Question for jenluckenbach

[robinh]

With regard to grooming a Yorkie, if you don't mind I have some questions and would appreciate your advice.

We take Molly and have her hair done in a puppy cut every 6 weeks or so. We are leaving the body hair a little longer in the winter since it gets so cold here. I do like to keep her face trimmed as short as I can. If I don't she ends up with crunchy face from everything she eats and drinks. I gently wipe her face with a washrag after she eats, but she takes definite exception to it. Right now I try to brush and gently comb her hair at least once every other day.

Questions are:

How often should I bathe her? Current schedule is about every two to three weeks depending on how much time she spends outside.

Do you recommend any kind of conditioner to keep her hair from being so static-filled? When I get done brushing, the hair stands up all over.

What do you recommend I use around her eyes to clean out where her eyes goop-up (don't know another word) in the corners? Tried the washrag trick, but it just doesn't work. And I don't want to do anything that will hurt her.

Thanks for your help. :)

[jenluckenbach]

Bathing 2 to 3 weeks is fine. You could ven do it once a week if needed as long as you are using a dog shampoo. (a lot of people think it is OK to use people shampoo, and it is not the best)

Any cream rinse for dogs is good. Just chose one whose fragrance you like. For winter static I put it on heavy and then rinse. But for other times when the static is not so bad you can lightly mist it on and dry it through the coat (not rinse) For in between bathing, dilute some cream rinse with water, put it in a spray bottle, and mist her when you brush her.

for the eyes, the groomer should be shaving this area at each grooming. Even though show dogs do not get this area shaved, it is the most hygienic way to go for pets. So make sure the groomer is doing this. Then wiping the area dry as often as possible will make the upkeep easier. If allowed to dry, that is when it gets hard to get out. If it does become hard and too large to get out, see if your groomer will just take her in to shave the eye area. Or....a flea comb, one with very fine teeth, might remover the crust. It will pull a little, but better than to let it get bigger.

[robinh]

I wondered about bathing her more often. In this weather, we don't want her to get too cold. Will probably go back to doing it more often when the weather gets warmer. We do use a dog shampoo - to me they don't seem to irritate the dogs skin quite as easily.

The groomer does trim around her eyes, but it's like her eyes run a little and they get crusty. I will try and make it a habit to wipe around her eyes every day.

Thanks for the help! :D

[jenluckenbach]

I actually wipe my kitties eyes 2 to 3 times a day. Some weep more than others, but just make a habit that whenever you see her, or pet her, you wipe the eyes. it becomes second nature to you both after a while.