How to Groom a Yorkie

A Yorkie or Yorkshire Terrier has a single coat. This is appealing to most pet owners because Yorkie's do not shed. Their hair is actually very similar to that of human hair and because of this, they are a great dog breed for people who may have allergies to pet dander. Unfortunately, their coat can get very long and will need daily brushing to keep it from forming mats. They also need regular hair cuts to keep their coat from getting too long. If you want to keep them looking and feeling good and reduce the risk of infection, you must have a regular grooming routine. Here are the steps to take to properly groom your Yorkie.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Nail clippers
• Nail file
• Pet toothbrush
• Pet toothpaste
• Cotton swabs
• Ear cleaning solution
• Tear stain remover
• Clippers
• Conditioner
• Pin brush
• Slicker brush

1. Bathe your Yorkie once a week to keep their coat nice and clean.

2. Cut and file their nails after giving them a bath. The water from the bath will soften the nails making them easier to trim. Also, by trimming the nails frequently, only the tips will need to be cut and filed.

3. Brush your Yorkie's teeth using a pet toothbrush and pet toothpaste. This should be done once a week to reduce tarter buildup.

4. Clean their ears with a cotton swab and an ear cleaning solution. This should be done gently and once a week after baths.

5. Trim any hair in the Yorkie's ears to reduce the risk of infection.

6. Use a stain remover to remove the tear stains by your Yorkie's eyes.

7. Trim or wash the hair around their anus daily to keep the area from forming mats of feces. If allowed to become matted, the area can become infected and create soreness, sometimes resulting in serious health problems.

8. Brush your Yorkie's coat daily if it has a long coat. Use a mix of water and conditioner and a pin brush to brush their coat. Afterwards, use a slicker brush to get any missed mats out of their hair.

9. Get your Yorkie regular hair cuts to keep their coat trimmed.

Tips & Warnings

• If your Yorkie has a soft or cottony coat instead of silky coat, have their coat trimmed in a puppy cut for easier maintenance.
• Do not buy a pin brush that has little balls on the end of the pins, as this will break their coat.
• Do not brush your Yorkie's coat when it is totally dry.
• Do not use natural bristle brushes.
• Do not use toothpaste for humans on pets.

Resources

• Grooming Videos
• Detailed List of Grooming Supplies