What size treats are best for a Yorkshire Terrier?

Small, bite-sized treats specifically made for small or toy breeds suit Yorkies best, both to avoid a choking risk and because they fit a tiny dog's much smaller daily calorie allowance. Larger treats can be broken into smaller pieces if needed.

Are dental chews good for Yorkies?

Yes, small and toy breeds are particularly prone to dental problems due to their crowded teeth, so a properly sized dental chew can help alongside regular brushing, though it is not a substitute for proper dental care.

How many treats can I give my Yorkie a day?

Treats should generally make up only a small fraction of a dog's total daily food intake, and this matters more for a tiny breed like the Yorkie, where it is easy to overfeed without realising. Check the calorie content on the pack and adjust their meals accordingly.

Can Yorkies choke on treats easily?

Their small mouths and throats make choking more of a risk with treats sized for larger dogs, so choosing genuinely small or toy-breed-sized treats, and supervising a new treat the first few times, is a sensible precaution.

The best treats for a Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkshire Terriers are a tiny, toy-sized breed, so the treats that suit them best are small enough to avoid a choking risk and low enough in calories that a few a day do not add up to a big share of a small dog's daily needs. Dental-support treats are also worth building into the routine, since small breeds are prone to dental problems.

Size and calories matter more than for bigger dogs

A treat sized for a Labrador is genuinely too large for a Yorkie's small mouth and body, both as a choking risk and because it represents a much bigger share of a tiny dog's daily calorie needs than the same treat would for a larger breed. Look for treats specifically sized for small or toy breeds where possible.

Because Yorkies are so small, it is easy to overfeed treats without realising, since a handful that looks modest can be a meaningful chunk of a dog weighing only a few kilograms. Breaking larger treats into smaller pieces stretches a single treat further and keeps portions genuinely small.

Why dental chews are worth including

Small and toy breeds, Yorkies included, are particularly prone to dental problems, partly because their teeth are crowded into a small jaw. A dedicated dental chew, sized appropriately, gives some mechanical help keeping teeth cleaner between brushing, alongside proper dental care rather than instead of it.

Training treats, small and soft enough to give in quick succession, are also useful for a breed that responds well to frequent, small rewards during training, without the bulk of a biscuit-style treat.

Reading treat labels for a small dog

Check the calorie content per treat where it is given, since it varies more between treats than owners often expect, and a Yorkie's daily calorie allowance is small to begin with. Treats should generally make up a small fraction of a dog's daily food intake, whatever the breed.

Avoid anything with pieces large enough to be a choking risk, or anything very hard that could damage small, crowded teeth, and introduce any new treat gradually to check it agrees with your dog.

Pedigree DentaStix Light daily dental chews for medium and large dogs

£2.35

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Common questions

What size treats are best for a Yorkshire Terrier?: Small, bite-sized treats specifically made for small or toy breeds suit Yorkies best, both to avoid a choking risk and because they fit a tiny dog's much smaller daily calorie allowance. Larger treats can be broken into smaller pieces if needed.
Are dental chews good for Yorkies?: Yes, small and toy breeds are particularly prone to dental problems due to their crowded teeth, so a properly sized dental chew can help alongside regular brushing, though it is not a substitute for proper dental care.
How many treats can I give my Yorkie a day?: Treats should generally make up only a small fraction of a dog's total daily food intake, and this matters more for a tiny breed like the Yorkie, where it is easy to overfeed without realising. Check the calorie content on the pack and adjust their meals accordingly.
Can Yorkies choke on treats easily?: Their small mouths and throats make choking more of a risk with treats sized for larger dogs, so choosing genuinely small or toy-breed-sized treats, and supervising a new treat the first few times, is a sensible precaution.

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.