Jan 9, 2019 | About Morkies - Morkie information
Ever wonder, ‘how smart are dogs?’ And are Morkies and their parents among the smartest dog breeds? Most Morkie owners would tell you, when it comes to intelligence, my Morkie is Genius! but let’s find out.
Dogs are very smart, say experts. But each in their own way.
Canine Intelligence is measured on 3 dimensions
Instinctive intelligence
or a dog’s ability to perform the tasks it was bred for, such as herding, pointing, fetching, guarding, or supplying companionship. Yes, snuggling counts.
Adaptive intelligence
means a dog’s ability to solve problems on his own. In other words, the dog’s ability to independently problem solve and learn from previous experiences.
Working and obedience intelligence
refers to a dog’s ability to learn from humans. How well does he do when taught by a human? How much does he remember?
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So just how smart are MORKIES?
A lot depends on how much Yorkie is in your Morkie, versus Maltese.
Yorkies originated in the terrier family. They tend to be more aggressive than many other dogs. They also tend to be smarter, more loyal and yes, louder! Terriers were bred to think and to work. It’s part of their heritage.
Yorkshire terriers may not be the Einsteins of the canine world, but they are intelligent. Very intelligent, actually, according to the Official Yorkie Guide. Tracy Barr and Peter F. Veling agree in “Yorkshire Terriers for Dummies,” saying that while they’re not up there with the smartest of the smart dogs like border collies and poodles, Yorkies’ intelligence is well above average.
— from The Nest: Pets
Maltese, on the other hand, are not terriers, and so don’t have that same strong, instinctive intelligence. They were bred as lapdogs, not to work. So intelligence – obeying commands, performing tasks – just wasn’t as important in developing the breed.
However…
If smart is defined as doing what the dog is taught, then a good argument can be made that the so-called super smart dogs, like German Shepherds, aren’t necessarily SMART, but they’re GOOD at doing what they’re told.
“Dumb” may really be independence or stubbornness, even aloofness.
Here’s how dogs compare, breed by breed.
In his groundbreaking book, The Intelligence of Dogs, Dr. Stanley Coren, a professor of canine psychology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, helps us understand dog brainpower.
Through extensive testing based on the 3 dimensions of canine intelligence, he was able to rank 132 registered breeds on a smart scale.
Since his work, updated in 2006, other assessment methods have been developed. They are aligned to what Dr. Coren discovered.
The Border Collie is generally accepted as the smartest dog, across all 3 components of canine intelligence.
Yorkies rank quite high – #27 out of the 132 breeds tested. That puts him in the top 20%.
Maltese are just about midway, ranking 59th smartest dog.
Someone has to be last 🙁 That’s the beautiful Afghan Hound, ranked at #132.
Top 10 Smartest Breeds
Border Collie
Poodle
German Shepherd Dog
Golden Retriever
Doberman Pinscher
Shetland Sheepdog
Labrador Retriever
Papillon
Rottweiler
Australian Cattle Dog
10 Least Smart Breeds
Basset Hound
Mastiff
Beagle
Pekingese
Bloodhound
Borzoi
Chow Chow
Bulldog
Basenji
Afghan Hound
Want to test your Morkie’s smarts?
WikiHow shows you how to conduct some standard tests that help rate your dog’s IQ. Read more about dog intelligence testing here.
Dec 24, 2018 | About Morkies - Morkie information
As we approach the Christmas season, let’s take a moment to be thankful for one of our greatest gifts, our dogs. There’s simply no other animal on earth that we love as much. Dogs are unique, in the position they’ve taken in our hearts and minds. From that mythical wolf club thousands of years ago, who captured the imagination of that Neanderthal by the fire, dogs have grown to be an integral part of our lives. And for that gift, we’re truly thankful. No wonder we call them ‘man’s best friend’ and warn our friends and family, ‘must love dogs.’
He’s the funniest little guy I’ve ever met. The way he picks up random objects and tries to hide them, physically sits on a kitchen chair and eventually makes his way up to sitting on the table. He just does the funniest things.
Rock art depicting man hunting with dogs. Tadrart Acacus, Libya. An early cave painting in Libya of dogs chasing a deer in the Akakus Mountains. Photo courtesy of Peter Boekamp and the Bradshaw Foundation.
Why are humans and dogs so good at living together?
According to Psychology Today, dogs have a special chemistry with humans that goes back many tens of thousands of years. Researchers investigated this special evolutionary relationship from a number of different angles. Their results are surprising.
Domestic dogs are descended from wolves so recently that they remain wolves in all biological essentials, including their social behavior. Wolf packs have some intriguing parallels with human families:
They are territorial.
They hunt cooperatively.
Pack members are emotionally bonded and greet each other enthusiastically after they have been separated.
Dogs are extraordinarily attentive and have an uncanny ability to predict what their owners will do, whether getting the dog a meal or preparing to go on a walk. Experiments show that dogs and wolves can be astute readers of human body language using the direction of our gaze to locate hidden food a problem that is beyond chimps.
Dogs also seem attuned to the emotional state of their masters and express contrition when the owner is annoyed, for example. Otherwise, the capacity to express affection – unconditionally – makes the dog a valued “family member.”
Dogs acted as human’s alarm systems, trackers, and hunting aides, garbage disposal facilities, hot water bottles, and children’s guardians and playmates. Humans provided dogs with food and security. The relationship was stable over 100,000 years or so.
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I have never felt forever love like this before. He makes me feel like his favorite person in the world every single day. Just the look in his eyes and his excitement when he sees me always makes my heart happy.
When humans pet dogs, their bodies release oxytocin, a hormone associated with not only happiness, but bonding and affection as well.
- from a study conducted by J.S.J Odendaal in 2003
10 Things Your Dog Would Tell You
1. My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years. Any separation from you will be painful: remember that before you get me.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me – it is crucial to my well being.
4. Do not be angry at me for long, and do not lock me up as punishment.
5. You have your work, your entertainment, and your friends. I only have you.
6. Talk to me sometimes. Even if I don’t understands your words, I understand your voice when it is speaking to me.
7. Be aware that how ever you treat me, I will never forget.
8. Remember before you hit me that I have teeth that could easily hurt you, but I choose not to bite you because I love you.
9. Before you scold me for being uncooperative, obstinate,or lazy, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I might not be getting the right food, or I have been out too long, or my heart is getting too old and weak.
10. Take care of me when I get old; you too will grow old. Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say: “I cannot bear to watch” or “Let it happen in my absence.” Everything is easier for me if you are there, even my death. Remember that I love you.
May 13, 2018 | About Morkies - Morkie information
A dog’s sense of smell is amazing. Dogs have 300 million scent receptors compared to our 6 million, and can smell early stages of cancer, a diabetic attack, even 1 bedbug deep in a mattress. There’s only one word to describe a dog’s sense of smell:
It’s hard to picture just how powerful a dog’s sense of smell can be: anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 better than ours!
Picture 2,000,000 barrels of apples. Your Morkie could snuff out ONE BAD APPLE from the 2 million barrels!
OK, to recap: the number of receptor cells that make up a dog’s sense of smell: 300,000,000. In people, 6,000,000. A dog’s ability to process that sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times more efficient than ours. And the part of a dog’s brain that is devoted to analyzing smells is, proportionally speaking, 40 times bigger.
Keep your Morkie’s nose in good shape – read more.
Just look at what Morkies can snuff out!
- bedbugs – even just one, deep in a mattress
- early stage cancer in small samples of human urine, saliva or expelled breath
- the spikes and drops in human blood sugar that is diabetes
- dogs can smell fear, anxiety, even sadness
- adrenaline, so they know if someone’s about to run
- a dog can detect CDs and DVDs (layers of ‘polycarbonate plastic) in bags and packages, inside a truck. These dogs alert police to large stashes of pirated movies
- narcolepsy service dogs can detect a subtle biochemical change in the form of an odour when an attack is coming on
- migraines – dogs can alert sufferers up to 2 hours ahead, that a headache is on its way
We come home and smell beef stew cooking. Your Morkie can smell each and every spice, ingredient and liquid — separately. According to author (“Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know”) and dog expert Alexandra Horowitz, while we might notice if our coffee has had a teaspoon of sugar added to it, a dog could detect a teaspoon of sugar in a million gallons of water, or two Olympic-sized pools worth. Another dog scientist explains that dogs smell in 3-D; each nostril can register different scents separately.
Dogs – 1 zillion
People – 7
Feb 13, 2018 | About Morkies - Morkie information
Happy Valentine’s Day Morkie fans! A couple of reminders for the day to keep your Morkie safe….
Chocolate can literally kill your Morkie!
It’s the Theobromine in chocolate that can poison your Morkie. The darker the chocolate, the more deadly. Just a single square of Baker’s Chocolate can be enough to cause serious illness and even death, according to Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Typical early symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, bloated stomach and restlessness. This usually happens 1 to 4 hours after the dog has eaten chocolate. Without treatment, seizures and muscle spasms follow, then cardiac failure (coma) and death. If you suspect your Morkie has had chocolate, get him to the Vet or emergency clinic right away.
Dogs can’t eat candy
Morkies are sweet enough! Even if the candy doesn’t have chocolate in it, high levels of sugar can send your Morkie into a mild diabetic coma. Plus, getting him used to sweet treats sets the stage for annoying begging, tooth decay and overweight. Remember, no Porkie Morkies 🙂
Artificial sweetener can be deadly for dogs
Xylitol is a next-generation sweetener that is in a lot of foods and treats. And it’s very toxic for pets. Although Xylitol is found naturally in berries, plums, etc. even small amounts of Xylitol in the manufactured form, can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), seizures, liver failure or death in dogs.
6 more things that can make your Morkie very sick
- alcohol of any kind – wine, beer, liquor
- grapes and raisins – experts don’t really know why, just that only a couple of grapes or raisins can lead to seizures, coma and death
- Macadamia nuts can bring on vomiting, tremors, joint pain and diarrhea. They’re extremely toxic for dogs.
- Garlic and onions are surprisingly toxic to dogs and cats. That’s because they contain chemicals that damage red blood cells in some animals, to the point where the cells can’t carry oxygen throughout the body. Cooking these foods does not make them any safer.
- Avocado, especially the pit, will bring on severe diarrhea and vomiting in your Morkie.
- Cellophane, ribbons and glittery stuff that chocolates and gifts are wrapped in, can get lodged in your dog’s intestine, making expensive emergency surgery necessary to save his life. Keep all wrappings out of harm’s way.
Feb 10, 2018 | About Morkies - Morkie information
The short answer is No, and here’s why.
Ethical breeding isn’t a hobby. People who work hard to breed purebred dogs, or in this case, cross breeds of two purebreds, have invested a lot of learning, money and effort into what they do. And once the puppies are born, can you devote at least 8 solid weeks to the puppies’ care, night and day? Do you have buyers for the pups? Dog breeding is very complex, and it can be very expensive too.
Over population. There are waaaaay too many dogs and puppies in shelters… adding your own litter means fewer of those dogs have a chance.
The ASPCA estimates that in U.S. Animal Shelters alone, 3 to 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized every year, simply because there’s no room for them. That’s more than 7 pets every minute, every day.
Your pet should be spayed or neutered for health’s sake.
Females that haven’t been spayed have a 25% greater chance of dying of cancer. Females that haven’t been spayed can quickly develop Pyometra, a deadly uterine infection. (http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/)
Male dogs who have been neutered live, on average, 40% longer. Plus they can’t of course, get testicular cancer.
“But I want my kids to see the miracle of birth.”
Sure, the birth part is a miracle. But what about the life after birth? If the puppies don’t land in a good home, or if you sell them to people you don’t know and have not screened, then that’s a hard lesson learned for the dogs. And it might even teach kids that life is cheap. There are lots of great videos on birth and some shelters have live webcams of birthing.
This sums it up.
Jan 23, 2018 | About Morkies - Morkie information
Dogs can be poisoned in the blink of an eye — getting into antifreeze in the garage, eating mouse poison, digging through your cleaning closet….
But by far, the #1 cause of poisoning in dogs:
Nationwide pet insurance (formerly known as VPI), the nation’s oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, has analyzed its database of more than 485,000 insured pets to find the sources behind the hundreds of poisoning claims submitted to Nationwide pet insurance every month.
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Precautions
- always keep your medicines – both prescription and over-the-counter, far away from your dog’s access
- if you a drop a pill, FIND IT!
- watch when you’re packing to travel – pills are often temporarily left where they could be nabbed
If you suspect your Morkie has eaten something poisonous, call your Vet or local poison center right away. They may encourage you to get your dog to throw up with a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water.
Click to download how to make an anti-poisoning kit at home and keep it handy.
- your dog is unconscious or is having trouble breathing
- he is exhibiting signs of serious distress or shock
- you suspect he ingested corrosives or caustic — which include:
- strong acids, drain cleaner, bleach, dishwashing machine powder, rat and rodent poison, antifreeze, perfume, mouthwash, or anything made from petroleum products — paint thinner, paint.
Read more about protecting your Morkie from:
Download this list of people food that’s poisonous or just not so great, for your dog.
And note a new danger – sugar free chewing gum. Most of it is made with XYLITOL, which is highly toxic to dogs. If it says sugar-free, don’t buy it!
Jan 20, 2018 | About Morkies - Morkie information
More than one recent study has documented, beyond a doubt, that owning a dog can help:
- reduce stress
- improve your enjoyment of life
- encourage an active lifestyle by promoting more exercise
- improve depression
- lower blood pressure
- and more
But there’s lots more: dogs are even trained to detect oncoming epileptic seizures and diabetic shock.
Getting an epilepsy-predicting dog is a reality
There are special service dogs trained to predict an epileptic seizure. They can alert the person by barking, or send an alarm to a caregiver. These dogs have also been trained to:
- lie next to someone having a seizure to prevent injury.
- put their body between the seizing individual and the floor to break the fall at the start of a seizure.
- fetch medication
(Approximately 65 million people around the world have epilepsy.)
Called Seizure Dogs, they’re a tremendous resource for anyone who lives wondering when the next attack might come. For children especially, a Seizure Dog can protect them from injuries, such as falling, and also give kids the confidence to llive with the daily struggle of epilepsy.
Even more amazing is the fact that many people report that their family dog already predicts and protects people in his family — with no formal training!
Joretta has had epilepsy since she was fourteen and utilizes Atco as her seizure alert dog. She has violent, partial complex seizures at least once or twice a week and needs assistance from a family member at those times. When Joretta had a seizure during her first days of team training, it was Atco’s body laying over her that kept her lying down and safe. Now, when Joretta has a seizure, Atco pushes the ‘life alert’ button which notifies her partner, who works seven miles away. Atco also provides balance and stability when Joretta is feeling weak.
How do dogs do it?
Gregory Holmes, a neurologist at Dartmouth Medical School in New Hampshire, says the dogs could be detecting a change in smell.
“People have autonomic changes, such as increased sweating, which a dog could pick up on.”
According to Douglas Nordli, director of the children’s epilepsy center at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, such external changes could result from a small electrical discharge that occurs in the brain before the full blown electrical seizure. (New Scientist Journal)
The DAD or diabetes alert dog
Other specially trained, medical alert assistance dogs, can alert their owners to an oncoming diabetic episode of low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. They seem to smell the change in the person’s breath, as a result of the dangerously low sugar levels in the blood, and alert the owner. The diabetic can take action before he becomes shaky, confused, disoriented – or even passes out.
Rocket the poodle brings a diabetes emergency kit to his owner Annegret Pross in Margetshoechheim, Germany, on March 17, 2015.
The dog’s unique sense of smell
Besides alerting a medical condition, dogs have been used for many years in law enforcement, sniffing out bombs and other explosive devices, missing people, drugs and even the dead. These seeming miracles can be explained because of the dog’s unique sense of smell.
Estimated to be at least 40 times greater than the human sense of smell, dogs have a super STRONG sense, plus the smells remain ‘separate’ for them. So where a person walks into a home and smells stew, a dog smells each and every ingredient, separately.
Where we have about 6 million olfactory receptors in our nose, dogs have 300 million!
So the diabetic-episode-alerting-dog can smell out a volatile chemical compound that diabetics release just before an attack, even though scientists themselves have not yet been able to identify that exact compound!
James Walker, former director of the Sensory Research Institute at Florida State University, www.pbs.org
Jan 11, 2018 | About Morkies - Morkie information
An amazing remedy for constipation OR diarrhea
Whether your Morkie has constipation OR diarrhea, pumpkin is a great go-to remedy. A member of the winter squash family, pumpkin is loaded with nutrients like vitamins A, C and E, alpha and beta carotene, lutein, magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc.
photo from www.doghealth.com
A natural stomach settler
A small amount of pure canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) can settle your Morkie’s stomach, whether he’s suffering from:
- diarrhea
- vomiting or
- constipation
Just add a half to one teaspoon to his regular food once a day.
Pumpkin is a great source of natural fibre, and can be used to fill your dog up, without too many calories. This will help in reducing his weight.
More serious symptoms
If your dog’s symptoms are more serious, do seek your Veterinarian’s help right away. Serious symptoms would include:
- signs of dehydration (dry or pale gums)
- distended or hard belly
- retching, trying to vomit
- excess salivating
- difficulty pooping
- blood in vomit, urine or pooplethargy
And of course, seek immediate help if you think your Morkie has eaten something he shouldn’t have.
But for plain old stomach upset that’s temporary, try the pumpkin cure. It can’t hurt your dog and will probably help him feel better.
Pumpkin Dog Treats
PEANUT BUTTER AND PUMPKIN DOG TREATS
Makes 25 treats
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Whisk together the flour, eggs, pumpkin, peanut butter, salt and cinnamon in a bowl. Add water as needed to help make the dough workable, but the dough should be dry and stiff. Roll the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick roll. Cut into 1/2-inch pieces.
Bake in preheated oven until hard, about 40 minutes.
Printable
Recipe for Homemade Pumpkin Biscuits, from www.JoysLife.com
Nov 27, 2017 | About Morkies - Morkie information
Your Morkie is, of course, half Maltese so it’s good to know as much as possible about the lovely Maltese. What are the differences between the Maltese and the Yorkshire Terrier, the other half of the Morkie dog?
One of the oldest dog breeds
Evidence of Maltese dogs goes back centuries and centuries – literally
Left to right: the Duchess of Alba, painted by Goya in 1790 with her Maltese; Queen Elizabeth 1 in the 1500s; Mary Queen of Scotts, 1570 with her Maltese. (Painters of the day depicted the dogs much, much smaller than reality.)
Maltese originated about 6000 B.C., likely in Asia, and were worshipped by the ancient Egyptians.
- Although the breed originated in Asia, Maltese are usually associated with the Isle of Malta, a tiny island off the coast of Italy. Phoenician traders may have brought the dogs to Malta and the surrounding Mediterranean countries around the 10th century B.C.
- The Maltese dog is one of the ancient breeds, which means it has very strong DNA ties to wolves. Other dogs in this category include the Lhasa Apso from Tibet; the Pekingese from China; the Shih Tzu, also from China, and the Samoyed from Russia.
- In the 1600 and 1700s, the breed was made even smaller, by cross-breeding with poodles and miniature spaniels. It has been the same size since then.
Is the Maltese a Terrier?
NO! Also, though some people refer to the Maltese as a “Maltese Terrier,” the Maltese is not a terrier. The breed’s long bloodlines are through the Spaniel group, not terriers, and they don’t have any terrier characteristics, such as being aggressive and chasing prey.
Maltese are much more gentle in spirit than the feisty Yorkie Terrier.
There’s also no such thing as a ‘teacup’ or ‘miniature’ Maltese; these are just smaller (and often unhealthy) dogs – the runts of the litter
Appearance
Like the Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese have hair, not fur. Since neither breed has an undercoat, there’s very little shedding.
That hair should be perfectly straight, and the longer the better. In a Maltese show dog, the hair hangs to the ground. Most owners keep their Maltese clipped down in a “puppy cut” which is easier to manage.
Black lips, dark brown eyes and a black nose complete the little Maltese – which ideally shouldn’t exceed 7 pounds, but often grows to 12 or 14 pounds or more.
The Maltese is loved for its beautiful coat. This puppy’s hair is just starting to grow in.
Maltese have a slightly rounded skull, with a finger-wide dome, and a black button nose and eyes. The body is compact and fine-boned but sturdy; it’s slightly longer than it is tall with a level top line. The Maltese chest is deep.
The drop ears with long hair and dark eyes surrounded by darker skin pigmentation (called a “halo”), gives Maltese their expressive look.
Yes, even Marilyn Monroe owned a Maltese dog!
Temperament
Maltese were bred from the beginning to be luxurious companions. They love human companionship and are very loyal to their owners. Maltese are lively and playful, but always gentle.Even as a Maltese ages, his energy level and playful personality remain high.
Maltese are cuddly, playful, spirited and loving. The Maltese is active within a house, and, preferring enclosed spaces, does very well with small yards. So they do well in apartments and townhouses, an ideal urban pet.
Because they’re so devoted to people, Maltese can suffer from separation anxiety. Like any small dog who is spoiled, they can also fall victim to “Small Dog Syndrome,” although less so than the more forceful Yorkshire Terrier.
Is Maltese barking ‘bred in the bone?’
- bred-in-the-bone: Deeply instilled; firmly established.Persistent; habitual.
- Maltese will almost always bark when someone comes to your door or enters your space, especially when that someone is a stranger
- Barking is one habit of the Maltese that is very difficult to break and it may be because (according to legend) Maltese, dogs of court ladies for hundreds of years, were taught to bark to warn their owners that their husbands were returning home so it was time to get other ‘gentlemen visitors’ out!!
- Maltese barking, like Yorkie barking, can get really out of control if the dog:
- doesn’t get enough positive attention
- is not exercised enough
- the owner doesn’t know how to manage and train against excessive barking.
Don’t Despair!
Excessive barking – Yorkie, Maltese or Yorkie – can be managed and it’s easier than you think.
Maltese Dog Quick Facts
Average lifespan – typically 13 to 16 years.
Size 4 to 7 lb. is the ideal breed standard, established by Kennel Clubs around the world, and 8 to 10 inches high at the shoulders.The body is compact with the length equaling the height. The Maltese has been a very small dog since it was introduced centuries ago.
Temperament Bred to be cuddly companion dogs, Maltese thrive on lots of love and attention. They are very lively and playful dogs, and stay ‘puppy-like’ into old age.
Easy to house train? Potty training a Maltese can be challenging just because they’re toy dogs, which are always more difficult to train. However, with patience and firmness, it can be done.
Grooming needs Maltese need regular grooming which includes combing, brushing and baths. Their hair is kept out of the eyes with a “ponytail” or “top-knot.”
Allergy-free? Not technically but just like Yorkies, Maltese hardly shed at all and they have less “dander,” or the stuff that makes us sneeze, than most dogs. Because they have hair, not fur, they mostly shed only when they are combed. Yorkies, Morkies and Maltese are just like Poodles that way.
Bark a lot? Maltese dogs can bark a lot; in fact it’s the number one reason they’re ‘turned back’ or given to a shelter.
Exercise needs – Maltese love a small enclosed yard to frolic and romp.
Intelligence – average. Maltese rank 59th out of the 132 breeds tested. (Dr. Stanley Coren, an expert on animal intelligence in The Intelligence of Dogs). This compares to Yorkies, who rank #27 on the intelligence scale.
Good with small children? Yes, Maltese are a little more sturdy than Yorkshire Terriers; however like any small dog, they can be hurt by small children playing too roughly.
The Yorkie and the Maltese
Click to read more about this e-book, just $4.99. And you can read it on any device – your computer, laptop, tablet, iPad or smartphone.
Are you thinking about getting a Morkie, Maltese or Yorkshire Terrier? Before you do, be sure you know the differences and which one is right for you and your family.
In this 110-page ebook, Yorkie, Morkie, Maltese: Small Dogs That Don’t Shed, you’ll learn more about what makes each one special… and unique. Instant download for just $4.99
See: All about the Yorkie
Jun 17, 2017 | About Morkies - Morkie information
Why people return dogs they’ve bought or adopted
Are you really, really, really sure you want a dog? People who return a dog or puppy are more likely to do it within the first 15 days of adoption, according to new research.
To me, this shows that far too many of us don’t do enough research – if any – when we buy, adopt or rescue a dog. The new dog owners in the study told investigators that their biggest mistake was not devoting more time, thought and planning into the process of getting a dog. The more you learn about the Morkie’s parents, the Yorkshire Terrier and the Maltese dog, the better you’ll understand the Morkie.
Four questions to ask yourself before you get a Morkie
1. Am I acting on impulse or am I ready for the commitment?
Although the temptation of a cute puppy can be very strong, understanding the long-term commitment that comes with dog ownership can prevent unwanted stress and heartache for both the pet and owner.
2. Does my lifestyle suit a Morkie?
Ask yourself: How much time will I have for my Morkie?- Where will my Morkie stay when I’m out?
- And, you can expect some destructive behaviour with any puppy — chewing and scratching as well as eliminating indoors. This can be frustrating, but it comes with the territory.
- Are you ready to work with your new puppy to fix these behaviours?
- How much time do you have for house training and obedience training?
- Do you have enough space for exercise? Easy access to outdoors?
- Will your neighbours flip out about some barking?
- When it comes to “ideal dogs for apartments,” the Yorkie rarely makes the list automatically – because they tend to be barkers. So if your Morkie is a lot of Yorkie, this might be a deal breaker. However, the good news is you can learn to deal with your Morkie’s barking with: enough exercise playtime and attention when you are available.
- Proper training
- Dogs — even toy dogs like Morkies — need lots of outdoor time. But you can’t just put the dog in the yard, left alone, otherwise dogs will typically amuse themselves by digging, barking and chewing. Your new dog needs WALKS on a leash.
3. Is everyone in the family ready for a new pet?
It should be a family decision – since getting a dog affects everyone. How old are your kids? What are their future plans? And no matter how much they beg you, don’t believe for a minute that kids will really ‘look after the dog’ by walking, feeding and cleaning up.
While Morkies can be rambunctious and spunky dogs, they’re not for small children because they’re too tiny and often fragile.
4. Can I afford a Morkie?
Small to medium-sized dogs (from about 5 to 50 pounds and under) tend to live longer than large to giant breeds, therefore cost more.
Along with the basics, most owners are tempted to buy the extras for their Morkies, which can really add up. Remember, the life span of individual dogs can vary, so the figure below is only a rough average. Lifespan depends mostly on how well dogs are taken care of (food, exercise) and whether they see a Veterinarian for checkups regularly.
On-going costs to own a dog include:
- food
- vet bills, medications
- grooming and/or shampoos, brushes, etc.
- dog license
- leashes and collar
- pet sitters, training and boarding
- ….and all those toys and maybe even cute clothes 🙂
Not counting the initial cost of the dog itself, here’s a rough average of what a small to medium size dog will cost over its lifetime:
Small to medium-sized dogs
Estimated life span: 14 years
First year: $740 to $1,325
Estimated annual costs thereafter: $500 to $875
Total cost over a dog’s lifetime is about $7,240 to $12,700.
So you’ve decided you’re ready for a dog… now, is the Morkie the right one for you?
1. It can be a real challenge to find a GOOD QUALITY Morkie – you do not want to support puppy mills in their unscrupulous businesses.
2. What you feed your Morkie is extremely important.
3. Morkies have hereditary health problems just like any purebred dog.
4. Morkies can bark a lot because they’re half terrier (that’s the Yorkie side).
5. Morkies can be harder to housebreak than many small breeds (it’s the Maltese side).
6. Morkies can be needy and can suffer from separation anxiety.
7. Morkies are fragile. They can be easily injured and aren’t ideal for families with small children.
Want to know more about Morkies?
READ more about my FREE, no-obligation ebook, 7 Things You Need to Know Before You Get a Morkie. Download it right away and read on your computer, smart phone or tablet.
May 19, 2017 | About Morkies - Morkie information
Is it true that every dog year equals 7 human years?
Not really – it’s a bit more complicated. That’s because dogs mature more quickly at the beginning, then flatten off in the middle years. So it’s not uncommon to hear about a small dog who is 15, 16 or even 17 years old. With the old formula, in people years, that would be impossible.
But in the new way of figuring, worked out by Veterinarians and scientists, a 15-year-old dog is more like a 76 year person; a 16 year old dog is more like 80 human years; and a 17 year old dog is like an 84 year old. That sounds much more reasonable.
Young dogs “age” or mature faster
By the time a puppy has finished his first year, he is more like a 15 year old person, not a 7 year old.
According to more up-to-date methods of calculating a dog’s age in “people years”, a puppy matures quickly then starts to level off. (Full chart below)
By the time a small dog is 9 or 10 in our years, he’s generally considered a senior, even though a 55 year old person certainly doesn’t feel that way 🙂 And then by 15 people years, he’s considered geriatric.
This method of comparing a dog’s age to ours is far from perfect, but it’s much closer to reality.
The bigger the dog, the shorter the life
Sadly, large breeds do not live as long as small ones. Some giant breeds (90+ pounds) age so fast that they’re considered seniors by the time they’re only 5 years old. Their life expectancy is typically only 9 or 10 years. The huge French Mastiff (Dogue de Bordeauxs), is believed to be the shortest living dog breed with a life expectancy of a mere 5 to 8 years.
Here’s how small dogs age
See the full Equivalent Age Chart for your Morkie
Click the chart to see it in full size or to download.
May 17, 2017 | About Morkies - Morkie information, Getting a Morkie
If you’re looking for a Morkie, you might be attracted to the idea of a teacup Morkie. And no wonder – we love things that are tiny and vulnerable. They’re just so cute!
BUT… teacups are not a breed or type of dog. They’re simply first or second generation runts. Too-tiny dogs bred to too-tiny dogs. They have all sorts of health issues and don’t live as long.
Tiny dog: big scam
On top of all that, there’s a scam circulating among unscrupulous breeders:
Breeders will advertise – and sell – puppies as young as 5 or 6 weeks old, as 12 week or older puppies. The result, the dog is MUCH smaller than you’d expect, so you believe it is indeed a so-called teacup.
Problems of dogs weaned too early
If the pup is not really a teacup — and that’s good after all– there’s still a big problem. Puppies removed too soon from their mothers have lots of physical and behavioural problems. Puppies taken away too early can be biters – because their litter and mother haven’t had time to socialize them against biting. They can also be:
- attention seekers
- barkers
- aggressive with strangers
- obsessive paw licking
- very possessiveness with food
- obsessive tail chasers
- overly fearful
- destructive
Read more about the Korean Puppy Scam
7 Things You Need to Know Before You Get a Morkie
FREE REPORT by small dog expert Deb Gray.
Click to order your free report. Instant download, so you can read it right away on your computer, smartphone, tablet, iPad or laptop.
