How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Yorkies
The spunky, little Yorkshire Terrier makes for a charming family companion. Often affectionately referred to as a Yorkie, this charming pooch is self-assured, believing itself to be the center of its family’s world.
Characterized by its flowing, silky coat and sophisticated topknot, the Yorkshire Terrier is the picture of class, earning itself fans from every corner of the globe.
Though the Yorkshire Terrier’s distinctive looks make it easy to identify, it is the breed’s personality that has the most powerful effect on every person it meets. This pooch is small in size but big in personality.
The Yorkie is an active dog that thrives when given the opportunity to enjoy an adventure. But make no mistake, the Yorkie can be prone to mischief, a trait that aficionados of the breed find quite delightful.
The Yorkshire Terrier is loving and affectionate towards its family. However, the breed can be very wary of new people.
A breed that enjoys the sound of its own voice, the Yorkie will bark at unusual people and sounds, meaning it is necessary to teach this breed a “no bark” command to maintain positive relationships with the neighbors.
As with most toy breeds, the Yorkshire Terrier is predisposed to teeth problems. Maintaining good dental health is very important. The best dog foods for Yorkshire Terriers contain small bite-sized pieces of kibble with a texture that helps to scrub away any tartar or food debris.
The Yorkshire Terrier should be walked daily to maintain good health and excellent body condition. The breed is not particularly prone to becoming overweight; however, free feeding is still strongly discouraged.
To ensure the Yorkshire Terrier’s nutritional needs are properly met, owners should select a diet that contains a minimum of 18 percent protein and 5 percent fat.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Yorkies
Deciding how much excellent quality food to feed a Yorkshire Terrier can be almost as difficult as selecting which kind. Thankfully, AAFCO regulations require all commercially prepared diets to provide suggested serving sizes for their product.
These can be found on the side of the bag of food. Owners can use these as a starting point and make adjustments accordingly.
The dog’s weight, appetite, age, and activity level can also be considered in helping to determine how much of the best dog food for Yorkshire Terriers to feed.
To prevent weight gain from occurring, it is important to always measure the Yorkshire Terrier’s daily meals. In addition to this, all intake should be carefully monitored.
Dietary Requirements for Yorkshire Terrier Dog Foods
Though small in size, the Yorkshire Terrier still needs meat in order to enjoy optimal health and wellness. The best dog foods for Yorkshire Terriers base their formula on whole meats or meat meals.
Meat by-products are of inferior quality, having typically been taken from parts of the animal that humans find undesirable to eat themselves. These are best avoided.
Soy, corn and wheat are plant-based proteins that are common allergens for many dogs including the Yorkshire Terrier. Experts agree that foods containing these ingredients are best left on the shelf.
Other ingredients to avoid in food for this breed are chemicals, fillers, additives, preservatives, artificial colors, and flavors.
Carbohydrates help the Yorkshire Terrier to enjoy fluid digestion and a healthy immune system. This breed can enjoy either a grain-inclusive or grain-free diet without any ill effects unless the dog has previously expressed food allergies.
Ground brown rice, oatmeal, barley, and buckwheat are all excellent sources of carbohydrates. The main priority of any carbohydrate included in Yorkie dog food is its amount of antioxidants and fiber.
From healthy fats, the Yorkshire Terrier gains support for healthy coats and skin and strong reserves of energy to fuel their active lifestyle. The best sources for these items are animal-based and include such foods as chicken fat and oily fish.
Plant-based oils such as canola and safflower also offer ample servings of these essential fatty acids. Wet dog food is also a great option for Yorkshire Terriers. These meals provide the moist texture and flavor that these dogs need to maintain a healthy appetite. The most common wet puppy food found in specialty stores is canned or pouch-style.
Supplements help food to be its most effective. The most desirable supplements for the Yorkshire Terrier include prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Yorkies
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for a Yorkshire Terrier:
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Lean meat-based proteins heading up the ingredients list
Yorkshire Terriers are carnivores, and thus, do best on a diet that is based on lean meat. The best foundation for a high-quality diet is whole meats or meat meals.
By-products and plant-based ingredients such as soy, corn, and wheat are of limited benefit to the Yorkshire Terrier, and foods that include them are best avoided.
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Prepared without the addition of chemicals, flavorings, fillers, or mystery ingredients
Chemicals, fillers, artificial flavorings and colorings, and mystery ingredients provide no nutritional benefit to a Yorkshire Terrier. Diets containing these items should be avoided.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
Supplements help to boost a diet’s effectiveness for dogs. The best supplements to look for in food for the Yorkshire Terrier are prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All foods appropriate for the Yorkshire Terrier should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.