How to Groom a Toy Yorkie

Yorkshire terriers are a small dog, weighting between 3 to 7 lbs. and are often nicknamed Yorkies. Since Yorkies are a small dog, and they compete in the Toy Group or Toy Terrier Group in kennel competitions, they are often called Toy Yorkies. One of the defining characteristics of these breeds is their long and shiny blue and tan coats. Proper grooming is needed to keep this breed's coat looking its finest.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog toothpaste
  • Dog toothbrush
  • Tweezers
  • Dog shampoo
  • Towel
  • Small fine-tooth comb or brush
  • Small scissors
  • Small dog nail clippers
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Instructions

    • 1

      Give your toy Yorkie a pre-bath examination. Start by looking for snarls and mats in the fur. Snarls are just simple tangles of hair that can be pulled apart with your fingers. Matted fur needs to be brushed out with a small comb or brush before the bath. If the fur is matted, it is a sign your Yorkie is not being bathed enough. Brush your Yorkie̵7;s teeth before the bath as well. Use a dog toothpaste that can be bought at a groomer's or pet store. Brushing will prevent tarter from building up, which leads to premature tooth loss.

    • 2

      Check your toy Yorkie̵7;s ears before a bath as well. Pluck any hair growing out of the ear channel. Simply pluck the hair out of the channel by pulling on it quickly. Plucking will help prevent hair from growing back inside the ears. Also check for redness or irritation in the ears, which could be a sign of infection.

    • 3

      Bathe your Yorkie by getting their entire coat wet. When the hair is wet, apply the shampoo by placing it on your dog and gently running your fingers through the dog̵7;s coat. Once the shampoo is applied, rinse your dog repeatedly until all of the shampoo is gone. Shampoo left in the coat will mat it down and make the fur look poorly maintained. Once you are done shampooing, dry your dog by holding it in a towel. Do not rub a Yorkie with a towel to dry it because the fur will just become matted. One bath a week is required to properly maintain this dog breed̵7;s hair.

    • 4

      Brush your dog̵7;s coat once your dog is no longer wet. Start at any section of the body you want, just make sure to brush every part of the body. Use a fine-tooth comb or a soft brush. Start brushing at the end of the coat, not the base near the skin. Gently work toward the base of the skin, and you will know when a section is done being brushed when you can pull your brush from the base of the skin to the ends of the hair without any resistance. Make sure to brush the belly area, under the legs and the ears.

    • 5

      Trim the last few areas of your dog, and trim the nails. Use a small pair of clippers to trim any hair that is long or sticking out from between the nails. Make sure the hair on the pads of the feet is trimmed shorter or even with the pads themselves. If you trim the nails with each bath, all you will have to do is trim the tips. Use nail clippers to trim the nails. When a nail is dry and white, it can be trimmed more until it starts to change color and texture. Once the color changes, stop trimming. Also trim the anal area of your dog with scissors, making sure the hair in that area is no longer than 1/2 inch.