Yorkies are one of the most popular breeds in America. They’re cute, fluffy and they love to be groomed!
If you just got a new Yorkie, or if you’ve had her for years but never really mastered grooming her yourself, this blog post is for you.
So if you want to know how to groom a Yorkie properly, follow our easy step-by-step guide.
We will talk about the 8 best Yorkie grooming tips that will make your dog look like a million bucks!
What Tools You Will Need Before Grooming Your Yorkie
Before you begin any type of grooming activity on your Yorkie, I would advise you to gather all the supplies you need. This way, if something falls or rolls away, you won’t have to stop what you are doing to go get it.
First of all, make sure that all your tools are clean and ready for use! Here’s everything you may need for your grooming procedure:
- Dog’s brush
- Clean towel (or two!)
- Dog shampoo
- Conditioner for the Yorkie’s coat
- Combs x 2 (pin and bristle brush)
- Soap flakes to mix with water
- Ear cleaner solution for dogs
- Scissors/dog clippers
- Earmuffs (if they can wear them)
- Toothbrush
How To Groom a Yorkie – Step By Step Guide
#1. Cleaning His Ears
If your Yorkie has floppy ears, the first Yorkie grooming tip is to regularly clean them. This will help prevent infections and other problems which are likely if left unattended.
You can clean his ears with a cotton swab or ear cleaner solution. You will need to lift the flap on the ear, gently wipe with the swab (or clean with solution), and then let go.
Make sure not to push or force his ear flap back, but to hold it only in the position you need for cleaning. If your Yorkie doesn’t like this at first, make sure he gets used to it gradually – by having someone else put the cotton swab in your dog’s ear, for example.
#2. Cleaning His Eyes
This is another great Yorkie grooming tip I have for you. If your Yorkie has a lot of hair around his eyes, make sure to keep it brushed out on a regular basis – but also wipe his eyes with a clean cloth from time to time.
You need to do this especially if your Yorkie’s hair gets wet (for example, after a bath) – this way, you can clear away any foreign objects such as hair or dirt which might get into your dog’s eyes.
#3. Brushing His Teeth
Keeping your Yorkie’s teeth healthy and clean is a very important task. Not just because bad breath can be a turn-off, but also because plaque can lead to tooth decay – and this is actually something that can become life-threatening if left unattended for too long.
You need to brush his teeth at least once a day, or even twice if you can manage. Use a toothbrush and toothpaste made specifically for dogs and follow these simple steps:
- Apply a bit of toothpaste to your finger
- Gently rub his teeth and gums with it
- Do the same with the toothbrush
- Be extra careful around his delicate gum area – they are very sensitive
Remember that if your Yorkie doesn’t like the smell of the toothpaste you are using, talk to your veterinarian about changing it.
#4. Yorkie Haircut
This is the part where you do some actual grooming!
You should provide your Yorkie with a haircut every 8-12 weeks, depending on your breed’s hair. If he has long hair (like most Yorkies), make sure to start brushing it out well before you cut it. This will help get rid of any tangles or mats in the hair.
If you choose to cut his hair yourself, make sure to use electric clippers with a #10 or #15 blade (a #30 will work for dogs with longer coats or of mixed breeds) and follow this basic guide:
- Clip in the direction of the coat growth.
- Start on top of his head – a good way to do this is by holding him up and pointing his nose towards your hand.
- Work downwards, going against the natural direction of his coat growth
- This way, you will get a neater haircut and avoid having to clip in weird angles around his toes or paws
If you are unsure of how to make a Yorkie’s haircut perfect, don’t hesitate to take him to a professional groomer. Grooming is their job, and they also do it daily – so you can be sure they will know what to do.
#5. Clipping His Nails
Many Yorkie owners are afraid of trimming their dog’s nails because they think it will hurt him, or because they don’t know how to.
But as with everything else, you will need to teach your Yorkie while he’s still a puppy, at a young age. Make sure you get him familiar with this from the beginning and use treats whenever he behaves properly.
Make sure you have a treat in one hand and your clippers in the other. And then give him a treat after every single time he lets you clip his nails. Of course, make sure to stop if he gets too fed up, or his mind is elsewhere.
How to trim a Yorkie’s nails:
- Puppy (up to 1-year-old) – cut the tip of the nail gently.
- Adult or older Yorkie – cut across the nail towards the upper part of the paw, but make sure you don’t clip through it!
#6. Check For Fleas And Ticks
Next, after clipping your Yorkies’ nails, you should check for fleas. Many dogs are subject to fleas and ticks. So it’s important to check for this, especially if you live in an area where these parasites are common.
You can check for fleas and ticks by using a fine-tooth comb. Run the comb through his hair and pay close attention to dark areas where these parasites usually hide (for example, your Yorkie’s abdomen).
And don’t forget to check his belly button as well – that’s another favorite spot for ticks!
#7. Yorkie Bath
The next step is to give your pup a bath.
Bathing your Yorkie at home can be very simple, but you need to get him used to it from a young age.
If he has been properly introduced to shampoo and water, bathing a Yorkie will not take more than 5 minutes.
Before the actual bath starts, you need to make sure everything is ready:
- Put all his shampoo and other items on a towel close to the bathtub.
- Now pour some water into your tub or sink, but make sure it is not very hot or cold. Most Yorkies don’t like extreme temperature changes.
- Next, place a non-slip mat at the bottom of your tub – accidents happen, and it’s better to be safe than sorry!
- Now bring your Yorkie into the bathroom and start by letting him play around in the water. You can use a cup or something similar to pour some water over his head and back, but make sure you never leave him unattended.
- Make sure you tell your pup how good boy he is while doing this. Keep him interested by giving him treats and praise whenever he behaves well. This will help him associate bathing with something positive and make it a lot easier for you to bathe your dog later on.
- Now put some shampoo onto your palm and then scrub his entire body with it. NEVER use the same shampoo you use for yourself, even if it says “for dogs”. It might contain ingredients that are not good for their skin and coat, which means they might end up with a rash.
- Always use a dog shampoo that has been developed for Yorkies or small breeds of dogs.
- Now rinse him with warm water. Repeat this process until there are absolutely no soap bubbles left on his body.
- Dry the hair around his face carefully because it might take longer to dry.
- Make sure he is completely dry before you take him outside or let him play around on the carpet. If his fur is not dry, it will get dirty again very quickly and make a mess.
#8. Brush And Dry
Once you have finished with the bath and your Yorkie’s fur is 100% dry, it’s time to brush him. You can use a soft brush or wide-toothed comb – whatever works best for him.
Brushing will remove dead hair and also distribute his natural oils evenly across his coat. This helps in keeping his skin healthy.
He will probably enjoy this, but if not – try to make it as quick as possible. Don’t forget to dry his ears. Otherwise, he might be prone to getting an ear infection.
Never use a dryer for this task, as it can cause serious damage to their sensitive skin.
People Also Ask
How Do I Groom My Yorkie With Clippers?
To groom your Yorkie using clippers, you will first need to brush his coat so that it is free of tangles. If you are not confident in doing this on your own, find a professional groomer who can help you out.
Before giving him the full haircut with clippers, take some time to trim around his face. This will make the process a lot easier and – most importantly – safer.
You can also use scissors to cut his fur in tricky spots (behind the ears or on his paws) if you don’t want to invest in a set of clippers.
How Do I Calm My Yorkie For Grooming?
It can be difficult to calm a nervous or frightened Yorkie, but it’s important that you try. The more uncomfortable he becomes, the harder it will be for him to understand what you are doing, and the more likely he can have an accident.
Try calming techniques such as massages, grooming in short sessions, and using treats.
It’s also a good idea to make sure he has had something to eat before starting the process. A hungry dog will be much more likely to get restless during grooming.
How Do You Groom A Dog At Home For Beginners?
1. First, brush your Yorkie’s coat to get rid of any tangles or mats.
2. You can then use scissors or clippers to give him a full haircut, starting with his face and working down towards the tail.
3. Start by trimming around the eyes and ears, and then work your way down his body.
4. Cut the fur on his paws shorter than you would like it to be so that it’s even when he walks around.
5. Be careful not to cut too much off, as this can cause skin problems and leave him exposed to sunburn.
6. When you’ve finished grooming him at home, take some time to brush and dry his fur so that it’s free of knots.
How Can I Cut My Yorkie’s Hair At Home?
There are several ways to cut your Yorkie’s hair at home. However, the most popular methods are using clippers and scissors.
Start by brushing his fur thoroughly so that you don’t accidentally snip any mats or tangles. It’s much easier (and safer) to cut through his coat if it’s free of tangles.
Cut his fur in the direction it is growing, and be careful not to trim too much off at once. Keep an eye on his skin while you do this so you know when you are causing him discomfort.
If he starts squirming or showing signs of pain, it is best to stop what you are doing.
Conclusion
In today’s article, we’ve mentioned some practical tips and Yorkie facts that can help you while grooming your Yorkie.
As you can notice, grooming itself isn’t the most difficult task in the world, but it does take some time and effort. However, you can make things much easier for yourself by following our simple steps above.
The steps we’ve covered in this article are easy to follow, so you shouldn’t have too many problems grooming your dog at home.
Remember, Yorkies are small dogs with delicate skin, so you need to be careful when grooming them. But if you are unsure how to hold him or where to cut his fur, you can always take him to a professional groomer.
Remember, when in doubt – ask a professional groomer to help you out!
Do you own a Yorkie? How are you grooming it?
I would love to hear how you groom your Yorkie (pictures are welcome), as well as any questions you might have about grooming a Yorkie.
