You’ve seen them on Instagram. Those tiny, cloud-like dogs that look like a stuffed animal come to life. Usually, when people talk about a Morkie—that famous cross between a Maltese and a Yorkshire Terrier—they’re picturing a "traditional" coat. You know the one. It’s usually black and tan, or maybe a silver-blue and gold, mimicking the classic Yorkie pattern. But the maltese yorkie mix white is a different beast entirely. It’s the unicorn of the designer dog world.
Getting a truly white Morkie isn't as simple as just breeding two white dogs. In fact, if a breeder tells you they have a "pure white" Morkie, you should probably start asking some very specific questions about the parents’ lineage.
The Genetics of the White Coat: It’s Not Just Magic
Most people assume that because a Maltese is always white, half the puppies in a Morkie litter should be white too. Biology doesn't work like that. It’s actually kinda frustrating.
The Yorkshire Terrier carries dominant genes for black and tan. When you mix that with the recessive white of a Maltese, the darker colors almost always win the first round. This is why most first-generation (F1) Morkies look like Yorkies with slightly softer hair. To get a maltese yorkie mix white, you usually need an F1b cross or a multigen breeding strategy. This means breeding a Morkie back to a purebred Maltese. Even then, you might end up with "parti" colors—patches of white mixed with cream, gold, or black.
Geneticists like those at Embark or Wisdom Panel often point out that the "white" we see in Maltese isn't actually white pigment. It's the absence of pigment. It's a result of the extreme piebald gene or the "e/e" genotype on the Extension locus, which prevents the dog from producing black pigment in its hair. When you throw Yorkie DNA into the blender, which is hard-wired to produce eumelanin (black/blue) and phaeomelanin (tan/gold), the white often gets crowded out.
Why Do People Obsess Over the White Morkie?
It’s mostly about the "Teddy Bear" look.
A white coat makes those big, dark, watery eyes pop. It highlights the button nose. It’s an aesthetic that has driven the designer dog market for the last decade. But there's a practical side to it, too. A lighter coat makes it much easier to spot fleas, ticks, or skin irritations early on.
Honestly, though? It’s a high-maintenance choice. If you want a dog that stays looking like a pristine snowflake, you’re signing up for a part-time job as a groomer.
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The Tear Stain Struggle
Ask any owner of a maltese yorkie mix white about tear stains, and they will probably sigh deeply. It’s the bane of their existence. Because the hair around the eyes is translucent and white, the porphyrins in the dog's tears turn the fur a rusty, reddish-brown color.
It’s not just an eyesore. Sometimes it’s a sign of clogged tear ducts or a reaction to high mineral content in their water. Many owners swear by filtered water and stainless steel bowls to keep the face bright. Others use specialized wipes daily. If you skip a few days, the staining can become semi-permanent until the hair grows out and gets trimmed.
Health Realities You Can't Ignore
We need to talk about the "White Dog Syndrome" or Generalized Tremor Syndrome (GTS). While it’s famously associated with West Highland White Terriers, it has been documented in other small white breeds, including Maltese.
Since your maltese yorkie mix white is half Maltese, there is a non-zero chance of seeing these tremors. Usually, they start young, between six months and three years old. It’s scary to watch—the dog shakes like it’s freezing—but it’s usually treatable with corticosteroids.
Then there’s the hearing.
In many breeds, a lack of pigment in the inner ear is linked to congenital deafness. While this is more common in Dalmatians or Great Danes, extreme white spotting in small mixes can occasionally lead to hearing issues in one or both ears. Always ask a breeder if they’ve done a BAER (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response) test, though, let's be real, most backyard breeders won't even know what that is.
The Hypoallergenic Myth
Let’s clear this up: no dog is 100% hypoallergenic.
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Both the Maltese and the Yorkie have hair instead of fur. They don't have an undercoat. This means they shed significantly less than a Lab or a Golden Retriever. However, people are often allergic to dander (dead skin) or saliva, not just the hair itself. A maltese yorkie mix white is "low shed," which is great for your vacuum cleaner, but it won't necessarily save your sinuses if you have a severe allergy.
Grooming: The $100 Monthly Subscription
If you think you’re going to groom this dog at home once every few months, you’re in for a rude awakening.
The hair of a Morkie is fine. It’s silky. It tangles if you even look at it wrong. When that hair is white, every bit of dirt, every blade of grass, and every "accident" in the backyard shows up in 4K resolution.
- Daily Brushing: This isn't optional. If you skip it, the hair mats at the skin. These mats are painful. They pull on the skin like a ponytail that's too tight.
- Professional Grooms: Every 4 to 6 weeks. No exceptions.
- The "Puppy Cut": Most owners of a white Morkie eventually give up on the long, flowing show coat and opt for the "Puppy Cut," where the hair is kept one or two inches long all over. It makes the dog look like a permanent puppy and is much easier to keep clean.
Personality: Small Dog, Huge Ego
Don’t let the white, angelic look fool you. The Yorkie side of this mix is a literal terrier. Terriers were bred to hunt rats. They are brave, sometimes stupidly so, and they have a high prey drive.
A maltese yorkie mix white will likely bark at the mailman, the wind, and a leaf that looked at them funny. They are "velcro dogs." They want to be on your lap, in your bed, and arguably inside your ribcage if they could manage it. This leads to separation anxiety. If you work 10-hour days away from home, this is not the dog for you. They will vocalize their displeasure by shredding your throw pillows or "decorating" your rug.
Training Challenges
They’re smart, but they’re stubborn. Maltese are known for being a bit difficult to housebreak. Their bladders are the size of a walnut. When it’s raining outside, a white Morkie might decide that your laundry room floor is a much better bathroom than the wet grass.
Consistency is everything. You have to be more stubborn than they are. Positive reinforcement works; harsh corrections will just make them hide under the couch and resent you.
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Finding a Real White Morkie
Because the maltese yorkie mix white is so desirable, it’s a magnet for puppy mills. They know they can charge a premium for the "rare" white color.
A reputable breeder won't focus on color. They focus on health clearances for the parents—testing for luxating patellas (loose kneecaps), heart murmurs, and Liver Shunt, which is unfortunately common in both parent breeds. If a breeder is screaming "RARE WHITE MORKIE" in a Facebook ad and charging $4,000, run.
Check rescues first. There are breed-specific rescues for both Maltese and Yorkies that often take in mixes. You might find a "cream" Morkie that is effectively white for a fraction of the price, and you’ll be saving a life.
Living With Your White Morkie
If you decide to bring one home, your life will change in specific ways. You’ll start carrying baby wipes in your purse to wipe their paws after a walk. You’ll become an expert at detangling knots behind their ears.
But you’ll also have a companion that is intensely loyal and incredibly portable. They travel well. They fit in a carrier under an airplane seat. They are the ultimate lap warmer.
The maltese yorkie mix white isn't just a fashion statement. It's a 15-year commitment to a living, breathing animal with a big personality trapped in a tiny, snowy body.
Actionable Steps for New Owners
If you've just brought home or are looking for this specific mix, here is exactly what you need to do to keep that coat white and the dog healthy:
- Invest in a high-quality whitening shampoo. Look for "bluing" shampoos that neutralize yellow tones, but use them sparingly (no more than once a month) to avoid drying out their skin. For weekly baths, use a gentle oatmeal-based formula.
- Swap tap water for filtered water. This is the number one "secret" used by breeders to reduce the severity of red tear staining. The reduction in minerals like iron and magnesium can make a massive difference over 30 days.
- Clear the "Eye Path" daily. Use a fine-tooth flea comb to gently remove "eye boogers" every single morning. If the gunk sits there, it breeds bacteria and stains the fur permanently.
- Schedule a vet check for "Liver Shunt." Since both Yorkies and Maltese are predisposed to Portosystemic Shunt (where blood bypasses the liver), have your vet do a bile acid test if your puppy seems lethargic or fails to grow.
- Get a harness, not a collar. Small white mixes are prone to collapsed tracheas. A collar puts too much pressure on their delicate throat when they pull. A Y-shaped harness is much safer.
- Socialize early. To prevent the "Napoleon Complex," introduce your Morkie to big dogs, loud noises, and different people before they hit the 16-week mark. This prevents the fearful barking that many people associate with the breed.