How to Care for a Morkie Puppy: A Complete Guide

Morkies are an adorable little furball, a cross between the Maltese and Yorkshire Terrier. With such wonderful parts, these small dogs were bound to be loving, adorable as well as energetic companions that can brighten up the darkest of days. However, just like how a Morkie puppy will take care of you, you need to take care of its needs; everything from nutrition and grooming to training and exercise. If you’re bringing a Morkie into your home, this guide will help you provide the best care possible.

Feeding Your Morkie: Tiny Dog, Big Appetite

Morkies are itsy-bitsy, but they do have big nutritional needs, especially during their growing years. Thanks to being a mix of Maltese and Yorkie, their metabolism runs almost as fast as they do, so they burn through energy faster than larger breeds. You can feed them personalized home-created diets as long as it has all the right nutritional components or opt for high-quality kibble designed specifically for small breeds. These are rich in protein, healthy fats, and have the essential nutrients.

How often should you feed them?

• 8–12 weeks old: 4 small meals a day.

• 3–6 months old: 3 meals a day.

• 6+ months: 2 meals a day.

Now, remember, it may be tempting to give them plenty of treats, and they will absolutely use their puppy-dog eyes to get them. However, you must be disciplined with those as Morkies are prone to weight gain, so keep snacking at a healthy level. Even better if you use cooked chicken, carrots, or high-quality dog treats as snacks/treats.

Grooming: Keeping That Silky Coat in Check

One of the contributing factors to Morkies’ world-renowned cuteness is their gorgeous, silky hair. However, their hair won’t groom itself. These long silky hairs do tangle easily, and you need to have a vigilant eye if you don’t want your pup turning into a walking, talking knot.

Other than brushing them every day, ideally, here’s what you should do to meet their overall grooming/self-care requirements:

• Brushing their teeth every day is ideal; 3–4 times is the minimum.

• Bathing can be done every month with a gentle dog shampoo under normal circumstances.

• Trim their coat to a manageable and healthy amount every 6–8 weeks.

• Teeth brushing should be done daily. Small dogs are prone to dental problems, so no compromises here.  A responsible owner should also be aware of Common Health Issues with Morkies & How to Avoid Them to ensure their pup stays in top condition.

• They have little claws that grow fast, so trim the nails every 2–3 weeks unless they’re being filed naturally.

Exercise: Don’t Let Their Size Fool You

Looks are often deceiving. One might assume a small, cute, and cuddly tiny dog like a Morkie wouldn’t need much exercise with their tiny legs, but, well, they do. They’re little bundles exploding with energy and need regular activity and outdoor time to stay happy and healthy. Nobody likes being cooped up in a break for long, after all.

Thankfully, they are not too demanding. Including daily walks for potty, include 15–30 minutes of outdoor playtime, they love going outside. These pups also need mental stimulation to grow properly, so for indoor time, get them puzzle toys and interactive games that will keep their sharp little minds occupied and engaged.

If left alone too long, Morkies can develop separation anxiety, so keeping them engaged is one way to prevent them from wallowing in their loneliness. If you’re wondering about how long you should leave a puppy alone, the answer greatly varies based upon their bladder control.  A general rule if that a pup’s bladder control is 1 hour for every month. So, a 4-month-old pup can be left for 4 hours. 

Training: Smart But Stubborn

Now, let’s talk about training. The thing with training is that it isn’t just for your convenience but often for the overall well-being of the dog itself, so training them is necessary despite most people assuming it's optional. Sure, you do not have to train them to the point of joining the K9 squad, but basic training helps everybody.

The only issue is, whilst Morkies are intelligent, they are stubborn sometimes. However, it is nothing that isn’t manageable with some patience and consistency. If nothing else, here is what your dog should learn:

Potty Training

No matter how cute, nobody wants their dogs doing their business inside. Stick to a routine of taking your pups outside frequently and rewarding them when they do their job right, which is pooping outside. If you’re struggling with this, crate training can really help.

Basic Commands

“Sit,” “stay,” and “come” should be taught early using positive reinforcement. Short, fun training sessions work best, Morkies get bored quickly!

Socialization

Socialization is one of the most important things in order for your pup to become a well-adjusted pupper of society. Introduce it to other puppies, pets, people, and environments early on so they aren’t shocked at the sight of, say, a poodle across the street.

Conclusion

It is best to read up on everything about Morkies and learn about the commitment that caring for a pup is. However, in return, the love and companionship they give back make it all worth it. Thankfully, they are not super high maintenance, just basic diet, grooming, training, and vet visits should keep your pup healthy, and your best friend will stay by your side for the years to come.