American Morkshire Terrier Club, Inc.®

American Morkshire Terrier

"The historical essence of the American Morkshire Terrier aka Morkshire Terrier was created as a lap companion dog more than 50 years ago beginning sometime in early 1970 in the United States"
The American Morkshire Terrier is a unique and wonderful new, rare, purebred toy companion dog emerging from a rich heritage of ancient toy breeds. Originating in the United States in 1970, the American Morkshire Terrier also referred as the Malkie, Morkshire, and Morkie in more recent years is the perfect companion for anyone. The American Morkshire Terrier breed, established rare breed acknowledgement in 2019.
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HISTORY
The American Morkshire Terrier and its' origin dates back to before 1970, first emerging in early 1970, with facts concerning their origin presented in modern books, as being unknown. According to many present-day fanciers and owners, the Morkshire Terrier were the result of a number of breeds being bred together to produce the desired low-shedding coat, lovable companion lap dog with adorable traits. The name "Morkshire Terrier" is the original name used in reference to this breed and has spread over the years, with several given nick names, "Malki" pronounced (Mal-Ki), "Malkie" pronounced (Mal-Kee), "Morkshire" pronounced (Mork-Shire), and lastly the “Morkie” pronounced (Mor-Key). The American Morkshire Terrier Club has kept the original name given to this breed, since it originated in America and its' official "Rare" breed name is the "American Morkshire Terrier".

A period of over 50 years ago, earlier fanciers accounting from various U.S states and different countries would have bred from a Maltese, a totally white breed lacking any color markings, a Yorkshire Terrier a breed with blue or black & tan markings, a Toy Poodle, a breed with black, gray, red, cream, white, fawn, gold, yellow and brown (liver) color markings, and a Biewer, a breed with blue or black, white and gold markings. According to DNA evidence, by way of genetic testing of this breed on record, the Rat Terrier, a breed of white, black, tan, blue, chocolate, sable, apricot, fawn, lemon, red and silver color markings also had some influence in the Morkshire Terrier breed development and can still be found in "a very-few" lines (5% or less) of American Morkshire Terriers. Today, the purebred American Morkshire Terrier bloodlines bred by AMTC breeders do not have any Rat Terrier within their bloodlines.

Other earlier 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, then acquired another and began breeding the two keeping a pup from each of her litters and has been breeding the Morkshire Terrier to 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 over 28 years. Alison states' that, "she was given a bitch pup, as a 30th birthday present in early 1990, she  named, “Polly.”  Polly was described as a "gold" - rich yellow, Malki that she found to be the "Best dog she had ever owned." Alison further states' that she then acquired another Malki in mid 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 Malkis' – “breed to type”- 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 color - explained as a rich gold (yellow), and pure whites - as her lines "did not" and "do not" have the "parti-color" (explained as white markings).

APPEARANCE
American Morkshire Terriers range from about 4 to 9 pounds and stand 7 to 11 inches at the shoulder.. They have a single coat, meaning, the breed only has a top coat. You can see American Morkshire Terriers with two different ear set types - down ears and up right ears. They come in a variety of colors with common ground (solid) coat colors in: black, tan (beige), gold (referred as a rich gold or yellow), white, chocolate (liver), and be a combination of these colors of a pied "pie-bald" pattern. As the dog ages (in some cases) the black coat can appear to look a silver or gray and even appear to look a dark steel blue as an adult due to their ancestral influence. They have a long natural tail that curls over its back. Full Breed Standard found below on this page.

TEMPERAMENT
American Morkshire Terrier's are an abundantly confident, energetic and loyal toy breed that's "full of life". They are very loving, sweet-natured, and an all-around gentle breed that make wonderful companion and therapy dogs. They are highly intelligent and want nothing more, but to be with and please their owners. American Morkshire Terriers have a life expectancy of about 15-22 years and can have a litter size of about 3 to 6 puppies. 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. 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 our health page.

Early Morkshire's 

Photo's courtesies of Alison

Modern Morkshire's

Photo's courtesies of Alison Brown & Anna Stillions

 American morkshire puppies TODAY

Puppy photo's courtesy of Chris & Jaimei Creel, Christine Hurt and Jaqueline Brown

AMERICAN MORKSHIRE TERRIER
 OFFICIAL BREED Standard©

Breed Standard of the
​American Morkshire Terrier 
©2019 American Morkshire Terrier Club® Inc. (AMTC)
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General Appearance: The American Morkshire Terrier is a toy dog covered from head to foot with long, flowing uniquely colored hair. The coat is soft, silky and straight. The American Morkshire Terrier has a gentle affectionate-mannerism, friendly, smart and makes a loyal companion.

Head: Small and slightly rounded, the skull not too prominent, the stop moderate, the muzzle not too long with a sound level bite, the ears are small, may be upright or drop ears and not too far apart, the eyes are set not too far apart; dark black, brown or hazel in color and round with an alert expression. Eye rims, nose and lips are black or chocolate, spotting or "winter nose" not uncommon. Hair may be trimmed on tips of upright ears to give them a neat appearance.

Neck: The neck is sufficient length as promoting a high carriage of the head.

Body: Well compact and proportioned. The back is level in topline equaling the length from withers to tail.

Legs and Feet: Forelegs are straight, nicely feathered, Elbows neither in nor out. Hind legs are straight but moderately angulated at stifles. Feet are round and small with black or chocolate toe pads, spotting not uncommon. Toe Nails can be white, black, chocolate or combination. Dewclaws, if any, on forelegs may be removed and generally removed from hind legs.

Tail: Carried well arched over the body, long plume of hair, tip lying to the side over the quarter.

Coat: The coat is single, this is, without undercoat. Hair is glossy, silky, soft and long over the sides of the body. The long head fall may be tied up in a topknot or parted in the middle and left hanging. Any suggestions of wavy, curliness or woolly texture is unacceptable. 

Color: ​The American Morkshire Terrier is a uniquely colored toy terrier breed and can be a solid ground color of black, tan, white, gold, or chocolate and be a combination of these colors of a pied (piebald) pattern - comparatively large patches of one or more colors with a white base coat. Head - any combination of the following colors; black, white, tan, gold, or chocolate, amounts of each color have no dominating patterns, tan hair may be found on ears, anus, under tail and on legs and feet. Black hairs intermingled with tan furnishings is common, shades of gray is common. No amount of tan hair may be found on the back within the black coat. Disqualification - any other color or combination of colors other than those listed.
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Chest: Chest up through throat white, legs and feet are permitted.

Weight: Male: 4-9 lbs., Female: 4-9 lbs.

​Height: Male: 7-11 inches, Female: 7-11 inches.
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Gait: The American Morkshire Terrier has a graceful, flowing and jaunty gait giving impression of rapid movement when viewed from the side. In stride, forelegs reach straight and hind legs move in straight line. Tail must be up when in movement. Any suggestion of hind leg toeing in or out are faults.

Temperament: Intelligent, loyal, affectionate, and devoted to their human family. They are lively and confident with a gentle attitude making them a great companion for all ages.

Severe Faults: Over 9 pounds, rounded or roached back; high in front or rear.

​Disqualifications: Any dog over twelve months of age measuring less than 7 inches, or over 11 inches. Blue eyes. Any color or combination other than listed. Cropped tails are disqualifications.
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Effective June 1, 2019
American Morkshire Terrier Club®, Inc. (AMTC)
​Rev. (11/22)

AMERICAN MORKSHIRE TERRIER
RARE BREED ACCEPTANCE

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American Morkshire Terrier accepted by the American Rare Breed Association (ARBA) December 2019.
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The AMTC, Acceptance Letter of the American Morkshire Terrier into the the American Rare Breed Association.
©2016-2023 American Morkshire Terrier Club® Inc. All rights reserved.
©2016 American Morkshire Terrier Club, Inc.® All rights reserved.