Yorkie Obesity The Role of Inactivity in Weight Gain

Yorkie Growth & Weight Chart: Puppy to Adult (With Pictures)

Yorkies are wonderful dogs, but no one will ever accuse them of being big pups. These are tiny dogs, suitable for living in your lap or riding around in your purse.

Even so, many Yorkie owners inevitably find themselves wondering if their pup is normal in terms of size. Its understandable, as an overgrown Yorkie can be prone to health problems, while an undersized one may be malnourished.

With that in mind, weve prepared a guide that lets you know just how big do Yorkies get, along with how big Yorkies should be at various points of their development. There are always outliers, of course, so dont use this in place of a vets advice, but it should be useful as a broad guideline.

Yorkie Breed Overview

Yorkies are one of the smallest dog breeds on the planet, only tipping the scales at 37 pounds when fully grown. As a result, you may not see much change in their size from week to week or even month to month.

If anything, these charts may be more useful as indicators of whether your Yorkie is getting too big. Many people spoil these dogs, and they can often become overweight as a result. This is terrible for their health, so use the data below to make sure youre not overfeeding your pup.

Also, keep in mind that all this information is designed for purebred Yorkies. If you have a mix, that can skew the data significantly.

Yorkie Puppy Growth and Weight Chart

All the information below is a general estimate of where the average Yorkie will be at different stages of their development. As with humans, some Yorkies develop at different rates, and yours may be bigger or smaller than average at various points.

Therefore, you shouldnt panic if your dogs size doesnt correspond with the chart below in a single time window. Instead, track their growth over several weeks or months, and only start to become concerned if theres a consistent pattern of being too big or small.

Another important thing to realize is that one of the biggest factors affecting your dogs growth will be their birth weight. If they were huge at birth, theyll likely be bigger at every stage of development before ultimately becoming large adults. The opposite is true for very small newborns.

Yorkie Puppy Growth and Weight Chart (Male)

Yorkie Puppy Growth and Weight Chart (Female)

You need to take good care of your pet while they are growing, so you can use our calculator tool to help you know how much to feed your pup and keep their well-being:

The exact amount of calories an individual animal needs to maintain a healthy weight is variable and influenced by many factors including genetics, age, breed, and activity level. This tool is meant to be used only as a guideline for healthy individuals and does not substitute veterinary advice

Yorkie Growth Stages

Like most small-breed dogs, Yorkies mature faster than their larger counterparts. That means you shouldnt compare them to, say, your neighbors Great Dane; however, if you do, youll likely notice that your dog goes through a few stages of growth more rapidly.

Below, we explain what you should look for at each stage, including major milestones, necessary vaccines, and how much your dog should be eating.

8-week-old (2 months) Yorkie

At 8 weeks, your Yorkie is ready to be weaned from their mother (this is also the week that you get to bring your new buddy home if youre adopting or buying from a breeder).

They should be eating an appropriate puppy kibble at this point, and you can let them free-feed. Just set a bowl of food out for them, and replenish it as necessary. Your dog is growing rapidly and needs all the calories that they can get.

Your puppy should get their first shots at this point, as they need boosters for parvo and distemper.

12-week-old (3 months) Yorkie

Once your Yorkie is 3 months old, you should stop free-feeding them and instead give them portion-controlled meals three times per day. How much you feed them will depend on the food and their size, but in general, they should receive between and a cup of food per day.

Your dog will need another round of parvo and distemper shots, and they should also receive a complete checkup at this point (including a stool sample).

By this point, they should be acclimated to your home (assuming that you brought them home at 8 weeks). You can also begin housetraining them and teaching them to walk on a leash.

6-month-old Yorkie

At 6 months old, your Yorkie should be their final color. Theyll also be close to their final size, although some Yorkies keep growing until theyre a year old.

If your pup has put on enough weight, you can likely start feeding them only two meals per day. You can keep the total amount of food the same or drop it down a bit, depending on the advice of your vet.

Its important to pay attention to your dogs bite at this stage as well, as its not uncommon for their jaws to suddenly become misaligned around 5 or 6 months old.

They should have a rabies vaccination at this time, and theyre also old enough to start learning more advanced obedience techniques. This is also when they reach sexual maturity, so you should have your dog spayed or neutered if youre not planning to breed them.

12-month-old (1 year) Yorkie

At 12 months, your Yorkie is now officially an adult. With your Yorkie at full-grown size, you can commemorate the occasion by switching them (slowly) to an adult dog food. Continue feeding them to cups of food daily in two servings, unless otherwise advised by your vet.

Theyll need a round of boosters at this stage, including rabies, DHPP, coronavirus, leptospirosis, Bordetella, and Lyme disease. They should also be on flea and tick medication and a heartworm pill.

You can do just about anything with a 12-month-old Yorkie, including putting them through advanced training classes and long grooming sessions. Theyll stay an adult until they turn 8 or so, at which point theyll be considered a senior dog.

When Do Yorkies Stop Growing?

Yorkies grow quickly (although they dont grow very much). Many Yorkies stop growing and are fully mature by the time theyre 6 or 8 months old, although some take until they turn a year old to reach physical maturity. As a general rule, though, if your Yorkie is still adding weight after theyve turned 1, its time for a diet.

They also mature quickly from a mental standpoint. You can start training a Yorkie earlier than you would a larger-breed dog, and theyll have the attention span and intelligence to handle advanced techniques by the time theyre 6 months old.

The flip side to this is that they lose their puppy-ness sooner than other dogs, but even adult Yorkies are still fairly puppy-like.

How Does Neutering/Spaying Affect My Dogs Growth?

Since Yorkies mature so quickly, spaying or neutering them has little effect on their growth. By the time theyre old enough for the procedure, theyll likely be close to their final size.

However, allowing your female Yorkie to become pregnant before theyre fully mature can stunt their growth a bit, as the nutrients that they need to continue growing will go to their puppies instead. If youre planning on breeding your dog, wed recommend waiting until theyre fully mature to do so.

Dangers of Growing Too Quickly or Stunted Growth

Its very rare for a Yorkie to grow too quickly or have their growth stunted. Keep in mind that youll find quite a few variations in size within the breed, so see if your vet says that you should be concerned.

If your Yorkie is packing on extra weight, though, you should decrease their caloric consumption and increase their exercise levels. Being overweight can lead to a host of different health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and joint problems.

However, if your dog isnt putting on any weight at all, you should take them in for a checkup. This is often a sign of an intestinal parasite, so the vet will likely want to take a stool sample to be sure.

If your Yorkie is way off the growth chart in both height and weight, it may indicate that theyre not purebred. Yorkie mixes can weigh 15 pounds or more, but its extremely rare for a purebred Yorkie to get anywhere near that big. If you bought your dog from a breeder, you might want to start asking questions.

Conclusion

Yorkies are wonderful dogs, and raising them as puppies can be both fun and challenging. Ideally, youll want your dog to grow slowly and steadily, but thats not always possible with this breed.

Dont be alarmed by sudden growth spurts, and dont be concerned if your dog stops growing at 6 or 8 months. These dogs mature quickly, and their puppyhood fades fast.

As long as your Yorkie isnt too much of an outlier (and as long as your vet isnt concerned with their growth), you have nothing to worry about. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy watching your new Yorkie grow to full size and explore the world.

Featured Image Credit: Pezibear, Pixabay

Is Your Yorkie Overweight? How to Tell and How Can You Help

Keeping your Yorkie in good shape is crucial for keeping them healthy and mobile. After all, an overweight Yorkie could suffer from sore joints, diabetes, or breathing problems, among other health issues. But how do you know how much a Yorkie should weigh and whether your fur child is overweight? And if your Yorkie is carrying a few extra pounds, how do you help them slim down?

Is your Yorkie overweight?

Every dog is different, even if they are the same breed. Therefore, there isnt a one size fits all perfect weight that suits all Yorkshire Terriers. A healthy weight for a larger Yorkie might mean a smaller-sized Yorkie was obese! Of course, its not just Yorkies that can become podgy, you can read tips on how to help an obese chihuahua here.

Ideal weight

The breed standard weight for the Yorkshire Terrier is 7 lbs, but of course, not every dog will (or should) weigh exactly this. A broader range of 6lbs to 8lbs is more accommodating but doesnt account for the fact that there is quite a range of heights and builds when it comes to Yorkies. So, if your dog lies outside the ideal range, they might still be healthy. Using a measurement called Body Condition Score, their body fat can be more accurately assessed.

Body Condition Score

Body Condition Score (BCS) is a far more reliable indicator of whether an individual pooch is overweight, underweight, or just right. You can ask your veterinarian to show you if you are unsure, but if you want to have a go at home:

• Feel how prominent the spinous processes are (the bumps you can feel along your dogs back). You should be able to feel them, but not see them, and they shouldnt be prominent.
• Feel how prominent your dogs ribs are. You should be able to feel them, but in most breeds, you shouldnt be able to see them.
• Look at your dog from above. Their waist should curve inwards, if it is straight or bulges outwards theyre overweight.
• Check this chart to give your dog a score from 1 to 9.

What makes a Yorkie overweight?

Dog treats are often full of carbohydrates or fat, and some pet parents are surprised when they realize just how fattening human tidbits are for their pets.

If your Yorkie is overweight, what might be causing them to gain weight?

Diet

It could be that theyre eating too much food. Different dog foods have different calorie contents and nutritional values. For example, most dry dog biscuits are more calorie-dense than fresh or wet dog food. So, if your dog eats a lightly cooked human-grade dog food with whole food ingredients, theyll be able to eat more of it to get the same number of calories as dry dog food. This could keep your dog feeling more satisfied for longer.

Perhaps its not the amount of dog food that youre feeding, but what the dog food contains. For example, if a dog is fed a diet that is high in carbohydrates and fats, theyll gain weight.

Treats

Of course, if your dog gets regular treats then thats likely to be a factor in their weight gain! Dog treats are often full of carbohydrates or fat, and some pet parents are surprised when they realize just how fattening human tidbits are for their four-legged friends.

Exercise

Dogs need exercise, of course, and Yorkshire Terriers are no exception. However, even an active lifestyle is unlikely to help shift your dogs weight if their diet isnt right. On the other hand, if your dog doesnt get out for a good walk at least once or twice a day, it could be a factor in their excessive weight.

How can you help an overweight Yorkie lose weight?

Some brands have a customized feeding calculator that has an option that allows your dog to lose weight at a gradual pace.

So, now you know whether your Yorkie is overweight, and perhaps youve identified some of the reasons why they might be carrying some extra pounds. But what can you do about it?

Diet

If you want to keep your dog at a healthy weight, or even help them lose weight, its important to make sure youre feeding them the right amount. Some brands have a customized feeding calculator that has an option that allows your dog to lose weight at a gradual pace.

Now that you know youre feeding the right amount, its also important to make sure the dog food youre offering suits your dogs needs. Feeding a human-grade diet thats high in protein and low in carbohydrates should not only help keep them feeling fuller for longer, but it should also help keep your dog lean. Remember, its important to transition your dogs food gradually to help prevent a stomach upset.

Treats

If youre trying to help your Yorkie lose weight, try to cut out treats and human tidbits altogether. Dogs dont need treats, and if their dog food is tasty enough, they should be satisfied with that.

Exercise

Regular exercise keeps your Yorkies joints and muscles moving, and boosts their well-being.

Sadly, unless your dog is currently housebound, its unlikely that exercising them more will be the key to their weight loss. That being said, to keep their joints and muscles moving, and boost their well-being, its a good idea to take your dog out at least once a day.

Summary

Being a pet parent can be tricky. On the one hand, we want to spoil our fur babies, but we also want to remember to keep them as healthy as possible. If your Yorkie is overweight, cutting back on treats and making the switch to a diet thats low in carbohydrates can help keep them lean.

FAQ

How can I help my overweight Yorkie?

The key to helping any dog lose weight is choosing a low-carbohydrate diet and feeding the right amount of it. However, even if you do this if theyre also getting lots of treats they probably wont lose much weight so make sure to scale back the amount of treats youre giving your Yorkie.

What is considered overweight for a Yorkie?

Over 8 lbs could be considered overweight for the average Yorkie. However, every dog is different. Therefore, its more accurate to ask your veterinarian to help you to check their Body Condition Score.

Why is my Yorkie gaining weight?

If your Yorkie is gaining weight, its either because theyre eating too much, eating the wrong food, or theyre not active enough.