Best Food for Yorkshire Terriers: What to Look For

What a Yorkie's diet has to support

The AKC lists the Yorkshire Terrier at about 7 lb and 7 to 8 inches tall, with a life expectancy of 11 to 15 years. A dog that small burns energy fast for its size but eats very little in total, which means every piece of kibble and every treat makes up a big share of the day. A few extra treats can tip a Yorkie into being overweight quickly. A treat pouch such as this training snack bag helps you count them.

Size also shapes the practical side of feeding. Small mouths crowd teeth together, and toy breeds are known for dental problems, so kibble size and texture matter. A Yorkie needs a food dense enough in nutrients that a small daily portion covers all its needs, rather than a bulky food it cannot physically eat enough of. A shallow slow feeder bowl for small dogs, such as this single slow-feed bowl, suits a dog that bolts its small meals.

Feeding a Yorkie puppy

Toy-breed puppies have small energy reserves. The AKC warns that hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is a serious and potentially fatal risk in toy puppies, most likely between 6 and 12 weeks of age, and recommends frequent meals of a food fairly high in protein, fat and complex carbohydrates, avoiding sugary foods. A food labeled complete and balanced for growth, in a small kibble, is the starting point.

Signs of low blood sugar include weakness, trembling, wobbliness, unusual sleepiness or collapse, often after a missed meal or a long play session. These need urgent attention: call your vet straight away. Ask your vet how many meals a day suit your puppy at each age, because meal frequency usually drops as the puppy grows and settles.

How to judge any dog food label

The WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee advises looking past unregulated marketing words such as premium or holistic and checking the label's nutritional adequacy statement. It should say the food is complete and balanced for a named life stage, adult maintenance or growth, based on AAFCO feeding trials or AAFCO nutrient profiles. Foods marked for intermittent or supplemental feeding should be only a small part of the diet.

WSAVA also suggests asking whether the maker employs a qualified nutritionist, who formulates its recipes, and what quality control it uses. Those answers are a better guide than the ingredient list. For a Yorkie, also check the calorie content per cup on the bag, because small-breed formulas vary widely, and that number decides how much you actually pour.

Kibble size, wet food and dental health

The AKC notes that toy puppies do better on a small-kibble food. Many small-breed formulas offer pieces sized for tiny jaws, and a kibble your dog can crunch rather than swallow whole is easier to manage. Wet food can be complete and balanced too, and some Yorkies with few teeth or picky appetites eat it more reliably, but it does not clean teeth.

Because small breeds crowd their teeth, home tooth brushing and regular dental checks matter more than the choice between wet and dry. Look for the Veterinary Oral Health Council seal on any dental chew or diet that claims dental benefits, and ask your vet at each checkup about tartar and gum health.

Portions, treats and common pitfalls

Weigh your Yorkie regularly; on a 7 lb dog, a gain of half a pound is a meaningful change. Use the bag's guide as a starting point for your dog's ideal weight, measure meals with a proper cup or kitchen scale, and count treats as part of the day. Very small training treats, or pieces of the dog's own kibble, help keep the calories in check. A low raised bowl stand for small dogs or this small-dog feeding station can make mealtimes easier for a tiny dog.

Avoid switching foods often, which upsets small stomachs, and change gradually over about a week when you do. Many human foods are dangerous to dogs, and a small body means even a little of something toxic can be serious. If your Yorkie has vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite or weight loss, contact your vet rather than trying another food.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.