If you don't know how to cut a Yorkshire's hair and you don't want to take him to a dog groomer, look no further, because on our site We will explain everything you need to know about this topic. As well as having a hypoallergenic coat, the hair of the Yorkshire terrier grows very fast and is very easy to care for, so you can choose from a lot of hairstyles and cuts to do to your pet.
Learn about the tools you need, what to consider before doing it and how to cut a Yorkie's hair without the need to go to a specialized hairdresser, without leaving home and without spending money. Of course, if you don't get used to it from a very young age or your dog is very reluctant, in the end you will have no other choice but to leave it in the hands of a professional.
What do I need to cut the hair of a Yorkshire
The first thing you need to cut your Yorkshire's hair is to gather all the necessary material that you are going to use in the process and thus facilitate this task that, if you have never done it and it is the first time, you may find it a bit difficult:
- Electric razor: there are several models on the market that will allow you to use one mode or another depending on the thickness and the haircut you need. you want and also, you will be able to reach certain delicate areas such as the paw pads without inadvertently hurting or cutting your dog.
- Scissors: apart from the electric clipper, scissors are an essential element when it comes to cutting a dog's hair, since that with them you can outline certain areas of the fur or cut the ends well. There are various models and types, but the most recommended are straight scissors for cutting body hair and smaller, curved ones for the ears and face, which are more delicate areas.
- Brush: there are several types of dog brushes in stores but you will have to get one that best suits the length of the dog. hair of your Yorkshire to brush it regularly and another to help you cut its hair.
- Shampoo and conditioner: after cutting your Yorkshire Terrier's hair, it is recommended that you bathe it with a shampoo alone, or with a shampoo and a specific conditioner for dogs in order to remove the loose hairs that may have remained in their fur.
- Hairdryer: once you have bathed your Yorkshire you can dry his hair with a dryer quickly and comfortably without having to wait for your hair to dry in the wind but, above all, remember not to use excessive temperature or power.
- Glitter Spray: If you want your Yorkshire to look perfect as if it were in a dog beauty contest, you can use this glitter as a supplement after blow-drying to enhance its appearance for even more shine.
What you should keep in mind before cutting a dog's hair
Before cutting a Yorkshire's hair, it is important that you know some characteristics about its coat and its hair care:
- The standard Yorkshire terrier usually has the medium-long smooth coat, is prone to matting and dirt accumulation, and has no sub- coat of hair, so it is necessary to brush it at least every 2 days if we leave the coat long, and if we leave it short, once a week will be enough, but always be careful with tangles.
- The Yorkshire coat is easy to care for and maintain but it is also hypoallergenic so it is ideal as a dog for those who they are allergic since it loses little hair.
- It is recommended to bathe a Yorkshire every 2 weeks in general, but as always, it all depends on the life of your pet and what normally gets dirty. Of course, you should not bathe it much if it is not dirty because then it will lose its hypoallergenic properties that are in the dermis and its natural oils.
- If you don't want to have problems when brushing and bathing your dog, it is better to get him used to these activities from a very young age so that he picks them up as a good habit.
- After cutting your Yorkshire's hair, it is advisable to bathe it by lathering it and rinsing it with shampoo twice and then applying the conditioner. And if it has a very strong tangle, you can put a dab of conditioner on it before bathing and leave it on for 5 minutes, you'll see how it unravels much more easily.
How to cut a Yorkshire's hair
If you want to cut your Yorkshire's hair comfortably, we recommend that you put a few towels that you do not use much on a table and place your dog on top so that you can reach all areas well. Pet it to calm it down and don't make any sudden movements so that the animal doesn't get nervous or try to escape.
- First of all, it is advisable to start cutting the hair on the loin/back first with scissors to thin it and then with the clipper power to match. Although Yorkshire's hair is straight, use some spray water and a brush to smooth it out even more so you can easily see what you need to cut.
- Continue through the hind legs and carefully cut your pet's hair, always keeping the scissors pointed upwards so as not to cut it by accident if it moves a lot.
- Then continue to trim the Yorkshire's hair along the neck, chest, belly and front legs You can use either scissors or the razor to reduce it and equalize it, whichever is more comfortable for you, but yes, it is better to use the electric razor for the paw pads and the belly area, this way you make sure that you will not hurt it by mistake.
- And finally we come to the most delicate parts of your pet. When trimming a Yorkshire's ears, inside and out, it's best to do it carefully with a pair of round-tipped scissors so you don't accidentally prick your pet. And to cut the hair of the eyes, the face and the head the same, very carefully. But it all depends on the style you want it to have.
Once you have finished cutting your Yorkshire's hair, as we have mentioned before, it is recommended that you bathe it to remove any remaining hairthat they have left and apply shampoo and conditioner to make their fur even more beautiful.
If you want the hair to dry quickly, use a hair dryer with a medium temperature and power, and a brush to brush your Yorkshire's hair and make it much more defined.
Types of haircuts for a Yorkshire
There are many types of haircuts for a Yorkshire and on our site we already have a specific article where we explain each and every one of them in detail but also, below we suggest a few for you to decide which one you like best and which one your pet feels most comfortable with:
- Puppy cut: ideal for small dogs with long coats. It involves cutting the ends of the animal's hair and leaving a maximum of 3 cm in length in its fur.
- Westy Cut: As its name suggests, this type of cut is reminiscent of those of the West Higlang White terrier and is intended to leave the hair on the body is shorter than that on the face and head in general.
- Schnauzer Cut: this involves shaving the fur on the body and leaving the hair on the legs and head longer and leaving a Visible beard, like that of Schnauzers.
- Pekingese cut: Another style of cutting as if it were another breed is the Pekingese cut that focuses on leaving the hair of head and ears long to simulate the long, drooping ears of this breed of dog.
- Water dog cut: For this cut you have to let the hair of the Yorkshire grow a little and do not use any tool to straighten it since it should look curly and frizzy, like that of water dogs.
In addition to all these haircuts, you can always style your Yorkshire with clips, bobby pins, small clips or hair ties to decorate it and change the style whenever you want.
When to first cut a yorkshire's hair
If you've recently adopted a Yorkshire terrier puppy, you probably have some questions about grooming sessions. When to bathe a puppy for the first time? When should you start cutting your hair? In both cases, it is prudent to wait until the puppy has completed the vaccination scheduleand that her immune system is strong and stable. It is important to highlight that the coat helps the dog to regulate its temperature, both in winter and in summer, so an excessive cut when it is still developing and its immune system is weak can favor it to suffer from certain diseases.
Around 5 months, we will begin to observe how the Yorkshire terrier's mane begins to grow and even how the bangs bother him. At that moment, when we consider that the haircut is really necessary, we can start cutting our Yorkie's hair.
Before taking your puppy to the groomer or starting to cut the hair of a Yorkshire at home, you should positively associate with manipulation and all the tools that you are going to use to prevent him from being scared, feeling uncomfortable or starting to show unwanted behaviors. This point is especially important, since the Yorkie will need regular grooming sessions throughout his life and it is important to start properly.
You can introduce him to the tools while you reward him with dog snacks, take baths beforehand to get him used to handling or let him listen to the noise of the razor from time to time while you caress him. You should carry out a few sessions until you are sure that your dog is not afraid or reactive towards handling, tools or the situation in general.