Winter Grooming Tips for Your Morkie Dog

If you take your Morkie (Maltese-Yorkie) dog outside in the winter, you will probably need to take some extra steps in keeping her clean and groomed. My little Mila just loves to go outside and roll around in the snow; unfortunately, this means I have to dry and brush her hair again once we get back inside. Here are some winter grooming tips for your Morkie dog, in addition to her regular grooming schedule.

Winter Grooming: Keep your Morkie's hair long.

I have seen these little dogs with completely shaved bodies in the midst of winter. If you plan on taking your little pup outside in the winter, she should have a protective coat of hair to cover her little body. It doesn't necessarily have to be long --you can still take her in for regular trims--but there should be enough hair to keep your doggy warm.

Winter Grooming: Brush your Morkie's hair daily.

Dogs with such fine hair tend to get mats, especially when the hair is long. For this reason, you should brush your Morkie's hair every day. I like to use a regular pin brush for daily brushing, but if you have difficult mats to remove, try a slicker brush or a comb. If the mats get really difficult to handle, they will likely have to be shaved away or removed by a professional groomer.

Winter Grooming: Bathe your Morkie weekly.

Since Mila likes to roll around in the snow, her hair gets dull and dirty quickly. I bathe her weekly all year round to keep her hair fluffy and shiny, and this ritual should continue through the winter. Wash your Morkie's hair with a gentle shampoo, and use a doggy conditioner if you like. Make sure to wash it out completely, then towel her dry and dry her coat with a hair dryer on a low setting (or a doggy hair dryer, which is more gentle).

Winter Grooming: Dry your Morkie's hair after going outdoors.

If your dog is like Mila, she will probably be wet after a trip outdoors--especially if there is a fresh snowfall. Once you get back in, wrap your Morkie in a towel to dry and warm her up. At the very least, remove the loose snow from her hair. Then run a brush through her hair to prevent and remove tangles.

Winter Grooming: Keep your Morkie's paws clean.

Snow and ice can get stuck in your pup's paws, causing irritation, so make sure to look at them after going outside. To protect her paw pads from harsh snow-melting products, rub a layer of petroleum jelly on them before going out. This will also protect them from the dry winter air. And of course, you should keep your Morkie's nails neatly trimmed all year-round.

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