Best Homemade Food For Yorkies (6 Delicious Recipes)

You have to be careful what you feed your dogs.

Especially when it comes to small does like the Yorkshire terrier.

There are some great commercial dog foods available, but you have to trust what they put on the label.

The only way to know for sure what you are feeding your Yorkie is to make your own dog food at home.

It can also save you money over high quality commercial foods, although DIY dog food does cost more than lower cost commercial options.

The big problem when making Yorkie food at home is knowing which ingredients are good for your pup and which ones you need to avoid.

To help with that, we’ve got 6 easy, healthy and delicious (at least for your pup) homemade dog food recipes for you below.

 

Best Homemade Food for Yorkies

Yorkshire terrier need the right mixture of fat, protein, and carbohydrates in order to stay healthy. Much of the nutrition will come from meat. Meats you can use to cook for your Yorkie are chicken, liver, kidneys, organs, fish, lean beef, bison and venison.

You can mix that meet with grains like brown rice, quinoa, oats, couscous, millet, and more. You can also add in vegetables, but you have to be careful about which ones. Not all are good for dogs.

And it doesn’t always have to be savory (although all of our recipes below are savory). You can also give your Yorkie pastries, like biscuits, cakes, butter cookies, or more. Just make sure not to feed your raw dog dough.

For most of the recipes below, feed ¼ to ½ cup of this homemade food twice a day to your Yorkie, depending on its weight.

For a Yorkie puppy, feed ¼ cup of these recipes 3 to 4 times a day. You’ll want to modify the serving size based on your Yorkie’s size, age, and activity level.

 

Chicken And Oatmeal With Veggies

This awesome recipe contains chicken breast, oats, and vegetables. Chicken and oats are easy to digest for most Yorkies. If your pet has a sensitivity or food allergy, this is a great recipe.

It also contains salmon oil for omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. Brewer’s yeast provides B-vitamins.

 

Ingredients

The following quantities should make around 10 servings for an average-sized adult Yorkie. You can make this ahead and freeze the leftovers.

• 2 cups oats
• 2 lbs. chicken breast
• 5 tsp olive oil
• 1 lb. green beans (frozen)
• ½ cup pumpkin puree
• Brewer’s yeast (tablet)
• 1 tsp salmon oil

 

Instructions

• Prepare oats according to the package instructions.
• Cut chicken breasts into small pieces.
• Heat oil in a pan. Fry the chicken pieces, covered, for 4-5 minutes. Turn and cook until done.
• Add green beans and cook for 5 more minutes.

 

To Make One Serving

• Mix one cup of cooked oats with 1/3 cup chopped chicken pieces and ½ cup cooked beans. Add 2 tbsp pumpkin puree.
• Vary the portion size based on your Yorkie’s weight.
• Add ½ tablet of Brewer’s yeast and 1/2 tsp salmon oil before you serve.

You can freeze the leftovers. Serve them warm.

 

Ground Beef, Couscous, And Broccoli

If your picky eater does not like chicken or is allergic to it, then beef is a great choice. Couscous is a healthy whole grain for dogs. It provides many vitamins and minerals.

The following recipe makes 10 servings for an 8 pound Yorkie. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

 

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 lbs. ground beef
• 1 cup uncooked couscous
• 1 cup chopped broccoli florets

 

Instructions

• In a large pan, heat oil over medium-low flame.
• Add the beef. Cook until it is browned. Drain the excess fat.
• Prepare couscous as per package instructions.
• Puree broccoli. You will have about ½ cup of puree.

 

To Make One Serving

• Mix 1 1/3rd cup beef, ½ cup couscous, and 2 tbsp broccoli.
• Mix well to combine.
• Adjust serving size based on your Yorkie’s weight.

 

Quinoa, Ground Turkey, And Carrots

Quinoa is an excellent complex carbohydrate for dogs. Most Yorkies love it and it is easy to prepare. Also, a little bit goes a long way, so you can make a large batch and freeze leftovers.

The following recipe makes 8-10 servings for an 8 pound Yorkie. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

 

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 lbs. ground turkey
• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• 2 cups chopped carrots

 

Instructions

• In a large pan, heat oil over medium-low heat.
• Add the ground turkey and cook until it is browned. Drain the excess fat.
• Prepare quinoa as per package instructions.
• Puree carrots in a food processor. You will have about ½ cup of puree.

 

To Make One Serving

• Mix 1 1/3rd cup turkey with ½ cup cooked quinoa, and 2 tbsp pureed carrots.
• Vary portion size as per your Yorkie’s age, weight, and activity levels.

 

Ground Pork, Millet, And Celery

Millet is great for dogs. It is easy to digest and also contains phosphorus, B vitamins, iron, calcium, and fiber. Being gluten-free, millet is a healthier option than wheat and is ideal for Yorkies with food sensitivities.

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The following recipe makes about 6-8 servings for an average-sized adult Yorkie.

 

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 lbs. ground pork
• 1 cup uncooked millet
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 2 cups diced celery

 

Instructions

• In a large pan, heat oil over medium-low flame.
• Add the ground pork. Cook until it is browned. Drain the excess fat.
• Prepare millet by boiling in double the quantity of water. Drain the excess water.
• Puree celery in a food processor. You will have about ½ cup of puree.

 

To Make One Serving

• Mix 1 1/3rd cup pork with ½ cup cooked millet, and 2 tbsp celery.
• Vary portion size as per your Yorkie’s age, weight, and activity levels.

 

Salmon With Brown Rice And Vegetables

Salmon is packed with protein and healthy fats. It can give your Yorkie a shinier and healthier coat. The following recipe makes one serving.

 

Ingredients

• 1 ounce salmon with skin
• 2 tbsp of cooked brown rice
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 squash
• 1 head of broccoli with stem
• 2 carrots
• 1 sweet potato

 

Instructions

• In a rice cooker or an open pan with a lid, steam squash, potato, broccoli, and carrots. Cool and chop into bite-sized pieces.
• In a pan, fry the salmon, skin side down. Cover and cook for a few minutes on each side.
• Remove, cool, and chop into bite-sized pieces.
• Mix with a few tablespoons of cooked brown rice and chopped vegetables.
• Serve.

 

Brown Rice, Turkey, And Vegetables

Brown rice is an excellent source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals for Yorkies. You can safely feed your pup a few tablespoons of brown rice daily.

The following recipe makes around 10 servings.

 

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cup brown rice
• 2 carrots shredded
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 zucchini shredded
• 3 lbs. ground turkey
• 1 ½ cup frozen peas
• 3 cups baby spinach

 

Instructions

• Cook rice as per package instructions.
• In a stockpot or a Dutch oven, add the oil and heat over medium heat.
• Add the turkey and cook till brown, about 3-5 minutes. Crumble as it cooks.
• Add the spinach, carrots, zucchini, and brown rice. Cook until the spinach is wilted and vegetables are cooked through.

 

To Serve

Serve about 1/4 cup of this food twice a day. Adjust according to your pet’s age, weight, and activity levels.

 

Ingredients To Avoid

Not all foods we eat are good for dogs. Some can even be toxic. What human foods can Yorkies eat? Quite a few. It is easier to list the harmful foods. The following ingredients are bad for dogs, so you should avoid giving them to your Yorkie.

 

Chocolate And Caffeine

Can Yorkies eat chocolate? No. Chocolates contain theobromine, a toxic component that upsets the stomachs of dogs and can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Caffeine is toxic to dogs, because it can raise their blood pressure causing cardiac arrhythmias.

 

Onions And Garlic

Onions contain a toxic compound that damages the red blood cells, which can lead to your Yorkshire terrier developing anemia. Garlic contains thiosulphates and disulfides, which also cause damage to red blood cells.

 

Grapes And Raisins

There is an unknown compound in grapes and raisins that is highly toxic. It can decrease a dog’s appetite and lead to dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.

 

Bones

Since Yorkies are one of the smallest breeds, you have to be careful about giving them bones. They can chew bones, but cooked small bones, like chicken bones, can easily splinter.

This can cause Yorkie vomiting, stomach lacerations, abdominal pain, and constipation once swallowed. That is why Yorkshire terriers can not eat chicken bones.

 

Homemade Yorkie Food: Common Questions

Next, we’re going to answer some of the more common questions we get related to DIY dog food for your Yorkie. If you have additional questions, please ask them in the comments below.

 

What Human Food Can Yorkies Eat?

Yorkies can eat carrots, apples, eggs (in moderation), cooked meats without spices and seasoning, peanut butter (in moderation), brown rice, oats, quinoa, couscous, etc.

 

How Much Homemade Food Should I Feed My Yorkie?

The exact quantity of homemade food you feed your Yorkie will depend on your pet’s age, weight, and activity levels. Most adult Yorkies weighing up to 8 pounds can eat 1/4 cup of food twice a day.

 

What Vegetables Are Good For Yorkies?

Pumpkin, squash, celery, carrots, zucchini, broccoli, and spinach are some of the best vegetables for Yorkies. They are low in calories and provide fiber and vitamins to your pet.

There are also several fruits that are good or Yorkies in moderation. Read “Can Yorkies Eat Bananas?” for one example. Yorkies can also have watermelon or apples, for a few more popular examples. But all only in moderation.

 

What Meat Is Best For Yorkies?

Most Yorkies can tolerate chicken, turkey, fish, bison, pork, or lamb. If your Yorkie has a sensitive stomach and can not handle these proteins, you may try novel meat proteins like rabbit, emu, or kangaroo. Learn more about the foods Yorkies can eat here.

 

What Should I Do If My Yorkie Has Drank My Coffee?

Dogs are sensitive to caffeine, and there is no direct antidote. It would be best to immediately bring your dog to the veterinarian, especially if it swallowed a substantial amount (which is not all that much with a tiny dog like the Yorkshire terrier)

 

Can I Feed My Dog Sautéed Meat With Onion And Garlic?

No, whether cooked or raw, onions and garlic are harmful to dogs. As mentioned above, eating them can lead do red blood cell damage and anemia.

 

Homemade Dog Food For Yorkies: Conclusion

Making your own dog food for your Yorkie is a great way to ensure it gets nothing but healthy ingredients. You’ll know exactly what is in the food you give your pup. You may also save a bit of money, if you have been buying quality dog food.

All of the recipes above are great for Yorkshire terriers, but they are far from the only meals you can whip up. Feel free to experiment yourself. Just make sure to use ingredients that are safe for dogs (if you’re not sure, stick to ones used above or ask your vet) and avoid using any type of spices.