How to Care for Yorkie Hair

Yorkshire terriers, or Yorkies, are long-haired dogs that do not shed. This breed, however, must be groomed regularly or its hair can get out of control. Washing and brushing your Yorkie's hair on a regular basis will ensure that she is comfortable and healthy. Some people choose to cut their Yorkie's hair to make it easier to maintain. But properly maintaining a Yorkie's coat does not necessarily require cutting her hair. With proper care and maintenance, your Yorkie can look just like a show dog.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog shampoo
  • Dog conditioner
  • Water
  • Dog pin brush
  • Comb
  • Towel
  • Hair dryer
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Instructions

  1. Bath

    • 1

      Gather all of your supplies. You need to have all of the supplies handy before you begin bathing your Yorkie. Your Yorkie may not like taking a bath, so you need to attend to your pet at all times. Never leave him in the water unattended.

    • 2

      Fill your bathroom sink with warm water. Before placing your dog in the water, make sure the water temperature is comfortable. Check the water with your hand. Also, do not fill the basin with more than 6 inches of water.

    • 3

      Place your dog in the water. Slowly pour water over the dog's body, wetting her head last since this will make her feel chilled. While you are bathing your dog, talk to her in a soothing voice to keep her calm.

    • 4

      Apply shampoo to your dog. Work up a lather to get any dirt deep within your Yorkie's long coat. When you shampoo his head, avoid his eyes. Then rinse the shampoo from your dog's coat, making sure to get all of the soap. Any soap left in your Yorkie's hair will dry it out.

    • 5

      Apply a dog conditioner to your dog's hair. Since Yorkie's have long hair, the conditioner will help keep tangles to a minimum. This will make it easier for your to brush her hair.

    Dry

    • 6

      Squeegee excess water off your Yorkie by placing your hand on your dog's body and moving your hand from head to tail, pulling the water off his body.

    • 7

      Towel dry your Yorkie and wrap her in a towel. Rub the towel all over the dog to soak up excess water.

    • 8

      Blow dry your dog's hair. Put your hair dryer on the low or warm setting and move the air stream all over the dog's body in a slow but steady motion. Do not let the dryer blow on your Yorkie in one spot for too long since this could burn his skin despite his thick coat.

    Brush

    • 9

      Brush your Yorkie's hair with a pin brush. Start brushing at the end of the hair, working from the end of the hair toward the scalp. Brush gently to avoid painful hair-pulling.

    • 10

      Remove tangles. Do this by holding the hair with a knot between the scalp and the tangle, then using a comb to pick apart the knot. This will keep you from pulling your dog's scalp while you remove the tangle.

    • 11

      Apply a pleasant-scented spray approved for use on dogs, if you wish. Get out your bows and style her hair any way he'll let you.