles · 03-17-2009, 01:02 AM

Hello all!

We are first time dog owners, and love our 6 month old yorkie to death... but her hair is getting quite scruffy, and the other day my little brother went to go get it a haircut and the lady there said the yorkie's hair was knotted and would have to be shaved!!

Of course he freaked out and left the place, it seemed so cruel... we tried buying a de-tangling brush and some de-tangling conditioner but it really isn't helping.. she has some knots around her belly and i know they must be painful if we were to try and force-straighten them.. I am so sad... we never meant to let it get to this point!!

is there any suggestions for my poor little pup??? or do i really need to let that lady shave her

thanks in advance for any information

cheryl19 · 03-17-2009, 01:56 AM

A lot of people shave the belly but leave the back. It's a lot less grooming to do. I would try a different groomer and after you will need to brush daily. Also how often do you give her a bath? You may have to do it more often.

MollysMum54 · 03-17-2009, 02:07 AM

you may have to have it cut really short and then start again with a good brushing/combing routine. Thats what i had to do with molly. She loves being groomed now, so we've been able to let it grow longer.

lemonlauren · 03-17-2009, 03:02 AM

Most doggie haircut places don't want to stress the dog too much on her first visit to the groomers, so I can understand why they wanted to shave/buzz her short. Actually, I think that was good of them to tell your little brother that. Getting used to grooming is a gradual and not easy thing, even if you take your dog to a professional groomer. Grooming isn't some awesome magical thing that happens after you drop your pup off - dogs need to learn to be calm during the process, not scared or agitated or angry because of previous negative or painful experiences.

IMO, you may as well go ahead and get her the buzz cut now. If you want her hair to grow long in the future, she will have to learn to enjoy grooming. And if you force her to endure a super-long and uncomfortable detangling of so many matts in her hair now, she will not be getting off to a good start with learning to enjoy being groomed. After her hair is cut short, you should start a very frequent schedule of gradually grooming her more and more yourself each time - several times a week or maybe even once or more a day, depending on how long you actually want her hair to grow. Dogs can learn to enjoy their grooming, but it takes a lot of patience and praise and treats and being gradually introduced to the concept in a very positive way.

Personally, I keep my pup's hair cut very short - we live in a very warm desert climate, and I know that I honestly don't have it in me to groom a dog every day. But if you can make a commitment like that, then it's definitely good to start slowly, and help teach your girl that grooming is an enjoyable activity.

Lauren & Nikko

chachi · 03-17-2009, 03:07 AM

Try a dematting comb. If that doesnt work youll have to get her shaved

JoeyP · 03-17-2009, 05:34 AM

If your pup is 8 months
whats probably going on is that they have been losing the puppy fur
and it's becoming tangled with the new hair growing in
Yorkie puppies need regular brushing even more than the adult dogs do

Katylou · 03-17-2009, 12:42 PM

I would take the other's advice to have it cut short now because she still has the puppy hair and that hair does mat more easily. Then get her used to gentle brushing and combing for when her hair grows out long and silky. That way she won't grow to hate being brushed. Also you need to be let them know you mean business and don't stop if they object. Eventually mine learned that grooming does not hurt and they now actually love the extra attention.

03-17-2009, 01:02 AM	#1
chuckles YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Brampton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 2	Tangled hair!! Hello all! We are first time dog owners, and love our 6 month old yorkie to death... but her hair is getting quite scruffy, and the other day my little brother went to go get it a haircut and the lady there said the yorkie's hair was knotted and would have to be shaved!! Of course he freaked out and left the place, it seemed so cruel... we tried buying a de-tangling brush and some de-tangling conditioner but it really isn't helping.. she has some knots around her belly and i know they must be painful if we were to try and force-straighten them.. I am so sad... we never meant to let it get to this point!! is there any suggestions for my poor little pup??? or do i really need to let that lady shave her thanks in advance for any information

03-17-2009, 01:56 AM	#2
cheryl19 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NY USA Posts: 1,749	A lot of people shave the belly but leave the back. It's a lot less grooming to do. I would try a different groomer and after you will need to brush daily. Also how often do you give her a bath? You may have to do it more often. __________________ Ivy, Max, Reggie & Cheryl

03-17-2009, 03:07 AM	#5
chachi I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 37,147	Try a dematting comb. If that doesnt work youll have to get her shaved __________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431 Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427

03-17-2009, 05:34 AM	#6
JoeyP YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Miami, FL,USA Posts: 1,005	If your pup is 8 months whats probably going on is that they have been losing the puppy fur and it's becoming tangled with the new hair growing in Yorkie puppies need regular brushing even more than the adult dogs do __________________ Mike and Zach's Dadd

03-17-2009, 02:07 AM	#3
MollysMum54 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: England,UK Posts: 1,176	you may have to have it cut really short and then start again with a good brushing/combing routine. Thats what i had to do with molly. She loves being groomed now, so we've been able to let it grow longer.

03-17-2009, 03:02 AM	#4
lemonlauren YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Nevada Posts: 454	Most doggie haircut places don't want to stress the dog too much on her first visit to the groomers, so I can understand why they wanted to shave/buzz her short. Actually, I think that was good of them to tell your little brother that. Getting used to grooming is a gradual and not easy thing, even if you take your dog to a professional groomer. Grooming isn't some awesome magical thing that happens after you drop your pup off - dogs need to learn to be calm during the process, not scared or agitated or angry because of previous negative or painful experiences. IMO, you may as well go ahead and get her the buzz cut now. If you want her hair to grow long in the future, she will have to learn to enjoy grooming. And if you force her to endure a super-long and uncomfortable detangling of so many matts in her hair now, she will not be getting off to a good start with learning to enjoy being groomed. After her hair is cut short, you should start a very frequent schedule of gradually grooming her more and more yourself each time - several times a week or maybe even once or more a day, depending on how long you actually want her hair to grow. Dogs can learn to enjoy their grooming, but it takes a lot of patience and praise and treats and being gradually introduced to the concept in a very positive way. Personally, I keep my pup's hair cut very short - we live in a very warm desert climate, and I know that I honestly don't have it in me to groom a dog every day. But if you can make a commitment like that, then it's definitely good to start slowly, and help teach your girl that grooming is an enjoyable activity. Lauren & Nikko

03-17-2009, 12:42 PM	#7
Katylou Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 335	I would take the other's advice to have it cut short now because she still has the puppy hair and that hair does mat more easily. Then get her used to gentle brushing and combing for when her hair grows out long and silky. That way she won't grow to hate being brushed. Also you need to be let them know you mean business and don't stop if they object. Eventually mine learned that grooming does not hurt and they now actually love the extra attention.