How much to feed a Yorkshire Terrier
A Yorkshire Terrier should weigh 4.4–7 lb by the breed standard. Here’s how much food that is per day, plus a calculator for your own food.
Weight by the standard
- males
- 4.4–7 lb
- females
- 4.4–7 lb
Source: AKC and the German Klub für Terrier
The AKC standard only sets an upper limit: must not exceed 7 pounds. The lower end of 2 kg (about 4.4 lb) comes from the German breed club Klub für Terrier, for animal welfare reasons.
In UK vet practices, adult Yorkshire Terriers had a median weight of 5.1 kg, about 11 lb (VetCompass, 2025), so many are heavier than the standard. For your dog, use its own weight in the calculator below.
Feeding chart by weight
Example: dry food with 380 kcal/cup, wet food with 30 kcal/oz.
| Weight | kcal/day | Dry | Wet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.4 lb | 188 | ½ cup | 6.3 oz |
| 5.5 lb | 222 | ⅝ cup | 7.4 oz |
| 6 lb | 237 | ⅝ cup | 7.9 oz |
| 7 lb | 266 | ¾ cup | 8.9 oz |
For spayed or neutered dogs with normal activity. Intact dogs need about 12% more. The amounts only apply to food with exactly these calories; use the calculator below for yours.
Calculate with your food
How much does your dog weigh?
Decimals help, e.g. 22.5. No pet scale? Weigh yourself, then again holding your pet.
A starting point – the scale has the final say. If your dog is ill, talk to your vet.
Yorkshire Terrier puppies
A Yorkshire Terrier grows to about 5.5 lb. At 4 months, a puppy weighs about 3.4 lb on the growth curve in the FEDIAF guidelines and needs about ⅝ cup of dry food with 380 kcal/cup a day. For your puppy, calculate with its own age and weight.
Questions
How much should a Yorkshire Terrier eat per day?
A Yorkshire Terrier weighing 5.5 lb, spayed or neutered with normal activity, needs about 222 kcal a day. That’s about ⅝ cup of dry food or 7.4 oz of wet food with the calories from the chart. Use the calculator above for your food.
How much does a Yorkshire Terrier weigh?
According to AKC and the German Klub für Terrier, adult males weigh 4.4–7 lb and females 4.4–7 lb. The AKC standard only sets an upper limit: must not exceed 7 pounds. The lower end of 2 kg (about 4.4 lb) comes from the German breed club Klub für Terrier, for animal welfare reasons.
My dog weighs more than this. Is that too much?
Not necessarily. The range is for typical dogs; large or muscular dogs can weigh more. Your dog’s shape tells you more than the number: you should feel the ribs and see a waist from above. If in doubt, ask your vet.
Sources
- AKC – Official Standard of the Yorkshire Terrier
- Klub für Terrier (VDH) – Yorkshire Terrier
- FCI Standard No. 86 – Yorkshire Terrier (2026)
- O'Neill DG et al. (2025): Yorkshire Terriers under primary veterinary care in the UK – demography and disorders. Companion Anim Health Genet (RVC VetCompass)
Last checked: October 2026