Best puppy food for a Yorkshire Terrier
A Yorkshire Terrier puppy is one of the smallest breeds you can raise, and that changes the practical side of feeding more than it changes the nutrition itself: small kibble sized for a tiny mouth, more frequent meals than a larger breed puppy needs, and portions measured carefully rather than estimated, because the margin for error is much smaller.
Feeding a Yorkshire Terrier
A toy breed
An adult Yorkshire Terrier typically weighs up to 3.2 kg, so a healthy Yorkshire Terrier 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 11–15 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 Yorkshire Terrier weigh?
Adult up to 3.2 kgfully grown at 10–12 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 0.6 kg | 18% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 0.9 kg | 30% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 1.9 kg | 59% |
| 10–12 months | Fully grown | 3.2 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 Yorkshire Terrier
Complete foods from our range, matched to a Yorkshire Terrier'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 kibble size and meal frequency matter early on
A small-breed puppy formula uses a kibble sized for a small jaw, which matters even more for a puppy than an adult, since a young Yorkshire Terrier's mouth is smaller still. Struggling to pick up and chew oversized kibble can put a puppy off their food at exactly the stage they need to be eating reliably.
Toy breed puppies are also more prone than larger breeds to a drop in blood sugar if they go too long between meals, which is why smaller, more frequent meals are commonly recommended for the first several months rather than the two meals a day that suits an adult dog.
Getting portions right for such a small dog
A fully grown Yorkshire Terrier typically weighs only a few kilograms, which means overfeeding by even a small amount has a much bigger relative effect than it would for a larger breed puppy. Weigh food against the feeding guide for your puppy's current weight rather than judging by eye.
Puppy food is more calorie-dense than adult food to support growth, which is appropriate while your puppy is young, but it is still worth watching body condition as they approach their adult size and adjusting the amount fed rather than assuming the guide on the bag is exactly right for your individual dog.
Dental health starts early too
Yorkshire Terriers are prone to dental crowding as adults because a small jaw carries a full set of teeth, and starting good dental habits during puppyhood, including appropriate chews and getting them used to having their teeth handled, sets up better habits than trying to introduce it later.
A puppy-specific dental chew, sized appropriately for a toy breed, is a reasonable addition once your puppy is old enough for the specific product's guidance, alongside their regular complete puppy food.
Common questions
- How many times a day should I feed a Yorkshire Terrier puppy?
- More often than an adult dog, typically three to four small meals a day while they are very young, reducing gradually as they grow. Toy breed puppies are prone to low blood sugar if they go too long without food, so frequent small meals matter more for this breed than for a larger one.
- When can a Yorkshire Terrier puppy switch to adult food?
- This varies by individual dog and is worth discussing with your vet, but toy breeds generally reach their adult size faster than larger breeds, so the switch often happens somewhat earlier than it would for a bigger dog. Follow the guidance on your specific puppy food as a starting point.
- Why won't my Yorkshire Terrier puppy eat much at once?
- A tiny stomach simply cannot hold much food in one sitting, which is part of why frequent small meals suit the breed better than fewer large ones. If your puppy seems genuinely uninterested in food or lethargic, contact your vet promptly rather than waiting, since toy breed puppies can decline quickly.
- Should I start dental care early with a Yorkshire Terrier puppy?
- Yes, it is worth starting good habits early given the breed's tendency toward dental crowding as adults. Getting a puppy used to having their teeth and mouth handled, alongside age-appropriate dental chews, makes ongoing dental care much easier later on.
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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.