Some people find the best thing about having a Yorkshire Terrier is the chance to brush their dog’s beautiful locks. These people keep their dogs in full-length coats, which need very little clipping. Most pet owners, however, find it’s more convenient to keep their Yorkshires in a companion clip. Because clipping requires more talent and practice than brushing, you should put some thought into deciding to whom to entrust your dog’s safety, comfort, and coiffeur.

Most Yorkshire owners prefer to have their dogs professionally groomed, for several reasons:

• Professional groomers will do a better job than you can, at least at first.
• Professional groomers are trained to notice abnormalities in your dog, such as lumps, anal sac problems, and ear problems, that you may miss.
• Professional groomers can express anal sacs, which you probably don’t want to do.
• Professional groomers can save you the expense of buying clippers and the time of grooming.

Of course, there are other reasons for preferring to do it yourself:

• Home grooming is less expensive after the initial investment.
• Home grooming doesn’t require an appointment or car trip.
• Home grooming is easier on old dogs.
• Home grooming means you don’t have to place your dog in somebody else’s hands.
• Home grooming is an excellent way of bonding with your dog.

Checking out a groomer, and knowing what to look for, can help alleviate worries about your dog’s safety and happiness. Ask friends with small dogs, especially Yorkshires, who they  use and what their experiences have been. Ask at your veterinary clinic. The clinic may have its own groomer, in which case you know the answer. And even if it doesn’t , the staff may not want to make specific recommendations. But they might be able to tell you if they have heard complaints about specific groomers. Still at a loss? Go to www.findagroomer.com.

Visit the grooming shop. Mid-morning is usually busiest, so you’ll see them at their worst if you go then. Look for the following:

• Does the smell make you wretch? Of course it will smell like wet dog, but it shouldn’t smell like urine or feces.
• Are any dogs treated roughly? Dogs may need to be handled firmly, as they’re not always thrilled or cooperative, but they shouldn’t be handled roughly.
• Are any dogs left unsupervised on the grooming table? A dog left with only his head in a neck loop could jump off the table and choke or break his neck. On the other hand, if the dog has both a neck and rump loop, the groomer can step away from the table, but she should still keep him in sight.
• Are dogs left unsupervised in drying cages? Prefer a shop that fluff-dries its dogs, meaning they blow them dry by hand. If they do use cage driers, the driers absolutely must have timers that turn them off automatically, and the cages must be in sight of the groomer.

Ask what is covered in a grooming session. Typically, it’s a bath, clip, blow-dry, and brush-out, along with toe-nail clip, ear cleaning, and, usually, anal sac expression and ear plucking. For Yorkshires, a topknot or ponytail and bow are commonly included. Ask about the groomer’s experience. Many good groomers belong to the National Dog Groomers Association, which is a good sign, but many other good groomers do not. Many have graduated from a grooming school, but many good groomers are self-taught or apprenticed under another groomer.

Once you’ve settled on a groomer, make an appointment and be honest about your dog’s condition. The groomer will want to set aside the appropriate time in case your dog is extremely matted or needs extra work, rather than rushing through it. Expect to be charged more for excessive matting. In fact, talk to the groomer ahead of time and respect her judgment.

It’s often kindest to clip a heavily matted dog all the way down and start over, and it will probably save you money, too. Also be honest about your dog’s behavior. Tell the groomer if he snaps when you try to cut his nails, or freaks out when the blow drier is turned on. The fewer surprises, the better for everyone, including your dog.

If your dog has no experience being clipped or groomed, don’t expect miracles. The groomer may decide it’s better not to fight over the small stuff, so you may not get the perfect clip you had in mind this first time. Dogs wriggle and jump, and you can’t paste hair back on. Chances are, only another groomer would notice any imperfections. With experience, your dog will learn to take it all in stride, and his clips will reflect it. Occasionally, your dog will get a nick or rash, or a toenail will be cut too short. The groomer should inform you if that happens.