Morkie

A Morkie

The Morkie is a designer breed of dog which is a cross between a purebred Yorkshire terrier and a purebred Maltese. This crossbreed originated in the United States. In addition, Morkies can be bred with each other. The Morkie hybrid breed is not recognized by the American Kennel Club as a “bona fide” breed of dog.^[1][2]

Appearance

Morkie appearance varies widely, some expressing more of a Yorkshire terrier appearance and some a more Maltese look. They are a small breed dog, typically ranging between 4-12 pounds in weight. Common colors expressed in Morkie coats are: Black, brown, or tan and white.^[3] Their coat is usually long and soft while Morkie ears can be pointed, like that of a Yorkie, or floppy, like that of a Maltese.^[4]

Maintenance

Morkies must be brushed everyday to prevent knotting and matting. Morkies must be groomed regularly. Haircuts are recommended every 6-10 weeks depending on how you prefer the dog to be groomed. It is also important to pay particular attention in keeping the areas around your Morkies eyes clean because of debris buildup in this area. Morkies need their teeth brushed regularly (2-3 times per week) in order to maintain good dental hygiene. Refer to your feeding guide and your veterinarian for proper dailyfeeding amounts. Yorkshire Terriers and Malteses are considered light-shedders, so while the shedding is minimal and most times not noticeable neither breed is considered allergy free. Those with mild allergies may be able to tolerate a Morkie, but others may still have allergic reactions as seen in several families. If you are concerned about allergies, it is best to choose a breed with a predictable non-shedding coat like Poodles, Bichon Frises, Shih Tzus and additionally you can also refer to AKC's list of hypoallergenic breeds for additional breeds (some more appropriate than others) http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/hypoallergenic-dogs/.

Temperament

Morkies are active and playful. They form strong attachments to owners as well as desire a lot of attention from their owners. Morkies are a social dog and love to be played with. Morkies are excitable, energetic, confident, and loyal. This breed can be very difficult because of their stubbornness, but they very quickly get the point of what you want so it is important to begin training early on in its life.^[5]

Morkies normally get along well with other dogs and non-canine pets that they have been brought up with. Morkies can be destructive if left alone for extended periods, at such times can be prone to excessive barking. Like many dogs, Morkies are suspicious of strangers or unusual sounds in their environment and are quick to alert owners.^[6]

Health

Common health problems for the Morkie are mainly seen in the eye, ear, or oral region.^[1] More health issues this breed is prone to are collapsed trachea and reverse sneezing. Morkies may suffer from the same ailments which Yorkies or Maltese suffer from, which are: tracheal collapse, cataracts, medial patellar luxation, hydrocephalus, chronic valvular heart disease, kidney failure, and glaucoma.^[3]

References