• General Appearance: A designer breed between the Maltese and the Yorkshire Terrier, the Morkie or Morkie Poo, AKA Morkshire Terrier, is a great companion. The dog’s high head carriage and confident manner should give the appearance of vigor and self-importance.

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• Proportion and Symmetry: The body is neat, compact and well proportioned, and very compact.

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• Substance: Morkies are very small dogs, only getting 4 to 8 inches tall, and weighing around 7 to 13 pounds. Because they are so small, they have a lengthy lifespan of 10 to 14 years!

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• Head: Small and rather flat on top, the skull not too prominent or round, the muzzle not too long, with the bite neither undershot nor overshot and teeth sound. Either scissors bite or level bite is acceptable. The nose is black. Eyes are medium in size and not too prominent; dark in color and sparkling with a sharp, intelligent expression. Eye rims are dark. Ears are small, V-shaped, carried erect and set not too far apart.

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• Body: The back is rather short, the backline level, with height at shoulder the same as at the rump.

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• Forequarters: Forelegs should be straight, elbows neither in nor out. Hind legs straight when viewed from behind, but stifles are moderately bent when viewed from the sides. Feet are round with black toenails. 

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• Coat: The coat of the Maltese Yorkie is a beautiful blend of its genetics, being soft and slightly longer. 

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• Color:  Coats can vary in color, from black, brown, white, or a mix of these colors. Their coats can even change colors as they grow.

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• Gait: The Maltese moves with a jaunty, smooth, flowing gait. Viewed from the side, they give an impression of rapid movement, size considered. In the stride, the forelegs reach straight and free from the shoulders, with elbows close. Hind legs to move in a straight line.

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• Temperament: Morkies are very cute dogs, and they small for their entire lives! Because they are small, they can be very active and require a lot of exercise, either play or walking. They are friendly and playful, but can be yappy at times.

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The Morkie — also known as the Morkshire Terrier, Malkie, Yorktese, Morkie Poo, and Teacup Morkie — is one of the most popular small designer breeds in the United States, produced by crossing a Maltese with a Yorkshire Terrier. Combining the Maltese's gentle, affectionate temperament with the Yorkshire Terrier's bold, spirited personality, the Morkie produces a compact, low-shedding companion dog weighing just 4–13 pounds with a lifespan of 10–15 years. Their silky, soft coat — ranging from black, tan, white, gold, to multi-color combinations — and minimal shedding make the Morkie particularly popular with allergy-sensitive owners and apartment dwellers. The Morkie emerged in the United States in the late 1990s as part of the designer dog movement and has gained significant mainstream popularity, with high-authority pet insurance platforms, veterinary guides, and lifestyle publications all recognizing the breed as one of the most sought-after small companion dogs in America.

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Because the Morkie is a crossbreed — a mix of Maltese and Yorkshire Terrier — the American Kennel Club (AKC) does not register Morkies, Morkshire Terriers, Malkies, or Yorkteses. AKC registers purebred Malteses and purebred Yorkshire Terriers individually, but any cross between the two is permanently ineligible for AKC registration regardless of generation (F1, F1B, or Multigen). Designer Kennel Club (DKC) was built specifically to serve Morkie owners and breeders who need official registration papers and cannot obtain them through AKC.

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Designer Kennel Club provides official registration papers and ownership documentation for Morkies, Morkshire Terriers, Malkies, Yorkteses, and Teacup Morkies with no AKC papers or pedigree lineage required. DKC Foundation Dog Registration ($65) accepts any Morkie without existing documentation. For breeders, DKC Litter Registration ($100) gives each puppy an individual DKC registration number that new owners can use to register their Morkie puppy for $45. All registrations are completed online and papers are delivered as a PDF via email within 2–3 business days.

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Registering your Morkie or Morkshire Terrier with Designer Kennel Club establishes an official record of breed, ownership, and identification. DKC registration is accepted as official breed documentation for veterinary records, grooming services, training programs, apartment and housing requirements, and general ownership verification. Whether you have a first-generation Morkie from a Maltese and Yorkshire Terrier pairing or a multigenerational Yorktese from an established DKC-registered breeding program — DKC registers them all. Register at designerkennelclub.com/registration.