Yorkie haircut ideas for long-haired, toy-sized terriers

If you’re lucky enough to pet parent a small yet mighty Yorkie, you’ll know that these glossy-haired, beady-eyed cuties need their fair share of grooming. If you’ve got a go-to crop, maybe it’s time to play the field on the hair front. Not sure where to start? No worries - here find eight equally adorable Yorkie haircuts and hairstyles sure to turn heads at the dog park.

When should a Yorkie get their first haircut?

According to the American Kennel Club, your Yorkie pup will start losing their thick puppy coat between 16 and 20 weeks old (a process which is called felting). Around two weeks after the felting process, your pup’s adult coat will start to come through, which grows like human hair. During this transitional stage, your pup’s coat is likely to matt. And that can only mean one thing: it’s time for your pup’s first trip to the groomer! Ask for a small hair cut, bath and nail trim, keeping the appointment short and sweet - puppies aren’t so patient about standing around!

Puppy Yorkie haircut

When you think of a Yorkie, you probably (without meaning to) imagine a toy-sized cutie with a ​​Yorkie puppy cut. It’s up there with one of the most popular Yorkie hairstyles. The style is long enough that your pup’s hair can ruffle freely, yet short enough that it can stay tangle-free. And if you’d rather avoid groomer trips, it’s pretty simple to do yourself, so long as you’ve got good quality clippers and shears. So, how can you achieve this ruffled yet simple look? A Yorkie puppy cut is pretty easy to achieve - the hair is kept at up to two inches all over, including the head, ears and legs. The short hair means it’s easy to maintain - your pooch would have to make a real job of it to tangle this one!

Teddy bear Yorkie haircut

A teddy bear haircut for Yorkies really does what it says on the can - you will not be able to stop cuddling your little cutie with this cut. Much like the Yorkie puppy cut, the Yorkie teddy bear haircut doesn’t take a particularly well-seasoned Yorkie groomer to achieve it. The body hair is cut short and even which makes it simple to do and easy to maintain, while the teddy cut leaves behind more hair on the face. If you’d like to achieve a Yorkie teddy bear haircut, cut the facial hair into a circular (or teddy bear) shape to achieve the look.

Kennel cut

If you live in a hot area and you’re after female or male Yorkie haircuts, the kennel cut is seriously easy to maintain and will keep your furry family member cool in the warmer seasons. The body hair is cut particularly short all over (but not shaved), while the legs, tail and head hair is kept slightly longer. And don’t forget about the ears, mustache and paws! They’re trimmed to around half an inch - ready for cool, calm and collected fun in the sun.

Long cut

As you’ll know by now, Yorkie dog hair is better thought about as human-like hair. Why? Well like all long-haired dog breeds, Yorkie hair grows and needs regular trimming, just like the hair on a human head. And while shorter styles are easier to maintain, these toy-sized terriers do have the potential for some seriously cool Yorkshire Terrier haircuts. So to achieve the long cut, allow your Yorkie’s hair to grow out before it reaches the floor, allowing the colors and textures to really flourish. 

Long hair is admittedly more time consuming than short, needing daily brushing to stay at its best. But hey, maybe a daily grooming routine is your idea of the perfect bonding session with your furry family member!

Show cut

The show style is one of those popular dog cuts that’s, in all honesty, pretty high maintenance - Yorkie grooming is no walk in the park with a show cut. Think daily brushing, Yorkie hairstyles galore, and more brushing. But maybe styling a fancy haircut is your idea of fun - show cuts aren’t just for show dogs, afterall. 

Once the cut is complete, make sure it’s tangle-free then get creative with hairstyles like the top knot, plaits or bunches. The traditional long-haired Yorkie show cut is a simple one (despite the complicated grooming that comes with it). The hair is free-flowing almost to the floor, and the head hair is gathered into an adorable top knot - perfect for pet parents with time on their hands and looking for Yorkie haircuts for females and male dogs.

Westie cut

This cut can really make your fluffy cutie look smart and ready to strut the dog park! If you choose a Westie cut, make sure the hair is medium to long in length before trimming. The hair around the face is cut at an angle, stacked and layered down the face. The side sections point inwards which all meet together under the chin. And the body and forehead hair? It’s down to you!

Flared

Fancy trying 70s-style disco diva Yorkie haircuts? Well it turns out that your furry family member can achieve just that with a flared Yorkie hairstyle. You might want to involve the groomer with this one, as it’s a little more complicated to achieve than some of the other cuts we’ve explored. The body hair is clipped close, while the leg hair is clipped into a flare shape, blooming out towards the bottom.

Shaved 

Like for us humans, Yorkie hairstyles are down to personal preference and your daily priorities (alongside cuddling and snuggling with your furry family member, obviously). So if you’ve welcomed a toy-sized terrier into your home but you don’t have time for daily brushing, a close-clipped cut could make life easier. The Yorkie’s short hair is kept so all over their stout bodies, while the head hair (and maybe legs, depending on your preference) is kept slightly longer and shaped. It’s a particularly handy hairstyle for busy pet parents or families who live in hotter climates.

Want to learn more about your new favorite breed?

If learning about Yorkie haircuts has got you interested in these bright eyed and bushy-tailed cuties, find out more in our Yorkshire Terrier breed guide.