Morkie Grooming

Your Morkie is a high-maintenance hybrid that requires daily brushing, a lot of close facial maintenance, and very frequent trips to the groomer — on average, once a month. Bathing is an issue that is hotly contested regarding Morkies, and some will advise that Morkies be bathed once a month whereas other groomers will insist that Morkies only be bathed when needed. In any case, this page will help you learn about your beloved Morkie's grooming requirements and recommendations.

When it comes to how to groom a Morkie, know that your Morkie's coat will grow constantly and as such, will require a lot of grooming — just like the coats of the parent breeds, the Maltese and the Yorkie. The low shedding hair is both a boon and a band: while the coat is relatively hypoallergenic, it must also be trimmed frequently, brushed daily and monitored closely lest mats and tangles result. Monthly trips to the groomer are recommended, and if you must bathe your Morkie frequently, it is best to use high-quality shampoos that will not damage the coat's essential oils.

Bathing Morkies--and more specifically, how often to do it--is a subject of debate. Some owners say they bathe their Morkies every couple of weeks, but groomers say this is too frequent and can damage the coat by washing away its essential oils. Perhaps a median time frame of Morkie baths every 4-6 weeks is best. Of course, it's owner's choice.

It's important when bathing a Morkie to use canine shampoo and conditioner, as the kind made for humans has a different pH and will irritate these dogs' skin. Morkies have pretty sensitive skin anyway--so the best Morkie shampoo is the hypoallergenic kind, which is usually free of dyes and chemicals the will make these dogs' skin itchy and dry. Overall, the best shampoo for Morkies includes brands like 4-Legger, Earthbath, and Isle of Dogs, all of which carry hypoallergenic products.

How to bathe a Morkie: first give the dog a good brushing. Your Morkie might be small enough to bathe in the kitchen sink; otherwise, a bathtub (which hopefully has a spray nozzle attachment) or an outdoor plastic pool using a garden hose will work. Wet the coat thoroughly, then apply a small amount of shampoo to the dog's back. Lather well, working downward and outward as you go. (And don't forget the legs, underbelly, and tail!) Clean the dog's face, head, and ears with a washcloth, then rinse the coat completely.

Towel-dry the coat, then continue drying with a hair dryer on its lowest heat setting, brushing the hair out with a small pin brush as you dry. Finish by giving the coat another quick brush-through to make it look clean and neat.

There are many Morkie haircuts from which you can choose to style your Morkie. Many groomers may recommend one of the two most popular - the Schnauzer or the Westie — but there is also a modified Schnauzer, the puppy cut and a Korean Cut.

While the Schnauzer (or even the modified Schnauzer) cut won't make your Morkie look like a Schnauzer, the closely trimmed torso and the long hair left on the legs — along with the block-shaped head that accents the beard and eyebrows the best it can — is a very nice cut for Morkies. (The modified Schnauzer is a little to easier to maintain, it should be noted, as there is much less detail done to the head and legs.)

The Westie cut will give your Morkie a round face while the body is trimmed closely and the legs are left somewhat long. This cut requires frequent visits to the groomer to maintain it, however, so if you want this style but not the maintenance needs to keep it, the puppy cut may be better as it is defined by a short cut all over the body and legs while the face is rounded and may be complimented with a topknot.

The Korean cut is a modern style that has the torso, neck and beard trimmed short; the ears, topknot and tail trimmed to be long; the muzzle made round; and the legs offering the most distinctive feature: flared to resemble boots.