Bathing a dog sounds like a simple enough procedure, but things get a little trickier when you’re working with the unique coat of the Yorkshire Terrier. What Yorkie owners and professional dog groomers alike know is that the flowing, silky strands you see on these little dogs is much like that of human hair.

This leads to many of the same problems that humans face with their own hair: the tendency to appear greasy or stringy, the propensity to tangle easily, and the plight of being fine and easily broken. However, unlike humans, most Yorkies won’t receive a bath more than once a week.

This means that the method for dealing with a Yorkie’s hair must be adjusted accordingly.

Using conditioner before shampoo

One trick that groomers use is to slather conditioner on the coat before washing with shampoo. Why? There are two reasons: degreasing and detangling. It seems counterproductive to use conditioner to combat greasy hair, but think of it this way: like attracts like.

A high quality dog conditioner massaged well into the fur will actually help to attract and pull out that excess sebum. This is gentler and yet more effective than using an overly harsh degreasing shampoo, and comes with the bonus of aiding in detangling the hair.

Rinse and repeat

Any groomer worth their salt always washes each dog twice, and there is a good reason for this. Most dogs are bathed far less than their humans take showers. More time between baths allows more dirt and sebum to collect, so it becomes necessary to take extra care in cleansing it away. The second wash ensures a clean, fluffy, and fabulous smelling dog.

Fluff drying

Fluff drying is one of the most important and yet overlooked aspects of bathing Yorkies and other dog breeds with this type of hair. It makes a world of difference in the way the hair feels and lays after the bath, and it is an essential step for a clean, attractive haircut after subsequent clipping.

Any questions or comments? Let us know below! Happy Bathing!

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