How to tell if your Morkie is overweight
It’s as little hard because of all the hair, so if you keep your Morkie’s hair long, I suggest you do an inspection when he’s wet. From overhead, see where your Morkie fits in: 
Here’s another view
From the side, you should be able to tell where the ribs are, but they shouldn’t be protruding.
Neck should look sturdy, not thin.
Note the ‘abdominal tuck‘ – Morkies have a fairly deep chest, so there should be a definite tuck where their tummy is.
Breeds most prone to obesity
Phew, good news. Neither the Yorkshire Terrier, nor the Maltese dog, are prone to being overweight. Dogs that can easily get too heavy, include:
- Basset Hounds
- Pugs
- Bulldogs
- Beagles
- Golden Retrievers
- Dachshunds
- Cocker Spaniels
- Labrador Retrievers
- Newfoundlands
- Rottweilers
- Bichons
Does it really matter if your Morkie is overweight?
Yes! A pet that’s just 10% to 20% overweight is at risk of lots of problems – and his life can be shortened by an average of 2 1/2 years! That’s reason enough to keep your Morkie’s weight at its healthy range.
Help your Morkie lose weight
Slowly cut back food
Give your dog the best quality food you can. Reduce the amount gradually.
At the same time, stop giving him tidbits from the table, or specially cooked foods that aren’t so good for him. (And no, your Morkie won’t eat salad.)
Worried your Morkie will stop eating altogether and starve?
He won’t. Honest. And if you’re seriously worried, please see your Vet for more advice.
Eliminate treats
Commercial dog treats have LOTS of calories. And most of them are not good for your dog anyway.
In fact, treats like Beggin’ Strips, rawhide chews and jerky treats are often on recall because of serious contamination from salmonella and toxic chemicals.
Plain old dog biscuits like milk bones aren’t that great either. They’re loaded with sugar, contain BHA, a preservative that is a known cancer causing agent… PLUS, they’re made with chemicals that also are used to manufacture things like rubber and petroleum products, and embalming fluid.
Walk more
“But my Morkie runs all around the house all day!” you say. “Isn’t that enough exercise?”
Actually it isn’t. Small dogs often miss out on daily leashed walks because they already seem so active at home. but all dogs benefit from a regular, brisk walk outdoors.
And a leashed walk does more for your Morkie. It tells him that you’re the alpha dog in charge, and helps build a strong bond between the two of you.
As I like to say, a tired dog is a good dog.