Best dog food for a chorkie
A chorkie, a cross between a Chihuahua and a Yorkshire Terrier, is a genuinely small dog, typically weighing somewhere between about 3 and 9kg depending on which parent breed's size comes through more strongly. That size is the main thing that should drive food choice: a small or toy breed formula, with a kibble sized for a small mouth, rather than anything built around a much larger dog's needs.
Feeding a Chorkie
A toy breed
An adult Chorkie typically weighs 2–5 kg, so a healthy Chorkie eats a small amount — often under 100g of dry food a day compared with other breeds. Every feeding guide on a bag is written per kilo of body weight, not per breed — start there, then adjust to the dog in front of you.
Life stage
A toy breed is usually done growing at 10–12 months, which is roughly when a puppy food has finished its job. With a typical lifespan of 10–15 years, there is a long adult stretch in the middle; switch to a senior food when your vet thinks it is worth it rather than on a birthday.
Small mouths, crowded teeth
Smaller breeds get dental disease more often than big ones, largely because the same number of teeth are packed into a shorter jaw. Kibble size is worth checking, and a dental chew counts towards the daily 10% of calories from treats.
How much should a Chorkie weigh?
Adult 2–5 kgfully grown at 10–12 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 0.4–0.9 kg | 18% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 0.6–1.5 kg | 30% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 1.2–3 kg | 59% |
| 10–12 months | Fully grown | 2–5 kg | 100% |
A guide, from the same rule of thumb our puppy growth predictor uses — each age is that share of the way to maturity for a toy breed. Puppies grow fastest early, so a real puppy usually sits a little above the middle rows. Weigh yours and ask your vet if the number worries you.
Complete dog foods that suit a Chorkie
Complete foods from our range, matched to a Chorkie's size band and what the breed typically needs. Stock levels and delivery dates are live on each product.
Pedigree Can in Jelly Puppy 6 Pack
Complete Pedigree puppy food in jelly with chicken, lamb and poultry recipes
£10.15
Forthglade Cold Pressed Natural Turkey
Cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs from 2 months, soft enough to mix with water for young pups
£45.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Chicken
A grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, lightly baked and built on 50% chicken
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Small Dog Turkey
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for small dogs and puppies, built on turkey
£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Lamb
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% lamb, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Turkey
Grain-free cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs, gentle on sensitive stomachs
£69.69
Forthglade British Classics Chicken Family Lunch
Complete Forthglade wet dog food with 75% chicken in a 395G tray
£2.45
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
Harringtons Adult Dog Turkey Veg
Complete dry food for adult dogs with turkey, chicken and salmon oil, 21% protein
From£3.39
Harringtons Just 6 Dry Dog Food Lamb
Grain-free lamb dry dog food in 2KG and 12KG sizes, with size-specific formulas
From£13.99
Why the chorkie's size drives the decision
Because a chorkie can vary noticeably in size depending on which parent breed it favours, it's worth basing food choice on your individual dog's actual adult weight rather than assuming every chorkie needs the exact same thing. A dog at the smaller end of the range has an even smaller stomach capacity and benefits even more from small, energy-dense kibble.
Both parent breeds carry a tendency towards a fast metabolism and, in puppies especially, a risk of low blood sugar between meals, which is worth bearing in mind when deciding how often to feed a chorkie puppy rather than assuming an adult feeding schedule is appropriate from the start.
Dental and digestive considerations
Small and toy cross-breeds like the chorkie are prone to dental crowding, since a full set of teeth is packed into a very small jaw, so a kibble texture that supports some natural cleaning action, alongside regular dental chews and checks, is worth building into everyday care rather than leaving to chance.
Some chorkies, particularly those favouring the Yorkshire Terrier side, can have a somewhat sensitive digestion, so introducing any new food gradually over a week or so, rather than switching overnight, is a sensible habit regardless of which specific food you choose.
What to look for on the label
A complete food labelled for small or toy breeds is the right starting category, since it should already account for the smaller kibble size and higher energy density a dog this size needs. Puppies need a puppy-specific formula while growing, and an older chorkie prone to weight gain may do better on a food designed with weight management in mind.
Beyond size category, there's no single 'best' brand for the breed specifically, since chorkies vary enough individually that how a dog does on a food, coat condition, stool quality, energy levels, matters more than any specific ingredient claim on the front of the pack.
Common questions
- How much food does a chorkie need each day?
- This depends heavily on the individual dog's actual weight, which can vary quite a bit between chorkies, so the feeding guide on the specific food you choose, based on your dog's weight, is a better starting point than a general figure.
- How many meals a day should a chorkie puppy have?
- Toy and small breed puppies, including chorkies, are often fed more frequently than larger breed puppies, commonly three to four small meals a day in the early months, reflecting their small stomach capacity and higher risk of low blood sugar between meals.
- Are chorkies prone to any particular health issues that affect feeding?
- Like many small and toy cross-breeds, chorkies can be prone to dental crowding and, in some individuals, a sensitive digestion, both of which are worth factoring into food choice and feeding habits alongside simply picking a size-appropriate diet.
- Should I feed my chorkie a specific 'designer breed' food?
- There's no need to look specifically for a food marketed at chorkies or crossbreeds. A quality small or toy breed complete food, matched to your dog's actual life stage and weight, covers what the breed needs without requiring a niche or specially branded product.
Related
Sources
Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.