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All About Morkies & the Morkie Puppy Breed

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Morkies, without a doubt, are some of the cutest pups out there! Luckily, these puppies are small enough to take them with you wherever you may adventure off to. Traveling out of the country? No worries. These pups are great traveling companions and are sure to be the center of attention.

Here at Michigan Puppy, we love our Morkies! Check out a few of our favorites below or see them all by clicking here.

Characteristics

Because the Morkie is a mixed breed, it is sometimes difficult in determining the size of the pup. Morkies typically range between 6-15 inches in height and weigh around 5-10 pounds. The personality of a Morkie pup is one of a kind! They are people loving fur balls that are extremely friendly and social. Loyalty is one of their top traits. They tend to attach themselves to one person. Like the Yorkie, when the Morkie becomes bored, you’ll be sure to find them displaying behaviors such as chewing and barking.

The Morkie is a bundle of cuteness overload. It’s silky, straight, and fine fur ranges in colors from black and tan, white, or a combination of them all. Ever heard of “Small Dog Syndrome”? Well the Morkie has it! These pups love to bark, which can become somewhat of an annoyance to their owner at times. Morkies will continuously bark until their favorite humans arrive back home. Can you say “Separation Anxiety”? This is very common in a lot of breeds.

The Solution

The easiest thing to do is to take them with you if at all possible. You also have the option to talk to your vet about what may help to control the anxiety.

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Care

  • Step 1: Hair needs to be brushed daily or at least once every two days. The hair of Morkies tends to get tangled quite often. The best time to do this is immediately after feeding because during this time, you’ll usually find the puppies in a satiated and calm state.
  • Step 2: Bathe your Morkie once every 15-30 days. Morkies are prone to skin problems, so making sure you are not over-bathing them is something to take note of (this will dry the pup’s skin and make it itchy). Remember to use mild shampoo for the bath water and make sure the pup is dried thoroughly afterwards.
  • Step 3: Don’t forget to trim the coat of your Morkie if you are not able to brush it as often as required. Some people like to keep their Morkie’s hair long. If you are one of them, you want to make sure that there is no hair in front of the pup’s eyes and around the anal opening. Trim this hair once a week. Trim the nails once every 40 days or when they grow out so much that they may touch the floor or ground when the puppy walks. The best time to trim a Morkie’s nails is right after bath time.
  • Step 4: Morkies are known to be very playful, so you want to make sure that you are engaging with them as much as possible. Having them play around with a ball or toy is a great way for them to get their daily exercise. A toy is extremely helpful if you are not able to take the puppy out for daily walks. Don’t forget to give your Morkie lots of attention and love! They thrive off this.
  • Step 5: Make sure that you are checking your Morkie’s eyes, ears, and paws regularly for infection. Morkies tend to have weepy eyes, so it would be a smart idea to keep some wipes handy. You can either buy them or make them at home by boiling a few basil leaves in 1/2 cups water and dipping cotton balls into the water to wipe the eyes. Brush the pup’s teeth at least once every 15-30 days.
  • Step 6: Feed your pup a brand dog food as per the instructions on the bag. Train the pup to eat well at one feeding time. Give the food at a fixed time; allow the pup to eat their fill and when it leaves the bowl, remove it and do not give it anymore food until the next meal. The puppy will learn to eat well at every meal. Make sure that the pup is getting fresh water every day.
  • Step 7: Don’t forget to take your pup to the vet to get an overall check up, professional grooming (ears, nails, coat) and brushing of teeth. Professional groomers are able to brush the pup’s teeth more effectively and remove tarter while checking for gum infections.

Common Traveling Questions

  1. Will I be able to bring my Morkie on a plane with me? Yes, of course! In general, you are permitted to fly with any size/type dog. Is your dog under 20 lbs? If so, you will usually be able to fit it in a small carrier underneath the seat in front of you.
  2. Do I need to contact the airline before traveling? For sure! Most airlines will be happy to let you bring your Morkie pup along, but this also depends on the aircraft. There are some planes that are too small and may not have enough extra space for doggie crates. Keep in mind, some airlines do have a restriction on the number of pets allowed on the plane. Just to be safe, make sure to call the airline prior to purchasing your ticket.
  3. Is there an extra fee? Yes. Airlines generally charge $50-$100. This fee could possibly be waved if your Morkie happens to be a service dog or because of the type of membership you hold with the airline. Fees need to be paid in advance, so this is another reason why you want to contact the airline before making that ticket purchase.
  4. Are documents required? Some airlines (especially international ones) do require proof of vaccination. A good idea would be to contact the airline and ask them. If you end up needing documentation, visit your vet and bring the proper documentation form with you when checking in for your flight. Tip: (Take document pictures with your phone just in case.)
  5. What is the best travel carrier for a Morkie pup? First of all, you want to make sure that your carrier is well ventilated. Your pup also needs to be able to stand up and turn around while in it. Looking for something affordable? The ‘Sherpa Travel Carrier’ is airline approved (all sizes) and was also Amazon’s #1 choice in 2018. Another great option is the ‘Sleepypod Pet Carrier’ . Highly recommend this one, especially if you find yourself traveling at least once a year. Totally worth your investment! Your Morkie will love you for it since it is more comfortable, warmer, padded, and super easy to carry.
  6. What are some things that I can do to make my Morkie more comfortable during the flight? Your Morkie will be spending the majority of their time in the carrier, so you want to make sure that it will be a happy place for them. You want to purchase a carrier a week or two before leaving, so you are able to get the pup used to the carrier. While on the plane, try feeding your Morkie. Using treats and praising them will teach them to get back into the carrier and and stay inside during different periods during the flight. Morkies can be quite stubborn, so you definitely do not want to skip these steps. Trust me, you want your pup to be as quiet and relaxed during the trip. This will only happen if you prepare them ahead of time for it.
  7. Things to do before the flight? On the day of your departing flight, try to stay calm. This will not only benefit you, but your Morkie as well. Before you leave to head to the airport, have a little play session with your pup or maybe even go on a long walk. This will make the pup tired right before the flight – not a bad thing at all! One last thing………make sure your pup does its business before departing.
  8. What do I need to do if my Morkie needs to go potty? Good question. This all depends on your dog and of course the length of the flight. Short flight? No problem! If your Morkie is potty trained, you should have no worries. If your pup is potty trained but you have a long flight, take along some Puppy Pads . Slide one in the carrier once your Morkie lets you know that they need to go. If your Morkie is still a really small pup, or suffers from frequent accidents, pad your carrier with a few puppy pads in advance. Another option would be to get Doggy Diapers .
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History

Morkies are a cross between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Maltese. The crossbreed originated in the United States. The Morkie hybrid is not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club as a bona fid breed. As time goes on and these little pups become more and more popular, this will eventually change. The Yorkshire Terrier ranks as the 9th most popular and the Maltese ranks as the 33rd most popular out of 194 ranked breeds.

These pups, surprisingly, have only been around since the late 1990s. Morkies are known to be a rather new “breed”. Morkies were originally called Yorktese. They are also known as Morkshire Terriers or a Maltese Yorkie Mix. One of the main goals is for them to weigh only 4-6 lbs. when fully grown. This is considered to be a healthy weight and they are even small enough for you to take them with you anywhere, even on a plane, with no problems.

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