BASIC GROOMING TIPS FOR THE PET YORKIE

Because they have a long coat, yorkies are not suitable for anyone who does not have the time or inclination to spend on the grooming and bathing this breed requires. Most pet yorkies do in fact have their coats trimmed short or shaved for convenience and hygiene. Therefore, anyone obtaining a pet yorkie must remember that there will be additional grooming expenses to take into consideration. I RECOMMEND THAT YOU HAVE YOUR PET PROFESSIONALLY GROOMED EVERY 4 TO 8 WEEKS.

I HAVE MADE A VIDEO ON HOW TO GROOM YOUR PET YORKIE AT HOME. IT IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD ONLY. 2hours, 2 minutes long, all new revised with more content.

IT HAS VERY COMPLETE INSTRUCTIONS AND WONDERFUL CLOSE-UPS ON HOW TO DO A PROFESSIONAL LOOKING JOB. FOR LESS THAN THE COST OF JUST 1 GROOMING YOU CAN LEARN HOW TO DO THE JOB YOURSELF. I SHOW IN GREAT DETAIL THE PROPER EQUIPMENT THAT THE PROFESSIONALS USE, AND WHERE TO GET IT AT THE BEST PRICES. THIS IS WHERE THE GROOMERS SHOP. I ALSO SHOW YOU HOW TO DO BASIC MAINTENANCE LIKE NAIL CLIPPING, EAR PLUCKING AND CLEANING, AND HOW TO PROPERLY EMPTY THE ANAL GLANDS. IT HAS MANY "GROOMING SECRETS" THAT I AM WILLING TO SHARE. AS A PROFESSIONAL GROOMER FOR 17+ YEARS, I HAVE HAD MANY REQUESTS TO DO THIS VIDEO. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT:   doglady21@comcast.net

THE PRICE IS ONLY $39.95 FOR THE VIDEO ON DVD.  THERE IS A $3.50  SHIPPING CHARGE.

The yorkie coat does not shed, and does not have an undercoat, making yorkies desirable for some people with allergies, and those who do not want a breed that sheds. The correct texture of the coat is described as long, straight and silky. It will continue to grow unless trimmed. In fact, the yorkie coat is very similar to human hair. Special care must be taken to ensure that the hair around the anus of these dogs is kept clean. Because of their long hair, it is common for these dogs to become matted in this area, and this can lead to compacted feces. Apart from making the dog very sore and uncomfortable, this may, if left unattended, cause more serious problems. It can’t be ignored. This is a job for the professional groomer.

Yorkie puppies may have "tipped" or "tilted" ears until they are around 6 months old. I am frequently asked about this when owners purchase a 12 week old puppy with nice erect ears, only to find that the ears drop again around 4-6 months of age. This is because at this time the yorkie is teething,  cutting it's adult teeth, which can cause the ears to go up and down daily, and owner's should not be unduly concerned during this natural stage. However, it is important to keep the hair on the top third of the ear flap trimmed very short. This will stop the ears from being weighed down by excessive hair until they are firmly "set". Also the hair should be plucked from inside the ears, and ears checked regularly for excessive wax and for mites. This is also routinely done by a professional groomer.

Yorkies should also have special attention paid to their eyes, and teeth. The long hair should be prevented from falling into their eyes, thus causing irritation and infection, either by tying it back or trimming it. As with most toy breeds, yorkies may have a tendency to tartar build-up on the teeth, but if regular attention is given to the teeth this should not be a serious problem. As the owner, you should brush the teeth on a regular basis. Many groomers also offer this as an additional service.

Yorkies do not have an undercoat, and even with a long coat, they feel the cold very easily, and like most toy breeds prefer the comfort of coziness and warmth. They enjoy being pampered. Yorkies are definitely not a breed to keep outside in a kennel. When going out in cold or wet weather they will appreciate a warm dog coat to wear. Regular grooming may be an added expense for the yorkie owner, so you should consider this when thinking about purchasing a yorkie.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO GROOM YOUR PET AT HOME:

     I USE AND RECOMMEND CERTAIN PET PRODUCTS ON MY YORKIES, AND ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF PET PRODUCTS, I AM A PROFESSIONAL GROOMER, AND HAVE TRIED MANY DIFFERENT BRANDS THROUGHOUT MY 17+ YEARS OF GROOMING. I HAVE FOUND WHAT WORKS BEST FOR ME AND MY DOGS. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO DO THINGS, JUST WHAT WORKS FOR ME.

     YORKIES ARE A MEDIUM TO HIGH MAINTENANCE PET. THEY ARE SMALL, BUT TOUGH. THEY ARE PRONE TO BAD DENTAL HEALTH,  IF  THE TEETH ARE NEGLECTED. THIS CAN EASILY BE PREVENTED BY BRUSHING THE TEETH ON A REGULAR BASIS, STARTING WHEN THEY ARE PUPPIES. I USE “OXY-FRESH” TOOTH GEL AND A FINGER TOOTHBRUSH ON A DAILY BASIS. THEY WILL GET USED TO IT AND SO WILL YOU! ALSO FEED THEM A PREMIUM, HARD, CRUNCHY KIBBLE, NOT CANNED OR MOIST.

       FOR BRUSHING I USE A “SLICKER” BRUSH TO FIRST REMOVE ANY TANGLES IN THE HAIR. NEVER BRUSH YOUR DOGS FUR WHILE IT IS DRY! USE A SPRAY ON CONDITIONER. THEN I USE A MEDIUM SIZED PIN BRUSH, THE KIND WITH STRAIGHT TEETH, NOT A SMALL ‘BALL” ON THE END. (THIS WOULD CAUSE STATIC ELECTRICITY TO BUILD UP, THEN THE HAIR GETS “STRETCHED” AND BREAKS OFF OR GETS A SPLIT END, CAUSING “FRIZZ”). THEN I USE A MEDIUM METAL COMB TO “FINISH” THE DOG, AND BE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO TANGLES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE SKIN. MANY PEOPLE BRUSH THE SURFACE ONLY, LEAVING THE HAIR THAT TOUCHES THE SKIN STILL MATTED.  A COMB WITH “ROTATING TEETH” IS VERY USEFUL TO DETANGLE THE HAIR. I THEN "WRAP" THE ENTIRE COAT FOR THE DOG THAT I SHOW. THIS KEEPS THEM CLEANER, AND KEEPS THE COAT FROM BEING DAMAGED.

     IF YOUR DOG IS A PET, AND NOT GOING TO SHOW, YOU CAN LEAVE THE COAT IN ITS NATURAL, LONG AND SILKY CONDITION, OR HAVE A “PUPPY CUT”, ANY LENGTH YOU LIKE, FROM ¼ INCH LONG TO 4-5 INCHES LONG. YOU CAN HAVE A TOPKNOT OR A SHORT HAIR CUT ON THE HEAD. WHATEVER THE CUT, YOUR DOG NEEDS A DAILY BRUSHING, AND COMB-OUT, IN ADDITION TO A REGULAR PROFESSIONAL GROOMING, ANYWHERE FROM EVERY 5 TO 8 WEEKS. THE NAILS NEED TRIMMING, AND THE ANAL SAC NEEDS TO BE EMPTIED AT THIS TIME TOO.

     WHILE BRUSHING THE COAT I RECOMMEND THAT YOU NEVER BRUSH YOUR DOG WHILE THE FUR IS DRY, ALWAYS USE A SPRAY-ON CONDITIONER. WHAT I USE IS "E-Z GROOM'S E-Z GLIDE" A  SPRAY THAT LEAVES THE COAT SOFT AND SHINY, WITH LESS STATIC AND LESS TANGLES. ALSO, “THE STUFF” OR PET SILK “SHOW RING MIST” IS GREAT TOO! COAT OILS WORK VERY WELL ALSO.

     AS FOR SHAMPOOS AND CRÈME RINSES, I USE A FEW DIFFERENT PRODUCTS, ANY OF WHICH YOU CAN USE AT HOME: PET SILK, PURE PEARL , PLUSH-PUPPY (MY FAVORITE), E-Z GROOM,  ALL SYSTEMS, OR  TOP PERFORMANCE; ALL WORK WELL FOR ME. THEY ALL HAVE A CRÈME RINSE, BUT FOR THAT, I PREFER THE “PET SILK’’ CRÈME RINSE.

WHERE DO YOU FIND THESE PRODUCTS? I BUY MOST OF MY GROOMING SUPPLIES THROUGH PET CATALOGS, JUST CALL AND ASK THEM TO SEND YOU ONE!