Morkie Breed & Care Information
The "Yorkie" Yorkshire Terrier breed originated from five different dogs, including the Manchester Terrier, Dandie Dinmont and the Paisley Terriers and the Maltese and Skye Terrier were bred for their beautiful, long, silky coat. What many people love about the Yorkshire Terrier is their adorable baby face features which comes from the Maltese breed. If this look is what you desire the most in your Yorkshire Terrier you may consider a Morkie. Breeding the Yorkshire Terrier to a pure breed Maltese brings out a stronger baby face and a more desirable silky-soft coat texture and beautiful golden hair color making the Morkie now the # 2 designer breed in the world.
Not only will you have an affectionate dog with the loyal traits of the Yorkshire Terriers but you will also pull out more of the smart easy to train Maltese with silky soft hair and baby doll face. The more breeds a dog is mixed with the slower the coat will grow. That is why Yorkies & Morkies do not need to be groomed as often as other long coated breeds.
Personality
The Morkie is a Maltese and Yorkie mix that combines the sweet and calm personality with the intelligence of the Maltese and spunk of the Yorkie. Morkies are not normally as yappy as pure breed Yorkie and much easier to train. Their soft silky soft coats are easy to cuddle with and their fun and lively personalities make them excellent pets!
Size
The Morkie comes in Tiny Teacup sizes and Small Toy sizes ranging from as 2 lbs to 12 lbs full grown.
Regular size Toy Morkies can range from 12 to 25 pounds full grown.
The smaller the dog the more fragile they can be. Consider a size that works well with your family.
Coat & Color Options
Morkies have straight, silky hair or soft waves depending on their genes. They normally have a beautiful golden color or soft white color from the Maltese or take more of the deep, dark and brown colors from the Yorkie. Biewer Morkies with grey undertones are also available! The Morkie is a hypoallergenic and non-shedding breed that will not leave fur on your clothes or furniture!
Grooming
The Morkie requires regular grooming and bathing. Sticking to a regular grooming schedule will help make their needs more manageable. Brush your pets hair every 3 to 5 days a week to help fight tangles and mats. Morkies hair grows a little slower than the Yorkie if their hair has a silkier hair texture like the Maltese. They will need a full body groom with cut every 12 to 16 weeks. The shorter the haircut, the longer it will last in-between grooms. Ask for a “Puppy Cut” to keep their hair short and manageable, but not shaved too short.
The Morkie has human-like hair and gentle skin that should be washed with a gentle shampoo. TropiClean Shampoo is a gentle shampoo that uses coconut oil and water to cleanse their coat and skin. The TropiClean Deep Cleaning Shampoo uses raspberry and mango to provide a deep luxurious clean while oatmeal and coconut replenish natural moisture for a coat that’s soft and huggable!
Health
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The Morkie is one of several dozen "hybrid" dogs praised for being hypoallergenic and healthier than purebred canines.
The Morkie's excellent personality and solid health comes from "hybrid vigor," which is when a healthier breed puppy/dog results from mating more than one purebreds together. It cuts down and almost completely eliminates genetic health problems that are passed down from pure breed dog breeds.
The Morkie is known to be a very healthy breed and does not normally pass genetic health problems down to new puppies. However, most small breeds do face health concerns related to their size.
One health condition to be aware of is Luxating Patella, or dislocating kneecap. Most puppies grow out of this, but a veterinarian can help monitor the condition as the puppy ages. A Luxating Patella may cause arthritis as they age in which surgery may be recommended.
Morkie’s may also suffer from Collapsing Trachea, or closing “windpipe”. Puppies have tiny tracheas that are very delicate. Always walk your Pomeranian with a harness, and not a collar. Morkies are active and curious and if they get distracted and try to run from you, the leash and harness will help pull from their body instead of a collar pulling from their throat.
Hypoglycemia is also common in small breed dogs. Hypoglyemia is caused by low-blood sugar and is usually the result of a lack in diet. Hypoglycemia is easily preventable by monitoring their feeding schedule. Small puppies should eat every 4 hours to prevent low-blood sugar. A high calorie supplement such as Nutri-Cal is recommended in tiny puppies. Mix Nutrical in your puppies water bowl to maintain strong blood sugar levels throughout the day.
Diet & Nutrition
It is recommended to monitor your Morkie’s eating habits, especially during puppy stages. Offer your puppy food every 3 to 4 hours to help prevent low blood sugar. Your new puppy should be eating roughly 1 to 2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon of food at every meal based on activity level.
A high-quality, small-bite dry dog food is recommended to maintain their shiny coat, to protect their bones, to keep their teeth clean, to be gentle on their digestive system, and to overall keep them healthy. We recommend Royal Canin dry dog food. A nutritional supplement, such as Nutrical, may also be needed in teacup sized puppies to prevent Hypoglycemia.
The Look of the Morkie :
When their long, silky coats are allowed to grow, the Maltese and the Yorkshire Terrier can look somewhat alike; however, the Morkie is a distinctive blend of the two. The Morkie has a small, compact frame covered in a long, silky coat that usually comes in shades of tan, black & tan and tri-colored (black, white & tan); some Morkies may even retain the Maltese's white coat. It has a medium-sized head with a rounded skull, hanging ears, short muzzle, dark nose and dark eyes. Like it's parents, the Morkie may develop an aristocratic posture or it may just look super-cute.
What They're Like to Live With :
Blending the placidness of the Maltese, the assertiveness of the Yorkshire Terrier and the independence of both, the Morkie is a sociable and interactive pal, spreading good cheer wherever it goes. The Morkie is one of those breeds people stop on the street for. Ideal for the city or suburbs, the Morkie is playful in the yard and gentle in the living room. It plays well with children—especially older ones—and has a casual (though sometimes bold) way of interacting with other pets.
Though it enjoys snuggling with his/her owner, the Morkie is not your typical couch cuddler, they prefer an open fluffy pillow top type bed and it definitely has an independent side: The Morkie often needs a little privacy to recharge. However, the Morkie craves attention from family members—if left alone for long periods of time it may get bored and depressed. Much like the Maltese they crave the companionship and playtime of another small breed that is very similar in size. They quickly bond with another companion like a sibling. If you plan on getting two we strongly recommend that you get them at the same time or no longer than a year apart so that they have the same energy level and have the joy and fun of always having a buddy to pay around with.
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A nice walk, a squeaky-toy game on the carpet or an afternoon snooze with its owner will always suffice. And if you're in the market for a compact watchdog, consider the Morkie: It's protective and quite fearless but not as yappy as a Yorkie
Things You Should Know :
Morkies are excellent city dogs, adjusting well to small spaces and different types of people. Whether you live in the city or country, make sure your Morkie gets a nice daily stroll and some time to run off the leash in a yard, park or other protected area. The Morkie should be groomed regularly, including daily combing and brushing if kept long. When letting the hair grow, consider tying its head hair in a rubber band to allow for better vision. The Morkie can live as long as 15 to 18 years.