How to Groom a Yorkshire Terrier Dog; A Guide
-
- by Adam
- 04 Apr 2025
- 0 Comments
A Yorkshire Terrier requires moderate grooming. Those with shorter coats, such as show dogs, require less grooming. The breed has human-like silky straight hair that makes the task easier and more manageable compared to dogs with thick fur coats. However, the drawback is their highly sensitive skin, which needs to be maintained.
This guide will cover the grooming process in detail to help new groomers learn tips and tricks while catering to pet parents who prefer grooming their dogs at home.
We'll discuss the how's, dos, and don'ts of grooming your Yorkie.
SUMMARIZING GROOMING TASKS AND THEIR FREQUENCY
| GROOMING TASKS | CONDUCTION AND FREQUENCY |
| Dental Hygiene | Cleaning teeth daily is necessary to prevent tooth decay and loss. Should be professionally cleaned when your dog is between 2-3 years of age, and as recommended by the vet. |
| Face and Eyes | The face and eyes should be wiped daily, using grooming wipes or a damp wash cloth to keep the facial hair clean and avoid tear stains. |
| Brushing the coat | Depends on the coat length, long coats need to be brushed daily while medium lengths can be brushed every 2-3 days, as for shaved coats they need to brushed once a week followed by application of coat protecting spray. |
| Bathing | Need to be bathed once every 2=3 weeks, however Yorkie with skin problems are recommended to be bathed more frequently with vet recommended products. |
| Ear cleaning | Wipe the insides of the ear once a week and wash the ear canal with cleaning fluid. |
| Paws and nose | Apply paw wax and nose balm when you feel they are dried out. |
| Coat trimming | Due to their fast hair growth, they need trims every 4-6 weeks. |
| Nail trimming | Cut their nails every 4-6 weeks to prevent overgrowth. |
| Anal gland | Some may need professional help from a groomer or a vet to have their anal glands expressed to avoid discomfort and infection. They need to be spot-cleaned as well by wiping them down to keep the dog smelling clean. |
-Blade 7FC: https://amzn.to/2ZVcQ8q
-Blade 30: https://amzn.to/33Jqeh
-Oster A6 clipper:
-Scissors: https://amzn.to/3iMXxGr
-Nail Clippers: https://amzn.to/2ZThOCW
-PSH shampoo silk: https://amzn.to/3hHq5zK
-Chunkers: https://amzn.to/2Eiw3tb
-Curved scissors: https://amzn.to/3cmVh6
-Chunkers - P&W Umberto Lehmann
-Curved scissors - Jargem
HOW TO BRUSH A YORKIE
Yorkies have fine, silky hair single-coated, that requires brushing to prevent matting and tangles. You should use a slicker brush, as listed above, to brush them regularly. It'll get rid of the loose hair and knots, especially around the underlegs, behind the ears, and in areas where the coat is left long. Brushing them before bathing helps rid of the stubborn knots that can later lead to hair loos or damaging the coat. In case the knot won't let loose, use a metal comb after applying conditioner to gently tug at it until all the hair is free. However, if the knot still remains intact, you can lift it up gently, position your scissors between the skin and the knot, and snip it away.
Always start at the ends and then work your way up to the skin to avoid hurting your dog. Be careful not to use a rubber back brush as it can tear your Yorkie’s coat and cause discomfort to the dog by pulling harshly at the hair and skin. If your dog is ticklish or has sensitive areas, then start by brushing the less sensitive areas like shoulders to avoid them fussing.
NEVER brush a dry coat; always spray a conditioning mist or hydrating spray to dampen the coat before you start brushing.
HOW TO BATHE A YORKIE
If you're bathing them at home, be sure to place a non-slip mat under the sink or container in use. Wet the body thoroughly using the shower head with a low-pressure or water cup. Use a mild dog shampoo; the vet recommended never using a human shampoo on your Yorkie as it can cause problems for their sensitive skin by disrupting its pH balance. A mild shampoo will not strip their skin of its natural oils or cause irritation to it. Lather thoroughly in circular motions to make sure the coat is clean. Rinse twice to get all the residue out. The head should be washed with a tear-less shampoo to avoid irritation in the eyes.
Follow by applying conditioner specially curated for Yorkie's coat. You can run your metal comb through their coat gently to break away any remaining knots for silky smooth coat. Keep the conditioner on for about 2-5 minutes and then rinse thoroughly and get all the product out.
We recommend you use creamy shampoos as they help bring out a silky smooth coat for a Yorkie without drying their hair and skin. Rinse out in large spaces to make sure that all the product is rid of.
HOW TO DRY AND TRIM A YORKIE
Dry your Yorkie with a towel in a dabbing manner to avoid damage to the hair, then follow with blow drying on a low heat setting. To avoid burning their skin keep the dryer at an arms length and dry thoroughly with continued brushing. Make sure to have treats on you in case the noise makes your dog anxious or fussy, always use positive reinforcement.
Yorkies can be given different haircuts depending on the grooming style you prefer; if you want to explore different grooming styles for your Yorkie, read here: Yorkie grooming styles.
If you're grooming your pooch at home you can try to attempt a puppy trim on them, however, we encourage you to opt for professional grooming for a breed such as the Yorkshire Terrier considering the complexity of the breed. Use the listed clippers with the snap on comb to trim the hair on the body and legs as per your convenience, however, we recommend you to not cut shorter than and inch. Round out the head by tracing an outline using scissors.
Use scissors designed for dogs other sheers can thin out their coat and even cause split ends. Make sure to check the paws and trim them as well so that your pooch doesn’t drag or have any discomfort from debris stuck on them.
HOW TO GROOM YORKIE'S NAILS, EARS, AND THEIR DENTAL HYGIENE
Ear: Pluck the insides of a Yorkie's ears using tweezers; this step is optional as some groomers suggest it can irritate their skin while others suggest that it improves air circulation in the ear. Vets recommend not plucking the middle parts unless the dog is prone to ear infections; plucking helps aid ear drops in passing into the canal easily. You must clean their ears with a recommended ear-cleaning solution. You can also clean the insides of their ears using a damp cotton ball and wipe them until they come out clean. Be careful not to force it in too deep, as it can damage the ear canal.
Nails: Trim their nails using a dog nail clipper, never use human clippers as they have a different shape and can damage the dog’s nail shaft.
Teeth: Use dog tooth paste or dental chews to take care of your dog’s dental hygiene on a daily basis. Yorkies are prone to tartar build up which is why its extremely important that you take care of their dental hygiene, otherwise it can lead to gum recession which will then lead to loosening of the teeth. Therefore, tartar build-up has to be avoided otherwise it can lead to painful and costly surgeries for your dog.
Do not use human tooth paste, Fluoride in human tooth paste can make your pooch sick in case they swallow it.
CONCLUSION
Grooming a Yorkie is a simple yet complex procedure that involves taking care of their dental hygiene, ear, eyes and skin care, grooming and trimming their long silky coat that is composed of fine straight hair, spot cleaning, brushing, bathing and trimming their nails. Frequency and conduction discussed in the article above.
While some of you may prefer grooming your dog home, we must inform you that professional grooming is essential for a breed like the Yorkshire Terrier, specially because of their diverse complex grooming styles, their delicate skin and long silky coat. A professional groomer can help maintain your Yorkie better and keep it in the best condition.
0 Comments:
{{success_message}}
No comments available.