The Yorkshire Terrier's long, silky coat is one of its most striking features — and one of its most demanding. Unlike double-coated breeds that shed heavily through the seasons, the Yorkie has a single coat that grows continuously, much like human hair. This means less loose fur on your furniture, but a significantly greater commitment to regular grooming.
Daily Brushing
Yorkies kept in a long show coat require brushing every single day. The fine, silky texture tangles and mats quickly, particularly behind the ears, under the forelegs, and around the collar area. Use a soft-bristle pin brush and a wide-toothed metal comb, working in small sections from the tips upward to avoid pulling. Most pet owners opt for the practical puppy cut, where the coat is trimmed to a uniform short length across the body. This style still needs brushing every two to three days and a professional groom every six to eight weeks.
Bathing
Yorkies benefit from a bath every two to four weeks. Use a gentle, moisturising dog shampoo formulated for silky or fine coats, and always follow with a conditioner to keep the coat smooth and manageable. After bathing, blow-dry on a low heat setting while gently brushing through to prevent tangles forming as the coat dries.
Eyes, Ears, and Nails
Facial hair grows quickly and can irritate the eyes if left untrimmed. Ask your groomer to keep the hair around the face neat, or use rounded-tip scissors carefully at home. Check the ears weekly and clean with a vet-approved ear cleaner. Nails should be clipped every three to four weeks.
Dental Care
Yorkies are highly prone to dental disease due to their small, crowded mouths. Daily brushing with a dog-safe toothpaste is strongly recommended, alongside dental chews to help reduce tartar build-up between brushings. Good dental hygiene from a young age can significantly extend your Yorkie's quality of life.
Professional Grooming
Even with a thorough home routine, a professional grooming session every six to eight weeks for a trim, bath, nail clip, and ear clean is well worth the investment for any Yorkie owner.
Have a grooming question? Ask your virtual Yorkie on the Yorkie Magic app — they are very particular about their appearance and happy to give advice!