The Complete Morkie Poo Guide [Information, Facts, Photos] (2024)
Many new dog owners would really benefit from a complete breed guide, especially for rare mixed breed dogs and puppies. This is why I present this article to you dedicated to the adorable Morkie Poo.
Reader Julia wrote in asking us to cover the rare Morkie Poo mix. “My adorable female Morkie Poo named Mojo has been with me for two years now, and I had to learn everything about her from the breeder I bought her from. This got me thinking about other owners and potential owners looking for the perfect mixed breed.“
Where are they going to get their information from? If you are looking for a definitive guide to the Morkie Poo, this article is for you!
Positives and Negatives of Owning a Morkie Poo
You might be familiar with the Morkie or the breed that is a mix of the Maltese and Yorkshire Terrier. You might also have heard about the mixed breed Maltipoo, which is the offspring of a Maltese and a Poodle combined, but some of us may be unfamiliar with the adorable Morkie Poo.
A Morkie Poo is a combination of three dog breeds—a Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier, and Poodle. The combination of the three breeds of the dog makes this spunky, sweet, and playful mixed dog breed that is ultra-smart and hypoallergenic. Perfect for people who have fur and dust allergies like me.
Aside from being hypoallergenic, this mixed breed has a lot of pros, but it also has its cons, as do all other dogs, whether mixed breed or not. Here are some rundowns of the pros and cons of the Morkie Poo breed.
Pros
- Hypoallergenic; very ideal for people with allergies.
- The mixed breed is ideal for small spaces and apartments.
- Highly trainable and very intelligent.
- Minimal exercise needed.
Cons
- Since the breed is rare, the breed will almost be impossible to adopt, and acquiring one from a breeder is your best choice.
- Again, since it is a mixed breed, it will be hard to predict the exact traits a Morkie Poo will inherit from its parents.
Breed Overview
If you are thinking about adding a Morkie Poo to your household, you will be amply entertained. This tri-hybrid combines the beauty of the Maltese, the playfulness and eagerness of the Yorkshire Terrier, and the cunning and intelligence of a Poodle. This mixed breed is also called the Morkie Doodle or even Maltipoo Yorkie.
Because of the Poodle gene, most Morkie Poos will have the hypoallergenic coat that their original parent Poodle will have. They will also have the smarts of the Poodle, so you will have no problem training this breed.
My Morkie Poo Mojo is playful and easy to take care of. She’s also very gentle, and my four-year-old daughter is her best friend. Morkie Poos are the perfect house pets because of their perfect temperament and the fact that they don’t shed!
Morkie Poo Puppies
Each Morkie Poo puppy is unique. Even in the same litter of Morkie Poos, not all puppies will look alike. Even their noses will differ—they may have a longer muzzle like the Poodle or a short muzzle due to their Maltese genes.
When I went to pick up Mojo from the litter, I noticed that each of her siblings had a different coat color, but they all had black noses, brown eyes, and floppy ears.
Adult Morkie Poo
Another defining aspect of the breed is their coat, which will also depend on the dominant gene on each of the puppies. They may have tightly curled hair like Poodles, or they may be like Mojo, who has a wavier and silkier coat resulting from the Maltese and Yorkshire Terrier genes.
Each Morkie Poo pup has a unique variety of patterns and colors. Mojo has a tri-colored white, tan, and cream coat.
Besides any combination of tri-colored coats, Morkie Poo puppies are also available in black, apricot, bi-color, cream, gray, tan, brown, and pure white. They may also inherit coat patterns from their Yorkshire Terrier genes.
Mojo is more like the Yorkshire Terrier, especially with the fur she has on her face that is longer than the fur on her body. Some Morkie Poo puppies will grow into adulthood with this trait.
Full-Grown Morkie Poo
An adult Morkie Poo won’t look very different from how it looked when it was a pup. Morkie Poos are a fairly small breed like the Maltese and Yorkie, making them perfect for smaller homes and apartments. They are great for city dwellers and those who like traveling with their dogs.
On average, they will grow to be 6 to 10 inches tall and weigh about 4 to 12 pounds in their adult years. Mojo is around 8 inches tall and is 9 pounds in a year and hasn’t grown an inch since, and my daughter is delighted about this because puppies for life, right?
One factor that could affect the size of a Morkie Poo is its Poodle genes. It may be bigger if they have the gene of a Standard Poodle or smaller if it is that of a Miniature Poodle.
Brief History
No one really knows who first bred the Morkie Poo. However, many designer dog breeders started crossing the Maltese and the Yorkshire Terriers as early as the 1990s.
The main goal of cross-breeding this mixed breed is to produce friendly, affectionate, and low-shedding dogs for allergic humans. Thanks to all these factors, the breed is now in demand with fans of designer dog breeds.
Morkie Poo Breed Personality
Morkie Poo Temperament
This mixed breed is loving and playful. Morkie Poos quickly bond with their adoptive families, and they develop strong attachments to their owners.
Mojo is very affectionate, especially with my daughter, and she follows her around everywhere! Morkie Poos are also energetic and very playful; they are also very confident and brave.
This can sometimes be very funny yet scary, especially around other dogs. I had to buy a heavier leash for Mojo despite her small stature because, sometimes, she forgets her size, and I’m scared that the bigger dogs in the dog park will hurt her.
This small breed can develop separation anxiety, so it is best not to leave them alone for too long. Mojo is a small enough dog; that’s why we can take her everywhere with us.
Social Interaction
With strangers
Morkie Poos tend to be stubborn because of the Yorkshire Terrier in their blood. They may be aloof with strangers.
And this trait is not something you count against this breed because when they warm up to a person, they’ll be friendlier too. This breed just takes time to get accustomed to new faces.
With kids
As attested by Mojo’s bond with my daughter, they are the best dogs around smaller kids. They can get pretty territorial with attention, and they demand your undivided attention, whether during exercise or mealtime. Mojo makes up for it by being very protective of her, especially around strangers.
With other dogs
Morkie Poos need to be socialized with other dogs at a young age to grow out of their territorial nature.
If the breeder socializes them early, it helps your Morkie Poo get along easily with other animals.
Feeding a Morkie Poo
Because of their smaller size, a Morkie Poo does not require a lot of feeding. However, their smaller stature calls for giving them smaller meals to help them digest the food properly.
I feed Mojo nutritious foods at least 2 to 3 times a day, and I give her fruits and the occasional boiled vegetables as treats. She is very fond of apples and boiled baby carrots.
A Morkie Poo will require small portions of about 1.5 to 2 cups of food a day. What I do is divide these portions so that there is enough for three meals for her. This keeps her energized throughout the day.
Most commercial dog food contains the required amounts of nutrients that a Morkie Poo needs, but supplementing it, once in a while, with acceptable and safe human food is an excellent idea.
Morkie Poo’s Exercise Needs
Mojo enjoys her walks and playtime in the yard. This is why I keep the doors open every morning and afternoon. Other than the walks and the occasional fetch games, this is only the exercise they require.
Because of this, they are the ideal dog to have, especially during quarantine, ha! They are very social, so they need constant attention and regular playtime, which we are more than happy to provide.
Otherwise, they get depressed and can develop separation anxiety, leading to bad habits like excessive barking, which may not sit well with your other neighbors. They are a very lovable mixed breed, but they can also be feisty!
Morkie Poo’s Health
A Morkie Poo will grow old with you and stay with you for more than a decade. They need all the love and care you can give them, plus regular health check-ups from a licensed vet.
Morkie Poos may develop some of these afflictions, especially in their old age:
- Glaucoma: A build-up of liquid and pressure in their eyes.
- Cataracts: A genetic disease that could make your dog’s eyes seem cloudy. This is not uncommon for mixed breeds.
- Tracheal Collapse: A condition that causes them not to breathe properly and needs medication or surgery.
- Hypoglycemia: This would require a vet-approved diet as it will affect their overall energy levels.
Morkie Poo’s Intelligence and Training
Morkie Poos are very eager and intelligent, so training shouldn’t be too hard. They are also very loyal and keen to please, which can make it easy for you to teach them tricks.
When training, reward them with treats and other reinforcements like praises and cuddles when they do a great job. Although they can be stubborn with the Yorkie streak in their blood, being persistent and assertive with each demand, they will follow you and meet every expectation.
This breed is the epitome of being a ball of energy, so tricks like ball fetch or walking outside will give them all the physical and mental stimulation they need.
Grooming a Morkie Poo
Because of the three other breeds that make up the DNA of the adorable Morkie Poo, they can develop either a silky coat like a Yorkie or a Maltese or have a curly coat like that of a Poodle. The great news for dog owners is that they shed only a little, so they are outstanding all around the year, even around allergy season!
The grooming they will require is regular brushing, especially for curlier coats, so they are free of tangles. You also need to cut and clean stray hair around their eyes and ears or have a groomer do it for you.
I trim Mojo’s nails only when necessary, and bathe her only when it is absolutely necessary. I only use a wet towel for Mojo when we walk in the park because she gets excited and rolls around on green grass. It’s her favorite!
Final Thoughts
And now, you’ve reached the end of your guide to everything you need to know about the adorable Morkie Poos! This mixed breed is lovable and playful, and it is the perfect pet for families who have children. They do not require much in terms of food and exercise, but they need love, care, and attention.
If you are looking for a sign to get a Morkie Poo, this is it! They are one of the best in the world and up there with the cutest!
