The Complete Guide to Yorkshire Terrier Long Hair

Yorkshire Terriers are known for their beautiful, flowing coats, and the long-haired variety is a popular choice among owners.

Their long hair requires regular grooming to prevent matting and tangling, which can be painful for the dog.

With the right care, a long-haired Yorkshire Terrier can have a stunning coat that's a joy to behold.

To achieve this, owners should brush their dog's coat daily, ideally in the morning and evening, to prevent knots and tangles from forming.

Regular trimming is also essential to prevent overgrowth and keep the coat looking its best.

For another approach, see: Is Lhasa Apso Good for First Time Owners

Yorkshire Terriers with long hair require a lot of care and attention to keep their coats looking their best. Daily brushing is a must to prevent tangles and knots.

To achieve the long, silky coat, you'll need to brush your Yorkie's hair every day, ideally with a small pin brush. A Kenchii Oval Metal Pin Brush is a great tool for this job.

If you're not planning to show your Yorkie, you can consider a short puppy cut, which requires less frequent brushing, around once a week. However, even with a short cut, regular grooming is still necessary to keep your Yorkie looking and feeling its best.

To keep your Yorkie's coat in top condition, plan on taking it to the groomer every six to eight weeks for a haircut. This will help maintain a healthy and attractive coat.

You'll also need to wrap your Yorkie's coat to keep it clean and prevent matting, especially if you're aiming for a show coat. Start wrapping your Yorkie's coat when the hair is long enough, usually around 9 to 10 months old.

If your Yorkie's coat is soft instead of silky, it may not be worth the trouble to try and achieve the breed standard. In this case, a shorter cut may be a better option.

Here's a rough guide to help you plan your grooming schedule:

Remember, grooming your Yorkie is a big responsibility, but with the right tools and a regular schedule, you can keep your furry friend looking and feeling its best.

The Yorkshire Terrier is a bold and feisty breed that can be a bit stubborn at times, but once it decides to cooperate, it can learn very quickly.

They are affectionate and loving companions, making them a great fit for families and elderly people who want a loyal pet.

Despite their small stature, Yorkies have an oversized personality and can be excessive barkers if not trained properly.

However, with proper training and mental stimulation, Yorkies can thrive in apartment living and make great companions for those who are willing to provide them with the attention and exercise they need.

They are typically affectionate with family and strangers alike, though every dog is an individual, so it's essential to get to know your Yorkie's unique personality.

Some Yorkies are gentle with children and other pets, but adult supervision is always necessary to ensure everyone's safety.

Additional reading: American Pit Bull Terrier Temperament Affectionate

Feeding your Yorkshire Terrier a commercial kibble or wet food approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is a good way to ensure they receive a complete and balanced diet.

Yorkie puppies should eat three to four small meals per day to help maintain their blood sugar, whereas adults do well with two to three feedings per day.

A kibble designed for small mouths is best for Yorkshire Terriers, making it easier for them to eat comfortably.

The recommended caloric intake for a Yorkie varies from dog to dog and depends on their physical size, metabolism, neuter status, and activity level.

Treats should never make up more than 10% of a dog's daily calories, so offer them mindfully to avoid overfeeding.

The feeding guide labels on dog food provide valuable information to help determine the right amount of food for your Yorkie, but it's always best to consult with your veterinarian for a personalized plan.

For another approach, see: Boston Terrier Day

Yorkshire Terriers are easy partners for apartment living, as long as they get a lot of mental stimulation and chances to play.

To keep them happy and healthy, you'll need to teach them to be quiet, as they can be excessive barkers.

Yorkies are curious and confident companions, so be prepared to engage them in activities that challenge their minds and bodies.

Providing regular playtime and mental stimulation will help prevent boredom and destructive behavior in your long-haired Yorkshire Terrier.

With their big personality and small stature, Yorkies are naturally curious and love to explore their surroundings.

Explore further: Australian Silky Terrier Yorkies

The long coat is the style you typically see in breed books and on many Yorkie Web sites. It's also the standard style at dog shows. The reason the long coat is so ubiquitous is the Yorkshire Terrier coat is one of the defining characteristics of the breed.

Achieving the long, silky coat takes dedication and care. Your Yorkie supplies the coat, which, like human hair, continues to grow. Everything else - the daily brushing, the weekly shampooing and conditioning, the wrapping it up to keep it off the ground, and more - is up to you.

For your interest: Old Style German Shepherd Dogs

If you fail to do these tasks religiously, then that beautiful coat ends up a tangled mess. I've seen it happen to friends who thought they could just let their Yorkie's coat grow on its own. It's not worth it.

Wrapping your Yorkie's coat is a task you don't really need to do unless you're aiming for a coat suitable for the show ring. If you are trying to grow a show coat, then keep your dog in wraps 24/7 and take the wraps out only for the show ring.

Wrapping protects the coat, allows it to grow, and helps keep it clean - especially important for male dogs, who get urine on themselves. Start wrapping as soon as the hair is long enough, usually when the dog is 9 to 10 months old.

If your Yorkie's coat is soft instead of silky, you may not be able to achieve the look you want. Soft hair mats more, is more difficult to keep clean, and breaks more easily.

The sheer work of grooming a soft coat to the breed standard probably isn't worth the trouble. You may have to resign yourself to a shorter cut.

If this caught your attention, see: Soft Coated Cairn Terrier