Edited by: Mike Powell
Reviewed by: Abby TexasLast Update:
The Rundown
Premium Option: Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
“Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush has good teeth length for Yorkies with medium to long hair. It has a comfortable grip with an anti-slip handle so it’s easy to use.”
Best Value for Money: Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Brush
“Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Brush is a high-quality combination of a pin brush and a bristle brush at a very friendly price. It has safety tips on pin brush to protect your dog’s skin.”
Best for Yorkies with Short Coats: ConairPRO Pet-It Boar Bristle Brush
“ConairPRO Pet-It Boar Bristle Brush uses palm-petting grip technology allowing you to brush your pup in a petting motion. It has thick bristles ideal for Yorkies with short coat as it stimulates blood flow.”
Yorkies may be tiny, but they have a lot of character packed into their little frames! They also have a lot of fur, and it’s up to us to keep it from getting too unruly.
Keeping your Yorkie’s fur brushed can make a huge difference to their comfort. But it’s essential to get the best brush for Yorkie coats so that you don’t hurt them or cause discomfort instead!
You’ll need to consider your own Yorkie’s fur before choosing which brush would be right for them. Here are our top ten choices – there’s one for every kind of pup!
Table of Contents
- The Rundown
- Best Brush for Yorkies in 2021
- Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
- Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Detangling Dog Brush
- ConairPRO Dog & Cat Pet-It Boar Bristle Brush
- BioSilk for Dogs Eco-Friendly Boar Hair Bristle Brush
- Glendan Grooming Brush
- LilPals Double-Sided Dog Comb
- Safari by Coastal Mat Remover
- Chris Christensen 16mm Pin T-Brush, Mini
- Bamboo Groom Palm-Held Brush
- Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
- Understanding the Coat of Your Yorkie
- 5 Yorkie Care Tips
- How to Choose the Best Brush For Your Yorkie
- Questions & Answers
Best Brush for Yorkies in 2021
Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
Premium Option
PROS
- Retractable bristles make the brush super easy to clean
- Comfort grip and anti-slip handle for safety
- Extra durable, thanks to being able to store bristles away
- Good length teeth for medium to long hair
CONS
- Not suitable for dogs with very short coats
The Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush wins top spot for the best brush for Yorkie hair. If your Yorkshire Terrier has medium to long hair, this would be a good choice of brush to use.
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Short-haired Yorkies may get scratched by the wires. Longer-haired ones, though, would get the benefit of the stainless steel bristles getting rid of loose fur that causes mats.
One of the most useful things about this brush is that the bristles retract. This means the wires last longer than other brushes, because they’re safely stored away when you’re not using them. It also makes it super easy to clean – just retract and sweep away the hair!
Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Detangling Dog Brush
Best Value for Money
PROS
- Combination pin brush and bristle brush
- Safety tips on pin brush to protect your dog’s skin
- Ergonomic handle for comfort
- Very affordable combo
CONS
- Might not work well for serious matting
We’ve chosen the Hartz Groomer's Brush as our best brush for Yorkie parents on a budget, as it’s packed with value for an extremely friendly price.
This double-sided dog brush is a high-quality combination of a pin brush and a bristle brush. It’s super for a Yorkshire Terrier with short, medium, or long coats.
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The stainless steel pins on one side are good for removing mats that aren’t too tangled. They have safety tips to prevent your dog’s skin being scratched.
On the other side, nylon bristles help to stimulate blood flow, massage the skin, and distribute the skin’s natural oils to nourish the skin and hair.
ConairPRO Dog & Cat Pet-It Boar Bristle Brush
Best for Yorkies with Short Coats
PROS
- 50% natural boar, 50% synthetic bristles
- Palm-petting grip technology
- Comfortable in the hand
- Stimulates blood flow
CONS
- Might be uncomfortable for those with large hands
The ConairPRO Dog & Cat Pet-It Boar Brush is one of the best brushes for Yorkies with short coats. If your Yorkshire Terrier has short hair or is scared of a large brush, then this high quality Yorkie brush could work really well.
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Palm-petting technology refers to its unique grip, which means instead of holding it like a normal dog brush by a handle, you simply slip the handle between your fingers, rest it in your palm, and brush your dog like you’re petting or stroking them.
The thick bristles are great for getting the blood flowing and giving a bit of a massage.
BioSilk for Dogs Eco-Friendly Boar Hair Bristle Brush
Most Eo-Friendly
PROS
- Made from plant-based materials
- Spiral flex technology helps contour your dog’s body
- Uniquely-dispersed boar bristles
- Flexible and gentle on your dog’s skin
CONS
- Can be hard to clean
If the environment is a concern for you, the BioSilk for Dogs Eco-Friendly Brush would be a good choice. It’s made from responsibly sourced, plant-based material, and uses less material than others thanks to its unique spiral design.
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Spiral flex technology helps the brush shape to your dog’s body while you’re brushing, making it easier to reach those difficult spots.
This would be a great dog brush for Yorkies with sensitive skin, as it’s extremely gentle and flexible. You can brush your Yorkie firmly without hurting them, but to help stimulate circulation.
Glendan Grooming Brush
Best Small Brush
PROS
- Perfect size brush for a toy breed dog
- Rotating brush head allows you to reach those difficult spots
- Safety tips on wires to prevent scratching
- Great for removing tangles in long or short fur
CONS
- Might be too hard on the skin for short-haired Yorkies
Most slicker brushes are too large for a Yorkshire Terrier, but the Glendan Grooming Brush is just perfect. The small design is quite all right for a tiny dog, and the rotating head means you can get it into just about any area it needs to be.
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The stainless steel wires are short and thin, and capped with a safety tip so you can brush your Yorkie without worrying about hurting them.
LilPals Double-Sided Dog Comb
Best Comb
PROS
- Two different combs in one
- 3-inch, comfortable handle
- Rounded teeth are safe on the skin
- Great for detangling a long coat
CONS
- Not likely to be useful for a short-haired Yorkie
- Not safe for use around the eyes
The LilPals Double-Sided Dog Comb is the best grooming comb we’ve found for a Yorkshire Terrier. Firstly, it’s easy to hold thanks to its ergonomic, 3-inch long handle.
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Secondly, it has two sides – one with 32 closely-spaced steel comb teeth, and the other featuring 17 teeth that are a bit more widely spaced.
It’s perfect for combing the knots out of a long coat before you brush your Yorkie with the right brush for their coat.
Safari by Coastal Mat Remover
Best for Dematting
PROS
- Works equally well for long or coarse coats
- Curved edges for a safe experience
- Can be used both right-handed and left-handed
- Ergonomic design
CONS
- Not so easy to clean (be careful not to cut yourself on the blades)
If your Yorkie is prone to matting, you need a tool such as the Safari by Coastal Mat Remover. Even using the best dog brush for Yorkies may not be effective against serious mats!
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This small tool gets rid of mats large and small, leaving your Yorkie’s hair tangle-free so you can go to work with your best Yorkie brush.
It’s safe, with curved edges and an ergonomic handle that can be used right or left-handed.
Chris Christensen 16mm Pin T-Brush, Mini
Best Pin Brush
PROS
- Works on any type of fur, great for all Yorkies
- Unique design disperses pressure easily
- Made of high quality, durable materials
- Rounded bristles for safety
CONS
- Some may not like that there are no safety tips
One of the types of best brushes for Yorkies is a pin-style. We like the Chris Christensen Brush because it’s little enough to be gentle on a Yorkie, and has an unusual shape that’s ergonomic and easy to handle.
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The wooden handle also makes it durable. The pins are rounded for extra safety, but don’t have safety tips on them, which some Yorkie parents may not like.
Bamboo Groom Palm-Held Brush
Best Wooden
PROS
- Distributes natural oils on the skin and coat
- Made from sustainable bamboo
- Easy to hold and use
- Good for short and longer fur
CONS
- Not very helpful for removing tangles
A wooden handle like the Bamboo Groom Palm-Held Brush can help to absorb and distribute natural oils on your dog’s skin, nourishing the skin and coat even more.
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This brush is crafted from bamboo, which is an eco-friendly choice. It’s polished to make it water-resistant, and sanded to make it ergonomic.
The boar bristles give your Yorkie’s coat a proper brushing, and make sure to spread those oils nicely.
Understanding the Coat of Your Yorkie
Yorkies’ coats are unique! You may have seen sleek, glossy coats, especially on Yorkies who take part in shows. Other Yorkies, though, have wiry, curly coats.
Technically, Yorkies have hair rather than fur. Their hair is similar to human hair, and doesn’t shed. In fact, their hair tends to grow and grow and grow, without falling out.
This means regular hair care is extra important. Some of the loose fur can be brushed out, which is why brushing often is necessary.
Some of it will need to be trimmed. Grooming is an essential part of keeping your Yorkie happy, comfortable, and healthy!
If you’re wondering what kind of hair your Yorkie has, here’s a quick rundown on the various Yorkie coats.
Yorkie Puppy Coat
Yorkie puppies have a thicker coat than an adult Yorkie. They’re also quite soft and cuddly! Their coats are this way so that their little bodies can be protected from the elements. As they become adults, their coat will develop into either a silky or a wire coat.
Often, Yorkie puppy coats have much more black coloring on them than adults’. As they grow, their coat will even out and become less dark.
Silky Coat
If you’ve ever seen a Yorkie in a dog show, that’s a silky coat. This kind of coat is much like fine human hair, and hangs long and straight without waves or kinks. A true silky-haired Yorkie also has a sort of sheen or gloss to their coat.
This kind of coat is considered to meet the American Kennel Club’s show dog standards. If you want your Yorkie to participate in dog shows, this is the look you need!
Wire/Cotton Coat
Yorkies with this type of coat aren’t suitable to be show dogs (as adorable as they are!). These coats have a lot more texture than a silky one. If your Yorkie has wavy, dense hair that curls, they have a wire or cotton coat!
Wire coats don’t grow as long as silky coats, and they’re also quite a bit more prone to matting. Your wire-haired Yorkie will need grooming and brushing just as much as a silky!
5 Yorkie Care Tips
1 – Identify Your Yorkie’s Coat
If you’ve never considered your Yorkie’s coat, now is a good time to do so! Based on the descriptions above, you should be able to figure out which one fits your Yorkie.
This is an important step to figure out which would be the best brush for Yorkies with that type of hair. They’re slightly different, so the grooming tools you’d use for a silky-haired pup wouldn’t necessarily be the same as what you’d use for a wire-haired.
2 – Don’t Brush Dry
Because Yorkies have hair rather than fur, it can help make brushing easier on both you and the Yorkie if you spray their coat lightly with water before brushing.
You may have read that moisture can make tangles and mats worse, but that’s usually true for fur, not hair. Your Yorkie’s hair could be easier to brush with a bit of moisture to ease up the knots.
3 – Detangle Gently
Take care when brushing your little one. Start with a comb, and gently work out all the tangles and mats that you can reach.
From there, you can choose the best brush for Yorkie dogs with silky or wire coats. Even if you have already combed out the nasty knots, be careful brushing them. You may find a hidden tangle or two that can pull and hurt your Yorkie if you’re too rough!
4 – Bathe Your Yorkie Regularly
Try to bathe your Yorkie every 6 weeks, with a gentle, easy-on-the-skin shampoo. More often than that, and you’ll most likely accidentally cause your Yorkie’s skin to get too dry.
5 – Pay Attention To Sensitive Areas
Yorkies tend to become extra matted in the armpit and groin areas. If they wear a harness often, it can also cause mats and tangles in their coat. Pay special attention to these areas when brushing – if you don’t keep them tangle-free, they can get out of hand.
How to Choose the Best Brush For Your Yorkie
The state of your Yorkie’s coat will give you an indication of whether or not the brush you’re using is the right one for them. Pay attention to the following things while you’re brushing your dog:
Shine
A healthy shine is a sign of a healthy coat! If your Yorkie’s hair is dull, even though you’re brushing them regularly, it’s a sign that the brush is the wrong one for them.
This shine is important for Yorkshire Terriers with a wire coat as well as a silky coat! Brushing stimulates blood flow, which helps nourish the hair and give that glossy look.
If you’re using the wrong type, it doesn’t quite stimulate the blood flow as well as the best brush for your Yorkie would. That means their hair ends up looking a little more dull.
Texture
A Yorkie’s hair should feel soft to the touch. Even Yorkies who have a wiry coat should feel fluffy and cuddly, and the right brush can help.
Fluffy, soft hair is healthy hair. If your Yorkie’s hair feels rough, dry, or bristly, then it’s a sure sign that the brush you’re using is doing more damage than good.
If you’re using the best brush for Yorkie hair, your little one’s coat will be soft and fluffy.
Comfort
Yorkies tend to have dry and sensitive skin, so it’s extra important to get them a brush that doesn’t aggravate it.
The best brush for Yorkie hair will also feel good on your Yorkie’s skin when you brush them. If brushing is hurting your dog or causing discomfort, you’re going to have a fight on your hands every time you groom them!
It’s important to consider your specific Yorkie’s skin when looking for a brush for them. If your Yorkie is tough and healthy, then they may be able to deal with a tougher brush. If they’re dainty and sensitive, you may need to choose a soft brush.
Questions & Answers
What Are The Different Fur Types of Yorkies?
Technically, there are three types of Yorkie fur, or hair. Silky hair is what you see on show dogs, and it’s long, straight, and very sleek. Wire or cotton hair is quite different, and it’s much shorter, more textured, and wavy or curly.
The other type is called soft hair. It’s very similar to silky hair – so much so, in fact, that many don’t even consider it as a separate coat type. Generally, long-haired Yorkies will be silky-haired, and short-haired dogs will be wire-haired.
How Should You Brush A Yorkie’s Coat?
No matter which coat your Yorkie has, you brush them the same way. There are three steps to grooming your Yorkie: combing, brushing, and (if you wish) a leave-in conditioner.
Combing
If your Yorkie’s coat is closely shaved, you can skip this step. If not, it’s a good idea to comb through the coat to remove knots. With a steel comb, you can work them out easily and without pulling on your Yorkie’s hair.
Brushing
You’ll need a grooming brush to get for medium or long coats. You need to groom long, silky hair fairly vigorously to make sure it’s smooth and healthy and gets that shine.
The best brush for Yorkie grooming really depends on your dog. There should be one for your dog on this list!
Conditioning
If you wish, apply a conditioner to your dog’s coat to moisturize and nourish their hair and skin.
What Are The Different Brush Types For Yorkies?
The best brush for Yorkie grooming depends on the Yorkie’s coat! Common brushes are:
Pin Brushes
A pin brush looks kind of like a human hairbrush. They have evenly spaced pins with a “safety cap”.
Bristle Brushes
A bristle brush has fine, closely packed bristles. These can be made of nylon or boar’s hair, and disperse pressure nicely across the coat.
Comb
A comb is an essential grooming tool for removing mats in awkward areas or around the face.
Slicker Brush
These have thin wires that are designed for reaching deep into the coat and removing mats. A slicker brush is commonly used for dogs with double coats.
You may see a slicker brush on every list of best brushes for Yorkie grooming. But for dogs like a Yorkshire Terrier, with sensitive skin, a slicker brush could be hard on their skin. We recommend choosing a slicker brush that is small, with thicker wires that are capped, if possible.
How Often Should I Brush A Yorkie?
If you want to, and have the time for it, you can brush your dog every day. For most people, though, they don’t have time every day.
If that’s the case for you, don’t worry! If you have a Yorkshire Terrier with a short or shaved coat, once or twice a week will work.
Long, silky haired dogs will need brushing at least 3 times a week.
How Can You Prevent Matting On Your Yorkie’s Hair?
Regular brushing can remove loose hair that causes matting. Simply taking care to brush and comb your dog’s coat every other day can prevent mats from starting in the first place!
Also, don’t bathe your dog too often. This can cause the natural oils in their coat to deplete, leaving their hair dry and susceptible to knotting.