You’ve probably already noticed this.
But there is actually a normal weight range for Yorkies, as defined by the American Kennel Club.
But it can be misleading.
Many healthy Yorkies fall outside the standard range. It does not always mean something is wrong.
We’ll cover the healthy range and also show you how you can determine if you need to be worried is your Yorkie weighs more or less than the average range.
Contents
How Much Should A Yorkie Weigh?
Most full-grown Yorkies weigh between 4 and 7 pounds. That is the standard range set by the American Kennel Club (AKC).
But plenty of Yorkies are heavier or lighter than the standards. And that is not generally a big deal, but it can be indicative of health issues that should be addressed.
Young Yorkies continue to grow through most of their first year. Most experience a slowdown in growth by 9 to 10 months but don’t finish growing completely until 12 months. That is when yorkies are full-grown.
The growth rate is influenced by the overall health, genetics, and environment, including diet, sleep, and exercise habits.
Yorkie Weight Chart
Find your Yorkie’s birth weight in the top row, then locate its current age in the left column. The value where they intersect is how much it should currently weigh, more or less.
Yorkie Weight Calculator
The formula below can be used to calculate the estimated adult weight of a Yorkie puppy. Remember that this is only an estimate.
Estimated adult weight in lbs. = (Weight of puppy at 12 weeks) x 2 + 0.5
Take the weight of the Yorkie at three months old and double it, then add a half-pound. This gives you the estimated adult weight.
Overweight Yorkies
Many Yorkies are slightly heavier than the 7-pound maximum weight standard. There are numerous cases of Yorkies that are significantly larger than the standards, ranging from 10 to 15 pounds!
In general, it is not uncommon for Yorkies to weigh up to 19 pounds (4.53 kilos). This does not necessarily mean your pup weighs too much or is unhealthy. But it could.
Common Reasons Why Yorkies Are Overweight
Wondering “Why is my yorkie so big?” Well, some Yorkies just have a larger bone structure. This is usually genetic, the result of one, or both, of the parents being larger than the standard size for Yorkies.
The possibility that another breed has been mixed into the bloodline, perhaps as far as 5 to 10 generations back, can also result in a larger bone structure. It is known as a throwback jumping of the genes where another breed’s recessive genes manifest themselves in the Yorkie.
We should also note that even among purebred Yorkies, one or two puppies in the litter will be larger at birth than the other puppies. This is perfectly normal and not a cause of concern, as long as these larger puppies are completely healthy.
A Yorkie that is overweight due to genetic reasons is not something you need to worry about. If it is naturally inclined to weigh more, it is not actually overweight. It is normal for its size.
Another major reason Yorkies can be overweight is a poor diet. If your Yorkie weighs more than it should, there is a good possibility it is eating too much.
If in doubt, the easiest solution is to ask your vet. They will be able to determine whether your Yorkie’s additional weight is natural or whether it needs to lose some weight.
We’ll cover some ways you can make this determination yourself below, in case you prefer not to ask a vet. But first, let’s look at the standard recommendations your vet may make if they determine your pup needs to lose weight.
Vet Recommended Measures
The main thing is to decrease your pet’s calorie intake. You can achieved this is several ways.
You could providing home-cooked meals instead of ready-made dog food. You could switch the type of food to one with fewer calories. OR you could simply reduce the amount of food you feed your pup.
It is also a good idea to increase the amount of exercise. If your Yorkie is currently getting two 20-minute walks daily, increase them to 30 minutes gradually. You could also add some intense exercise time, such as playing fetch.
How Much Does A Teacup Yorkie Weigh?
As the name suggests, teacup yorkies are a miniature version of Yorkshire Terriers. Their average weight is 2 to 4 pounds, and they rarely grow over 7 inches in height.
Teacup Yorkies are becoming more and more popular. They have sweet personalities and they take up very little space, which makes these 3 pound yorkies ideal for those with limited amount of space available in their homes.
But there are ethical issues with breeding these tiny dogs. When a teacup yorkie has babies, it puts her at serious risk. And the puppies also tend to suffer from more health issues than regular Yorkshire terriers.
You need to keep a much closer eye on the weight of a teacup Yorkie than a regular sized one. If you don’t, they could quickly fall ill and die. There is a reason the miniature yorkie lifespan is much shorter.
Read our in depth comparison of a yorkie vs teacup yorkie for more on the similarities and differences between the different sizes of yorkies. This yorkie size comparison will clear up any confusion.
How To Determine If Your Yorkie Is At A Healthy Weight
The first step is to do a visual assessment. It is easiest to begin by examining your dog from behind for this.
Viewing from the back, the waist should curve inward gently from the ribcage. “Gently” is the key word here.
In an underweight dog, the curve will sharper and smaller. An overweight dog has no inward curve at all.
Next, examine the abdomen from the side. It should slope slightly upward from the rib cage. IF the stomach is sharply upward from the ribs and you see no body fat, your dog is underweight.
if they are a healthy weight. A skinny dog will have no visible body fat and will have its stomach tucked sharply upward from the ribs.
Place your hands on the sides of your Yorkie, near the rib cage. You should be able to feel each individual rib, but you should not be able to see them. If you can see them, your dog underweight. If you can’t feel the ribs, it is overweight.
Let’s look at the most common signs that a Yorkie is overweight. We’ll follow that with a rundown of the signs of an underweight Yorkie.
Signs Your Yorkie Is Overweight
As mentioned before, just because your dog does not land within the standard weight range, it does not necessarily mean it is overweight. It is best to check with your vet, but you can start by looking at the following to make a determination on your own.
Compare Your Yorkie To The Usual Range
Take a look at the Yorkie weight chart we included above. If your pup is 5 to 19 percent heavier than it should be according to the chart, it is likely overweight (again, this is not always the case).
Do the next test to determine whether you simply have a large dog, or whether you have a fat one. If it is the latter, put your pup on a diet and make sure it gets more exercise.
If your dog is 20+ percent heavier than normal, you may need more drastic measures. It could be suffering from a serious problem. Definitely get it checked out.
Rib Test
The rib test is perhaps the best way to determine whether your Yorkie is overweight. We already mentioned this test above.
Put your hands on your dog’s flanks and abdomen. You should be able to feel the ribs, but not see them. If that is the case, your dog is healthy.
If you can’t feel the ribs, it is overweight. If you can actually see the individual ribs, your dog is underweight.
Look For Lethargic Behavior
Yorkie’s are an energetic breed, so when one is not energetic, it usually signals a problem. Especially if there has been a change.
Did you pup use to move constantly, always playing around, fetching things, getting excited whenever you returned home, trying to catch its tail, or chasing moving vehicles? But now it prefers to relax on the sofa and it spends most of its time lying around or sleeping?
I’m sure your yorkie loves to be held no matter what (most of them do), but do you now find yourself having to carry it a lot more than before?
This could indicate an illness, but if nothing else seems wrong, it may just be that being overweight has depleted your pup’s energy. Moving simply requires more effort when you’re carrying more weight.
Helping An Overweight Yorkie Lose Weight
Being overweight can lead to serious health risks. Common problems associated with excess weight are diabetes, kidney issues, early arthritis, high blood pressure, skin problems, respiratory diseases, and certain cancers. In general, overweight dogs die younger.
If you have determined that your Yorkie is overweight, you need to take steps to bring its weight down.
The first step is to reduce the amount of food and change the type of food. Always consult with your vet about major dietary restrictions. They can recommend a lower-calorie food that’s still high in nutrients.
If you or your family members often feed your dog table scraps, put a stop to that immediately.
You also want to increase your dog’s exercise. Do so slowly, especially if your dog has gotten used to lying around the house all day. Start with short walks and slowly increase the length. Don’t shock your poor dog with a sudden huge increase in exercise.
Here is a rundown of steps to take to help your dog lose weight.
- Reduce calories
- Increase physical activity
- Healthier diet
- Reduce carbs
- Feed more fiber and veggies
Signs Of An Underweight Yorkie
A Yorkie being underweight is just as serious an issue as being overweight. Their tiny size means that any major fluctuations in weight can cause serious health risks.
Detecting whether your pup is underweight is similar to examining it for excess weight. We already touched on the best ways to do this above.
If you notice a shard inward curve from the ribcage to the waist when looking from behind, your dog is underweight.
Similarly, if you can see its ribs, or it looks like the abdomen is tucked under the ribs when looking from the side, then your dog needs to put on some weight. And visibly jutting bones indicate the same thing.
Getting An Underweight Yorkie Up To A Healthy Weight
Being underweight can lead to brittle bones, as well as lung and circulatory problems. Heart problems can also become an issue, if your dog gets lots of exercise.
To help your Yorkie gain weight in a healthy way, slowly increase the food intake. Provide more food during meals and also give treats throughout the day.
It is best to feed more high protein and fatty foods. But don’t overdo it. You don’t want to go too far the other way.
Average Yorkie Weight: Conclusion
As pet owners, we are responsible for ensuring that our Yorkies are well within the healthy weight range, by providing them with proper diet and exercise.
But if your Yorkie is slightly smaller or larger than the standard, it does not mean there is a serious problem. Even if it is much larger, it could simply be a matter it being naturally larger.
Have your vet take a look, or do the examinations we detailed above, to determine if your oversized dog is also overweight. And if it is, help it get back down to a normal weight. You want it to live a long time, after all, don’t you?
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