As Yorkies can vary in size quite a bit, you may be wondering just how big (or how small) these little dogs should be?
For a number of reasons, it’s good to know if your Yorkie is the proper height and weight
According to the AKC, Yorkshire Terriers should measure between 7 and 8 inches (178 – 203 cm) to the withers (the ridge at the base of the neck, between the shoulder blades) and should weigh 7 pounds (318 kg) or less
This detailed guide should contain everything you need to know about the size of your Yorkshire terrier, including what size you can expect a Yorkie puppy to grow to based on their current weight and how a Yorkie’s size can affect their health
See how your Yorkie measures up and what that could mean
What is the Average Size of a Yorkie?
Fully grown Yorkshire Terriers are typically 7 to 8 inches (178 – 203 cm) tall when measuring the distance between the ground and the ridge between their shoulder blades
The length of a Yorkie (measured from the base of the neck to the base of their tail) should be of equal proportion to their height approximately
Yorkie sizes can and do vary though
Size differences can be determined by birth weight, nutrition, or genetic deposition
Yorkies will be quite small regardless of where they fall on the spectrum, but if your Yorkie is much shorter than 7 inches (178 cm), you might want to ask your vet to screen them for any health problems
Yorkies that are too small are often at risk of a variety of health issues
Larger purebred Yorkies do exist, but if your Yorkie is taller than 8 inches, there is a chance that your dog is not purebred
What is the Average Weight of a Yorkie?
There have also been cases, although quite unusual, of purebred Yorkies weighing in excess of 15 pounds !
However, usually for Yorkies that are so large, it’s down to a larger dog breed having been introduced somewhere in their ancestry
As long as your Yorkie is in good shape and has a reasonable diet along with good exercise you shouldn’t worry too much
Yorkies’ weight may fluctuate depending on their nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle
Nevertheless, if your fully grown Yorkie weighs less than 4 pounds (181kg) they are considered to be underweight
Yorkies that weigh less than 4 pounds are known as “teacup Yorkies”
These dogs are at risk of various health problems
How to Tell if Your Yorkie is the Right Weight?
If you have trouble weighing your dog on a scale or you are unsure about whether they are a healthy weight for their stature, you can always check by doing a visual or physical assessment of their body
Look down at your dog from behind to do a visual assessment
If your dog is underweight, the curve inward will be sharp and noticeably smaller
You can also check by looking at your dog’s side profile and observing their abdomen
If your dog is a healthy weight, their abdomen will slope slightly upward from the ribcage
A skinny dog will have no noticeable body fat, and their stomach will appear sharply tucked upward from the ribs
You can also check their weight by placing your hands on the sides of their body, on the ribcage
If you can see the ribs of your dog, then they are underweight
If you can’t feel their ribs, then they may be overfed or need more exercise
If your Yorkie’s hair makes a visual assessment difficult, you can also use your hand to feel for any drastic physical signs your dog may have that will tell you whether they are over or underweight
You do this assessment by running your fingers down your dog’s spine and then feel for their pelvic bone
Prominent vertebrae and a jutting pelvic bone will indicate your dog is underweight
If your dog is an ideal weight, you should feel a thin layer of fat between the bones and skin of your dog
If your dog is overweight, it will be challenging to feel the bones through their fat
A Yorkie that is too small or too big falls into dangerous territory due to size-related health complications like non-regular blood sugar level, inability to exercise, higher possibility of getting injured, and hip dysplasia
Your vet should be able to advise you on how to care for your Yorkie and address any weight issues they might have
They may suggest changes in exercise, routines, or the way you feed your dog
Is a Large Yorkie Still Healthy?
Even large Yorkies are still small when compared to other types of dogs
If your Yorkie weighs over 9 pounds, but they don’t look overweight, and your vet isn’t concerned, then you don’t need to worry too much
The weight of a Yorkie depends on their bone structure as much as their diet
Dogs that are taller and longer will weigh more as well
Any dog is capable of carrying excess weight
Yorkshire Terriers over 10 lbs should be examined to see if there is a need for weight loss or any health issues from excess fat
Yorkshire Terriers can quickly become overweight if they aren’t exercising regularly or eating the right food
Once a dog begins gaining a few extra pounds, it becomes harder for them to lose weight and usually leads to even more weight gain
There are health concerns when dealing with an overweight Yorkie
Obesity is linked to canine diabetes, early onset of arthritis, a shorter lifespan, kidney disease, skin disorders, respiratory disorders, high blood pressure, and increased risk of some cancers
Steps to Help a Yorkie Lose Weight
If your vet has confirmed that your Yorkie needs to lose a few pounds, then there are a lot of ways you can begin giving them a healthier lifestyle
You can start your dog’s weight loss journey by changing their calorie intake
Your vet may suggest switching to a lower calorie dog food
When changing dog foods, give your Yorkie a bowl containing half of their new food and half of their old food for a week or so before making the change
You can also begin gradually adding exercise and walks into your dog’s routine
It’s essential to do this slowly if your dog is used to a sedentary lifestyle
You don’t want your dog to have negative feelings about walks or playing outside
Like humans, diet and exercise go a long way to improving the weight and health of your Yorkie
Caring for an Underweight Yorkie
Yorkshire Terriers are notoriously small, and even when they are over 7 lbs, they are still considered tiny dogs
Even if your Yorkie is an ideal weight for their stature, you still will need to take precautions when caring for them due to their size
Yorkies that are underweight especially need their owners to care for them to avoid injury or other issues
Small dogs are more likely to be stepped on, accidentally tripped over, or dropped and particularly small or underweight Yorkies are also more likely to suffer from fractures and broken bones due to these accidents
You can eliminate a lot of risk for your dog by adopting some small lifestyle changes such as using a harness, being careful around large dogs, and active children
Keep your Yorkie out of overly crowded spaces, and refrain from carrying your dog with one arm
Yorkie Puppy Growth
Most Yorkies will reach their full height and weight by the one-year mark
By 12 to 18 months, they lose their puppy fat and reach full size
When born, Yorkie puppies are between 2 and 5 ounces
They gain a couple of ounces each week, depending on their birth size
By 8 weeks, they are between 11 and 30 ounces, and by the time they reach 18 months, they will be triple their birth weight
Yorkie puppies will not need to be put on a diet or over-exercised despite looking overweight or too skinny
Puppies have healthy puppy fat that will cause them to look chubby; this is normal and a sign of a healthy puppy
When puppies hit that 9 to 10-month change where growth begins to slow, they will still grow taller
How Big Will Your Yorkie Puppy Get?
Many Yorkie puppy owners are curious about how big their puppy will get once they reach adult size
You can somewhat accurately predict how large your puppy will grow by multiplying their weight at eight weeks by 3
Example: At eight weeks old, if your Yorkie is 2 lbs, then they will most likely be 6 lbs when fully grown
Below is a chart to assist you in calculating your Yorkie puppy’s potential end weight before adulthood
If you don’t have your dog’s birth weight, then use another age that corresponds closely to the weight of your puppy
This chart can’t predict exactly but should give you a general estimate as to how large your Yorkie will eventually be
How to use the Yorkie puppy growth chart:
Find your Yorkie’s age in weeks in the farthest left chart columnFollow left to right to find the weight in ounces that is closest to your puppy’s weightCheck the bottom of the column in the row labeled 18 months to determine your Yorkie puppy’s estimated future weight
How Genetics Affect the Size of Yorkies
The size of a Yorkie will depend heavily on their genes
Most puppies inherit their size from their father
Most owners and breeders should be informed of the family history of each dog involved in the process to better predict the stature of puppies
Breeding pups from a bloodline of small Yorkies on both sides can have dire consequences
Teacup Yorkies
They are actually purebred Yorkies that were bred purposely to be underweight and of dangerously small stature
Breeders will find two purebred Yorkies with a genetic history of small size and height to produce even smaller ones
“Teacup” Yorkies, or irresponsibly bred Yorkies are often quite ill and suffer from congenital health issues caused by being bred only for reduced size rather than adhering to standards for health
Health risks among teacup Yorkies include:
Health risks and other related problems affect teacup Yorkies for their entire lives
It is unfortunate when breeders and dog owners choose appearance over ethics and the dog’s overall health and wellbeing
Now you know a great deal about Yorkshire sizes and where your dog falls on the spectrum
Just like all dog breeds, you might have a dog or puppy that is an outlier in terms of size
Whether they are on the smaller or larger end of the range, it is okay as long as they are healthy and happy
However, having a dog that is underweight or overweight can end up shortening their life span and provide them with serious health issues
You can use different methods to determine if they are of average size for their stature and try to change your Yorkie’s lifestyle if need be
If you have a Yorkie or plan to get one the information in this post should give you insight and knowledge into the size of your pup and how to care for them
Yorkies come is many sizes
But there is actually a normal weight range for Yorkies, as defined by the American Kennel Club
Many healthy Yorkies fall outside the standard range
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
Contents1 How Much Should A Yorkie Weigh?2 Yorkie Weight Chart3 Yorkie Weight Calculator4 Overweight Yorkies41 Common Reasons Why Yorkies Are Overweight42 Vet Recommended Measures5 How Much Does A Teacup Yorkie Weigh?6 How To Determine If Your Yorkie Is At A Healthy Weight61 Signs Your Yorkie Is Overweight611 Compare Your Yorkie To The Usual Range612 Rib Test613 Look For Lethargic Behavior62 Helping An Overweight Yorkie Lose Weight63 Signs Of An Underweight Yorkie64 Getting An Underweight Yorkie Up To A Healthy Weight7 Average Yorkie Weight: Conclusion
How Much Should A Yorkie Weigh?
Most full-grown Yorkies weigh between 4 and 7 pounds
And that is not generally a big deal, but it can be indicative of health issues that should be addressed
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
Feel free to use this chart, but please provide a link back to this page
Yorkie Weight Calculator
The formula below can be used to calculate the estimated adult weight of a Yorkie puppy
Estimated adult weight in lbs
= (Weight of puppy at 12 weeks) x 2 + 05
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
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 (453 kilos)
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
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
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
You could providing home-cooked meals instead of ready-made dog food
OR you could simply reduce the amount of food you feed your pup
If your Yorkie is currently getting two 20-minute walks daily, increase them to 30 minutes gradually
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
There is a reason the miniature yorkie lifespan is much shorter
This yorkie size comparison will clear up any confusion
How To Determine If Your Yorkie Is At A Healthy Weight
It is easiest to begin by examining your dog from behind for this
In an underweight dog, the curve will sharper and smaller
An overweight dog has no inward curve at all
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
If you can see them, your dog underweight
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
The rib test is perhaps the best way to determine whether your Yorkie is overweight
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’t feel the ribs, it is overweight
If you can actually see the individual ribs, your dog is underweight
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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