Mi-Ki

Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

The Mi-Ki is a small and elegant dog with stylish yet sturdy bearing. Uncertainty prevails over its origination with different theories telling different origins of this dog though no theory has been proven right scientifically or otherwise. Most popular theory places this dog in Asian region(most probably Malaysia) with its ancestors being the Papillon, Maltese and Japanese Chin. Another theory says these dogs were developed in USA by a woman named Micki Mackan who started the development of a new strain of dog with Papillon, Maltese, Japanese Chin and Shih Tzu. Later bloodlines from Papillon/Yorkshire Terrier mix were also added. What is known for sure is that this little dog was brought to USA in late 1980s.

As the breed has been split between different clubs with each club claiming its Mi-Ki the purest breed, no general standard for the breed has yet been set.

This is a small dog that stands between 10-12 inches and weighs about 10 lbs. It can have an apple doomed or round head with short and wide muzzle that leads to medium size black or self coloured nose with wide nostrils. Large and round eyes are set well apart. Erect or dropped ears are very mobile and feathered. Medium length neck blends smoothly into slightly longer than tall body. Topline is level and straight. Medium deep chest has well sprung ribs. The tail is set high and carried gaily and well arched over the body with fringing. The dog comes in either smooth coat or long coat in any colour.

Lack of set standard for this dog leads to the opinion that Mi-Ki is a collective name for a type of dog and not a breed and thus It is not recognized by AKC or any other major kennel club.

Color

All colors are acceptable for this dog. Dilute colors are more common. Solid colors are rare and highly prized. Colors may be apricot, black, blue, brown, chocolate, cream, gold, grey, grizzled, red, sable, silver, tan and white. The dog can also be seen in bi or tri-coloring.

Coat

Mi-Ki dogs are single coated and have hair instead of fur which makes them a non-shedding and hypo-allergenic breed. The Mi-Ki dog comes in two coat varieties; smooth coated and long coated. Smooth coat is short and close all over the body without any beard or mustache on face. It has short fringes on ears, front and rear legs and tail. Long coat is fine, silky and straight and has long feathering on ears, both front and rear legs and tail.

Personality

The Mi-Ki is a small and sturdy dog that is bred for companionship. This dog is full of personality, lively, loving and alert. It is very friendly with both its family and guests. It also has protective instinct that will make this otherwise quiet and calm dog to bark if it senses anything unusual. Compact, solid and refined, the dog gets along well with other dogs and pets in the family with a quiet confidence. This sweet-natured dog is very gentle and playful with children. It makes such a loving, gentle and affectionate playmate of children that most children would love to carry these little dogs instead of teddy bears. With its high levels of intelligent, the dog can compete in different dog sports such as obedience ring. The dog cleans itself like a cat. This non-aggressive and non-intimidated dog is extremely social and catlike in its mannerism. Its adaptability and low to moderate activity levels make it an ideal pet for any living condition including apartment lifestyle. This intelligent and bright dog is highly trainable. The Mi-Ki has such a nice temperament as a family companion that it seems too good to be true and with its hypoallergenic quality, the dog is suitable for people who are allergic to dog hair. This little dog makes an extremely good family pet that is bound to endear anyone it comes across with its very admirable qualities.

Care

The single coat is either non-shedding or sheds too little and as such, does not require high levels of grooming. Occasional brushing will be enough to keep the hair clean. Hair between pads should be clipped to avoid health problems. This dog is prone to respiratory problems due to short muzzle.

Training

It is a very highly trainable dog with high levels of intelligence and willingness to learn and please its master. The dog should be trained in a positive and consistent manner.

Activity

The Mi-Ki has low to moderate activity levels. It should be taken for a daily walk although this dog will fulfill most of its exercise needs during indoor play.