Do Yorkies Shed? Understanding a Yorkie’s Coat and Shedding Habits photo 4

Do Yorkies Shed? Answering Your Questions About This Popular Dog Breed

As a lifelong Yorkie owner, many people ask me whether these tiny dogs shed. In this article, I’ll answer all your questions about Yorkie shedding and help you determine if this breed is a good fit for your lifestyle.

Do Yorkies Really Shed?

The short answer is: yes, Yorkies do shed, but usually not as much as other dog breeds. Yorkies have a double coat made of soft, silky top hair and a thicker undercoat. While their coat isn’t as heavy as that of breeds like Siberian Huskies, it still naturally sheds dead hair as it grows.

From my experience owning Yorkies, they tend to shed moderately throughout the year. However, there are a few times when shedding increases:

  1. During seasonal coat changes in spring and fall.
  2. After a bath, since the wet coat makes loose hair fall out more easily.
  3. During periods of heat or high stress for the dog.

So Yorkies aren’t considered “non-shedding” like some hypoallergenic breeds. But their coat sheds far less than heavy-shedders like German Shepherds or Labradors.

How Much Shedding Can I Expect?

The amount of shedding varies from Yorkie to Yorkie based on factors like health, diet, grooming, and environment. But in general:

  • Expect light, daily shedding of a few hairs around the home.
  • During seasonal coat changes, shedding increases but still remains moderate for 1-2 weeks.
  • Heavy shedding is rare, usually only if the dog is stressed or ill.

From my experience, I’d call Yorkie shedding “light-to-moderate” for most pups. Regular brushing keeps loose hair under control. So Yorkies are a decent choice if you want a dog that sheds less than average.

Will Yorkie Shedding Bother Me?

Whether Yorkie shedding bothers you depends on your sensitivity to pet dander and dedication to cleaning. A few things to consider:

If you have dog allergies, Yorkie dander may still trigger a reaction. Their lighter shedding doesn’t make them truly hypoallergenic. Regular vacuuming is key, and you may need medication.

Yorkie hair is super fine and can get airborne easily, drifting around your home like dandelion fluff. Even light shedders may bother allergy or asthma sufferers.

Yorkie fur clings to fabrics. Without weekly vacuuming and dusting, it can build up over time on furniture and floors. This may annoy neat freaks and allergy-prone folks.

Kids or untrained dogs may track Yorkie fur elsewhere in greater quantities. Make sure to routinely sweep and mop other areas too.

In summary – light shedding shouldn’t drive you bonkers if you keep up good housekeeping. But it may still provoke allergies in some owners.

What Can Help Reduce Yorkie Shedding?

Luckily, there are things you can do to manage and lessen Yorkie fur floating around your home:

Regular Brushing

Use a slicker brush or comb daily to lift loose fur from your Yorkie’s coat before it sheds. Brushing also distributes skin oils to keep the coat soft and healthy.

Healthy Diet

Feed a high-quality kibble for shiny coats. Avoid fillers that can cause dry, flaky skin leading to excess shedding. Treats should also fit the bill.

Grooming

Bathe your Yorkie sparingly to avoid drying out their skin and stripping natural oils. But do it when needed and give full-body brush-outs post-bath to remove loose fur.

Low-stress Environment

Minimize what causes your Yorkie anxiety which can prompt excess shedding. Provide mental and physical stimulation to keep them content.

Regular House Cleaning

Following the routines above, commit to vacuuming routinely with an attachment and dusting weekly to manage stray fur lying around.

With patience and consistent care, you can efficiently control Yorkie shedding around your home.

Is a Yorkie a Good Match for Me?

To decide if a Yorkie fits your lifestyle despite their shedding, consider a few key factors:

Do you have dog allergies, asthma, or cleaning sensitivities that may clash with even light shedding? Yorkies may still trigger you.

Are you diligent about daily brushing, weekly grooming, and frequent housecleaning? Shedding is easiest to handle with discipline.

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Do you have the time for mental and physical exercise needs of even small dogs? Bored, stressed Yorkies tend to shed more heavily.

Are you ready for a dog that will live 15+ years as a loyal companion? Their personality makes up for any fur floating around.

Overall, if you’re willing to put in the work, most Yorkie owners say their shedding is well worth it for the rewards of owning this devoted, playful breed. Let me know if you have any other questions!

I hope this article addressed all of your concerns about whether Yorkies shed. Their coats do require some extra maintenance compared to non-shedding breeds. But for many owners, a Yorkie’s loving temperament outweighs moderate shedding. Please let me know if you need any other advice in deciding if this breed is a good fit for your family!

FAQ

  1. Do all yorkies shed?

    Most yorkies shed at least a little bit. Their fur grows continuously, like with other animals. So some loose hair is common. However, yorkies are not considered a heavy-shedding breed. Their fur is quite short compared to other dogs. So the amount of loose hair found around the house may be less with a yorkie than other breeds.

  2. When do yorkies shed the most?

    Yorkies tend to shed more during certain times of the year. They will shed more fur in the spring and fall when the seasons change. This is their natural body’s way to adjust to temperature changes. Yorkies also shed a bit more after seasonal haircuts since their topcoat is trimmed shorter. Grooming stimulates extra shedding as well. So the periods right after haircuts may see a bit more loose fur around.

  3. Does diet affect yorkie shedding?

    Possibly. A healthy diet full of nutrients helps support a yorkie’s skin and coat health overall. A diet low in certain vitamins and proteins can cause a dog’s fur to become dull and shed more than usual. So maintaining a high-quality dog food may help minimize shedding to some degree. However, shedding is also based on a yorkie’s individual genetic factors. Diet alone usually doesn’t eliminate shedding entirely with any breed.

  4. What can be done about yorkie shedding?

    To manage a yorkie’s shedding, regular grooming is key. Brushing the coat several times a week helps remove loose hair before it ends up all over the home. Some swear by specialized furminator brushes and deshedding tools. Bathing too often is not advised because it can dry out their skin. Otherwise, not much can stop shedding completely. But keeping on a grooming schedule helps control the amount of fur shed indoors. Brushing is the top way owners keep yorkie coats and homes fur-free.

  5. Is yorkie shedding bad?

    Not basically. Shedding is normal for any dog with fur. While yorkies are low-shedding, they will still lose some hair naturally. This is no different than humans shedding strands of hair each day. Unless a yorkie has skin or coat issues causing extreme shedding, the normal small amount lost is not a problem. It’s just part of owning a furry pet. Regular grooming helps manage it. So shedding itself should not be viewed as “bad” with yorkies as long as it stays within normal limits. Excessive shedding could point to an underlying health issue.

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  6. Are yorkies hypoallergenic?

    Experts say no dog is 100% hypoallergenic. However, many claim yorkies don’t trigger allergies as much as other breeds. That’s maybe because yorkies shed less dander (dry skin flakes). Their fur is also shorter so it doesn’t cling to furniture or clothes as much. But a small amount of dander is still produced. So people with dog allergies usually have reactions reduced – but not eliminated – around yorkies. Grooming helps further lower dander levels too. Overall they seem to give allergy sufferers fewer issues than many breeds. But individual sensitivity varies.

  7. In summary, do yorkies shed?

    To put it frankly – yes, yorkies do shed. But not in the amounts of some other dogs. Shedding is a natural body function for any furry animal. Regular brushing manages it well for yorkie owners. Their short fur and skin that produces less dander also make shedding a bit less of an issue than with other breeds. So “yes” they shed, but it’s generally not a major problem for most yorkie owners and families. Proper grooming keeps shedding in check.