Like many mixed-breed dogs, Morkies have a long lifespan of 12 to 15 years.

Morkies come in two sizes: Teacup and Standard. Teacup Morkies have one parent who is a Teacup Yorkie; they are smaller, weighing between two and five pounds. Standard Morkies weigh between four and eight pounds and may grow up to 9 inches in height. Expect your Morkie to grow to their full adult size by the time they reach a year old.

Most Morkies are bi-colored like their Yorkshire Terrier parent and come in black, brown, white, and tan. If you adopt a Morkie puppy, be prepared, because what you see isn’t always what you get. A Morkie pup’s coat color can (and often does) change as they age.

Morkies might have a lot of hair, but their long silken tresses are low-shedding. With hair that resembles that of a person, a Morkie’s coat doesn’t shed like most other dog breeds. Plan to brush their long hair every few days to minimize tangles and mats, and make an appointment with the groomer every six to eight weeks for professional clipping. Some pet parents might like a tighter puppy cut, while others might want to keep the Morkie’s coat long.

Because all dogs shed allergy-inducing dander, there are no real “hypoallergenic” dog breeds. But, less allergenic breeds, such as Morkies and Maltipoo, are growing in popularity because they are low-shedding. While there’s no guarantee, this crossbreed may reduce allergy symptoms for some allergy sufferers because having hair, not fur, means this breed doesn’t shed a lot. Being a hybrid of these two low-shedding breeds makes the Morkie’s coat a bit more hypoallergenic for some folks.

Morkies are generally a sturdy, healthy small breed of dog but can be susceptible to some of the common health issues that affect their parent breeds:

• Portosystemic shunt (PSS): The hereditary condition, also known as PSS, obstructs proper blood flow to the liver. The liver detoxifies the body and, without proper blood flow, PSS sends the toxins in unfiltered blood to the heart, brain, and other body parts. It causes loss of appetite, hypoglycemia, jaundice, urinary tract problems, vision problems, and stunted growth. Antibiotics and diet changes can help in the short term, but surgery is the only permanent treatment for the problem. If not treated early, PSS can be life-threatening.

• Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA): PRA affects the retina and will eventually cause blindness in both eyes. There is no effective treatment.

• Patellar luxation: Slight abnormalities in the knee joint cause it to slide in and out of place, causing pain and occasional lameness. Patellar luxation is also called “slipped kneecaps.” Most dogs don’t require treatment, but they may need surgery in severe cases.

It’s important to remember that even though this breed might have an increased risk for certain health conditions, they won’t necessarily develop them. Mixed-breed dogs are often more healthy than purebred dogs because of greater genetic diversity. Your veterinarian can help you keep an eye out for possible health problems with regular checkups.

Yes, Morkies are active dogs who need daily walks and playtime. Yorkies tend to be high strung, spirited, and stubborn while Maltese are calm, affectionate, and outgoing, and the Morkie can inherit traits from both breeds. As a general rule, Morkies tend to be energetic, tenacious companions who develop close bonds with their pet parents and love a good snuggle session. Their parent breeds were developed as lap dogs but still have lots of energy to burn.

Yes, Morkies bark. Invest in some quality ear plugs. Morkies love the sound of their own voices and tend to bark often. Sometimes Morkies bark to alert to strange people or noises, but they might also bark (and whine) due to separation anxiety. Like all dogs, Morkies can be discouraged from frequent barking with proper training and exercise.

Yes, Morkies are good with cats. They tend to be timid, relaxed, and non-confrontational dogs who can adapt to sharing their homes with cats. Even if Morkies inherit the sassiness of their Yorkie parent, the dogs are still smaller than most cats, which limits the likelihood of confrontation. Of course, each dog (and cat) has an individual temperament, so there are no guarantees, but with early socialization and positive reinforcement, the Morkie/cat combo tends to work out just fine.

Yes, Morkies are incredibly intelligent and learn quickly. For some Morkies, training may prove difficult with their tenacious personalities. Use positive reinforcement with lots of treats and praise, and make sure training is consistent to manage their occasional stubborn streak.

There are Teacup and Standard Morkies, and either size would do well as an apartment pet. The small, energetic pups have fluffy coats that make them look like they just tumbled out of bed with coloring in shades of black, brown, white, and tan.

With proper socialization, Morkies can get along well with older children and make great family pets. Kids must be taught to be gentle with Morkies because the little dogs are also more fragile than their confidence might make them seem, and it’s important to prevent injuries. Your child should always be supervised when interacting with Morkies to keep them both safe, and it’s important for pet parents to teach their dogs how to interact gently with children, too.