Mi-Ki Coat Types

A long-coat puppy and three smoothies

What Mi-Ki Coat Type is Right for Me?

Part of the charm of a Mi-Ki is the variety of colors and coat types they come in. This guide will help you determine the Mi-Ki coat type that might be best suited to your lifestyle and maintenance schedule.

Long Coat Mi-Kis

Long-coat Mi-Kis are the most common. Many people gravitate to this look for health reasons as the long-coat Mi-Kis tend to be better for those who suffer from dog allergies. Long coat Mi-Kis have hair rather than fur. It grows indefinitely so will require skilled grooming to keep it clean, tangle free and trimmed. Mi-Kis with the traditional long coat don't shed, but some hair will come out during combing sessions, much like human hair. 

The long coats feature a beard, mustache, and eyebrows. The texture may differ from Mi-Ki to Mi-Ki. Some Mi-Kis have a silkier coat that lies close to the body while others have a cottony coat that appears fuller. The cottony coats may be prone to matting. Many long-coat Mi-Ki owners opt to keep this type of coat in a shorter "teddy-bear" or puppy cut that is easier to maintain. 

Smooth Face Mi-Kis

Less than 25% of all Mi-Kis registered with the American Mi-Ki Registry Association are smooth-face Mi-Kis. Smooth-face Mi-Kis are often called "smoothies." The smooth-face coat is a recessive trait.

A tricolor smooth-face Mi-Ki.

Smoothies have a demi-long coat without furnishings, meaning they have no beard, mustache, eyebrows, and shorter ankle fur. Some people think smooth-face Mi-Kis resemble long-haired Chihuahuas or Tibetan Spaniels depending on the ear set. 

Smooth-face Mi-Kis are a wonderful choice for people who don't have dog allergies. If you have a busy lifestyle and don't want to have frequent trips to the groomer, a smooth-face Mi-Ki might be ideal. Smoothies do shed and maintain a consistent coat length. 

A smooth-face masked sable Mi-Ki puppy

Grooming the smooth-face can usually be accomplished at home with an occasional bath and perhaps a bit of a shave and trim of the sanitary areas. Sometimes the feet are neatened up a bit too.

F2 Long-coat Mi-Kis

Occasionally, we see Mi-Kis that are genetically long coats but they develop their beard, mustache, and ankle fur at a slower rate. We affectionately call these Mi-Kis "Tweeners" but they are not a cross of a long coat with a smooth-face Mi-Ki.

An F2 long-coat with sparse “furnishings”

Mi-Ki breeders have been aware of this coat type in their programs, but it wasn't until recently that a genetic link became available to test. Animal Genetics identified a second Furnishings gene called "F2." If a Mi-Ki has an F2 gene paired with a smooth-face gene, the dog is still a long coat, but it will have a less-pronounced beard, mustache, and shorter ankle fur.

In time, the tweener coat will often look the same as any other long-coat Mi-Ki. We have found that the tweener coat is one of the easiest long coats to maintain as it is less prone to matting. Trips to the groomer are less frequent. If you like the look of a long coat but prefer a lower-maintenance pet, the tweener coat just might be perfect for you!  We think they are the ideal pet coat. 

Wonderful Variations in Mi-Ki Coat Types

Every Mi-Ki is unique and you will find that there are even differences in coats within the coat type groups. Some long-coat Mi-Kis will have a silky coat and some will have a more cottony coat. Some coats are straight, some are wavy, and some are almost curly.

Some smooth-face Mi-Kis are sleeker and tend to shed less. Other smoothies have a very thick dense coat that sheds more.

Regardless of the Mi-Ki that you adopt, you’ll learn that this breed is one you’ll never regret. You may even decide you need more than one!