How to Groom & Trim a Yorkie

Yorkshire Terriers, often called Yorkies, are a breed of dog that originated in England, in the city of Yorkshire. They were originally bred to chase rats in clothing mills, but according to the American Kennel Club, their long and luxurious coats soon made them popular with royalty. Today, Yorkies are still known for their long blue-and-tan-colored coats. Their coats require weekly grooming and trimming to remain pleasant-looking.

Things You'll Need

  • Soft pin brush
  • Wide-tooth comb
  • Slicker brush
  • Dog shampoo
  • Dog conditioner
  • Nail cutters
  • Small scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Brush your dog̵7;s hair at least twice a week, and before and after every bath. Using a soft pin brush or wide-tooth comb, start from the head and work toward the tail. Use gentle strokes to remove any tangles or mats, then use a slicker brush to remove excess hair and to give your dog a shiny and healthy-looking coat. Again, start at the head and work toward the tail, gently brushing the hair in sections.

    • 2

      Bathe your Yorkie once a week. Brush the dog's coat. Place your dog in a bath of warm water, and wet the coat thoroughly. Squirt dog shampoo in a thin line down the Yorkie̵7;s back. Work the shampoo into the dog's coat with your fingers, but don't use a swirling or zig-zag pattern to avoid creating mats. Pour water down the middle of your dog̵7;s back, repeating until all traces of shampoo are gone. Place a thin line of dog conditioner down your dog's back and work it in just like the shampoo. Rinse it away as you did with the shampoo. Gently pat your dog dry with a towel, and brush its coat again.

    • 3

      Cut your dog̵7;s nails after you are done with its bath, using dog nail cutters. The warm water will make the nails easier to cut. Remove only the part of the nail that is white on the inside; stop cutting where the inside of the nail starts changing color. Trim in small sections to help prevent you from trimming the nail too far. If you trim the dog's nails weekly after its bath, you will need to remove only the tips.

    • 4

      Trim the hair around the anus, ears and feet. Use a pair of trimmers to keep the hair around the anus trimmed to ½ inch or less, to prevent feces buildup. Ear hair can cause infections; remove any hair growing in the ears by plucking it or by cutting it with a small pair of scissors. Use a small pair of scissors to trim away any hair growing between the feet or any hair near the paw pads of your Yorkie. Keep this hair trimmed to pad level or lower.