Yorkshire terriers are known for their beautiful, silky fur. However, this long coat must be groomed daily to keep it from getting tangled. In caring for your dog's fur, you have to comb it, wash it with shampoo, and groom it regularly so that it always looks beautiful. A well cared for Yorkshire Terrier will feel more comfortable, healthy and happy.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Combing the Fur of the Yorkshire Terrier
Step 1. Condition the dog's coat
If your Yorkshire is dry or has a skin condition that requires moisturizing, buy a dog hair conditioner and apply it before combing. This product helps strengthen the coat and prevents split ends or breakage. If your Yorkshire coat gets greasy easily, you can skip the humidification process as this will only make the dog's coat heavy.
You can also make your own conditioner, which consists of 5/6 water and 1/6 dog hair conditioner. Mix these ingredients in a spray bottle
Step 2. Comb the dog's hair in sections
Use a pin comb without a rubber back, which has a metal tip without a plastic cover as this will break the dog's hair. Divide the area of the dog's fur into sections and comb from roots to ends. If you comb from the tip to the root of the hair, the dog will feel uncomfortable and the dog's coat may tangle. Condition the dog's coat with proper brushing to spread the natural oils throughout the dog's coat.
- A rubber-backed comb can break Yorkshire hair.
- It's a good idea to start brushing from an area that's not sensitive and ticklish, such as the shoulder.
Step 3. Unravel the knotted fur
If you find a knotted fur, work it out with your fingers until it opens. If the knot is difficult to untangle, use a comb and slide it between the base of the knot and the dog's skin. Position the scissors over the comb and cut the knot. The comb will protect the dog's skin from the scissors so it doesn't hurt when cutting the knot.
- Look for knots in areas where your dog's hair rubs against each other, such as the armpits, groin, and behind the ears.
- Check under the tail for traces of dirt on the fur around the anus. If so, it's a good idea to give your dog a bath, or trim the dirty hair if he has a lot of dirt.
Step 4. Comb the fur around the dog's face and ears
Use a comb to gently comb the dog's facial and ear hair. Comb slowly and watch if the dog starts to move so you don't accidentally poke the dog in the eye.
You can also clean the buildup from around your dog's eyes using an eye tissue. Wipe carefully so that the tissue does not touch and sting the eyes
Part 2 of 4: Bathing the Yorkshire Terrier
Step 1. Get ready to bathe your dog
Remove any accessories your dog is wearing, such as leashes, ribbons, or dog clothes. Prepare your dog on a comfortable floor or on a grooming table. If you will be working on the floor, place a large soft towel under it. This way, the dog's hair doesn't touch the floor. If you use a dedicated table, never leave it alone. If the dog freaks out and jumps down, your dog could be injured.
Before bathing, make sure the dog is well brushed. Use a pin comb to comb through all of Yorkshire's fur, and use a regular comb to comb through all the hair again. This will prevent the dog's fur from tangling
Step 2. Wet and shampoo your dog's coat
Start at the top of the Yorkshire's head and thoroughly wet your dog's body. Be careful not to let the water get directly into the dog's eyes. Make sure you wet all the feathers down to the tail. Pour the shampoo into your hands and work it over the dog's fur until it lathers, starting from the top of the neck to the tip of the tail. Apply shampoo to the outside of the ears, all four legs, chest, belly, feathering (bangs or long hair), and the entire body of the dog. If you're shampooing your dog's head, start at the top of the head and work your way up to the muzzle.
Choose a creamy dog shampoo that will make your Yorkshire coat smooth and soft. Look for an anti-drip shampoo, especially for use on a dog's head. Do not use shampoo for humans as it has an inappropriate pH balance and can irritate the dog's skin
Step 3. Rinse the shampoo from the hair
Use warm, clear water to wash the shampoo off your Yorkshire hair for at least 3 minutes. Keep rinsing until there are no more suds and your rinse water is clear. If you don't wash off the shampoo thoroughly, the remaining soap can irritate your dog's skin.
It may be easier to clean the dog in the sink. If your dog is big enough, try using a bathtub. However, dogs can be frightened by large spaces
Step 4. Condition your dog's coat
If you use conditioner, pour a little on your hands. Run the conditioner all over your dog's coat, starting at the top of the neck and working your way up to the tip of the tail. Don't forget to rub the conditioner on the outside of the dog's ears, four legs, chest, feathering and the rest of the dog's body. Leave the conditioner on for 5-10 minutes before rinsing it off.
Rinse the conditioner off the coat for 2-5 minutes
Step 5. Comb and dry the dog's fur
Let the dog brush the water on its fur first. This will reduce the water in your dog's coat by half. After that, take a towel and gently rub it all over the dog's coat for 20 seconds. If so, your dog should still be damp, but no longer soaking. Now you can take the pin comb and comb your dog's hair. Repeat with the comb, but pay more attention to the feathering, ears, and tail. Comb the hairs in this section until they are straight.
You can also use a bristle or hairdryer on the coldest setting (and keep it 25 cm apart and keep the bristles moving). Use a hairdryer while combing to keep the dog's coat straight
Part 3 of 4: Caring for Yorkshire Teeth, Nails and Ears
Step 1. Prepare a brush for the dog's teeth
Choose a toothbrush and toothpaste specifically for dogs. It's a good idea to buy a small brush with plastic bristles (available at pet stores or catalogs, as well as from your vet) which may be easier to use than a toothbrush. Run a toothbrush or finger brush under a hot tap for a few seconds and rinse with cold water for a few seconds. Clean the brush before brushing the dog's teeth.
Never use human toothpaste as the high fluoride content ingested can make Yorkshire ill
Step 2. Brush your dog's teeth every day
Put a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the toothbrush. Gently lift the dog's upper lip so that the teeth are visible. Brush your dog's teeth and don't rinse, because dog teeth are designed for dogs to lick.
Yorkshire is prone to tartar deposits on teeth. The deposits can erode the gums and eventually loosen the teeth. Dog teeth should be brushed to prevent tartar deposits and expensive vet costs from toothaches
Step 3. Trim the dog's nails
Take the dog nail clipper and hold the dog's paw firmly. Pay attention to the shape of the nails and look for quick on the nails. Quick is the dark-looking blood vessels and nerves in a dog's nails. Trim the tips of the dog's nails while avoiding this part. If you're unsure where to place the quick, or don't know how far the nails should be trimmed, try filing the tips of your dog's nails with a rough emery board.
- If you accidentally cut a quick, the dog's finger will bleed a lot. However, do not worry because this is not life threatening. You can stop the bleeding by using tasak powder to cover the wound.
- If this is your first time cutting Yorkshire nails, it's a good idea to see an example from someone with experience. Or, you can ask someone to hold the dog while trimming the nails.
Step 4. Pull out the hair inside the dog's ears
Take a tweezer and gently pull the hair inside the dog's ear. This step is optional because some argue that pulling ear hair can injure the ear and inflame the skin leading to infection. However, there are also those who argue that pulling ear hair will improve airflow in the ear canal and prevent infection.
Many veterinarians advise against plucking ear hair unless your dog has frequent ear infections. In this case, pulling out the ear hair will help the drops go deeper into the ear canal
Step 5. Clean the inside of the dog's ears
If you notice wax (usually brown or black) in your dog's ears, use ear tissue or ear cleaner to clean it. Don't put water in your dog's ears, as this will soften the skin and cause infection. It's a good idea to pour ear cleaner into your dog's ears and rub it in a circular motion. Place the cotton ball just below the earlobe and tilt the dog's head toward the cotton so that the solution escapes from the ear. Wipe off the remaining solution with a clean cotton swab.
Never insert any object into the ear canal, not even a cotton swab. However, don't be afraid to clean your dog's ears. Regular cleaning of a dog's ears is almost impossible to touch the eardrum, much less cause it to tear. Dogs have an "L" shaped ear canal so the eardrum cannot be disturbed unless you clean the ear canal straight down
Part 4 of 4: Trimming the Yorkshire Terrier's Fur
Step 1. Shorten the fur on the dog's paws
Choose scissors that have a blunt tip so that the dog doesn't get stabbed when it moves suddenly. Hold the dog's front paws firmly and gently and trim off any excess hair between the toes. Cut the fur in front of the paws in a semicircle and leave the hair on top of the dog's paws.
- Do not use other types of scissors, as the dog's coat can be too short or split.
- Since the hair on a dog's paws grows quickly, check the length every month to make sure it doesn't drag and get in the way of your dog walking.
Step 2. Cut the feathering of the dog
Try to pin all the feathering, including the beard, to the same length. It's a good idea to shorten your feathering, even if you're growing a dog's hair. In that case, you just need to make sure the hair isn't too long.
You can shorten your dog's feathering as you wish. Please look for examples of preferred fur models. For example, there is a popular feathering cut called the "puppy dog clip", in which the upper third of the dog's ears are cut short so the dog can always hear clearly, and the fur along the jawline is cut straight
Step 3. Give the dog a topknot (hair tie)
The trick, comb the fur thoroughly so that there are no tangles. Pull a section of fur on the dog's head as if making a ponytail. Tie it with a hair elastic band and tug at the knotted fur so it looks bigger. Take back one section of the fur above the dog's head and tie it with an elastic band, tongs, or ribbon.
- It's a good idea to apply a few drops of the gel to keep the coat in shape.
- If your Yorkshire is a contest dog, a dog topknot should be cared for.
Step 4. Use a professional to treat your dog every year
We recommend that you use the services of a professional groomer at least 3-4 times a year so that your dog always looks his best. If you have a pageant dog, your pet will need a more complicated trim that involves growing the fur to the floor.
Yorkshire pageants should be treated professionally once every few months
Tips
- If you have a contest dog, there should be no residue on the coat (except water) after bathing.
- If your dog's fur has static electricity, spray a small amount of antistatic (most waterless shampoos work as an antistatic agent) on the dog's coat. After that, comb your dog.
- Bathe your Yorkshire Terrier once every few weeks. Bathing too often will strip the natural oils from your dog's coat and cause skin irritation.
