Even the sight of water can make Yorkies feel uneasy. This dislike of being washed often causes stress and anxiety, so you have to take control of the situation. Washing a Yorkshire Terrier does not have to be a difficult experience for you or your pet. If your dog senses that you are in control, it can help reduce their anxiety levels and let you wash them without too much fuss.

The main items you need include warm water, a tub, plastic jug, sponge, dog shampoo and non-slip mat. Once you have these items, place the non-slip mat in the tub, and let your Yorkie stand on this mat. The next step is to pour some warm water over your Yorkie until they are wet all over. Then you should apply plenty of canine shampoo and start washing at the back of you pet first.

The next step is to add a small amount of shampoo to a jug of water, and rub it into your Yorkshire Terrier until it produces a good lather. You can then start washing your Yorkie's face and head. When you are doing this, make sure you are careful, because your dog's eyes are sensitive to shampoo. When you're washing around the head area of a Yorkie, there is also a possibility of your dog getting an ear infection if water gets into your Yorkshire Terriers ears. This problem is easy to prevent by placing some cotton wool in your pet's ears. Finally, make sure you clean under your dogs' tail with the sponge.

When you have thoroughly washed your Yorkie, rinse off the shampoo with warm, clean water. It's more effective if you use your fingers to help rinse off the lather on your pet. Carry out this process until all the shampoo has been removed. This is important because any remaining shampoo could irritate your Yorkshire Terrier later, once they have been washed and groomed.

Finally, you will need to dry your Yorkie properly. If your pet has short hair, you can towel dry them. Many Yorkshire Terriers have long hair. If your dog has long hair, gently towel dry them. Then finish drying with a hair dryer at a low temperature and from a distance to prevent burning your pet.

Washing your Yorkie should be a straight-forward process, so long as you follow the steps above. Once washing becomes a familiar routine, your dog will feel more comfortable with this process.

If you're a Yorkie owner or would like to get one of these popular pets, there are certain behaviour, health and grooming issues you should be aware of. To find out more, visit the Yorkshire Terrier Problems website.