11 Best Foods for Yorkie Puppies In 2023

Yorkies are known as some of the world’s smallest dogs. While they aren’t technically the smallest dogs out there (that award goes to the Chihuahua), they’re small enough that finding food for them can be a real challenge, especially when they are puppies.

These pets are so small that they’ll absolutely need a small breed puppy food. Otherwise, the kibble likely won’t be small enough to fit in their mouth. However, not just any small breed puppy food will do. Not only does it have to be nutritious, but just because a food is designed for small breeds does not mean it’s designed for dogs as small as Yorkies.

In this article, we’ll review the best puppy foods for your Yorkie. These foods contain the nutrition that your puppy needs and are plenty small enough for them to eat.

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A Quick Comparison of Our Winners (2023)

Image Product Details

Best Overall

Winner

Wellness Small Breed Complete Health Puppy

Fortified with DHA

Very small kibble size

No by-products, fillers, or artificial preservatives

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Best Value

Second place

Purina Pro Plan Puppy Small Breed Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food

DH enriched

Chicken as the first ingredient

No artificial flavors or preservatives

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Premium Choice

Third place

Ollie Fresh Dog Food Subscription

Fresh ingredients

Chicken is the first ingredient

Minimally processed

Click Here to Save 50%!

Canidae Pure Petite Puppy Small Breed Dog Food

Packed with DHA

Coated in raw salmon

Contains essential omega fatty acids

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Diamond Naturals Small & Medium Breed Puppy Dog Food

Probiotics included

Chicken as the first ingredient

Made without corn, wheat, artificial flavors, and colors

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The 11 Best Dog Food for Yorkie Puppies

1. Wellness Small Breed Complete Health Puppy – Best Overall

Wellness Small Breed Complete Health Puppy

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Protein: 28%

Fat: 19%

First Five Ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Salmon Meal, Barley

For most small puppies, we highly recommend Wellness Small Breed Complete Health Puppy food. This puppy food is designed for extremely small puppies, making it a good option for small dogs like Yorkies. The smaller kibble size makes it far easier for these dogs to eat the food.

Furthermore, the ingredients are high-quality. The first ingredient is deboned turkey, followed by chicken meal and both of these are high-quality options for puppies. They provide protein and fat, as well as a variety of amino acids that puppies need to grow.

Plus, this food contains no by-products, fillers, or artificial preservatives. It’s even fortified with omega fatty acids, such as DHA. We also liked that it was completely made in the USA, though the ingredients are sourced globally. Based on these factors, this puppy food is easily one of the best puppy foods available for Yorkies.

Pros

Very small kibble size

Deboned turkey as the first ingredient

No by-products, fillers, or artificial preservatives

Made in the USA

Fortified with DHA

Cons

A bit expensive

2. Purina Pro Plan Puppy Small Breed Chicken & Rice Dog Food – Best Budget Option

Purina Pro Plan Puppy Small Breed Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food

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Protein: 33%

Fat: 20%

First Five Ingredients: Chicken, Corn Gluten Meal, Poultry By-Product Meal, Rice, Whole Grain Wheat

For those who need great puppy food on a budget, you may want to consider Purina Pro Plan Puppy Small Breed Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food as an option. It contains everything that your Yorkie needs to grow healthy, but it is comparatively inexpensive.

Chicken is the first ingredient, which is a high-quality option for just about any puppy. As long as your dog isn’t allergic to chicken, it is a great source of protein and fat. Plus, it is a complete protein, so it contains all the amino acids that your dog needs.

There are no artificial flavors or preservatives in this formula. All ingredients have a key part of play in canine nutrition.

With that said, you are sacrificing some ingredient quality. The second ingredient is corn gluten meal, which adds quite a bit of plant-based protein to the mix which is not nearly as high-quality as meat protein. This formula also contains poultry by-product meals—not as good of an option as whole meat.

Still, despite this, this formula is the best food for Yorkie puppies for the money.

Pros

Inexpensive

No artificial flavors or preservatives

Chicken as the first ingredient

DH enriched

Cons

Some low-quality ingredients

3. Ollie Fresh Dog Food Subscription – Premium Choice

Gizmo white dog licking scoop with Ollie dog food chicken recipe in bowl

Click Here to Save 50% with Ollie

Protein: 10%

Fat: 5%

First Five Ingredients: Chicken, carrots, peas, rice, chicken liver

Ollie’s Fresh recipes are the pinnacle of quality and nutrition, made from real meat, fruits, vegetables, and grains, to meet the nutritional needs of your puppy every day. All of Ollie’s recipes were created by experts in the field and are packed with nutrients.

Ollie’s Fresh Chicken recipe draws most of its meat protein from chicken and is mixed with rice and carrots, making it a gentle but satisfying combination for your pup. In addition to using fresh, human-grade ingredients, Ollie’s recipes are all minimally processed to reduce nutrient loss. The recipes also contain no filler ingredients, wheat, or soy.

Ollie Fresh chicken recipe is an excellent, grain-inclusive wet option for puppies, worthy of our number three premium choice spot.

Pros

Fresh ingredients

Chicken is the first ingredient

Minimally processed

Low calorie

Cons

Short shelf life when thawed

Only available online

4. Canidae Pure Petite Puppy Small Breed Dog Food

Canidae Pure Petite Puppy Small Breed Dog Food

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Protein: 24%

Fat: 13.5%

First Five Ingredients: Salmon, Salmon Meal, Lentils, Peas, Tapioca

For those who only want the best for their puppy and have the extra money to spend, you may want to look at the Canidae Pure Petite Puppy Small Breed Dog Food. This high-quality dog food only contains eight ingredients – all of which are high-quality. The first ingredient is salmon, which contains protein, fat, and omega fatty acids.

Puppies need extra DHA and other omega fatty acids to thrive and grow completely. Therefore, having a high-DHA fish like salmon as the first ingredient is a great option. Plus, this kibble is coated with raw salmon for extra taste and nutrition. If you have trouble getting your puppy to eat, then you may want to consider upping the offering with this premium dog food.

However, this food does contain peas. Peas have been associated with a variety of different, potentially troublesome side effects. They are linked to DCM, for instance, which is an extremely dangerous heart condition in dogs. For this reason, we try to avoid them when possible (though they are extremely prolific in the dog food industry).

Pros

Packed with DHA

Contains essential omega fatty acids

Coated in raw salmon

Cons

Contains peas

Expensive

5. Diamond Naturals Small & Medium Breed Puppy Dog Food

Diamond Naturals Small & Medium Breed Puppy Dog Food

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Protein: 32%

Fat: 22%

First Five Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Ground White Rice, Chicken Fat, Cracked Pearled Barley

Compared to other puppy foods, this one is extremely high in protein and fat. It includes both chicken and chicken meal as the first two ingredients, which helps add much of this protein and fat. Plus, this recipe uses only cage-free chicken. Furthermore, it also includes highly nutritious foods like blueberries, oranges, and pumpkin.

This food also includes various strains of canine-specific probiotics, which are essential for a puppy’s immune and digestive system. Without the proper microbiome in their digestive system, a puppy may experience digestive upset or have problems with their immune system. After all, a dog’s immune system starts in its gut.

This food also includes antioxidants and prebiotics. Again, these help support your puppy’s immune system.

This formula is also made completely without corn, wheat, artificial flavors, or colors.

Pros

Probiotics included

Antioxidants and prebiotics added

Made without corn, wheat, artificial flavors, and colors

Chicken as the first ingredient

Cons

Includes refined grains

6. Solid Gold Mighty Mini

Solid Gold Mighty Mini

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Protein: 30%

Fat: 18%

First Five Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Chickpeas, Peas, Pea Protein

At first glance, this food looks top-notch. Solid Gold Mighty Mini is specifically made for small puppies, including Yorkies. The food kibble is extremely small, so even the smallest puppies should not have trouble eating it.

This food includes quality prebiotics and probiotics that are designed to support your canine’s digestive system. Because puppies are starting from scratch on their microbiome, it is vital that you support it with the proper probiotics.

Most of the ingredients in this food are high-quality. For instance, it starts with whole chicken. However, it does include a lot of peas. These peas are not the best option, and it is likely that they would outnumber the chicken if all the pea ingredients were put together. For instance, pea protein is included on top of whole peas.

These peas likely add a lot of the protein content in this dog food, as opposed to higher quality meat-based protein.

Pros

Probiotics included

Very small kibble

Cons

Peas included

Expensive

7. Eukanuba Puppy Small Breed Dry Dog Food

Eukanuba Puppy Small Breed Dry Dog Food

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Protein: 32%

Fat: 21%

First Five Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn, Chicken Fat, Wheat

Eukanuba is a quality dog food brand that often churns out great options. However, the Eukanuba Puppy Small Breed Dry Dog Food is only in the middle of the pack. It is high in protein and fat, which puppies need to grow and it starts with chicken, which is a great option for most canines out there.

This food includes added levels of DHA to ensure proper brain development. We also liked that prebiotics were included in this food.

With that said, this food is quite expensive. It is more expensive than other options on the market, at least, but you don’t get many extra features. The ingredients aren’t particularly higher quality than others out there. For instance, by-products are included high on the ingredient list. Wheat is also included pretty high, which is mostly just a filler product.

Pros

DHA added

Prebiotics included

Chicken included as the first ingredient

Cons

Expensive

By-products and wheat included

8. Blue Buffalo Freedom Small Breed Puppy

Blue Buffalo Freedom Small Breed Puppy

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Protein: 30%

Fat: 18%

First Five Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Pea Starch, Turkey Meal

For the most part, Blue Buffalo Freedom Small Breed Puppy is a good option. It is advertised as being a good option for dogs that are sensitive to certain ingredients, but it doesn’t actually seem to be a great option for this purpose. This food includes chicken as the first ingredient, which is a common dog allergen.

Furthermore, it also includes a variety of different proteins, which can make it more difficult for sensitive dogs to eat.

Peas are also included in this food. In fact, much of the protein in this food is peas, which are not recommended for most canines. It is linked to heart conditions, which can be extremely serious and even deadly.

With that said, this food is high in antioxidants, DHA, ARA, and other things that puppies need to thrive. Therefore, it isn’t a completely bad option; it just isn’t the best for most puppies out there.

Plus, this food is also quite expensive when compared to others. You’re paying more for less. Therefore, while this food will likely help your puppy thrive, we’d recommend choosing a different food instead.

Pros

High in antioxidants

Includes DHA and ARA

Chicken as the first ingredient

Cons

Expensive

Peas included

9. NOW Fresh Grain-Free Small Breed Puppy Recipe

NOW Fresh Grain-Free Small Breed Puppy Recipe

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Protein: 28%

Fat: 18%

First Five Ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Whole Dried Eggs, Peas, Pea Flour, Potatoes

NOW Fresh Grain-Free Small Breed Puppy Recipe is advertised as fresh and high-quality. It does include deboned turkey as the first ingredient, which is extremely high-quality food. However, turkey has the same sort of protein that chicken does, so dogs that are allergic to chicken will also be allergic to turkey.

Whole dried eggs are also included, which are extremely nutritious for puppies. They include DHA and many other nutrients that are perfect for canines.

However, this food is grain-free. Like most grain-free foods, it doesn’t actually include more meat or anything of that sort. Instead, the grains have been replaced with high amounts of peas and potatoes. While these are necessary to craft a kibble, too much can lead to heart problems, as we have previously discussed.

Pros

Turkey as the first ingredient

Whole eggs included

Grain-free

Cons

Includes a lot of peas

Expensive

10. Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Dry Dog Food

Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Dry Dog Food

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Protein: 27%

Fat: 18%

First Five Ingredients: Chicken By-Product Meal, Brewer’s Rice, Chicken Fat, Corn, Dried Plain Beet Pulp

At first glance, you may consider purchasing Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Dry Dog Food as it’s designed specifically for the Yorkshire Terrier puppy. According to the company, the food is the exact correct shape for Yorkie terriers. However, there are also plenty of other foods out there that are perfect for Yorkies.

This food does include plenty of omega fatty acids, including both omega-3 and omega-6. It also features a high number of antioxidants and vitamin E, which are vital for a puppy’s immune system.

However, you should also look at some of the other ingredients. The first ingredient is meat by-products, which aren’t the highest quality options out there. The problem is that you can’t exactly tell what the by-products include, which means that they may potentially be innutritious. There is just no way to tell.

Furthermore, this food is extremely expensive. It is far more expensive than other options on the market – despite having cheaper ingredients.

Pros

Omega fatty acids included

Added antioxidants

Kibble designed for Yorkies

Cons

Expensive

By-products included

Some lower quality ingredients included

11. Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Healthy Development Dry Dog Food

Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Healthy Development Dry Dog Food

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Protein: 25%

Fat: 15%

First Five Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Wheat, Cracked Pearled Barley, Whole Grain Sorghum, Whole Grain Corn

Typically, Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Healthy Development Dry Dog Food is advertised as one of the best foods out there. However, the ingredients it contains are fairly low-quality and don’t match the very expensive price tag.

Chicken is the first ingredient, which is a decent option for most dogs. While chicken is one of the most common allergens, most dogs can consume it without too much of a problem. However, that’s where the ingredient list starts going downhill. The rest of the major ingredients are grains of some sort. While grains typically aren’t a problem for most dogs out there, high amounts of grain are still not recommended.

Furthermore, this food is quite low in both protein and fat, which puppies need to thrive.

It does contain DHA from added fish oil, however, which helps ensure that your puppy’s eyes and ears develop correctly. Antioxidants and vitamin E are also included, which help support your puppy’s immune system while there at this sensitive time in their lives.

Pros

Chicken as the first ingredient

Contains DHA

Antioxidants and vitamin E included

Cons

Expensive

Contains large amounts of grains

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Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Food For Yorkie Puppies

Purchasing food for your Yorkie puppy is vital to their growth. If you do not choose the correct food or feed that food correctly, it can lead to health impacts later in life. Deficiencies while your puppy is growing can lead to growth problems, which may lead to health problems later.

Luckily, you have our reviews above and this buying guide to help you determine the best food for your Yorkie puppy. Keep reading for everything you need to know about purchasing the best puppy food for your Yorkie.

Grain-Free vs. Grain Inclusive

Despite what the advertisers may tell you, most dogs need grain-inclusive foods to thrive. Grains do have nutritional value, so they are not just filler. Whole grains have more nutritional value than refined grains so you should choose dog foods with whole grains when possible.

Dogs have been eating grains for a very long time and have therefore evolved to eat them without many ill effects. While some dogs are allergic to grains, this is actually quite rare.

Grain-free dog foods do not necessarily have more meat in them. Instead, the grains are simply exchanged for low-quality veggies, like peas and potatoes. Sadly, there has not been enough evidence put forth to call these veggies safe in high amounts. In fact, the studies that have come out have not been good. Some of them have linked peas and potatoes to heart conditions and other ill health effects.

Therefore, grains are far safer than what they are commonly replaced with.

As long as your dog is not allergic to grains, you should aim to feed them grain-inclusive food. It is simply better for them in most cases.

Yorkshire terrier eating from feeding bowl

Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock

Protein, Fat, and Carbohydrates

Dogs are not obligate carnivores like cats. Therefore, they can eat some plant matter, such as fruits and veggies. Furthermore, a dog’s carbohydrate needs are different from both humans and cats. They are their own species and need their own ratio of macronutrients.

Generally, dogs need a diet that is high in protein and fat. Studies have shown that dogs preferably need a diet that contains around 30% protein and 63% fat, which leaves room for only 7% of carbohydrates. (This estimation is by energy, not by the gram.)

Therefore, you should choose a dog food that is quite high in protein and fat but decently low in carbohydrates. For the most part, the food should be focused on meat products that provide the fat and protein that a dog needs. Carbohydrate-rich foods should be an afterthought.

Overall, dogs need far more protein than they do carbohydrates, and their diet should reflect this.

Puppy Nutrition

Puppies need different nutrition from adults since they are still growing. Therefore, your puppy should be on a dog food specifically designed for puppies until they are fully mature. Generally, puppy food is higher in protein and fat than adult food, as puppies require more of these macronutrients to grow.

Puppy food regularly contains a variety of other nutrients as well – all of which are designed to help your puppy grow and thrive.

For instance, many puppy foods include DHA, which helps ensure that your puppy’s brain develops properly. There is some evidence that DHA makes your dog more trainable down the line. Antioxidants, omega fatty acids, and similar additives are also recommended, as they can improve the overall health of your puppy.

Sadly, it is difficult to find food that includes all of these things. However, most do include at least one or two. Therefore, we recommend that you choose one that has at least a few of these ingredients. If you can find a suitable option that includes all of them, then you’ll be ahead of the curve.

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Conclusion

Puppies need specific nutrition to thrive and grow into happy and healthy dogs. Therefore, we highly recommend being careful about selecting puppy food for your Yorkie.

We’ve included 10 different reviews to cover a wide variety of puppy foods. We highly recommend Wellness Small Breed Complete Health Puppy as this food contains quality ingredients without being terribly expensive. Plus, it is also fortified with DHA, which can improve brain health.

For those looking for a budget option, we recommend Purina Pro Plan Puppy Small Breed Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food. It is DHA-enriched and includes chicken as the first ingredient. It is extremely inexpensive, which is one reason it ended up on our list.

We hope that our reviews were helpful in your search for the perfect puppy food for your Yorkie.

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