Morkie Grooming Schedule: What I Do Every Day, Week, and Month

Last Tuesday Georgie ate my sock and acted like I’d wronged him when I took it back. He’s lucky his breath isn’t as bad as Teddy’s, but it was still a soggy mess. The little dude needs constant maintenance, otherwise he’d just be a matted sock-eating gremlin. You asked about his grooming schedule, and honestly, it’s a lot, but I’ve got it down to a science now. Here’s the real deal:

Daily: The Essential Minimum

Okay, so daily is mostly about keeping him from turning into a dreadlocked swamp monster, especially with his “I’m a wolf” delusions. The main thing is brushing. His hair is fine, like cotton candy, and it tangles if you even look at it wrong. For this, I use the Chris Christensen Original Series Pin Brush, large, about $45 on Amazon. Yeah, it’s pricey for a brush, but trust me, I tried cheaper ones. The ones with the little plastic nubs on the pins just pull his hair and he hates it. This one glides through. He still acts like I’m trying to murder him, but it works. I brush him for about 5-10 minutes, focusing on his armpits, behind his ears, and his little pantaloons because those are the worst for matting. He tolerates it better if I give him a tiny piece of freeze-dried liver afterward. Teddy usually tries to steal it, which causes a whole new drama, but that’s a story for another time.

I also do a quick eye check. Morkies are notorious for tear stains. I tried everything for these – angel eyes supplements (didn’t work, felt like a scam), countless wipes. What actually makes a difference is cleaning them daily with just a damp cotton ball or a soft cloth, and making sure the hair around his eyes is trimmed super short. I use Chubby Puppy Curved Grooming Shears, 4.5 inch, $15 on Amazon, just the tips, very carefully. Georgie thinks these scissors are personally insulting him, but it prevents the crusty eye situation. If I skip this, he gets gross goop within a day and then it’s a matted mess under his eyes, which he then tries to rub off on the couch.

Finally, teeth. I try to brush them every day. Keyword: try. He hates it. I use Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste, poultry flavor, $10 on Amazon. It smells like chicken jerky, so he’s slightly less offended. I manage to get a minute or two in. Honestly, it’s more about maintenance than deep cleaning, but it helps ward off expensive vet dental cleanings. If I miss a day, I don’t beat myself up, but I aim for it.

Weekly: The Spa Treatment (or torture, according to Georgie)

Weekly is bath time. Georgie despises baths with the fiery passion of a thousand suns. He looks at me like I’ve betrayed his entire existence when I lead him to the tub. I use Earthbath Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo and Conditioner, fragrance-free, $15 on Amazon. It’s gentle, doesn’t irritate his skin, and washes out easily. I tried fancy shampoos with fragrances before, but they sometimes made him itch or just didn’t clean well. Plus, he thinks he’s a wolf, so he doesn’t need to smell like lavender.

After the bath, it’s blow-drying time. This is critical for preventing mats. I use a human hairdryer on a cool setting, brushing constantly with the pin brush. If you let them air dry, their hair mats like crazy. He fights me the entire time, but I make sure he’s completely dry. This can take 20-30 minutes. My back usually hurts afterward, and Georgie usually glares at me for the rest of the day.

Nail trims also happen weekly. I use the Safari Professional Nail Trimmer, small, $7 on Amazon. They’re sharp and easy to handle. I tried a dremel once (the Dremel 7300-PT, $50) because everyone raves about it, but Georgie hated the vibration and noise even more than clippers. He’s got an opinion about everything, and that opinion was a hard no. I just snip the tips, being super careful not to hit the quick. If you do, it bleeds, and then he really thinks you’re trying to murder him. I keep Kwik Stop styptic powder ($10) on hand just in case.

I also check his ears weekly. Morkies can be prone to ear infections because of their floppy ears and hair growth inside. I use an ear cleaning solution, like Zymox Ear Cleanser, $15 on Amazon, and cotton balls. Just squirt a bit in, massage the base of the ear, and then wipe out the gunk. He tolerates this better than the nail trims, surprisingly. Probably because Teddy sometimes gets ear infections, so Georgie sees it as a sign of weakness he needs to avoid.

Monthly: The Big Cut

Monthly, or sometimes every 4-5 weeks, Georgie gets a full haircut. I used to take him to a professional groomer, and while they did a great job, it was $80 a pop, and Georgie would come home traumatized. So, I learned to do it myself. I use the Wahl Bravura Lithium Ion Clipper, $150 on Amazon. It’s cordless, quiet, and powerful enough for his fine hair. I tried cheaper clippers ($50-$70 range) and they would snag his hair or die halfway through the cut. These are worth the investment.

I typically do a “teddy bear cut” – keeping his body hair about 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, his face a bit longer and rounded, and his ears slightly longer. This keeps him looking cute and prevents matting. I use a variety of guard combs with the clippers. This whole process, including the bath, blow-dry, and cut, can take a good 2-3 hours. By the end, we’re both exhausted, but he looks like a civilized member of society again, even if he still thinks he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

I also give him a good anal gland expression check monthly. I know, gross, but some small dogs need it. If he’s scooting his butt on the carpet, that’s usually the sign. My vet taught me how to do it. If you’re not comfortable with it, definitely let your vet or a professional groomer handle it.

So yeah, that’s Georgie’s full grooming routine. It’s a commitment, but it keeps him healthy and comfortable. And smelling less like a damp sock.

Honestly, if I could afford it, I’d pay a groomer to do it all.

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