Yorkshire Terriers can be picky eaters, but there are many things owners can do to get them eating their food. Here are 20 tips for Yorkie owners to stop their Yorkie from being so darn picky.
- Establish a Routine: Stick to a feeding schedule, offering food at the same times each day to create a habit. For us, the later in the day, the better. If we feed our girls early afternoon, they might eat a little bit and move on. Later in the evening they tend to devour their food.
- Limit Treats: This is a tough one, but too many treats can spoil their appetite. Mine expect one every time they come back inside. I make sure to reduce the size of their treats. For instance, I cut the jerky sticks into thirds.
- Warm Up Food: Warming their food up can make it more appealing.
- Add Wet Food: Mix in a little wet food with kibble to make the meal more enticing. When we can’t get our Yorkies to eat, we add a little bit of the cat food w/ gravy and they finish it up and are licking the bowl. A little chicken stock also works well.
- Hand Feeding: This is a tough one and not something you’re going to want to do every day, but if you’re worried about them not eaten in a day or more, it’s time to try hand-feeding.
- Use Food Toppers: Sprinkle tasty food toppers like freeze-dried meat to make the food more appealing to your pups.
- Try a Different Bowl: Sometimes a new dog food bowl can work magic for your little buddy.
- Consult a Vet: Ensure there are no underlying health issues affecting appetite.
- Switch to a Raw Diet: Some owners find that their Yorkies do much better on a raw diet. This is a pricey option, but a faw diet offers many benefits to your Yorkies.
- Offer Smaller Meals: More frequent, smaller meals can be more appealing than big ones. Especially if they are not finishing the larger meals, it’s time to try smaller meals.
- Praise and Encourage: Much like anything else, praise and encouragement after a meal gives them the reinforcement to look forward to meal time.
- Consult a Pet Nutritionist: If your Yorkie is having long-term struggles with their diet, it’s time to see a professional.
What Do Our Yorkies Eat?
We feed Mila and Peaches Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach and Skin, Small Bites Dry Dog Food, Chicken & Barley Recipe. (Disclaimer: This and other links in this article are affiliate links. That means if you use them to make a purchase we will be paid a commission at no extra charge to you.)
When they get tired of the kibble, we treat them to some Freshpet Healthy & Natural Food for Small Dogs/Breeds.
If you decide to switch dog foods, read this guide on how to introduce new food to your Yorkie.
In the past we have had our Yorkies on a raw diet. During that time we used Primal Freeze Dried Dog Food Nuggets. Many people are huge fans of the raw diet for their dogs. There are many benefits to the diet, but ultimately it did not work out for us. It was difficult to get them to eat it consistently and that combined with the price caused us to move on.
If you’re looking for more information on feeding your dog a raw diet, Cathy’s Yorkie Tips and Suggestions Facebook Group is a great place to start. Join the group and read the guides, then ask any questions you may have. Just a heads up, they take reading the guides very seriously.