The Maltese Yorkie Mix
The Maltese Yorkie mix, often known as a Morkie, though the American Canine Hybrid Club refers to it as a Malkie, is a cross between a Maltese and a Yorkshire Terrier. Personality wise, they retain the tenacity of the Yorkshire Terrier, but the Maltese part of the mix gives it a more placid disposition. Because they are so small, an adult dog weighing 5 to 9 pounds, they are not recommended for children under 10, as very young children can injure the dogs with their rough play.
Buying a Maltese Yorkie Mix
Maltese Yorkie mix puppies are available from many breeders. Prices range from around $650 to $1000. Older Maltese Yorkie mix dogs are slightly cheaper, and can be found for around $500. Some breeders offer so-called “teacup” Maltese Yorkie mix puppies. This is just a fancy name for the runt of the litter, and can sometimes suffer from genetic defects. The buyer should always beware of any “teacup” puppies.
Typical colors for Maltese Yorkie mix puppies include blonde, silver, sable or phantom. Sable and phantom refer to the black and tan color combination normally associated with Doberman Pinschers. The difference between the two is that sable puppies get lighter over time whereas phantoms do not.
Looking After a Maltese Yorkie Mix
Maltese Yorkie Mix puppies are highly intelligent dogs, but are highly energetic, which can make them difficult to house train. Housebreaking pads are available that use attractant chemicals which encourage the puppy to defecate on the pad, not on your furniture.
Most Maltese Yorkie mix dogs are non-shedding, which makes them good for allergy sufferers. However, they still need a lot of grooming. Their coats grow constantly, like human hair, so you may want to give them a periodic trim. Even if you let their fur grow, you should still brush it regularly.
Maltese Yorkie mixes are very affectionate, and love to follow their owners around. Their owners often refer to them as “my little shadow” or similar phrases. If you are looking for a low maintenance dog that can be left alone to entertain themselves for long periods of time, a Maltese Yorkie mix might not be right for you,
Because of their small size, Maltese Yorkie mixes should be fed three small meals a day rather than two large ones. Dry dog food is best, though you can flavor it with low sodium chicken broth or add some canned dog food to make it more appetizing if the dog refuses to eat (Morkies can be picky eaters). People food is not recommended, as some of the ingredients can be harmful to small dogs. A few ingredients in human food are OK for Morkies, such as beef, lamb, rice and vegetables, but these are found in canned dog food anyway. Giving them your food can turn your Morkie into a table beggar, and make it more difficult to persuade them to eat dry dog food.
Training a Maltese Yorkie Mix
Maltese Yorkie mixes are very obedient dogs, and therefore very easy to train. However, because they are small, and “cute” the temptation can be there to let them get away with bad behavior. Don’t fall into that trap. Undesirable behaviors need to be corrected in Morkies just as they do in any other dog. We have already discussed potty training your Maltese Yorkie mix. Barking is not usually a problem with Morkies, as they are very quiet dogs and express themselves through yelps and whining rather than barking.
One problem often found with Maltese Yorkie mixes is that of separation anxiety. The desire to be near their owners that we mentioned earlier can sometimes turn into panic attacks and destructive behaviors such as chewing and house soiling when the owner has to leave the home. This problem can be cured by leaving them with lots of distractions such as dog toys, and by leaving a radio or TV on when you go out to make the environment seem more comforting and familiar. Shreddable toys that contain edible dog treats can be a good way to channel the dog’s natural hunting instinct into a safe activity that stops them destroying your furniture, effectively allowing your MalteseYorkie mix dog to hunt for its food.
Obedience training is best carried out in the first 16 weeks of a puppy’s life. That is when they are most receptive to learning new things. If you buy your Morkie as a puppy, make sure that you introduce it to new people and other dogs during that period. A socialized dog will be less likely to exhibit problem behaviors later in life.
