Just when you thought you had seen it all in the adorable tiny dog world, someone somewhere came up with the impossibly cute Maltipoo and Yorkie Mix. These scampish, cheeky, bright-eyed bundles are instant heartbreakers and make great companion pets.
So, without much further ado, let us take a delve into the details of this tiny, extended member of the Doodle family tree.
Table of Contents
The History of the Parent Breeds
Whereas most Doodle crosses that we cover comprise two individual purebred parent breeds, the Maltipoo Yorkie Mix contains Maltese, Poodle, and Yorkshire Terrier genetics.
The Maltipoo Parent
The Maltipoo is a popular Doodle cross in its own right. Comprising of Maltese and usually a small Miniature or Toy Poodle parents. This small breed is favored for its forever puppy-like appearance and the addition of Poodle genetics allows for greater variation in their coat color and type than the pristine white straight coat of the Maltese.
To find out more about the Maltipoo be sure to check out our other articles “Are Maltipoos AKC Registered?” and “Are Maltipoos Good with Other Dogs?” along with other titles.
The Yorkshire Terrier Parent
The Yorkshire Terrier is the quintessential pocket rocket. Due to their diminutive stature, they were originally bred to catch rats in the working mills and coal mines that were a massive part of the UK Industrial Revolution in the 1900s.
Popular as a breed themselves, many owners love the big personality that comes wrapped up in this little package. Their lovable, if feisty, nature combined with their adorable looks has led to them being one of the most popular toy breeds in the United States.
What is a Yorkie Maltipoo Mix Called?
Now naming a Poodle cross is fairly straightforward, for the most part, it’s adding “oodle” as in Labradoodle or adding “poo” as in Maltipoo but the Maltipoo Yorkie mix has three breed names to blend together so it is time to get inventive.
In a name that is almost as cute as the dog itself the Maltipoo Yorkie mix is often referred to as a “Morkie Poo” or “Morkie Doodle”.
Is a Morkie Poo a Good Dog?
Pros
The Morkie Poo combines three small dog breed genetics meaning this pup will stay almost puppy-sized for life. This makes them accessible to a whole variety of potential owners from those with limited outdoor space to those who are less physically able to manage a large dog.
All three breeds are known for their loyalty to their owners and the gentler nature of the Maltese can temper some of the sass associated with both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Poodle.
This combination is highly likely to be low shedding making them a great choice for those with pet hair allergies and the dose of Poodle smarts makes them amenable to training.
Cons
At times there can feel an overwhelming push towards smaller and smaller dogs as these are perceived as cute or desirable. This can lead to unscrupulous owners choosing the smallest variations of the already small parent dogs in the hope of breeding an even smaller Morkie Poo. In reality, the smallest of the litter may not always be the healthiest to choose to breed from and this can lead to health problems in the offspring.
Another issue regarding adding Yorkshire Terrier genetics is that this can make the Morkie Poo incredibly energetic, as they also have a pinch of Poodle brains, sometimes the young Morkie Poo can be inclined to turn his hand to mischief-making if bored or not being physically active enough.
As the Morkie Poo is rarer than a standard Maltipoo, there are instances of sellers lying about the parentage to make a dog more desirable. As all three parent breeds are small and the Maltese and Yorkshire Terrier are similar in breed it can be almost impossible to tell the difference between Maltipoos and Morkie Poos in puppyhood.
Why the Cross is Being Bred
For the most part, the development of the Morkie Poo as a hybrid has been in response to an appetite for ever smaller and cute-looking toy dogs. A Maltese and Yorkie mix was already an option however as the current trend for Poodle crosses and the impact the Poodle genetics can have on coat presentation meant that the Morkie Poo was explored.
When the resultant pups demonstrated the large eyes of their Terrier and Maltese genetics alongside the wavy or curly Poodle coat there was no going back for breeders.
How Big do Yorkie Maltipoo Get?
Hailing from the genetics of three Toy breeds, the Morkie Poo sits firmly in the Toy dog category themselves. It is one of the reasons they are so favored as companion dogs as their tiny size makes them easy to transport.
There is some variation between male and female Morkie Poo’s. A female may come in at between 4 and 8 pounds and reach an adult height of between 6 to 8 inches while the male will be larger, at 6 to 12 pounds, and between 7 and 10 inches in height.
Morkie Poo Coat Colors and Maintenance
In terms of coat type, as there are three sets of genetics competing, there can be significant variation depending on which breed your little Morkie Poo takes after.
In those where the Poodle genetics are expressed, you can expect curly, sometimes bordering on scruffy or frizzy. As both the Yorkshire Terrier and Maltese have straight silk coats, if a Morkie Poo takes after them it may be completely straight or more likely gently waved.
As all three parent breeds are considered low to minimal shedders, the Morkie Poo generally inherits significant hypoallergenic credentials, and their hair-like coats will be low to near non-shedding.
As the Morkie Poo cannot cast off dead or broken hair easily, they rely on their owners to regularly brush and comb out any debris or knots. Especially if you prefer to leave their coat longer, brushing will be a daily event. Many owners opt to follow a 6 to 8 week professional grooming schedule to help keep overall coat length more manageable and have their Morkie Poo looking their best.
Most commonly the Morkie Poo can present with a white, black, brown, tan, white with tan markings, or even be tri-colored. The variation in colors really comes from the Poodle as a Maltese is always white and a Yorkshire Terrier is fairly consistently black and tan. In theory, a Morkie Poo could present with some of the rarer Poodle colors of gray or silver beige however in most cases the Yorkshire Terrier genetics temper these to shades of brown/tan.
Morkie Poo Health Problems
Although a Morkie Poo is a second-generation hybrid, evidence still suggests they benefit in part from “hybrid vigor”. Hybrid vigor refers to the benefit of adding additional genetics which can decrease the risk of genetic disorders prevalent in the particular parent breed.
As a result, overall Morkie Poo’s are considered a fairly healthy breed. As always, the caveat to this is that they come from reputable breeders who have undertaken health screening for the common conditions that may affect any of the parent breeds.
There are some conditions that affect all three parent breeds to some extent that can be passed on and these include:
- Eye issues – Cataract, Glaucoma
- Hypoglycemia – being so small makes it difficult to store and regulate blood sugars
- Tracheal Collapse – the tiny bones in the throat of such small dogs can be incredibly delicate.
- Accidental trauma – being stood on or tripped over due to their small size.
Just because these are possible doesn’t mean all Morkie Poos will experience these issues and often there are treatments to manage some conditions. You can expect a lifespan of between 10 and 13 years however this is a conservative estimate and limited somewhat from the relatively short history and the small number of Morkie Poos out there.
Morkie Poo Temperament
The real star of the show in terms of Morkie Poo’s attributes is their temperament. Described overall as loving little velcro dogs you will never be alone again once you have a Morkie Poo (whether you wanted to be or not). They are incredibly loving and loyal and frequently follow their owners throughout their homes.
This means your Morkie Poo is a significant commitment, they will not do well left alone and often experience separation anxiety (sometimes severely). They are very much indoor dogs both from a need to be around humans but also practically as due to their small size they can be vulnerable to injury by large birds of prey or other animals.
They can err on the side of “yappy” when confronted with strangers as they seek to assert their dominance and the Terrier genetics can make them scent and prey driven so outdoor recall may be challenging.
The good news is their energy and intelligence can be quickly and effectively channeled into obedience training and their in-built desire to please means they often catch on quickly and effectively.
How Much Exercise does a Yorkie Maltipoo Cross Need?
A Morkie Poo’s little legs do not require strenuous exercise however they will need daily activity. Think a walk around the block, a few laps of the yard, or some targeted playtime indoors.
This is helpful for individuals with limited time for formal dog walking or limited outdoor space. It is important to remember that such small dogs can struggle with extremes of heat or cold and on some occasions, a playtime indoors may be most appropriate.
A Morkie Poo will enjoy a cuddle, however, is not naturally pre-disposed to lounge around, you may find them constantly on the go within the home, and having a number of toys that are mentally and physically challenging will keep your little buddy out of mischief.
How Much Food Does a Yorkie Maltipoo Cross Need?
Unsurprisingly a little dog needs considerably less food than a larger dog. Exact feeding requirements will vary depending on age, size, and activity levels. A consideration that should be remembered is that due to their tiny size, it is recommended to feed an adult Morkie Poo over three to four mealtimes a day rather than two. Spreading feeding out during the day helps to regulate blood sugars better.
As they are so small, they are also extremely susceptible to putting on weight which can have serious negative health impacts if they become obese. Being sparing with the treats is actually being kind to your pup.