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  have their coats trimmed short or shaved for convience and hygiene. Therefore anyone obtaining a 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 no 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

                    feces.  Apart from making the dog very sore

and uncomfortable, this may, if left unattended, cause more serious problems, such as fly strike, that would require verterinary assistance.

Yorkie puppies may have tipped or tilted ears

until they are around 6 months old. 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 thier 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

tarter 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 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.

Although regular grooming may be an added expense for the Yorkie owner, Yorkies eat very little, and are not expensive to feed.