Grooming and Your Yorkshire Terrier

We've all heard the term: High Maintenance. Well in may ways, that applies to the Yorkshire Terrier, one of the most beloved purebreds colse to today. If your Yorkie could talk, she'd probably tell you it's simply the price of glamor!

Their long, silky hair is one of the most spellbinding corporeal features in a Yorkshire Terrier, especially in its full spectrum of gorgeous colors, from a 'steel blue' to golden blond. Any way that same flowing hair presents a challenge for those of us who are time-starved today and it's probably why many Yorkie owners choose to keep their dogs in a short or "puppy cut" style.

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If you prefer the original long hair of the Yorkie, then a regular grooming schedule will undoubtedly help and it's one you can accomplish yourself. If you don't comb your dog at least every third day (ideally more often) you will have a very matted, dirty coat quite quickly. Yorkies have notoriously oily hair and scalp and fine hair, so it literally does need constant care. The good news is you only need to comb out your dog for a few minutes at a time. Five or 10 minutes every other night will keep your Yorkshire Terrier matt and tangle free.
A steel tooth comb, with a good comfortable, padded rubber cope for you, is the best tool to have. So called "Slicker" brushes or "furminator" type brushes must be used with real care on the Yorkie because you can inadvertently break off their top coat with this kind of brush.
To comb an area that's become a exiguous matted, simply grasp the hair firmly in the middle of the skin and your comb, and hold tight as you comb. This will minimize any pull your Yorkie feels, and he'll soon come to love regular combing sessions
For more comprehensive matts, or heaven forbid burrs, the best clarification is to cut down, from the skin outward, parallel to the increase of the hair. One or two cuts through the matt should be adequate to be you started. The matt will open up and you can gently comb through it too.
After a good comb out the finishing touch is the Yorkie's topknot or "pony tail." Get some extra small elastics at the pet store, or get the kind kids use for their braces so that you only need two or three doubling ups for a good topknot. Make sure the hair is not pulled too tight - you can loosen it off with the pointed end of a regular "rat tail" comb after you've secured the topknot. While most owners make one topknot from the Yorkie's hair, you can make two, to give the look of "pig tails."
How often should a Yorkshire Terrier be bathed?
Because of the oily nature of their skin, Yorkies can have quite a bit of dander, practically like humans with a pretty bad case of dandruff. In that case, get a special dander-reducing shampoo from your pet store or ask your Vet about using something stronger like human grade dandruff treatment that contains sulfur or salicylic acid. You leave it on for about 5 minutes before rinsing. Regularly these treatments are repeated every week or every two weeks until the dander is under control.
Otherwise, dog shampoo or even mild baby shampoo works well for your Yorkie and ca be safely used on a monthly basis. Petsmart features dozens of brands, and Martha Stewart's new line of dog shampoo is just one that's particularly nice.
Some habitancy prefer a colloidal oatmeal soap which can moisture the dry skin and cut dander, although dry skin is not Regularly the question with Yorkie dandruff. And because of that oily nature, Yorkies do not need a cream rinse unless their coat is really, literally tangled.
Time for a mani-pedi
Personally I never cut my Yorkie's nails because they're black and I can't see the quick or growing pink interior. With 10 toe nails plus 2 dewclaw nails to cut, the chances of cutting too close to that quick and beginning up a major bleeding session, are just too likely. Instead, I've found a very good, dependable nail cutter (Petsmart groomers in fact) who know what they're doing and do it quickly and efficiently. Getting your Yorkie's nails cut every 6 weeks will ensure they don't grow too long to be cut back, and stay nice and manageable. Some pet care outlets are also featuring nail milling instead of cutting and if your Yorkshire Terrier will go along with it, this is a classic way to cut nails.
The puppy cut
If keeping your Yorkie in a long coat sounds like too much work for you, then you can choose the puppy cut - a very cute, all over shorter style that's super easy to maintain. It needs to be done by a expert however, with expert equipment. Again, find man local who does good, dependable work and who your dog likes. At the same time, you can get the nails cut.
Yorkie anal sacs
The final and often neglected part of grooming is a once or twice yearly emptying of the anal glands - the two sacks on each side of the rectum. Each contains an number of brown, literally noxious smelling fluid that's part of your dog's own particular 'cachet.' They can become infected, impacted or simply too full, and then you'll see your dog 'scooting' over your floor covering (or sometimes the neighbours!) or along the sidewalk. Although it is possible to empty these glands yourself at home, you literally don't want to. Really. Instead, ask your groomer or Vet if they need care next time you are there. If your Yorkie is scooting, see your Vet as soon as possible since complications can set in at this stage.
That, from head to toe, is your quick guide to Yorkie grooming.
Grooming and Your Yorkshire Terrier
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