Every dog’s fur is different from others and the frequency of bathing your dog depends on the type of fur that your pet has. Since Yorkies have hair, instead of the usual fur, you may be wondering, “ How Often Should You Bathe A Yorkie?”
In this article, we will be shedding light on:
- How often should you bathe a Yorkie?
- Can I bathe my Yorkie twice a week?
- Can you bathe a Yorkie every day?
- Best 4 ways to dry a Yorkie at home
- And much more
This article is written with reference to Dr Tammy, DVM of VCA Hospital.
How Often Should You Bathe A Yorkie?
A Yorkie should be bathed once every two to four weeks. If your Yorkie is a bit adventurous or has long luscious hair, you might consider giving it baths more frequently for healthy and lustrous hair.
How Often Should You Bathe A Yorkie?
Yorkies should be bathed every 2-4 weeks with a gentle, natural, and moisture-rich shampoo to keep their hair healthy. However, you can increase the frequency of bathing your Yorkie, if he has long hair, or if he is extremely active and likes to get adventurous.
Take a look at this oatmeal shampoo specifically designed for pet dogs.
Yorkies must be combed daily in between baths to remove knots and prevent matting, preferably with a detangling spray or leave-in conditioner.
Some Yorkies, like many other dogs, have more sensitive skin than others. Reduce the number of baths they take if their skin becomes dry or irritated. It is important to note that excessive bathing can lead to dry and flaky skin in your Yorkie.
Also Read: Best Shampoo For Yorkies
Can I Bathe My Yorkie Twice A Week?
It is entirely up to you how frequently you bathe your Yorkie. According to PetMD, some Yorkies need to be bathed twice a week, while others can go a month without being bathed. For a good shine on your Yorkie’s coat, use good pet shampoo and a good detangler.
If you feel that your Yorkie’s skin is losing its luster and becoming dry, you can increase the gap between the baths. However, if your Yorkie’s hair is getting matted, or if he constantly has a foul smell, then it’s time to make your Yorkie bathe more than twice a week.
Can You Bathe A Yorkie Every Day?
It is not advisable to bathe your Yorkie daily. While most people require a bath once a day, most dog breeds can go weeks without one. Washing your Yorkie too frequently will cause skin damage.
Every one to two weeks, a bath will suffice. In between baths, use a detangling spray or leave-in moisturizer and plenty of combing to keep your dog neat, moisturized, and smelling fresh.
How Often Do Yorkies Need To Be Groomed?
According to Dr. Tammy Hunter, DVM, Yorkie puppies don’t require a full-body trim until they reach the age of four months. Even if you want your Yorkie’s coat to grow long, you should trim her body on a regular basis to keep the coat line even. The majority of Yorkies have a shorter cut to make grooming easier.
Once a Yorkie is fully grown, she will require body trimming every four to six weeks. Trim the hair under her tail around the anus in between grooming appointments to keep her clean. Brush your Yorkie daily and bathe her once a month with dog shampoo to keep her coat tangle-free and neat. Before brushing, mist the coat with water.
Read Also: How to groom a Yorkie face?
When Can I Bathe My Yorkie Puppy?
Bathing your puppy until he is 6 to 8 weeks old is not a good idea. You can bathe him if he gets very dirty, such as feces. If your Yorkie pup gets dirty, you can wash his muzzle or ‘under the tail,’ but don’t give him a full bath until he’s 8 weeks old.
According to the American Kennel Club, Yorkie puppies under the age of 6 weeks do not have the ability to regulate their body temperature. Due to this, they are at risk of chilling, and even catching pneumonia if bathed.
Hence, you should always wait till 6 to 8 weeks before giving your Yorkie puppy his first bathe.
How To Bathe A Yorkie Puppy?
It’s possible that your puppy will get very dirty in his feces at times. This could be due to diarrhea or simply a lack of puppy dexterity. The best way to do this is to wash your puppy under running water.
Also Read: Why are Yorkies so hard to potty train?
Yorkies are so small at six, seven, or eight weeks old that you can even wash them in the sink. So you simply rinse your puppy and dry him with a towel before brushing and blow-drying his hair. Your puppy will become accustomed to his brush and hairdryer at a young age this way. You can watch a video to help raise your Yorkie puppy.
Bathe your young Yorkshire terrier if he has become extremely dirty, with most of his body covered in dirt. Use shampoo specially made for puppies.
How Often To Bathe A Yorkie Puppy?
Young puppies who are transitioning from puppy to adult coats have a tendency to get a little frizzy – if you give your dog a bath every two weeks, it will be easier for you to comb your dog out – if you go longer than three weeks without a bath, you may have difficulty combing your dog well.
The most important rule of thumb is to bathe your dog if his hair is dirty, rather than following a strict bathing schedule.
What Happens When You Do Not Bathe Your Yorkie?
The following things are likely to happen if you don’t bathe your Yorkie or bathe him infrequently:
- Your dog’s odor will start to smell like poop or worse.
- Excess dirt and sweat on their skin will combine to create a new type of odor that you don’t want to be around.
- They may start to perspire more. Their coat will become very dirty as a result of the sweat and dirt in their hair.
What Happens When You Bathe Your Yorkie Too Much?
According to PetMD, bathing your Yorkie too often can be counterproductive. If you over-bathe your Yorkie Terrier, two things can happen:
- Using excessive shampoo each time you bathe your Yorkie can dry out their skin and cause itching. This is due to the fact that excessive bathing removes the natural oil on their skin. These oils are essential for maintaining healthy skin and coat.
- When you shrub too much while bathing, you risk weakening your coat’s strength.
That is why experts advise against bathing Yorkies on a regular basis. The order in which you bathe is extremely important.
How To Bathe A Yorkie At Home?
Here is a detailed guide to help you bathe a Yorkie at home:
1. Brush Out Any Tangles
Brush out any knots and tangles in your dog’s fur before you start bathing him. Yorkies’ long fine hair tangles easily, so this is especially important. These knots will eventually turn into matting, which will be difficult and painful to remove if not addressed. You can work out these knots without breaking your Yorkie’s hair if you use a good detangling spray
Also Read: Best Brush For Yorkies
2. Check The Temperature Of The Water
A Yorkie bath should be kept at room temperature, between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The average human body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, so if the bathwater feels warm to you, it’s probably too hot for your dog. Aim for water that is neutral in temperature, if not slightly cool to the touch.
Do not use your hand to check the temperature of the water. Instead, test the water on the inside of your wrist or forearm, which has more sensitive skin. If you think the water is too hot, err on the side of caution and cool the bath down before retesting.
3. Make Your Yorkie Comfortable
Your Yorkie may have been blissfully unaware that bathtime is approaching until now. Regrettably, it is now time for that to change. While bath time may not be your dog’s favorite activity, there are some simple things you can do to help them relax.
Read Also: Are Yorkies Aggressive?
Consider using a slow licking mat or another similar distraction during bathtime to keep your dog’s attention away from the water. This reinforces the benefits of bathing and keeps them occupied while you scrub.
4. Avoid Water Getting In Critical Places
When water gets into your Yorkie’s ears, it may create an environment conducive to the growth of yeast and other bacteria. Ear infections are common as a result, and no one enjoys them.
Consider gently inserting cotton balls into your puppy’s outer ear canals to protect their ears during bath time. or use a doggy shower cap to keep water out of their ears. Dog ear wipes can be used to clean your Yorkie puppy’s ears separately.
Avoid pouring large amounts of water over your dog’s head or directing a sprayer toward their face or ears, as both are surefire ways to give your Yorkie an ear infection. Instead, soak and clean the head with a sponge, gently folding and pinning the ears shut with your fingers as you work your way around them.
5. Use The Right Shampoo And Conditioner
Wet your Yorkie’s hair thoroughly and apply good quality shampoo Work the lather down your dog’s back, legs, and chest, paying special attention to areas where mess tends to accumulate, such as the sanitary areas, as well as the belly. Just be careful not to get any shampoo in their eyes, or they might refuse to be bathed again.
6. Rinse
Before rinsing the head and face, wet the sponge and squeeze out half of the water. Make sure the ears are pinned shut or protected from excess water once more. Also, try not to get shampoo in your puppy’s eyes.
7. Drying Your Yorkie
It’s time to get a little toasty. Yorkies get easily chilled, so wrap your puppy in a towel and gently massage the excess water out of their coat as soon as possible. Allow your Yorkie to run around the bathroom for some famous post-bath Yorkie zoomies once you’ve dried them to the point where they’re no longer dripping.
You can follow the top 4 ways on how to dry your Yorkie after a bath given below.
How Do You Dry A Yorkie After A Bath? Best 4 Ways
1. Air Drying
Yorkies have silky hair and it does take time for a single coat of fur to dry. It could always give itself a hard shake and a romp around the house to get rid of its wet coat the old-fashioned way. What’s the issue with this approach? Your Yorkie will most likely rub his wet dog smell against your furniture or roll around on your carpet.
Also Read: Do Yorkies Get Cold?
2. Using Towels
A thick bath towel is a tried-and-true method for removing excess moisture from a dog’s coat. Many people, however, use towels incorrectly. Some owners, for example, will vigorously rub their Yorkie’s coat with one.
Groomers advise pressing a towel against a wet dog’s fur to absorb as much water as possible, then repeating the process until your pet is completely dry. If you’re using regular bath towels, you’ll probably need a few extras on hand because they’ll get damp quickly.
3. Hairdryers
Take your tiniest blow dryer and set it to the lowest heat setting. Point the dryer at your dog’s coat at an angle so that the hair blows in the same direction as it naturally does. To avoid irritating your dog’s skin with too much heat, move the blow dryer back and forth. Keep the dryer away from their face and move it around until their fur is nearly dry.
Gradually introduce your dog to the hairdryer so that it becomes accustomed to the noise and sensation of air being blown on its fur. Keep in mind, however, that some dogs will never accept the use of a dryer and will fight tooth and nail to avoid it.
4. Quick-drying Sprays
These sprays contain ingredients that encourage water to wick away from a dog’s coat, reducing drying time in theory. Some users, on the other hand, claimed to have noticed little to no difference in drying time.
If you decide to use one of these sprays, you may need to play around with the amount you use to get the best results.
