In the photos on the Internet, he looks like a perfect soft toy: his coat is shiny, his hair falls flat to the floor, his muzzle is open, and his gaze is confident. But behind that image is not a filter – but hours of work, discipline and effort every day.
In real life, a long-haired yorkie is a liability. As soon as the hair extends beyond the paw line, it starts touching the floor, collecting dust, grabbing crumbs, hair, dirt. Without a rubber band – bangs instantly fly into the eyes. Unattended – the beard becomes sticky from the feed. And on a walk, one step into a puddle is enough to make all the beauty disappear by evening.
At the exhibition yorkies wool often lies perfectly, because they do not go just so “on the street” – they are carried on hands or carried in strollers. They are not ironed all in a row, do not bathe in the bathtub without conditioner and do not drive on harnesses. That is, life with such a yorkie – it is either exhibition training, or daily home “grooming show” for themselves.
To be honest: it is almost unrealistic to maintain this species in an ordinary household. Even the most careful owners say: “it’s like having a long white coat and wearing it every day – with love, but with fear”.
Daily care: what awaits the owner
Everything starts with brushing: with a soft brush – first the body, then paws, pants, tail and delicately – bangs. Then antistatic or moisturizing spray to keep the coat from frizzing and breaking. And then – control: whether there is no tangles, whether the hair under the ears is not stuck together, whether the beard is not wet after water.
Washing is desirable once in 5-7 days. But you need a quality shampoo, balm, mask or oil for the ends. After a bath – only drying with a hair dryer, no “will dry itself”. Otherwise – piling of wool, fungus, cold. Drying takes up to 40 minutes if done correctly.
And also in the morning and evening – a rubber band on the bangs, control of ears, paws, teeth. This is not “sometimes” grooming, this is a daily hygiene routine, without which a long-haired yorkie turns into a wallflower in a few days. I’m not kidding: 2 days without brushing and you unravel a too long “garland”. And 4 days – and only a bald haircut saves the situation.
Problems that are not written about
Everyone admires the shiny long coat of the yorkie in the photo, but few show the downside of this beauty. The first thing that the owner faces is tangles. They are formed where you do not expect: under the paws, behind the ears, under the tail. Sometimes even in the beard, if the yorkie slept with a wet chin after drinking. If you miss at least one place when combing – the next day there is a knot, and a week later – a piled piece of hair, which will have to be cut off.
Next – tearing and marks around the eyes. This is a common problem in yorkies. If it is not controlled, the hair on the muzzle turns yellow, sticks together and has an unpleasant odor. To avoid this, you should wipe the eyes daily with special products, trim the area around them or keep the muzzle short.
Another real problem is yellow hair and odor after walks or even at home. Long hair touches everything – the floor, shoes, other animals, bowls, grass, soil, dust. If a yorkie pees and catches his paws or belly – the odor will remain until the next wash. And often it’s not even because of dirt, but because the coat literally “collects the world”.
To this is added a beard, in which stick food, hair in the bowl, pieces of porridge on the paws, traces of saliva or even stickiness from a treat. After every meal, a yorkie with long hair looks like he cooked dinner with you – only not with his hands, but with his face. And if this is not wiped off – the coat darkens, clumps together and starts to smell.
All of this is a daily reality that you just need to know in advance. Or better yet, be prepared for it.
Clothing and walking
A walk with a long-haired yorkie is always a strategy. Here the rule “take him out for 10 minutes and forget it” no longer applies. In rain, snow or even just wet asphalt – the lower part of the coat instantly gets wet, darkens, collects dirt and dust. If there is no overalls – you can immediately plan a bath. But also clothes are not a panacea: many things rub, crumple or electrify the wool. Worst of all are the usual harnesses that literally wipe off the fur on the chest, neck and armpits. After a few weeks of daily wear, the beloved “silk” turns into broken and matted strands.
Overalls should be chosen competently: without stiff seams, with a lining that does not electrify wool, and the correct length of the pants, so that the paws are not sewn into their own fur. But even the most perfect clothes will not save you from the fact that after every walk you have to wash your paws, ears, beard, and sometimes your belly. And drying – because moisturized coat + temperature outside = a direct path to tangles and colds.
Alternative: how to keep the view but not go crazy
It’s possible to have a beautiful yorkie – and not live with a hair dryer in your hand. There are compromise options that allow you to combine aesthetics and practicality. First of all – these are yorkie haircuts with elongated elements. For example, leave a silky body, but shorten the belly, pants and paws. Leave a beautiful beard, but without extra centimeters. The bangs – leave, but regularly update the ends so that they do not tangle. This all makes it possible to maintain the image of “handsome”, but not to live in the salon.
It is also possible to combine grooming at home and grooming in the salon. Regular procedures in V.O.G DOG SALON once in 3-4 weeks saves you from the collapses, discoloration of hair and unaesthetic look. And the rest of the time – support at home: the right cosmetics, delicate combing, clothes that do not spoil the shape, and love for what you do. Because grooming is not a punishment, but part of life together.
Conclusion
Long-haired yorkie is a beauty that requires a systematic approach. “Once a week to make beautiful” will not work here, but you need a stable care, love for the process and a sincere desire to see the result every day. If you are ready to comb, dry, protect, wash paws and change rubber bands twice a day – long hair will become your pride. But if speed and practicality are more your thing, you don’t have to torture yourself and your dog. There are many wonderful haircut formats that leave the Yorkie in style, but free the owner from the eternal struggle with tangles, dirt and wet bearded “chin”.
At V.O.G DOG SALON, we will always help you find the balance between beauty and convenience. Our groomers will take into account your yorkie’s lifestyle so that you have an easy life together, not with a hair dryer in every room.
