Grooming Tips...
by Patricia Morgan on 01/09/13
Grooming Tips ~
We wanted you to have a few tips to help you & new puppy transition easily, & for those that are just interested.
In order
for you to get familiar with your Yorkie, here are a few facts to help you.
Puppies have 23 baby teeth, most adults have 42 permanent teeth. As adult teeth
come in, they push baby teeth out of the mouth. You might occasionally find a
tooth on the floor. This is fine~normal. Your Vet. can assist you in this process also.
Teeth-
Clean your puppies teeth frequently. If he balks @ having his/her teeth
brushed, you can get him/her used to it by rubbing his gums & teeth with
your fingers. (We have begun this process, but as most things, this takes
getting used to.) Then put a little dog toothpaste on your finger & let him
sniff & lick it. Most dog toothpaste come in a variety of flavors. Ours seem to like the vanilla flavor. Do the
same with the toothbrush or “finger toothbrush”.
~
Rule of Thumb ~
The more you play, pet, brush, comb, rub the
ears, tail, legs, around the eyes, open the mouth, handle all areas of your new
puppy, he/she will just stand still when it’s comes time for grooming &/or
checking for issues. Along with commands like stay, sit, no, come & good,
makes it even better.
Make sure
to provide “chew toys” that will help your pup clean their teeth. If the toy
fits comfortably in his mouth, it’s too small to play with safely. Some cloth
& plastic toys can be dangerous, be sure to watch your pup closely with new
toys, then you can decide which is safe for him/her. Each pup is different how
they react & interact to toys. Ours like the knotted rope tug toys, KONG
type thick rubber toys filled w/peanut butter. To each his/her own preferences.
As your
pup/dog gets older he may have a tartar buildup that requires your Veterinarian
to do a special cleaning.
Ear
Cleaning~ Clean
ears once a month. Clean the outer part of the ear only, using a damp cloth or
a cotton swab soaked in mineral oil. Never force anything into the ear. If your
pup/dog starts scratching his ears & continues it, this could be ear mites,
dirt, fleas. A clue is to feel the ears, if one or both seem hot, this is a
good indicator for ear mites, fleas.
Your Vet Can tell the definite difference & treatment. Depending on owner & pup/dog, trimming
the ears around the ear flap, & the back of flap can be done by you or your
Vet. / groomer. It can keep excess
weight off the ears & also depends on your preference of appearance.
Trimming~ Trim under the tail & around the anus to
keep hair from blocking the anus. Your puppy has been exposed to this
experience. Lift the tail & don’t let him/her sit. Massage the back legs.
She should relax her legs with patience & puppy will get the idea that you
are not hurting him. The Yorkshire Terrier is very smart, a quick learner. They
can also be stubborn & try to outwit you. They also believe they are a
German Shepard! You are the pack leader.
If you
show it, your new yorkie will learn it.
Eye Cleaning~ Clean any slight discharges with a warm moist cotton ball. No harsh chemicals. See if there are any eyelashes growing into the eye, & have them trimmed.
Bathing~ your new puppy is used to bathing,
blow-drying-towel drying. New surroundings might temporarily slow this. Ease
him into this area. Allow the pup to smell the shampoo, hear the sounds of
water in the bath area. Let her stand in the bath water to adjust &
remember what is happening. There are so many types of shampoo on the market
today, it’s sometimes confuses a body!
We use
dog /puppy oatmeal shampoo, also a homemade shampoo, This is good for their skin. (To each his own). Massage well into skin
& lather. Rinse, followed by
conditioner for a soft, easy manageable coat. Do not bathe too frequently. The
yorkie coat is one layer, their hair is like that of humans. It can take away
the natural oils & leave the coat dry.
The
Yorkie Coat~ The coat on a yorkie is Hypo-allergenic. Remember to brush / comb
on a regular basis to distribute their natural oils, remove dirt, debris, &
to maintain a glossy, healthy coat.
We hope
that you experience “Puppy Love” as much as we do!
Need more answers? Give us a holler!
Sincerely,
Patricia Morgan (912)-690-3770
