Teacup Morkie (Yorkshire Terrier & Maltese Mix): Info, Pictures, Care & More

Teacup Morkies are a great breed if you are looking for a super cute and dainty dog. Being a mixture of a Yorkshire Terrier and Maltese, this dog is small, intelligent, and affectionate. Even though both parents are recognized by prestigious kennel clubs around the world, their crossbred offspring are not.

Breed Overview

Teacup Morkies are a great breed because of their appearance and size. This breed has been one of the most popular designer dogs in the US for the last 20 years. Because it is bred from two ideal lapdogs, the crossbreed is also affectionate and perfect for those looking for a dog to sit in their lap.

If you are interested in this super adorable and dainty dog, keep reading. You will be shocked to find out that the teacup Morkie has an independent streak and curious personality that rivals larger dogs.

Teacup Morkie Characteristics

Teacup Morkie Puppies

Most first-generation Teacup Morkie puppies are only born into litters with three or four puppies total. Sometimes, litters can have as few as two pups. This makes them hard to find, and when you do, they might be on the expensive side. In addition to having small litters, Teacup Morkies are a designer breed. You won’t be able to find this dog at just any rescue center or breeder. Instead, you will have to specifically find a breeder that specializes in Teacup Morkies.

Teacup Morkies are great for anyone living in an apartment because they do not require so much exercise. This also makes them a good fit for seniors or anyone looking for a low-activity dog.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Teacup Morkie

Teacup Morkies’ personalities can range from being feisty to super affectionate. On the one hand, Yorkshire Terriers are known to have a stubborn streak and a lot of sass. Maltese, on the other hand, are very gentle, affectionate, and loving. The personality of a Teacup Morkie can vary between this range.

Still, most Teacup Morkies are very affectionate and loving. They tend to get along great with other people and other animals. However, you can’t put a Teacup Morkie in just any household. Because of this dog’s small frame, it can easily become injured by small children or large animals who don’t realize just how dainty this dog is.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

Teacup Morkies are not necessarily the best family dogs, but not because they are aggressive or dislike children. Instead, Teacup Morkies have pretty affectionate personalities and get along with most people. The issue is that young children can accidentally injure the dogs since they are so dainty and delicate.

Another issue about inviting a Teacup Morkie into a home with young children is that these dogs are pretty vocal. They are known to bark at many things. Although the barking isn’t harmful for your child, it sure can be annoying if the child is asleep and the dog barks and wakes up the child.

With this in mind, Teacup Morkies are great for homes with older children or no children at all. Singles and seniors especially like this breed because it is gentle and affectionate, and they know how to be gentle with a dog of this size.

If you have small children, you can get a Teacup Morkie, though we generally advise against it. If you go against our advice, be sure to teach your child how to properly interact with a dog of this size. We recommend monitoring all playtime as well.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

Teacup Morkies do not tend to be aggressive, but we do not recommend selecting this breed if you already have really large playful dogs. Teacup Morkies aren’t very aggressive, and they get along with dogs great. However, their small size means that bigger dogs can accidentally injure them, even if they aren’t being aggressive.

If you have other small dogs or senior dogs, the Teacup Morkie will fit right in. Because of this dog’s small size, you don’t have to worry about it getting ahold of your cat either. As a whole, this dog gets along with other pets, but you need to ensure that any pets you already have can’t accidentally injure the smaller dog.

Things to Know When Owning a Teacup Morkie:

Even though Teacup Morkies are small and cute dogs, they require a whole lot of care. These dogs are incredibly keen to demand all the attention. Plus, they are high maintenance in terms of grooming. At least they don’t require a lot of exercise.

Food & Diet Requirements

As you likely expect, Teacup Morkies do not need a lot of food. Most adult Morkies only need between 200 and 300 calories a day. Most of their calories should come from proteins and fats. Puppies will need more calories so that they can grow to their full size.

With that being said, these dogs can be picky, and they act much hungrier than they are. You may have to try out different recipes or brands before finding one that your dog likes. Don’t listen to your dog every time it acts like it’s hungry, either.

Exercise

Teacup Morkies are very small dogs, meaning they don’t have a lot of energy. A walk a day is enough for these dogs. In fact, too much exercise can hurt their legs and delicate body. Even if it is raining one day, the breed will be able to play inside and exercise on its own.

Training

Even though Teacup Morkies are very small, you can’t ignore training. Many people make the mistake of failing to train a small dog purely because it doesn’t pose as many risks as larger dogs. As a result, many small dogs have very bad behaviors.

When it comes to training your Teacup Morkie, you have to be diligent. This breed is known to be a bit stubborn, although they are very intelligent. Because of their stubbornness, Teacup Morkies can be a bit difficult to train.

Make sure to use a lot of positive reinforcement when training a Teacup Morkie. Negative reinforcement often has a negative effect. We also recommend early socialization so that the dog is comfortable around other people and dogs.

Grooming✂️

Grooming is highly important for Teacup Morkies. Their coat needs to be brushed daily so that it doesn’t become matted or overly tangled. You also will need to bathe the dog with dog shampoo about every month.

Take your Teacup Morkie to the groomer every 6 to 8 weeks for a regular cut. You want to trim around the eyes and ears, as well as around the legs. The teddy bear cut hits these marks while making the rest of their face appear round, creating a super cute appearance.

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Health and Conditions

Like many other small dogs, Teacup Morkies can be injured or damaged by bigger dogs, children, or jumping off of high surfaces. Because of this fact, these dogs need to be cared for by a gentle and careful hand.

Aside from the potential for accidental injuries, these dogs are pretty healthy. However, they are prone to certain conditions, especially conditions that affect their eyes and eyesight. Making sure you get your Teacup Morkie from a reputable breeder and feeding it the right food can help prevent certain conditions from developing.

Male vs Female

There is not much difference between male and female Teacup Morkies. Both are very small and have about the same personality traits. You can pick between one of these dogs based on your personal preference.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Teacup Morkie

1. They aren’t recognized by kennel clubs.

Both the Yorkshire Terrier and Maltese are considered two prestigious breeds within nearly all kennel clubs around the world. Because both of these breeds are so notoriously recognized, you would expect their crossbred offspring to be recognized as well. This is not the case. Instead, the Teacup Morkie is not recognized by any prestigious kennel club.

2. Its origins date only to the 1990s in the United States.

Like many other designer breeds, the Teacup Morkie is not very old. This breed was originally bred in the 1990s. This makes this breed only about 30 years old. Despite being a young breed, this ultimate lapdog is one of the more popular designer breeds available.

3. Its name has changed a couple of times.

Since the Teacup Morkies’ creation in the 1990s, its official name has changed a couple of times. Initially, this breed was called the Yorktese. Today, you can find people who call the Teacup Morkie a Morkshire Terrier or Maltese Yorkie mix as well.

Conclusion

Teacup Morkies are a great breed for singles or seniors who live in apartments. Because of their small size and low exercise requirements, they can keep you company without demanding too much exercise. With that being said, they do demand a lot of attention and grooming.

If you are willing to stay with your Teacup Morkie for large portions of the day and keep up with their grooming requirements, this can be a great dog job for you. Just make sure to train it well and keep a close eye on the dog whenever they are interacting with larger dogs or children.

There are lots more Maltese Mixes and Yorkshire Terrier Mixes available to explore!

See Also: 

• My Dog Ate a Stuffed Toy, What Should I Do? Our Vet Explains
• Morkie (Maltese & Yorkie Mix): Info, Pictures, Facts & Traits

Featured Image Credit: Cavan Images, Shutterstock