For several years, not only purebred dogs have been delighting many dog owners. Also so-called hybrid breeds make the heart of many dog fans beat faster.
Maybe you are one of these people too? And did you spontaneously get into the Morkie in love?
Then you will find out in our detailed breed portrait everything you need to know about the Morkie.
Morkie wanted poster
Size Male: up to 30 cmFemale: up to 24 cmWeightMale: 5 to 6 kg Female: 4 to 6 kgColorsBlack, White, Brown, Tan, MulticolorLife expectancy14 to 16 yearsOriginMalta/Great Britain (England)character/temperamentAffectionate, comfortable, communicative, sociable, playful, bright, friendly, people-related, intelligent, watchful, courageous & brave, stubbornFCI groupNot yet recognized (Maltese: FCI Group 9, Section 1.1Yorkshire Terrier: FCI Group 3, Section 4)
Look
The Morkie is a hybrid breed – more specifically, it is a cross between the Maltese and the Yorkshire Terrier. Hence the combination name «Morkie».
The little brat is also called by the way Yorkese or Morkshire Terriers. And what can already lead to a colorful mix with the name does the same with the appearance.
Because the beautiful and exciting thing about hybrid breeds: There are, so to speak no standard or blueprinthow the puppies finally see the light of day. It is always crucial here which gene pool prevails as the dominant one.
If the Morkie has a higher proportion of Maltese, it usually has rounded ears, if the Yorkie is dominant, these are pointed.
But what is typical for both breeds: The small headfrom the intelligent, alert and medium-sized googly eyes look into the world.
Coat, coat texture & coat colors
As little as one can predict what the Morkie will look like, one thing can be said for certain about the coat: It is always fluffy, cuddly and soft. In addition, it is slightly wavy and medium length.
And again, that’s where all the Morkies have in common ends. Because it continues with the fur colors, which have a large color palette.
So the colorations at Morkies range from Brown above Black and White up to Tan and multicolored (that would be the Yorkie share).
eye colors
The cute beady eyes only come in one color so far, viz dark brown. This is due to the two «ancestral breeds» Maltese and Yorkshire Terrier.
History & Origin of the Morkie
The two breeds responsible for the cute Morkie come from two opposite parts of Europe – namely from Malta (Maltese) and Great Britain/England (Yorkshire Terrier).
The Morkie itself, in turn, was first in the USA bred. And indeed, these are the homeland of most of the hybrid dog breeds that have found their way around the world for many decades.
The first Morkie saw by the way in the 1990s The Light of the World.
Nature & Character of the Morkie
The Morkie is a extremely cheerful and friendly dog. He also loves to be the center of attention.
This trait is coupled with a high attachment. So be prepared that your four-legged roommate will follow you everywhere.
While this is a good thing, it also has a downside. Because the little brat sometimes suffers from severe separation anxiety. So the sooner you teach him that your short-term absence is not the end of his little dog world, the better.
In addition, the Morkie is considered very lively, curious, playful and alert. However, this character trait can also manifest itself in increased barking – because the Morkie is one of the very communicative dog breeds anyway.
And the list of positive and interesting characteristics can be extended with this one: The Morkie is bravehe is sociablehe is cozyhe is intelligent – and can sometimes even a little stubborn and stubborn be.
attitude & upbringing
In addition to the nature and the character, it is of course also important and exciting to find out more about the nature and character of the Morkie.
attitude
The Morkie is a small dog. Accordingly, it does not require a very large amount of space. And is therefore also for one suitable for housing.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that the little rascal won’t anyway every day his rounds of the neighboring block want to do.
But it doesn’t have to be long walks. Because the Morkie is supposed to be one moderate to low activity level have.
Upbringing
Every dog needs one species-appropriate and above all consistent education. After all, as a pack animal, he has to learn and accept who is the alpha animal in your life together. Of course, this also applies to the Morkie.
It should also not be forgotten that two characters meet in this breed. And these are quite challenging even in the “individual form”.
Then clever, wayward and alert dogs with much temperamentwhich also includes the Maltese, the Yorkie and the Morkie, need clear announcementsso that they don’t step on your nose later.
Ideally, start training when your Morkie is still at puppy age is. Here it can also make sense to send the little brat to a puppy school and later to a dog school.
In this way he also learns how to deal with other dogs and people. This socialization is also part of a good and species-appropriate upbringing.
Health & Care
Health and grooming are of course other factors that will interest you as a new Morkie roommate.
Grooming & General Grooming
The Morkie is said to be among the dog breeds that suitable for allergy sufferers are. This is primarily related to the fur, which should not irritate the mucous membranes and also does not feel like it is falling out in droves.
But since he has medium-length fur, he needs it nevertheless regular maintenance. Because otherwise it can quickly happen that the silky and fluffy fur gets matted.
That is particularly important Extra coat care in times of coat changewhich usually occurs twice a year.
They should also be cleaned and checked regularly the ears, the eyes and the mouth. Dirt, parasites and bacteria quickly settle here. If your Morkie’s fur catches your eye too much, you can trim it slightly.
Health
The following claim is often made for hybrid breeds: They are less susceptible to disease. The reason: serious breeding can rule out hereditary diseases.
At least that’s the breeding theory. But even with a reputable breeder, it can happen that the Morkie in the course of his life may suffer from the following diseases:
Life expectancy
Your new roommate will enrich your life for 14 to 16 years – of course, especially if he is kept and fed in a species-appropriate way and gets a lot of love and affection (but that is pretty much self-explanatory).
Is the Morkie right for me?
The Morkie should not be left alone for long. And with that you would already have a criterion that you can and should use to decide whether the Morkie really suits you.
Do you have a lot of time for the little sparrow? And also the leisure, to deal with him sufficiently? And no problem with the fact that he follows you every step of the way? Then the Morkie is definitely a breed that you should study more intensively.
If the little fur nose moves in with you, you should too be a strong-willed person yourself. Because the Morkie can’t just be a sly old dog behind his cute ears. He is also very confident and intelligent.
In the case of all kinds of challenges, this also means: It never gets boring with himand the good mood will also become a permanent guest in your four walls.
In addition, the Morkie is considered suitable for families. Due to the low activity level, it is also ideal for people who are not quite as good on the go, but are happy about canine company.
Fun facts about the Morkie
Now you have received a lot of interesting information about the cute Morkie. At the end you get a few more fun facts to make you smile.
As with the Chihuahua, the Morkie also has a tea cup version. This dwarf fits in the palm of your hand – making it smaller than most rabbits and guinea pigs.
The Morkie is most comfortable when they can live with one person. As a little attention-seeking diva, he can quickly become jealous when other two- and four-legged friends get the attention of his favorite person.
A Morkie can reach top speeds of 10 to 15 mph.
When a Morkie gets bored, they may try to tear your apartment apart.
Do you know any other facts about the Morkie? Or do you already live with this cute dog and can contribute your own experiences and stories?
Then we would be happy if you share them with us and all Morkie fans in the comments 😊