Morkies are tiny, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have an appetite! These little dogs are surprisingly high-energy. That set of traits comes with its own challenges when you need to pick a food. Finding a food that will pack lots of energy into food suitable for such a small dog requires some looking. But with so many dog food brands on the market, there are lots of options out there. Here are 9 of our favorite dog foods that fit the bill.
A Quick Look at our Favorite Choices (2023 Update)
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dog Food
Meat-first, protein-heavy formula
High in healthy whole grains
Real fruits and vegetables
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Best Value
Iams MiniChunks Dog Food
High in chicken protein
Healthy fibers and prebiotics
Whole grains
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Premium Choice
N&D Ancestral Grain Mini Breed Food
High protein, allergy-friendly
Free of pea and lentil products
Small kibble size for mini breeds
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Best for Puppies
Hill’s Science Diet Small Bites Puppy Food
Formulated for small breed puppies
Lots of whole grains
High in vitamins, antioxidants
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Vet’s Choice
Nutro Ultra Adult Dog Food
Lower fat and calorie option for weight loss
Variety of healthy protein sources
Lots of vegetable and fruit content
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The 9 Best Dog Foods for Morkies
Formulated especially for smaller dogs, we love this recipe for its wholesome ingredients and balanced nutrition. We found Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe the best food overall for Morkies. It has chicken as its primary protein source and the first ingredient. This is the backbone for bringing up the protein levels to a respectable 26%. That’s plenty to fuel your dog all day long. Many of the vitamins in this food come from real fruits and vegetables, which makes them healthier and easier to absorb. It also includes glucosamine, which is good for joint health, omega fatty acids that boost overall organ health, and lots of antioxidants that protect from diseases. This food is on the expensive side of the list, so it may not be an option for everyone. It’s also worth noting that chicken is a common allergen for dogs, so some dogs may do better on a non-chicken alternative.
Main ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal
Protein content: 26%
Fat content: 15%
Calories: 396 kcal/cup
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Pros
Meat-first, protein-heavy formula
High in healthy whole grains
Real fruits and vegetables
Glucosamine, antioxidants, omega fats
Cons
Some dogs have chicken allergies
A little expensive
If you want to stretch your dollar further, we recommend Iams MiniChunks Small Kibble to give you the best bang for your buck. This food is similar in quality to many much more expensive dog foods, with a high protein content of around 26%, a fat content of 14%, and 380 kcal/cup. This food also has great digestibility with lots of healthy fiber and prebiotics.
Meat-first, protein-heavy formula
High in healthy whole grains
Real fruits and vegetables
Glucosamine, antioxidants, omega fats
- Meat-first, protein-heavy formula
- High in healthy whole grains
- Real fruits and vegetables
- Glucosamine, antioxidants, omega fats
Some dogs have chicken allergies
A little expensive
- Some dogs have chicken allergies
- A little expensive
Main ingredients: Chicken, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Chicken By-Product Meal
Protein content: 26%
Fat content: 14%
Calories: 380 kcal/cup
The first ingredient in this food is farm-raised chicken, which is a great source of healthy proteins and fats. This is followed by whole-grain corn and sorghum. Although some dog food has lots of cheap grains like corn, giving it a bad reputation, in moderation whole grains like corn are beneficial to your dog. The fourth ingredient is chicken by-product meal. This meal is a little less ideal. Chicken by-products are a lower-quality source of meat protein that is recycled into pet foods. We also noticed that it contained artificial colors, something that doesn’t do anything for your dog’s nutrition.
Pros
High in chicken protein
Healthy fibers and prebiotics
Whole grains
Small kibble size
Cons
Contains artificial colors
Contains chicken by-products
Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Lamb & Blueberry Mini Breed food is our premium choice because of its delicious all-natural ingredients and balanced nutrition. It is high in protein with lamb as the protein source—this is ideal for dogs with allergies as it is a less common allergen than chicken and turkey. Whole oats and spelt add healthy grains to the mix, and it’s totally free of pea and lentil products. The smaller kibble size makes it ideal for mini breeds like Morkies. At 28% protein and 18% fat, it is great fuel for active dogs, although Morkies with a tendency towards obesity might prefer a slightly less fatty diet. It also includes lots of fruit and vegetable products that make up 20% of the food by weight, including blueberry, pomegranate, orange, spinach, and turmeric. This premium food does come at a premium price though, so it might not be ideal for all owners.
High in chicken protein
Healthy fibers and prebiotics
Whole grains
Small kibble size
- High in chicken protein
- Healthy fibers and prebiotics
- Whole grains
- Small kibble size
Contains artificial colors
Contains chicken by-products
- Contains artificial colors
- Contains chicken by-products
Main ingredients: Lamb, Dehydrated Lamb, Whole Spelt, Whole Oats, Dried Whole Eggs
Protein content: 28%
Fat content: 18%
Calories: 395 kcal/cup
Pros
High protein, allergy-friendly
Free of pea and lentil products
Small kibble size for mini breeds
20% fruits, vegetables, vitamins, minerals
Cons
Expensive
Fat might be higher than ideal for some dogs
If you’ve got a growing pup, you know how much fuel is needed to keep them going. Morkie puppies may be small, but they don’t ever stop. Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Small Bites Food is an ideal food for puppies because it has great ingredients that are formulated especially for small-breed puppies.
High protein, allergy-friendly
Free of pea and lentil products
Small kibble size for mini breeds
20% fruits, vegetables, vitamins, minerals
- High protein, allergy-friendly
- Free of pea and lentil products
- Small kibble size for mini breeds
- 20% fruits, vegetables, vitamins, minerals
Expensive
Fat might be higher than ideal for some dogs
- Expensive
- Fat might be higher than ideal for some dogs
Main ingredients: Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Wheat, Cracked Pearled Barley, Whole Grain Sorghum, Whole Grain Corn
Protein content: 25%
Fat content: 15%
Calories: 374 kcal/cup
The first ingredient on this product’s list is chicken meal—a concentrated chicken that is extremely high in protein. The other main ingredients are whole grains to keep your puppies going. It is at 25% protein and 15% fat. 25% protein is within the suggested range for puppies, but it is on the lower end of the range. This food is also high in antioxidants and vitamins. All in all, it’s a great food for helping your Morkie grow to be strong and healthy.
Pros
Formulated for small breed puppies
Lots of whole grains
High in vitamins, antioxidants
Cons
A little lower protein
- Nutro Ultra Adult Dry Dog Food — Vet’s Choice
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Main ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Brown Rice, Whole Grain Sorghum, Whole Grain Barley
Protein content: 26%
Fat content: 9%
Calories: 335 kcal/cup
Many Morkies tend towards obesity, and if yours is among them, our vet’s choice product might be for you. Nutro Ultra Adult Weight Management Chicken, Lamb & Salmon Recipe is a great choice for weight management. It has a lower fat content of only 9% and 335 calories per cup, a much lower amount than most other foods, but it keeps your dog going with plenty of protein. It uses great ingredients, including a variety of protein sources—chicken, salmon, and lamb—and lots of delicious fruits and vegetables. It is formulated especially for small dogs to help them stay as healthy as possible.
Formulated for small breed puppies
Lots of whole grains
High in vitamins, antioxidants
- Formulated for small breed puppies
- Lots of whole grains
- High in vitamins, antioxidants
A little lower protein
- A little lower protein
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Main ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Brown Rice, Whole Grain Sorghum, Whole Grain Barley
Protein content: 26%
Fat content: 9%
Calories: 335 kcal/cup
Because this is a weight management product, it isn’t ideal for all Morkies. Most dogs are healthiest with a higher-fat and higher-calorie food, and healthy fats are an important part of your dog’s diet. But foods like this do have their place for dogs who are stubbornly holding on to some extra pounds.
Pros
Lower fat and calorie option for weight loss
Variety of healthy protein sources
Lots of vegetable and fruit content
Recommended by our vets
Cons
Only ideal in special circumstances
- Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Dry Dog Food
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Main ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal (source of Glucosamine), Chicken Meal (source of Chondroitin Sulfate), Lentils, Peas
Protein content: 36%
Fat content: 16%
Calories: 412 kcal/cup
Wellness CORE Grain-free Small Breed Turkey & Chicken brings in the meat with this grain-free, meat-heavy food. The first three ingredients are all meat products, including two extra-nutrient-dense meat meals. The total protein content is 36%, enough to fuel the most active dogs. It also has tons of healthy fruits and vegetables as well as salmon oil, antioxidants, probiotics, and lots of other good stuff.
Lower fat and calorie option for weight loss
Variety of healthy protein sources
Lots of vegetable and fruit content
Recommended by our vets
- Lower fat and calorie option for weight loss
- Variety of healthy protein sources
- Lots of vegetable and fruit content
- Recommended by our vets
Only ideal in special circumstances
- Only ideal in special circumstances
Main ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal (source of Glucosamine), Chicken Meal (source of Chondroitin Sulfate), Lentils, Peas
Protein content: 36%
Fat content: 16%
Calories: 412 kcal/cup
Unfortunately, there’s some not-so-good stuff. Grain-free recipes have been linked to higher rates of heart health issues, and peas and lentils specifically are common ingredients in grain-free foods that might be the problem. Peas and lentils also add less digestible protein that could be inflating that 36% protein content.
Pros
Super high protein content
Turkey and chicken meals
Vegetable and fruit vitamins
Cons
Grain-free
High in pea and lentil protein
Nulo Frontrunner Ancient Grains Turkey, Whitefish, and Quinoa Small Breed Food is a delicious dog food that’s packed with meat. With three of its first five ingredients as meat products, along with two whole grains, it’s a great choice for your dog. Do note that although it doesn’t list chicken in the title, it does contain chicken meal. That means it’s not ideal for dogs with chicken allergies. It has lots of great vitamins, including omega fatty acids, and contains probiotics to boost digestion. We love this food, but it is on the more expensive side.
Super high protein content
Turkey and chicken meals
Vegetable and fruit vitamins
- Super high protein content
- Turkey and chicken meals
- Vegetable and fruit vitamins
Grain-free
High in pea and lentil protein
- Grain-free
- High in pea and lentil protein
Main ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Chicken Meal, Oats, Barley, Brown Rice, Turkey Meal
Protein content: 27%
Fat content: 16%
Calories: 432 kcal/cup
Pros
Lots of meat-based protein
Omega fatty acids
Probiotics for digestion
Cons
Expensive
Not allergy-friendly
Wellness Small Breed Complete Health food is a great option for many small breeds. It is free of meat by-products and artificial preservatives, and with 28% protein, it’s great for fueling your dog. It has a small kibble size and a formula balanced for small dogs. It also has lots of fruits and veggies, including tomatoes, carrots, spinach, and blueberries. Whole grains include oatmeal, brown rice, and barley—all wholesome and healthy choices. Although this food is nutritionally sound, reviewers do have a few warnings. First, this food is pretty smelly for a dry food, and some owners couldn’t stand the smell. Second, a few reviewers noted that something in the food caused loose stools in their dogs.
Lots of meat-based protein
Omega fatty acids
Probiotics for digestion
- Lots of meat-based protein
- Omega fatty acids
- Probiotics for digestion
Expensive
Not allergy-friendly
- Expensive
- Not allergy-friendly
Main ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Chicken Meal, Salmon Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Brown Rice
Protein content: 28%
Fat content: 15%
Calories: 408 kcal/cup
Pros
Turkey as first ingredient
High in protein
Small kibble size
Fruits, veggies, and whole grains
Probiotics
Cons
Smelly
Some owners reported loose stools/diarrhea
Royal Canin Health Nutrition Small Adult Formula Food comes in at 25% protein, a good amount, and has some other good ingredients we like, including DHA and omega fats that will help with your dog’s brain, eye, and coat health. There’s also L-Carnitine, which helps your dog regulate weight and metabolize food well. But overall, this isn’t our favorite choice because it doesn’t have meat as the top ingredient, and the meat protein it does have is chicken by-product—a lower quality chicken that’s left over from other processing.
Turkey as first ingredient
High in protein
Small kibble size
Fruits, veggies, and whole grains
Probiotics
- Turkey as first ingredient
- High in protein
- Small kibble size
- Fruits, veggies, and whole grains
- Probiotics
Smelly
Some owners reported loose stools/diarrhea
- Smelly
- Some owners reported loose stools/diarrhea
Main ingredients: Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, Brewers Rice, Brown Rice, Corn Gluten Meal
Protein content: 25%
Fat content: 14%
Calories: 359 kcal/cup
Pros
25% protein
Healthy omega fats and L-Carnitine
Small kibble
Cons
Not meat-first
Contains only chicken by-products
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Dog Food for Morkies
It can be hard to find the right food for your Morkie. Every dog has slightly different needs, but some things stay the same. Here are some “green flags” to look for when picking a food.
25% protein
Healthy omega fats and L-Carnitine
Small kibble
- 25% protein
- Healthy omega fats and L-Carnitine
- Small kibble
Not meat-first
Contains only chicken by-products
- Not meat-first
- Contains only chicken by-products
Meat First
Dog food should have meat or meat meal (i.e., chicken meal) as the first ingredient. Dogs need the protein and fat base that meat provides. Look for 20–30% protein content for adult dogs. More active dogs should have higher protein. Meat meals are a healthy type of meat—in fact, they’re more concentrated. However, meat by-products are usually of lower quality.
Whole Grains
Too much grain isn’t good for dogs, but grains aren’t just a filler. Dogs should have healthy sources of carbs from whole grains. Recent studies have shown that many grain-free foods are linked to higher rates of heart disease.
Fruits and Vegetables
Dogs need lots of vitamins to survive. Just adding in extracted vitamins can be okay, but fruits and vegetables make it easier to absorb. Look for lots of fresh ingredients like berries, spinach, and other plant foods.
But Not Lentils or Peas
The exception to this rule is peas and lentils. The same study that looked at grain-free food found that peas and lentils are bad for heart health, most likely. They also can be “protein padders”—cheap plant-based proteins that dogs can’t digest as easily.
Small Breed Formulas
Many dog foods are available in small breed formulas. These have smaller kibble sizes that are easier for your Morkie to eat. They might also have slight nutritional tweaks to help combat health issues common in small dogs.
Conclusion
Morkies have tons of great options out there, as we hope our reviews have proven. Our overall favorite pick is Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula for its clean ingredients and balanced nutrition. A good low-cost alternative is Iams MiniChunks Small Kibble, which is comparable and comes at a much lower price point. Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Lamb & Blueberry Mini Breed Food is a delicious premium choice with lots of delicious ingredients and is chicken-free as a bonus. For puppies, we love Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Small Bites—it’s made to help puppies grow up strong and healthy. Finally, our vet’s choice product is Nutro Ultra Adult Weight Management Chicken and Brown Rice food. If your dog struggles to maintain weight on standard dog food, our vets wholeheartedly recommend this one.
Featured Image Credit: Sarah Chai, Pexels
