If your Yorkshire terrier does not participate in exhibitions or dog shows, the care for it is quite simple. Maintaining your pet in an ideal condition is relatively easy. There is a variety of haircuts available for yorkies which you can either do yourself, or use the services of a dog grooming place. If the coat is short, washing the dog is easy and it can be done once a month. If the coat is long, you have to wash it every ten days. Do not forget not to use a hair dryer, and you can apply a special balm to the coat right after washing.
However, if you have a show dog, the care is a lot more complicated – it is a consuming process that requires time, effort, a lot of money and patience.
To get your yorkie accustomed to bathing, it is very important not to scare it the first few times. Take great care in order not to let the water get into your dog’s ears, eyes and nose. It you do everything right initially, it will become a pretty easy process thereafter – you will be able to wash and comb your dog without causing it any harm.
Dirty coat grows much more slowly, that is why regular washes are a must. Before every wash, thoroughly check the coat and disentangle the hair if necessary. Do not try to comb dry coat, and you can even utilize special conditioners for combing.
Most of the shampoos are concentrated so they should be diluted in a ratio that fits the particular features or your dog’s coat. Start lathering from back to head and washing off the opposite way. Use easy massaging gestures in order not to hurt your pet.
After your yorkie is washed, it needs to be wrapped into a towel, after having gently squeezed the water from the coat and then letting the towel pick up the rest of the moisture. While the dog is in the towel, you can trim its nails.
After that you can comb and dry your pet. The choice of the combing instrument is important because it will determine the state of your dog’s coat. Some choices include a natural massage brush, metal brush, plastic comb, a comb with rotating teeth. Start to comb from the ends and moving towards the roots. Take special care with the following areas: stomach, legs and paws, behind the ears and neck. If your yorkie has a good hair structure and you wash it carefully, it should not require frequent brushings.
As for drying – try to dry the coat naturally – e.g. air dry, and avoid using hair dryers.
Feeding – find out what had been fed to the puppy prior, otherwise there is a lot of trial and error. Keep in mind that the correct nutrition will directly affect the state of your puppy’s coat and general health. When your Yorkshire terrier puppy is still growing, it also needs additional vitamins and minerals so be sure to include them in your pet’s diet.
