Mi-Ki - The Breed Standard

The captivating Mi-Ki encompasses, in its engaging personality, a sweet nature and gently playful spirit. Friendly, outgoing, loyal and calm, it is the ideal companion. Highly intelligent and responsive, the Mi-Ki excels in therapy and service work. It is elegant, well-balanced and without exaggerated features. Moving smoothly and gracefully, the Mi-Ki carries its head high with its fully plumed tail curved over its back. The Mi-Ki is a single coated breed, exhibiting a variety of colors, with two coat varieties that are shown separately: long coat with furnishings and smooth face without furnishings. It is one of the toy breeds, but is set apart by its always cheerful and loving disposition and remarkable intuitiveness. With their large, endearing eyes and irresistibly expressive ears, the Mi-Ki is “the sweetheart of toy breeds”.

Size – The height, measured at the withers, does not exceed 10 inches. Weight of mature dogs is under 10 pounds, ideally 4-8 pounds. Size is in good proportion with the total structure of the dog, never appearing leggy or squatty. Overall quality is to be favored over size.

Fault: Height exceeding 10 inches.

Proportion – Length, as measured from withers to the base of the tail, is equal to or slightly longer than the height at the withers.

Substance – Regardless of size, the Mi-Ki is always compact and solid, yet refined.

Head – Skull is slightly rounded, not domed, with a well defined stop, with or without a molera no larger than ½ inch in adults. The width of the skull, measured at the widest part of the skull, is slightly shorter than the length of the back skull, measured as the shortest distance from the stop to the occiput.

Faults: Head too narrow or too wide, close set eyes.

Expression is friendly, sweet, and pleasant.

Eyes are set well apart, full, round, without bulging. Eye color is dark brown or self-colored.

Ears are set wide apart, slightly below the crown and carried from erect to dropped positions, no preference given. Ears are well feathered in long coat variety; fringed in smooth face variety. Ears are expressive and very mobile.

Disqualification. Ears of two different carriage types in adults.

Muzzle is in proportion to the overall size of the head and never exceeds ⅓ of the overall measurement from stop to occiput. Muzzle is never snipey or turned down, never appears flat or pushed in.

Faults: Lack of defined stop, muzzle too long.

Nose – Nostrils are wide and open.

Fault: Pinched nostrils.

Pigmentation – Nose, lips, and eye rims are black on black or silver/gray dogs. Leathers on chocolate and blue dogs are self colored. Leathers on clear red dogs are black, charcoal or brown. Snow nose is permitted.

Fault: Pink on nose or eye rims after the age of 1 year.

Bite ranges from slightly undershot to tight scissor, no preference given. Missing teeth or slightly misaligned teeth are not to be too severely penalized.

Disqualification: Overshot bite; underbite where teeth and/or tongue are seen when mouth is closed.

Of utmost importance is an overall well-balanced dog.

Neck is well set-on, flowing smoothly into the shoulders; of sufficient length to permit natural high head carriage and balance with height and length of dog never appearing short or thick.

Topline is level and straight in adults.

Fault: Roached or high in the rear top line in adults.

Body is square to slightly off square, with length measured from the withers to the base of the tail. Height is measured at the withers.

Chest is medium in depth with good spring of ribs with ribcage extending just to the elbow.

Tail is set on high, heavily plumed, carried curved well over the back.

Fault: Low set tail is penalized to the extent of the deviation.

Shoulders are well-angulated, fitting smoothly into the body and laid back to allow freedom of movement.

Elbows are set close to the body.

Hindquarters are well-angulated and in balance with forequarters to enable proper drive.

Legs – Profuse feathering is present on the long coat variety; light feathering on the smooth face variety.

Dewclaws may be left intact or removed.

Fore legs are straight and never bowed.

Rear Legs are not close set, parallel from hock to heel with stifles well-bent and in line with forequarter.

Feet are hare-like in shape, thin and elongated, but never splayed. When relaxed, the front feet may turn slightly outwards while standing but never interfere with movement.

Faults: Cow hocked or bow legged.

The coat is presented with no accessories or any stylizing that masks the true texture of the coat. Blow drying and conditioning of the coat are allowed. A sanitary trim is permitted in all accepted grooming styles.

Faults: Curly, cottony, or wiry coat in an adult.

Long coat variety – Luxurious single coat, soft to the touch, free flowing, and without curl. A wave is permitted. Long facial hair is present. Feathering is long. Tail is well plumed and carried over the back.

Grooming – Adult long coat variety is shown in either of two styles, both equally acceptable.

1. Beard and mustache: The head is clipped closely and smoothly, not to exceed 1/4 inch, going to a V under the chin to the Adam’s apple, leaving a beard and mustache. Facial hair in front of the ears is shaved, and the hair behind the ears and on the neck is blended into the head. Toes and paw pads are shaved. Top of feet are shaved no higher than the dew claw. Hair on body and legs may be scissored to floor length.

2. Shaved face: The head and entire face are shaved from the base of the skull down to the throat, leaving hair under the ears, creating a ruff around the face. Hair on lower leg is scissored to reveal the toes.

Smooth face variety – Hair is short and close on the skull and muzzle with no beard or mustache. Demi-long coat lies close to the body. Fringing is present on the ears. Light feathering is present on legs with pants present on thighs. Tail is fully plumed and carried over the back.

Grooming – Adult smooth face variety is shown in natural coat with unaltered condition except neatening the hair on toes and paw pads is permitted.

Puppy – Until 1 year of age a puppy may be in a natural coat, does not require clipping of head or feet. Paw pads may be shaved, and feet may be trimmed neatly following the outline of the foot.

Merle and albino are not permitted. All other colors and markings are acceptable, none preferred.

Disqualification. Merle or albino.

The Mi-Ki moves straight and is shown at its natural pace, neither raced nor strung-up. Movement is smooth, flowing, and effortless, with good front reach and equally strong rear drive, naturally high head carriage and tail carried curved over the back.

The primary purpose of the Mi-Ki is that of a loving companion. It is essential that its temperament is happy, affectionate, trusting, and not overly vocal.At Dakota Mi-Kis Breeder, we believe that every puppy deserves to be healthy, happy, and loved. That's why we focus on breeding dogs that are not only beautiful but also have excellent temperaments and are free of any genetic health issues.