GROOMING THE YORKSHIRE TERRIER
The Yorkshire Terrier is a breed that the owner can easily groom themselves if they so desire. Just remember that the earlier you get your pup familiar with grooming the easier it will be to groom them later as an adult dog.
Yorkies are a “single” coated breed, meaning that they do not have an undercoat. Their coat is very similar to human hair and we suggest not to use human shampoo. A dog has a different ph balance then humans and using “people” shampoo can result in dry, itchy, flaking skin. Remember to completely rinse the hair after shampooing and conditioning. It is also best to remember to always brush the hair on a Yorkie that has been sprayed with a light mixture of conditioner and water. Never brush a Yorkie coat when it is completely dry because this will damage the coat.
The Yorkshire Terrier is a breed that the owner can easily groom themselves if they so desire. Just remember that the earlier you get your pup familiar with grooming the easier it will be to groom them later as an adult dog.
Yorkies are a “single” coated breed, meaning that they do not have an undercoat. Their coat is very similar to human hair and we suggest not to use human shampoo. A dog has a different ph balance then humans and using “people” shampoo can result in dry, itchy, flaking skin. Remember to completely rinse the hair after shampooing and conditioning. It is also best to remember to always brush the hair on a Yorkie that has been sprayed with a light mixture of conditioner and water. Never brush a Yorkie coat when it is completely dry because this will damage the coat.
upplies:
1. Shampoo & Conditioner 2. Medium density Bristle Brush for smoothing out the coat after bathing. 3. Pin brush for tangles. (NOT a Slicker Brush, they hurt) 4. Cat brush for the final comb out and to assist with tangles. (I've found that this works best) 5. Narrow tooth comb for help with breaking up mats and tangles. 6. Matt Removing Comb (without cutting blades) 7. Fine toothed flea comb for eye mucus. 8. Scissors for trimming around eyes and feet. 9. Thinning Sheer to clean up those blunt cuts. 10. Spray bottle with conditioner & warm water for when hair dries. 11. Nail clippers 12. Mustache trimmers. (for brim of nose and eyes) Bathing- Remember you have chosen a “coated” breed which will require frequent bathing and daily brushing. If your dog gets dirty then bathing once a week will help keep them nice and clean. Remember to be careful around the eyes. Use a tearless shampoo for the head so you don't have to worry about getting soap in the eyes. NOTE: Puppies are wiggly in the sink and slippery when wet! Get a good hold and make sure you have your shampoo, conditioner and towel right at hand. Consider using the bathtub instead of the sink for the first few times until you see how your new puppy react to his bath. NEVER LEAVE YOUR PUPPY UNATTENDED ON A COUNTER OR TABLE…..THEY WILL WALK OR JUMP OFF BEFORE YOU CAN BLINK AN EYE…..GUARANTEED! When brushing or combing, be gentle and take your time. Be especially careful when removing mats or tangles. Brushing can and should be a pleasant experience for your pet as the gentle stroking feels good on your pet's skin. It does not take too many painful 'rips' through snarls, however, to make brushing a procedure your pet will try to avoid rather than invite. The best way to build trust and make this a pleasurable bonding time for both of you is to brush your pet often, preferably daily. This prevents problem mats and tangles from developing. Young pups should be started out using just a soft bristle brush just to get use to the idea of being brushed and handled. While teaching them when they should sit or stand when curtain areas are being groomed. As time goes on introduce different grooming tools and as needed start the grooming process. Towel dry – Towel dry your pup to remove any excess water before you start the grooming process. You will want to have both hands free for grooming so remember to have a towel or rubber mat under them so they’ll have no slip footing and won’t slip and hurt themselves. Bristle Brush/Pin Brush- Start with the bristle brush forcing the tangle to the ends. Do not buy a brush that has small balls on the end of the pins as they tend to pull at the coat and break it. Do not use brushes with nylon bristles because they tend to break the hair. Note: That Yorkies are a one layer coated dog and therefor have thin hair/ not fur. You should never ever use a Slicker Brush on a Yorkie. Tangles – Use (Cat brush, Matt Remover, Comb and Pin brush) Always work with wet hair. First work through the hair with bristle brush. Than use the cat brush working the tangle further down to the ends. If they dry out re-wet tangles with spray bottle with conditioner than massage with your finger tips separating the clumps. Use the tip of a comb at a 45 degree angle to rake it out. Finish with the Matt Removing Comb gripping the hair and combing in an upward direction. Repeat the process until the entire tangle has been removed. |
Comb – (narrow tooth comb). Remember to ALWAYS finish your grooming by COMBING through the coat with either the comb or the cat brush. You will be surprised at the knots and tangles you will find that you missed with the brush. DO NOT ALLOW MATS OR TANGLES TO REMAIN IN YOUR PUPPY’S/Dogs COAT!! Mats tighten with each passing day and can be very painful to remove. An ounce of prevention removing mats is not fun for you or your puppy/dog. Never use a comb on the mussel, it will put out their whiskers, and is very painful. Fine toothed flea comb – (a flea comb) Can be used under the eyes to remove “eye mucous”. Keep the under eye area clean. This is best done right after a bath. You can also use a damp washcloth or cotton ball to soften and remove any “eye mucous” then comb through with the flea comb. Scissoring – The only trimming that needs special attention is under the pads of the feet to remove the hair, on the top 1/3 of the ears and around the rectum. If you leave the hair on the ears and never trim them, then possibly the weight of the hair will not allow the ears to stand erect as they should be. Cleaning the hair carefully around the rectum about every two weeks will help with cleanliness and reduce the risk of infection. This hair tends to tangle and caused problem with relieving themselves due to clumping of hair and feces. Puppies are very acceptable to infection on their bottom. So please pay particular attention to any clumps of poo and be sure to keep the area cleaned regularly. Excess hair should be cut short for cleanliness. Thinning Sheers - are to be use to even out the blunt cut of a regular hair scissors. They leave a much nicer looking cut and can also be used to round out the face. Ears – Yorkshire Terrier ears should stand erect as young puppies. Not all yorkies have the same ear leather (thickness). And a little extra help is necessary to obtain the breed standards and help the ears to remain erect. To keep them erect they should be trimmed every few weeks by beginning about 1/3 of the way down from the top of the ear, carefully snipping or shaving the hair from the inner and outer surfaces of the ear. When all the hair has been snipped or shaved away, the edges of the ears may be trimmed, being extremely careful not to cut into the ear leather. This is best done in bright light and by holding the ear between your two fingers from the top down at a 45 degree angle and cut along the edge being sure to follow the contour of the ear. Much like a Beautician would your own hair. Once that has been done than any stray hair can be snipped away. Nails - Nails should be cut about every two-three weeks. This can be tricky and if done improperly can cause harm to your dog. But is manageable if done with great care. If unsure it is best left to the professionals. If you are up the the challenge here are some links where you will find directions on clipping your dogs nails. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqc4OW_Iz9A Mustache trimmers - (optional) These can be used to cut back on mucus build up under the eyes by trimming the hair away in the corners of the eye. Also for providing a clean look and a visible eye by trimming the hair along the brim of the nose all the way to the tip. This will take some practice as well as a very well behaved dog. For extra control and to prevent your pup from pulling away take a hole of the gruff under their chin being careful not to hurt them but only to prevent any harm or unnecessary cuts of the trimmers and removing any hair what was not intended. This process and the noise of the trimmers will take some getting use to and you may need to condition you pup to accepting them. Haircuts – For ease of care a lot of people like to have the hair kept short in a “Puppy cut” "Joey cut" or even in a modified “Schnauzer cut”. which can be done by a professional groomer. |