Do Morkies Have Tails? (Everything You Need To Know)

Most Yorkshire terriers you’ve seen have probably had no tail.

Or just a stub.

At least if you are in the United States.

That is often the case for Morkies, too.

Especially if the Morkie in question takes after its Yorkie parent more than its Maltese parent.

Are they born that way or do Morkies have tails at birth that are removed later?

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the Maltese Yorkie mix and its tail.

 

Do Morkies Have Tails?

Morkies have tails at birth. But many breeders dock their tails shortly thereafter, which is why it is common to see Morkies without a tail.

It usually comes down to the breeder’s preference, since the breeders usually do the tail docking right after birth, long before any potential owners see the dog.

If you want a Morkie with a full tail, you have to find a breeder that does not dock, or contact one that does and put a deposit down on a puppy that has not yet been born, ensuring that it will be spared the docking procedure.

Let’s dive a little deeper into the Morkie mix and the tail docking procedure.

 

The Morkie

The Morkie is a mixed breed dog. It is a cross between a Yorkie and a Maltese, so I’m sure you can imagine that it is cute and furry breed. They’re small and energetic and make a great family pet.

 

Natural Tails

A Morkie’s natural tail is long. Some natural tails may be longer than others. This comes down to genetics. Some Morkies inherit more genes from their Yorkshire terrier parent, while others get more from their Maltese parent.

If you see a Morkie out and about without a tail, then you can be sure it has been docked. The docking procedure is common in Yorkies (in the US anyway), so many breeders do the same with Yorkie mixes.

As mentioned, if you are looking to get a Morkie and you want one with a natural tail, you will either have to request this with the breeders or look for a breeder that does not dock tails.

A Morkie’s natural tail will usually have a curve to it. If your Morkie is long-haired, it should have hair growing from the tail as well.

 

Is Tail Docking Controversial?

Yes, tail docking is a very controversial topic. It is mainly done for show these days. However, some people also say that it can have health benefits and help with the characteristic of your dog.

While tail docking is still common in the United States, it is actually illegal in many countries in europe, like the UK. You can only dock a dog’s tail in the UK, if it is done for health benefits.

Those that are against tail docking consider it to be a cruel practice. They feel there is no need for an animal to lose a part of its body for no good reason.

These days, docking is mainly done for aesthetic purposes, because owners want their pets to look cute. As mentioned, many breeders in the US are in the habit of docking their puppies’ tails, so it is not uncommon to find a Yorkie or Morkie with a docked tail while out and about.

 

Does Tail Docking Hurt Dogs?

Since docking refers to the removal of the tail, the chances of it hurting are pretty high. It is usually done within the first two weeks of a puppy being born to limit the amount of distress caused.

That early in life, the puppy is too young to realise what is going on and shouldn’t remember it further down the line. They also have not yet fully developed their nervous system, so they likely feel less pain, if any.

Docking on such young dogs is usually performed without anaesthesia. If breeders are doing it themselves, they usually apply a tight elastic band to the tail to stop blood flow. Without blood, the young tail dies and soon simply falls off.

In theory, this is mostly pain free, but there can be complications, like an infection forming, or damage caused to the puppy’s nerve endings. This can become extremely painful for the dog and it may even need to go on medication for it.

If the tail is docked later in life, it would be too painful to do it this way. At that point, it becomes a full surgery, performed under general anesthesia.

 

How Do You Tell If Your Dog Is A Morkie?

This is not always easy, since Morkies can take on a varied amount of characteristics from either parent. Generally, a Morkie gets its coloring from the Yorkshire Terrier side, but this is not always the case.

The coloring can be black, golden, brown or white. The coat is usually long and shiny. As for the tail, you now know it can be either long or short, depending on whether it has been clipped.

Morkies are a small breed, so they are always cute and cuddly, with small black eyes and a nose. They are small and active dogs and bound to keep you up and about. They will need at least 2 walks a day, and two or three sessions of more vigorous exercise per week.

A Morkie’s temperament is usually a little calmer than a Yorkie’s. But you might find that they still like to bark a lot, depending on how much of that tendency they inherit from their Yorkie parent.

They are usually one-person dogs, so they can become very attached to their owner. In that way, they are very similar to the Yorkshire terrier.

 

Morkies Have Tails: Final Thoughts

Morkies are born with tails, just like their Yorkshire terrier and Maltese parents. And like their Yorkie parents, Morkie tails are often docked shortly after birth.

The practice of tail docking is still the norm in the United States, although there is no real benefit to removing the tail. It is done for purely aesthetic reasons and many believe the practice to be cruel. As a result, it has been outlawed in many European countries. Morkies in Europe will still have their tails.