Choosing the best dog food for Yorkies is a hard decision for any Yorkshire Terrier owner. They may be small in size but they are full of energy, which is why you’ll want to find a good quality dog food that offers balanced nutrition to support their breed needs. The right food will ensure your terrific Terrier has everything they need to maintain their vitality and health.
Despite being pint-sized pups, Yorkshire Terriers have a big personality and are known for being bold and spirited. They are also characterised by their luscious locks of black and tan fur that may change as they mature to a more golden or ‘blue’ colour. Their loyal and affectionate nature makes Yorkies a popular choice with those searching for a canine companion but it can be tricky to find a food that ticks all the right boxes when it comes to nutritional value, quality ingredients and flavour. Whether you choose wet dog food or dry food, feeding your terrific terrier the appropriate diet will not only support their overall health but also enhance their coat’s shine and energy levels.
Best dog food for Yorkies at a glance:
Best dog food for Yorkies overall
Best dry dog food for Yorkies
Best wet dog food for Yorkies
Best dog food for Yorkies with allergies
Yorkshire Terriers are among the smallest of dogs in the canine world, typically standing at around 7-8 inches tall with an average weight of 3.2kg. As a toy breed, the best dog food for Yorkies is one that is tailored to fit their tiny mouths. Luckily, you can get wet food with appropriately sized meaty chunks and dry food for small dogs with an adapted kibble size that will be easier for your Yorkie to chew and digest.
With so many dog food brands and food types on the market, identifying the best dog food for Yorkies requires careful consideration of ingredients, nutritional value, and suitability for small breeds, so that’s why we’re here to help! You can trust us to help you find the perfect dietary match for your Yorkshire Terrier, tailored to meet the specific needs of your small yet mighty pooch to ensure they thrive and enjoy a happy and healthy life.
Best dog food for Yorkshire Terriers
Best dog food for Yorkies overall
![Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Adult Dry Food](https://images.bauerhosting.com/marketing/sites/22/2024/07/Royal-Canin-Yorkshire-Terrier-Adult-Dry-Food.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Royal Canin is one of the leading dog food brands for providing breed-specific recipes and tailored nutrition to suit the needs of individual breed types, which is why we think this Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Adult Dry Food is the best of the best. It is formulated specifically with the needs of Yorkies in mind, including essential nutrients like Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, biotin and borage oil that will play a huge part in keeping your hound's coat in a lovely, shiny condition. This food is also highly palatable to ensure that even the fussiest of Yorkies enjoy their din-dins.
As maize and rice are listed as some of the main ingredients, this food may be suitable for those Yorkies with cereal or grain allergies. However, many Yorkie owners online have stated they've noticed a big difference in their Yorkshire Terrier's energy levels and coat shine since switching them to this food. The tailored nutrition and specialised kibble size are also highlighted as benefits by reviewers.
Pros
- Includes many coat-enhancing ingredients, such as Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids
- High palatability to attach even the fussiest of Yorkies to their bowl
- Adapted kibble size to suit a Yorkie's smaller mouth
Cons
- As maize and rice are listed as main ingredients, it may not be suitable if your Yorkie has a cereal or grain allergy
Food type: | Dry dog food |
Food weight: | 1.5kg, 7.5kg |
Flavour: | Poultry |
- Ingredients: Dehydrated poultry protein, maize flour, rice, animal fats, vegetable protein isolate*, maize, hydrolysed animal proteins, maize gluten, vegetable fibres, beet pulp, fish oil, minerals, soya oil, yeasts and parts thereof, fructooligo-saccharides, hydrolysed yeast (source of manno-oligo-saccharides), borage oil (0.1%), hydrolysed crustaceans (source of glucosamine), marigold extract (source of lutein), hydrolysed cartilage (source of chondroitin)
Best dry dog food for Yorkies
![AVA Breed Health Yorkshire Terrier Dry Dog Food](https://images.bauerhosting.com/marketing/sites/22/2024/07/AVA-Breed-Health-Yorkshire-Terrier-Dry-Dog-Food.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
www.petsathome.com
Another brand that offers a breed-specific Yorkshire Terrier dry dog food is AVA. Suitable for Yorkshire Terriers from as young as 10 months and beyond, the recipe is a hypoallergenic chicken one that is gentle on tummies with a tailored kibble size that will be easy for your Yorkie to chomp through and added prebiotics for improved digestive function. It also includes a unique combination of natural botanical extracts, vitamins and minerals called +Imuvita that ensures your Yorkie has everything they need to stay happy and healthy, with Vitamins A, D3 and E all added to support vitality, immunity and general wellbeing of your terrific terrier.
As it's only available in a bag size of 1.5kg, you will need to replenish it more quickly compared to some of the other bags of food on this list but as Yorkshire Terriers are a smaller breed, a little food goes a long way.
Pros
- Can be fed from 10 months into adulthood and beyond
- Tailored kibble size to ensure your Yorkie can easily chomp into it
- Hypoallergenic recipe with added prebiotics for improved digestive function
Cons
- Only available in 1.5kg bag size so may need to be repurchased more frequently compared to larger bags on our list
Food type: | Dry dog food |
Food weight: | 1.5kg |
Flavour: | Chicken |
- Ingredients: Chicken 43.8% (Chicken Meal (23.7%), Chicken (18.0%)), Brown Rice (14.1%), Beet Pulp (7.0%), Barley (7.0%), Sorghum (7.0%), Chicken Fat (5.4%), Flaked Oats (5.2%), Maize (4.3%), Brewers Yeast, Chicken Gravy (2.1%), Salmon Oil, Minerals, Dried Whole Egg, Chicory Root Extract (a source of Prebiotic Fructooligosaccharides (0.2%)), Yeasts (as a source of Beta-glucans and Prebiotic Mannanoligosaccharide) (0.14%), Marigold Meal, Yucca Extract (0.025%), Cranberry Extract (0.018%), Glucosamine (0.017%), Chondroitin Sulphate (0.013%), Pomegranate Extract (0.009%), Green Tea Extract (0.009%)
Best wet dog food for Yorkies
![Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Adult Wet Dog Food](https://images.bauerhosting.com/marketing/sites/22/2024/07/Royal-Canin-Yorkshire-Terrier-Adult-Wet-Dog-Food.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Dental issues are a common problem for Yorkies to have because of how small their mouths are so they may get on better with a wet food that will be more gentle on their teeth, like this breed-tailored Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Adult Wet Dog Food. The appropriately sized meaty chunks are served in a succulent sauce and they're also nice and soft so the scent, taste and texture are all things that will lure your Yorkie to their bowl. The blend of nutrients in this food has been specifically chosen to improve your hound's coat condition and maintain the health of their skin, too.
This wet Yorkie dog food can either be served on its own or mixed in with dry to give your terrier the best of both worlds. There are handy feeding guides on the packaging to help you work out how much dry and wet food you should be giving your Yorkie so you're not under or over-feeding them. From looking at the ingredients, we wish there was more clarity on the flavour of the food as it's listed as meat and animal derivatives so you don't know exactly what you're giving your pup but judging by reviews online, dogs don't seem to care as they lap it up!
Pros
- Gentle on teeth as the texture of the meat is soft
- Meaty chunks in the sauce are appropriately sized for Yorkies
- Strong smelling and flavourful to lure your Yorkie to their bowl at mealtimes
Cons
- Could have more clarity on the meat ingredients as it's just listed as meat and animal derivatives so you don't know exactly what you're giving your dog
Food type: | Wet dog food |
Food weight: | 24 x 85g |
Flavour: | Meat (unclear what type) |
- Ingredients: Meat and animal derivatives, derivatives of vegetable origin, cereals, minerals, oils and fats, various sugars.
Best dog food for Yorkies with allergies
![Pooch & Mutt Small Dog Complete Superfood](https://images.bauerhosting.com/marketing/sites/22/2024/07/Pooch-Mutt-Small-Dog-Complete-Superfood.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Your Yorkshire Terrier will feel great both inside and outside after eating the Pooch & Mutt Small Dog Complete Superfood recipe as it has added prebiotics to improve digestive health alongside a Calm+Care supplement that is designed to generally help your pup’s physical and mental health. Many customer reviews mention they appreciate this food has a grain-free recipe, but it’s not just grain-free. It’s also formulated without wheat, corn, rice, beef, soya or dairy products with no cereal or gluten either so it's a great option for Yorkies with allergies, intolerances or sensitives. Not to mention, it has a high meat content in the form of lean chicken and plenty of fresh veggies, including kale, spinach and cranberries that are high in the essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants dogs need to grow up as healthy as possible.
Since switching to this food, many dog owners have seen noticeable health benefits in their pups, such as improved coat condition and increased energy levels in their dogs. A handful of customer reviews mention their dogs didn’t like this food but they also said they are quite fussy too so if you’ve also got a picky pooch, you may want to try something else.
Pros
- Superfood recipe with added prebiotics and a Calm+Care supplement
- Formulated without wheat, corn, rice, beef, soya or dairy products with no grains, cereal or gluten either so it's great for dogs with allergies
- Packed with essential vitamins and minerals dogs need to grow up as healthy as can be
Cons
- A handful of reviews mention their fussy dogs didn't like this food
Food type: | Dry dog food |
Food weight: | 1.5kg, 7.5kg |
Flavour: | Chicken |
- Ingredients: Dried chicken (min. 26%), potato, sweet potato 17%, peas, chicken fat 9%, chicken gravy 4%, linseed 2%, salmon oil 2%, carrots 0.3%, camomile 0.2%, cranberry 0.16%, seaweed, fructo-oligosaccharides 0.1%, glucosamine 0.1%, blackcurrant 0.005%, kale 0.005%, spinach 0.005%, beetroot 0.005%, rosehip 0.005%, pomegranate 0.005%, yucca schidigera 0.005%, olive extract 0.005%.
Best premium small breed dog food for Yorkies
![Lily's Kitchen Country Casserole Small Breed](https://images.bauerhosting.com/marketing/sites/22/2024/07/Lilys-Kitchen-Country-Casserole-Small-Breed.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
www.lilyskitchen.co.uk
Lily's Kitchen Country Casserole Dry Dog Food has been a favourite with pet owners for years but recently, they've made a small breed version with a smaller kibble so we think it would be perfect for a Yorkshire Terrier. It's made with proper meat and offal and in fact, 42 per cent of the recipe is made up of fresh chicken, freshly prepared duck and chicken liver. The rest of the ingredients consist of veggies, including sweet potatoes and peas, and botanicals and herbs so you know your Yorkie is getting fresh, natural ingredients with every tiny mouthful.
Customers online mention this food is perfect for smaller dogs who may otherwise struggle with the size of the regular adult version. This food is a super popular choice and it does go in and out of stock a lot, so if your Yorkie gets on with this food, it might be worth you buying in bulk so you won't run out - just make sure you've got somewhere to store it properly so it doesn't go stale.
Pros
- A small breed version of a much-loved recipe with an adapted kibble size
- Made with proper meat and offal, with 42 per cent of the recipe being chicken and duck
- Made with natural ingredients so you know exactly what you're feeding your Yorkie
Cons
- Super popular choice so it regularly goes in and out of stock
Food type: | Dry dog food |
Food weight: | 2.5kg |
Flavour: | Country Casserole - Chicken & Duck |
- Ingredients: 42% Chicken & Duck: Fresh Chicken (31%), Freshly Prepared Duck (8%), Chicken Liver (3%). Sweet Potatoes (29%), Whole Peas (6.5%), Whole Lentils, Pea Protein, Flaxseed, Egg, Potato Protein, Chicken Gravy, Minerals, Botanicals & Herbs* (1%), Salmon Oil, Prebiotics (Mannan Oligosaccharides 1.3g/kg, Fructooligosaccharides (0.8g/kg), Carrots, Apples, Joint Care Mix (Glucosamine 175mg/kg, Methylsulfonylmethane 175mg/kg, Chondroitin Sulphate 125mg/kg), Cranberries, Spinach. *Botanicals & Herbs: Alfalfa, Chickweed, Cleavers, Goldenrod, Nettles, Seaweed, Dandelion Root, Celery Seeds, Milk Thistle, Burdock Root, Marigold Flowers, Rosehips.
Best low fat small breed dog food for Yorkies
![Burns Original Toy & Small Breed Dog Food](https://images.bauerhosting.com/marketing/sites/22/2024/07/Burns-Original-Toy-Small-Breed-Dog-Food.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Designed for small dogs with fast metabolic rates, the Burns Original Toy & Small Breed Dog Food is it’s perfect for a high-energy Yorkie that will burn a lot of calories. The recipe itself is a low-fat one and it’s highly digestible too, which means it delivers optimal nutrition without overloading your Yorkie’s little stomach. Not only that, but it can help maintain healthy skin, coat and digestion.
We like that this food can be used from adulthood to the senior years and as it’s a low-fat recipe, you won’t have to worry about your Yorkie gaining weight as they become less active as they get older. Reviews also mention it’s well-liked by their picky eater and it’s done wonders for dogs with sensitive stomachs. There is a lot of rice in this food with brown rice and white rice making up 57 per cent of this food and there’s only 23 per cent chicken in comparison so this may not be the best choice for Yorkies with grain allergies.
Pros
- Low in fat recipe so it can be fed from adulthood into their senior years
- Highly digestible without overloading your Yorkie's little stomach
- Designed for high energy small and toy breeds, like Yorkies
Cons
- Over half of the overall percentage of this food is made up of rice
Food type: | Dry dog food |
Food weight: | 2kg, 6kg |
Flavour: | Chicken & Rice |
- Ingredients: Brown Rice (44%), Chicken Meal (23%), White Rice (13%), Chicken Oil, Oats, Peas, Sunflower Oil, Fish Meal, Minerals, Seaweed
Best high protein dog food for Yorkies
![Forthglade Chicken & Lamb Natural Wet Food](https://images.bauerhosting.com/marketing/sites/22/2024/07/Forthglade-Small-Dog-Chicken-Lamb-Natural-Wet-Food.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
There's at least 75 per cent protein in the majority of Forthglade's meals and this small dog lamb and chicken multipack is no exception to that. Protein is essential for muscle development and energy so it's great to see it in such high numbers in this food. This eight-pack of trays comes in smaller 150g sizes so they’re great for portion control with smaller pooches, such as Yorkshire Terriers. Both the chicken and lamb recipes are grain-free and they’re free from fillers, artificial colours, flavours, preservatives and other junk to be gentle on your pup’s tummy.
Many of the reviews praise the quality of this food and the ingredients used to make it as Forthglade prides itself on using natural ingredients and added vitamins and minerals so each meal is bursting with goodness. On the downside, some customers have noted that the packaging can be difficult to open and some picky dogs may not like the consistency of the food.
Pros
- Contains 75 per cent protein which is essential for muscle development and energy
- 150g trays are the ideal size for portion control in smaller breeds, such as Yorkies
- Made using all-natural ingredients so it's free from grain, artificial colours, flavours, preservatives and other junk
Cons
- Some customers have noted the packaging can be difficult to open
Food type: | Wet dog food |
Food weight: | 24 x 150g |
- Ingredients:
Chicken: Chicken (75%)*, Butternut Squash (4%)*, Carrots (2%)*, Peas (2%)*, Minerals, Linseed Oil (0.5%)*, Dried Seaweed (0.45%)*, Herbs (Camomile, Parsley, Rosemary, Nettle) (0.12%)*, Chicory Root Extract (as a source of Prebiotic Fructo-oligosaccharide (0.05%)*, Glucosamine (50mg/kg), Chondroitin (50mg/kg), Yucca Extract (0.005%)*. *natural ingredient
Lamb: Lamb (75%)*, Butternut Squash (4%)*, Dried Carrots (2%)*, Dried Peas (2%)*, Minerals, Linseed Oil (0.5%)*, Dried Seaweed (0.45%)*, Herbs (Camomile, Parsley, Rosemary, Nettle) (0.12%)*, Chicory Root Extract (as a source of Prebiotic Fructo-oligosaccharide (0.05%)*, Glucosamine (50mg/kg), Chondroitin (50mg/kg), Yucca Extract (0.005%)*. *natural ingredient
Best dog food subscription for Yorkies
![Butternut Box](https://images.bauerhosting.com/marketing/sites/22/2024/07/butternut-box-1.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
butternutbox.com
You can ensure your Yorkie’s food is tailored to their exact needs with a Butternut Box subscription. You tell Butternut Box everything about your pooch, including their age, weight, activity levels, allergies and more and then they’ll do the rest to create a tasty recipe that’s full of the right balance of nutrients and other goodness your terrier needs. As Butternut Box is described as an ‘All Life Stages’ food, you can feed them it from puppyhood as they grow up into adulthood and into their twilight years too. You just keep your pup’s profile updated and the recipe will be adapted to whatever stage of life they’re at.
Butternut Box uses just fresh ingredients, which is something that really impresses customers online, including human-quality meat and fish, vegetables, fruits and superfoods plus other minerals and vitamins. These are then gently cooked before they are frozen to lock in as much of the freshness and flavour as possible. As we’ve mentioned, Butternut Box recipes arrive at your door frozen so you only get out what your pup needs for the day to minimise waste. Just make sure you’ve got plenty of freezer space to store them all!
Read our Butternut Box review to find out more about what we thought.
Pros
- Tailored to your Yorkie's exact needs
- Described as an 'All Life Stages' food so can be fed and adapted from puppyhood all the way to senior years
- Made using fresh ingredients, including human-quality meat and fish
Cons
- Meals arrive frozen so you only use what you need to reduce waste so make sure you've got plenty of room in your freezer to store them all
Food type: | Wet dog food |
Food weight: | Varies |
Flavour: | Varies |
- Ingredients: Varies depending on the recipe tailored to your pups needs but contains 60% human-grade meat
Best budget dry dog food for Yorkies
![Harringtons Small Dog Lamb & Rice](https://images.bauerhosting.com/marketing/sites/22/2024/07/Harringtons-Small-Dog-Lamb-Rice.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
www.viovet.co.uk
For a good quality food on a budget for your Yorkshire Terrier, how about Harringtons Small Dog Lamb & Rice? It's rich in lamb and made without artificial colours, flavours, wheat, dairy and soya. Omega oils are also in the mix which will have your Yorkie's coat looking lovely and luscious as well as natural antioxidants that will keep their digestion healthy too. As it can be fed to your pooch from eight weeks onwards, you'll be able to feed this to your Yorkie through puppyhood and into adulthood so no need to worry about switching their food. This one will make sure your hound has all the nutrients and goodness they need as they grow.
Customers appreciate the quality of this food for the price and say it has a decent percentage of meat as part of the overall composition for the price. They also say the smaller kibble size is perfect for their pint-sized pooch, with the odd review mentioning it's a good size to put in your pocket to use as treats on walks. Some customers mention their fussy dog didn't like this food but the majority of reviews online say their dogs loved it.
Pros
- Added Omega oils for improved coat condition
- Natural antioxidants included for healthy digestion
- Can be fed from eight weeks so you can feed this to your Yorkie from puppyhood into adulthood
Cons
- Some reviewers report their fussy dog didn't like this food
Food type: | Dry dog food |
Food weight: | 1kg |
Flavour: | Lamb |
- Ingredients: Lamb and Meat Meals 26% (6.5% Dried Lamb*19.5% Meat Meals), Rice (21%), Maize, Barley, Maize Protein, Poultry Fat, Freshly Prepared Chicken (4%), Beet Pulp, Linseed, Poultry Gravy (0.5%), Minerals, Seaweed (0.1%), Dried Chicory (0.1%), Yucca Extract (0.01%)
Tested
Best breed size dry dog food for Yorkies
![Royal Canin Mini Adult Dog Food](https://images.bauerhosting.com/marketing/sites/22/2024/07/Royal-Canin-Mini-1.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
www.viovet.co.uk
Last but by no means least, we have Royal Canin Mini Adult Dog Food. It's designed for mini and small breed dogs so it's paw-fect for Yorkies. It has an adapted calorie content that makes sure it meets the needs of high-energy small breeds, like Yorkshire Terriers, while also making sure they stay at a healthy weight for their size. It also helps to maintain strong and healthy bones through its balance of specific nutrients.
Our pets writer, Rosie Floyd, feeds this food to her Yorkshire Terrier cross, Gina. Gina's coat has been in a lovely condition since switching to this Royal Canin food over a year ago, which we think is down to the Omega 3 added to this recipe. As Gina is entering her senior years, her teeth aren't quite what they used to be but the kibble is a good size for her to crunch up. As wheat and maize are listed as main ingredients, it won't be suitable for dogs with those allergies.
Reviewed by Senior Home & Pets Writer, Rosie Floyd and Gina the Yorkie Cross: “My Yorkshire Terrier mix, Gina, is notoriously picky about her food. However, she has been happily eating Royal Canin Mini Adult kibble for just over a year now. As she getting older now, her teeth aren't as strong as they once were, so she needs food that is easy to chew. The kibble size in Royal Canin Mini Adult food is perfect for her, allowing her to easily break it down. Since switching from cheaper dog foods, I've noticed a significant improvement in Gina's coat. It has a lovely sheen, and the overall colour seems brighter.”
Pros
- Adapted calorie content to meet the needs of high energy breeds while maintaining a healthy weight
- Added Omega 3 for coat condition
- Adapted kibble size to be a good size for a Yorkshire Terrier's mouth
Cons
- Wheat and maize are listed as main ingredients so not a good option for dogs with allergies, intolerances or sensitivities to those ingredients
Food type: | Dry dog food |
Food weight: | 2kg, 4kg, 8kg |
Flavour: | Poultry |
- Ingredients: Wheat flour, dehydrated poultry proteins, maize flour, animal fats, hydrolysed animal proteins, dehydrated pork proteins, maize, barley, maize gluten, wheat, minerals, beet pulp, soya oil, yeasts products, fructo-oligosaccharides, fish oil, algal oil Schizochytrium sp
How we chose the best dog food for Yorkies
All of these dog foods for Yorkshire Terriers have been hand-selected by our team of Take A Break Pets shopping experts. We carefully considered nutritional value, ingredient quality and flavour in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching Yorkshire Terrier dog food to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
With pets big and small on our team, where possible we'll share the best products that have been tried and tested by our own furry friends who have given their paw of approval. And, with help from veterinary experts, we share their knowledge to ensure everything we choose is paw-fect for your pet.
![Gina, the Yorkshire Terrier cross, putting Royal Canin Mini Adult to the test for Take a Break Pets.](https://images.bauerhosting.com/marketing/sites/22/2024/07/Gina-yorkshire-terrier-royal-canin.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
FAQs
Our verdict: What is the best food for Yorkies?
In our opinion, the best dog food for Yorkies is the Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Adult Dry Food. It’s literally made for Yorkshire Terriers as it’s a highly palatable recipe formulated specifically for their needs, with Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids for coat condition. The AVA Breed Health Yorkshire Terrier Dry Dog Food comes in a very close second place as it is a hypoallergenic recipe that’s gentle on tummies with added vitamins and minerals that support your Yorkie’s vitality and general wellbeing.
If you’re worried about your Yorkie's teeth being able to chomp through dry food, we think the Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Adult Wet Dog Food is the best of the best when it comes to wet food. The scent, taste and texture are sure to get your Yorkie’s tail wagging at mealtimes.
Should Yorkies eat dry and wet food?
There are benefits to both a wet and dry dog food diet for Yorkies so it may depend on your dog's individual needs as to what food is best. As teeth problems are a common issue with Yorkshire Terriers, dry food can help to improve their overall dental hygiene by aiding with reducing plaque and tartar buildup. Equally, Yorkies have smaller mouths and may naturally find crunching and chomping on dry food harder, so wet food may be easier for them to chow down on. Wet food typically is more palatable than dry food so if your Yorkie is a picky eater, it may lure them to their bowl more.
As there are benefits for both, many Yorkie owners choose to feed a combination of wet and dry food to give their pooch a bit of variety at mealtimes. Just make sure you tailor the amount you're feeding them to avoid overfeeding.
How much should a Yorkie eat a day?
The amount your Yorkshire Terrier eats in a day will depend on a number of factors, including their weight, activity levels and what type of food they eat along with any treats they have throughout the day. The biggest consideration is their age as puppies, adult dogs and seniors all have different food requirements.
Yorkshire Terrier puppies typically will need to eat small meals frequently to support their growth and development while also taking into account that they have smaller stomachs so can’t eat a big meal in one sitting.
Adult Yorkies, aged one to seven years, will have fewer feeds but larger meals, so you can feed them once in the morning and once in the evening.
Senior Yorkshire Terriers may require fewer calories as they get older due to not being as active as they used to be. With that in mind, you might want to reduce the amount of food you give them or switch to a senior dog food that is formulated with the needs of ageing pups in mind, which typically has an adapted calorie content to stop them from gaining weight as they slow down.
What food can Yorkies not eat?
Like all dogs, there are certain foods that are toxic and harmful to Yorkshire Terriers so you should avoid feeding them to your pooch and keep them out of reach from inquisitive Yorkies that may sniff out foods they're not allowed. Here are a couple of the most common toxic foods for dogs that Yorkies and other dogs shouldn't eat:
• Chocolate
• Garlic
• Onions and chives
• Grapes and raisins
• Avocado
• Macadamia nuts
• Xylitol (aka artificial sweetener)
If your Yorkie or any other dog eats one of these dogs, try not to panic but you should contact your vet straight away who can offer advice on the next best course of action to stop your hound from getting seriously poorly.
Rosie Floyd is a Senior Home & Pets Product Writer for Take A Break Pets, specialising in all things dogs. She grew up always having at least one dog as part of the family and has experience in owning a variety of breeds, including Labradors, Cockapoos and Yorkshire Terriers.