How much does a Morkie cost?

When it comes to these cross-breeds or "designer dogs," there are two points of view:

One point of view: these are really just the old school lovable mutt masquerading as an exotic new breed. There's no need to pay much more than you would to adopt any other dog at a shelter; in the $100 or $250 range.

The other point of view: big fans of these one-of-a-kind canine creations who will pay almost anything for a unique pet. These people can pay anywhere from $1,000 to $2,400 or more for a Morkie.

It's not the price, it's where you find your Morkie, that is the really important thing to think about.

Price itself isn't the most important factor when you're searching for your new pet.

Where you find him is important.

That's because a huge number of dogs of all breeds come from unscrupulous and cruel puppy mills. These are people who are in business to 'manufacture' as many puppies for sale, as quickly as possible. The dogs' welfare is never considered, just the almighty dollar.

You've probably heard about puppy mills or even seen their disturbing pictures on TV shows including Oprah, Dateline and the news. There's lots on the internet about them. These are truly horrendous places; female dogs are bred every time they are in heat and kept in a tiny metal cage their entire lives.

Puppies (and adults) receive absolutely no medical care, and get the very minimum of food and water. There's very little human interaction, no affection or attention and certainly no consideration of which dogs should be bred together. Genetic problems can be multiplied and dogs with poor personalities or health are bred anyway for the profit.

For the popular new hybrid or designer dog, the chances of falling prey to a puppy mill purchase are even higher. Kennel clubs do not recognize these new crosses (even the super-popular Labradoodle) and 'real' breeders very rarely will breed one of their purebred dogs to a different breed.

Pictured here, a recently-rescued puppy mill dog

Start with your local shelter and rescue groups. You'll pay a fraction of the cost, and you'll be saving a life at the same time -- without supporting puppy mills.

Sites like Petango.com, Adopt a Pet.com and Petfinder.com are all great places to start your search. Each is a kind of central gathering site for hundreds and hundreds of local shelters, humane societies and rescue groups.

Another place to look is your local Yorkshire Terrier and Maltese Clubs. These groups have often have rescue dogs available, including crossbreeds. Sites to check include:

American Maltese Association
Yorkie Haven Rescue
Yorkshire Terrier Rescue - Canada

This is the person who owns a Yorkie or a Maltese and just wants to have a litter of Morkies. This person does not make tons of money from this, and may breed the Yorkie or the Maltese to the other, once or twice in a lifetime. Very different from what the pet industry calls the "backyard breeder" who's essentially a small-scale puppy mill.

You'll find someone like this in your local newspaper, ads at the grocery store or local online sites like Kiijii.

The key to ensuring that this isn't a puppy mill, is meeting the seller in person and seeing the facilities.

Most purebreed dog breeders either:

• are a little snobby and turn up their noses at designer dog or crossbred doggie breeders or...
• disdain and dis' these breeders for 'ruining the breed' and being unethical.

But there ARE some breeders who truly love some of the newer dogs like Morkies.

These people may not be easy to find, but you CAN do it. Here in Canada, there's a Morkie breeder in the Toronto GTA area who seems dedicated to the idea of happy, healthy Morkie puppies.

Her site has TONs of pictures of her puppies and she also has pictures and references from Morkie owners who have bought from her. That's GREAT SIGN.

She's also very clear about her intent:

"So we start with the best tempered adults to breed since some factors are genetic. Some factors are environment, so after we have carefully selected to breed healthy, good natured adults then we continue to raise our puppies to be happy, friendly and sociable and sweet."

She goes on to say:

We have chosen to breed Yorkshire Terrier and Maltese together to attain more desirable personality traits in our puppies.

We have discovered that when we breed the two breeds we get a superior temperament. The dogs are more easy going and have a more desirable temperament. We have also discovered that the puppies are even prettier. We have also discovered that the coats are easier to manage and more attractive. We also find that they are calmer and have excellent temperaments.

Our mothers are very quiet and so sweet, very loving and obedient. Our daddy is quiet but friendly and playful, he is very obedient and extremely affectionate. We have chosen to deliberately breed the pups that we are breeding, to make a combination of the two breeds to give you the best possible puppy in health and temperament, beauty and easiest daily maintenance in grooming.

And also to give you an alternative to a Maltese or Yorkshire Terrier only.

Breeding combinations of the Yorkshire Terrier and Maltese is proving to be very successful. This is partly because of the history of these 2 breeds. We say this because the Maltese was the 1st original and very ancient toy breed and varied in sizes, some being very tiny and other Maltese being well over 7lbs. Eventually, by the mid 1800s the Yorkshire Terrier was created from the Maltese and a much larger Terrier. By the late 1800's the Yorkshire Terrier was accepted as a breed on its own merits by the kennel clubs.

Even so, it wasn't until the 1930's that the Yorkshire Terrier took on its modern look and tiny size of today's prized Yorkshire Terriers! In fact if certain breeders had not seen the benefits to breeding a Maltese with another much larger Terrier, the beloved tiny toy dog that so many have cherished for years, since the late 1930's, the common YORKSHIRE TERRIER SEEN TODAY WOULD NOT EXIST. In fact, it was the smaller Maltese that helped diminish the large Terrier breed with it.

Click to visit Morkies.ca

If the seller isn't willing for you to see where the puppy was born and raised, or wants to meet you at a coffee shop or mall - RUN! These are sure signs of puppy mill brokers.

Needless to say, pet stores are NEVER the place to buy a puppy or adult dog. In 100% of the cases, these are products from puppy mills, because NO breeder would ever sell to them. If the store owner tells you otherwise, don't believe it!

On top of that, the pet store environment itself - all day in a glass cage, no interaction with people or other dogs, people tapping on the window - this is definitely not conducive to a happy, healthy, well adjusted dog.

BUYER BEWARE! It's always been good advice, and if you are looking for a hybrid or designer dog like a Morkie puppy, it's REALLY good advice.

It's very sad, but true... even when it comes to buying a puppy, there are scammers out there waiting to take your money and deliver heartbreak, not a happy, healthy Morkie puppy.

You can read about the FOUR TYPES OF SCAMS around the free-to-a-good-home promise on my lens called Free Morkie Scam

You'lll find lots for the Morkie lover at my Cafe Press Morkie Store... from TShirts, PJs and sweats, to dog bowls, baby clothes, bags and of course, a shirt for your Morkie!

Specially-designed Morkie themes include:
Morkie Nation - if you've got a Morkie, aren't you under their command?
Terriers & Tiaras - maybe you don't have a toddler, but if you own a Morkie you've probably got a diva!
Looove Morkies -with adorable Morkie illustrations
Click to visit.

I've hand-picked a selection of things I hope you and your Morkie will love, here at Just Morkies

You'll find pages of:

Morkie clothes
collars and leashes
shampoo
training pads & other training help
"just for fun" toys and stuff
Morkie collars and leads
Morkie beds
Cameras (even a Morkie-cam!!)
Morkie books

Enjoy!

North States Superyard Play Yard, Classic XT

Kyjen PP01056 Hide-A-Squirrel Pet Toy, Large

Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain

Sorry for the delay but I just don't want you to end up with a Morkie puppy from a puppy mill. If you rescue a Morkie, that dog MAY have been from a puppy mill, but you haven't added to the profits of those scum!

So, starting with adopting a Morkie puppy or an adult Morkie..... virtually all shelters charge a fee which covers the dog's medical costs, including neutering or spaying, as well as vaccinations. That fee ranges from about $200 to $350.

Rescue societies generally charge the same amount, for the same reasons. If this amount seems too high to you, you might want to reconsider getting a dog, since they ARE expensive (like kids) and the expenses continue.

If you're buying from a "Morkie Mom" the friendly neighbour or someone you know, you can expect to pay anywhere from $400 to $1,000.

A true breeder - like Morkies.ca - can charge quite a bit more, since they've invested in breeding good quality dogs. On the Morkies.ca site for example, prices range from $1,000 and upward. When you are paying that much, you can expect a written health guarantee plus a visit to the breeder's. I can't emphasize enough: you want to see where the puppy was bred and born.

Now, armed with some of the tips in this lens, I hope you find the Morkie of your dreams!