About the Yorkie Breed

Beneath the dainty, glossy, floor-length coat of a Yorkshire Terrier beats the heart of a feisty, old-time terrier. Yorkies earned their living as ratters in mines and mills long before they became the beribboned lapdogs of Victorian ladies. The Yorkshire Terrier is a compact, toy-size terrier of no more than seven pounds whose crowning glory is a floor-length, silky coat of steel blue and a rich golden tan. Don’t let the Yorkie’s daintiness fool you. Tenacious, feisty, brave, and sometimes bossy, the Yorkie exhibits all the traits of a true terrier. Often named the most popular dog breed in various American cities, Yorkies pack lots of big-town attitude into a small but self-important package. They are favorites of urbanites the world over. Yorkies are long-lived and hypoallergenic (the coat is more like human hair than animal fur), and they make fine little watchdogs. This is a true ‘personality breed,’ providing years of laughs, love, and close companionship.

A Brief History of Morkies
If there’s one thing that’s certain about Morkies, it’s that they’re really stinking cute. A Morkie is a cross between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Maltese. Out of 194 ranked breeds, the Yorkshire terrier ranks as the 9th most popular and the Maltese ranks as the 33rd most popular. Naturally, the hybrid they create — the Morkie — is super popular too! Although Morkies aren’t recognized as an official breed by the American Kennel Club, there’s no doubt that Morkie enthusiasts will continue to campaign to change that. But how exactly did Morkies come to be and what exactly do they act like? Let’s break it down.

Origin and History

The Maltese is an ancient dog breed, one of several small “bichon” dogs found around the Mediterranean for thousands of years. His exact place of origin is a mystery, with conjecture including Sicily, Egypt, and southern Europe, but most historians pinpoint Malta for the development of the breed. The island of Malta, off the southern coast of Italy, was colonized by the Phoenicians about 1000 BCE. It is possible that these small white dogs were brought to the area by the Phoenicians and/or spread elsewhere by them, since they sailed and traded around the known world. The dogs may have been bartered for food and used to help protect the ship’s food rations from rodents. On Malta, these dogs were bred entirely as companions and “comforters,” being especially favored by the ladies, who often carried them in their sleeves or held them in their laps when in their carriages “taking air.”

The Maltese maintained his demand as a companion through the centuries. By the middle of the 19th century, the Maltese was firmly established as a pet dog in Britain and was among the first breeds to be exhibited at dog shows in the United Kingdom. The Maltese was established in the United States around the same time and today remains a popular show dog and companion.