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Yorkshire Terriers may be small, but these little dogs are full of spunk and energy. Good dog food will help keep them spirited for years to come—but what’s the best dog food for a Yorkie?
In general, dogs of all breeds have similar nutritional needs, as set forth by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). But that doesn’t mean that it can’t help to take a dog’s breed into account when you’re choosing dog food.
Yorkies don’t eat nearly as much as larger dogs, but they actually burn through calories at a faster rate. At just 4 to 7 pounds, an adult Yorkie typically needs 150 to 300 calories daily. Puppies may need significantly more. So you’ll want to prioritize calorie-dense small-breed formulas that pack a lot of nutrients in tiny bites.
You’ll also want to feed frequently. Toy breeds like the Yorkie require a steady influx of energy throughout the day. Though the average dog may be just fine with two meals, your Yorkie could need three or four small meals to sustain their metabolism and prevent hypoglycemia. That goes double for puppies.
To help you find the best fit, we’ve assembled a list of our favorite formulas for Yorkies, then converted their nutritional profiles to a dry-matter basis so you can easily compare across food types. As always, it’s best to talk to your vet before establishing or changing your dog’s diet.
Best Dry Puppy Food: Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Small & Mini Chicken Meal & Brown Rice
This dry kibble is formulated specifically for small and mini puppies (up to 25 pounds), with chicken as the first ingredient. It also includes DHA from fish oil for healthy puppy brain and eye development, with vitamins A, C, and E to promote overall health. The recipe includes flaxseed for extra fiber, plus a blend of prebiotic fibers to help with gut health and digestion.
At 27% protein and 17% fat on a dry-matter basis, this dry puppy formula meets (and slightly exceeds) AAFCO’s puppy nutritional standards. Since small-breed puppies like Yorkies are more prone to hypoglycemia (caused by high metabolism and low body fat), it’s important to ensure your puppy has constant access to food. As they approach adulthood, you can start transitioning them to three or four small meals per day to help maintain a healthy body weight.
Nutritional Content:
- 418 kcal/8-ounce cup
- Protein: 27%
- Fat: 17%
- Fiber: 4%
Best Wet Puppy Food: Merrick Lil’ Plates Pint-Sized Puppy Plate Wet Food
With deboned chicken as the main ingredient, this protein-rich wet puppy food is uniquely formulated to meet the nutritional needs of small-breed puppies like Yorkies. Additional ingredients include potatoes, peas, apples, and vitamins and minerals to aid in your puppy’s growth. With 82% moisture, it can also provide additional hydration to fast-growing and active puppies.
Nutritional Content:
- 96 kcal/bowl
- Protein: 47%
- Fat: 19%
- Crude Fiber: 8%
- Moisture: 82%
Best Dry Food for Adult Yorkies: Nutro Natural Choice Small Breed Adult Chicken & Brown Rice
Chicken and chicken meal are the first two ingredients in this dry food that’s been formulated for small-breed adult dogs. The recipe includes a healthy mix of carbohydrates, including whole-grain barley and brewer rice, fruits and vegetables like pumpkin, kale, and spinach, plus omega fatty acids for skin and coat health.
The recipe is fortified with natural fibers to promote healthy digestion and made without artificial colors and flavors. The crunchy kibble pieces aid in dental health and, due to their small size, help prevent choking.
Nutritional Content:
- 352 kcal/cup
- Protein: 27%
- Fat: 18%
- Crude Fiber: 3.9%
- Moisture: 10%
Best Canned Food for Adult Yorkies: Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Small Breed Chicken Dinner Canned Dog Food
Wet food can be served as a topper, mixed with dry kibble to make it more enticing, or served by itself, depending on your dog’s food preferences. This mix uses tender chicken pieces sized for smaller dogs’ mouths.
Chicken is the first ingredient, followed by brown rice, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, blueberries, and carrots. It also contains omega fatty acids and salmon oil to support your Yorkie’s skin and coat health.
Nutritional Content:
- 214 kcal/cup
- Protein: 45%
- Fat: 34%
- Crude Fiber: 6.8%
- Moisture: 78%
Best for Senior Yorkers: Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Adult 8+ Dry Dog Food for Aging Dogs
When your Yorkie approaches senior status (around 8 to 10 years), their activity and appetite may decrease. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to switch foods—but some pet parents find it useful to move to a senior-friendly diet, which typically offers glucosamine for bone and joint health and fewer calories.
If your vet agrees switching is a good idea for your dog, Royal Canine’s Yorkshire Terrier Adult 8+ dry dog food is a nice option that is formulated specifically for the breed. It has a 15% lower phosphorus level than Royal Canine’s Yorkshire Terrier Adult dry kibble, which may benefit your dog’s kidneys as they age. The formula is also enriched with omega fatty acids and biotin to help protect against dry skin and brittle coats.
Nutritional Content:
- 345 kcal ME/kg
- Protein: 30%
- Fat: 18%
- Crude Fiber: 5.4%
- Moisture: 10%
- Phosphorus: 0.71% max
Best for Digestion: Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Sensitive Skin
This chicken dry kibble blend is formulated for small and mini-breed adult dogs with sensitive stomachs and skin issues. It’s made with chicken as the first ingredient, along with a mix of cracked pearled barley, brown rice, apples, carrots, and flaxseed. The recipe includes prebiotic fibers that help make this a highly digestible option for sensitive stomachs. It’s also fortified with vitamins and minerals for skin health, like omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin E.
The kibble is small for a Yorkie’s little mouth, with sizes measuring an average of 4mm by 7.5mm. The blend is made in the USA without artificial colors or preservatives.
Nutritional Content:
- 392 kcal/cup
- Protein: 23%
- Fat: 13%
- Crude Fiber: 4.4%
- Moisture: 10%
Best for Skin and Coat Health: Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Yorkshire Terrier Adult Dry Dog Food
Yorkshire Terriers are prone to allergies and skin and coat issues, which might make it necessary for their food to provide extra support to help deal with dry, itchy skin. This blend contains omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, as well as biotin, to support your pup’s skin and coat. Since the recipe is designed for Yorkies, the kibble pieces are small and easy for their mouths to pick up and chew.
At 29% protein and 338 kcal per cup, this blend provides higher calorie amounts for Yorkies with smaller stomachs who tend to eat more daily meals to prevent hypoglycemia. This food can be given to Yorkies 10 months and older.
Nutritional Content:
- 338 kcal/cup
- Protein: 29%
- Fat: 18%
- Crude Fiber: 5.6%
- Moisture: 10%
Best for Picky Eaters: Instinct Raw Boost Small-Breed Recipe Dry Food
Yorkies can be picky eaters and may need more enticing food options to get the necessary calories and nutrition. This small breed formula blends high-protein kibble with freeze-dried pieces of raw meat. Since this mix is grain-free, it’s also a good option if your pup has a grain allergy or needs to follow a gluten-free diet.
This mix has some of the highest protein content on our list, at 38%, and is about 469 kcal per cup. It includes glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health and probiotics, as well as omega fatty acids and antioxidants for digestion, immune, and coat health. If your pup isn’t a fan of chicken, there’s also a beef-flavored option.
Nutritional Content:
- 469 kcal/cup
- Protein: 38%
- Fat: 22%
- Crude Fiber: 4.4%
- Moisture: 9%
Best for Weight Management: Wellness Small Breed Complete Health Adult Healthy Weight Turkey & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
This small-breed healthy-weight blend uses turkey as the main ingredient and a mix of energizing carbohydrates, such as oatmeal, barley, and brown rice. At 341 kcal per cup, this mix provides 31% protein and a maximum of 12.4% fat content.
In addition to protein, the recipe includes flaxseed for coat health and blueberries and spinach for antioxidant support. Other ingredients include omega fatty acids for coat health, glucosamine for joint support, and probiotics to promote a healthy gut. Like other dry foods on our list, this mix uses smaller-sized kibble that should be easy to chew for Yorkies.
Nutritional Content:
- 341 kcal/cup
- Protein: 31%
- Fat: 10% min / 12.4% max
- Crude Fiber: 6.7%
- Moisture: 11%
How We Chose
The products featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and interviews with veterinary experts. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.
Further Reading
- The Essential Guide to Dog Breeds: Yorkshire Terrier
- An Expert Guide on How To Read a Dog Food Label
- The 11 Best Dog Foods for Small Breed Puppies in Every Style
- Is Grain-Free Food Good for Dogs?
