How to Keep a Morkie’s Coat from Matting (My Daily Routine)

Last Tuesday Georgie ate my sock and acted like I’d wronged him when I took it back. He gave me this look, like, “Excuse me, do you know what you just interrupted? I was in the middle of a very important chew-and-destroy mission.” The sheer audacity. But honestly, if I didn’t get that sock out of his mouth, it would have been tangled in his beard faster than you can say “vet bill for impaction.” And that, my friend, is a perfect segue into why Georgie’s coat is a constant battle, even when he thinks he’s a majestic, untamed wolf.

You asked about keeping a Morkie’s coat from matting, and let me tell you, it’s not for the faint of heart. Georgie, my tiny Morkie who genuinely believes he’s a direwolf, has a coat that’s a beautiful, fluffy trap. It’s like a magnet for every stray crumb, every tiny burr, and apparently, every sock fiber known to man. I’ve tried so much crap, and honestly, a lot of it was a waste of time and money. Here’s the real deal on what I do every single day to keep him from looking like a neglected dust bunny.

Daily Brushing: The Non-Negotiable Torture Session

Okay, “torture session” is a bit dramatic, but Georgie truly despises being brushed. He acts like I’m trying to pull out his teeth, not just smooth his fur. The key here is consistency, and starting young if you can. We didn’t, and now I pay the price. I do it every single day, without fail. If I miss a day, even just one, I can feel the little knots starting to form, especially behind his ears, in his armpits, and on his little fluffy butt. Those areas are mat magnets.

I started with a bunch of cheap brushes from PetSmart – the kind with the little plastic nubs on the end of the metal pins. Total garbage. They barely penetrated his fur, and Georgie just looked at me like, “Are you even trying?” Then I got a slicker brush, also from PetSmart, for about $10. Better, but it still pulled too much and he’d yelp. The absolute game-changer for us was the Chris Christensen Big G Slicker Brush. Yes, it’s expensive, like $60 on Amazon, but holy cow, it’s worth it. The pins are longer and much finer, so they actually get down to the skin without scratching. Georgie still grumbles, but he tolerates it so much better. I also use a metal comb with rotating teeth, specifically the Safari Rotating Tooth Comb, which is like $12. I use this for his face and beard, very gently, and to check for any mats the slicker might have missed. Teddy, his brother, couldn’t care less about brushing, just sits there. Georgie? He acts like it’s a personal affront.

I usually do it in the morning after his walk, when he’s a bit tired out. I lay him on his back on my lap, which he hates, but it gives me access to his belly and armpits. I work in small sections, always brushing in the direction of hair growth, then against it to really fluff things up and check for tangles. When I hit a tiny snag, I use a detangling spray. I’ve tried a few, but the Isle of Dogs Everyday Silky Coating Conditioning Mist is my favorite. It’s about $20. Smells good, and actually helps loosen things up without making his fur greasy. Georgie, of course, gives me the side-eye every time I spray him, as if I’m ruining his natural, wolf-like scent.

Baths: More Frequent Than You Think

When I first got Georgie, I thought, “Oh, small dog, I’ll bathe him once a month, maybe every six weeks.” Wrong. So wrong. Morkie hair is more like human hair than dog fur, and it gets dirty and oily just as fast. Dirty hair mats faster than clean hair, hands down. Plus, Georgie loves rolling in anything remotely stinky, and Teddy always manages to get mud on him. So, baths are every 1-2 weeks for us. Any longer and I can feel the texture of his fur changing, getting sticky and more prone to tangles.

I use a two-step shampoo and conditioner system. For shampoo, I swear by Chris Christensen White on White Whitening Shampoo, even though Georgie is more cream-colored. It’s like $25 for a small bottle, but you dilute it heavily, so it lasts. It really gets him clean without stripping his natural oils. For conditioner, I use the Chris Christensen After Bath Conditioner, which is about the same price. I let the conditioner sit for a few minutes while I massage it in, focusing on all those trouble spots. It really helps to soften the hair and make it easier to brush out afterward.

After the bath, I towel dry him thoroughly, then I use a low-heat blow dryer. Seriously, don’t air dry a Morkie. Their hair will mat into a felted mess as it dries. I use a human hairdryer on a cool or low-heat setting, making sure to brush him with the slicker brush as I dry. This “line drying” technique is crucial – it straightens the hair and prevents any tangles from forming as it dries. Georgie usually tolerates this part because he knows treats are coming, but he still looks utterly humiliated, like a soggy, fluffy noodle.

Trimming: DIY or Pro?

I used to try to trim Georgie myself, with a cheap pair of grooming scissors from Target. Epic fail. He ended up looking like he’d lost a fight with a lawnmower. His beard was uneven, his ears were choppy, and I once accidentally gave him a high-water skirt around his tail. Teddy, who has a slightly different coat texture, doesn’t need as much trimming, but Georgie is a fluff ball.

Now, I take him to a professional groomer every 6-8 weeks for a full cut. I ask for a “puppy cut” or a “teddy bear cut” – basically, keeping him relatively short all over, especially on his belly, armpits, and around his sanitary areas. This really cuts down on the matting potential and makes daily brushing so much easier. Between professional grooms, I do use some blunt-tipped grooming shears, like the Hertzko Professional Grooming Scissors ($15), to trim around his eyes and his sanitary area. Just tiny touch-ups. Georgie usually just sighs dramatically during this, as if I’m ruining his rugged good looks.

Diet and Supplements: It Matters

I honestly didn’t think diet played a huge role in coat health until Georgie started having some skin issues. His fur was dry, dull, and seemed to mat even faster. After talking to our vet, we switched his food. We now feed him Royal Canin Shih Tzu Adult Dry Dog Food, believe it or not. Even though he’s a Morkie, the Shih Tzu formula is specifically designed for long, silky coats and sensitive skin. It’s pricey, about $40 for a small bag, but his coat is noticeably softer and shinier. We also add a pump of Zesty Paws Aller-Immune Bites with Salmon Oil to his breakfast. It’s a chewable supplement, about $25, and the salmon oil is great for skin and coat health. Georgie thinks they’re treats, even though Teddy often tries to steal them.

So yeah, it’s a lot of work. But Georgie, for all his wolf-like aspirations and dramatic antics, is worth it. Plus, a matted Morkie is an unhappy M

Frequently Asked Questions