The Yorkshire terrier and the Maltese are two little breeds with devoted fan followings, so it’s easy to imagine that a cross between the two—the Morkie—would be a star in its own right.
Maltese Yorkie Mix, also known as Morkie, are little dogs with a lot of personalities and a lively and attentive temperament. They can live comfortably in apartments or homes with vast yards, and they don’t require a lot of activity, although they can be a little yappy. They’ll also require a lot of your time and attention because they’re great companion dogs.
If you want to understand more about the Morkie dog breed and know whether they’re the appropriate dogs for you, keep reading.
Maltese Yorkie Mix: Appearance
Morkies are little dogs, a trait that they share with their parent breeds. The Yorkshire terrier stands seven to eight inches tall and weighs around seven pounds, according to the American Kennel Club. The Maltese are comparable in stature, standing between 7 and 9 inches tall and weighing little more than 7 pounds. You may expect your Morkie to grow to be roughly the same size.
Because the Morkie is a mixed breed, it’s hard to say what each Morkie puppy will look like as it matures. Morkies will have a mix of Yorkshire terrier and Maltese features. Some dogs are more like Yorkies, while others are more like Maltese. Even within the same litter, there may be puppies who differ in appearance.
A long and rich coat of hair is a common characteristic in both parent breeds, so you can pretty much always anticipate it in a Morkie. However, you can’t be certain of the coat’s color. It might be black and tan like the Yorkshire terrier, white like the Maltese, or a mix of the two.
Personality/Temperament
Don’t be fooled by their little stature! The Maltese Yorkie mix has a big personality and a lot of energy level. Despite their diminutive stature, Morkies are happy-go-lucky dogs that can play with toys for hours on end. But underneath their fiery and energetic exterior, this small mix is a real lap dog who enjoys snuggling with its owners. Morkies are loving, caring dogs who create close ties with their owners and want to be by your side at all times.
Morkies are not only affectionate lapdogs, but they are also diligent watchdogs. While their little stature would not deter a thief, their yappy voice will alert you if someone is approaching your home. However, you may discover that your dog is overly vigilant! When someone comes to the front door, most Morkies bark, but they also bark when birds sing in the backyard.
Remember that, despite their little bodies being full of energy and capable of playing for hours on end, Morkies are still small and frail dogs. During play and rough handling, they can easily get serious injuries. This is why the Morkie is best suited to households with older children and adults, as well as houses without other larger dogs who may roughhouse this little hybrid during a play session.
Ideal Home Environment
Because Morkies are little dogs, they can expend a lot of their energy by running about indoors, making them ideal for flats and condominiums.
However, due to their proclivity for barking, they may be a nuisance to your neighbors—something to consider if you live in close quarters.
Morkie dogs can get their exercise indoors, but they still require regular walks (and twice a day is even better). They thrive in the company of someone who has the time and energy to take regular walks.
While Morkies adore spending time outside, they should only be permitted to do so in a fenced-in area. Even when safely contained in a fenced-in yard, Morkie dogs are capable of escaping. Owners should maintain a close eye on their property. Their small stature allows them to easily maneuver through tight locations, but it also leaves them vulnerable to predators.
Morkies don’t fare well on their own since they get so connected to their people. It’s best if they’re partnered with a human who spends a lot of time at home—or if they live in a home where at least one person is home the majority of the time.
Grooming
The Morkie’s silky, smooth coat doesn’t shed much, but if it isn’t groomed regularly, it will become matted and tangled. While this may seem excessive, brushing your dog’s coat on a regular basis is necessary for this breed and will help maintain it clean, lustrous, and tangle-free.
Bathe your dog once every two months, or more frequently if they become dirty easily. Use a gentle dog shampoo and conditioner that will not harm their coat, dry up their skin, or irritate their skin.
Consider cutting your Morkie’s fur every 6 to 8 weeks because their coat can grow several inches long. Brushing your dog will be much easier and less time-consuming if you maintain their coat short and trim.
Also, check your dog’s ears once a week for dirt and waxy buildup and clean them as needed. Brush your Morkie’s teeth on a daily basis, since their smaller jaws place them at a higher risk of tartar development and dental issues.
Training
Maltese Yorkie Mix is intelligent yet stubborn, resulting in several difficult training sessions for both the dog and the owner.
These dogs are smart enough to pick up on any trick or habit you’re attempting to teach them, but how you manage the training decides whether or not they’ll comply.
The greatest approach to train a Morkie is to keep them happy. Make the training sessions entertaining with food and lots of praise to achieve this. Harsh attitudes, shouting, and scolding will very certainly have the opposite effect, prompting your Morkie to shut down and refuse to train.
While teaching your Morkie tricks is fun—and it’s critical to have them toilet trained as soon as possible, it’s also critical that you handle another aspect of your Morkie’s training as soon as possible. Your Morkie’s devotion to you may be charming and endearing, but it may also be a source of frustration. Separation anxiety is common in Morkies, and it may be damaging to your dog. To avoid this, begin training puppies to be alone at a young age, starting with small amounts of time and progressively escalating to more hours.
You should begin socializing your puppy as soon as possible, in addition to training. To help your dog grow into a confident and sociable dog, introduce them to as many people, dogs, cats, places, and situations as possible from a young age.
Health Issues
Because the Maltese Yorkie Mix is a mixed breed, it’s impossible to say if they’ll inherit health issues from their parents or whether breeding will eliminate them. They have a long life expectancy of 10-15 years, with some living past 15 years. However, their nutrition, exercise, and mental health may have an influence on their life expectancy.
The fragility of your Morkie is the main source of concern. Because Morkies are so little, it’s critical that you treat them gently. This means that a family with little children might not be the greatest place for your Morkie to grow up.
Other health issues kids may inherit primarily include their eyes, ears, and mouth. Tear stains, dark brown or black markings around their eyes will most likely be inherited from their Maltese father. Tracheal collapse, cataracts, glaucoma, and reverse sneezing are all possible complications.
Tracheal collapse is a condition of your dog’s trachea that causes respiratory problems, frequent coughing, and trouble eating. It mostly affects smaller dogs.
Cataracts can impede vision, and glaucoma can cause damage to the eye’s optic nerves. Although reverse sneezing is not hazardous to your dog, it might induce gagging and forced quick breathing.
However, there is no guarantee that your dog will acquire these health issues, and you may lessen the risk by purchasing from reputable breeders.
Maltese Yorkie Mix Cost
The average cost of Morkie ranges from $1,000 to $2,000.
Conclusion
A Morkie is a little lapdog breed that is lively, devoted, and entertaining. Despite the fact that they don’t require much activity, they like playing with you, especially inside, making them the ideal dog for compact homes or flats. To avoid unpleasant behavior, training and socialization are required, but their intelligence makes this simple. They get along well with other dogs and people, and they aren’t known to have many health problems. To avoid harmful breeding qualities, always get your Morkie from a reliable breeder.
It is important to remember that not every breed of dog is suitable for every family and situation. This is why it’s important to research the breed you’re interested in before bringing one into your home.
To know more, check out other articles on the Maltese and the Yorkshire Terrier.
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What do you think of this small energetic dog? Is Morkie the breed of your choice? Share your thoughts in the comments below!