Morkie Breed Information
Morkies are adorable, fun, playful, and feisty little fluffballs. They love playtime as much as cuddle time, thrive on attention, and enjoy being spoiled. Sweet, affectionate, devoted, and family oriented, Morkie puppies were bred to love and to be loved.
Intelligent, loyal, and spirited, the Morkie has a big personality beautifully wrapped in a stunningly cute little body. These feisty little toy dogs max out at 9 inches tall and weigh and average of 5 pounds. They have a sweet rounded face, small shiny dark eyes, a little black nose, and a puffy wiggly tail. The Morkie is a designer dog – a cross between a purebred Maltese and a purebred Yorkshire Terrier.
For a deeper understanding of the differences between Morkies and other similar breeds, you might want to read our comparison on Morkie vs Yorkie Poo
BREED TYPE / MIX
Hybrid / Yorkshire Terrier crossed with a Maltese
ENERGY
Moderate
SHEDDING
Minimum
TRAINING
Determined
TEMPERAMENT
Affectionate, Energetic, Loving, Loyal, Playful
ADULT WEIGHT
5-8 lbs
ADULT HEIGHT
6-10 in
LIFE SPAN
12-15 yrs
Characteristics
- The Morkie breed is a Maltese and Yorkie mix. It is currently one of the most popular small breeds in the United States
- Morkies live longer, healthier lives thanks to hybrid vigor
- Happy, lively, playful, and gentle, Morkie puppies make wonderful pets for children, more specifically for older children who can be gentle with their small size. They make excellent playmates for small children, however, supervision is advised. They also get along well with other pets and strangers
- Morkies are attentive and devoted dogs with loving personalities that lend themselves to making wonderful therapy dogs
- The hypoallergenic Morkie is an excellent fit for those who suffer from dog-related allergies. These dogs are minimal shedders that don’t produce as much dander as other breeds
- Morkie puppies are highly adaptable - from a small living space to a big home - Morkies are quick to adapt to any living situation. They also fit well in both active and relaxed environments and are fantastic lap dogs
- Fearless, courageous, and vigilant, the Morkie (Morkshire Terrier, Maltese and Yorkshire terrier mix, or Yortese) is an excellent watchdog. Although they are not a vocal breed, they will alert their humans to an approaching visitor
- Morkies are easy to train and care for. They are fun and have endearing personalities. These lively dogs are best suited for families, singles, seniors, and first-time pet owners
Appearance
Morkies are tiny and adorable little dogs that can charm their way into one’s heart with a simple tail wag. As a crossbreed, these beautiful dogs can appear with more features from one of their parents or be a wonderful combination of both. They are toy-sized, athletic, and, contrary to their appearance, quite hardy. Common features among Morkie dogs include small, dark, and round eyes, a little black nose, and a rounded head. Their ears may be triangle-shaped and pointy or slightly rounded at the tip and floppy. These happy dogs wear their puffy tails curled on the back or to one side.
Because they are a mix of two toy-sized dogs, Morkie adults can reach a maximum of 9 inches in height and weigh on average 4 to 7 pounds for a full grown Morkie. Teacup Morkies are on the smaller end of that scale. The Morkie size can vary if their parents are on the larger or smaller side.
The Morkie hair is a soft, long, and fluffy coat that can be either straight or slightly wavy, much like their parents’ coats. They can have the same color patterns and markings as their Yorkie parent or sport a solid-colored coat like their Maltese parent. Common Morkie colors include shades of white, black, and tan. White Morkies, brown Morkies, and black and white Morkies are among the rarest varieties.
Photos
Temperament
Sweet, loving, and loyal, the Morkie is a family-oriented pup with an affectionate nature and a loving personality. Although the Yorkshire Terrier is a bit feistier in nature, the Maltese genes balance out the mix, giving it a more composed and calmer temperament. Morkie dogs are quite gentle in spite of being part Terriers. They get along well with other fur babies and make wonderful pets for children.
Adventurous, joyful, and full of life, the Morkie is a most excellent travel companion. This dog loves the outdoors and is great at making new friends. Dog parks are one of its favorite destinations and hikes are among its passions. Fetching, running freely with the wind, swimming, and exploring are also part of this dog’s hobbies.
Morkie puppies are very clever and eager to impress. They love to be mentally stimulated with games and will see any training session as a fun activity. These cute Morkie puppies are also social, energetic, friendly, and fun dogs with no real concept of their tiny size. They will want to make friends and play even with the biggest dog at the dog park.
Protective, bold, and vigilant, the Morkie is a fantastic watchdog that is on a mission to sound-alert any intruders it might find suspicious.
Because they love their pet parents and siblings dearly, Morkies crave to always be by their side. They thrive when they are surrounded by their humans and don’t care much for being left alone. Although not all Morkie dogs are the same, most will suffer if they are without their people for too long. Separation anxiety is a common issue with Morkies.
Training a Morkie can be a delightful experience. For more insights on training dogs effectively, check out our blog Easiest Dogs to Train - Top 5 Pups for Effortless Training
Insights
Morkie vs Yorkie Chon Comparison
Small dogs, big hearts, and a shared passion for fun games and cuddles – meet the Morkie and the Yorkie Chon. These two bundles of joy are renowned for their sunny personalities and loyal nature. Morkies and Yorkie Chons are both crossbreeds of Yorkshire Terriers and a member of the Bichon family. They are hypoallergenic breeds that fit wonderfully with allergy-suffering owners and they make fantastic...
Christmas is just around the corner. It's time to hang the big Christmas socks and stock up on hot cocoa and wine. Bring out the scented candles, the comfy pillows, and the warm puffy blankets, and join in on the wonderful Christmas spirit. Replace your regular coffee mugs with Christmas-themed ones and make sure to update your carol playlist. One more thing. Deck the halls and get a puppy! Don’t forget to...
Care
Grooming Requirements
Morkies are not high maintenance but they do require regular grooming. It is beneficial to brush their coats daily in order to avoid tangles, knots, or matting. If daily brushing isn’t achievable, it is recommended to brush them at least weekly. The area around their eyes should be cleaned and trimmed regularly as Morkies are prone to tear stains. It is also recommended to clip their nails if they grow too long, clean their ears, and brush their teeth on a regular basis. As for bathing, Morkies need a bath every 4 to 6 weeks (no sooner than 4 weeks) to keep their coats clean and shiny.
Grooming your Morkie is essential for their well-being. For a comprehensive guide on grooming, you might want to read our How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog Guide
More on Grooming your Dog at Home
Exercise Needs
Morkies are tiny dogs that have low exercise needs. They enjoy cuddles, games of hide-and-seek, and family play time. A short walk or two every day and some active playtime indoors are enough to keep these precious dogs in shape and happy.
Health
Morkies are usually healthy as a breed. While some might be prone to inherit certain ailments that are common in their parents, most are generally healthy throughout their lives. Some common Morkie health issues include dental problems, vision problems that are common with old age, ear infections, and allergies.
Lifespan
The Morkie lifespan is between 14 and 18 years. Although longer than most breeds, this lifespan can be increased. Keeping to a diet of age-appropriate high quality dog food and sticking to a healthy exercise regimen with increase the Morkie life expectancy.
Training
Morkies are fairly easy to train. They are very intelligent and able to pick up on tricks quickly but they are also known to have a stubborn streak. Training them requires patience, positive reinforcement, and extra motivation. They respond well to a calm voice, fun methods, and yummy treats. Keeping training sessions short and combining them with fun games, will work best when training a Morkie puppy.
Morkies are social dogs by nature, just like their parent breeds. Their Maltese genes will have them welcoming new faces and making fast buddies with other dogs. It is always best to introduce them gradually to strangers and other pets when they are puppies to help them overcome any shyness later on.
Morkies are family-attached dogs. They love being near their owners at all times and that might pose some issues when they are left alone for extended periods of time. To avoid separation anxiety in Morkies, it is recommended to leave them alone for a few minutes at a time each day when they are puppies. This will help avoid any destructive behavior in the future and allow them to adjust to some alone time and become more independent.
RELATED: New Puppy Owner Guide
History
The Morkie, also known as “the Morkshire Terrier” or “the Yortese”, is one of the most loved designer hybrid breeds of our days.
A cross between a purebred Maltese and a purebred Yorkshire Terrier, the Morkie is a new designer breed that originated in the United States a little over 20 years ago. A result of crossing two wonderful and highly popular purebred breeds, the Morkie was bred to be an affectionate, clever, and brave lapdog with a hypoallergenic qualities and hybrid vigor.
Although the Morkie mix may have been around for more than 2 decades in one way or another, it was only at the beginning of the 21st century that professional breeders began mixing purebred Maltese and Yorkies in an effort to create an improved dog breed. The difference between a mix of purebred parents and one of a non-pure lineage, is clearly seen in the Morkie’s health.
As hybrid dogs that come from purebred parents, Morkies enjoy better health and a lifespan of 18 years. As their popularity reached its peak, Morkie breeders began adding a third breed to the crossbreed, thus creating what is known as a triple-cross breed. The Morkie Poo, the Morkie Chihuahua mix, and the Morkie Shih Tzu mix are currently the only triple-cross breeds with Morkies.
As the Morkie breed is quite new compared to other dog breeds, we can rely on its parents to paint a better picture on what these designer dogs are all about.
The Bichon Maltese, an ancient dog from the Island of Malta, is a canine aristocrat that has been represented for centuries on monuments, statues, ceramics, and in paintings and literature. Believed to have existed in Pharaoh's age with depictions of it on ancient tombs, a companion pet for kings, queens and aristocrats, the Maltese has been greatly loved across the world throughout history. Sweet, cuddly, gentle, and affectionate, the bundle of joy Maltese has a loving personality, a clever mindset, and a joyful nature.
The Yorkshire Terrier, also known as “Yorkie”, originated in Yorkshire, a historic country in Northern England, during the 1800’s. From rodent hunters in the mills and mines of Yorkshire to companion pets for wealthy families in the Victorian era, the Yorkshire Terriers are still immensely popular as utility dogs and are also considered to be luxury pets today. Adventurous, playful, and loving, the Yorkshire Terrier is a brave and fearless dog with a curious and independent nature, a bright mind, and a colorful personality.
