The Yorkshire Terrier is a breed that the owner can easily groom them selves if they so desire. Basic grooming needsand some tips are:
* Never use a nylon brush as it breaks the hair.
* Use a soft comb with small teeth at one end and large teeth at the other end. Use the small end for whiskers and around the eyes.
* Blunt-nosed scissors for trimming hair on ears and feet.
* Brush hair daily to keep free of tangles.
* Bathe only when dog is dirty, usually weekly. Brushing will keep the hair clean except the side of the body where urine collects on a male. Wash this daily with a damp cloth and warm water.
* Use any good shampoo that you would use for yourself and finish with a good human conditioner, being very careful to completely rinse out.
* Wet tangles with warm water and work out with your fingers as you bathe the dog.
* Bathe mucous from the corners of eyes, daily if needed, with a cloth or wad of cotton soaked in warm water. Dry carefully. This hair is the beginning of long whiskers and mucous will rot the hair if not removed.
* Brush dry in front of a small hair dryer. One on a stand is better as it leave hands free.
* Teeth should be cleaned regularly. Ask your veterinarian to recommend the best product and method.
The only trimming needing to be done on the Yorkie is on the ears and around the feet.
Yorkshire Terrier ears should stand erect as young puppies. To keep them erect they must be trimmed every few weeks by beginning about 1/3 of the way down from the top of the ear, carefully snipping the hair from the inner and outer surfaces of the ear, against the grain of the hair. When all the hair has been snipped 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, the contour of the ear is followed and any stray hair is then snipped away.
For ease of care, some pet owners trim their Yorkies in a "puppy" or "Schnauzer" trim.