Yorkshire Terriers are a small but compact members of the Terrier Group.
These little dogs were bred to hunt vermin in mines and mills during the 19th century.
However, they climbed Britain’s social ladder to become popular as lapdogs of Victorian ladies.
Yorkshire Terriers have been popular pets in the 20th and 21st centuries since being recognised by the Kennel Club in 1886.
The American Kennel Club now rank the Yorkshire Terrier as the 10th most popular dog breed in the United States.
Although Yorkies may be small in size and stature, they still need a complete and healthy diet.
Yorkie owners may be accustomed to feeding their canine companion dry food such as kibble.
However, there is a fresh alternative that could revitalise your Yorkie’s appetite, behaviour at mealtime and overall energy.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the best dog food for Yorkies.
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Best Dog Food For Yorkies
Nom Nom offer four different recipes (Photo: Nom Nom)
Just like any dog breed, a balanced and full diet is vital to keeping Yorkshire Terriers happy and healthy.
Given their small size, they’ve got specific requirements that need to be met. You’ll want to ensure their food gives them sufficient energy for their daily walks, while maintaining the health and quality of their trademark silky coats.
It’s easy to overfeed a Yorkie which can lead to obesity and other health problems further down the line. As your Yorkshire Terrier ages, dental issues could make eating kibble a little tricky.
Whether your Yorkie is looking to shed a few pounds, protect their health, rekindle their interest in their meals or just want a change, I highly recommend dog food delivery companies.
I made the switch from kibble to freshly prepared meals delivered direct to my doorstep in 2019. It’s not an exaggeration to say that it completely changed my perspective on dog food.
My two Alaskan Klee Kai were previously picky eaters, which lead to stomach problems. Uninterested in their meals, they would often suffer from acid reflux problems which led to vomiting at night.
I decided to switch to a dog food delivery company and we haven’t looked back! My dogs are excited about mealtime, finish their grub every time, have more energy and no long have tummy issues.
These dog food delivery companies use fresh and quality ingredients to create their recipes, while they tailor their meals to each specific dog. Using pre-portioned packaging or a customised scooper, there’s no danger of overfeeding your dog. What’s more these meals are delivered direct to your doorstep.
Having reviewed and tested many of the dog food delivery companies on the market, we consider Nom Nom and Ollie to be two of the best dog food delivery companies available on the market right now.
RELATED: The eight best dog food delivery companies
Alternatively, if you live in the UK and you want to make the switch to a dog food delivery company, we’ve also got some options we recommend.
RELATED: The five leading dog food delivery companies in the UK
Sample subscription plan
Sounds good so far but what can a Yorkie owner expect to pay for these fresh and healthy dog meals? Let’s take a look.
“York” the Yorkshire Terrier is our imaginary dog who needs a fresh approach to dog food. He is a three-year old seven pound Yorkie. We opted for two different recipes – beef and pork – to be delivered monthly.
Based upon the above information, the owner of “York” can expect to pay roughly $16.85 per week for these healthy dog meals.
Are There Coupon Codes Or Discount?
You can’t beat a good offer so we reached out to some leading dog food delivery companies to request a coupon code or discount.
Nom Nom have a special offer for helloBARK! readers so if you want to try Nom Nom for your Yorkie, you can avail of a 50 per cent discount off your first order by clicking this link.
Our readers can get 50% off their first order from Ollie when using the coupon code “HELLOBARK” at checkout. To avail of this offer, click this link and use the “HELLOBARK” discount code.
In the UK, Butternut Box will give Yorkie owners who want to try their service a huge discount off their first order. New customers can get 50% off their first and their second Butternut Box order by clicking here.
What Yorkie owners say
You may be interested but you’d rather hear from a Yorkie owner than this author, who owns Alaskan Klee Kai. Well here is Jessica’s review of Nom Nom after she switched her Yorkie called Kylo to their fresh dog meals.
A new dog owner, Jessica was eager to help Kylo’s development as a puppy by feeding her little Yorkie fresh meals rather than dry food or wet food.
I liked the idea of fresh food and heard it would be healthier, so I tried that. I made a mixture of white rice, chicken, carrots, and yellow squash. It was healthy, but I knew that it was missing some nutrients and that it wasn’t providing everything he needed.
Jessica goes on to explain Kylo’s excitement at mealtime, something which a lot of dog owner who have made the switch to such a dog meal subscription plan can attest to.
“He loved it. was so excited, and so was he. I distinctly remember pulling the food out and warming it up, and how excited Kylo got.”
RELATED: The eight best dog food delivery companies
Dog Food Delivery Companies
Freshly cooked dog meals delivered to your door (Photo: Nom Nom)
Dog food delivery companies have transformed the dog food market over the past five years or so. No long are dog owners forced to rely on dry or wet food on sale at your local supermarket.
These dog food delivery companies offer a fresh and healthy take on how to feed your precious pooch. They only use the best quality ingredients that meet the USDA’s standards. The vegetables are usually fresh and organic.
The beauty of signing up to their meal plans is that your dog’s meals will be tailored to their specific needs. You’ll have to enter their basic details, such as age, breed, weight, activity level and body type.
By doing so, they’ll suggest a healthy diet that suits your dog, whether they need to lose weight or gain weight. If they’re already at their ideal weight, your Yorkie will benefit from meals formulated by veterinary experts.
With an array of recipes to choose some, there should be something for every dog, whether you pooch prefers beef, chicken, lamb, pork or fish.
The meals come in pre portioned packaging or with a customised scooper, so you don’t have to worry about getting out the weighing scales to measure how much to feed your pup. This takes away the hassle and stress of mealtime.
I really believe in the value of these meals from dog food delivery companies after seeing the impact they’ve had on my Alaskan Klee Kai. Worrying about their health is a thing of the past as they’ve no longer get sensitive tummies. They love their food and get so excited at mealtime, which is something that didn’t happen with kibble. Their coats look healthier and glossier, too.
I’ve also got more time to focus on cooking healthy meals for myself now that I simple rip and serve their dog meals directly into their bowls.
Reasons to try dog food delivery companies
If you’re thinking about making the change to dog food delivery companies, here are eight reasons to give it a try!
• Freshly prepared meals – The biggest thing was ensuring my dogs were getting complete and healthy meals. As a Yorkie owner, you want peace of mind knowing that your little dog’s nutritional needs are taken care of. These dog food delivery companies only use the freshest ingredients, often described as restaurant quality.
• Customised to your dog – This might all sound great but it’s not much use if you’re overfeeding your Yorkshire Terrier. Well, these companies have you covered. Based upon the details that you’ve entered, they can tailor the meals to meet your Yorkie’s needs.
• Variety of recipes – If you’ve got a Yorkshire Terrier who often turns up their nose at their meals or they’re quick to get bored regardless of the food, it’s important to have options. Well dog food delivery companies will usually provide three or four different recipes to select from. You can go for one, two or more.
• Formulated by experts – So who is in charge of creating the recipes? Well dog food delivery companies use veterinarian experts to ensure all the necessary minerals and vitamins are included in their meals. They’ve got all bases covered to ensure these meals are appropriately formulated.
• Portion control – Seeing your dog excited about their meals again could lead to a temptation to give your pooch a little bit more. Dog food delivery companies pre potion the meals to ensure you don’t overfeed your pet.
• Motivated dogs at meal time – If you’ve got picky dogs like me, you’ll know the heartache when you see your canine companions show a lack of interest in their meals. It can be really worrying, especially when you’ve exhausted the dry and wet food options. In my experience, my dogs haven’t grown tired of the freshly prepared meals from dog food delivery companies.
• Efficient and reliable deliveries – You’re removing the chore of going to your local pet store or supermarket to pick up dog food. However, you don’t want to fret about running out of grub before your next delivery. Therefore, it’s important deliveries are reliable. Furthermore, packaging is key to ensure the meals stay fresh should you be at work when the delivery arrives.
• Flexible subscription plans – These dog food delivery companies will have a flexible plan that allows you to cancel at any time. Usually the subscriptions work on a rolling basis, so you’ll get your delivery and they’ll take payment once a month.
Any negatives?
There are some things to consider if you decide to go ahead and order from a dog food delivery company.
When the meals arrive, you can stick a few in the fridge but the rest need to be frozen before being defrosted when you need them. So you’ll need quite a bit of freezer space to store these meals.
This a premium service so it isn’t the cheapest option to feed your Yorkie. However, it could be worth the investment if you’re looking for a fresh approach to feeding your four-legged friend.
Yorkies
Yorkshire Terrier ready to go home (Photo: Adobe Stock)
Yorkshire Terriers are perhaps the most famous member of the Terrier group.
Hailing from Yorkshire, England, these small dogs were used to hunt rats in cotton and woollen mills in this region of the country.
Although they started off hunting vermin in the early 19th century, it wasn’t long before they found their way onto the laps of Victorian ladies.
The demand for these dogs increased after the Kennel Club in England granted Yorkshire Terriers full status in 1886.
RELATED: The eight best dog food delivery companies
Over time, the Yorkie has become smaller in size, making them ideal as companion pets for people of all ages.
As of 2018, Yorkies are ranked as the ninth most popular dog in United States, while their ranked 17th in their country of origin, England.
Yorkies appearance and size
Yorkies are usually between seven and nine inches tall. They shouldn’t weigh more than seven pounds. However, some Yorkshire Terriers can struggle with obesity problems.
Yorkies exercise requirements
These little dogs have moderate exercise needs. Yorkshire Terriers will need a walk twice a day at a steady pace with their owner.
Alternatively, they can enjoy some playtime in the garden or yard to burn off some energy.
The AKC suggest obedience or agility training as an alternative exercise for these dogs.
According to WAG Walking, Yorkshire Terriers need around 30 minutes of exercise a day.
Yorkies health
Yorkshire Terriers are usually healthy dogs but they do suffer from some potential genetic problems.
These include digestive problems, skin issues, dental care and luxating patellas.
You should inquire with your breeder whether they’ve screened for potential health issues as well as the health of the parents of your pup.
Yorkshire Terriers will usually live around 12 to 15 years.
Anything else to consider?
We recommend speaking to your vet before you switch your Yorkshire Terrier to a new diet. If you decide to go ahead and sign up to a dog food delivery company, they’ll usually provide a guideline to gradually introduce their new food into their diet. If you switch too fast, you could cause a tummy upset or diarrhea. Yorkies are known to be prone to digestive issues.
This article does not constitute expert advice and we recommend contacting your vet if you have any concerns or issues. You can also reach out to the company you’re thinking about subscribing to as they’ll usually have experts on hand to offer advice.
In conclusion
Yorkshire Terrier Zoe (Photo: @yorkie_zoe / Instagram)
We’ve reached the end of our article on best dog food for Yorkies.
If you’re looking to change up your Yorkshire Terrier’s diet for whatever reason, we recommend giving a dog food delivery company a go.
They use fresh and quality ingredients to customise meals to your dog’s specific needs. Not only that, but they’ll help with portion control as well as delivering the meals directly to your doorstep.
