Tiny and adorable, the Morkie is an affectionate crossbreed who loves people and will get along with your other pets. By combining two popular breeds, Yorkshire Terrier and Maltese, breeders managed to create a beautiful dog with a loving personality. These petite balls of fluff are not all cuddles and smooches, though: a Morkie can be as bullheaded as they come, so previous experience with small breed dogs can be beneficial. Morkies are also playful and will run to chase a ball for quite some time or find fun in interactive dog toys. They will surely keep older children in the home busy playing and then cuddle up in their beds at night to sleep- no wonder these tiny pooches are one of the favorite family dogs! The Morkie attaches to his family quickly and tend to form strong bonds with their pawrents. While heartwarming and cute, his love for the family can create a problem when he needs to be left alone.
Due to their small size, Morkies are fragile and can be hurt easily if you’re not being careful with them. This crossbreed does best with families without small kids, who can seriously injure this furry baby in careless playing. As an adaptable, easy going pooch, a Morkie can be happy with a big yard in the suburbs or in a minuscule city apartment. A few, short walks each day will keep this Yorkie and Maltese cross content and well-exercised.
Originating in the United States, the Morkie was bred to be a well-loved lapdog. The main objective for breeders was to create a small-sized dog, with low-shedding coat, and adorable teddy bear looks. One look is all it takes to see that the undertaking was more than successful, as the cuteness of these pooches will melt you in a puddle in no time.
Although it is unclear when first Morkie was created, this hybrid breed has been gaining popularity for the last 20 years. Despite the fact that these fluffy dogs have been around for some time, they are still not officially recognized as a breed. Of course, this doesn’t stop people from wanting this feisty teddy bear look alike as their perfect lap-sized pet!
While Morkie is definitely the most used name for this designer dog breed, one can come across Yorktese or Morkshire Terrier- they’re not as catchy, but some people seem to prefer them.
The Morkie was developed by breeding a Maltese to a Yorkshire Terrier. This breeding resulted in a crossbreed called the Morkie. While both of the parent breeds are recognized with kennel clubs across the world, their hybrid offspring is yet to become an official breed. The main reason for the wariness around designer dogs breeds such as Morkie is that the breeding results are not reliable. With each cross, you don’t know what you’re going to get: a puppy might take after one breed more than the other, or inherit health issues from both breeds.
This is why ethical breeding is important: by getting your Morkie from a reputable breeder, you know you’re getting a healthy pup that meets the crossbreed standards. Furthermore, real Morkie enthusiasts have hopes of developing their own purebred dogs that will be recognized by prestigious registries such as the American Kennel Club and Canadian Kennel Club. Of course, this process takes time and work- so don’t expect an official pedigree when you buy a Morkie puppy!
Morkies might be little, but they have huge appetites. These little guys can eat their weight in kibble! Of course, that doesn’t mean you should let them: following serving recommendation by pet food manufacturer or your veterinarian is the safest course to follow.
Most pawrents decide on feeding their Morkie store-bought pet food appropriate for small breed dogs, as these foods contain all the necessary nutrients and meet the dietary requirements of their new pet.
Although you can choose any dog food suitable for any of the parent breeds, because of the dental issues commonly found in this crossbreed, it’s best to feed high-quality, dry kibble. The dry food will prevent cavities, plaque buildup, gum infections, tooth loss and bad breath.
Waggs to Riches is the best!! The puppies are adorable and store is clean
~ Max Cortese