Yorkie Weight Loss The Role of Breed Specific Nutrition Plans

How Much Should My Yorkie Weigh?

Yorkshire terriers are prized for their courageous demeanor crammed into a small body. You may have the question arising in your brain, How Much Should My Yorkie Weigh? The answer isnt always to the point, and there are numerous factors that influence the size of a Yorkie. Genetics, nutrition, and overall health all play a part.

In this article, you will come across

• A Yorkie weight chart so you can keep track of your puppys development.
• Information on the average Yorkie weight.
• And much more

How Much Should Yorkies Weigh?

Yorkshire Terriers should weigh 7 pounds (3.18 kg) or less and of height between 7 and 8 inches (17.8 20.3 cm) tall at the withers (the ridge at the base of the neck, between the shoulder blades). These restrictions, however, do not apply to all Yorkies.

What Should Yorkies Weigh?

Ideally, Yorkshire Terriers should weigh 7 pounds (3.18 kg) or less and of height between 7 and 8 inches (17.8 20.3 cm) tall at the withers (the ridge at the base of the neck, between the shoulder blades).

You should keep in mind that the above-mentioned information may not be applied to all Yorkies. If you find your Yorkies weight to be too little or too much, its best to consult a vet.

Yorkshire terrier weight chart by age & weight

According to PetMD, you can compare your Yorkies weight using the following weight chart.

So, if your Yorkies birthweight is around 3 oz, then by the second week, as per the table, his weight should be 6 to 7 oz and by the tenth week, it should be 19 to 20 oz.

How Much Does A Teacup Yorkie Weigh?

A Teacup Yorkies average weight is 2 to 4 pounds, and its maximum height is 7 inches.

Teacup Yorkies are a miniature version of Yorkshire Terriers, as the name suggests. Due to their cuteness, they are popular among pet owners who enjoy small dogs or the so-called toy breed.

Teacup Yorkies are adorable pets with sweet personalities. Theyre also very compact, which is ideal if you only have a limited amount of space at home. You can keep your Teacup healthy for years with proper care and attention. The right supplements and food will also help your dogs overall health.

Teacups can easily fit in your hand or a small dog bag because they are so small. Many Teacup Yorkies are only 5 to 7 inches tall, making them perfect for cradling in your palm! Some owners will spend a small fortune grooming their dogs to make them look like teddy bears.

During the first 12 weeks of growth, depending on the size of your Teacup Yorkie at birth, it will gain 1 to 2 lbs and 2 to 3 inches, and 2 to 4 lbs and 5 to 6 inches by week 24. A full-grown Teacup Yorkie can weigh 2 to 4 pounds and stand 5 to 7 inches tall.

Also Read: What is the average lifespan of a Yorkie?

What Is The Average Size (Height) Of A Yorkie?

When measured from the ground to the ridge between their shoulder blades, fully grown Yorkshire Terriers are typically 7 to 8 inches (17.8 20.3 cm) tall. The length of a Yorkie should be roughly equal to their height (measured from the base of their neck to the base of their tail).

Yorkie sizes, on the other hand, can and do vary. Its not uncommon for siblings to have vastly different sizes. Birth weight, nutrition, and genetics all play a role in determining size differences.

Yorkies are small no matter where they fall on the spectrum, but if your Yorkie is much shorter than 7 inches (17.8 cm), you should ask your veterinarian to check for any health issues. Yorkies that are too small are prone to a number of health problems.

While there are larger purebred Yorkies out there, your dog may not be purebred if your Yorkie is over 8 inches tall.

What Is The Average Weight Of A Yorkie?

Yorkies usually weigh between 4 and 7 pounds (1.81 and 3.18 kilograms), though purebred Yorkies can weigh up to 10 pounds.

Also Read: When do yorkies stop growing?

According to Dr. Alison Colyer, DVM, there have also been reports of purebred Yorkies weighing more than 15 pounds, which is unusual. However, when Yorkies grow to be so large, its usually because a larger dog breed was introduced somewhere in their ancestry.

You shouldnt be concerned as long as your Yorkie is healthy and follows a balanced diet and gets plenty of exercises. The weight of Yorkies varies depending on their diet, exercise, and lifestyle. However, your Yorkie is considered underweight if it weighs less than 4 pounds (1.81kg) when fully grown.

Teacup Yorkies are Yorkies that weigh less than 4 pounds. These dogs are at risk of developing a variety of health issues.

How Much Should A Healthy Yorkie Weigh?

A healthy Yorkie should weigh around 4 to 6 pounds. However, it should weigh no more than 7 pounds.

If youre having trouble weighing your dog on a scale or arent sure if theyre the right

weight for their size, you can always do a visual or physical examination of their body.

Also Read: Best food for Yorkie puppy

How To Inspect The Weight Of Your Yorkie?

• To do a visual assessment, look down at your dog from behind. As you move your gaze from their ribcage to their waist, your dogs waist should gently curve inward. The curve inward will be sharp and noticeably smaller if your dog is underweight.
• You can also inspect your dogs abdomen by looking at its side profile. Your dogs abdomen will slope slightly upward from the rib cage if they are a healthy weight. A skinny dog will have no visible body fat and will have its stomach tucked sharply upward from the ribs.
• To check their weight, place your hands on the sides of their bodies, near the rib cage. Without being able to see them, you should be able to feel each rib. If you can see your dogs ribs, he or she is underweight. But, if you cant feel their ribs, theyre either overweight or in need of more exercise.

If the hair on your Yorkie prevents you from making a visual assessment, you can use your hand to look for obvious physical signs that your dog is overweight or underweight.

Run your fingers down your dogs spine and then feel for their pelvic bone to complete this assessment.

What Are the Signs That My Yorkie Is Overweight?

Each breed, like each person, is unique. So dont be alarmed if the number on the scale when you weigh your Yorkie at home appears to be quite large.

Instead, get out your calculator and do some math. Get a chart from your veterinarian or look it up online that shows your dogs ideal weight based on his breed, height, and age.

1. Comparatively Heavier Than The Usual Range

Your Yorkie is overweight if he is 5 to 19 percent heavier than he should be. A small change in his routine and diet can have a significant impact on his overall health, not just on the scale. If he is 20% heavier than normal, more drastic measures may be required.

Ideally, a Yorkie should weigh between four to seven pounds.

2. Rib Test

The rib test is a good indicator if youre not sure whether your Yorkie is overweight or not. Circumambulate his flanks and abdomen with your hands. You should be able to feel the ribs on a dog that is at its ideal weight (but not see them, which would mean your dog is too skinny). If you cant find them, if you cant feel them through your dogs fat, its time to change his diet and get him to exercise.

Also Read: Best dog food for yorkie

3. Lethargic and Lazy Behavior

Your Yorkie used to be incredibly energetic, to the point of depleting your own reserves. When he was a puppy, he used to play around, go fetch, be excited whenever you returned home, try to catch his tail, or, much to your dismay, try to chase bicycles and cars. He now prefers the comfort of his couch to play outside, and sleeping has gradually become more appealing.

If this sounds familiar, its possible that your Yorkie has become apathetic as a result of his weight, which prevents him from being active, or because exercising requires a lot more effort than it used to. Your dog will be exhausted if he is carrying too much weight. A general feeling of this laziness could indicate that your Yorkie is overweight.

Can A Yorkie Weigh 15 Pounds?

Though Yorkies should weigh 4 7 pounds, pet Yorkies can weigh up to 12 15 pounds.

If your Yorkie is 15 pounds, it doesnt always mean that he is overweight. If your four-legged friend is short and has a lot of body mass, it is a cause of concern, as the weight can be considered overweight.

However, a lean and tall Yorkie weighing 15 pounds is usually normal. Its best to do a quick rib test as discussed in the earlier sections to determine this.

How Big Is A Full Size Yorkie?

Yorkies are finished growing by the age of two, and their weight should not fluctuate much if they are fed a balanced, consistent diet.

When measured from the ground to the ridge between their shoulder blades, fully grown Yorkshire Terriers are typically 7 to 8 inches (17.8 20.3 cm) tall.

Theyll have formed a strong bond by this point, and they wont want to be left alone, so they may follow you around the house at times. Theyll act as a miniature guard dog, patrolling your home and alerting you to any unusual activity. Especially if its a pesky squirrel thats invading your yard!

Is A Large Yorkie Still Healthy?

When compared to other dog breeds, even large Yorkies are still small. If your Yorkie weighs more than 9 pounds but doesnt appear overweight and your veterinarian is unconcerned, you shouldnt be concerned.

According to Dr. Krista Williams, DVM, a Yorkies weight is determined by both their bone structure and their diet. Dogs that are taller and longer in stature will also weigh more. The amount they weigh will be determined by their stature and muscle mass.

Any dog can carry an excessive amount of weight. Yorkshire Terriers weighing more than 10 pounds should be examined to see if there is a need for weight loss or if excess fat is causing health problems.

What Problems Is An Overweight Yorkie Prone To?

If your Yorkie is overweight, he might have the below problems:

• Diabetes
• Skin issues
• Heart problems
• Joint problems
• Kidney defects
• Canine arthritis
• Liver-related issues
• Mobility and locomotive problems
• Breathing problems
• High blood pressure

How To Make Your Yorkie Lose Weight?

If you feel that your Yorkie is overweight, you can follow the below steps to control his weight:

• Fewer calories
• Increased physical activity
• Keeping them active
• Healthier diet
• Cut down carbs
• More fiber and veggies

How To Make Your Yorkie Gain Weight?

An underweight Yorkie, weighing less than 4 pounds is prone to diseases. Hence, it is important that you follow the below steps that will help him gain some weight.

• Avoid injuries
• High protein and fatty foods
• More exercise
• Feed fresh and wet foods
• Free feeding or small foods throughout the day

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