Precious, my yorkie is 10 weeks old. She is on the breeders diet, but doesn't eat very much. I would say she eats maybe a total of about 1/4 cup of food a day. She takes a few bites and walks away. I leave it on the floor for about 10 to 15 minutes, but she never comes back to it. I don't know if you need to know the diet she is on, but it's 4 meals a day. Thanks very much for any help you can give me. Shirl :D

I would say that a 10 week old yorkie pup has a very tiny tummy. If you feed a dry complete food (and don't have any other pets) then try leaving it down all day so she can return whenever she wants if you are really worried about how much she eats.

Hi Shirl,
1/4 a cup of food for her is a good amount. She'll probably want more during her growth spurts + if you keep her intact, vs. spaying (usually less then due to lack of hormonal shifts.) .....
But they really don't eat that much compared to other dogs. If she's only eating when she's hungry, that's a good sign.
My view is that it's better for a dog to eat too little than what we think is right, than to eat too much. There are quite a few Yorkies out there who are just FAT and you don't want that :( :( Not a pretty sight ;) :(

Pepper was a self-bulimic, imo ;) If she got an ounce over 7 pounds, she'd stop eating until she returned to her sleek self, usually within 2 days. :Rolleyes: I learned to live with it :)

Just as a comparison, my two girls (not yorkies though ;) --spayed bitches 7 & 9 years old --16 & 17 pounds) eat about a 1/2 cup of food each day + 3-4 biscuits, and a pig ear about every three days.

My personal preference is to NOT leave food down all day. That way you know exactly when and how much she eats if it's on some type of offering schedule.
But realize a tiny puppy has a tiny stomach and if she's not on a heavy execise schedule, she's just not going to eat that much. And we all know that what goes in, must come out...so less clean up than bigger dogs :D :D :D :D
toodles

Thank you both for your replies. I was concerned because my breeder told me to give her about a tea cup full of food each time. She doesn't even eat half of that! Now I'll cut back on what I make. I feel like I'm throwing too much food away. I would prefer not to leave food down for her all day. This way I can keep her on some type of schedule when she is due to go out for a wee or poo. Of course you never know when she is going to go poo. It could be right after she eats or 4 hours after. She's not "regular". :D I don't dare tell my hubby he was right!!! :D :D He said you can't expect her to eat alot she has a tiny tummy. :D

She gets plenty of excercise. She tears threw the house like a bolt of lightening at times. Once she is outside she does the same. Running around the yard like a wild woman!!! :D

Thanks again for all your help! :D Shirl

I take it that you got the fence/escaping problem all sorted out for her to be free in your backyard? ;) :D That's great to hear :)

The fence problem is solved. She is free to run like a wild woman!! I had a pile of gravel out back I didn't know what to do with, so...... I piled it up around all the little dips she can sneek under. I took away her fun! :D She is so much fun to watch out back. I get such a kick out of her chasing the leaves or anything that moves, she growls that little puppy growl and takes off. Shirl :D The happy yorkie owner!

I've been lucky with Una she is spayed and a very good doer 5oz of complete food 6 biscuits chew most days and she stayed around 19/20 KG all her life. Didn't feel I could reduce any more as it was just a small amount already. Pups often go through picky stages try not to worry
Anne

Hi Anne, I would like to get Precious spayed as well. The breeder told me she is too small to have puppies, so I don't want any accidents to happen. (I didn't want to breed her anyway.) I don't have other pets, but I have heard of other dogs doing anything they can to get to a bitch in heat. Precious has no desire to eat treats. She loves the chewy things, rawhide is what I call them, but dog bones or treats she doesn't touch. She just plays with them. :) Thanks for responding. Sounds like Una is eating well. Shirl :D

Just out of curiosity, Shirl.... How big/little does the breeder guestimate Precious is going to be when she's adult size? (weightwise, of course ;) )

The breeder estimates she will be 5 pounds. She was the runt of the litter. She was the smallest one of all. The boys were almost twice the size of her. I called one of them butterball when I was there. You can tell he loved to eat!! Is 5 pounds too little do you think? Shirl :D

Hi Shirl & Happy Christmas Eve Day :)
I really don't think that 5 pounds is too small for a Yorkie.
It's the 'minis' or 'toys' that many breeders are deliberately breeding to weigh under 4 pounds that I just don't like. Yes, there are ethical and wonderful breeders that have adults fall into that realm by accident of genes, just like they have those that end up larger than 7 pound standards. C'est la vie :D

Don't forget though, that many times the runt of the litter actually ends up larger than all the other puppies when he/she reaches adulthood :) It's really hard to predict when they're all pups especially when it's in ounces and not pounds ;) :D
Merry Christmas :)
toodles