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Grooming & General Care
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. 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 has a messy
moult. 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 faeces. Apart from making the dog very sore and uncomfortable, this may, if left unattended, cause more
serious problems, that would require veterinary assistance. 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 10 week old puppy with nice erect ears, only
to find that the ears drop again around 4 months of age. This is often because at this time the Yorkie is shedding it's milk
teeth and 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. 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. 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 cosieness
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. Although regular grooming may be an added expense for the Yorkie
owner, Yorkies eat very little, and are not expensive to feed.
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