How Much Does a Yorkshire Terrier Weigh?

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Yorkshire Terriers are commonly small dogs. However, they can vary in size. Some may be big while others look small. This may be a problem for you since you won’t know the healthy size of your dog. Hence, it’s important to know how much does a Yorkshire Terrier weigh. 

How Much Does a Yorkshire Terrier Weigh?

Yorkshire Terriers when born weigh around three to six pounds. They usually don’t weigh more than seven pounds. The ideal weight range for newborns is between four to six pounds. They should be around 8 to 9 inches at the shoulder. 

Graphic image of a black and brown Yorkie and a weighing scale with a text describing that the average weight for Yorkshire Terriers is 7 pounds

Yorkshire Terriers vary a lot in size when born. It’s even common for one or two litters of Yorkshire Terriers to weigh less than four pounds. Others may weigh up to five or six pounds. Some may even grow up to 12 to 15 pounds. 

Don’t be fooled by Yorkshire Terriers who are smaller than the general weight and size. They are usually susceptible to genetic disorders and have high health risks most of the time. 

General Size of a Yorkshire Terrier

A fully grown Yorkshire Terrier is usually 7 to 8 inches tall. This is the distance between the ground and the ridge in between the shoulder blades of the dog. 

The length of the Yorkshire Terrier should be in equal proportion to their height. It doesn’t have to be accurate, just as close as possible.  

If your Yorkshire Terrier is shorter than 7 inches, your pet may be more prone to health risks. Too large Yorkshire Terriers that are taller than 8 inches may be a sign that they’re not purebred. 

Yorkshire Terrier standing on a ground full of fallen leaves

Signs Your Yorkshire Terrier is the Right Weight

If you don’t have a weighing scale or find it difficult to put them on the weighing scale, there are other ways to do it. A simple physical and visual assessment of your Yorkshire Terrier.

  • Check your dog from behind for a visual assessment. Your dog should have a waist that subtly curves inward as your eyes move from the ribcage to the waist. Your dog is underweight if the curve inward is sharp and looks obviously smaller. 
  • You can also do a visual assessment by checking the side profile of your pet. Check the abdomen area of your dog. A healthy dog will have its abdomen slope slightly upward from the ribcage. A skinny dog will obviously have no body fat and its stomach is tucked upward from the ribs. 
  • You can make a physical assessment by placing your hands onto the sides of their body, specifically the ribcage area. A sign of a healthy dog is when you can feel their ribcage and not visually see it. If the ribs are visible, the dog is underweight. If you can’t feel the ribcage, your dog may be overweight. 

Health Implications of Large Yorkshire Terriers

If you did the physical and visual assessment and conclude your Yorkshire Terrier is healthy, chances are your dog is large because it isn’t purebred or it has a larger bone structure. 

Just to make sure, have your dog checked by a veterinarian. If your vet tells you there’s nothing to concern about, then your Yorkshire Terrier is just unusually large compared to its peers. This mostly means that you are properly taking care of your dog and providing its energy requirement

Yorkshire Terrier standing on a clear plastic chair

If your dog is over 10 pounds of the normal weight, you may want to consider losing some weight. Dogs with excess fat have more health risks than those who don’t. 

How to Make Your Yorkshire Terrier Lose Weight

To help you with your dog’s weight loss, consult a veterinarian. If your vet suggests that your dog should lose weight, your vet will give out suggestions for your dog’s weight loss. 

Commonly, your dog’s routine will change and its lifestyle that can also affect you. This is a slow process so you need the time and dedication to make sure your dog is healthy. 

  • Start by lessening your dog’s calorie intake. Generally, vets will advise you to switch to lower-calorie dog food. To get your dog used to it, mixed half of its old food and half of the new food for a week or two. Then gradually introduce full low-calorie dog food. 
  • Incorporate exercise and walking your dog into your lifestyle. Do this gradually, especially if your dog is used to a sedentary lifestyle. You need your dog to adapt to the change slowly so it won’t resent walking or playing outside. 
Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkies are generally smart. They can even recognize spoken words and slow mapping. It shouldn’t be a problem to train your Yorkie, and give them a healthy and active lifestyle.  

Related Questions

Can a Yorkie Weigh 15 Pounds?

A Yorkie weighing 15 pounds is a huge outlier. Breed standards can change at different years. The minimum weight of a Yorkie is 4 pounds and a maximum weight of 7 pounds for a full-grown adult Yorkie. 

If your Yorkie weighs 15 pounds, you may want a vet to check it. The vet may recommend that your Yorkie lose some weight to stay healthy. 

At What Age Is a Yorkie Full Grown?

A Yorkie is full-grown when it reaches the 1-year mark. Most Yorkies slow down in growth when they reach 9 to 10 months. Their growth finishes usually within 12 months. 

Conclusion

The weight of your Yorkshire Terrier may be an indicator of its health. Hence, you should know how much the average Yorkshire Terrier weighs so you can compare yours. If your dog is underweight or overweight, you can take action and keep your dog healthy.