Yorkies are sweet and loyal pet companions. Like all dogs, they should have a certain daily routine. It doesn’t have to be a strict schedule but it’s important to set the mealtime and to stick to it as much as possible and not just that.
Sleeping as well as walking schedules help you to be positive that all needs of your dog are met on daily basis.
Adult Yorkies should have morning and evening meals. The total number of calories they need is about 150. Nursing dogs need much more but senior Yorkies needless, around 120 calories a day.
Adult Yorkies usually sleep between 12 and 18 hours per day, naps included. Daily naps may last from 10 to 60 min each. Although Yorkies are full of energy they need around 30 min of exercise a day.
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How Often Should I Feed my Yorkie?
Your Yorkie should have two meals per day. One is a morning meal and it should be served around 7 or 8 am and the second one is the evening meal, scheduled for 5 or 6 pm when you return from work.
Not all dogs are the same, so you may notice that your dog doesn’t eat instantly when you come home from work.
In case he hasn’t seen you for the whole day, he may be in the mood for a short cuddling session. Simply, some dogs need love first and then food.
Also, note that most dogs like to do the potty business first and then to eat. So make sure your dog has a chance to go to the toilet as soon as he wakes up in the morning.
Use that time outside for a short walk or some nice game/activity before you come back inside.
Please be persistent about the feeding schedule. Puppies will need some time to adjust to it but once they do, things will be much easier. Dogs on the schedule have stable metabolism and good digestion.
Also, you should know that dogs ( same as kids) like routine, they need to know what will happen next as that fact give them a certain level of security.
I have heard that some owners have problems with their Yorkies when the time changes (daylight savings). For humans, the time switch is usually not a big issue, but this change may affect your dog.
He may start ”asking” for food earlier or be confused as he is still not ready to eat. Ignore that. Just stick to the clock and exact time when you feed your pet. He will accept the new situation fast.
How Much Should I Feed My Yorkie?
This whole article is about adult Yorkies ( 1 year or 1 year and a half) so we won’t write about puppies. That will be another post. So how much food your adult Yorkie need? That depends on the age, activity level, health status, etc.
A healthy, adult Yorkie usually weighs about 5-8 Lbs and needs 150-170 calories daily. Usually, these dogs eat between 1/3 (teacup Yorkie) and 1/2 cups of dry dog food per day. Note that the whole cup contains 375 calories but that may vary.
Note that different brands of dog food have very different contents and caloric values so it’s important to follow the instruction from the exact food label for a proper serving amount.
Tip – Always choose dry food for your Yorkie, rather than wet. This breed is prone to dental problems so the crunchy texture of kibble helps them to maintain good dental health and clean teeth. Save the wet food for special occasions if necessary.
Senior Yorkies ( 8-10 years old) require less food which is quite normal and expected. They have less energy due to the aging process and they need around 120 calories a day.
Since these dogs are less active than they used to be, adjust their diet and portions in order to avoid obesity.
Also, you may face the fact that your dog lost a certain number of teeth so maybe it’s time to switch the dry food for a wet one.
Avoid giving your Yorkie any dog scraps from the table. Also if you want to give your dog homemade food (no matter he is senior or not), note that food is more caloric than the dog dry food so keep the portions smaller in that case.
Nursing Yorkies – nursing mothers have increased energy requirements so they need more calories than regular adult dogs. During pregnancy Yorkie will eat 20-25% more than usual but after she gives birth and starts nursing the pups she will need 2-4 times more calories than a normal healthy adult requires.
Remember that she has to increase the water intake during these weeks as she needs a lot of water to produce enough milk for her babies.
After 7-8 weeks, all pups are usually weaned, and the Yorkie’s energy requirements back to normal. This is the time when she should get back to her pre-pregnancy diet and portion sizes.
Don’t Overfeed Your Yorkie
It’s easy to overfeed your Yorkie, especially as he eats rather small amounts of food daily. You might think it’s too small a portion and add some unnecessary calories.
It depends on the dog, but some Yorkies will eat everything they see. They will use their charm and innocent face to beg for more food.
If you fall for it, you will end up with an obese dog and an obese dog suffers from many health issues.
Stick to the feeding schedule, ( 2 times a day, 150 or so calories), provide enough outside activity.
What If Yorkie Won’t Eat?
On the other hand, some Yorkies can be fussy eaters. If you have one, try some tricks and see what happens.
Any new food you want to give him, you have to introduce very slowly and in small portions.
If you want to change the brand, start mixing the new food and the old one. With time, gradually increase the percentage of the new food until you reach 100% new food in the portion.
If your dog doesn’t like crunchy texture, try to soak kibble in a small amount of water. That will make them softer and more appealing for your picky dog.
During the period of transition from an old to a new food or while you are trying to establish the exact feeding schedule, avoid feeding your dog with treats.
Note that Yorkies are prone to hypoglycemia like all small dogs. This is especially important if you have a dog that weighs 4 pounds or less. He can experience a sudden drop in blood sugar level as a result of a lack of food.
Give him to eat the food he likes and if he doesn’t want, try with a high-calorie supplement gel or a teaspoon of corn syrup instead. You can both add them to his regular food or rub them into his gums directly.
How Much Sleep Do Yorkies Need?
Adult Yorkies sleep far less than puppies but they spend a lot of hours in bed. They need somewhere between 12 and 18 hours in total, including daily naps as well.
Most adult Yorkies are capable to sleep for the whole night but also like to take naps during the day. These naps usually don’t last long – from only 10 min to 1 hour.
Note that Yorkies are highly adjustable to their owner’s schedule, so don’t be surprised if your dog wakes up in the morning at the same time you do.
What If Yorkie Won’t Sleep?
Dogs are just like small kids, they need to learn how to sleep and you need to help them with that.
First of all, make the proper schedule which will include basic activities such as feeding, playing, walking etc.
It’s true that your Yorkie doesn’t need more than 30 min of exercise daily but you still need to provide walking, running, playing, etc to let him spend the energy.
Make sure he has a comfortable bed or wherever he sleeps. It might look like an unnecessary hassle, but dog beds do wear out. Even the high-quality beds are comfortable for a maximum of 4-5 years and after that, you have to make your Yorkie happy with a new one!
Your dog shouldn’t be active at least 2 hours before sleep time. If he needs to pee, it’s ok to go out but that should be just a quick potty break, nothing else.
No ball, no games, no playing fetch. He has to learn that this is time for him to relax and calm down. Of course, you also have to show him this with your example.
Although you don’t have to whisper, your tone should be calmer and softer. The lights should be dimmed. TV or music should be lowered. You can also teach your pet that the words ”sleep” or ”go to bed” mean that it’s time to sleep now.
He won’t close his eyes on your command but with time he will learn what he has to do when he hears that words.
If your dog won’t sleep maybe he has some health issues, do check with your vet. Another thing- senior dogs usually sleep less than adult dogs.
Although it would be normal to think that older dog needs more time to rest, seniors may suffer from arthritis or other painful stuff which can disturb their sleep. Medications and pain killers may help in that case but do consult with the vet.
How Much Exercise and Walking Do Yorkies Need?
Although these dogs are small in size ( but have big hearts 🙂 they still have a lot of energy to spend. Therefore they need different kinds of outdoor activities – walking, running around, playing fetch, or frisbee toss. Whatever you choose, your dog will love it.
There is no strict rule when you should take your dog out but you should do that every day at the same time. As we said before, dogs like schedules, it makes them feel secure and you get a well-behaved pet.
The average time one Yorkie needs to spend outside is about 30 min. You can split it into two walks daily as you definitely should take your dog outside early in the morning before breakfast.
This is a primarily potty break but use this time to make your dog spend some energy. He will be much calmer while you are away.
The second walk should be made after you come from work. It’s important not to make this walk too late, as your Yorkie shouldn’t have any vigorous activity at least two hours before bedtime.
Yorkies are dogs that have an outstanding balance and usually don’t afraid of heights. But the games you play with your small dog shouldn’t include jumping from a height as they can easily get injured.
Yorkies can develop a condition called Luxating Patella which happens when the hip socket dislocates from a joint. Better to avoid it.
Bear in mind that there is a big difference between you and your dog in size. The walking pace should be moderate but what is an energetic pace for you, it’s a running pace for your little dog. So don’t force him too much.
Walks during wintertime can be rather challenging. Remember that small dogs get cold easily so put some clothes on your pet.
Also, the industrial salt that is used to melt down the snow or ice on the sidewalks can damage your pet’s gentle feet. In that case, some booties can be the perfect solution.
Make sure you buy waterproof shoes with anti-slip soles for maximum comfort and safety of your dog. You can check this Amazon link and pick the right shoes for your furry friend
Why Is Outdoor Activity Important For Yorkie?
Running, walking, playing fetch or backyard obstacle course are very important activities for your dog.
First of all, an active dog is a healthy dog that has an opportunity to spend the accumulated energy.
Physical activity keeps your dog’s heart in good shape
Everyday walking or running keeps your dog’s muscles strong, same as metabolism
Quality exercise ensures better sleep in dogs.
Not to mention that everyday physical activity is good for you too.
Conclusion
A good schedule is very important for every dog. Dogs like routine, they like to know what will happen next, they feel secure that way.
Yorkie’s basic activities are sleeping, eating, and walking. Do your best to make the schedule that will meet your dog’s needs but will also adjust to your schedule so you can follow it.
Yorkies sleep 12-18 hours a day, including naps. They have two main meals and they need at least 30 min of daily exercise ( walking, running, playing ).
They are low maintenance pets but even though they don’t require much of your time, don’t forget that some love and cuddles should fit into the daily schedule as well.
