Toy Mi-Ki
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| Mi-Ki | ||||
| Country of origin | United States | |||
| Nicknames | Mi-Ki | |||
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The Mi-Ki is an intentionally-bred mixed-breed dog. It is not a breed, and hence lacks a breed standard. As with many controversial "breeds," this issue might or might not ever be resolved; see the continuing controversy over the pomchi and other "designer" breeds of dog.
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[edit] Appearance
The Mi-Ki stands about 10 inches at the withers. The eyes are large, dark, and expressive.
Whether the Mi-Ki has one coat type or two varies with the different groups. One states that the original Mi-Ki standard has only one coat type, long, straight silky hair with little to no shedding.
Another group states that the Mi-Ki comes in two coat varieties.[citation needed] The long-coated variety does not shed. Any hair that comes out of the dog is retained by the long coat. It is suggested that a fine toothed "wire hound comb" be used to remove the dead hair. The short-coated Mi-Ki does shed but moderately. Neither coat type is preferred over the other. Both coat types are shown in the same ring together; they are not separated into varieties. The Mi-Ki comes in a variety of colours.
There are two ear types, the folded ear and the prick ear, which means that the ear stands straight up. Both types of ears are currently acceptable. When the Mi-Ki becomes excited, the ears "wing", meaning that the folded ear becomes erect, "winging" out to the side of the dog's head.
[edit] Temperament
It is a small, devoted companion; fun loving, and intelligent. It is quick to learn tricks, and even quicker to make friends with people and dogs alike; playful with other dogs, and loves to snuggle.
[edit] History
In North America, at least two breeders began calling their mixed-breeds "Mi-Ki"s in 1991 and 1992. The Imperial Toy Mi-Ki Club started in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1991, and a different breeder started stud books from a different line of mixed breeds in 1992. The Greater American Toy Mi-Ki Club started around this time, and in 1994 was incorporated in the state of Wisconsin. That club is no longer active, but a new club, The Mi-Ki Club of America, was immediately formed. The Mi-Ki Club of America claims to have received recognition for the dogs in their stud books in 17 countries around the world.[citation needed] The first Multi-International Mi-Ki Champion was exported to Germany in 2004 and was the first Mi-Ki to be registered there.[citation needed] The Imperial Toy Mi-Ki Club is also still active.
The multitude of clubs have had differing positions on the dogs' status, appearance, and requirements. Some breeders, still viewing the Mi-Ki as a "type" rather than a breed because there is not sufficient breeding stock to work from and insufficient numbers of generations of lines that breed true have added additional breeds to the Mi-Ki, including the Yorkshire Terrier and the Shih Tzu, among others. Their dogs have been accepted by the Mi-Ki Club of America as "puremutt" Mi-Kis, which is working to establish multiple generations of Mi-Ki-only breedings.
The Mi-Ki is not currently recognized by any of the major international kennel clubs.
[edit] Miscellaneous
Some Mi-Ki dogs are being used as therapy dogs.[citation needed]
