Choosing Healthy Snacks, Training Treats, and Edible Chews for a Yorkshire Terrier

What you offer your Yorkie for snacks, training treats, and edible chews is just as important as what's chosen for main meals. These goodies can account for 20 to 30% of a dog's daily intake, so there should be a focus on timing, portions, and quality of ingredients.

Here we will take a look at the difference between types of treats, when it's appropriate to offer them, and some great tips for healthy choices along with specific recommendations.

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Terminology

Before we get rolling, let's quickly cover the difference between the types of goodies to help keep things organized:

• Snacks: Dog snacks are small portions of food that are typically given in between meals.
  
• Training treats: These are small tidbits that are given to reward good behavior, often used for housetraining, command training, etc.
• Chews: These are hard, edible chews meant to keep a dog occupied.
  
• Dental treats: As the name implies, these are dog treats specifically designed to help keep teeth (and gums) in good shape.

Ingredients to Avoid

Knowing what to give a Yorkie for snacks, treats, and chews means knowing what to avoid. So, let's cover some of the detrimental ingredients that pet parents should keep an eye out for and steer clear of:

• Products from overseas (particularly China) which have been linked to chemicals and toxic substances that have caused illness and death. When looking for snacks for your Yorkie, note where the food is sourced and where it is made.
• Artificial preservatives - This includes BHA, BHT, calcium propionate, ethoxyquin, potassium sorbate and sodium nitrate which can cause minor to severe allergic reactions. Some have been linked to liver and kidney disease, neurological issues, cancer, and other diseases.
• Artificial colors - Yellow #5 and #6, Blue #2, and Red #40 can cause allergic reactions. 
• Artificial flavoring, including MSG (monosodium glutamate). Numerous animal studies have proven this to be toxic to the liver, brain, thymus, and kidneys and this can cause allergic reactions.
• Fillers (corn, cereals, high grain counts, peanut hulls, etc.) - These may be added to bulk food up while offering little to no nutritional value. Some of these may cause allergic reactions and intestinal issues.
• By-products - These are typically animal parts deemed unfit for human consumption and may include lungs, brain, bone, intestines, stomach, spleen and other organs, and undeveloped eggs. 
• Generic meats or oils - This will be labeled 'animal oil' or 'meat by-product', etc. This can be sourced from just about any animal at all including road kill and diseased farm animals.
• Raw hide or pig ears. Raw hide (made from the inner layer of cow hides) and pig ears (dehydrated ear of a pig) are very hard treats designed to last a long time. The problem is that these are choking hazards and can cause internal blockage.

Now that you know what to avoid, let's dive into how to choose the best snacks and treats for your Yorkshire Terrier.

1. Fruitables Crunchy Dog Treats.

This is one of our top picks for lots of reasons. As you may have guessed from the name, this line of dog snacks is fruit-based and these particular ones all have pumpkin along with another yummy food that complements it (blueberry, banana, cranberry, apple or sweet potato). Pumpkin is a super-healthy snack that's rich in antioxidants, vitamins A, C, and E and dietary fiber, and is very easy on the tummy (a huge plus for this toy breed).

Importantly, this dog snack has only wholesome goodness, there are no chemical preservatives or additives of any type. It is preserved naturally with green tea extract, rosemary extract, and spearmint. The size of this goodie is ideal for small dogs like the Yorkshire Terrier (though these can be given to large dogs as well). And Fruitables is made in the USA.

2. Wellness Core Petite Treats - Crunchy.

This has to be included in our top picks since it's a very wholesome snack that's grain-free and filled with bold flavor, while specifically designed for small dogs like the Yorkshire Terrier. Note that some of the snacks in this line are chewy (like the lamb & apple), and this particular one (chicken & cherry) is crunchy.

Wellness is a high-quality brand that never uses artificial preservatives or additives; they preserve their food with a vitamin blend (it will show as mixed tocopherols). We also love that many of their kibbles and treats contain extras; this snack has omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, which are great for maintaining healthy skin and coat. This is made in the USA.

3. Green Butterfly Brands Salmon Dog Treats.

When a dog snack has only one ingredient, salmon, you can't go wrong. This is freeze-dried wild-caught American salmon with absolutely no other ingredients and the freeze-drying process allows all of the nutrients to remain in these little square morsels.

Of course just about every dog loves salmon and it's a super-food that's packed with protein, vitamins, and omega fatty acid that boosts the immune system, keeps skin and coat healthy, and is good for joint health. And with just the one ingredient of salmon, this is ideal for Yorkies that have intolerances or food allergies. These are great as a snack and also to break over meals to entice picky eaters. This is made in the USA.

Training Treats for Yorkshire Terriers

What to Know:

Training treats, as the name implies, are tidbits of food that are given as a reward when training a puppy or dog. Tasty treats can be very motivating for canines and are often used hand-in-hand with praise for quickly and effectively showing a dog that they've done something wonderful, also known as positive reinforcement. Training treats should be given when housebreaking, command training, teaching a Yorkie to heel, and whenever you want to send a loud message of a job well-done.

Training treats differ from regular dog snacks in a few ways. The most important element is that they are meant to be very small. This is so that you can give multiple rewards in succession without it disturbing your Yorkie's appetite for their regular meals. Other qualities are a highly-desired flavor (after all, this sort of goodie won't do its job if a Yorkie doesn't see it as a prized reward) and a soft texture (may be labeled 'chewy' or 'soft').

Note that whatever you choose as a training treat for your Yorkshire Terrier should be reserved just for that purpose and not given as a regular snack. If these are given out too easily, they will lose their value.

Our Top 3 Recommendations:

1. Wellness Soft Bites Training Treats.

Wellness is a high-quality brand that has everything a pet parent is looking for in a treat. They use an all-natural organic blend as a preservative (seen as mixed tocopherols) along with spearmint, sorbic acid (made from berries) and rosemary and green tea extracts. And these are grain-free with no soy, corn, by-products, or artificial additives of any type.

Wholesome ingredients include chicken, salmon, chickpeas, potatoes, carrots, and blueberries. These are marketed for puppies (and do work awesome for potty training), but can also be given to adult Yorkies. The sizing of these are nice and can be easily broken into smaller pieces if you'll be doling out a lot of these in one session. These are made in the USA.

2. Wellness Core Soft Petite Treats.

This next Wellness product makes our top 3 list for several reasons. This all-natural goodie is designed for small breeds like the Yorkshire Terrier, so the sizing is spot-on. There are two awesome flavors for the soft version: lamb & apple and turkey, pomegranate, and ginger, both are super appealing as a special reward. 

These are grain-free with no byproducts, artificial colors, flavors, fillers or preservatives; they use a natural preservative (seen as mixed tocopherols), spearmint, and rosemary and green tea extract. There is flaxseed for an extra boost of omega-3 and there's good levels of protein. These are made in the USA.

3. Merrick Lil Plates Dog Treats.

This is a new addition to our top picks and we're really loving this one. This is an all-natural, super-wholesome treat made especially for small breeds like the Yorkshire Terrier. There are 3 awesome flavors: Small Salmon, Teensey Turducken (turkey, duck and chicken) and Bitty Beef. Aside from the wholesome ingredients with zero artificial additives, flavors or fillers, they add in immune-boosting omega 3 and 6 oils and a prebiotic fiber that makes these very digestible and easy on the tummy. These are made in the USA.

Edible Dog Chews for Yorkshire Terriers

What to know:

Many canines love to gnaw on things and edible dog chews are meant to satisfy those chewing urges by offering a long-lasting treat that can take hours to fully eat. These can be a great way to keep a Yorkie busy and can come in handy to redirect a dog that's trying to tear apart non-toy or non-food items. 

Chews to avoid include raw hide (made from the hide of animals including cows that are pressed together into shapes and then flavored) and pig ears (literally the ear from a pig that is dehydrated and sometimes flavored); both of these are choking hazards for dogs and can cause stomach or intestinal blockage.

There are some good alternatives, however, including hardened cheese or sweet potato treats as seen below. One thing to keep in mind with this sort of treat, is that due to their hard texture, it's best to supervise when your Yorkie is chewing on one; any small pieces that break off should be tossed away.

How fast a Yorkie can demolish an edible chew will vary depending on the exact type of chew treat and their enthusiasm and jaw strength, but in general these are meant to last much longer than snacks or training treats, anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours.

Our Top Recommendations:

1. Sam Yams Sweet Potato Bichon Fries for Small Dogs.

As we touched on earlier, it's hard to go wrong with one-ingredient treats and that's why this wholesome goodie is a top pick and a great alternative to rawhide. The only ingredient is sweet potato which is a super-healthy food for dogs and easy to the tummy and these are designed for small dogs like the Yorkie. These are dehydrated and grooved which make them healthy for teeth and gums (but do not use this as a replacement for regular dental chews - details ahead).

Puppies may need to have this cut into two pieces, adult Yorkies can usually work on a full piece. These are made in the USA.

2. Native Pet Yak Chews for Dogs.

We love this rawhide alternative for Yorkshire Terriers and we bet your little guy or gal will love them too. These are hardened cheese chews made from four simple ingredients: yak milk, cow's milk, lime juice and a touch of sea salt. What's fantastic about these particular yak chews is that they are available in a small size which are great for most Yorkies 5 lbs. and larger (for dogs up to 15 lbs.).

These are very long-lasting and though the piece size will vary, most may last more than one chewing session. If your Yorkie takes a rest, hold onto the remaining piece; you can 'refresh it' by microwaving it for 20 to 30 seconds and allowing it to cool down before giving it back to them. Like most yak chews, the yak cheese is sourced from the Himalayan mountains and these are packaged in the USA.

Dental Treats for Yorkshire Terriers

What to Know:

Yorkshire Terriers, like many toy breeds, are prone to dental issues including decay, infection, gingivitis, and tooth loss. So, you'll want to be sure you take exceptionally good care of your Yorkie's teeth. While this includes tasks like brushing, spraying or wiping the teeth and gums, dental treats also play a role.

Dental treats for dogs are edible chews designed to help scrape plaque and tartar from a dog's teeth via their hard consistency and shape. Please note that due to their design, a dog should be supervised while eating these; any small pieces that may break off should be picked up and disposed of. This sort of treat should be given once per day and in place of a snack.

Top Recommendation:

1. Greenies Teenie Natural Dog Dental Treats.

Our top pick is also one of the most popular dental treats for dogs and one thing that makes Greenies great is that there are lots of sizes; these 'teenies' are the smallest option and are for dogs from 5 to 15 lbs. Aside from these originals, there are also grain-free options, chews for seniors, and a blueberry flavor. As we touched on earlier, all dogs should be supervised when chewing on hard treats in case any small pieces break off; however, this is hard and chewy and doesn't tend to splinter. These are made in the USA.

Human Food That Can Be Given as Snacks and Treats

Of course, there are some human foods that can safely be given to dogs as both snacks and treats. Many of these are used as part of home cooking recipes, but can be given as is. 

Fruit can be a good choice since most dogs love its sweetness; the fiber in most fruit helps moderate the absorption of natural fructose, so dogs will generally not get a 'sugar high'.

That said, fruit should be given in moderation. Safe fruit to give to Yorkies include apple (no core or seeds), blackberries, blueberries, banana, mango, pear, raspberries, strawberries, and watermelon. Never give grapes to a dog. On hot summer days, freeze some fruit for a refreshing snack.

Vegetables can also be a good choice, though most dogs will only like a select few. Veggies that are safe to give to Yorkies for snacks include carrots, peas, green beans, sweet potato and pumpkin. Putting a dab of plain whole yogurt on top can add incentive to eat it.

Other human food that can be given to Yorkies for a snack include peanut butter, cottage cheese and scrambled eggs, all given in moderation. And of course many meats and fish including lean beef, chicken, turkey, salmon and whitefish are healthy options, as well.

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