More dogs that don't shed: the Morkie

There are two types of dog coats:

• double coated a.k.a. FUR
• single coated a.k.a. HAIR

Doubled-coated dogs have, like the name says, two layers of coat -- a fluffy undercoat that's soft and downy, plus a topcoat made up of heavy hairs and guard hairs.

Single-coated dogs have one layer of covering or hair, much like ours. The single coat, or "hair" is all the same - there's no undercoat.

Besides double or single-coats, dogs

• shed or
• don't shed.

(But all dogs, even people, do shed to some degree. If you're allergic, it can be to the hair or more often, the 'dander' or dandruff of an animal, that irritates your nose.)

Double-coated dogs

Single-coated dogs

"fur"

"hair"

top coat plus downy undercoat

one type of hair only

Shedding breeds

Shedding breeds

Golden Retriever

Afghan Hound

Low-shedding breeds

Low-shedding breeds

Miniature Schnauzer

Yorkshire Terrier

A purebred Yorkshire Terrier + a purebred Maltese = a Morkie, also known as a Yorktese, Morky or Yorktease.

Maltese are among the oldest breeds know... in fact it seems that Aristotle himself mentioned a Maltese dog! Bred to be luxurious lapdogs, Maltese have long, flowing pure white hair that falls to the floor in show dogs... and can be kept short, in a puppy cut or long and lovely (with plenty of regular combing.)

Unlike the Maltese, the Yorkie is a fairly need breed and was originally a working dog. It was developed by cross-breeding several different types of terriers in the late 1800s in Northern England. Why? To go after rats and mice in the coal mines and textile mills of the day. A rough-and-tumble little fighter, that original Yorkshire Terrier was eventually noticed by the ladies of leisure of Victorian England, and over the years, became a real favourite among all lapdogs!

Interestingly, the original Yorkie was 'shrunk down' over time by cross breeding with Maltese dogs.

Famous owners?

Justin Timberlake, Paris Hilton, Kelly Clarkson, Mariah Carey, A-Rod,Joan Rivers, Audrey Hepburn, Ivana Trump, Kirsten Dunst, and Leonardo DiCaprio are just a few Yorkie fans.

Halle Berry (pictured above),Eva Longoria, Britney Speers, Sarah Michele Geller, Elizabeth Taylor, Lindsay Lohan, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and Heather Locklear are just of few of the rich and famous who own(ed) Maltese dogs. (From PetMaltese.com )

Picture From Ann Dandridge Public Relations website.

If you're considering a Morkie, you'll want to learn more about their founding breeds: the Yorkshire Terrier and the Maltese dog.

After all your Morkie's looks, personality and health are inherited from both breeds, and not always in equal proportions. The more you know, the easier it will be for you to decide if a Morkie is right for you.

On the plus side -- Morkies are...

• ADORABLE puppies that grow into ADORABLE dogs
• intelligent
• loyal
• very affectionate
• small size
• beautiful, varied colours
• great temperament (although can be a little aggressive)
• long living - 13, 14, 15 or more years is not uncommon

On the not-so-plus side -- you could end up combining the "worst of" each of the founding breeds

• according to many experts, Yorkshire Terriers can be willful, making training difficult
• the Maltese is famously hard to house trainMaltese can be finicky eaters and often suffer indigestion
• and like the Yorkie, the Maltese is territorial and will bark, even bite, when he feels his family is threatened

It's easy to be tricked or not know enough, and buy a puppy mill dog when you're looking for a purebred.

But if you're buying a cross or a "designer dog" like a Morkie, it's even easier to be duped into buying a dog who came from a puppy mill.

What's wrong with puppy mills?

As the the United States Humane Society writes:

Can you imagine forcing your pet dog to live his or her entire life in a small wire cage with no human companionship, toys or comfort, and little hope of ever becoming part of a family? That is what life is like for a puppy mill breeding dog. Help us stop this cycle of cruelty that contributes to pet overpopulation and the suffering of countless dogs.

It's a nightmare! And it's all based on despicable GREED of people who turn innocent animals into breeding machines, all for money.

How can YOU avoid supporting puppy mills?

Read up on them - this is just one site, here at Prisoners of Greed.
Other sites with good information on puppy mills include:

Wikipedia
The ASPCA's Fight Animal Cruelty
Where NOT to buy a dog or puppy
PETA's Puppy Mills: Dogs Abused for the Pet Trade

If you're looking for a Morkie, start with a rescue - sites like Petango and Petfinder collect information from literally thousands of shelters across North America. You can see, in real time, details about dogs (and cats) that are available to adopt. And YES, you can find Morkies there.

You can read up on more ways to avoid a puppy mill Morkie here at my lens How much does a Morkie cost?