Yorkies tend to have a long thick coat, if you let it grow out. If you would rather not have to put as much maintenance into brushing your dogs coat you may want to keep it in a “puppy cut.” Unlike most animals Yorkies do NOT shed.
You will need to get your puppy used to grooming because it is an extreme hassle to groom a dog that won’t sit still. If your pup is not used to it and doesn’t cooperate with the groomer if you take it to one you may end up getting a fee for the extra work the groomer had to do.
To get your puppy used to grooming you will want to start out on your lap and work up to getting it to stand up on the table. Start by brushing your puppy with a soft brush every day. Pet and rub your puppy’s feet so they get used to someone touching their feet. This will make it easier to cut their toenails. Also, touch the puppy’s face and ears often so they are not jumpy when you go to brush or shave/trim up their ears and face. When your pup allows you to mess with their feet, ears, toes, face, ect. give it praise.
After you get the puppy accustomed to you touching it, just clip the tips of the toe nails off. Then after the puppy becomes used to you touching his/her face, get a soft puppy toothbrush and brush their teeth. If you do not clean their teeth, the puppy’s teeth will start to get plaque buildup. Plaque buildup can eventually lead to an infection that spreads to the heart and liver, possibly being fatal.
If you decide to take your puppy to the groomer, get recommendations from other pet owners. Tell your groomer DO NOT use a noose on your puppy; but to use a harness because Yorkies have a collapsing trachea problem. (refer to health care).
If you decide to groom your puppy yourself, you will need to decide on whether you want it to have a long coat or a “puppy cut.” Now both have their positives and negatives. With the long coat, it will drag in leaves, sticks, pine needles, etc. Also, it will have to be brushed regularly. On the good side, it looks beautiful and it is the trademark of the Yorkie. Now if you are a busy person, like most are, you may want to go with the puppy cut; unlike the long coat it will not drag in leaves, stick, pine needles, ect. Though it will keep your house cleaner, it will need to be cut more often, or if you take it to the groomer, more frequent visits.
Yorkies have non-shedding, nonstop growing hair just like humans. So, just like our hair it needs to be cleaned regularly, usually once every 1-2 weeks. Any shampoo is good, just watch and make sure it is not drying out the skin or causing irritation. When you bathe your Yorkie be sure to rinse everything out thoroughly, to prevent soap buildup; which may end up irritating the skin or even drying it out. Also to prevent hard knots and tangles you will want to use conditioner. Make sure you rinse that out thoroughly as well. To prevent fleas and ticks you will want to use a liquid that is applied to the skin. You can get them through your vet, a dog supply catalog, or the internet. To make sure that it will be effective you will need to apply it 24 hours after a bath, and DO NOT bathe it for at least 24 hours after application.