How to Groom a Yorkie – Step-By-Step

The Yorkshire Terrier has become the most popular toy breed in America and most of the world. Yorkshire Terriers are more commonly known as a Yorkie. This breed requires daily grooming to maintain its beautiful silky coat. In this article, I will explain to you step-by-step how to groom a Yorkie like a professional groomer.

Understanding your Yorkies Coat

To understand the importance of grooming your Yorkie on a daily basis you need to understand their coat. First, you need to determine the type of coat your Yorkie has. As the breed became more and more popular over-breeding occurred. The results are Yorkshire Terriers with less than a perfect coat. They are now put into three different categories, silky, soft and wiry Yorkies. It is only the silky coated Yorkie that can make it into the dog shows.

• The Silky Coat is long and straight. The hair is fine and human like with no undercoat.
• The Soft Coat feels more like cotton and tends to not grow as long as the silky coat.
• The Wiry Coat is more wooly and may even have an undercoat. The hair length may vary over the body.

The soft and wiry coats tend to tangle and matt more easily than the silky coat and will require more grooming.

Recommended List of Tools & Supplies Needed

Tools

• Metal Comb
• Slicker brush
• Grooming Table with Noose
• Blow Dryer
• Clippers and Blades
• Snap-on-Combs
• Grooming Scissors
• Nail trimmers and file
• Dog Toothbrush

Supplies

• Shampoo and Conditioner
• Medicated Ear Powder
• Styptic Powder
• Ear Wash
• Towels
• Dog Toothpaste
• Q-tips and Cotton Balls
• Latex Grooming Bands

Steps to Groom a Yorkie

Step #1: Daily brushing and combing are needed to keep your Yorkies coat healthy and free of tangles. Daily grooming does not have to be a chore. Keep a brush and comb handy, then you can use it whenever your Yorkie decides to come sit in your lap.

Step #2: Place your dog on the grooming table to do a thorough brushing and combing before the bath. Never bath a dog with tangles and mats as the water will tighten them. The results will be mats that are difficult to impossible to brush out. 

Step #3: Trim your dog’s nails and pluck the hair from inside the ears using a medicated ear powder.

Step #4: Using a #10 blade shave the belly, butt, and pads. You also need to shave the tips of the ears with the #10 blade.  You will be shaving 1/3 of the ear on both sides then carefully trim the edges with a scissor.

Here is a video to show you how it’s done.

Step #5: Now it’s time for the bath. While you have your dog in the tub clean the ears with an ear wash and brush his/her teeth. I find this easier to do while in the tub but it is up to your preference. Continue to shampoo, condition and rinse thoroughly. Always follow the directions on the bottle.

For more instructions on Bathing, Ear cleaning, Nail trimming, and Brushing, please visit Grooming Needs for Every Breed!

Step #6:  After bathing towel dry to remove most of the water then blow dry. Continue to blow-dry until your Yorkies coat is completely dry.

Step #7: Now it’s time to do some trimming. The standard Yorkie cut involves trimming the ears and feet only. Go back over the ear tips to make sure they are nice and even. Leaving the paws on the table comb out the hair around the feet and trim into a perfect circle all the way around.

Step #8: You will now give your Yorkie the finishing touch. First, make a nice even part using a comb. Starting at the neck all the way down to the tail then comb so the hair is laying flat. Next is the Top Knot. Using a comb part the hair from the outer corner of each eye to the middle of the head in a V shape. Tie the hair using a Latex grooming band, decorated with a bow.

Step #9: This step is optional and only for those who want to give their Yorkie a full haircut. There are several ways to cut your Yorkies’ hair, the most popular is the Saddle Cut followed by the Puppy Cut.

The Saddle Cut

Choose a snap-on-comb for the desired length. Place the snap-on over a #10 blade. For a shorter cut, you can use a #4F or #5 F blade. Starting between the ears cut down the back to the tail. Go back over with the Clippers to even up the hair, cut the entire saddle and around the neck blending it into the skirt and legs. Scissor the skirt, legs and face to your desired length. You have the option of leaving the Top Knot or trimming the hair over the eyes to form bangs.

The Puppy Cut

This time you will be using the snap-on-comb over the entire body. Choose one for the desired length and go over the entire body and legs. If you wish to go really short you can use a #4F or #5F blade. Once you are done with the clipper you will need to use your scissors to even everything up. The puppy cut usually does not have a Top Knot but that again is up to you.

For more tips please visit How to Groom a Long Haired Dog!

Now you know how to groom a Yorkie like a professional but remember practice makes perfect. Do not get discouraged if you do not achieve the look you desire. Each time you groom your Yorkie you will get better and better at it.

If you need any help or have a question please leave me a comment.

Happy Yorkie grooming,

Cathy

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