10 Best Foods to Feed an Adult and Puppy Morkie + Our In-Depth Feeding Guide

Morkies are undoubtedly one of the most loveable and adorable little dogs on the planet. The breed was created intentionally by breeders who were trying to create the perfect lap dog (and many people feel they have succeeded). Morkies are considered a toy breed.

Their temperament is friendly, they are energetic and playful, and above all, there are extremely affectionate. Morkies love to cuddle and bond with their owners at every chance they get, it’s what they were quite literally born for.

However, there’s one thing that Morkies love more than cuddle time and playtime…

Dinnertime.

Today we are going to look at what (and when) you should feed your Morkie, and we’re going to recommend 9 dog foods that are perfect for Morkies of all ages.

Let’s get started.

What To Look For In A Good Morkie Dog Food?

Despite Morkies being willing to eat everything under the sun, there are several things you should take into account when choosing a dog’s food for optimum health.

These are the 3 main things that all dogs need, regardless of their breed or their size.

Protein

Protein is the number one most important thing in a dog’s diet. Dogs are technically omnivores (because they’ll eat anything) but the main staple of their diet is traditionally meat. Dogs have evolved over the years to require huge amounts of protein (much more than humans need), and as such you’re going to need to make sure you provide them with enough of it in their diet.

There’s no better way to get protein for your Morkie than by choosing a food that is made from animal products. It’s the most well-rounded protein source available (and it’s what they would be eating in nature).

Some people like to try and feed their dogs a vegan or vegetarian diet and use soy protein (or something similar) as a substitute for meat-based proteins. While it’s possible for a dog to survive like this, it’s not an ideal situation. Their owners are often seen to be sacrificing the dog’s health for their own personal beliefs.

It is not recommended.

Fat

Like humans, dogs need fat in their diet to maintain a healthy lifestyle. And while dogs need more fat than humans do, they still only need it in limited quantities. Your Morkie will be using fat in a similar way to humans, but it will also be using it for hormone production – which is why it’s a little more essential to them than it is to us.

Vitamins And Minerals

For the sake of brevity, we’re not going to run off a long list of the many vitamins and minerals that a dog needs to remain healthy. All you need to know is that dogs need them just as much as we do.

Almost every respectable brand of dog food on the market today is designed to be used for every meal of the day. This means that they will all include the various compounds required for a healthy and happy dog.

If you like you can do a little bit of specific research into exactly what is required and why, but in all honesty, you don’t need to. Trust the manufacturers (as long as they are reputable) and you’ll be fine.

Optional: Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are far from an essential nutrient for dogs (regardless of their size). Some leading canine health experts actually recommend avoiding providing dogs with carbohydrates in their diet (and feed them pure meat-based food).

Note: This is far from a widely agreed upon position, most people include carbohydrates in their dog’s diet.

Carbohydrates are a convenient way for us humans to provide dogs with the calorific content they need to maintain an energetic and happy lifestyle. Except for specialist foods, most dog food you will find on the market contains carbohydrates. Again this is not something you should really worry about too much unless you own a very particular breed that should only be fed meat (like a Rhodesian Ridgeback).

The Best Foods to Feed a Morkie

American Journey Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe

Healthy Ingredients : Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Peas, Rice Bran
Key Features :

• Calcium and phosphorus for bone health
• DHA and ARA
• Nutrient-dense ingredients
• No wheat, corn, or soy

American Journey Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe is a complete and balanced recipe specially crafted to meet the nutritional needs of your dog. Real, deboned chicken is the first ingredient to support healthy muscle development. They’ve also added antioxidants to help support a healthy immune system, omega fatty acids to help maintain skin and coat health, and a precise blend of calcium and phosphorus for healthy bones and teeth, this food is sure to keep your pet healthy and happy. American Journey dog food also contains DHA and ARA, naturally occurring fatty acids to help support brain and vision development. Plus, it’s made using nutrient-dense ingredients and there is never any wheat, corn, soy, chicken or poultry by-product meals, or artificial preservatives, colors or artificial flavors.

Ollie Healthy Turkey Feast Fresh Dog Food

Healthy Ingredients : Turkey breast, turkey liver, kale, carrots, lentils
Key Features :

• Human-Grade
• Slow cooked
• Fresh ingredients
• Auto-ships direct to your door

Ollie Fresh Dog Food is a fresh food option that is delivered right to your doorstep. When you sign up for Ollie, you will fill out a profile about your dog that will then be used to customized a recipe to fit your morkie’s specific needs. Fresh food is gaining popularity in the pet world because people are starting to see the benefits of a fresh food diet in their own lives! Ollie’s ingredients are all human-grade and are slow cooked to preserve the nutritional integrity. There are no artificial flavors or fillers in any of their recipes, so you can be sure that your dog is getting whole, fresh ingredients and nothing more. Although Ollie is more expensive than other dog foods, there are a lot of added benefits that make a fresh food diet something to consider!

UnKibble by Spot and Tango Duck and Salmon Recipe

Healthy Ingredients : Duck, Salmon, Flax, Tapioca, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots
Key Features :

• No artificial colors or flavors
• Human grade ingredients
• Portioned specially for your dog
• Convenient delivery service

UnKibble by Spot and Tango is a dry dog food that is made with human-grade ingredients. If you like the idea of fresh food, but need a lower price point or your dog prefers dry food, this might your best bet. The recipes are developed by veterinarians, are simple and healthy, and you can be sure that your pet is getting only the best. There are 3 different recipes to choose from and when you sign up for Spot and Tango, you create a unique profile that will include the correct portion size, just for your dog. You won’t have to guess or measure, just follow your pet’s personalized plan and use the scoop specially sized for your dog. Spot and Tango has never been recalled and it has no artificial additives, colors or flavors.

Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley Small Breed Canine Formula with Venison & Garbanzo Beans

Healthy Ingredients : Venison, Lamb Meal, Garbanzo Beans, Peas, Lentils
Key Features :

• Small kibble pieces
• Protein rich
• Grain free
• Not suitable for growing puppies

Fan Favorite

Taste of the Wild – always a popular brand – has recently added new formulas, including a small breed formula. Appalachian Valley Small Breed is grain free with 32 percent crude protein and 18 percent crude fat. It has 370 kcal/cup so it should provide good energy for small breeds. The first five ingredients are: venison, lamb meal, garbanzo beans, peas, and lentils. And the kibble pieces are small so they’re easy for Toy dogs to eat. This is a maintenance formula so it’s not suitable for growing puppies, but it looks like it would be a very good food for many Toy and small dogs. TOTW has lots of other great formulas in both dry and canned recipes if your dog likes something different.

Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Turkey & Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food

Healthy Ingredients : Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Peas
Key Features :

• Protein rich
• Caloric
• Full of vitamins and minerals
• Supports healthy joints

This is the second Wellness product on our list, and it’s one of our favorites. It’s very different from their product we recommended in the puppy section above. This is a protein heavy kibble that focuses on utilizing animal extracts to provide calorific content instead of carbohydrates. There are still some carbs included in the recipe, but they are derived from vegetables and are found in small amounts.

As you’d expect this food is packed full of all the essential vitamins, minerals, and oils required, but interestingly it also includes Glucosamine & Chondroitin. Both of these compounds go a long way to helping improve your dogs bone and joint health. This is a huge bonus for the fragile Morkie and makes it one of the best foods on the market for the breed.

Natural Balance L.I.D Chicken & Sweet Potato Formula Small Breed Grain-Free Dog Food

Healthy Ingredients : Chicken, Chicken Meal, Dried Sweet Potato, Dried Peas, Dried Garbanzo Beans
Key Features :

• Small kibble pieces
• Good for dogs with allergies and sensitivities
• Complex carbs
• No artificial colors or flavors

Natural balance takes a slightly different approach to their recipes. As you might guess from the name they believe the natural way for a dog to eat is to have as few ingredients in their food as possible. They minimise their protein, carbohydrate, and vitamin sources to try and recreate the diet that dogs would have received in nature.

It’s a grain free dog food that uses natural animal-based protein sources to provide the bulk of its protein. The carbohydrates are derived from ingredients like sweet potato and various kinds of beans. There are no artificial colors or flavors and the kibble is perfectly sized (and shaped) for the small little mouth of the Morkie.

Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Real Chicken + Sweet Potato Small Breed Dog Food By Merrick

Healthy Ingredients : Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes
Key Features :

• Good source of protein
• Includes vitamins and minerals
• Complex carbs for energy
• Grain free

The final food we recommend is an excellent product from Merrick (another smaller yet respected brand). Again this is a grain free product that like the Natural balance food above chooses to get its carbohydrates from sweet potato to bump up the calorific content. The bulk of this product is made from all natural deboned chicken which provides huge amounts of nutritional value alongside a massive dose of protein.

This means it obviously includes all the vitamins, minerals, and other good stuff your dog needs. We love the fact that Merrick knows exactly where their ingredients come from. They are a Texas-based company and locally source all the meats and vegetables that go into their product, allowing them to offer you (and your Morkie) complete peace of mind.

Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Healthy Ingredients : Buffalo, Lamb Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Egg Product, Pea Protein
Key Features :

• Grain free
• Real roasted meat
• Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for coat health
• Probiotics for digestion

Taste of the wild is one of the most popular brands among Morkie owners. Their dedication to quality ingredients and balanced nutrition have earned them a well-respected reputation. The main attraction to this product for many Morkie owners is the grain free nature of the food. Instead of loading it with cheap carbohydrates to provide your Morkie with its calorific requirements, it uses various quality protein sources instead.

These protein sources come from real roasted meat (alongside a few plant-based proteins too). This food contains a wide range of probiotics, vitamins, minerals and amino acids which are all essential for a well-rounded food. The addition of large amounts of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids ensure that your Morkie’s coat is going to look as good as it possibly can.

It’s one of the best foods on the market for Morkie a puppy (but it’s also one of the most expensive).

Wellness Small Breed Complete Health Puppy Turkey, Oatmeal & Salmon Dry Dog Food

Healthy Ingredients : Deboned Turkey, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Salmon Meal, Ground Barley
Key Features :

• Small kibble pieces
• Calorie dense
• Antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies
• Highly digestible carbs

This food has one of the smallest kibble sizes on the market, which we guarantee your Morkie’s small little mouth is going to appreciate. It’s made by Wellness who is another respected brand (albeit smaller than Blue Buffalo). This product again uses a fairly even blend of carbohydrates and protein to create its calorific content.

Interestingly the protein here is derived from salmon which naturally contains many important vitamins, minerals, and oils that are beneficial to your Morkie’s health. The carbohydrates are found from oatmeal and barley which are considered to be suitable alternatives to grain. Additionally, there are natural antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables included in the mix to complete this well-rounded food.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed Puppy Chicken & Oatmeal Dry Dog Food

Healthy Ingredients : Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Peas, Whole Ground Barleys
Key Features :

• Affordable
• Grain-friendly
• No corn, wheat, or soy
• Omega fatty acids for skin and coat health

Blue Buffalo is one of the titans of the dog food world. They are a huge brand that has extensive experience formulating foods that dogs love (that keep them fit and healthy at the same time). The main difference between this product and the Taste Of The Wild product above is that it includes grain. This isn’t inherently a bad thing, but it does mean your Morkie is going to be getting carbohydrate-based calories instead of protein-based ones.

Grain-based food is considered to be nutritionally sparse compared to protein-based food, but it’s far from unhealthy. The upside to this, however, is that this food costs less than half of what the Taste Of The Wild product above does (due to the lower cost of grain).

While this food does include grain (which again, isn’t always a bad thing) it doesn’t include things like corn, wheat, soy, or chicken which are considered to be low-quality sources of nutrients. Again it’s got vitamins, minerals, and Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for a well-rounded diet (and a healthy coat).

Small Dog Requirements

All dogs need protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals (regardless of their size). However, there are differences in dietary requirements between large and small dogs.

Morkies and other small dogs need more calories per pound of body weight compared to larger dogs. This may sound a little strange, but smaller dogs have much faster metabolisms (which means they burn calories quicker). Due to this small dogs also usually need more fat and protein in their diet.

Small dogs become adults and reach maturity much faster than larger dogs. This means that again they need more calories while they are a puppy (which is saying something, because all dogs eat lots when they are puppies).

The smaller stomach size of small dogs means that they usually need to eat 3 times a day when they are young. But once they reach maturity you may be able to switch them down to two meals a day. This can often be done a little earlier with a Morkie than other small breeds due to their seemingly bottomless stomach.

Finally, it’s important to remember that small dogs need smaller pieces of kibble. Larger kibble is great for big dogs, but smaller dogs will find it hard to consume them. Bare this in mind when you’re selecting a product.

How Often Should You Feed Your Morkie?

Most people feed their Morkie 3 times a day when they are young puppies and move over to twice a day when they are approaching adulthood.

However, in all honesty, the frequency of feeding is less important than the total amount of food that is given to the dog. As long as you feed them the recommended daily quantity (as a total) you can split it into two large meals or three smaller ones, it makes little difference.

It all depends on your schedule (and your Morkie’s preference).

Overall Best Foods To Feed A Morkie

Morkie Dog Food Comparison Table
Rank	Product	Price	Rating
Best Value	American Journey Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$1.12/lb	A+
Human Grade	Ollie Healthy Turkey Feast Fresh Dog Food  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Save 50% Here	Varies	A+
Best Dry	UnKibble by Spot and Tango Duck and Salmon Recipe  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	Price Varies	A+
Most Popular	Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley Small Breed Grain-Free Dry Dog Food  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$1.69/lb	A+
#1	Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Turkey & Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$3.00/lb	A+
#2	Natural Balance L.I.D Chicken & Sweet Potato Formula Small Breed Grain-Free Dog Food  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$2.61/lb	A+
#3	Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Real Chicken + Sweet Potato Small Breed Dog Food By Merrick  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$3.07/lb	A+
#4	Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Food  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$1.67/lb	A+
#5	Wellness Small Breed Complete Health Puppy Turkey, Oatmeal & Salmon Dry Dog Food  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$2.77/lb	A+
#6	Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed Puppy Chicken & Oatmeal Dry Dog Food  Buy Online  Customer Reviews  Brand Review	$1.93/lb	A

Conclusion

So there you have it, a little bit about what your Morkie needs, when it needs it, and a few recommendations of what you should give to them.

Any of the products on this page are more than worthy your consideration. We pretty much guarantee your Morkie will love all of them, they are all well rounded, nutritionally balanced, cost-effective options that get our seal of approval.