Morkie Breed Information

Morkie Grooming

Although they are a low-to-non shedding dog breed, Morkies do have a few grooming needs. These include brushing their coats and teeth, trimming their nails, cleaning their tear stains and ears, and giving them a haircut occasionally. Morkies in particular need to be brushed a few times per week to prevent any loose hair from sticking or matting onto their coats.

Their teeth should be brushed daily if possible, or weekly at the latest, to keep them from developing dental or gum conditions. Trimming your Morkie’s nails is also an essential part of grooming, especially if your dog doesn’t file them down on its own. Morkie grooming also involves regular monthly baths with dog-friendly shampoo recommended by the veterinarian. Bathe your adult Morkie dog once every month or bi-monthly for a quick 10 minutes. 

Morkie Exercise Needs

Morkies are very small, adventure-loving dogs. And although their active nature might point to a dog breed that needs hours of daily exercise, their small size and energy levels say otherwise. Morkies love their daily walks, especially if they get to meet a friend or two on their paths, but they are not a breed that needs to be walked for miles on end every day. Ideally, you should take your Morkie on one or two daily walks and provide a fun game or two indoors to burn off any excess energy.  

Morkie Health

Thanks to hybrid vigor, which is developed as a result of crossbreeding, Morkies enjoy very good health. There are some conditions that the Maltese and Yorkie breeds are prone to, that might occur in the Morkie breed, but they are few and very unlikely. Among these are cataracts – that is a common occurrence in old age, dental problems that are usually a result of poor oral care, allergies, and ear infections that are also common among all dog breeds. 

Morkie Lifespan

As a small dog breed, the Morkie has a long lifespan of up to 18 years. Because Morkies are a mixed breed, they benefit from hybrid vigor which ensures better health and a longer life expectancy. 14 to 18 years is the average Morkie lifespan. Meeting their exercise needs, following food portion recommendations, and raising them in a calm and loving environment will play a big part in the quality of your Morkie’s life and its expectancy. 

Morkie Training

Morkie puppies are smart, but they do require plenty of patience and consistency, especially when they are between 8 and 12 weeks old. Like most young puppies, their attention span can be limited, and their focus can be anywhere else but on their trainer. To help with this, it’s always recommended to find a quiet room with low distractions as the first step in training. The next step is to teach your Morkie puppy to come when called and to respond to your voice when it hears it. Treat rewards are the best motivators for Morkie puppies, so have plenty on hand when you begin training.  

Before you begin socialization training, make sure that your puppy’s vaccinations are up to date. You can start introducing your Morkie puppy to neighbors and family members first and move on from there with other pets and dogs. Unlike adult dogs that need to be on a neutral ground when introduced to other dogs, Morkie puppies need to meet new people and other pets in a place where they are comfortable. 

A few things to avoid during the training process include using harsh tones, yelling, repeating a command multiple times before it is executed, and using punishment. Repeating a command word or an instruction multiple times when your Morkie puppy doesn’t respond to it the first time, will be counterproductive. If your puppy hears “sit, sit, sit” three times before he/she decides to sit, then that is how they will learn it, and will likely only sit after hearing the command three times.