MyDogBreedsMorkie is originated from United States but English Water Spaniel is originated from United Kingdom. Morkie may grow 21 cm / 8 inches shorter than English Water Spaniel. Morkie may weigh 14 kg / 30 pounds lesser than English Water Spaniel. Both Morkie and English Water Spaniel has almost same life span. Morkie may have less litter size than English Water Spaniel. Both Morkie and English Water Spaniel requires Low maintenance.
These cute little dogs originated in the United States. As a cross between a Maltese Poodle and Yorkshire Terrier, the idea of breeders was to bring out a gorgeous looking little dog that would be low shedding.
The Morkie Poo inherits this low shedding characteristic from the poodle side of things. It is not precisely clear as to when the first Morkie was born, but these days he is as popular as ever.
Certainly, both the parent breeds are recognized with kennel clubs but the Morkie isn’t.
The English Water Spaniel breed is extinct and has been since the early 1900’s. It was last seen in the 1930s. The breed was a hunting breed, diving for duck and hunting other waterfowl. Legend has it that Shakespeare was referring to this breed of dog in Macbeth when he refers to the “water rug”. Again, in Two Gentlemen of Verona one of the character states about another that “She hath more qualities than a water-spaniel.’
The English Water Spaniel came along before the Irish Water Spaniel and had a part in the development the Curly Coated Retriever, the American Water Spaniel and the Field Spaniel. The English Water Spaniel looks somewhat like a Poodle/Springer Spaniel cross or a Collie. It is not known whether the English Water Spaniel was part of the development of the Irish Water Spaniel.
When the English Water Spaniel was first developed the UKC had a “Water Spaniels other than Irish” and the English Water Spaniel had no standard written and accepted for it yet. But by 1967 the breed was extinct. Still the American Water Spaniel and the Flat Coated Retriever are believed to be descendants of the English Water Spaniel.
The small Morkie is a crossbreed, and this means you can’t be 100% guaranteed of the dog’s looks. They usually stand at about 24 – 30cm in height and weigh between 4 and 6kg.
You also get the Teacup Morkie which is even smaller. The coat of the Morkie can become fairly long and is black, brown and tan.
This is a little crossbreed dog who simply loves spending time with his human family. He is loving and gentle and will get along well with other pets in the home as well as with children.
Some people are inclined to think that these little balls of fluff are a total walkover, but don’t be mistaken, as these cheeky, feisty dogs have attitude. They’re social and playful and love to be involved in games with the kids. Just make sure your children have been taught how to be gentle with a small dog like this.
He becomes very attached to his family and doesn’t want to be left alone for too long.
Resembling the Springer Spaniel, poodle, collie and setter the English Water Spaniel has very little in common with the Irish Water Spaniel in respect to looks. The English has a narrow and somewhat longer head their than other spaniels and they have long furry ears. Their body is stout, and they are shaped like a barrel – more like a Clumber. With long legs and large feet, it is ready to take to the hunt. There coat was waterproof, and their toes were webbed.
Your Morkie is such a sweet dog, and that’s to be expected, coming from such sweet parent breeds.
He just loves his human family and is friendly and social as well as being loyal. He has quite a bit of attitude, and if you allow it, he’ll develop some horrible small dog syndrome characteristics, such as being snappy, whiny and barking.
Small though he is, training and socialization will do him the world of good and he then lives up to everything wonderful that Morkie dog owners have got to tell you about– playful, friendly fun-loving, jaunty, loving and the cutest little thing there is.
The English Water Spaniel was aloof with strangers but loyal with his hunter. He was a little stubborn and an excellent water dog. They loved being in the water and could enter it without making any noise so as not to frighten his prey. He was highly intelligent and trainable. He also was very affectionate with his people.
As a responsible dog owner it is to your benefit to be aware of some of the common dog illnesses that your Morkie can succumb too. Not that he is likely too, as with good care, these robust little dogs can live to be 15 years of age or so.
A dog's lifespan can certainly be impacted by the lifestyle they lead. Some of the common dog illnesses to look out for -
Parvo can be a killer, and that’s why your 8 week old puppy needs to have his parvo vaccination. You’ll find puppies in shelters and puppy mills that get parvo. Dogs contact parvo by coming into contact with an infected dog.
Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and weight loss. Quick medical treatment can save your dog but it is better to ensure he doesn't get it in the first place. Other diseases that require vaccinations are hepatitis, distemper and rabies.
This is a tick-borne illness brought on by bacteria transmitted by deer ticks that attach to the dog. One of the symptoms is lameness in limbs and a loss of appetite. Without treatment, lyme disease can lead to kidney problems.
Prevent your dog getting bloat by ensuring he doesn’t get ravenous with one meal a day. He then wants to wolf his food down. Rather give him smaller meals that he eats slower to avoid bloat. The stomach swells and can actually twist. If your dog has an enlarged stomach, is restless, salivating and wanting to vomit, get him to the vet immediately.
The English Water Spaniel is a fairly healthy breed given to some fairly common disorders such as:
Can lead to lameness and arthritis
Arterial fib and flutter and other problems that could lead to death.
This is a disease seem in several “Dwarf” breeds such as Corgis, as well as in many spaniels. This is the canine version of Lou Gehrig’s Disease or ALS and it is fatal.
The Morkie is such a small dog so it won’t require much effort to brush him. Because the hair is thin and fine, you may want to brush him every day just to keep the silky hair from matting.
Many Morkie owners opt to have their Morkie’s trimmed at a professional dog parlor. Check around his eyes and check inside his ears to make sure both are clean and free from infection.
Little dogs always have trouble with their teeth, so make sure to check these regularly. Keep his nails trimmed too as if they grow long they can hook onto things and can cause injury.
The Morkie is an energetic little dog, but because he is small he isn’t going to require too much exercise. A walk now and then will delight him and some ball games indoors or outside. He is a dog that will settle happily into city- or country life, so long as he is with his beloved owner.
Morkies love their food and they can tend to gobble it up. Rather give your Morkie smaller meals than one main meal as he wolfs it down, causing digestive problems.
If you feed him kibble, make sure the packaging is marked for little dogs and make sure its the best there is to ensure he gets the right amount of minerals and vitamins in.
As a treat boil some chicken, brown rice, pasta and vegetables and chop it up very finely and add it into his kibble from time to time.
Make sure your Morkie can easily reach his bowl of fresh, cool water.
The English Water Spaniel is not an overly energetic dog and has a tendency to over eat. Feed him 1 to 1.5 cups of high quality dry dog food over two meals each day.
In addition to the health issues mentioned earlier, the English Water Spaniel is also prone to:
Pattern baldness – is genetic and occurs on the neck and back of the hind legs.
English Water Spaniels can have these in old age like most other breeds.
Clumps form in the retinal tissue and can lead to blindness
The English Water Spaniel was a worker and an outdoor athlete at a time before organized canine games and activities such as agility and flyball. They loved to swim, and they loved to hunt. Without a job to do they could become barky and destructive.