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No doubt about it...Yorkies are a high maintenance breed. They are "inside" dogs that require regular grooming and ongoing attention to care if they are to remain healthy and live the extended lives that they are capable of having. There are basic needs that should be addressed. Not only will your Yorkie look better, he will feel better. If you are not willing or able to give your adopted Yorkie the care it needs, the breed may not be for you.
We recommend the following care guidelines:
 (1) BATHS. Regular baths (usually weekly or bi-weekly) with a good conditioning shampoo and conditioner are a must. A good detangler will help to prevent hair from breaking when brushing or combing. Many grooming manuals recommend also using a detangler or conditioner when brushing on a daily basis to prevent splitting the hair. Yorkies have hair very much like human hair with one hair per follicle. This doesn't mean that we should use human shampoos because they can be very irritating to sensitive Yorkie skin. But it dictates that extra care be given in the grooming process. Short coats don't require quite as much care as longer full coats. However, short or long, the hair around elimination areas of the body must be kept clean with daily washing of these areas to prevent odors and matted hair in tender areas. Brush gently to remove mats from the hair before shampooing. Clip around the base of the tail to prevent matting of hair with feces. When drying with a hair dryer after shampoos be very careful not to burn the skin with a too hot dryer. Using a dryer with a stand will free up both hands for the brushing process.
(2) NAILS. Regular clipping of nails is necessary to keep long nails from creating sore "toes." If you can hear the nails clicking on hard floors, they need a clip. Yorkie nails are black making it hard to see where the "quick" begins. Clipping too short will cause bleeding and soreness. Let your vet or a qualified groomer do nail clips and save the agony of having to do it yourself.
 (3) EARS. Keep hair pulled or trimmed from the inside of ear canals to prevent ear infections. Use an ear oil before baths to prevent water from getting into the ear canal and also causing infections. Trimming the upper third of the ears both on the inside and outside will help flopping ears to stand up and also give a cleaner look to the groomed dog. Using a small pencil style trimmer will make trimming less noisy and traumatic for the dog and will also be safer than trying to trim with scissors. You must be very careful not to cut the very thin ear. As your Yorkie becomes more and more used to the process he will relax and allow you to trim without a fight.
(4) EYES. Protect the eyes when bathing so that shampoo and conditioner do not get into sensitive eyes. Using a washcloth or cleaning pads around the eyes may be a better alternative than trying to spray around the eyes. Regular cleaning of the eye area will help to prevent crusty discharge from building up around the eyes. Use a small flea comb to help easily remove daily buildups. This area is tender...proceed carefully.
 (5) TEETH. Yorkies, along with many other small breeds, are known for having bad teeth. Tartar builds up quickly causing both gum problems and bad breath. Left unattended, gums will become very inflamed and teeth will loosen and eventually either fall out or have to be pulled out. Bad teeth can also cause many other health problems that can be very serious and a threat to good health. Regular brushing is very important. If your Yorkie is not accepting of the idea of having a toothbrush in his mouth, start by gently touching around his mouth when he is cuddling with you. Progress to the use of a fingerbrush (a small rubber fingertip with a small brush on it) and then on to the special tooth brushes for dogs. DO NOT USE HUMAN TOOTHPASTE. Special poultry or beef flavored toothpaste is available from your vet . Another good alternative is Oxyfresh Gel for teeth or even Aloe Gel which will greatly ease inflammed gums. Preventive measures to keep down tartar buildup are to use Oxyfresh Pet Oral Hygiene Solution in daily drinking water along with a teaspoon of aloe.
(6) LEGS/JOINTS. Yorkies are very small boned dogs. Care must be taken to prevent them from jumping off of furniture or beds. They have tendencies to luxating patella (knees popping out of joint) which can be very painful. Provide a small stool or stairs for your dog or teach them to let you help them up or down. Help them to preserve those little joints and bones. Remember that young children can be very harmful to small Yorkies also by playing too rough or carelessly. We do not recommend Yorkies for families with children under the age of 12 for this reason.
(7) FLEA CONTROL. Most Yorkies are quite allergic to flea and tick bites. Follow the recommendations of your vet for the control of these parasites. If your Yorkie goes out into the grass be sure to use flea and tick deterents prescribed by your vet. Additionally, be aware of the bacteria and parasites that can be picked up by your dog from the eliminations of other dogs. Taking your Yorkie out to walk in controlled areas is the wise thing to do. Never allow your Yorkie to stay outside alone, even in a fenced yard. Predators such as hawks or other dogs can quickly hurt or kill dogs as small as some of the Yorkies we see. Be extremely careful of this.
(8) FOODS. With all of thje major problems recently related to dog food recalls, more than ever we are aware of what we feed our animals. We must assure that we are feeding them proper foods with appropriate nutrients if we are to have healthy dogs. The old standard brands of food that have been known for a long time may not be healthy for your Yorkie. Nor are some of the brands that are advertised especially for specific breeds. Talk with your vet about proper nutrition and correct foods for your Yorkie. Typically premium foods with high protein, low carbs, and low fat with NO empty fillers are the best choices. There is much talk today about feeding dogs a raw diet much as they might have had in the wild or even a combination of that diet with dry foods. Yorkies tend to have extended lifetimes if cared for with proper diet and nutrition. There is no one food that meets the needs for every dog but paying attention to what you are feeding and doing your research is very important to having a healthy Yorkie.
(9) TOYS AND "CHEWIES." Be extremely careful of the chew toys that you offer your Yorkie. Pay attention to what they are stuffed with and how the squeeker inside is secured. One too many dogs have died from choking on those squeekers. Read the package on the rawhide chewies that you offer the dog and watch as that chewie gets down to the last little bit. Yorkies have been known to enthusiastically chew down to the last piece and then get that small caught in their throat. Take it away before that happens. Your vet can provide excellent chews that serve the purposes of both cleaning the teeth and also giving them something for chewing.
(10) PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR YORKIE...THEY DEMAND IT!!! Yorkies are such social little guys. They absolutely require and demand attention and love from you. Don't stick your dog into a kennel or bathroom and leave it there all day only to have it get bored and bark until the neighbors are crazy. If your Yorkie is small enough, stick it in a carry bag and take it with you. Allow it to become socialized rather than staying at home and suffering from separation anxiety. He will become a great traveling buddy. 
Most YTRN members have one or more Yorkies and have probably experienced the biggest part of what anyone would need to know about care and behavior. If you have a question, contact us. We can help! Good luck and Yorkie Kisses!
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