A Morkie Poo is a small hybrid dog breed with a lovable temperament. They love to run and chase and can be very protective of their owner.
They are often aloof to strangers but do not take long to warm up to new companies because they are a happy-go-lucky dog.
They are intelligent, playful, and curious dogs and find their origin in the United States of America.
Their small size makes them a great pet in a house with teenagers or grown adults, however, their chances of injuries increase with younger children because of their fragility.
They are excellent apartment pets and most often would require a lot of attention.
With those quick key points about this designer cross-bred, let’s take a further look into how they came to be, how long they live for, and how much they cost, amongst other things.
What is a Morkie Poo?
These designer dog is a hybrid of the Yorkshire Terrier, the miniature or toy Poodle, and the Maltese.
They carry the three genetic information in varying ratios and finds their characteristics in all three purebreds.
The Maltese is an ancient breed believed to have originated from Malta. The dog has existed in the Mediterranean region for thousands of years.
Aside from its healthy immune system, Morkipoo also inherits the Maltese’s height.
Yorkies are descendants of the Waterside Terrier. They derive their name from the Terrier and Yorkshire, England, where they have a pedigree spanning over 100 years.
Although they were initially bred to catch rats, badgers, and foxes, they slowly became fashion accessories as the years progressed.
The Morkie poo gets part of its lapdog appearance from the Yorkie.
The Poodle, on the other hand, is of German origin. Despite it being labeled a pampered lapdog, the Poodle was originally a sports animal.
The name poodle comes from two German words, which, when translated, mean ‘splash dog.’
The Morkie Poo (Morkipoo) often gets it tan and white coat color from the Poodle.
This designer dog proves crossbreeding works. However, the tri-crossbred dog has many phenotypic variations.
Each hybrid offspring comes out differently because three different gene pools are fixing together. The ratio of these genes in the hybrids has a high degree of variation.
How long do Morkie Poos live for?
The average lifespan of the Morkie Poo is 10 to 13 years, similar to its purebred parents.
The average lifespan of a Maltese is 12 to 15 years. On the other hand, a Yorkie has a lifespan of 13 to 16 years, while the Poodle’s life expectancy is 12 to 15 years.
Therefore, the Morkie Poo (Morkipoo), by default, has a long lifespan. Your commitment to the Morkie Poo is over a decade long.
Nevertheless, this crossbreed’s lifespan is affected by diet, exercise, and mental health. Without health issues, the dog can live to a right old age.
Check out these 10 great exercises you can do with your Morkie Poo to keep them healthy and fit.
How Big Do Morkie Poos Get?
The Maltese, Yorkie, and Poodle are small dogs; therefore, their progeny will also be small.
Height variations depend on the most genetically expressed breed and gender in the crossbreed.
Females tend to be on the lower end of the height and weight spectrum while males lean towards the higher side.
Additionally, shorter Morkipoos tend to weigh less. An adult male Morkie poo has a height ranging from 7 to 10 inches.
An adult female has a height range of 6 to 8 inches. The same concept applies to weight; male dogs tend to be heavier than dogs.
The male Morkie poo weighs between 6 to 12 pounds, while the female’s weight ranges between 4 to 8 pounds.
Grooming A Morkie Poo, Do They Shed?
Morkipoos are a non-shedding breed. They have long silky soft hair instead of fur; this coat is incredibly low shedding.
This small hybrid dog is an ideal pet for people with allergies because of its hypoallergenic nature.
It is also the best option for pet lovers that do not prefer fur.
Their coat has predominately four colors: white, black tan, and brown.
The dominant coat color is black and brown. Color mixtures are usually white and tan or black and tan.
The coloration on the coat is dependent on the Poodle in the mix. Light-colored Poodles give birth to lighter colored puppies. The mixtures are so diverse that no Morkie poo looks precisely like another.
The variations are a result of the heterogeneous nature of the dog’s gene pool.
Morkie Poos need a rigorous grooming regimen to maintain their beautiful and delicate coat.
They need to see a groomer as soon as they turn ten months or require their second vaccination. Regular grooming in the house is also essential.
Brush their coat daily to keep their beautiful thin hair from tangles and knots.
Wash around their eyes with the same frequency to keep them from getting eye infections.
Their eyes are prone to glaucoma and cataracts, and regular cleaning prevents these two conditions.
The hairs near their eyes need to be trimmed regularly for this reason as well.
Aside from this, they should be bathed once every week, using a shampoo that is compatible with their sensitive skin.
They need to be prepped for an easy grooming process. Make sure the dog is relaxed before grooming.
Health issues
Small dogs are more vulnerable to injury because of their fragile bodies. Many ordinary circumstances become hazardous to these small-bodied crossbreeds.
Therefore, they need care and a lot of safety measures to keep them from injury.
The purebreds that make up the Morkie poo have strong immunity as characterized by their lifespan.
This means the Morkie Poo will have fewer health problems provided the parents were immunized correctly and had frequent health checkups.
Getting a Morkie from a trusted ethical breeder minimizes your dog’s chances of negative health issues.
The most common health issues with Morkies are inherited. The eyes have a high incidence of glaucoma and cataracts.
Collapsed trachea is also observed in most of these breeds. They also experience reverse sneezing where the air gets pulled to their nose.
Other recorded conditions include hypoglycemia, Portosystemic shunt, and Patella luxation.
Not every Mokie poo experiences these conditions because of the vast variations of their genetic pool.
The breeder also plays a significant role in the health of this dog. Therefore, make sure to find a breeder with the purebreds that have been registered with the American Kennel Club.
How Much Does the Morkie Poo Cost?
A Morkie Poo puppy costs between $850 to $3,700. The complex nature of their breeding process greatly influences this pricing.
It will cost you approximately $435 to $550 for annual medical expenses for this dog.
Non-medical expenses amount to $500. All in all, this small hybrid dog can be pricey to purchase and maintain depending on your financial status.
Some FAQs About Morkie Poos
Can a Morkie Poo be left alone?
Morkie Poos don’t do so well if left alone for a long period of time and may suffer from separation anxiety when left alone at home.
The fear of being alone makes them restless and they would often bark, pace around, and become destructive. This behavior increases their risk of self-harm because of their fragile bodies.
Training your Morkie Poo to spend some time alone is possible, and would require some practice and patience on your part.
Are Morkie Poos good apartment dogs?
Morkipoos acclimatize well to apartment living. They can get comfortable in small homes because of their small size.
The Morkie Poo’s temperament and demands can be accommodated in an apartment as well. For instance, they require very little exercise and easily adapt to small spaces.
Are Morkie Poos friendly toward strangers?
Morkie Poos don’t quickly get comfortable with strangers. They shy away from unfamiliarity and tend to move toward known faces. They get very attached to their family.
Although they do not warm up to strangers, these dogs do not become aggressive to unfamiliar people. They take their time to adapt to new faces.
Conclusion
The Morkie Poo is an odd but interesting small dog breed that can adapt well to city and apartment living, possessing great attributes they inherit from their parents.
Being made up of three different small purebred dogs; Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier, and the Miniature or Toy Poodle, gives this hybrid designer dog breed its uniqueness.
