How Much to Feed a Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkies burn hot for their size, but one table scrap can equal a quarter of their daily calories. Using the veterinary RER/MER formula, an adult Yorkshire Terrier of about 6 lbs needs roughly 237 kcal per day — around 62 g (0.6 cups) of typical dry food. The calculator below is pre-set for the Yorkshire Terrier: adjust the weight, life stage and food type to match your dog.
Yorkshire Terrier portion calculator
Veterinary RER/MER formula — daily calories, grams and cups.
RER 148 kcal × 1.6 (adult, neutered/spayed) = 237 kcal, at 380 kcal/100g. Estimates for healthy pets — always confirm with your veterinarian.
Toy breeds like the Yorkshire Terrier have the fastest metabolism per pound of any dog, yet their absolute portions are tiny — about 62 grams of dry food across the whole day. That is why treats are the number one cause of obesity in toy dogs: a single dental chew can carry 50–80 kcal, a large slice of a 237 kcal daily budget. Weigh the daily ration once with a kitchen scale, find the right scoop level, and keep treats under 10% of calories.
The Yorkshire Terrier typically weighs around 6 lbs (2.7 kg) as a healthy adult. That small body has an RER of 148 kcal; applying the adult, neutered/spayed multiplier of 1.6 gives 237 kcal per day, or about 62 g of dry food. At these quantities a proper gram scale beats measuring cups — cup-level errors of “just a little extra” compound into pounds over a season.
These numbers are a starting point, not a prescription. The calculator supports every life stage (puppy, puppy, adult, neutered/spayed, adult, intact, active / working, senior, weight loss plan) — a puppy can need two to three times the adult allowance, while a senior or a dog on a weight-loss plan needs noticeably less. Recheck the numbers after any change in weight, activity, food brand or neutering status, and always transition between foods gradually over 7–10 days. For medical conditions, pregnancy or lactation, follow your veterinarian's feeding plan instead.
Frequently asked questions
How much food should a Yorkshire Terrier eat per day?
A typical adult Yorkshire Terrier weighing 6 lbs needs about 237 kcal per day (adult, neutered/spayed), which is roughly 62 grams — about 0.6 cups — of standard dry food, split into 2 meals.
How is the Yorkshire Terrier's daily portion calculated?
We use the standard veterinary formula: Resting Energy Requirement (RER) = 70 × (weight in kg)^0.75, then multiply by a life-stage factor. For a 2.7 kg Yorkshire Terrier, RER is 148 kcal, and the adult, neutered/spayed factor of 1.6 gives 237 kcal per day.
How many times a day should I feed my Yorkshire Terrier?
2 meals per day is the standard recommendation for a adult, neutered/spayed dog — about 119 kcal (31 g of dry food) per meal. Puppies and kittens need 3–4 smaller meals instead.
My Yorkshire Terrier seems hungry after meals — should I feed more?
Begging is not a reliable hunger signal, especially in food-motivated breeds. Judge by body condition instead: you should feel ribs easily under a thin fat layer. If your Yorkshire Terrier is truly losing weight at 237 kcal per day, increase portions by ~10% and re-weigh in two weeks.