Yorkie Grooming

Coat Care (Download Article)

Part 1: Common Coat-Catching Solutions
How many times have we tried to brush our dog only to discover a "hitchhiker" hidden among the longer furs? Depending on your dog's coat, removing gum, burrs, or any other hidden treasure can be a nightmare, and often we resort to the easy way out by hacking off that chunk of fur and praying it grows back in normal.
Here are some more photogenic solutions to the common coat-catcher.

Chewing Gum
For gum stuck just on top of the coat, use ice cubes to freeze it first, then you can either break it off, or lift it off gently.
If the gum has been rubbed right in (ick), a good solvent will remove it better than anything. Peanut butter works for this rather well.
For gum stuck in the hairs between his toes, it is best to just cut it off carefully, and keep those hairs trimmed to avoid further mishaps.
Burrs
Brushing out a burr is not always possible, but there is another way, as opposed to just hacking it out in a chunk. It still cuts it out, but in a less traumatic way for your dog's coat. Take a sewing seam ripper, and pick the hairs around the burr until it can be pulled out.
To prevent burrs from becoming encased again, a spritz with mink-oil conditioner will keep his coat nice and slippery, and any burrs will brush out easily. You can buy mink-oil conditioner from most groomers.
Paint
Water soluble paints like latex should be washed out of the fur immediately using warm, soapy water. Do NOT use turpentine or varsol, and do not allow your dog to chew it out.
Skunk Spray
Not a hitchhiker in the usual sense, a skunked dog is certainly a pain to deal with!
An effective remedy for a sprayed pet besides tomato juice, is a concoction of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and liquid dish or laundry soap.
Soak the coat in this neutralizer, then give your dog a bath. Brushing your dog isn't just for removing the little nasties his fur can pick up, a good brushing will keep your dog looking and feeling great, cut down the shedding drastically, as well as alert you to any skin and coat problems, and sometimes even internal parasites. File this away for future reference, a dull coat can indicate a worm infestation, and it is best to see your veterinarian.

Like any job, proper tools are essential, and in case of grooming, tools should be matched to your dog's coat type.

Common Brushes
Short Coat
A soft bristled brush is perfect for this coat type. While not strong enough to penetrate deeper in a long-coated dog, on a short coat, this brush is ideal for removing dead hair and spreading the skin's natural oils.
Long Wavy or Wire Coat - A pin brush is best for this type of coat. The straight pins will go deep enough to pull out the dead hair that causes matting and also expel any hitchhikers
Long Curly or Silky Coat - The ever-versatile slicker brush. This is the most common pet brush you see, the one with the flat, rectangular head, and bent wire bristles. This brush can be used for any coat, but is best on a long soft coated dog. Use it to work out tangles that come with curls and to keep the straight silky coat soft and shiny.

Combs and Gloves
Wide-toothed combs are used to clean the undercoat of dogs with heavy, dense fur that regular brushes can not penetrate, like Malamutes and Chow Chows. A comb with closer-set teeth pull any lingering dead hair out after the majority of the work is done.

Hound gloves are unique brushes that you wear like a glove. Semi-soft rubber bristles on one side loosen dead fur in short coats, and the wire bristles on the opposite side strip the dead hair away. Because of the feeling of being caressed, a dog who fights the brush will generally sit for a hound glove.

Now that you've removed any unwanted hair, it's time for that bath!