Yorkies are stylish little ones. With long silky hair and hints of highlights, Yorkies have the perfect hair to braid and style. Best of all, Yorkies do not shed. However, the hair will grow and need regular trimming. So, what can you do in-between visits to your groomer? Your fur baby will often wake up with bed hair , tangles and knots. Therefore, it is important to find the best brushes for a Yorkie.
To help keep your Yorkie’s coat looking posh, the 4 best brushes for Yorkies will be explored.
Below is a photo of two adorable Yorkies. They were booked in for a groom with me. As you can see, their hair has overgrown.
PRO TIP: It is important to remember grooming does not begin and end at the salon. A Yorkies coat requires the best brushes to maintain the comfort of their coat.
Here are the 4 best brushes for Yorkies:
1. A comb
It’s a simple tool. A groomer is never without a comb – ever. A comb is the only tool that can reach down to the skin and pick up fine knots before it becomes a big fat mat.
PRO TIP: For owners that love long hair on their Yorkie, I recommend DAILY combing. It’s no different than maintaining long hair for ourselves.
Long hair gets easily tangled and knotted. Even if you prefer short hair on your Yorkie, daily combing is still good practice to avoid knots. Knots and mats can feel very uncomfortable for your Yorkie. It can even lead to skin irritation.
2. A slicker brush
This brush has many fine metal teeth. It works very well to detangle knots and break up mats in the coat. Slicker brushes come in different shapes and sizes.
PRO TIP: I recommend a small slicker brush with a flexible head. This helps contour so well to the body and catches knots in all the right places.
As yorkies are a smaller breed, I would also recommend a soft slicker brush. To detangle mats and knots, use a pat and pull motion with a slicker brush.
CAUTION: I personally don’t use a hard slicker brush on Yorkies because it can be too abrasive. If used with too much force, a hard slicker brush can leave the skin red and irritated.
3. A flea comb
This little comb has even finer teeth than a regular comb. It can reach between the finest of hairs. It is originally for checking for any fleas hidden in a dog’s coat.
PRO TIP: However, I find it works exceptionally well at scooping out tiny eye boogers at the corner of a dog’s eyes. These eye boogers are also known as eye crusts. A flea comb works well for soft eye boogers.
CAUTION: However, if the dog eye boogers are hard, I always recommend soaking it with warm water first before attempting to gently comb it out. Never force an eye booger out. If the eye booger is too hard, always have your groomer or vet shave it out.
Often times, the hair between the eyes grows out quickly. This can cause irritation, cause matting and possibly even glaucoma. If the hair starts matting between the eyes, I always recommend for clients to book a quick face trim with their groomer or vet. This touch-up helps to safely clear away the hair between the eyes.
4. A dematting blade
A dematting rake has curved blades that work well to scoop into knots and mats. The best way to use this tool is to avoid force.
PRO TIP: Gently use a dematting blade to pick at the mat. It’s all about less force and more repetition of this picking motion. The movement should come for your wrist as the dematting blade picks in and out of the mat. This motion helps break up a big mat into smaller and smaller sections. It then becomes easy to brush the remaining pieces out with a comb or slicker brush.
In conclusion, finding the best brushes for your Yorkie will help keep your fur baby smiling.
Brushing out your yorkie is also a fun way to bond. Besides regular combing and brushing, I recommend a professional grooming visit every 6 to 8 weeks. However, if you are choosing to shave your Yorkie down, then a groom every 2 to 3 months is recommended.
Be sure to check out some of these 4 best brushes to keep their coats looking Vogue!
-By Nikita King, Certified Professional Groomer