How many times a day should a Yorkie puppy eat?

Around four small meals a day up to three months old, dropping to three meals from three to six months, and two meals a day from about six months onward. Adjust gradually and watch your puppy's energy and appetite rather than switching abruptly.

Why is my Yorkie puppy so fussy with food?

Toy breed puppies can be genuinely selective, and a kibble that is the wrong size or texture for such a small mouth is a common reason. If fussiness comes with lethargy, weakness or your puppy refusing food entirely, contact your vet rather than waiting it out.

When can I switch my Yorkie from puppy food to adult food?

Small breeds typically mature faster than larger dogs and can move to an adult small-breed food from around nine to twelve months, but check the guidance on your specific food's packaging, since this varies between brands.

What are the signs of low blood sugar in a Yorkie puppy?

Sudden weakness, wobbliness, unusual sleepiness or a shaky appearance are the signs to watch for, particularly in very young or very small puppies. This needs prompt attention from your vet rather than waiting to see if it passes.

Yorkshire Terrier puppy feeding chart

A Yorkshire Terrier puppy is tiny even by small-breed standards, and that changes how it needs to eat: little and often, on a food made for small or toy breeds, rather than the same pattern you would use for a larger puppy. There is no single number that fits every Yorkie, so use the method below alongside the feeding guide on the specific food you buy.

Meal frequency by age

A young Yorkie puppy, from weaning up to around three months, generally needs four small meals spread through the day. Small breeds have a higher metabolism relative to their size and very little in the way of fat reserves, so long gaps between meals are riskier for a tiny puppy than for a larger one.

From roughly three to six months this usually drops to three meals a day, and by around six months onwards, most Yorkies do well on two meals a day. Some very small or slow-to-wean puppies benefit from staying on smaller, more frequent meals a little longer — go by your puppy's energy and appetite rather than the calendar alone.

Why small breeds need extra care

Toy breeds like the Yorkshire Terrier are more prone to a drop in blood sugar between meals than larger dogs, particularly as very young puppies. A puppy that seems suddenly wobbly, weak or unusually sleepy needs food offering straight away and a call to your vet if it does not perk up quickly.

A kibble sized for small and toy breeds is worth using specifically, since a Yorkshire Terrier's jaw and mouth are genuinely tiny — a standard-sized kibble meant for a larger breed puppy can be awkward or off-putting to eat.

Reading the feeding guide

The chart on a bag of puppy food is based on your puppy's current weight and expected adult weight, not just its age, so weigh your puppy regularly in the first few months and adjust the amount fed as it grows rather than sticking to one fixed portion.

Weigh food out on kitchen scales rather than measuring by eye or with a generic scoop — with portions this small, even a slightly heaped scoop can be a meaningful overfeed for a puppy that may end up weighing only two to three kilograms as an adult.

Feeding kit

Things we stock that owners commonly reach for here. Nothing on this page depends on you buying one.

Beaphar Lactol Milk Replacer for Puppies

A milk replacer for newborn and orphaned puppies, and for nursing or recovering dogs

From£20.23

Choose options

Nutriment Dog Weaning Paste

A 500g frozen weaning paste for puppies, single-ingredient British chicken

£2.99

Alpha Sensitive Salmon & Rice

A salmon and rice dry food for adult dogs with sensitive digestions, made without wheat gluten, soya or dairy.

£49.00

Alpha Working Dog Maintenance Chicken

An energy-controlled chicken dry food for working dogs with lower energy needs or a tendency to put on weight.

£29.00

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Common questions

How many times a day should a Yorkie puppy eat?: Around four small meals a day up to three months old, dropping to three meals from three to six months, and two meals a day from about six months onward. Adjust gradually and watch your puppy's energy and appetite rather than switching abruptly.
Why is my Yorkie puppy so fussy with food?: Toy breed puppies can be genuinely selective, and a kibble that is the wrong size or texture for such a small mouth is a common reason. If fussiness comes with lethargy, weakness or your puppy refusing food entirely, contact your vet rather than waiting it out.
When can I switch my Yorkie from puppy food to adult food?: Small breeds typically mature faster than larger dogs and can move to an adult small-breed food from around nine to twelve months, but check the guidance on your specific food's packaging, since this varies between brands.
What are the signs of low blood sugar in a Yorkie puppy?: Sudden weakness, wobbliness, unusual sleepiness or a shaky appearance are the signs to watch for, particularly in very young or very small puppies. This needs prompt attention from your vet rather than waiting to see if it passes.

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.