The Morkie, also known as the Yorktese, is an ACHC-recognized Designer Mixed Breed, which is achieved by crossing the Yorkie and the Maltese dog breeds. A popular Designer Mixed Breed, the Morkie will be a great fit for a companion dog and family pet. This crossbreed originates here in the United States, while the Yorkshire terrier hails from England and the Maltese from Malta.
The Morkie blends the personalities of two interesting Toy Breeds. While the Yorkie is a confident attention magnet, the Maltese is an ideal lap dog. The Yorkie and Maltese can be good with other family pets when socialized early and often, but will need to be watched over carefully when around strange dogs to keep from getting into disagreements with much larger breeds.
Neither the Yorkshire nor the Maltese seems to realize they are a small dog, which will probably translate to the Morkie as well.These dogs are watchdog, however, so a home with very young children will require supervision to assure that the toy-sized Morkie is not accidentally injured by rough play.
If you are looking for a perfect apartment dog, this breed may be for you. The Maltese and the Yorkshire breeds both are ideal for condo or apartment living because they need less space than many dog breeds. The Morkie will not like being alone because they love attention, and could become depressed or destructive if left alone for extended periods. Also, be aware of the fact that these breeds are very sensitive to their surroundings. Loud noises, large crowds or strangers, and unfamiliar surroundings may make the Morkie uneasy. This breed will also be sensitive to extreme temperatures.
The Morkie is a relatively healthy dog breed. But, as a toy breed, they do have some potential health concerns to be aware of and can inherit the potential health concerns from both of the parent breeds. Some potential health conditions to be aware of include glaucoma, hypoglycemia, and collapsing trachea, which can result in a harsh cause after exercise or other exertion. Asking the breeder about the genetic history of the parents and to see any health clearances can help allay potential concerns regarding health issues. Because this is a small dog breed, they are more prone to developing dental disease, so proper dental care for dogs is important.
The Morkie should be a suitable breed for a novice dog owner, as they will be fairly agreeable to training. The Morkie should be relatively easy to train, as long as they knowwho is boss. The Maltese is a submissive and intelligent breed that aims to please at all times. The presence of the Maltese in the Designer Breed should help curb the occasional stubbornness of the Yorkie. Either way, you can expect a good watchdog because they are both very alert and are never shy about barking, so the Morkie should be the same. Because the Morkie is likely to be sensitive and eager to please, they tend to respond best to positive training methods that focus on rewards, praise, and play.
Both breeds present in the Morkie are low-shedding dogsand are known to be somewhat hypo-allergenic breeds. The coat of the Morkie will likely be smooth and soft, and this breed will require regular brushing if the coat is allowed to grow to keep the fur soft and healthy. A frequently groomed Morkie with a shorter coat will be a very easy dog to care for. Weekly brushing of the teeth is recommended, although daily brushing is ideal, and trimming the nails monthly is also a good idea. Additionally, you will want to regularly check your Morkie’s ears and carefully clean them as needed to keep them dry, free of dirt, and clear of debris.
The Morkie is spunky. They will like to have attention, but will not likely sit still for too long. Since it is a smaller breed, they will require less exercise than terriers or herding breeds, but when they play, they play hard. This dog breed will be happy a few walks a day, some playtime, and plenty of cuddles with you.
This mixed breed should grow to between 6 and 15 inches high and weigh from 5 to 15 pounds.
A Morkie generally lives 12-15 years.
Although this designer breed originated in the United States, it has begun to become more popular in the UK and Ireland. The Morkie/Yorkie is also sometimes called a “Morkshire Terrier”.
