What exactly does a Yorkie need? In order to be prepared for when you bring your Yorkie home, you need to know exactly what a Yorkie needs. We’ll show you the bare minimum of what you’ll need as well as some other super convenient accessories that might make life with your Yorkie a little more easy.
Yorkie’s really don’t NEED that much. It is often us, who want to buy all the things, that can rack up a bill in the pet store really fast.
Yorkie Supplies Bare Essentials
If I were to strip away all the accessories – this is the bare essential Yorkie supplies list that I recommend for someone getting a Yorkie.
- Harness and Leash
- Water bowl and food bowl
- Crate and attached pen
- Pee pads
- Variety of toys
- Bristle Brush/Pin Brush
Below, we’ll give you more information about why each of these items are so important. As well, we’ll give you some other products that you will find super helpful…so read on!
Going Out
Harnesses and Leashes
One of the most important Yorkie supplies is a harness. Yorkies should never have a leash attached to a collar. Yorkie’s are prone to collapsed trachea and a collar and leash would put undue pressure on their trachea. Always use a harness and leash when you go out.
Harness: this harness is great for small sized dogs.
No pull harness: this harness is great if you want to teach your dog not to pull on the leash. You can attach the leash to the clip at the Yorkie’s chest. If your Yorkie tries to pull, he will pull himself to face you rather than his object of interest. It is a gentle way to teach him how to walk calmly on a leash.
Collar and ID
It is okay to use a collar for ID tags. You can also use a collar to attach Air Pods so you can track your dog if she escapes.
Air tags collar holder: this will attach the air tag to the collar of your choice.
Air tag: an air tag will track the location of your dog should he get lost.
CarryingÂ
Because of their small size, Yorkies, especially puppies, may get tired when you go out. Or you may want to take them places where it would be more appropriate for them to be contained. Although not on the bare essential Yorkie supplies list, they are convenient. These are great options for carrying your Yorkie along with you.
Sling: a sling will carry your dog over one shoulder in the front.
Backpack: a backpack will carry your dog over 2 shoulders, often in the back, but can be switched to the front.
Feeding
Bowls
Definitely included in the essential Yorkie supplies list, your Yorkie will need bowls for both food and water. Considerations to keep in mind: make sure that the bowl is not too deep or wide so that your Yorkie doesn’t have trouble reaching to the bottom or the center. Stainless steel, ceramic, or glass are much better options than a plastic bowl. Here are some great options for bowls:
Learn more, with this great info on Feeding a Yorkie.
Treats
While there are a lot of treats out there for dogs, you don’t want to load your Yorkie up with treats. The food you offer him is designed as a complete nutrition on it’s own. Giving him too many treats can make him obese or make him less hungry for his regular food.
For treats for training, you can offer him small cut up hot dogs (you can cut the hot dog into 50 pieces even).
Nutritional boost
Yorkies are prone to go off their food if they are stressed or sick or had a difficult day. While these foods should not be offered regularly, providing them with a high calorie food can help them when they are not eating to prevent hypoglycemia or to treat hypoglycemia if it has already begun. As far as Yorkie supplies are concerned, this is great to have on hand. Here are 2 great high calorie food options:
Learn more, with this great info on hypoglycemia in a Yorkies.
Containment
Crate
A crate is a wonderful tool to keep your Yorkie safe and feeling secure. Despite the bad rap they get from people, Yorkie’s usually love their crates. It provides them with a den-like atmosphere where they can get away from the rest of the world and relax. It also gives them a familiar home-away-from-home if you travel or they have to go to the vet.
Wire crate: foldable (easy to store or pack in a car), easy to attach to a wire pen, buy a cover or simply put a blanket over top to create a cozy den feel
Learn more with this great info on How to Crate Train a Yorkie Easily.
Pen
The pen is one of my favorite Yorkie supplies. You’ll want a puppy pen to keep your puppy safe when she is sleeping or when you are not able to actively watch her. A pen allows your Yorkie freedom to play, while keeping her from getting into things that can harm her. A pen also allows her to keep from getting stepped on or tripped over while she is sleeping. Finally, a pen offers a litter area for your Yorkie, so she can relieve herself in an appropriate spot and not get used to pottying in your house. Below you’ll find 2 different options for pens:
- Wire puppy pen. Foldable (so easy to store), easy to clean, can easily attach a wire crate or another wire pen to it if you want to make the area biggerÂ
- Durable plastic pen with panels: panels come completely apart (so easy to store), plastic is clean easy, can add extra panels to make a bigger area, can also add a cover (if you’re puppy’s a climber or if you have other animals in the house that try to get in)Â
Flooring
If you are placing your puppy pen in an area where you want to protect your flooring, you can add a protective covering overtop of your flooring. Here are some great options:
- Scrap piece of linoleum (from your local hardware store)
- Pond linerÂ
- Large office chair matÂ
Learn more with this great info on How to Set up a Play pen for Yorkie.
House Training
Litter Area
While nothing beats regularly going outside to go to potty, sometimes, like in the middle of the night, it is difficult to take your Yorkie outside. If you live in a tall apartment building, sometimes it’s more practical to use a litter area. If your puppy has been raised by an involved breeder, she was litter trained to go potty in a designated area. Providing a litter area in the pen or in the area of the house where your dog hangs out is a great idea. These are important Yorkie supplies if your dog is not house trained. Here are some options:
- Washable pee pads Â
- Disposable pee padsÂ
- Potty tray: holds a disposable pee pad and keeps the pee pad from getting chewed. Also allows the pee to fall to the bottom of the tray to prevent your dog from walking in her waste.
Clean-Up
If your Yorkie goes to the bathroom in the house, it is important not just to clean-up the mess, but to get the smell out so that she can’t smell it and it doesn’t trigger her to go to the bathroom there again. To get the smell out, you need to use an enzyme cleaner. Proper cleanup is an important part of house training, making an enzyme cleaner important on the Yorkie supplies list. Here are some options:
- Nature’s MiracleÂ
- Vinegar: you can use full strength vinegar or dilute the vinegar to 50/50 white vinegar and waterÂ
Learn more with this helpful info on How to Potty Train a Yorkie in 7 Easy Steps.
ToysÂ
There are so many toys to choose from! Getting a variety of toys made out of different materials and that make different noises (squeak or crinkle, etc) will help keep your dog from getting bored. Here are some great toy options for Yorkies:Â
- Teethers Nylabone
- Stuffed dogs MultipetÂ
- Small Balls KongÂ
- Knotties for small dogs Huggel HoundsÂ
- Face Squeaky toysÂ
- Extra Small Teddy Bear Kong
- Snuffle mat
Grooming
Yorkies are known for their luxurious hair. Whether you decide to keep the hair short, or grow it long, it is important to keep them well groomed. No Yorkie supplies list would be complete without a way to care for their hair.
Shampoo and conditioner: a good shampoo and conditioner will keep your Yorkie’s hair looking great and keep his hair and skin from drying out.
Bristle brush: a bristle brush is good for both the dog’s hair and skin. This is the only brush you will need if your dog has shorter hair. The bristle brush helps make the hair look smooth and shiny when you are done. It also is great for your Yorkie’s skin.Â
Pin brush: A pin brush is good for dogs with medium to long hair cuts. This brush will help keep the tangles out in a gentle way.
Comb: A comb is unnecessary if your dog has short hair. It is extremely helpful for longer haired dogs. A comb will help you work through any tangled hair. Start with the tangles at the bottom of the hair and slowly work yourself up.
A slicker brush is not needed for a Yorkie as slicker brushes are designed to brush the undercoat.. Yorkies don’t have an undercoatÂ
Groooming hammock, Nail Grinder, and Hair Clippers: A grooming hammock is extremely helpful if you are going to be doing your dog’s nails. It keeps them comfortable and stationary while you work. This grooming hammock also comes with a nail grinder. There are clipper attachments that are helpful for doing the hair around your dog’s bottom as well as shaving their ears if you’re wanting to encourage your dog’s ears to stand up. (I haven’t had much success with these clipper attachments for the dog’s whole body however).
Medical
Talk with your vet about the important preventative medicine for the area of the world you live in. Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention/repellant are common important preventatives.
Toothbrush and paste
Extras
Stairs:Â To avoid future knee problems, I highly recommend teaching Yorkies (and other small breed pups) to use stairs to get on and off furniture as soon as they are big enough to use them.Â
Doggie Door Bell: Teach your Yorkie to ring the doorbell when she is needs to go outside. Our Yorkies do this and it is a game changer. I love this one because it is easy for a Yorkie to activate. Some brands are too difficult for a small dog to push. It keeps them from doing their business in the house. (Sometimes they ring it when they’ve seen a squirrel they want to chase too though! But we don’t mind.)
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