Yorkies

Question
Hi-

I'm looking into getting a yorkshire terrier from my local rescue terrier. Is there any grooming tips you have since these dogs don't have an undercoat and have hair not fur?

Thank you!
-Suzanne

Answer
Hi Suzanne!
I think it is wonderful you are thinking of getting a Yorkie from a rescue.
Yorkies can be cut down fairly short if they are matted or if they have thick hair. They look cute and are then almost "wash and wear"! they can be left long, but the long look you see on show dogs is created with perm wraps and confined dogs...A long coat on a good coated Yorkie is possible, but they need more maintenance than the puppy type clips.
You are right that they have no undercoat, and therefore they do not shed. If you keep your Yorkie full length, you will have to brush and comb it everyday like a little girl with long hair.  
Are you planning on grooming the dog yourself or taking it to a salon?  If you do it yourself, you will need to clip its nails, the corners of it's eyes to keep the hair out of its eyes, and the bottoms of it's feet and around its privates for hygienic reasons. In our salon, we also clip around the lip line very carefully, to remove only the hair that goes into the mouth. This prevents odors and possible yeast infections around the lips.
Yorkies generally have no odor, so bathing is usually when needed, once a week to twice a month, and use a conditioning shampoo and definitely a cream rinse.
If you get a Yorkie that has that "greasy" looking hair, you can first wash it in diluted Dawn dish soap. To do this, you simply put a very small, (dime sized) squirt, into a 4 cup mixing cup, and fill with water. After the dog is wet, simply pour this over the dog, and begin rinsing immediately, then follow with a good conditioning shampoo.
Do not rub your dog dry, it will tangle the hair. Pat it to remove the excess water and if possible, let the dog down to roll and shake and play a bit, but before they get cold, gather them up and dry with a hair dryer. It will dry quickly! Keep combing the hair as it dries making sure to get clear down to the skin.
One other thing, Yorkies typically have the tips of their ears clipped. If you do not do this, the cartilage in the ears will break down and the ears will fold. I advise keeping the tips of the ears clipped short.
Yorkies are fun little dogs. They can be hard to housebreak, they have a mind of their own. A member of the terrier family, they are bold and opinionated, and can be TONS of fun. However, they have a huge sense of pride and will soil your home if they feel you are not available to let them out on their schedule. This is very important with males, as they will mark even after being neutered.
Yorkies are loving and energetic and make great pets, I enjoy Yorke's that come into our salon. They usually have a long life span and if you dont' let them jump up and down off the furniture, (lift them most of the time) they maintain good joint health. Most Yorkies do not have sensitive skin and are basically healthy dogs.
I hope this info helps, let me know if there is anything else I can help with!
Sincerely,
Lori