Breed · Long coats that mat
Yorkshire Terrier grooming: long coat, trims and tools
AKC's Yorkie coat facts: hair like human hair, daily brushing if kept long, a bath every week or so, the topknot, trims and black nails.
Also listed as Yorkie
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Short answer
AKC compares the Yorkie's fine, silky coat to human hair: if it's kept long, it needs brushing every day and a bath every week or so. AKC rates shedding 1 of 5. Keep the hair on top of the head short or in a topknot to avoid eye irritation. Core tools: pin brush or gentle slicker, comb, small trimmer. Avoid ripping through tangles: treat the coat as gently as your own hair.
Key facts
- Coat type (AKC)
- Silky[1]Glossy, fine and silky; AKC says it's very similar to human hair.
- Coat length (AKC)
- Long[1]
- Shedding (AKC, 1-5)
- 1 of 5[1]
- Brushing (AKC guidance)
- Daily if the coat is kept long[1]
- Seasonal shedding
- None noted by AKC[1]
- Clipping and shaving
- Head hair trimmed short or tied up; the standard allows trimming to floor length, the ear tips and the feet[1]
Watch out for
- Treat the coat like human hair, as AKC suggests: gentle strokes, and no ripping through tangles.
- Topknot or trim: AKC says the hair on the upper part of the head should be trimmed short or pulled up to avoid eye irritation.
- Black nails hide the quick. VCA's method for dark nails is to trim just the tip, then take small clips of 1-2 mm.
- Check the ears weekly for debris or signs of infection (AKC); Cornell advises cleaning only when you see dirt, and never with cotton swabs.
What fits
Product details below are the seller's own description unless a source is shown. Pick the variant named for each item.
Slicker brush
Self-cleaning slicker brush (PS1140)Choose the single brush; any color.
For small tangles; use light pressure on a fine coat. AKC lists slicker brushes for removing mats and dead hair.
Sold by Stone's Store
Paw trimmer
LED paw trimmer with nail-grinder headChoose the white trimmer, not the spare cutter head.
For the feet, which the breed standard allows trimming for a neat look.
Sold by lazyishhouse Official Store
Clipper
Rechargeable pet hair clipperChoose the standard version.
For trims at home; the seller doesn't state blade lengths.
Sold by YiHong Kuchi Store
Nail clipper
Scissor-style pet nail clipper with LED lightChoose the gray clipper.
Scissor-style, with a light, for small clips on black nails.
Sold by Shop1105233629 Store
Daily (long coat): brush gently in sections, then comb through, and tie up or trim the head hair. Weekly: a bath and an ear check (AKC). Every few weeks: trim the feet and ear tips, which the breed standard allows for neatness.
AKC says the breed's parent club, the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America, publishes detailed grooming and bathing instructions.
No catalog pick yet for a pin brush or a fine metal comb. See slicker vs pin brush and how to trim black dog nails.
Questions
How often should I brush a Yorkie?
Every day if the coat is kept long, AKC says. The coat is very similar to human hair and should be treated that way.[1]
How often should a Yorkie be bathed?
AKC says a Yorkie will need a bath every week or so.[1]
Why tie up a Yorkie's hair?
To protect the eyes. AKC says the hair on the upper part of the head should be trimmed short or pulled up into a topknot to avoid eye irritation.[1]