How to Groom a Yorkie

Yorkie, whose good name is Yorkshire terrier, is famous for its adventurous nature, and towering personality! I remember my old neighbor having a yorkie as his pet dog. In the initial days, the dog's attitude was very aggressive towards me, but as we became familiar with each other, he mellowed down and was lovable! This dog was very fond of children and oldies, but was very conscious of the presence of other dogs around him. He also used to get very angry if he was not treated with respect, or if he was not cared for. Once this fellow neighbor of mine kept his yorkie at my place for 7 long days, as he had gone somewhere out. I was very lazy to give him a bath, forget grooming, so were other members in my house. And you know what, when my neighbor came back, he didn't recognize his pet! (The reason was no grooming for 7 days!) Obviously, it was not my fault, but I got a lesson when I observed the dog neatly - ugly and shaggy dog looks horrible! So if you are facing problems while grooming the toy puppy, I am here with ways to groom your yorkie. But before we get into the grooming details, I feel it's necessary that you know some basic details about your puppy, in brief. As you are an owner of this silky-haired terrier, you automatically spare me from mentioning his physical features! So let's get into the details of grooming.

How To Groom a Yorkie

Before you proceed with the grooming session, make sure you carry your little one's favorite food with you this will help you in the 'war-like' task of grooming, and keep the puppy engaged. Let's proceed in a step-wise way.

1. Regular Bath: Considering that this breed is playful, a daily bath just cannot be avoided! But it has been recommended that you give him a bath at least once in a week. Keep your puppy in the washroom or wash basin, and have a towel and some gentle dog soap with you. It is best advised to start with the feet. Clean them thoroughly. Be lovable and keep talking to him, in between, treat him with the food. Next proceed to the ears, eyes, and rest of the body. Be gentle in your massage, and don't lose your patience. After the bath keep him on the table, and massage his body with a towel thoroughly. You might experience trouble if you are a new owner, but with time the puppy would love the whole experience of bathing.
2. Cleaning the Silky Coat: If your yorkie's best asset is his silky coat of hair, you should take all the effort to keep it tangle free. Use a good shampoo, there are many shampoos in the store specifically developed for dogs. Don't use your own hair cleaner, it can be harmful. Apply the shampoo using lukewarm water, and then clean the hair in the downward direction. Let the shampoo for minutes, and then rinse it out with lots and lots of water. You can use a diluted conditioner to improve the feel of coat. Allow him to dry on his own for some time. After he has dried, use a metal comb with broad bristles, to groom his coat.
3. Cleaning His Teeth: Clean his teeth daily, you can use any pet toothbrush and a doctor recommended toothpaste to keep his teeth white and shining. Be gentle in your cleaning ways, and clean the teeth thoroughly.

Some Grooming Tips

• Brush his coat twice daily, this will remove the dust and other foreign unwanted particles.
• Generally, a yorkie has long hair coat or carries the cottony cropped look, whatever be the style, get him a haircut every week.
• Before you proceed with him to the bathtub, make sure you have cleared all the mats and tangles in his hair.
• It is better to clean his face with a sponge. With this water wouldn't enter his nose.
• Some dogs tear a lot, so make sure you clean his eye corners daily to remove the staining.
• Don't use cotton swabs or q-tips to clean his ears. Sprinkle some powder in his ears. Consult your veterinarian if you notice any foul smell coming from his ears.
• Cut the toe nails carefully, at least in a week.
• Remember, cleanliness has to be maintained to keep the puppy healthy. Make sure you check the puppy regularly, for any fleas and ticks. A single tick can ruin your puppy's coat and skin.
• Even if you are an expert, take your puppy to the veterinarian monthly. For grooming, you can also consult a professional groomer.

Don't be lazy in the grooming routine for your dog, as I had mentioned, people feel like running away from a dirty dog. So keep your little angel well-groomed, and eventually keep his list of admirers growing!