The 7 Best Foods For Yorkies Great Grub For Your Spirited Sweetheart

 The Yorkshire terrier is known for many things, especially her playful personality!

But in order to keep your perky pooch feeling her best, it’s important to provide her with a high quality dog food, catered to her individual needs. To help, we’ve compiled some of the best food options available for Yorkies to support your fun-sized furry friend. 

Below, we’ll explain what makes a good dog food for these one-of-a-kind pups, and share a couple of our favorite food options for your best buddy.

Best Dog Foods For Yorkies : Quick Picks

    #1 Nom Nom [Best Overall Food For Yorkies]: A fresh, human-grade option that’s custom-crafted for your specific doggo. Get 50% off your first order!

    #2 Diamond Naturals [Most Affordable Food For Yorkies]: A tasty, nutritious, and budget-friendly option for keeping your Yorkie well fed.

    #3 Merrick Lil Plates [Best Wet Food For Yorkies]: A delicious wet food that will work as a complete meal or a tempting kibble topper. 

General Dog Food Considerations: What Makes A Good Dog Food?

How to pick Yorkie Food

When it comes to picking out a high quality dog food for any furry friend, there are a couple of key considerations to take into account. You’ll want to make sure that any potential meal for your pooch checks the following boxes: 

    You’ll want to pick a new food with the guidance of your veterinarian.

    Your food of choice should address your dog’s unique health concerns.

    The food needs to meet AAFCO guidelines for your dog’s life stage.

You’ll want to consider these criteria mandatory, but there are some additional things to think about when picking a food for your Yorkie. Specifically, you’ll want to look for food that:

    Are made by a brand who has a dog nutritionist on staff.

    Dog food made in the USA or a Western country. 

    Feature a whole protein at the top of the ingredients list. 

    Contains things like antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies, and nutritious whole grains.

Pet-Care Pro Tip: Opt For Small Meals

Many small breed dogs, including Yorkies, may benefit from eating multiple small meals per day as opposed to a single large meal.

This will help prevent overeating and make it easier for your furry friend to enjoy sustained energy throughout the day so that she’s always ready for the next play session.

The 7 Best Dog Foods for Yorkies 

dog food

Without further ado, here are 7 of the best dog foods for your tiny terrier. Just remember to run keep your vet in the loop and discuss any potential food changes with him or her. 

1. Nom Nom

Best Overall Food For Yorkies

Nom Nom dog food

Nom Nom

Premium, human-grade dog food that’s customized for your specific pet.

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About: Your Yorkie is sure to reward you with plenty of puppy kisses if you hook her up with this high quality fresh food from Nom Nom. Made in the USA with ultra premium ingredients, this food has all of the hallmarks of quality pet parents could want.

Features:

    All Nom Nom foods are made in the USA from only US-sourced ingredients

    The food is gently cooked and processed to preserve nutrients 

    Fresh food is shipped frozen to your doorstep and pre-portioned for you furry friend

    Each Nom Nom meal is customized for your specific dog

    Grain-inclusive recipes will help provide the lasting energy your dog needs

    Option to get 50% off your first Nom Nom order!

Ingredients List

Ground turkey, brown rice, eggs, carrots, spinach...

Pros

    Most dogs love the taste of Nom Nom’s meals 

    These foods are customized for your specific four-footer 

    Some pet parents reported coat and skin improvements

    The use of U.S.-sourced ingredients provides peace of mind

Cons

    Fresh foods take up freezer space

    Serving fresh dinners is a little more time-consuming than traditional kibbles 

    All fresh dog foods — including Nom Nom — are expensive 

2. Wellness Toy Breed

Best Kibble For Yorkies

Wellness Toy Breed dog food

Wellness Toy Breed

A premium kibble that’s specifically formulated for Yorkies and other toy breeds. 

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About: This premium kibble from Wellness is designed specifically for toy breeds with its small kibble size and antioxidant-rich recipe. Made in the USA with high-quality ingredients, this small breed kibble also provides your dog with omega-3s to keep her coat soft, silky, and looking its best. 

Features:

    Made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients

    Made whole grains but no corn, wheat, or soy

    Small size kibble is perfect for little mouths

    Great source of antioxidants and omega 3s 

    Fortified with probiotics to promote proper digestion

Ingredients List

Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Rice...

Pros

    The kibble’s ultra small size makes it easy for Yorkies to eat

    We love the inclusion of probiotics in this recipe

    Owners were impressed by the quality of this food given its affordable price

Cons

    Not all dogs loved the taste

    Multi-protein kibbles aren’t ideal for dogs with food allergies

3. Merrick Lil’ Plates

Best Wet Food For Yorkies

Merrick lil Plates Dog Food

Merrick Lil’ Plates

Tasty, pre-portioned wet foods that are designed for Yorkies and other small breeds. 

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About: If your Yorkie isn’t a big fan of dry food, it’s worth considering this nutritious wet food from Merrick. These grain-free pooch plates are made in the USA with whole duck and chicken, giving your furry friend a satisfying, tasty meal. 

Features:

    Grain- and gluten-free food

    Includes fiber-rich vegetables and omega 3s 

    Features whole chicken and duck

    These foods are made in the USA 

    Small individually portioned wet food packets 

Ingredients List

Deboned Duck, Duck Broth, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Deboned Chicken...

Pros

    Most dogs loved the taste of these wet foods

    The pre-portioned containers were perfect for most pint-size pooches

    The soft wet food can also be used as a topper

Cons

    This food is grain free, which may present DCM concerns

    Multi-protein foods aren’t a great choice for dogs with food allergies

4. Diamond Naturals

Most Affordable Dog Food For Yorkies

Diamond Naturals

Diamond Naturals

An affordable small breed dog food that won’t break the bank.

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About: Diamond Naturals offers an affordable lamb-based kibble as a budget friendly pick for Yorkie owners. This food isn’t the most appealing option  on the list, but it’s still a fairly good food with whole meat and plenty of omega 3s. 

Features:

    Small-sized kibbles are perfect for compact Yorkies 

    Recipe includes probiotics to support digestion

    Lamb is a novel protein source that can be beneficial for dogs with allergies 

    Made in the USA by a family-owned company

    Good source of omega 3s to promote a healthy coat

Ingredients List

Lamb, lamb meal, ground white rice, cracked pearled barley, peas...

Pros

    The kibble size seems nearly ideal for Yorkies

    This food is full of fiber and probiotics to help assist with digestion

    Owners were impressed by the quality of this food for the price.

Cons

    A couple of dogs had tummy troubles after consuming this food

    Some owners found the smell of this food particularly strong

5. Blue Buffalo

Best Dog Food For Yorkie Puppies

Blue Buffalo Small Breed Puppy Dog Food

Blue Buffalo

US-made puppy kibble packed with protein, whole grains, and probiotics.

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About: This puppy food from Blue Buffalo is easily one of the best options on the market for feeding your Yorkie youngin’. Made in the USA and optimized for healthy muscle growth, this food features tiny kibble pieces that are easy for your pint-sized puppy to eat.

Features:

    Small-sized kibble makes it a perfect dog food for small breed puppies

    Made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients

    Whole meat is the first ingredient

    Recipe includes satisfying whole grains like brown rice

    Features antioxidant- and vitamin-rich “LifeSource Bits”

Ingredients List

Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Barley, Menhaden Fish Meal...

Pros

    The small-sized kibble is perfect for toy breeds like Yorkies

    Most dogs enjoyed the taste of this food

    We love the inclusion of probiotics and plenty of fiber to support proper digestion

Cons

    Some dogs experienced loose stools after eating this food 

    Some dogs appear to pick around the LifeSource Bits

6. Blue Buffalo Senior

Best Dog Food For Yorkie Seniors

Blue Buffalo Small Breed Senior Dog Food

Blue Buffalo Senior

A US-made food designed specifically for older small-breed dogs.

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About: Blue Buffalo makes another appearance in our top-seven picks with their Small Breed Senior recipe. Specifically crafted for small, older doggos like your aging Yorkie, this food contains premium proteins as well as antioxidant-rich “LifeSource Bits” to keep your golden oldie in her best form. 

Features:

    Contains antioxidant-rich “LifeSource Bits”

    Made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients

    Fortified with probiotics to ensure proper digestion

    Whole grain recipe offers sustainable energy

    Designed specially for small-breed senior dogs

Ingredients List

Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Barley, Oatmeal...

Pros

    This food is specifically designed for older small breed dogs (like Yorkies)

    Most furry friends liked the taste of this kibble — even picky eaters 

    We always like seeing probiotics on an ingredient list

Cons

    Some dogs may eat around the “LifeSource Bits”

    A small number of dogs experienced digestive issues after making the switch

7. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient | Best Food For Yorkies With Food Allergies 

Best Dog Food For Yorkies With Food Allergies 

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Small Breed Bites

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient

A limited-ingredient dog food that’s great for Yorkies with food allergies.

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About: This limited ingredient dog food by Natural Balance is formulated with a relatively short list of ingredients to help owners avoid triggering their pet’s food allergies. It’s also made without grains, which can be helpful for those rare puppers with grain intolerances.

Features:

    Grain-free, limited ingredient dog food

    Great source of omega-3s

    Small breed sized kibble

    Recipe made with fiber-rich sweet potatoes 

    Suitable for all life stages

Ingredients List

Sweet Potatoes, Chicken Meal, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols)...

Pros

    This food appears gentle on dogs with a history of tummy troubles

    Dogs seemed to love this nutritious kibble  

    Some owners noted a difference in their pet’s coat after switching to this food

Cons

    Some owners didn’t like the smell of this kibble

    While this is a limited ingredient food, it does contain chicken which is a common allergen amongst dogs

Specific Considerations for Feeding a Yorkie 

Yorkie Feeding Tips

While all dogs have broadly similar nutritional requirements, there are a few specific things you’ll want to consider when picking out a food for your Yorkshire terrier. 

    Bigger isn’t better. Yorkies are small dogs, with small mouths. You’ll want to find a small kibble (or a fresh or wet food) to accommodate their size.

    Seek out calorie-dense dog foods with whole grains. Whole grains can offer more consistent energy levels to help your pooch feel his best. Calorie-rich foods may also be important and help prevent hypoglycemia for Yorkies, since small dogs burn calories quickly. 

    Opt for moderate protein levels. While these small dogs can be surprisingly sporty, they don’t need super high protein levels to fuel their fun. 

    Some Yorkies can have sensitive stomachs. Unfortunately, Yorkshire terriers can have somewhat sensitive stomachs, so it’s a good idea to seek out dog foods full of probiotics and fiber (you can also add standalone dog probiotic supplements to your pup’s food if need be). 

    Omega 3s will help maintain that lustrous coat. Foods with omega 3s can help keep up the shine and softness of your best buddy’s coat. 

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There’s no doubt that our Yorkies deserve the absolute best. Hopefully, one of these high-quality dog foods will help fuel your furry friend for years to come. 

Has your Yorkshire terrier tried any of these foods? What’s your favorite thing about being a Yorkie owner? We’d love to hear all about it in the comments below!