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Do Yorkies Shed? Dog Grooming And Shedding Explained.

Do Yorkies Shed? Dog Grooming And Shedding Explained.

Yorkies are small and loving canines that are full of character. The Yorkie’s signature characteristic is their long, smooth, and silky coat. Someone might assume that the Yorkies shed a lot with their long silky hairs, which isn’t true. Their reputation for light shedders is one reason people love them. Yorkies shed, but you have to differentiate between normal and abnormal shedding.

They are also allergy-friendly, meaning people with dog allergies can comfortably live with them if they learn to minimize their shedding. Managing and reducing your canine shedding always comes down to proper grooming and diet. If you maintain an appropriate grooming routine and feed them a high-quality diet, you will experience a radical change in their molting levels.

Do Yorkies shed? Yes, Yorkies are considered light shedders. They shed the same amount of hair throughout the year since they don’t experience seasonal shedding. To understand more about this query, you should consider the fur. Yorkies’ fur is entirely different from other canine breeds. Their hairs grow at the same rate throughout the year, just like human hairs. Therefore, Yorkies don’t experience the same development and molting sequences as other dogs.

Perhaps you are here because you are thinking of welcoming a Yorkie into your home and need some information on their shedding. Or maybe, you want to learn more about the Yorkie. Either way, you are at the right place, and I’ll be sure to answer all your questions regarding this canine’s shedding.

So do Yorkies shed, how much do they shed and why, how can you manage or reduce their shedding, and lastly, are they hypoallergenic dogs? Let’s dive into this article and find out. This article has everything you need to know about the Yorkie and their molting habits.

How Much Do Yorkies Shed?

Yorkies are very light shedders throughout the year if you insist on calling their hair fall-out shedding. You will never notice their hairs on the floor because it falls back on their coat. The only time you can see is while brushing or bathing them. Yorkies are not double-coated and therefore do not experience the blowing coat seasons like other dogs.

Their hairs don’t grow on quick spurts to allow room for new hairs, so there is no seasonal shedding for Yorkies. That is one of the many reasons why people love the Yorkie; they don’t shed seasonally as their hair continues to grow. The hairs will grow until it reaches their capacity length and then stop. The minute it stops growing, the Yorkies body will thrust it out and substitute it with a new one. This cycle continues throughout the year, just like human hairs.

Why Do Yorkies Shed?

If you notice some fur around your floor, you don’t have to worry because it is normal. Shedding is natural for all dogs, and Yorkies are not exceptional. They will shed off their puppy fur while transitioning to a full adult between 12-24 months. However, you have to differentiate between normal and unhealthy shedding. For instance, if your Yorkie has allergies, mites, or any health problem, it will probably shed excessively. If that is the case, contact your vet and take your Yorkie for a check-up.

Shedding Seasons and Frequency

If you want to call this breed’s hair fall-out shedding, then we can say they are very light shedders throughout the year. They don’t have an undercoat and won’t experience the seasonal shedding. Another shedding season for a Yorkie is when they are transitioning from their puppy to adult fur. You will notice an increase in the number of hairs they shed until the adult hairs are full-grown. You have to ensure you keep up with their grooming routine during such times to contain the hairs and prevent it from scattering everywhere in your house.

Unhealthy Shedding

It isn’t normal for your Yorkie to lose too much fur than usual. Unhealthy shedding in your Yorkies could be because of an underlying health issue. Your Yorkie will likely shed more because they are stressed or anxious. Other reasons for increased hair loss include skin infection, parasites, poor diet, improper grooming, and ailments like Cushing’s disease in the adult. It is always best to feed your Yorkie high-quality canine food and maintain proper grooming to prevent them from shedding unhealthily. You could also visit your vet to help with the other health issues your canine might have to help manage the shedding.   

What Type of Coat Does Yorkie Have?

The Yorkie’s coat is a bit different from the typical dog fur. We all know most dogs are double-coated, which provides insulation to keep them cool during summer and warm in winter. The undercoat is shed throughout the year but more during the seasonal shedding.

Unlike many breeds, Yorkies have a single layer of hair and don’t have an undercoat. Their hairs are fine and silky, more like human hairs and how it grows. Yes, their hairs fall out lightly all year round and are considered light shedders. They are born with a shorter and dark-colored fur that extends longer as they become older.

How To Manage and Reduce Yorkies Shedding

Although Yorkies don’t shed much, they still require grooming, proper diet, baths, and supplements to keep their shedding minimal. If you don’t attend to their needs and wants, your Yorkie could lose much fur. That is not healthy because it can result in bald and irritated skin. Now that you know why do Yorkies shed, it’s fair to find a solution to help minimize and reduce the shedding. Follow the following tips and experience the best results in their shedding levels. You will also enjoy living with your furry friend once you learn how to minimize their shedding, so let us jump into it.

Yorkies Grooming

Even though the Yorkie is a light shedder, they still need grooming. Single-coated Yorkie may not require too much grooming like the double-coated dog breed, but they still have to be cared for. Brushing is an essential part of your Yorkies grooming routine. If you decide to go for the long fur, you will have to brush him daily because the hairs that his body has pushed out are caught up in his coat. You don’t want it to tangle and ultimately result in painful matting. Whereas, if you go for the shorter fur, you will only brush him a few times weekly. Their hairs fall out at the same rate as long fur, but the risk of tangling is minimal for them; thus, he won’t need much attention.

Most Yorkie owners claim that a bubble-tipped pin brush is the best for brushing their dog’s fur. It will penetrate their fur and brush away all the dead hairs. The bubble-tipped brush is softer, making it perfect for the Yorkies’ fragile skin, and without the protecting bubbles, you jeopardize scraping their skin. Using the right shampoo with natural ingredients like oatmeal shampoos is also essential for your Yorkies’ delicate skin. Some shampoos contain conditioning ingredients that are even better because they leave your Yorkie’s hairs feeling softer. The conditioning ingredients further prevent matting, which is helpful if your Yorkie has longer fur.

Yorkie Diet

What you feed your Yorkie plays a vital role in their skin and coat health. Therefore, you have to provide them with a high-quality diet rich in omega fatty acids to nourish their fur inside and out, thus reducing shedding. Examples of omega fats you can add to your pup’s diet include egg products, fish, flaxseed, canola oil, and fish oil. A good diet results in healthy fur and fewer hairs that fall out.

Your Yorkie will experience huge hair loss if he is not receiving the necessary nutrients he needs.

Baths And Supplements

As I mentioned earlier, Yorkies have a single coat, and they don’t need frequent baths. If your Yorkie stays indoors more often, bathing him once a month is enough. If your Yorkie participates in recurrent outdoor actions, washing him once a week should be fine. Remember, don’t over bathe your Yorkie. Over bathing your dog might strip natural oils from their coats, thus making them vulnerable to skin infections. You can also use all-natural shampoo while bathing your Yorkie; it cleans their sensitive skin perfectly. Failure to bathe your Yorkie can lead to dry skin, resulting in unhealthy shedding.

Other possible supplements that help keep the fur healthy include fish oil supplements. You can also check in with your vet to recommend other supplements to keep your dog’s fur healthy and reduce shedding. 

Are Yorkies Hypoallergenic

Finding out if a dog breed is hypoallergenic is a crucial factor you should consider before bringing home any new pet. Imagine falling in love with a puppy and adopting it, only to realize you can’t live with it because of allergies. Dog allergies can make a pet residence home uninhabitable, plus who knew a heartbreak could sound like a cough or a sneeze? Lucky you if the furry friend you are considering is a Yorkie because they are allergy-friendly.

Yorkies are considered hypoallergenic dogs, meaning they are less likely to trigger allergic reactions to allergy sufferers. No canine breed is 100% hypoallergenic because the hair is not the culprit, but mostly the dog’s dander. Dog allergies are also caused by dogs’ saliva and urine. Since every canine produces these elements, even the hairless ones, no canine is 100% hypoallergenic. The Yorkies don’t have much dander because they shed less, and that’s why they are suitable for people with dog allergies.

Even though Yorkies are considered hypoallergenic, it doesn’t mean they totally cannot trigger allergies. Here are a few tips to help you minimize any allergic reactions to your Yorkie.

  • Mark your territory by limiting your Yorkie access to specific places in your home, like the bedroom. Your bedroom is where you spend so much time, and you don’t want to have your dog’s hairs everywhere in your pillow or clothes.
  • Vacuum your house regularly to reduce the amount of fur on your floors. In addition, wash your pets’ beddings and surfaces where they mostly spend their time. This can reduce the amount of fur in your home.
  • Keep your Yorkie indoor. Your Yorkie can be causing your allergies from the allergens he collects outside. Therefore, after outdoor activities, brush him to remove any debris and dust they might have collected in their fur.
  • Invest in an air purifier that will help you trap the airborne allergens. Keep the air purifier in your bedroom to help clean the air while sleeping.
  • Retain your Yorkie in a puppy cut. This is ideal because the fur is short and easy to brush.