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Best Brushes

The Best Brushes & Coat Tools 
for a Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkie with brush and grooming tools

Overview

When you have a Yorkshire Terrier, it's important to use the right type of brushes, combs, and other grooming tools and coat products. There are lots of different dog breeds with much different types of coats, so some grooming tools meant for other breeds can be very detrimental to a Yorkie's skin and coat. And of course, when you use the right sort of tools, your Yorkie can look their best. 

This article will cover the types of grooming tools that will be needed, recommendations for each, and helpful tips to keep your little guy or gal looking tidy and beautiful. 

The Types of Grooming Tools to Have for a Yorkie

Yorkshire Terriers are considered low-maintenance dogs in regard to grooming, but there are several tools that you will need to have. Here is what's needed for both Yorkie puppies and adults:


  1. A bristle brush - This is the best type of brush to use on a Yorkshire Terrier puppy or adult with a shaved or short coat.
  2. A pin brush - This is the best type of brush to use on a Yorkshire Terrier with a medium to long coat.
  3. A two level comb or body comb & face comb - This is used before brushing and/or to groom the face and other small areas. This is also used to part hair when making a topknot.
  4. Coat spray - Though this is not mandatory, certain coat sprays can be super-beneficial to use in conjunction with brushing.
  5. Mat removal tool - This is only needed for Yorkies with long coats; it helps to remove a knotted tangle without damaging other areas of the coat.


Now that we've covered these basics, let's dive into more details.

Cute Yorkshire Terrier with a nice coat
Cute Yorkshire Terrier with a nice coat
Moxie, at 11 months old (7 lbs.), photo courtesy of Jo-Anne and Charlie - Naples, Florida

Brushes - FAQ and Recommendations

Why is brushing important?

Brushing a Yorkshire Terrier helps to distribute body oils and remove dead hairs, dirt and debris. When brushing is not done on a regular basis, bad odors can develop and hairs can appear oily (at the roots), dull (at the tips) and messy. Longer coats can develop mats (knots), but brushing can keep these at bay by regularly separating the hairs before they have a change to tangle up. Additionally, brushing is an ideal time to use a coat spray, which has many benefits (details ahead).

How often should I brush my Yorkie?

Puppies and adults with shaved or short coats should be brushed every 3 days. Yorkies with medium length coats should be brushed every other day. And those with long show coats should be brushed daily.


Remember, even if the coat looks clean and tidy, brushing is going to help distribute body oil that forms at the hair follicles and help remove dead hairs, dirt, and other debris, so be sure to stay on schedule.

How do I brush my Yorkie?

You will want to use the correct type of brush (see next tip), and brush in the direction of hair growth. There is no right or wrong spot to begin, as long as you are sure to brush over every area of the coat. Some pet parents find it best to start on the forehead and work from there, over the head and to the shoulders, down the neck, to the chest, the front legs, along the back, hind legs, rear, and finishing at the tail.

Which brush should I use on my Yorkie?

Never use a rake, a de-shedder, or a slicker brush on a Yorkshire Terrier. Doing so can severely harm both the dog's skin and their coat. Those tools are meant for breeds with thick double coats of fur. The Yorkshire Terrier has silky hair and sensitive skin that requires certain brushes and tools.

If you have a Yorkie puppy or adult dog with a short or shaved coat, use a bristle brush. We like the Chris Christensen Soft Tufted Boar Brush ; this has 3/4-inch natural boar bristles and a durable wooden handle. The sizing is good for most Yorkies and CC is a trusted brand that will hold up well for years.

And if you have a Yorkie with a medium to long coat, use a bubble-tipped or polish-tipped pin brush. We like the Chris Christensen 20mm Wooden Pin Brush ; this is a durable wooden based, polished-tip pin brush. The size small is ideal for Yorkshire Terriers. CC is a trusted brand that will last for years.

Combs - FAQ and Recommendations 

Do I need to use a comb on my Yorkie?

Depending on the length of the coat, combs are used for different reasons, but you will use a comb so it's an item you'll want to have on hand.


For young pups and adults with short coats, a comb will mainly be used on the face since it's difficult to reach the facial areas with a brush. For adults with medium to long coats, combs are used right before brushing to check the coat for mats and after baths to separate hairs to allow for knot-free drying (whether air-drying or blow-drying). A comb can also be used on small areas like the paws. It can be used for 'final touch-ups' on a long show coat. And a comb is also used to help part forehead hairs when making a topknot.

Which comb should I use on my Yorkie?

For just about all Yorkshire Terriers that are not competing in the show ring, a simple comb like the Lil Pals Double-Sided Comb is ideal. This is very durable, comfortable to hold, and sized perfectly. 
Female Yorkie with a nicely brushed coat
Female Yorkie with a nicely brushed coat
Chloe Alexis, at 7 months old, photo courtesy of Matt and Karen Gisler 

Leave-in Coat Spray - FAQ and Recommendations

What is a coat spray?

Coat sprays, also known as coat spritzes, are leave-in products typically used in conjunction with brushing. Though they can have multiple uses, generally speaking, a leave-in coat spray may have the following benefits:


  • Lock in moisture to keep hairs soft
  • Add shine
  • Help the coat repel dirt, debris, contact irritants (lawn care chemicals, etc.) and allergens (pollen, etc.)
  • Protect from the damaging rays of UV sunlight
  • Help prevent split-ends and breakage (often seen with dry brushing)
  • Protect the coat from contact friction
  • Add a nice, clean fragrance 

How do I use a leave-in coat spray?

As the name implies, you'll be spraying it on and not washing it out. With most, go lightly. Using too much can weigh the coat down and cause it to look oily. Unless otherwise directed, hold the bottle about 6 inches from the coat and do a light spritz starting 1 to 2 inches from the roots. Use the brush to distribute the product down to the tips.


You can lightly use a coat spray each time you brush your Yorkie (every 3 days for a short coat, 2 days for a medium coat and every day for a long coat).

Which coat spray is best?

There are a couple of great options and it really depends on what you want to focus on.

One that we absolutely love is Nootie Daily Pet Conditioning Spritz. This works great if you want to keep the coat soft, have something to repel coat debris and add a nice scent. The choices of fragrances are awesome: Japanese cherry blossom, coconut lime verbena, cucumber melon, warm vanilla cookie, sweet pea & vanilla, and lily passion.

If you don't want the spray to have a fragrance and just want to focus repelling coat debris and keeping tangles at bay, The Stuff Leave-in Conditioner is a great choice. This has a super-light scent; we'd say it can be described as a very muted apple fragrance. Use this sparingly, a little goes a long way. Just a light mist is all that's needed and will work wonderfully to add shine, protect the coat, and keep your Yorkie clean and tidy.

Mat Remover Tool - FAQ and Recommendations

What is a mat remover tool and do I need one for my Yorkie?

These are specially-designed tools meant to effectively remove mats (knots) from a dog's coat with very sharp precision so that the rest of the coat is undamaged. You will not need one of these unless your Yorkie has a long enough coat that mats develop that you'll need to remove. If you are not sure if you'll need one, it's best to have one on hand because mats should be removed as soon as they are found.

What should I do if my Yorkie has a mat in their coat?

Never ignore a mat. When it is left in the coat, it can grow exponentially, pulling in more and more hairs until it is difficult to remove without professional help. And mats can start to hurt when they twist tightly near a dog's skin and pinch.


As soon as you notice a mat, you can try to work it out by hand, using a generous amount of your Yorkie's wash-out hair conditioner to help make the strands slippery. Slowly pull single hair strands out of the knot until all are free. Finish by massaging in a good amount of a quality leave-in conditioner.

If you cannot untwist and pull apart the knot by hand, or you wish to jump right to this step, it's time to use a mat remover.


This type of sharp multi-razor tool will slice the base of the knot from the coat and cut through the rest of the knot as it moves through.

Which mat remover is best?

Be sure to use one with curved blades so that the sharp edges of the razors do not touch your Yorkie's skin. And choose a small enough size so that cutting is limited to the knot itself. We recommend the Coastal Pet Safari Dog Mat Remover; this is ideally sized for Yorkies and the blades are durable stainless-steel.

You May Also Like:

Tips to Keep a Yorkie Clean - If your Yorkie tends to get dirty quickly in between baths, follow these guidelines to have your little guy or gal looking nice and smelling great even if it's been weeks since they've been bathed.

The Best Snacks and Treats for a Yorkie - What you offer for snacks and treats should be held to the same standards as your Yorkie's food for meals. See guidelines for snacks, training treats, edible chews, and dental chews.

Yorkshire Terriers Dos and Don'ts - A helpful roundup of the most important 'dos' and the most vital 'don'ts' for optimal care of Yorkie puppies, adults, and seniors.

 How to treat dry skin on a Yorkie - If your Yorkie's skin is dry, flaking and peeling and/or if there is an issue of irritated skin due to dryness, this article addresses these problems and offers steps to resolve this. 
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