Yorkie Puppies: Week-by-Week Growth, Feeding & Training

Bringing Home Yorkie Puppies: What Makes This Breed Different

Yorkshire Terrier puppies are not small dogs that happen to be puppies — they are puppies that will remain small their entire lives, and that distinction shapes everything about their early care. A fully grown Yorkie typically weighs just 4–7 lb (1.8–3.2 kg) and stands 7–8 inches (18–20 cm) at the shoulder, according to the AKC breed standard. That means a 10-week-old Yorkie puppy might weigh under 2 lb (0.9 kg), making them extraordinarily fragile during the critical developmental windows ahead.

This guide walks you through every stage from week 4 through month 12 with breed-specific feeding portions, realistic potty training expectations, exact vaccination timing, and a first-year cost breakdown built around the unique needs of Yorkshire Terriers. If you're preparing to bring home one of these tiny companions, here's what the next year actually looks like.

Yorkie Puppy Age Milestones: Weeks 4 Through 12 Months

Yorkie Puppy Feeding Schedule: Exact Portions by Age and Weight

Yorkshire Terriers have fast metabolisms relative to their body size, which means they burn through calories quickly and are prone to hypoglycemia as puppies. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that small-breed puppies may require more calories per pound of body weight than large-breed puppies during growth phases.

Choose a kibble specifically formulated for small or toy breeds — these formulas have smaller kibble size and higher caloric density per cup. Look for an AAFCO statement confirming the food meets nutritional requirements for growth or all life stages.

Puppy Age	Estimated Weight	Meals/Day	Portion Per Meal	Daily Total (approx.)
8–10 weeks	1.2–1.8 lb (0.5–0.8 kg)	4	2–3 Tbsp (moistened)	½–¾ cup equivalent
10–12 weeks	1.5–2.5 lb (0.7–1.1 kg)	4	¼ cup	1 cup
12–16 weeks	2–3.5 lb (0.9–1.6 kg)	3	⅓ cup	1 cup
4–6 months	3–5 lb (1.4–2.3 kg)	3	⅓–½ cup	1–1.5 cups
6–9 months	4–6 lb (1.8–2.7 kg)	2	⅓–½ cup	⅔–1 cup
9–12 months	4–7 lb (1.8–3.2 kg)	2	¼–⅓ cup (adult formula)	½–⅔ cup

Important: These are starting points. Monitor your puppy's body condition score (BCS) weekly — you should feel ribs easily without pressing hard, but not see them visibly. Adjust portions up or down by 10–15% based on condition. Your veterinarian will confirm appropriate weight at each wellness visit.

Hypoglycemia Warning: If your Yorkie puppy (especially under 4 months) becomes listless, trembles, has pale gums, or seems disoriented, rub a small amount of Karo syrup or Nutri-Cal on their gums and contact your veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately. This is a medical emergency in toy breed puppies.

Vaccination Schedule for Yorkie Puppies

Your Yorkie puppy receives maternal antibodies through colostrum (first milk) that protect them initially but also interfere with vaccine effectiveness. This is why puppies need a series of boosters — each dose catches the immune system as maternal antibodies wane. The AVMA and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) canine vaccination guidelines recommend the following core schedule:

Age	Vaccine	Notes
6–8 weeks	DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis/Adenovirus, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus) — 1st dose	Often administered by breeder or rescue before pickup
10–12 weeks	DHPP — 2nd dose; Bordetella (optional, based on lifestyle)	Bordetella recommended if attending puppy classes or boarding
14–16 weeks	DHPP — 3rd (final puppy) dose; Rabies (required by law in most US states)	Do NOT skip the 14–16 week DHPP — maternal antibodies may not have fully waned before this
12–16 months	DHPP booster; Rabies booster	After this, DHPP typically moves to 3-year intervals; rabies intervals vary by state law

Non-core vaccines your vet may recommend based on risk: Leptospirosis (especially in areas with wildlife exposure), Lyme disease (tick-endemic regions), and Canine Influenza (H3N2/H3N8) if your puppy will be in group settings.

Yorkie-specific note: Toy breeds can be more prone to vaccine reactions. Discuss with your veterinarian whether spacing vaccines 2 weeks apart (rather than combining multiple vaccines in one visit) is appropriate for your puppy. Watch for facial swelling, hives, vomiting, or collapse within 24 hours of any vaccination and seek emergency care if these occur.

Potty Training a Yorkie: Realistic Timelines and Troubleshooting

Here's what most guides won't tell you: Yorkshire Terriers are among the more challenging breeds to house-train, and it's not a reflection of intelligence. It's physiology. A Yorkie puppy's bladder is genuinely tiny — roughly the volume of a tablespoon at 8 weeks — and their metabolic rate means they process food and water quickly. Combined with the breed's well-documented stubbornness, potty training requires patience measured in months, not days.

Realistic Potty Training Timeline

• 8–12 weeks: Accidents every 1–2 hours. Take puppy out after every meal, nap, play session, and crate release. Expect 8–12 outings per day.
• 3–4 months: Bladder control improving to 2–3 hours. Accidents still happen, especially during play excitement or after drinking water.
• 4–6 months: Beginning to signal (sniffing, circling, going to the door). Still need scheduled outings — don't rely on signals alone.
• 6–9 months: Reliability improving significantly if you've been consistent. Occasional regression is normal, especially in males beginning to lift a leg.
• 9–12 months: Most Yorkies are reliably house-trained by this point with consistent management. Some individuals may take up to 14 months.

Bladder Capacity Rule of Thumb

A puppy can typically hold their bladder for roughly one hour per month of age, plus one. So a 3-month-old Yorkie can hold for approximately 4 hours maximum — but that's the absolute upper limit, not a comfortable target. During active training, take them out far more frequently than this formula suggests.

Troubleshooting Common Potty Problems

Submissive/excitement urination: Common in Yorkie puppies. Don't greet with high energy — crouch sideways, avoid direct eye contact initially, and take puppy outside immediately after calm greetings.

Rain refusal: Many Yorkies dislike wet weather. A covered potty area, puppy umbrella, or indoor pee pad station (placed consistently in one location) can prevent weather-related setbacks.

Marking behavior: Intact males may begin lifting a leg as early as 4–5 months. Spaying/neutering before sexual maturity reduces but does not eliminate this tendency. Manage with supervision and belly bands if needed during training.

The Socialization Window: Weeks 3–14 (Don't Miss It)

The primary socialization period for puppies — when they are neurologically primed to accept new experiences without lasting fear — closes between 12 and 14 weeks of age. After this window, unfamiliar stimuli are more likely to trigger fear responses rather than curiosity. For Yorkies, who already carry a genetic predisposition toward alertness and wariness of strangers, structured socialization during this window is critical to prevent a lifetime of reactive barking and fear-based aggression.

Pre-vaccination safety: Before your puppy completes their DHPP series (typically at 16 weeks), avoid public dog parks, pet store floors, and areas with unknown dog traffic. Carry your puppy in a sling or stroller for outdoor exposure to sights and sounds without disease risk. The AVMA confirms that controlled socialization with known, vaccinated dogs in clean environments is safe and strongly encouraged during this period.

Teething Timeline and Relief Strategies (3–6 Months)

Yorkie puppies have 28 deciduous teeth that begin erupting around 3–4 weeks and are fully in by 6–8 weeks. The replacement process starts around 12–16 weeks and typically finishes by 6–7 months. Because Yorkies have small jaws, they are especially prone to retained deciduous teeth — where baby teeth don't fall out as adult teeth emerge, creating crowding that traps food and accelerates dental disease (already the #1 health issue in the breed).

Teething Phase Breakdown

• 12–16 weeks: Incisors begin loosening. You may find tiny teeth in bedding or notice increased drooling. Mouthing and nipping intensify.
• 16–20 weeks: Canines and premolars shifting. This is peak chewing intensity. Puppy will seek relief on furniture, shoes, and fingers.
• 20–28 weeks: Most adult teeth emerging. Monitor for retained baby canines — if a baby canine is still present alongside the emerging adult tooth, your veterinarian should extract it to prevent malocclusion.

Safe Teething Relief Options

• Frozen washcloth: Wet a clean washcloth, twist into a rope, freeze for 2 hours. Supervise chewing and remove if pieces tear off.
• KONG Puppy (size XS or S): Fill with softened kibble mixed with plain yogurt and freeze. The rubber is soft enough for puppy teeth.
• Benebone Puppy or Nylabone Puppy: Designed for puppy jaw strength; discard when worn down to small pieces.
• Chilled carrots: Whole baby carrots, chilled (not frozen hard). Supervise to prevent choking on broken pieces.

Avoid: Ice cubes (too hard for puppy teeth and can cause fractures), rawhide (choking and intestinal blockage risk, especially for a small-breed puppy), antlers or bones (tooth fracture risk), and any chew toy that cannot be indented with your thumbnail.

Crate Training Progression and Time Limits

A crate is one of the most effective tools for potty training a Yorkie puppy and keeping them safe when unsupervised — toy breed puppies can squeeze into dangerously small spaces. Choose a crate sized for your puppy's expected adult size (approximately 18×12×14 inches for most Yorkies) with a divider panel to adjust the space as they grow. The sleeping area should be just large enough for them to stand, turn around, and lie down — excess space encourages eliminating in one corner and sleeping in another.

Puppy Age	Maximum Crate Time (Daytime)	Overnight Expectation
8–10 weeks	30–60 minutes	2–3 hours (set alarm for potty break)
10–12 weeks	1–2 hours	3–4 hours
3–4 months	2–3 hours	4–5 hours
4–6 months	3–4 hours	5–6 hours
6+ months	4–5 hours	7–8 hours (if potty-trained overnight)

Crate training steps:

1. Leave crate door open with meals placed inside, moving the bowl further back each day.
2. Introduce a cue word ("crate" or "kennel") and toss high-value treats inside. Let puppy enter and exit freely.
3. Close door for 1 minute while puppy eats, then open. Gradually extend to 5, 10, 15 minutes with you visible.
4. Step out of sight for 30 seconds, return before puppy vocalizes. Build duration slowly.
5. Begin crating for short absences (5 minutes, then 15, then 30) only after puppy is comfortable with 15+ minutes of quiet crated time while you're home.

Nighttime whining: Place the crate in or near your bedroom for the first 2–3 weeks. A Yorkie puppy separated from their litter for the first time needs proximity to feel secure. You can gradually move the crate to a preferred location once the puppy is sleeping through the night consistently.

Common Yorkie Puppy Problems and Solutions

Puppy Biting and Nipping

Yorkie puppies mouth constantly — it's how they explore and relieve teething discomfort. But because they're small, owners often tolerate nipping that would be corrected in a larger breed. Don't. Teach bite inhibition now:

• When teeth contact skin, say "ouch" in a calm, slightly surprised tone and immediately withdraw attention for 10–15 seconds (stand up, turn away).
• Redirect to an appropriate chew toy and praise enthusiastically when they chew it.
• Never hold the mouth shut, tap the nose, or use physical punishment — these methods increase fear and can create defensive aggression in a breed already prone to reactivity.
• If biting escalates when the puppy is overtired (common in 8–12 week olds), enforce a nap in the crate. Puppy tantrums from exhaustion look like aggressive biting but resolve with sleep.

Excessive Barking

Yorkies are vocal by nature — they were originally bred to alert and hunt vermin. Puppy barking at sounds, visitors, or passing dogs is normal but can become a problem if inadvertently reinforced (picking up the barking puppy, yelling, or giving treats to "quiet" them mid-bark). Instead:

• Teach a "quiet" cue: wait for a pause in barking, say "quiet," mark the silence with a clicker or "yes," and reward.
• Manage the environment: close curtains if window traffic triggers barking; use white noise for hallway sounds.
• Reward quiet behavior proactively — when your puppy is lying calmly, drop a treat nearby without fanfare.

Separation Distress

Yorkies bond intensely and are predisposed to separation anxiety. Prevention starts in puppyhood:

• Practice short departures (30 seconds to 5 minutes) daily, varying the duration.
• Don't make arrivals and departures emotional events — ignore the puppy for 2–3 minutes after coming home until they're calm.
• Provide a food-stuffed toy (frozen KONG) when crating to create positive associations with alone time.
• If distress vocalization persists beyond 15–20 minutes consistently, consult a certified professional dog trainer or veterinary behaviorist early — separation anxiety worsens without intervention.

First-Year Cost Breakdown for a Yorkie Puppy

Budgeting accurately for a Yorkshire Terrier's first year helps avoid surprises. Costs below reflect 2026 US averages and may vary by region.

Category	Estimated Cost (USD)	Details
Puppy purchase (responsible breeder)	$2,500–$5,000	Health-tested parents, AKC registration, early socialization, take-back clause. Adoption from rescue: $300–$600.
Veterinary care (wellness visits + vaccines)	$600–$1,200	3–4 puppy wellness exams, DHPP series, rabies, fecal tests, deworming, heartworm prevention start
Spay/neuter surgery	$400–$800	Toy breed anesthesia protocols may cost more; discuss timing with your vet (typically 6–9 months for Yorkies)
Food (small-breed puppy + transition to adult)	$300–$500	Premium small-breed kibble at $3–$5/lb; Yorkies eat relatively little due to size
Supplies (crate, harness, leash, bowls, bed, gates)	$250–$500	Small-breed sized gear; include puppy-proofing supplies (cord covers, bitter apple spray)
Grooming	$400–$900	Professional grooming every 6–8 weeks at $60–$100 per session; at-home brushing supplies $30–$50
Training (puppy class + optional private sessions)	$150–$500	Group puppy class: $150–$250 for 6-week session; private trainer: $75–$150/session
Pet insurance (optional but recommended)	$350–$600	Monthly premiums $30–$50 for accident/illness coverage; Yorkies are prone to dental, luxating patella, and tracheal issues later in life
First-Year Total (excluding puppy cost)	$2,450–$5,000	Varies significantly based on location, vet pricing, and whether unexpected health issues arise

Frequently Asked Questions About Yorkie Puppies

This guide provides general care information for Yorkshire Terrier puppies and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian for decisions about your puppy's health, vaccination protocol, nutrition, and spay/neuter timing.