The Morkie is one of the most popular designer dogs in the world today.
This mixed breed dog is a sweet, lovable companion that is best suited to adults, kids, singles and even couples. They can adapt quickly to almost any family and they are generally playful and a joy to be with.
Since the Morkie is a crossbreed, he inherits his best characteristics and personality traits from both his parents, the Maltese and the Yorkshire Terrier.
If you’re interested in adding a Morkie to your family, read this guide to know everything there’s to know about this fascinating breed. This will help you determine whether or not the Morkie will make a good addition to your household.
Table of Contents
What is a Morkie?
The designer dog trend began two to three decades ago when some smart breeders realized that it is possible to combine the best traits of two purebred dogs.
This has led to many popular mixed breed dogs such as the Labradoodle, the Cockapoo and the Yorkipoo, among others. But for a smaller crossbreed, you might consider adding the Morkie to your family.
Not the most commonly found breed, the Morkie is incredibly cute. This highly attractive dog, the Morkie is a result of crossing a Maltese with a Yorkshire Terrier. The Morkie is a playful and friendly dog, makes an excellent choice for families of almost any size.
Let’s take a closer look at the Morkie.
The Origin of the Morkie
Designer dogs have become extremely popular over the last 20 to 30 years as more and more people realize that crossbreeds have been bred with their temperaments in mind.
When it comes to the Morkie, both the Maltese and the Yorkshire Terrier were selected because they are small, loyal and friendly. The fact that the two Terrier parents are low shedding dogs is also a major advantage.
The Morkie was originally bred in the United States as a lap dog since he is a product of two toy dogs. The aim was to produce a loving, loyal and low-shedding dog. The Morkie is also known as the Maltese Yorkie Mix, Yorktese or the Morkshire Terrier.
It is important to point out here that the present-day mixed breed dog is not your ordinary mongrel. These are dogs whose parents have been carefully selected and their breeding handled by an experienced breeder.
Many dog owners love the small size of the Morkie. The dog will happily sit on your lap and sleep next to you at night. Such is the loyalty and dedication of this little dog that he loves following his owner around.
To help you understand where the Morkie dog comes from, let’s take a brief look at the origins of both parent breeds, starting with the Maltese.
The History of the Maltese
The Maltese dog has several other names, including Melita, the Roman Ladies’ Dog and the Ancient Dog of Malta.
The history of the Maltese remains unclear. However, it is believed that the breed was originally developed in Asia since it closely resembles the Tibetan Terrier.
Ancient Maltese dogs were commonly used to control rodents.
The Maltese is believed to be a very old breed. In fact, there were evidence of the breed’s existence on the Greek amphora dating as far back as 500 BC.
The Maltese was the dog of choice among the English people in the 1500’s. Nonetheless, attempts to develop a smaller version of the breed almost led to the extinction of the Maltese dog between the 17th and 18th centuries. The Maltese made its way to the US in the 1800s.
Maltese dogs are very active and playful dogs. Even as the dog advances in age, their energy never fades. That’s why the Morkie is a bundle of energy, as well.
The Maltese dog’s coat is long and smooth. The coat color is plain white. His friendly nature makes him a very sociable companion.
? Sadly, the Maltese is one of the most dumped dogs in the world. A recent research study in Australia found that the constant barking of the dog is the main reason many people are tempted to dump or abandon their dogs. Such dumping of Malteses is highly regrettable. Dogs communicate by barking, and if anyone doesn’t stand barking, then he doesn’t deserve to own a dog.
The Origin of the Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkshire Terrier was originally used to catch rodents around mills. The breed was first introduced to Yorkshire, England by Scottish workers who moved there with small Terriers, which ultimately became the antecedents to the present-day Yorkshire Terrier.
The previous description of the breed was vague. It was not until another dog called Huddersfield Ben arrived on the scene that the standard features of the Yorkshire Terrier were established.
The coat of the Yorkie should be straight, fine and glossy. Like the Maltese, the Yorkie is low shedding. They are very loyal and protective of their family. Their love and affection is beyond doubt.
Since they are alert and intelligent, Yorkshire Terriers have the potential to be good guard dogs.
When crossed, the Maltese and the Yorkshire Terrier will be an offspring that inherits all the best positive traits from his parents. This explains why the Maltese Yorkie Mix is such a great companion. Always craving for his master’s affection and attention, these dogs have a huge following across the globe.
Morkie Recognition
The Yorkie Maltese Mix is not yet officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), but the breed is recognized by a number of organizations, including the Designer Dog Registry and the International Designer Canine Registry. However, this doesn’t matter as the Morkie is a very adorable dog.
View this post on Instagram
The General Appearance of the Morkie
The Morkie is a very cute combination, inheriting the best physical characteristics from his parents, the Maltese and the Yorkie.
As his name implies, the Morkie is incredibly cute with fine, straight and silky fur that varies in colors such as white, black and tan or even a combination of all these.
Morkie puppies can look more like the Yorkie or lean more towards the Maltese side. Generally, the Yorkie Maltese Mix has floppy or pointed ears. They also have black noses and small muzzles.
Generally, this is a very beautiful dog that will attract attention wherever you go. They have a beautiful face and the cuteness factor is enhanced by his gorgeous fluffy coat that’s typical of both parent breeds.
View this post on Instagram
Morkie Colors:
As with all similar mixed breed dogs, Morkies come in various colors. In fact, the color of your pup will depend on the parents, and even then, nobody can guarantee what color your puppy will be. What we know is that your puppy will probably be in any of the following colors:
Brown: this is a very common color for the Yorkshire Terrier. When it comes to the Morkie, this color is very beautiful and usually comes with white or black markings.
Cream: this comes with several variations as well, and each of them looks great.
View this post on Instagram
Red: while red Morkies are rare, they are truly gorgeous if you are lucky enough to find a puppy in this color.
Silver: silver is a favorite shade for many people, and is one of the best options available.
Black: black dogs are truly attractive and a black Morkie will attract an endless flow of compliments.
View this post on Instagram
Apricot: the shades will also vary, but this unique color is attractive in every way.
While this is not an absolute guide to all the Morkie colors, it should give you a good idea of the choices available, so talk to breeders as they may give you an idea of their future litters.
How Big Will A Maltese Yorkie Mix Get?
It can be very difficult to determine the correct size of the Maltese cross Yorkie since it is a crossbreed. However, they generally stand anywhere between 6 and 15 inches tall and have an average weight of around 5 to 10 pounds when full grown.
Just like other toy breeds, the Morkie has a very small bone structure.
View this post on Instagram
Morkie Puppies
Morkie puppies are super tiny, weighing just 4 to 5 ounces. Since this pooch is so small, the size of their litter can range from 2 to 5 puppies.
Morkies establish strong bonds with their families and enjoy taking part in day-to-day family activities.
Does a Teacup Morkie Exist?
Toy or Miniature Yorkies are also known as Teacup Yorkies. But is there such a thing as a Teacup Morkie?
Like any other dog, crossbred dogs and toy breeds like the Morkie do not remain small puppies forever.
Moreover, Morkies are created from Maltese purebreds and Yorkie purebreds, and not Teacup or Miniature variations. However, at birth Morkies can fit inside a teacup since they are so small and weigh in at just 4 ounces.
View this post on Instagram
Now let’s talk about the temperament and behavior of the Morkie and why he might be a good choice for you.
Morkie Temperament
Temperament is a very important consideration when getting a new dog.
Most mixed breed dogs inherit their personality traits from both parents, and the Maltese Yorkie Mix is no different. Both the Maltese and the Yorkshire Terrier are known to be full of life, confidence and character.
A well-trained Morkie should be a calm, friendly and loyal canine. Since the Morkie is a mixed breed dog, however, the temperament of a single dog can never be guaranteed. That’s why you need to buy your puppy from reputable Morkie breeders. Such breeders should have carefully selected the parent dogs to ensure the puppies end up being reliable family pets.
In general, both the Maltese and the Yorkshire Terrier are adorable and good-natured dogs so their offspring should have good behavior and temperament, too.
There are many reasons the Yorkshire Terrier and Maltese Mix makes a great family pet and one that will immediately establish a strong bond with his owner and family. Be ready to have your new dog follow you wherever you go and seek to spend time with you. This dog will definitely provide you with excellent companionship for many years to come.
The Morkie is a very friendly dog and tends to be gentle with cats and other dogs. They are also great with children as long as they are properly socialized. These dogs are very loyal so be prepared to welcome your new furry friend as a member of your family.
One possible downside to getting a Morkie is that he doesn’t like being left alone for extended periods of time. If you plan to be away from your dog for long periods of time or live in a home where there’s no one to give him company the whole day, then the Morkie is not the right breed for you. A Morkie needs love, care and attention to thrive.
View this post on Instagram
A calm dog by nature, a neglected Maltese Yorkie Mix – like all dogs – will seek attention by barking and can become shy or scared if he doesn’t get the attention of his owner.
The Maltese Yorkie Mix tends to build a strong bond with one member of the family. While it’s amazing to see such a strong bond between a dog and his owner, this can lead to problems.
Despite being a very playful dog, the Morkie is a true lap dog. He usually enjoys being by his owner’s side or curling up on his lap. If you don’t create time for your dog, you’ll end up with a very dependent Morkie with separation anxiety or behavioral problems.
? For that reason, the Morkie is best suited to families or individuals who have enough time or have owned dogs in the past.
Do Morkies Bark a Lot?
The answer to that is yes!
Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Maltese are known to be barkers and since the Morkie is a product of the two dogs, he will be a barker, too.
Morkies suffer from the so-called small dog syndrome. This means that they love to bark. Their tendency towards barking is usually a call for attention. If they don’t get enough attention and affection, these dogs will start barking and try to be destructive around the house.
They also have a habit of barking whenever they see a stranger. For this reason, they can be good guard dogs. However, you can train your Morkie to stop barking on command.
View this post on Instagram
Morkie Puppy Care Tips
If you’re convinced that the Morkie is a good match for you, here are some helpful tips on caring for a Maltese Yorkie Mix:
1. Training
If you want a Maltese Yorkie Mix, you need to know how to train him. The nature of both Terrier parents implies that this dog is quite easy to train, but you may face some challenges along the way.
The Morkie is known to be very intelligent, but he can also be stubborn. This means that you need to give him a lot of attention during training. He will respond best to positive training, but do it wrongly and you may end up with a confused or stubborn dog who doesn’t learn as fast as you desire.
Here are some helpful tips in training a Yorkie Maltese mix:
Start training early: The earlier you begin training, the easier the process will be. Your dog will learn how to behave while he is still a puppy.
Be positive and authoritative: Your Morkie is a clever dog and will easily notice your attitude and tone of voice. Positive reinforcement training will encourage your dog to learn performing various tricks and receiving a treat as a reward is a huge turn-on for this dog.
? Since this dog can be stubborn, you need to take a firm approach if you want to get the best response. Clicker training is a must.
Here’s a good video if you want to learn more about clicker training:
Be patient: be prepared to spend time training your dog on a regular basis. Keep in mind that your Morkie is still a young puppy and therefore, he will need time to learn new tricks and commands.
Avoid punishing or shouting at your dogs: the Morkie is a very small canine who will respond to positive guidance. You need to be authoritative with your dog. Needless anger or shouting will make your puppy scared, thereby making training difficult. Punishing your Morkie will erode the trust between you and your dog.
Enjoy each training session with your Morkie dog, and you’ll get the most out of your beloved dog.
2. Socialization Training
As with any dog, socialization is extremely important and training your Morkie to be comfortable in different situations is highly recommended.
Gradually introduce them to different people, children and other household pets as this will enable them to be comfortable at all times. Socialization training can also help to manage their anxiety and to control excessive barking.
Socializing your dog at a young age is important to stop them from becoming overly dependent on you. If you’re unable to socialize your Morkie, consider puppy classes.
3. Exercises
Although the Morkie is a bundle of energy, he is a very small dog. This means that it doesn’t take much to meet their exercise needs. Exercising your Morkie for about 30 minutes is usually enough. However, Morkies need interactive dog toys, games and mental stimulation to keep them happy and healthy.
While some experts insist that playing or running indoors is enough exercise for this dog, allowing them to run outside won’t do them any harm.
View this post on Instagram
Morkies can be aggressive and destructive if their exercise needs are not met. You run the risk of finding your favorite shoes destroyed. Moreover, a frustrated Maltese Yorkie mix will bark endlessly.
Exposing your dog to outdoor adventures can help they live more balanced lives. A short walk in the neighborhood at least once a day will definitely leave them feeling good. If it’s too cold, it’s advisable to leave your dog at home.
[thrive_text_block color=”note” headline=””]ALSO READ: 6 Easy Ways to Tire out Your Dog [/thrive_text_block]4. Grooming
Despite being a very small dog, your Morkie still needs grooming. In fact, the long fluffy coat of the Morkies requires regular grooming to prevent matting or tangles particularly if your dogs loves the outdoors most.
Brush his coat every few days to help keep it clean and healthy. You should also have your Maltese Yorkie Mix groomed professionally. Once in a while the results will be worth it and will help you to have an attractive healthy dog by your side at all times – one that will make you the envy of your neighbors.
View this post on Instagram
If you’re asking “how often should I bathe my Morkie?”, you’ll be pleased to know that your pooch will only require bathing once a month that should be enough to keep their skin and coat clean. Be sure to use quality dog shampoo rather than human shampoo. However, you still need to use deodorizing wiper to keep his skin and coat in optimal condition when you’re not bathing him.
When grooming this lap dog, pay special attention to any hair around his legs, feet and eyes to avoid hair build up. Also, make sure to keep the ears and eyes dry and clean to prevent common infections.
Finally, make sure to brush puppy’s teeth several times per week to prevent gum disease and tooth decay whist ensuring proper dental hygiene.
Further Reading: Top 10 Best Bones to Clean Dogs Teeth
Are Yorkie Maltese Mixes Hypoallergenic?
As we’ve mentioned earlier, the Morkie is a low shedding dog. Since this is a dog who has fur rather than hair, he is considered to be hypoallergenic.
? This makes the Morkie a good choice for people who want an allergy-free dog.
You won’t find any dog hair around your house! However, this dog’s beautiful coat still needs proper grooming to maintain it in top condition. Also be sure to refer to the Morkie grooming tips above!
View this post on Instagram
5. Feeding Information
Despite the fact that Yorkie Maltese Mixes are small dogs, they love food. Morkies can overeat, leading to stomach upsets or weight. Therefore, it is highly recommended to monitor their eating habits.
Extra care is necessary when introducing new foods to their diet, especially when they are young puppies. Make sure your Morkie doesn’t eat any toxic foods such as onions and chocolate.
Kibbles are good for the Maltese Yorkie mix since the breed is vulnerable to dental problems. Provide your Morkie with dry kibbles to give their teeth proper exercise. Moreover, dry food can help reduce the risk of cavities, gum infections, tooth decay and tooth loss. Dry food also slows down plague buildup, thereby reducing bad breath.
Not all dog foods are the same. Make sure to read product labels before making your purchase. Do not switch to new brands too often since Morkies have small and sensitive stomachs, switching to new dog foods all of a sudden can lead to stomach. The dog will most likely suffer from diarrhea.
Feed your Morkie high quality dog food only and in small amounts each time. Ideally, your Morkie should eat around 200 to 300 calories perday. This includes any snacks and treats as well.
? Start your Morkie on 3 to 4 meals a day and out of this down to just two meals per day after around six months. Also make sure your dog has access to fresh water in between meals. Excessive consumption of any dog food is unhealthy for your dog. Watch over your dog’s weight carefully to ensure he remains healthy.
Morkie Health Issues
Like any responsible dog owner, you need to be away of any health issues affecting your preferred breed.
Fortunately, Morkies are half Yorkishire terrier and therefore, they will have the wonderful genetics of their Yorkie parent. This implies that the Morkie lifespan can stretch to as long as 15 years.
In fact, some Morkies have lived up to 17! The life expectancy can be affected by exercise, diet and overall health.
View this post on Instagram
While there are many potential health problems, the Morkie is a very fragile dog thanks to his tiny size. This is a matter of major concern among Morkie lovers, so you must be careful and make sure you play gently with this dog.
For that reason, Morkies are best suited to families with older children who know how to play with these dogs without hurting
them. Small children are more likely to hurt such fragile dogs often without intending to.
Generally speaking, the Morkie is a healthy breed, but there are certain health problems that this dog might inherit from his parents.
Common health concerns relate to the dog’s mouth, eyes or ears. The most common health issues is tear stains, black or dark brown marks around their eyes, which also affects the Maltese parent. Other health conditions include tracheal collapse, reverse sneezing, glaucoma and cataracts.
Finding Healthy Maltese Yorkie Mix Puppies
If you are looking for a healthy maltese Yorkie Mix for sale, there are a number of things you need to keep in mind.
While there are many reputable Morkie breeders around the country, you are also likely to find disreputable one who are out to make a killing out of unsuspecting Morkie dog lovers. Such unethical breeders or puppy mills produce new puppies with hidden problems and temperament issues.
In order to find healthy Morkie puppies for sale, you need to talk to several reputable breeders near you and choose the best one. Morkie puppies from the best confident and breeders have a great chance of developing into a reliable family pet.
The best breeders are also aware of the special needs of the Morkie dog and work hard to meet those particular needs.
Here’s a good video in case you want to learn more how to find a responsible breeder:
You may want to ask your vet for recommendations or reputable Morkie breeders near you. Meet a few breeders and make sure to ask them many questions as possible, so you can get a good idea of what you’re getting yourself into.
The responsible breeders will be open and should produce the health clearances for both parent dogs. once you’ve checked those health records, meet both parent dogs as well as the puppies t find out if they are comfortable and healthy.
How Much Does a Maltese Yorkie Mix Cost?
Due to the small size of their litter and their designer or toy dog classification, Morkie puppies can cost anywhere between $1500 and $3000. Since these dogs are sought-after, you need to do your homework in order to find a healthy Morkie puppy and at a price you can afford.
Morkie Rescue
Since Morkies do not come cheap, you may want to consider adopting one of these cute puppies. While it may be difficult to find a Morkie puppy or adult Morkie in a rescue shelter, make sure to ask your vet or friends for recommendations. The effort will be truly worth it.
ALSO READ: The Stubborn, But Affectionate Pug Yorkie Mix
Conclusion
The Morkie is one of the most sought-after small dogs in the world. They are super-tiny, cute, ideal for travelers, playful, loving and intelligent dogs. So if you’re convinced the Morkie is a good match for you, then go ahead and get one. You’ll be glad you did!
