When we talk about grooming Yorkies, the focus is mostly on their hair. And that’s for a reason, they have long, silky hair, and if well cared for, it’s very shiny too.
While that’s important, your Yorkie’s dental, skincare, and nail care are equally important. Therefore, in this article, I’ll be giving a detailed answer on ‘how often should I groom my Yorkie‘, not just their hair but everything else.
Yorkie Hair Grooming
Haircuts
Generally, dogs with silky hair like Yorkies should have haircuts every 6-8 weeks.
However, nothing awful will happen to your dog if they don’t get a haircut; it just means you need to put more effort into brushing their hair. Some people want to grow out their Yorkie’s hair and that’s fine.
You may also need to give your Yorkie a trim before their major grooming day.
The first thing you want to do is clear the hair near your Yorkie’s eyes and then trim the long hairs near the ears. Other areas that need trimming are areas around their nails and their anus. The latter is especially crucial as the hairs can trap bacteria and feces.
Brushing
It’s advisable to brush your dog’s hair every day.
Although Yorkies are hypoallergenic, it doesn’t mean that they don’t shed completely. They just shed much less than other dog breeds.
Additionally, brushing your Yorkie’s hair gives you time to bond with them as they see it as a form of love.
Lastly, brushing your Yorkie’s hair helps prevent it from matting and getting tangles.
Bathing
Depending on their activities, you can bathe your Yorkie every 2-4 weeks. Puppies will probably need more baths than adult dogs because they’re very busy and messy.
However, if you take your Yorkie out for walks every day and you need to bathe them daily, consider other ways to clean them, like dog wipes to avoid daily baths.
The dog wipes leave your Yorkie clean and allow them to maintain the natural body oils that they can lose from daily baths. Bathing too often can give your Yorkie a dull, dry, and brittle coat.
Yorkie Nail Care
A Yorkie’s nails should be trimmed at least every two to three weeks. You can do this at home, but you’ll need your vet‘s help for the first few times.
I know the reason why you probably trim your dog’s nails is to stop them from hurting you or your kids when playing, but there are other benefits of trimming your dog’s nails.
Domesticated dogs need frequent nail trimming because their nails don’t get worn out. When your Yorkie’s nails grow too long, they can splinter, chip, or break, which can be very painful for them. Long nails can also make moving or standing painful for your Yorkie ( in extreme situations). And it can cause their toes and feet to become deformed in extreme cases too.
To make nail cutting easy, invest in a reliable tool like Casfuy electric pet nail clipper. It’s safe and comfortable for both you and your Yorkie, and if you have bigger dogs, you can use it on them too, as it comes with small, medium, and large settings. You also get to choose the speed based on your dog’s nail hardness.
Yorkie’s Teeth
Like you, your Yorkie needs to have their teeth brushed every day. However, this is a bit unrealistic for people who have a busy schedule. If you fall in this last group, try to brush your dog’s teeth at least twice a week.
I recommend using a finger brush as it allows you to reach all of your Yorkie’s teeth, and the bristles are smooth to protect their gum.
Besides the regular brushing, remember to take your dog to your vet every 6-12 months to have their teeth checked.
Yorkie’s Ear and Eye Care
I recommend cleaning your Yorkie’s ears at least once a month and weekly if they swim a lot.
Ear cleaning can be very stressful for your Yorkie, so it’s important that you’re very gentle when doing it. One way to make the process easier is by cutting the long hairs near the ear canal and buying the right cleaning products. Only clean your Yorkie’s ears when they’re calm, and give them treats in the process for positive reinforcement.
Similarly, clean your Yorkie’s eyes every month. I would have to write a whole blog on how to clean your dog’s eyes. However, one great tip is to use these tear stain wipes every day to remove tear stains, secretions, and dried mucus. The wipe also helps in reducing any itchiness and irritation in your Yorkie’s eyes.
Other Factors that Influence Yorkie Grooming Frequency
Now that you know how often you should groom your Yorkie, it’s time to talk about the instances when the frequency can change.
Allergies
Depending on what allergies your Yorkie has, they may require more or less grooming.
Talk to your vet to know the frequency of your Yorkie’s grooming and the right products to avoid worsening the allergies.
Environment
If your Yorkie is outside a lot, they will require more grooming because they are exposed to parasites, dirt, and bugs. You can get away with infrequent grooming sessions for dogs who stay mostly indoors.
Budget
Grooming can be expensive, especially if you take your dog to a pet groomer. In this case, you can talk to your vet and discuss the minimum number of appointments you can have annually.
Alternatively, you can learn how to groom your Yorkie at home. It may seem hard at first, but you can do it with the right tutorials and tools.
How Often Should You Groom a Yorkie? (Final Words)
To maintain your Yorkie’s health and beautiful looks, it’s important to keep up with their grooming schedule. Whether it’s ear cleaning or haircuts try to follow through as much as you can.
Yorkie grooming may seem expensive and time-consuming, but it saves you a lot of time and money in the long run. For example, not brushing your Yorkie’s teeth may lead to dental issues that may require full-mouth tooth removal; not only is this expensive, but it also complicates your dog’s life.
I hope you can now prepare your Yorkie’s grooming schedule. And if you’re looking for a groomer, be sure to check our blog post on how to find a good dog groomer.
