How to Bathe a Long Haired Yorkie

Yorkshire terriers are happy, intelligent little dogs with a great deal of spunk and personality. They are a toy breed, which means that they remain small--generally under 10 pounds--and can be shown in pedigreed dog shows if they have the proper papers. Yorkies' hair can grow to be quite long and many owners like to have it long, silky and styled. If you bathe your long-haired yorkie yourself, there are some things that you can do to make bathtime easier and more productive.

Things You'll Need

  • Salon-level shampoo
  • Light conditioner in a spray bottle
  • Deep sink or basin
  • Plastic cup
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Select a good shampoo. Long-haired yorkies need a salon style shampoo. You can buy the doggie version of salon products or the human version. Regardless of which type you choose, you need a shampoo that does not have a lot of artificial fragrances or colors. These can irritate your yorkie's skin and make their coat appear flaky or heavy.

    • 2

      Work the shampoo into the coat. Run your hands and fingers down the length of the dog's body in the direction that the coat flows. This will prevent you from creating tangles. Do not use circular shampooing motions as it will just tie the coat into knots.

    • 3

      Rinse the coat very thoroughly. Leftover shampoo will dry out the skin and can make the coat look dull and flakey. Use the plastic cup to pour water over the coat and to make sure difficult areas like the stomach and neck are entirely free of shampoo.

    • 4

      Spray the coat lightly with the conditioner mist. You should mist the coat very lightly with a conditioning mist rather than using a squirt conditioner. Yorkie coats should be very smooth and shiny so they need conditioning, but heavy conditioners weigh the coat down. You can actually leave some conditioners in and use them to help detangle the coat, but only if they are in spray form.

    • 5

      Comb out the coat while it is still wet. Combing your dog once he is dry can cause the hair to break and makes detangling much harder. Many people prefer to comb or brush their yorkies while they are still in the bath the get as many tangles as possible out of the coat.