Yorkshire Terrier commonly known as a yorkie are known for their long silky show stopping hair, But those hair can be a challenge to groom. Regular brushing is an essential part of grooming among many different things. If the grooming is done in a timely manner, you will be able to prevent any problems before they become a major issue. Daily grooming also maintains and protects the long and shiny human-like hair.
Tools required for grooming
Grooming a yorkie requires a lot of preparation before you actually start the grooming process. Here is a list of things you will need to groom your yorkie in the best way possible:
- Dog brushes ( pin, bristle and slicker brush )
- Dog shampoo
- Conditioner for the yorkie’s coat
- Ear cleaning solution for dogs
- Cotton swab
- Dog nail clippers
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- His favorite treats
How to groom a Yorkie
Grooming a yorkie can be a tedious task considering its long and silky hair. It’s easy to lose track on what all you need to do to make sure everything is taken care of or not. Here’s a list of things you must do to keep your yorkie in the best condition possible.
Ear Cleansing
This is simple, whenever you see visible wax on your yorkie’s ears just use an ear wipe or an ear cleaning solution. But in no case should you be using water as it can cause infections.
Just dab the cleaning solution into the cotton swab and gently rub it on the outside of his ear.
Cleaning his Eyes
Same as for the process of cleaning his ears. Whenever there’s any visible accumulation near the tear dump just use a damp cloth to wipe it off.
Yorkie’s are extremely sensitive near the eyes. Make sure to be extra gentle and comforting when caring for the eyes.
Brushing his Teeth
To avoid bad breath and tooth decay, it’s necessary to brush your yorkie’s teeth at least once a day. Easiest way to brush your Yorkie is to use a finger brush so you can reach any corner easily.
Use a small amount of toothpaste and also be gentle while brushing him since their gum is pretty sensitive. Rinsing isn’t necessary afterwards as dog toothpaste is designed to be licked off by the dogs.
Clipping his nails
Clipping his nails is the most riskiest thing in the grooming process. Going slow and always be vigilant while you do this. The risk is due to the fact that if the nails are cut too short there’s a risk of cutting the nail pulp or “quick” which contains the nerves and blood vessels,cutting that results in bleeding and pain for your dog.
It’s essential to get him comfortable with the clippings from an early age. Whenever he behaves well during the clipping, reward him with a treat.
Use a proper dog nail clipper. Always make sure to cut parallel to the nail and be cautious about how deep you’re cutting to avoid the “quick”. For the first few tries begin slowly and only clip off the curved part. Consult a vet if you’re unsure where the quick is.
Hair brushing
Hair brushing is more or less a daily task. Due to the long hairs of a Yorkie, they are highly susceptible to tangles, knots and mats which no one likes, even your pup. Easy solution to this problem is to just brush him daily and help him get rid of his troubles.
Make sure the hair is a bit damp before you start brushing. Start with a pin and bristle brush to get rid of any tangling or knots. Follow it up with a slicker brush to get rid of any dead hair to distribute the natural body hair evenly to promote healthy hair growth.
Don’t use too much force and avoid tugging on his hair, let the brushes run smoothly on his coat.
Hair cut
Another easy solution to the previously mentioned tangles, knots and mats is hair cut or trimming of the yorkie’s long hair. Less hair = less tangle, Right? Absolutely!.
A hair cut must always be done after a hair brush to avoid any tangles and messy cuts.
It’s essential to trim his hair around his ears to avoid them from weighing them down. Also the hair near the eyes must also be trimmed to make sure his vision is not obstructed. Make sure to not leave any spot and be careful while you cut. Around the anus is also an important part to be trimmed as if not cutted short the hair can catch feces and bacteria.
Using a comb to accumulate the long hairs first and then making the cut is the easiest way to ensure a cut of equal proportion. After the cutting, use a brush to get rid of any shredded hair still stuck to his body.
If you are unsure about the cutting and don’t wanna mess it up, take your yorkie to a professional groomer.
Checking for fleas and ticks
This can be a little tough since they can be extremely small and their colour makes it easier for them to blend in the Yorkie’s coat.
To get rid of fleas and unattached tick you just need to run a fine-tooth comb or flea comb through his body and make sure not to leave any spot. Pay closer attention to where the fleas and ticks love to chill at, the armpits and the groin.
If you find an attached tick, use a tweezer and gently pull on its head perpendicularly while making sure not to pinch your dog.
Bath Time
Before a bath make sure to brush your yorkie properly to avoid any tangling during the bath. Keep the water at a slightly warm temperature and completely drench him with it while making sure not to let any water get into his eyes or ears as it can cause irritation or infection..
Next take the dog shampoo in your hand and not on him directly, form some lather then start rubbing it on him starting from the head all the way down to his tail. Use a high quality dog shampoo and one that soothes his body to get a shiny coat after the washing.
After rubbing the lather on him thoroughly, start pouring slightly warm and clean water to rinse out all the shampoo. Make sure that you get rid of all the shampoo and lather as if it remains on his body it can lead to rashes. Take a towel or two and dry him gently and make sure he is 100% dry before you let him out.
After the bath you will again need to brush his hair just like you did before the bath to get rid of all the tangles and smooth them out. It’s recommended to bathe him in 3-4 weeks intervals.
Endnote
It’s not necessary to do everything on this list every time. For example, you need to brush him on a daily basis but bathing must be done every 3-4 weeks. The only way to know as to when to groom is to keep an eye on your yorkie. Keep an eye on the visual clues and if you’re unsure about when is the right time for anything, contact a vet or a professional groomer.
At any time if you’re unsure about the procedure, consulting a vet is advised. Caution must be observed at all times through the grooming process to avoid any unnecessary and potentially harmful results.
