15 Human Foods Yorkies Can Safely Eat (And How Much)
Most advice about feeding Yorkies focuses on what you shouldn't give them, which leaves a lot of owners nervous about sharing anything at all. Plenty of everyday foods are perfectly safe for a Yorkshire Terrier in small amounts, and some are genuinely good for her.
This guide covers fifteen human foods you can share, how much is appropriate for a four-to-seven pound dog, and how to prepare each one safely.
Table of Contents
The One Rule That Matters Most
Before any specific food, understand the limit it sits inside. Treats and extras should make up no more than 10% of your Yorkie's daily calories.
For a typical Yorkie eating around 150 to 200 calories a day, that's roughly 15 to 20 calories of extras. It is a far smaller allowance than most people expect — about one baby carrot and three blueberries, not a handful of each.
This is why portion sizes below are given in pieces rather than cups. A tablespoon of something is a snack for a Labrador and a meal for a Yorkie.
Fruits Yorkies Can Eat
1. Blueberries — 2 to 5 per day. Low calorie, high in antioxidants, and easy to use as training rewards. There's a full guide on blueberries for Yorkies if you want the detail.
2. Apple — 2 or 3 small cubes. Remove the core and all seeds, which contain cyanide compounds. Leave the skin on for fibre.
3. Watermelon — 1 or 2 small cubes. Seedless flesh only, no rind. Very hydrating in hot weather.
4. Banana — a slice about a quarter inch thick. High in potassium but also high in sugar, so keep it occasional.
5. Strawberries — half a berry, chopped. Contains an enzyme that may help whiten teeth slightly. There's a full guide on strawberries for Yorkies covering preparation and portions.
6. Cantaloupe — 1 or 2 small cubes, flesh only. Good source of vitamin A.
Vegetables Yorkies Can Eat
7. Carrot — one baby carrot, or a few sticks. Raw carrot sticks also give some mild dental benefit from chewing. Cut lengthways rather than into coins to reduce choking risk.
8. Green beans — 2 or 3 beans, plain, steamed or raw. Filling and very low calorie, which makes them useful if your Yorkie needs to lose weight.
9. Pumpkin — half a teaspoon of plain puree. Genuinely helpful for mild digestive upset in either direction. Make sure it's pure pumpkin, not pie filling, which contains sugar and spices.
10. Sweet potato — one small cube, cooked and plain. Never raw.
11. Cucumber — 2 or 3 thin slices. Almost entirely water, good for weight management.
12. Broccoli — one tiny floret, steamed. Keep it minimal; large amounts can cause gas and stomach irritation.
Proteins and Other Foods
13. Plain cooked chicken — a piece about the size of your fingernail. Boiled or baked, no skin, no bones, no seasoning. This is the single best high-value training reward for most Yorkies.
14. Plain cooked turkey or lean beef — same portion as chicken. Lean cuts only, nothing fatty or processed.
15. Plain unsweetened yogurt — half a teaspoon. Check the label carefully for xylitol, which is lethal to dogs. Some Yorkies are lactose intolerant, so start tiny.
Plain cooked egg and plain cooked white fish are also safe in similar amounts if you want to extend the list further.
How to Prepare Food Safely
The preparation matters as much as the food itself. A safe ingredient can become dangerous depending on how it reaches the bowl.
- Serve everything plain — no salt, butter, oil, garlic, onion powder, or seasoning of any kind
- Cook meat thoroughly and remove all bones, including small ones
- Cut everything small. A Yorkie's airway is tiny, so aim for pea-sized pieces
- Wash all produce to remove pesticide residue
- Remove seeds, pits, cores and rinds without exception
- Introduce one food at a time, a few days apart, so you can identify the culprit if something disagrees with her
- Offer extras as toppers or treats, never as a replacement for a balanced complete food
Seasoning is the most commonly missed point. Plain roast chicken is fine; the same chicken cooked with garlic and salt is not.
Foods to Keep Away From
This list is the counterpart to a longer one. Chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, xylitol, macadamia nuts, avocado, alcohol and caffeine are all genuinely dangerous rather than merely unsuitable — see foods to avoid when feeding your Yorkshire Terrier for the full picture and the reasons behind each.
Also worth avoiding even though they aren't toxic: anything fried, processed meats like bacon and ham, cheese in more than trace amounts, bread dough, corn on the cob, and cooked bones of any kind.
Signs a Food Isn't Agreeing With Her
Introduce anything new in a very small amount and watch for the next day or two:
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Excessive gas or a gurgling stomach
- Scratching, face rubbing, or red skin
- Lethargy or reluctance to eat her normal food
- Swelling around the face or muzzle
Mild digestive upset usually means the portion was too large or the food doesn't suit her. Facial swelling, hives, or breathing difficulty is an emergency — contact your vet immediately.
Final Thoughts
You can share a reasonable amount of your own food with a Yorkie, provided it's plain, cut small, and kept within that 10% allowance. Fresh fruit and vegetables also make much better training rewards than commercial treats, which tend to be calorie-dense for a dog this size.
Start with carrot, green beans, blueberries and plain chicken. Those four cover most situations, are cheap, and are very well tolerated.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can Yorkies eat human food every day?
Small amounts of safe foods daily are fine as long as they stay within 10% of her calories and her main diet is a complete small-breed food.
Can Yorkie puppies eat these foods?
Wait until around six months, then introduce one food at a time in even smaller portions. A puppy's digestive system is less tolerant than an adult's.
Is cheese safe for Yorkies?
In tiny amounts it isn't toxic, but it's high in fat and salt and many Yorkies are lactose intolerant. A crumb for hiding medication is fine; a cube is too much.
Can Yorkies eat peanut butter?
Yes, a quarter teaspoon of plain peanut butter, but only after checking the label for xylitol. Many reduced-sugar brands contain it and it is fatal to dogs.
What about a raw diet?
Raw feeding is possible but carries bacterial risks and is easy to get nutritionally wrong in a dog this small. Discuss it with your vet before starting.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian before making changes to your Yorkie's diet, particularly if she has existing health conditions.