I do Layla at home myself. She used to freak out at the groomer and i just ddin't like leaving her there that long.

i made some videos that might be helpful.
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...cerella02.html

I trim Taz myself. I am not the best at it but getting better. He is pretty good about being still and I really just trim the long hairs off him and then trim up his face. I am like you and just don't feel comfortable leaving my dog for 3 hours with someone I don't know.
Theresa

I just started trimming Max in between groomer visits.
My first time.
I think I did pretty good job. His face is a little shorter than I would have liked but the rest looks like he went to the groomers. :) YAY!
He is a good boy when he gets groomed!
Still plan on taking him in still though. I just will have to take him in half the time.
*He looks just like the pictures I have on this site except his face is shorter by at least half. I thought the groomer cut his face to long so I got carried away. The rest of his body was easy with the clippers, scissors and thinning shears.

I groom my babies and all my friend's babies (even some of my friend's parent's pups too). I want to forewarn you ... ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN!!! So it is best to be armed with blood stop (its a yellow powder) used most of the time on nails when they are cut too close to the quick. And antiseptic spray (both can be bought at your local pet supply store). The first time I groomed Versace I used school scissors (you know the ones with colored handles LOL) needless to say he looked like he was groomed with a lawn mower LOL I was trying ot give him a puppy cut. Later my mom bought me clippers as a gift. These must be taken care of properly or will be a waste of your money. They come with comb attachments. Look at some video's on youtube! GREAT visual aids!

I personally clip my furbutts hair every other time myself, we have clippers to do the body and i just do as best as i can around the legs and face. On the other months we send them to the groomers to fix any boo boo's i made cutting their hair and to do their nails and anal glands. it saves us a bunch of money and it only took 2 times of doing it myself to get them to look presentable lol.

I clip both of the girls. Sadie doesn't have a nice coat so keeping her clipped is a better look for her. Lillie HAD a GORGEOUS coat, very long, silky and shiny...I would have to trim the bottom every time she got a bath because it would drag on the floor. I now clip her too. I use a 1 1/4 in guide on the clippers so their hair isn't really short. I clip the hair on their ears, 1/3 down, the little hairs that stick in their eyes, around their feet, their hineys and between the pads on their feet so they don't slide when running around the house. I am not a professional and a pro would probably look at them and pick them apart but....I have heard so many horror stories of botch jobs and even worse....getting attacked by other dogs and people losing their babies...I don't want to take that chance....I think they look ADORABLE!!

I love grooming my Yorkies
 

I groom my Yorkies as well.

They can catch kennel cough at the groomer and if you keep them home and don't board them at the vet ever that is one less thing to vaccinate for.

I started doing it because the groomers are so pricey and the whole experience most of the time isn't a good one for my dogs. I also felt that no one would be as gentle as I would.

A breeder friend of mine has many dogs and has been breeding for some time now so she has just about everything down to a science. She recommended the Norelco T765 for the ears and anal area. I have used others and this one works the best. You can get it on Amazon right now for $24.

I feel that the nails are the biggest challenge but if you want to do your own grooming and the nails makes you uncomfortable you can take your Yorkie to Petsmart and they will do the nails for you on a walk in basis for $8. I eventually started doing them myself. I just started cutting back a small amount until I understood and got a feel for how far back I needed to go. It comes with practice. With this method I have had very few bleeding nails. Unforutanly you do learn from trial and error and you have to mess up a few times to learn where to stop on the nails.

It is great way to bond with your beloved Yorkie.

I have always groomed my babies myself but I stink at trying to teach someone how to groom! Lol. :p

Im sure there are probably lots of youtube videos you could check out to "watch" people groom!