What is the daily routine for a Yorkshire Terrier?
Follow this 30-minute morning and evening schedule to keep your Yorkie healthy and happy.
Morning Routine
Start your day with a 10-minute play session to stimulate your Yorkie's mind and body. This is crucial for their 20–30 min/day exercise requirement.
At 7:00 AM, provide your Yorkie with a 1/4 cup of high-quality dry food. Adjust portion sizes based on their activity level.
Next, brush your Yorkie's long, silky coat for 5–10 minutes. This daily brushing is essential to prevent mats and tangles.
Check their paws and underbelly for any signs of injury or irritation. This is a good time to trim their nails if they're getting long.
- 10-minute play session
- 7:00 AM feeding with 1/4 cup dry food
- 5–10-minute daily brushing
- Daily paw and underbelly check
Evening Routine
Begin the evening with a 15-minute walk or play session to ensure your Yorkie gets their daily exercise.
At 6:00 PM, offer another 1/4 cup of dry food. Always keep fresh water available throughout the day.
Before bed, brush your Yorkie's teeth with a small amount of dog-specific toothpaste for 2 minutes. This helps prevent dental issues.
Finally, clean your Yorkie's litter box if they use one, and ensure their sleeping area is comfortable and clean.
- 15-minute evening exercise
- 6:00 PM feeding with 1/4 cup dry food
- 2-minute teeth brushing
- Litter box cleaning
Weekly Routine
Weekly, vacuum your Yorkie's bed and sleeping area to remove loose fur and debris.
Check your Yorkie's weight every week to ensure they're maintaining a healthy weight. A healthy weight is between 4–7 lb.
Schedule a professional grooming session every 6–8 weeks to keep their coat in top condition. A short clip might be necessary if the coat becomes too long.
- Weekly vacuuming of bed and sleeping area
- Weekly weight check
- Professional grooming every 6–8 weeks
Monthly Routine
Monthly, take your Yorkie to a vet for a routine check-up. This is crucial for early detection of any health issues.
Replace the litter box litter every 2–3 weeks to maintain hygiene.
Inspect and clean the litter box area thoroughly every month to prevent odors and maintain a healthy environment.
- Monthly vet check-up
- Replace litter box litter every 2–3 weeks
- Monthly cleaning of litter box area
Busy Day Alternatives
On a busy day, you can skip the morning play session if necessary, but ensure your Yorkie gets their full 20–30 min/day exercise later in the day.
If you're short on time, you can compress the teeth brushing to 1 minute, but aim for the full 2 minutes if possible.
If you can't clean the litter box, at least sprinkle baking soda over the surface to neutralize odors.
- Skip morning play if needed, but make up for it later
- Compress teeth brushing to 1 minute if necessary
- Use baking soda to neutralize odors if you can't clean the litter box
Keep reading about Yorkshire Terrier: Yorkshire Terrier Cleaning & Hygiene: Winter cleaning for yorkies · Yorkshire Terrier Enrichment & Play: Mental stimulation · Yorkshire Terrier Seasonal Care: Daylight changes
Related questions
How often should I brush my Yorkie's coat?
You should brush your Yorkie's coat daily to prevent mats and tangles.
What is the ideal weight for a Yorkshire Terrier?
The ideal weight for a Yorkshire Terrier is between 4–7 lb.
How often should I take my Yorkie to the vet?
You should take your Yorkie to the vet for a routine check-up once a month.
Not veterinary advice. This guide covers husbandry — housing, feeding, cleaning and handling. If your yorkshire terrier is injured, off food unusually long, or behaving abnormally, contact a veterinarian.