Do Yorkies Shed? Fascinating Facts About Your Silky Haired Pup

Deepthi Reddy
Nov 03, 2022 By Deepthi Reddy
Originally Published on Nov 24, 2021
Edited by Jennie Hughes
Fact-checked by Amatullah Gulbargawala
Do Yorkies shed? Let's explore more amusing facts about the long-haired dog breed.

Yorkies are dogs with longer coats, they are adorable and are often suitable for senior citizens looking for companions.

Yorkshire Terriers or Yorkies belong to the Ratter group and are a popular toy dog breed. These cute, energetic, and adorable dogs hail from England.

Yorkies are usually very protective dogs and many are attention seekers who get separation anxiety if left alone. Though they can tend to bark a lot, they can make good watchdogs for your household as well.

With good exercise habits and timely training, this active dog is manageable for most people. Many people also find they are perfect dogs for dog shows, and their coat is groomed and trimmed in different styles to give a shaped look.

Adult Yorkshire terriers have glossy, long, silky straight hair and are considered to be hypoallergenic. Yorkies' weight ranges from 4-7 lb (1.8–3.2 kg) with a height of 8-9 in (20.3–22.9 cm).

There are different types of Yorkie coats. Different types of coats require different grooming techniques and different brushing techniques.

Puppy Coat: The puppy coat usually has darker black markings and is highlighted in tan. The puppy coat is very soft and silky. When a Yorkshire terrier is around two years old, the puppy coat changes into an adult coat. This soft puppy coat helps them to keep warm and protect themselves in extreme weather.

Silky Coat: As per the American Kennel Club, silky-coated Yorkies have now met show dog standards. They have unique features such as long, metallic-looking shiny hair with no waves which is known for being glossy and touching the floor.

Wire Coat: This coat is also called a wavy coat, and is thicker and wavy. This type of coat is usually dense and needs to be brushed regularly and taken care of.

If you like our content about whether Yorkies shed, then please take some time to find out how long Yorkies live and if Yorkies are hypoallergenic.

Do Yorkies smell?

Where are these charming dogs originally from? Let's explore.

The Yorkshire terrier originated from a county named Yorkshire in England. Though the complete history of these companion dogs is unknown, some people believe that this dog breed was the origin of Scottish terriers.

They also think the breed was later named Yorkshire terrier based on the county name, as most of the initial improvements to the breed took place in this county.

Now, do Yorkies shed? Yorkie hair has a shiny, glossy structure and is believed to be hypoallergenic. Just like other dog breeds, these dogs don't have fur; they are gifted with longer coats called hair, which doesn't shed.

Do pet lovers wonder if Yorkies smell bad? Let's find out some details.

If not given proper attention and care, just like any other breed, Yorkies can stink. The natural reason why Yorkies sometimes smell is that their body produces natural body oils.

They may also sometimes have skin allergies and diseases. Because of their dense fur, they are often victims of dampness and sweating, which can result in a foul odor. It's advisable to concentrate on timely grooming for these dogs.

What steps can be taken to avoid a stinky smell from your Yorkies? The most important thing is that the owner of a Yorkie puppy should never forget to provide it with a healthy and balanced diet and good, hygienic living conditions from the early days onwards.

Top priority should be given to dental issues too. Stuck food particles and plaque are two of the main reasons for bad smells among these dogs. Some people also advise feeding them with protein-rich food instead of carbohydrates.

Yorkies' skin can be very oily compared to other dog breeds, so regular brushing and bathing helps with the removal of oil and debris from the coat and helps it smell better. Remember that as brushing helps remove loose hair, all these factors also help reduce the shedding.

So take good care of your little Yorkie if you want to help it smell better.

Are Yorkies good with kids?

Did you know that a baby Yorkie is called a Yorkshire Terrier puppy or Yorkie puppy? They are charming and highly adorable.

There is a misconception that Yorkie puppies will shed their puppy coats. This is because the color of the coat tends to change once they're over the age of six months.

The fact is that new hair starts growing in a lighter color. But for someone who is allergic to the shedding of hair, Yorkies shed very little compared to other dogs since the shedding cycle and hair growth of Yorkies is different from other breeds of dogs.

Yorkshire terriers or Yorkies are good companion dogs often preferred by people who have allergies. But do they fit in well in a family with young kids?

Many Yorkshire terriers have fearless characters, which makes them believe that they are big dogs.

They often can't stand it when a child has a tantrum or gets upset. They sometimes also struggle to cope with having small children around because they can get jealous and are often very strongly attached to the primary owner, so they may see young children as competitors for their owner's attention.

Sometimes, small kids tend to run all over the house and some Yorkies may get irritated quickly and possibly attack or hurt them.

Moreover, they often don't like to be hugged and touched and may run away if kids try to catch hold of them. So, especially to begin with, both kids and Yorkshire terrier pups will need to put some effort into understanding each other's personalities.

Yorkies are usually confident, stubborn, and playful creatures. Training can be difficult when compared to other dogs, but it's not impossible. Sticking to only one training session at a time and using short command words like sit, lay, and run as well as following strict time limits for the training sessions can also help.

Kids and Yorkies can be allowed to play together as long as they have time limits and correct supervision to avoid complications. It can be a great learning experience for kids over ten years old to understand the fickle personality of their Yorkie and behave accordingly.

Bringing Yorkshire terriers into a household with young kids is not an idea that will work for everyone. As with most pets, it's probably best to look for dogs whose characters work well with your family and your kids' personalities.

How to take care of your Yorkie?

Before deciding to bring up a Yorkie pup, it's important to understand that Yorkies are often active attention seekers with a possessive nature who require regular medical checkups, often need a special diet, and tend to feel like a big dog.

The good thing is, Yorkies shed very little compared to most dogs, and they are very energetic and active.

The typical lifespan of a Yorkie is 13–20 years. Understanding the complex personality of any pet helps the owners to manage them more easily and efficiently.

Dog owners who want to buy Yorkies for the first time may wonder, how much do Yorkshires shed? They are very minimal shedders, to the point that it almost can't be considered shedding at all. Their long, flowing, silky hair will often identify a Yorkie.

When the hair does fall, it usually stays on the dog's coat. You don't usually see any hair on the floor unless you comb or brush. So it is hard to determine the shedding frequency of this minimal-shedder dog breed.

As we know, this adorable dog has long hair instead of fur which can sometimes grow as long as human hair if left uncut. A Yorkie's coat needs to be given proper attention by trimming, bathing, and daily brushing.

As they have a different shedding cycle compared to other dog breeds, they shed very little hair. If proper attention is not given to grooming, there is a chance of the Yorkie coat getting tangled. Simple daily brushing in the direction of hair growth is advised.

Regular combing and brushing will also help to minimize the fall of loose hairs. To keep a Yorkie coat smelling pleasant, a weekly bath works well.

Apart from dog food, Yorkies should be given a balanced diet, including low-fat yogurt, scrambled eggs, lean meat, and sweet potatoes. Feeding three times a day is usually perfect.

A soft type of chew treat is also suggested by many people. As Yorkies usually sleep a lot, it's a good idea to provide a suitable atmosphere to rest.

Proper exercise is a must to increase your dog's bone health and for a healthy, active lifestyle, so expose your Yorkie to fresh air and walks outside. Proper medical checkups and keeping up with vaccinations are also important things to remember.

Yorkies can be extreme attention-seekers so take time to pamper your pet Yorkie at regular intervals.

Do Yorkies have hair or fur?

Most puppies are born with a single coat of soft fur, which helps regulate their body temperature. As they grow up into adults, the puppy coat starts shedding, and the adult coat, which is usually thicker and denser than the puppy coat, starts growing.

Puppies have softer, silky undercoats and a hard and rough outer coat. Most dogs are very flexible shedders who shed their undercoats to fit their needs in warmer seasons and regrow their hair in winter. In standard terms, this hair is referred to as fur.

Yorkie puppies have single-layered hair or silky coats similar to the undercoat of other breeds. The only difference is that they do not shed their hair based on the seasons.

The Yorkie's coat is outstanding when compared to other dogs' fur. Their hair grows excessively and grows all year long, similar to human hair, until the next time it is cut.

That's why you might come across a Yorkie pup with a longer coat than other typical adult dog breeds. It's rare to see Yorkies shed, and you're only likely to see Yorkie hair on the floor in a few rare situations.

For example, during pregnancy, Yorkies' shedding cycles change and shedding increases. This stabilizes after a certain point in time.

Just like human hair, these dogs' hair grows, matures, and sheds. It doesn't mean that they don't shed hair at all, but the intensity of shedding is less and it's more manageable.

To stop shedding, Yorkie owners have to concentrate on these important factors. A proper exercise routine, diet, regular grooming, and maintaining healthy skin helps in stopping the shedding of your pet's hair.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you like our suggestions for do Yorkies shed? Fascinating facts about your silky-haired pup, then why not look at sled dog breeds or Shetland sheepdog temperament?

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Written by Deepthi Reddy

Master of Business Administration

Deepthi Reddy picture

Deepthi ReddyMaster of Business Administration

With an MBA under her belt, Deepthi has discovered her true calling in content writing. Her writing repertoire is diverse, covering travel, movies, pet care, parenting, animals and birds, and more. Her joy of learning and creating has helped her craft well-written and engaging articles. When she isn't writing, Deepthi enjoys exploring new cultures, trying different foods, and spending quality time with her two children aged 7 and 12.

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Fact-checked by Amatullah Gulbargawala

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English, Bachelor of Education specializing in the Language Arts

Amatullah Gulbargawala picture

Amatullah GulbargawalaBachelor of Arts specializing in English, Bachelor of Education specializing in the Language Arts

Amatullah is a passionate student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education from Ashoka College of Education. With a keen interest in literature, she has excelled in elocution competitions and is an accomplished writer. She has completed courses like "History of English Language and Literature", "Introduction to Western Political Thought and Theory", and "Development of Soft Skills and Personality". In her free time, Amatullah enjoys reading books and writing poetry.

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