Morkie
Pups

Yorkies and Maltese don’t exactly look alike, but when you dive into their personality traits and characteristics, they are actually quite similar. And when you put the two breeds together, you get a playful and affectionate Morkie puppy.

Like both the Maltese and the Yorkie, the Morkie has long silky hair that doesn’t shed. Their lack of shedding makes them perfect for people with allergies or even people who don’t want hair all over their house. Their coat is usually white, tan, or black and will need plenty of brushing to keep from getting tangled or matted. Morkie owners usually choose to keep their Morkie’s coat shorter with regular trips to the groomer.

Morkies are small, 4-10 pounds, meaning they are well-suited for apartment living. They still need plenty of exercise, though. Plan for about 30 minutes a day of stimulating playtime inside or a brisk walk outdoors. Despite their small size, they do tend to bark quite a bit. Their yapping can be seen as annoying, but it’s also a great deterrent for burglars. Morkies are seen as good watchdogs, alert to anything unfamiliar, person or sound.

Similar to their parent breeds, Morkies are friendly dogs, but when interacting with other dogs and children, they should be monitored since they are so small. Morkies also shouldn’t interact with young children.

Like most other small dogs, Morkies have a big personality packed into a small body. They can be sweet and affectionate but also playful and spunky, entertaining you with their quirky antics. And although they have a lot of energy packed into a small body, they also enjoy cuddling on the couch with a cozy blanket, earning their spot on the list of lapdogs.

Because they are part Terrier, Morkies can be quite stubborn, making training an important task. Early training will help you teach your Morkie to respect you early on. You should also remember the importance of socializing your Morkie. Early socialization will help Morkies get along with other dogs.

The mixing of various dog breeds to form hybrids has been going on for hundreds of years. But it wasn’t until the 1990s, with the revolution of the Goldendoodle, that hybrids, also known as designer dogs, began to grow in popularity.

Poodle hybrids, or doodles, became popular because they combine the hypoallergenic qualities of a Poodle’s coat with the personality of whatever breed you choose to mix with a Poodle. However, looks and reduced allergies aren’t the only reasons that hybrids continue to gain popularity.

For years people desired purebred dogs with impressive pedigrees, but those pedigrees came at a devastating price: inbreeding. In order to keep bloodlines pure and to achieve the certain distinct look that each breed has, breeders resort to breeding dogs that are related. Inbreeding results in a loss of genetic diversity, which leads to increased health issues and higher susceptibility to sickness.

Take the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, for example. The classic Cavalier look comes with a short snout, round head, and large round eyes. The short snout and round head come with some huge drawbacks, however. Cavaliers are also known for their health issues like heart murmurs and Chiari-like malformations, which make their skulls too small for their brains and lead to many neurological problems. So, although Cavaliers are very cute, sometimes they live short and sadly painful lives simply because people want Cavaliers to look a certain way.

A hybrid takes two completely different genetic codes, that of, say, a golden retriever and a poodle, and mixes them together, increasing genetic diversity within the offspring of these two breeds. Hybrids result in stronger, healthier dogs that live longer. Better health of these hybrids is not only good for the dog itself, but also good for their owners. Healthier dogs means less vet bills and more years with your favorite companion.

Some dog owners still desire a purebred dog solely because they prefer the way a specific breed looks. But many dog parents are choosing to add hybrid fur babies to their homes because instead of searching for a distinct look, they wish for a healthier companion. After all, the healthier the dog, the longer your pooch will be around to fill your life with joy and plenty of puppy snuggles.