How to Groom a Yorkie: A Complete Guide

Tired of wasting hundreds of dollars on a professional dog groomer for your Yorkshire Terrier’s hair? Then this article is for you. Yorkies are small in size, but they have remarkable personalities. They have straight and long coats in several color combinations ranging from black to blue to tan & gold.

Yorkshire terriers are known for their silky hair. Keeping your dog’s coat well groomed is highly imperative for the betterment of the dog’s skin and hygiene.

So what’s the best way to groom a Yorkie coat? Let’s find out!

Yorkie Grooming: At a Glance

Yorkshire Terrier, commonly known as Yorkie, is a toy dog breed. They are native to England and very popular in the United States. Yorkies are popular for their looks, loyalty, and adaptability to their home environment. Here is an overview of how you can groom your Yorkie:

Bathing	Adjust the temperature of the water to warm. Use coat-friendly dog shampoo (link to Amazon) and conditioner made especially for Yorkie hair. Wash him with a canine bath brush (link to Amazon). You can bathe your pet once every 2 weeks.
Brushing	A pin brush and a slicker brush are used for brushing. Detangling spray moistens and removes any tangles. Post shower, metal combs work best for Yorkies. Brush your pet once every 2 days.
Hair Trimming	Use good quality dog hair trimmers (link to Amazon) or grooming scissors to trim rigid tufts of hair. Get rid of any extra hair covering the eye or ear area.
Nail Trimming	Use a nail clipper for your dog’s nails. Cut before the pink area on the nail. Here’s a video that will help.
Ear and Eye-care	Use ear wipes to clean your dog’s ears. Use eye wipes for eyes.
Teeth cleaning	Brush every day for 5 minutes.
Paw cleaning	Inspect paws regularly. Apply anti-bacterial soap or paw balm in case of paw infection or cuts.

Bathing

Bathing is the most crucial part of grooming. Yorkies are sensitive to temperature, so try to keep their water just a little warmer than room temperature. Before bathing, brush their hair to get rid of any tangles.

Use good quality Yorkie shampoo (link to Amazon) and dilute it in a separate container. This serves two purposes. For one, Yorkies are exceptionally prone to skin irritation. Even using dog shampoo without diluting it can hurt their skin. And secondly, diluting the shampoo will thin it, making it much easier to distribute evenly throughout their coat. Put your Yorkie into the bathtub and gently pour water on him using a hose attachment. Make sure that no water enters their ears, nose, or eyes.
Next up, pour the shampoo mixture starting from the back of the head to the tail. For the face and head, pour some mixture on your hands and gently wash them yourself.
Once you have applied the shampoo, bathe your pup with a canine brush, followed by rinsing them with water from head to tail. After rinsing them down well, wrap them in a towel.
The timing of a bath is also important for grooming because frequent bathing can result in dry and irritated skin. It is recommended to bathe your Yorkie once every 2-3 weeks.

Brushing

Brushing your puppy’s hair is highly imperative to achieving that signature look they are known for. To do this, you will need two tools: a pin and a slick brush.

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A slick brush is used to remove any knots, mats, or loose hair. It is designed in a way to penetrate deep into the coat removing dead skin cells and loose hair. Make sure it has plastic or rubber tips so that it doesn’t damage the skin of your pet.

Yorkie hair brushing technique. — Brushing hair of a Yorkie.

Move the brush gently over your dog’s hair and walk your way downwards as per the hair direction. For the best brushing experience, combine this practice with a detangling spray for a daily combing routine.

Other than removing tangles in your Yorkie’s hair, a detangling spray is also good for their dry and sensitive skin.

You can also use a comb to brush Yorkie’s hair. A small metal comb with medium tooth length is good for long-haired Yorkies. It is best to brush and comb once every day if your Yorkie has long hair. But if he has short hair, you can brush them after every two days.

Trimming Your Dog’s Hair

Start by cutting upper body hair first. This is because the hair in this area is easily accessible. Try not to scare your dog by taking a noisy trimmer close to their face. Instead, pet them and give them some treats if necessary to make sure they stay calm.

You should look out for excessive hair growth just above their tail, under their belly and near their eyes. Other than body hair, trim one-third of ear hair and also the hair around the rectum, to maintain proper hygiene. When shaving their body hair, move your clipper in the direction of the hair growth.

Make sure to not shave so low that the skin is visible. Always keep an appropriate distance from the bare skin to avoid skin irritation.

If you decide to visit a professional groomer, try asking for a ‘puppy-dog cut’ or a ‘show-dog cut’.

Nail Care

You should trim your Yorkie’s nails every 2-3 months. You can learn how to trim their nails online or you can have a dog groomer do it. It is always challenging to do a Yorkie’s nails as they are super energetic.

If you are grooming him by yourself make sure to buy the right tools to do the job properly.

First, sit in a comfortable position and set your Yorkie in your lap.
Try trimming the tip of the nail first and keep on trimming it until you spot a pink area on the nail, that is the point where you have to stop.
To give a clean look, file down the rough edges of the freshly trimmed nails.

Ear and Eye Care

Ears should be cleaned regularly whenever you bathe your Yorkie. The basic cleaning routine includes cleaning of the outer ear with ear wipes.

But if you notice debris in the ear canal, then a thorough cleaning process is required. For this, pour some ear cleaner (link to Amazon) into their ear and let it sit for 30 seconds before turning their head back over; all the dirt will then ooze out.

As for the eyes, you may have noticed that your Yorkie gets tear stains around their eyes due to excessive tear production. This visible as reddish-brown gunk.

Use a warm washcloth to remove tear stains. Soak the clean cloth in lukewarm water and cleanse the area around their eyes by removing the gunk gently.

Another way to remove tear stains is using wet wipes which are non-irritant and gentle. Just use them gently on the effective area.

Dental Care

Good dental care is vital for all dogs. First, choose the right toothbrush (link to Amazon) for your dog. When it comes to choosing a toothbrush for your dog, the most important factor is size.

The bristles of the brush should be small enough to get into all the crevices and grooves of your pup’s teeth, but not so large that they are uncomfortable or cause pain. Additionally, look for brushes with soft bristles and curved heads, which are better at removing plaque and tartar.

When choosing a toothbrush, make sure that it has an ergonomic handle with a good grip. This will help you to precisely control the movement of the brush while cleaning your Yorkie’s teeth without causing discomfort or pain.

Brush your Yorkie’s teeth for at least 5 minutes every day, if you want to avoid plaque and tooth decay.

Paw Cleaning

The most neglected part of grooming is paw cleaning. Paws are as important as any other part of the dog’s body. Inspect daily to check if the paws are damaged or cracked. If you see anything unusual, wash them with anti-bacterial soap and apply a good dog paw balm (link to Amazon).

Final Thoughts

Grooming is an essential part of keeping your dog healthy and happy. Regular grooming keeps their coats free from mats, helps to prevent skin irritations, and can even reduce the risk of some health issues.

Brushing their coat helps them maintain their natural lustre; it also removes any dirt or debris that could cause discomfort or infections.

Bathing your Yorkie regularly with a gentle shampoo and conditioning product can help keep their coat shiny, soft, and healthy.

Trimming their nails is also important to prevent pain or infection. Finally, don’t forget to thoroughly clean your Yorkie’s ears and teeth on a regular basis to ensure they remain in good health. All of these grooming practices can help your Yorkie stay healthy and happy!