American Morkshire Terrier history
The American Morkshire Terrier aka "Morkshire Terrier" even though a "rare" breed was created over a period of more than 50 years ago beginning sometime in the early 1970s and first appeared here in the United States in 1990s followed by Canada, and approximately 20 years later in the United Kingdom.
Early BREED Development
The American Morkshire Terrier is a small unique rare toy breed that dates back to the 1970's and was first acknowledged emerging from a rich background influence of ancient European toy breeds - Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier, Toy Poodle, Rat Terrier and the Biewer, - because this dog is now considered a breed. The American Morkshire Terrier was created for those who suffered mild allergies, that had a low-shedding coat, a lovable sweet companion lap dog with an adorable teddy bear face that no other dog breed offered at that time.
The origin of the common name "Morkshire Terrier" exactly is unknown, but has been mentioned to have been around since before the 1970s and was first used in 1989 thru the early 1990s and spread in popular use with several variety of nick names; "Malki" pronounced (Mal-Ki), "Malkie" pronounced (Mal-Kee) and lastly the “Morkie” (Mor-Key) used in more recent years. The AMTC has kept the original name given to this breed, since it originated in America and its' official breed name is the American Morkshire Terrier.
It was by several breeders over a period of 50 plus years from various areas within the United States that accounts of breeders acquiring a Maltese and breeding them to a Yorkshire Terrier of various coat color combinations, including, white, black & gold or tan - at that time, they had no name and are now referred to as the Parti Yorkie and Biewer Yorkie, and mentions of the Toy Poodle being introduced in the bloodline to incorporate the qualities they wished for to create a hypoallergenic companion breed with specific traits that neither the Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier nor the Toy Poodle Possessed. According to DNA evidence, by way of genetic testing of this breed on record, the Rat Terrier also had some influence in the Morkshire Terrier breed development and can still be found in a very-few lines (5% or less). Today, the purebred American Morkshire Terrier bloodlines bred by AMTC breeders do not have any Poodle or Rat Terrier within their bloodlines.
Other breeders involved in producing the foundation of this breed was a breeder out of California who acquired her first Morkshire Terrier, she called a "Morkshire" in 1970 from a friend and acquired another and began breeding the two keeping a pup from each of her litters and has been breeding the Morkshire Terrier since the late 1970s. Meanwhile another breeder, Alison located in the United Kingdom has been breeding the Morkshire Terrier she called a "Malki" for the last 28 years. Alison states' that, "she was given a bitch pup, as a 30th birthday present in 1990," named “Polly” described as a "gold (rich yellow) Malki that she found to be the best dog she had ever owned." She further states' that she then acquired another Malki in 1990s from another breeder in the UK and kept back a pup from different litters she bred and that "Polly lived to be 22 years old" and "had produced many litters during her life time." Alison also stated' that her Malki’s – “breed to type”- she explained that "they all characteristically look the same" with the exception to color and the majority of her litters range in colors from black & tan, to what she referred to as, an apricot (explained as a rich gold color - yellow) as her lines did not and do not have the parti color.
The origin of the common name "Morkshire Terrier" exactly is unknown, but has been mentioned to have been around since before the 1970s and was first used in 1989 thru the early 1990s and spread in popular use with several variety of nick names; "Malki" pronounced (Mal-Ki), "Malkie" pronounced (Mal-Kee) and lastly the “Morkie” (Mor-Key) used in more recent years. The AMTC has kept the original name given to this breed, since it originated in America and its' official breed name is the American Morkshire Terrier.
It was by several breeders over a period of 50 plus years from various areas within the United States that accounts of breeders acquiring a Maltese and breeding them to a Yorkshire Terrier of various coat color combinations, including, white, black & gold or tan - at that time, they had no name and are now referred to as the Parti Yorkie and Biewer Yorkie, and mentions of the Toy Poodle being introduced in the bloodline to incorporate the qualities they wished for to create a hypoallergenic companion breed with specific traits that neither the Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier nor the Toy Poodle Possessed. According to DNA evidence, by way of genetic testing of this breed on record, the Rat Terrier also had some influence in the Morkshire Terrier breed development and can still be found in a very-few lines (5% or less). Today, the purebred American Morkshire Terrier bloodlines bred by AMTC breeders do not have any Poodle or Rat Terrier within their bloodlines.
Other breeders involved in producing the foundation of this breed was a breeder out of California who acquired her first Morkshire Terrier, she called a "Morkshire" in 1970 from a friend and acquired another and began breeding the two keeping a pup from each of her litters and has been breeding the Morkshire Terrier since the late 1970s. Meanwhile another breeder, Alison located in the United Kingdom has been breeding the Morkshire Terrier she called a "Malki" for the last 28 years. Alison states' that, "she was given a bitch pup, as a 30th birthday present in 1990," named “Polly” described as a "gold (rich yellow) Malki that she found to be the best dog she had ever owned." She further states' that she then acquired another Malki in 1990s from another breeder in the UK and kept back a pup from different litters she bred and that "Polly lived to be 22 years old" and "had produced many litters during her life time." Alison also stated' that her Malki’s – “breed to type”- she explained that "they all characteristically look the same" with the exception to color and the majority of her litters range in colors from black & tan, to what she referred to as, an apricot (explained as a rich gold color - yellow) as her lines did not and do not have the parti color.
Photo's courtesies of Alison
Ancestral Background
The ancestors of the American Morkshire Terrier are comprised of several ancient breeds (according to DNA); the Maltese ~ an ancient breed mentioned as originating from the Island of Malta around 370 BC a breed that symbolized loyalty. The Yorkshire Terrier ~ developed during the 19th Century in Yorkshire England described as a fashionable lapdog for proper English ladies in late Victorian times. The Toy Poodle ~ originating in America in the 20th Century as a city dwelling companion dog that originates from the Caniche or “Duck Dog” also called the Poodle – originating in Germany as a duck hunter (origin-unknown exact date). The Rat Terrier ~ with earliest known record of the breed is 1545 as a ratter originating in America. Lastly, the Biewer ~ developed in Hunsruck, Germany in 1984 from two Yorkshire Terriers with public debut in the United States in 2003.
Appearance
American Morkshire Terrier's range from about 4 to 15 pounds and stand 8 to 11 inches at the shoulder. They have a single coat, meaning, the breed only has a top coat. You can see American Morkshire Terrier's with two different ear set types; down ears and up ears. They come in a variety of colors with common coat colors in: black, tan/gold/beige ~ (some refer as to a rich gold), white, liver, and be a combination of these colors. As the dog ages (in some cases) the black coat can appear to look silver or gray and even appear a steel blue due to their ancestral influence. This breed has a long natural tail that curls over its back. American Morkshire Terrier's are an abundantly confident, energetic and loyal breed that's "full of life". They are very loving, sweet-natured, and an all-around gentle breed that make wonderful therapy dogs. They are highly intelligent and want nothing more, but to be with and please their owners. As with any breed there are differences in personality from dog to dog and the American Morkshire Terrier is no different, but in general this breed is described as above. For the full Breed Standard visit here. The American Morkshire Terrier is a very healthy breed but as with any breed of dog there may be health concerns that can occur and are described on the health page here.
Puppy photo's courtesy of Chris & Jaimei Creel, Christine Hurt and Alison Brown
*The American Morkshire Terrier is an old, but new upcoming 'rare' breed that is just now getting recognition. The American Morkshire Terrier is currently recognized by the American Rare Breed Association (ARBA), the American Dog Federation FSS (ADF), and by several Canine Genetic Labs & Organizations, Animal Genetics, ACCU-Viaguard, Wisdom Health ~ Optimal Selection, and the Orthopedic Foundation For Animals (OFA). AKC recognition is one of AMTC's goals for this breed, and as this breed continues to get recognition this list of recognized organizations will continue to grow.
*Updated 09/03/2020
*Updated 09/03/2020
American Morkshire Terrier accepted by the American Rare Breed Association (ARBA).
©2021 American Morkshire Terrier Club, Inc.® All rights reserved.
