Instructions
Begin by looking at the dog’s general form and noting its size and weight. It’s classified as a toy breed and often stands 10 inches high at the shoulder, weighing roughly 10 lbs. It should have a long body and an upturned stub of a tail with heavy feathering. The forelegs are significantly longer than the rear legs. When relaxed, the front feet may turn slightly outwards. Overall this gives the suggestion that the dog is only a puppy, even when the dog is full grown.
Examine the dog’s fur. There are two types of coats in the Mi-Ki. The Smooth Coat type has fur that’s slightly curly that lies close to the skin. It has short fringing on the ears, tail and legs. The Long Coat type has very long, straight and silky fur. It has significant feathering on the ears, tail and legs. Also, a Long Coated Mi-Ki will have a very thick beard and mustache on the muzzle. All colors and patterns can be present on a Mi-Ki, including tri-color and brindled patterns.
Conclude by looking at the dog’s head. It should be at the end of a medium length neck. The eyes should be large, circular and match the coloring of the coat. The ears will be small and triangular, and are very mobile. The Mi-Ki uses them for a great deal of human-like expression, raising, drooping or extending them at will. The muzzle is short and wide with a jaw that has a slight under bite. The head has been best described as an “apple dome,” similar to that of the Chihuahua, having a small soft spot near the back of the skull known as a molera.
How to Identify a Mi-Ki
The Mi-Ki (pronounced mee-key) is a new and rare breed of companion dog. Though its ancestors are believed to be Asian, this breed was developed in the United States in the late '80s. The person credited with producing the breed went by the pseudonym Micki Mackin. She combined the Papillion, Maltese and Japanese Chin over several generations to produce the Mi-Ki, named in her honor. Unfortunately she didn’t keep very good records about the exact lineage of her dogs, so the percentages of the three contributing species that created the Mi-Ki are unknown. Nonetheless, this breed is rapidly gaining popularity as an indoor companion breed thanks to its cleanliness and sweet demeanor.