Morkie Lifespan Guide – How Long Do Morkies Live?

The Morkie (AKA Yortese or Morkshire Terrier) is a cross breed between a Maltese and a Yorkshire Terrier. As it is a mixed breed dog there can be a bit of variation in lifespan depending on the size, generation, gender as well as genetics of the puppies.

If you want to know more about the lifespans of Morkies, keep reading this article to find exactly how long Morkies are expected to live for.

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How Long Do Morkies Live?

The average Morkie lives for 10 to 15 years. There are many factors that affect the lifespan of a Morkie including size, gender, generation and whether they are desexed or intact. These variables mean they can have shorter or longer lifespans than the average. You can give your Morkie the best chance of living a long life by exercising them daily, feeding them a healthy diet and keeping on top of vet appointments.

Factors That Affect Morkie Lifespan

There are many factors that can affect the lifespan of a Morkie. This includes but is not limited to:

Size (Micro, Teacup or Standard)
Generation (F1, F1b,F2 etc.)
Gender (Male vs Female)
Desexed vs Intact

How Size Affects Morkie Lifespan

The size of a Morkie greatly impacts upon their lifespan. Micro and Teacup Morkies have much shorter lifespans than Standard Morkies as they often suffer from size related health issues. Micro and Teacup Morkies have the same life expectancy as they are the same size dog.

Size	Lifespan
Micro Morkie	8 to 12 years.
Teacup Morkie	8 to 12 years.
Standard Morkie	10 to 15 years.

Micro Morkie Lifespan

Micro Morkies have a lifespan of 8 to 12 years. While it is a general rule that a smaller dog has a longer life span, this does not apply to Micro breeds as they unfortunately suffer from many health issues due their tiny size.

Teacup Morkie Lifespan

Teacup Morkies live for 8 to 12 years. While it is a general rule that a smaller dog has a longer life span, this does not apply to Teacup breeds as they unfortunately suffer from many health issues due their tiny size.

Standard Morkie Lifespan

Standard Morkies have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years. They have the longest lifespan of all Morkie sizes as they are generally the healthiest size. Nevertheless, there are other factors that affect their lifespan such as gender, generation and whether they are desexed or intact.

How Generation Affects Morkie Lifespan

Generation	Lifespan
F1 Morkie	10 to 15 years
F1b Morkie	10 to 15 years
F2 Morkie	10 to 14 years

F1 Morkie Lifespan

On average, F1 Morkies live for 10 to 15 years however this depends on the size of the breed. Generally, the F1 generation is the healthiest as it is the first cross – the result of breeding a purebred Yorkshire Terrier with a Maltese.

F1b Morkie Lifespan

F1b Morkies have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years unless they are one of the smaller sizes of the breed. F1b Morkies are either 25% Yorkshire Terrier and 75% Maltese or 25% Maltese and 75% Yorkshire Terrier. As Yorkshire Terriers have a slightly longer lifespan than Malteses on average, an F1b Morkie that has a higher percentage of Yorkshire Terrier genes may live longer than one that isn’t.

F2 Morkie Lifespan

On average, F2 Morkies live for 10 to 14 years however it can be less if they are one of the smaller sizes of the breed (e.g. Teacup). F2 Morkies may have a slightly shorter lifespan than an F1 Morkies as with each successive generation the health benefits of cross-breeding decreases. That being said, the differences in lifespan between generations is pretty negligible.

Female vs Male Morkie Lifespan

Female Morkies usually have a slightly longer lifespan than Male Morkies. This is especially the case for desexed female Morkies. Nevertheless, gender does not usually have a major effect on lifespan for dogs. Differences in longevity is mainly seen in desexed versus intact dogs.

Desexed vs Intact Morkie Lifespan

Desexed (AKA neutered or spayed) Morkies live slightly longer than intact Morkies. It is thought that desexed Morkies live longer as the procedure can reduce the risk of health issues like obesity and cancer in both male and female dogs. It is also thought that desexed dogs live longer because they get into fewer fights and therefore get fewer injuries.

Morkie Life Stages

Socialization Period (until 3 months old)

The socialization period is one of the most crucial times in a Morkie’s life. The first eights weeks is spent with their mother and littermates. During this time they learn so much about their world. Breeders will begin introducing new experiences to the puppies in the litter and then at eights weeks the puppies will go to their new homes where their owners will continue the socialization process.

Testing Period (3 to 6 months old)

The testing period is when a Morkie starts testing boundaries to figure out what is acceptable behavior and what is not. It is best to start training your Morkie during this time.

When training your dog it is important to use positive reinforcement techniques as dogs repeat good behavior when it is followed by a reward such as a treat or their favorite toy. Clicker training is another type of positive reinforcement training that is a good method for learning new tricks. You use a clicker device so your dog can associate a new behavior with a click and then a reward.

Adolescent Stage (6 to 18 months old)

During the adolescent stage, Morkies may start displaying some regressive behavior like not listening to your training commands, being a bit aggressive or chewing up stuff. This is especially the case if your Morkie is not desexed as their hormones will start to kick in. Just remember that this won’t last long and be patient as your Morkie is a teenager.

During this period, your Morkie will reach their full adult size, they’ll get their adult coat and you’ll have to eventually swap over to adult food.

Adulthood (18 months to 10 years old)

Morkies will start to calm down and settle into their adult personality during adulthood however they will still be very active as this is a feature of the breed. You’ll start to notice that all your earlier training has paid off but you should still keep it up as Morkies love learning new tricks and it’s great mental stimulation.

Extending The Lifespan Of A Morkie

1. Feed Them A Healthy Diet That Is Age Appropriate

Aim to feed your Morkie a premium diet to ensure they get all their nutrients as health is essential to a longer lifespan. Cheaper dog food usually contains very low quality meat as well as fillers which is unhealthy.

You should also aim to feed your Morkie food that is suitable for their life stage, depending on whether they are a puppy, adult or senior dog. Kibble formulas are customised for different dog ages as producers adjust the nutrients and supplements for each life stage. For example, senior formulas have nutrients that support bones and joints.

Cockapoo Size Guide (Teacup, Toy, Miniature & Standard/Maxi)

Try to keep snacking to a minimum. While your dog may love their treats, don’t go overboard with rewarding them with treats, especially if your Morkie is starting to get overweight. Consider swapping out treats for their toys as a reward for training exercises. You can also cut your dog treats into smaller pieces than what is provided in the packet so they last longer.

2. Take Them Out For Daily Exercise

Morkies need plenty of daily exercise – both physical and mental. Take your Morkie out for daily walks and let them run around at the dog park or in your backyard so they use up all their energy.

As for mental exercise, you should keep training your Morkie into adulthood and also play some brain training games like an interactive treat puzzle or give them a classic Kong Toy that is filled with treats.

3. Keep Up Grooming

Grooming your Morkie is vital to keep them hygienic and healthy. The grooming routine for your Morkie should include steps for their coat, ears and teeth.

Regularly brush your Morkie as they have a thick coat which can easily get tangled and matted. If untreated, tangled and matted hair can lead to skin infections or irritations. Brushing your Morkie is also a good chance to check their skin for any injuries, fleas or ticks. Slicker brushes are generally the best for Morkies.

Morkies have floppy ears so they are prone to getting ear infections. If your Morkie gets wet, make sure to dry their ears well to prevent them from getting infected.

4. Keep On Top Of Vet Appointments

Take your Morkie to regular vet check-ups to make sure everything is going well and so you can treat any health issues quickly as early identification can help increase a Morkie’s lifespan.

Additionally, make sure you keep on top of yearly vaccinations as well as flea, tick and worm treatments.

5. Make Your Home Fit For An Older Morkie

As your Morkie gets older, there is an increased risk of arthritis and joint issues which can make mobility more difficult. For these reasons you may need to modify your home to accomodate for your senior dog.

If your Morkie finds it difficult to lower their neck to eat food or drink water you may want to invest in raised dog bowls to make feeding easier. If it is becoming difficult for them to jump up onto your bed or couch you may want to get a dog ramp. You may also decide to invest in an orthopedic bed if your Morkie has joint issues to ease the pain.

Morkie Breeders

If you are looking for a Morkie breeder, consider PuppySpo t where you can use our discount code PUPPY300 for $300 dollars off any dog. PuppySpot is dog advertising website based in the US that connects breeders with prospective pet parents. They screen and vet every breeder on an annual basis to make sure their puppies are of top quality as they have a zero tolerance policy for puppy mills and substandard breeding practices of any kind. They also offer various trusted, USDA-certified transportation options to deliver your puppy to your home safely. You can check out their current Morkie litters here.