How To Groom A Yorkie Poo [Step By Step Owners Guide]

Grooming your Yorkie Poo is essential if you want your dog to have a hygienic, comfortable, and visually appealing coat.

Being a hybrid dog, a cross between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Toy Poodle, a Yorkie Poo coat can range in style and type. Therefore, when it comes to grooming, you need to be aware of the type of coat your Yorkie Poo has.

In the following sections, we will cover the different types of hair and all of the considerations to take into account to keep your dog looking and feeling its best.

Ultimately, your dog’s coat will need regular care and for you to undertake certain actions. So, if you want to know exactly how to groom your Yorkie Poo, be sure to read on!

The Yorkie Poo Coat

The coat of a Yorkie Poo can differ quite dramatically. Generally, there are three types of coat that your dog may have inherited: Curly, Poker-Straight, or Wavy.

These coats look quite different visually, but they also have different properties. As such, each coat will have different grooming requirements.

Coats can also be one of many different colors, depending on their heritage. Colors can include apricot, black, black and white, red and white, tan, or tri-colored.

Let’s look at the different Bernedoodle coats in better detail:

Curly

If your Yorkie Poo is curly, they will inherit more of the Poodle parent in their coat. This coat generally requires clipping/shaving every 4-6 weeks.

Poker Straight

If your Yorkie Poo is curly, they will inherit more of the Yorkshire Terrier parent in their coat.

This coat is fine and silky and does not require as much maintenance. It may need trimming every 6-8 weeks.

Wavy

A wavy coat is a Yorkie Poo somewhere in the middle. They will require clipping/shaving at routine intervals, but how quickly their hair grows will vary between dogs.

Either way, the coat of this breed is usually on the silky and soft side. Neither type of coat is known to shed, making this a hypoallergenic breed.

For this reason, you will not find a lot of loose and dead hair around your home. It makes them ideal for owners who suffer from allergies.

However, consider that as this breed has hair (instead of fur), it will continue to grow. It, therefore, needs to be managed and at some point, will need to be trimmed or shaved.

As your Yorkie Poo’s coat lengthens, it will also require frequent brushing – daily/multiple timers per week.

This will ensure the coat does not tangle and/or matt. This is true regardless of the type of coat they have.

How Often Should You Groom A Yorkie Poo

As mentioned in the previous section, a Yorkie Poo has hair instead of fur. They do not shed, so they will need to be trimmed and/or shaved every once in a while.

Typically, you should look to either accomplish this yourself or visit a professional dog groomer every 6-8 weeks.

This is an average, and will depend on their type and style of coat – and how quickly it grows back.

You can introduce your Yorkie Poo to a professional groomer from four months of age onward. This is because you need to ensure that they have received all of their required vaccinations beforehand.

All Yorkie Poo’s will require frequent, daily brushing. This is essential to prevent matting and knotting which is uncomfortable and can be very painful for your dog.

Slicker brushes (like this one on Amazon) are the best type to use for the Yorkie Poo breed – along with other poodle cross-breeds.

You should look to brush your dog’s hair daily, from the time that they are young puppies.

The earlier you begin to do so the better; it will give them a chance to get used to regular grooming and ensure their coats grow out properly.

Yorkie Poo owners typically give a trim/shave/haircut to their dog twice per year. A winter/summer schedule tends to work well. You can give a shorter cut in the summer, and a longer cut in the winter.

For the Yorkie Poo coat, bathing does not need to be undertaken too regularly. It is best done each time they are having a trim, and whenever they get dirty from mud and rainy weather.

Below are the steps that you need to follow to meet their grooming requirements and to keep their coats in optimal condition.

How To Groom A Yorkie Poo (Step by Step)

Grooming your Yorkie Poo regularly will help you to improve the bond between you and your dog. It will also help them to feel more comfortable, it will be more hygienic, they’ll look better, and it will enable you an opportunity to inspect them for any issues.

Taking your dog to a professional groomer is not cheap. Thankfully with this breed you can do it all yourself at home. So long as you stick to regular brushing, infrequent bathing, and some trimming/shaving a couple of times per year.

Below are the following steps on how to effectively groom your Yorkie Poo.

Step 1: Collect All The Required Supplies

When it comes to grooming your Yorkie Poo yourself, there are some general things that you will need.

Items that you will likely need to buy are dog-friendly and shampoo, brush, nail clippers, and dog hair shavers/trimmers.

Then there are other items which you can use from around the house – a hairdryer and some towels.

• For shampoo, you need to purchase one designed for dogs. These ensure that your dog does not come out in any rashes or is not irritated from the chemicals often used in shampoos designed for humans. This is an excellent shampoo to get from Amazon.
• A slicker brush is the best type to use on the Yorkie Poo breed. It effectively removes matts, knots and tangles in a way that is not rough or harmful to your dog. They are very easy to work with and very easy to clean (with the push of a button). Here is the one to buy on Amazon.
• Nail clippers will enable you to keep your dogs nails in check. Again, you’ll need some specifically designed for dogs. The best ones will have a safety mechanism to stop your cutting your dogs nails too short which can be painful, like these ones on Amazon. Another option is to purchase a nail grinder. This will allow you to grind away at your dogs nails which tends to make for a more comfortable experience for your dog.
• Dog Hair Trimmers/Shavers – Will enable you to keep the hair length down across your Yorkie Poo’s body. Ideal options are those that are quiet and low vibration – so they do not scare your dog or cause stress. These are the ones to get on Amazon.

I like to use Amazon for pet supplies because you can check reviews, get all the items at once together, and get them delivered very quickly through Prime.

Those products referenced above are the best in their category.

Step 2: Prepare To Groom

In this step, you essentially need to find a suitable area in your home where you can groom your dog.

This will range depending on your home, what is available, and the type of rooms you have.

Some owners will use their bathrooms; primarily because of the bath and the fact that they can stop their dogs from running away. Other owners may use a kitchen sink or utility room.

Outdoor areas can also be used, but it’s best to use an area that is closed off (to prevent your dog from getting away. Just be careful with this option of the weather; you do not want it to be cold or wet and rainy!

Either way, you will want to lay some towels down around the area/on the floor to collect the mess from grooming. Keep a spare towel that you can later use for drying your dog.

Step 3: Inspect Your Yorkie Poo

Before you begin, give your dog a thorough full-body stroke. Inspect them, and their entire bodies.

Look out for any lumps, bumps, dry patches, areas of hair loss, or abnormalities.

You’ll need to watch out for these when brushing/trimming. This will ensure a safer, more comfortable grooming session for your dog.

Depending on if and what you find, you may need to consult a vet to discuss further.

The sooner that you find any abnormalities the better – this will ensure that they do not develop and can be addressed.

Step 4: Brush Your Yorkie Poo

With your newly purchased slicker brush, start by brushing your dog’s face. Carefully brush out any tangles that may have been collected here. This usually happens around the beard area!

From here, you’ll want to move onto your dog’s legs, back, and belly.

It is always best to focus on one area at a time – this will ensure your dog remains calm, comfortable and you get all knots out.

Next, move onto the base of your dog’s coat and brush through the full length of the coat

Brushing should be done daily with the breed. Better yet, several times a day.

Doing this often is the best thing you can do to keep your dog’s coat optimal, clean, and looking as best it can be.

If you struggle for time or have a busy schedule, then you can brush them every other day.

Ultimately, the longer or curlier your dog’s coat is, the more maintenance is required and more brushing you will need to do.

Be gentle but firm when brushing, looking out for any signs of discomfort in your dog.

Step 5: Bathe Your Yorkie Poo

Once fully brushed, you can begin to bathe your dog.

Start with lukewarm water, and begin to wet your dog’s hair across their coat.

Placing your dog into a sink/bath is usually the easiest thing to do here.

As you pour water over your dog, ensure the entire coat is getting wet and running all the way through. You can use your fingers and stroke through the coat to help here.

Be particularly careful with the temperature of the water. You do not want to scold your dog. Equally, you do not want to stress your dog out with cold water.

Also, do apply too much water at once, with a high pressured shower head.

Also, be careful of any potential slipping from a wet floor.

Next, use a small amount of dog-friendly shampoo, lather it in your fingers, and then run it through your dog’s hair.

Begin with their head, being careful not to get it into their eyes, ears, or mouth.

Then move on to the rest of the body, starting with the legs. Ensure you penetrate deeply into your dog’s coat and massage it through the full coat.

From here, you will want to rinse the shampoo out with lukewarm water.

Again, begin with the head before moving on to other parts of your dog’s body.

You can use your hand to help remove the soap, and this technique can also be used to see if there are any remaining suds/soap in your dog’s coat.

Ensure all soap is removed as any that remains may become irritable for your dog when it dries.

Lastly, when bathing, you will want to dry your dog’s hair. For this, you can use a towel. You just want to gently remove any excess water from the coat.

It’s also a good idea to lay down a couple of towels and let your dog stand on them. They may want to shake the water from their coat.

If so, be careful where this water goes so that you do not slip.

When your dog is sufficiently dry, you can then let the rest dry off naturally (ideal in the summer), or use a hair dryer on your dog’s coat. Make sure they have been dried somewhat through the towel.

You shouldn’t ever leave your dag wet or overly damp to dry on its own.

This can cause stress and drastic changes in temperature for your dog can cause them to become ill and unwell.

If you opt for a hairdryer you need to ensure it’s on a low/cool setting or otherwise you can harm your dog and burn their skin.

You’ll also want to put it on a low setting so that you do not frighten your dog.

Step 6: Clean The Ears

You should look to clean your Yorkie Poo’s ears frequently. This will help to reduce the buildup of wax and dirt which can cause irritation.

You may observe your dog attempting to scratch their ears, shaking their head, and/ or they may begin to develop an odor around their head.

These are all signs an ear clean is required.

Either way, you should attempt to prevent this from occurring, to begin with.

To do so, you should clean your dogs early gently with some natural, clean and fresh cotton buds. Be careful not to go too deep or panic your dog.

Step 7: Trim/Grind The Nails

Keeping your dog’s nails short is essential. Longer nails can cause pain and even lead to incorrect walking patterns which can cause further injury to their hips and joints.

To trim the nails, you will need to hold your Yorkie Poo tightly; so that they do not wiggle or attempt to run away.

Use a pair of dog-friendly nail clippers (with a safety latch to prevent overclipping) and run through each nail of each paw one by one (one at a time only).

You only want to be cutting a small amount of nail off at a time, and be sure to cut promptly to get straight cut without the risk of the rest of the nail snapping.

Cutting from underneath the nail is generally easier and helps you to see what you are doing. Refrain from cutting the ‘quick’, this is living tissue and if you cut it, you will cause bleeding and pain to your dog.

If you do accidentally nip and make your dog bleed; do not worry.

It does happen from time to time even with professional groomers. You can use styptic powder to help stop the bleeding.

Having some in stock in your home for this purpose is not a bad idea. This stuff is great to put on any open wounds or cuts your dog may get.

Nail clipping can be a challenge, so you can consider taking your dog to the vet who will be able to do this for you.

Alternatively, using a nail grinder is another means of reducing the length of the nails. The process is essentially the same but these tools are generally more comfortable for a dog.

Step 8: Clean Your Yorkie Poo’s Teeth

Keeping your dog’s mouth hygienic is again very important. Dental plaque is a known contributor to heart disease, even in dogs. Therefore you need to support your dog in reducing it.

Cleaning your dog’s teeth will also help to eliminate bad breath and to ensure they do not experience any pain when eating.

You can either give your Yorkie Poo treats designed to clean their teeth as they require chewing, like this.

Or you can get a dog-friendly toothbrush/paste and manually brush their teeth yourself. Some dogs may fidget when you attempt to do this so it may take some time to calm them down and get them used to it.

Never use human toothpaste as fluoride is a common ingredient and is toxic for dogs.

Another effective option is to use a dental dog toy. These enable your dog to clean its teeth and get mental stimulation through a toy at the same time.

Lastly, be sure to get your vet to check your dogs teeth during each checkup.

Shaving/Trimming Your Yorkie Poo

When it comes to shaving/trimming your Yorkie Poo, you generally have two options; you can do this yourself or take them to a professional dog groomer.

A professional groomer will save you time and hassle, yet can be expensive depending on where you live and who your local groomer is. Equally, not every groomer will be familiar with Yorkie Poos and may even struggle to give you the hairstyle you desire/expect.

So, if you do visit a groomer, it’s best to discuss potential styles with them ahead of time. Make sure you also opt for a sufficiently qualified groomer. Better yet, seek out one with experience with a Poodle and Yorkshire terrier breeds.

However, shaving/trimming your dog can be done yourself.

Below is a useful guide to follow and how to give your Yorkie Poo an appropriate trim.

When doing so, you should use some electric clippers designed for use on dogs.

A classic Yorkie Poo look is a shaggy face, a loosely trimmed beard and a shaved back that tapers down into longer hair on the legs. But this can be changed depending on your preferences.

Face

1. Using scissors, trim hairs from the eyes down to the nose.
2. Comb the hair on top of your dogs head (over the eyes) and cut the hair with scissors until the eyes are showing.
3. Use scissors to cut under and on the side of the muzzle – there must be no longer ends.
4. Use the scissors to cut around the shape of the ears.

The Body

1. Using a 1″ clipper head, shave from your dogs chin to the chest — shave both sides of their neck.
2. Use the same clipper head on the rest of your dogs body, including down the back of their neck over the length of their backs.
3. Use a longer length clipper head, scissors, to trim their legs.
4. Pick up your dogs foot, turn it over, comb the hair over the pads and trim them back with scissors. Place the foot down shape around the foot using your scissors.

The Tail

1. Only use scissors to cut your dogs tail. This is because you will want the hair to be longer than on their body.
2. With the scissors, blend the tail neatly into the body. Cut about 4 inches from the rear end of your dog.

Finally

Yorkiepoo’s are friendly dogs with a beautiful coat when it’s maintained and looked after.

Due to the fact that they do not shed, grooming and brushing your dog’s coat is essential. This should be a daily practice.

Along with this, you will need to stay on top of looking after their ears, teeth, and nails. This can be done more infrequently but should be done fairly regularly nonetheless.

I understand that grooming at professional groomers can be costly. This is why investing some money upfront in the right tools is the way to go.

I’ve shared with you my recommendations above, and I suggest you get those as these are the best in their respective categories.

While grooming may be a little difficult at first, you should soon find your Yorkie Poo gets used to the process. They’ll even begin to enjoy the fuss and attention grooming offers them.

It’s ultimately a nice time where you can bond with your dog and look after their health in the process.

Plus, they’ll look better, be free from pain, and will be generally a lot more hygienic around your home.

Other grooming guides you may want to check out:

• How Long Does A Dog Grooming Take?
• Do You Tip Dog Groomers? [Is It Typical & Expected?]
• Dog Groomer Tip Calculator [How Much You Should Offer]
• 13 Gifts For Dog Groomers To Show Your Appreciation