Best food for a Chorkie puppy
A Chorkie is a cross between a Chihuahua and a Yorkshire terrier, and puppies from this mix are typically tiny, often fully grown at only a few kilograms. That small size means they need a complete puppy food formulated for toy breeds, fed in small, frequent meals rather than the two-meals-a-day routine that suits a larger puppy.
Why toy breed sizing matters here
Both parent breeds are toy-sized, and a Chorkie puppy typically inherits that small frame along with a fast metabolism relative to their body size. A puppy food labelled for toy or small breeds uses a smaller kibble shaped for a tiny jaw and packs more calories into a smaller volume, which matters because a Chorkie physically cannot eat much at once.
A kibble sized for a medium or large breed puppy is genuinely harder for a dog this small to manage, both in terms of chewing it comfortably and in terms of getting enough calories into the small amount they can physically eat in one sitting.
Blood sugar and feeding frequency
Toy breed puppies, Chorkies included, are at real risk of hypoglycaemia — a drop in blood sugar — if a meal is skipped or delayed, because their tiny bodies can't store much energy reserve. Three or more small meals a day, kept to a consistent schedule, is the main way owners manage this risk in a puppy this size.
A puppy who seems unusually weak, wobbly, or sleepy, particularly around mealtimes, should be seen by a vet promptly, since this can be a sign their blood sugar has dropped and needs addressing quickly.
Dental crowding in small crosses
Both Chihuahuas and Yorkshire terriers are prone to dental crowding, where a full set of teeth is fitted into a very small jaw, and this tendency often carries through into a Chorkie. Starting good dental habits early — a kibble with a texture that helps clean teeth as it's chewed, and an appropriate dental chew once your puppy is old enough — is worth building in from the start rather than waiting for a problem to appear.
Regular checks of your puppy's mouth as their adult teeth come through are worth doing too, since crowding can sometimes mean baby teeth don't fall out on schedule and end up sitting alongside the adult tooth. This is something to flag to your vet at a routine appointment rather than something to try to assess or address yourself.
Foods that suit this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Pedigree Tasty Minis Puppy Treats Chewy Cubes with Chicken
Soft chewy puppy training treats with 13% chicken and added calcium, 125g
£2.25
Forthglade Complete Puppy Chicken with Liver Grain Free — 18 x 395g Trays
Sold as a case: 18 x 395g trays. A complete grain-free wet food for puppies, built on 71% chicken and 4% chicken liver
£35.89
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
James Wellbeloved Grain Free Puppy/Junior Dry Dog Food Turkey & Veg
Grain-free turkey and potato kibble for puppies and junior dogs, evenly balanced recipe
£12.75
Wagg Puppy Treats
Puppy Treats in a 120G pack, with 23.2% protein and 7% fat and full label detail
£1.49
Burns Puppy Junior Original Chicken Rice
A complete puppy and junior food with dried chicken 31% and controlled fat at 15%
From£14.99
Lily's Kitchen Puppy Chicken Recipe — 6 x 400g Tins
Sold as a case: 6 x 400g tins. Complete 400G wet puppy chicken recipe with 67% fresh chicken
£22.79
Pooch & Mutt Puppy Bite Size Beef Jerky
Bite-size beef jerky training treats for puppies, scaled by dog size
£3.99
Whimzees Puppy
Softer dental chews for puppies over three months old, grain free and gluten free
£7.99
Burns Grain Free Puppy Duck Potato
Grain-free duck and potato puppy food with a prebiotic, for starting a new litter on a novel protein
From£16.49
Lily's Kitchen Puppy Recipe Chicken — 10 x 150g Trays
Sold as a case: 10 x 150g trays. Complete 150G puppy chicken recipe with 67% chicken and salmon oil
£16.89
Common questions
- How often should I feed a Chorkie puppy?
- Three or more small meals a day is generally recommended for toy breed puppies like Chorkies, since their tiny size means they can't store much energy between meals. Keeping to a consistent schedule matters more for a breed this small than it does for a larger puppy.
- Do Chorkies need a specific toy breed puppy food?
- Yes, this is generally a better fit than a standard or large breed puppy food, since toy breed recipes use a smaller kibble and a calorie density suited to a dog who eats very little in absolute terms. Check the packaging is labelled for toy or small breeds.
- Are Chorkie puppies prone to any particular health issues?
- Like both parent breeds, Chorkies can be prone to dental crowding and, as puppies, to blood sugar drops if meals are missed. Regular feeding and attention to dental care from an early age both help manage these tendencies.
- When can a Chorkie puppy move to adult food?
- This depends on their individual growth and is best confirmed with your vet, but toy breeds often reach adult size and can transition to adult food somewhat earlier than larger breeds do, typically once growth has clearly levelled off.
Related
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.