If you’re a proud owner of a Yorkie Poo, you know how important it is to take care of your pet’s health and well-being. One of the most important aspects of caring for your Yorkie Poo is ensuring that they are fed properly. You may be wondering, how many times a day should I feed my Yorkie Poo?
The answer to this question depends on a variety of factors, including your Yorkie Poo’s age, size, and activity level.
Puppies should be fed more frequently than adult dogs, typically around 4-6 times a day. As they grow, you can gradually reduce the number of feedings to twice a day. Adult Yorkie Poos should be fed twice a day, with portion sizes based on their weight and activity level.
As a general rule, puppies should be fed more frequently than adult dogs. However, it’s important not to overfeed your Yorkie Poo, as this can lead to obesity and other health problems.
In this article, we’ll explore the best feeding practices for your Yorkie Poo, so you can ensure that your pet is getting the nutrition they need to thrive.
Table of Contents
Feeding Requirements for Yorkie Poos
Age and Size Considerations
When it comes to feeding your Yorkie Poo, age and size are important factors to consider. Puppies should be fed more frequently than adult dogs, typically around 4-6 times a day. As they grow, you can gradually reduce the number of feedings to twice a day. Adult Yorkie Poos should be fed twice a day, with portion sizes based on their weight and activity level.
Nutritional Needs
Yorkie Poos require a balanced diet that includes protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Choose a high-quality dry dog food that is specifically formulated for small breeds. Look for food that contains real meat as the first ingredient and avoid fillers like corn, wheat, and soy. You can also supplement your dog’s diet with fresh fruits and vegetables, but be sure to avoid foods that are toxic to dogs, such as chocolate, grapes, and onions.
- Choose a high-quality dry dog food
- Real meat should be the first ingredient
- Avoid fillers like corn, wheat, and soy
- Supplement with fresh fruits and vegetables
- Avoid toxic foods like chocolate, grapes, and onions
Feeding Schedule
Establishing a regular feeding schedule is important for your Yorkie Poo’s health and well-being. Try to feed your dog at the same time every day, and avoid free-feeding or leaving food out all day. Portion sizes should be based on your dog’s weight, age, and activity level. Use the feeding guidelines on the dog food packaging as a starting point, but adjust as needed based on your dog’s individual needs.
| Weight | Portion Size |
|---|---|
| 2-4 lbs | 1/4 – 1/2 cup |
| 5-8 lbs | 1/2 – 3/4 cup |
| 9-12 lbs | 3/4 – 1 cup |
How Often to Feed Your Yorkie Poo
Feeding your Yorkie Poo is an important part of taking care of your pet. Here are some factors to consider and recommended feeding frequency:
Factors to Consider
When deciding how often to feed your Yorkie Poo, you should consider their age, activity level, and overall health. Puppies require more frequent feedings than adult dogs and highly active dogs may need more food than sedentary ones. Additionally, dogs with certain health conditions may require special diets and feeding schedules.
Recommended Feeding Frequency
Most Yorkie Poo owners prefer to feed their dogs at least twice a day. Some studies suggest that one larger meal per day is the healthiest way to feed your Yorkie Poo. However, others prefer to free-feed their dogs so they can access food whenever they want.
If you choose to feed your Yorkie Poo twice a day, it is recommended that you split their daily food intake into two equal meals. This will help prevent overeating and promote healthy digestion.
It is important to note that every dog is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to feeding. You should consult with your veterinarian to determine the best feeding schedule and portion sizes for your individual Yorkie Poo.
What to Feed Your Yorkie Poo
Commercial Dog Food
Choose a high-quality dog food that is specifically formulated for small breeds. Look for brands that use real meat as the first ingredient and avoid those with fillers like corn or wheat. Follow the feeding guidelines on the packaging and adjust the amount based on your Yorkie Poo’s activity level and weight.
Homemade Dog Food
If you prefer to make your dog food, consult with a veterinarian or canine nutritionist to ensure that your Yorkie Poo is getting all the necessary nutrients. Avoid feeding your dog foods that are toxic to dogs like chocolate, onions, or grapes. Stick to lean meats, vegetables, and grains like brown rice.
Treats and Snacks
Limit the number of treats and snacks you give your Yorkie Poo as they can contribute to weight gain and dental problems. Choose healthy options like small pieces of cooked chicken or carrots. Avoid giving your dog table scraps or human food that is high in fat or sugar.
FAQ
How Much Should A Yorkie Poo Puppy Eat?
Yorkie Poo puppies should eat as much as they can and whenever they want, while they are puppies. This might be around 4-6 times a day.
Also, newborn puppies will be taking in their mothers’ milk. Mother’s milk is the most important nutrition for puppies to maintain their development.
The antibodies in breast milk help puppies to boost their immune system. In this way, they become resistant to all kinds of viruses and bacteria they may encounter in the future.
Yorkie Poo puppies need to eat more often than adult dogs. That’s why you should feed your Yorkie Poo puppies very often.
Can I Free Feed My Yorkie Poo Puppy?
Free feeding puppies is very logical under some conditions, but only if your Yorkie Poo puppies are weaned and willing to eat.
You can free-feed your Yorkie Poo puppies if they are steady, healthy, and have no feeding issues. Free feeding can help you to encourage your Yorkie Poo puppy to eat more often.
Make sure that their food is in a place they can reach eas. In this way, they don’t need to search for food and will learn where to go when they are hungry.
Free feeding is an ideal idea for puppies, it also plays an important role in accelerating their development.
The Disadvantage of Free Feeding
The biggest disadvantage of this method is that a puppy may get bored with food because it is always available.
To avoid this possibility, it would be a good solution to give your Yorkie Poo puppy his favorite food and mix up the flavors.
Some Yorkie Poo owners think that free feeding is not beneficial and instead of using the free feeding method, they feed their dogs by dividing meals into sessions.
Should I Feed My Yorkie Poo Dry Or Wet Food?
Like all dogs, the Yorkie Poos like wet food more than dry food. While some Yorkie Poo owners feed their dog with wet canned food, some feed only dry food.
One of the benefits of dry food is that it also contributes to dental health. If you want you can mix wet and dry food together and give your Yorkie Poo a mixed meal.
Some Yorkie Poos might refuse to eat dry food. If you want your Yorkie Poo to eat it’s dry food, you can mix it with other foods that they like.
Yorkie Poos can sometimes be very picky when it comes to food. If they don’t like the taste of the food you give them, they will never eat it. But like all dogs, Yorkie Poos love meat, and meat is a great motivator for appetite.
You can add some broth into their meals to encourage them to eat food, but you can feed your Yorkie Poo with only wet food if you like. Wet food is more expensive than dry food, but some Yorkie Poos prefer wet over dry.
You can also make meals which are very fresh and delicious. But the problem is that dogs can’t eat the high-calorie foods that humans it’s and some homemade meals are not very healthy for dogs due to the high calorie and fat content they contain.
If you wish to make homemade meals for your Yorkie Poo consult a vet or animal nutritionist for meal ideas.
Can I Feed My Yorkie Poo Raw Food?
The raw feed diet has been the subject of debate within the canine community for years. Some dog owners believe that a raw diet accelerates the development of dogs, while others think that raw meat harms dogs due to parasites they may contain or difficulty of digestion.
While some dogs refuse to eat raw meats, some eat it with gusto. A raw meat diet is called the ‘’barf diet’’ and can be sustainable so long as you consult your vet and get your meat from a reliable, quality source.
Yorkie Poo owners who switch to the barf diet should give their dogs internal parasite pills regularly, just in case. However, this should be done under the supervision of your vet.
My name is Ken and I’m one of the staff writers at Petloverguy.com. I’ve cared for pets most of my life starting with hamsters, turtles, and snakes. Then moving up to parakeets, guinea pigs, and even ducks.
I currently live with two yorkies and a chihuahua mix.
