The Yorkie-poo is a unique mix between a purebred Yorkshire terrier and a toy or miniature poodle.

The Best Wet Food for Senior Dogs for 2022

The 4 Best Dog Food for Allergies (Adult, Puppy, Senior)

The 5 Best Dog Water Fountains, We Checked

See all of our expert product reviews.

Both parent breeds are among the most popular in the United States. The Yorkshire terrier is a small, energetic breed, originating from northern England, with a very long coat of elegant dark or brown hair. The poodle is a very skilled and intelligent dog, originating from Germany or France, with long tufts of curly water-resistant hair. When you combined them together, you get the Yorkie-poo (also called a Yorkipoo, Yorkapoo, or Yorkadoodle), a very affectionate and energetic mix.

button.pulse {
transform: scale(1); animation: pulse 2s infinite;
box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(11, 247, 25, 1);
}

@keyframes pulse {
0% { transform: scale(0.90); box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(11, 247, 25, 0.5); }
60% { transform: scale(1); box-shadow: 0 0 0 15px rgba(11, 247, 25, 0); }
100% { transform: scale(0.90); box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(11, 247, 25, 0); }
}

First created by breeders in the 1980s and 1990s, the Yorkie-poo is considered to be a type of “designer dog.” This means it’s not just a regular mix. It is purposefully crossed between two different pure breeds to obtain desirable characteristics from both. Since the Yorkie-poo is a cross of two different breeds (and a relatively new one at that), it does not have any agreed-upon standards, but it is generally characterized by a small, petite body and very expressive face. The soft fur can be either curly or straight with a wide variety of different colors and markings, including black, white, cream, chocolate, apricot, and gray.

3 pros and cons of owning a Yorkie-poo

Yorkie-poo Size and Weight

A full grown Yorkie-poo is a small-sized dog with a very thin frame. There is slight differentiation between the males and females.

Yorkie Poo Common Health Issues

May people believe cross-breed dogs to have less health issues than pure-breed dogs. However, this is untrue and mixed breeds may tend to have different or more health issues due to genetic inconsistencies. As a cross between two different breeds, Yorki-poo puppies of the same litter may inherit very different genetic health vulnerabilities from both of its parents, making it somewhat difficult to predict which health problems may emerge. It is important to keep an eye out for health issues common to both parent breeds.

Health and Entertainment for your Yorkie-poo

See all of our expert product reviews.

Yorkshire terriers tend to experience hypothyroidism, Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease affecting the hip joints, Cushing’s Disease affecting hormone balance, breathing issues such as collapsing trachea, patellar luxation, pancreatitis, bladder stones, and low blood sugar. Degenerative issues of the eyes are also common in Yorkies.

Mini and toy poodles, the other parent of Yorki-poos, experience similar health problems as Yorkis along with epilepsy, eyelid irregularity, and retinal atrophy. Small breeds also experience worse periodontal disease than other breeds and it is important to maintain dental hygiene in Yorkie-poos.

Although many of these conditions are rare, they can significantly affect quality of life for your pet. Proper breeders screen out health problems early on. In summary, it is important to keep an eye out for these following health issues in Yorkie-poos:

• Anxiety
• Atopic Dermatitis
• Cushing’s Disease
• Epilepsy
• Hyperadrenocorticism
• Hypothyroidism
• Inflammation
• Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
• Pain
• Patellar Luxation
• Periodontal Disease
• Portosystemic Shunt (PSS)
• Separation Anxiety

Yorkie-poo Temperament

Kind, affectionate, friendly, enthusiastic, and intelligent, Yorkie-poos love to meet new friends and receive attention from people. They have rather carefree and easy-going personalities that make them very approachable and fun to interact with. Since the Yorkie-poo likes to express its big personality vocally, this hybrid is somewhat suitable to be a watchdog. However, this trait may not appeal to people who don’t tolerate barking dogs. The Yorkie-poo can thrive in all types of living situations but its behavior is best suited for apartment or city dwellings.

How to Take Care of the Yorkie-poo

Despite its small size, the Yorkie-poo does require a moderate amount of maintenance to really get the most out of this mix. A long coat requires much grooming and you will need to spend some time daily satisfying the dog’s needs for physical exercise and mental stimulation. As a puppy, a Yorkie-poo should have early health checkups and receive all of its vaccinations at the veterinarian. It’s a good idea to return for annual wellness visits after that.

The Best Dog Food for Yorkie Poos

Yorkie Poos often suffer from ear infections, which can stem from allergies. So, especially if your Yorkie-poo is experiencing frequent ear maladies, it might be smart to ask your veterinarian about hypoallergenic or limited ingredient foods.

Here’s what A-Z Animals recommends: Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet Small-Breed Adult Dry Dog Food with Healthy Grains.

In small bites safe for little dogs, the limited ingredients include less common proteins and grains. This cuts out most of the stuff that can cause allergies and ear infections in Yorkie-poos. Plus, this food offers plenty of taurine for eye health.

To get Natural Balance Limited Ingredient for Small Breeds on amazon, click here.

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet Lamb & Brown Rice | Small-Breed Adult Dry Dog Food | 12-lb. Bag

• Contains (1) 12 pound bag of dry dog food
• Premium dog food for small breed dogs
• Produced in the USA with the finest ingredients
• Features real lamb as the ingredient
• Provides essential amino acids to help build strong muscles

Buy on Amazon

An adult Yorkie-poo should eat around a cup of high-quality dog food, divided into two different meals per day. The exact amount may vary slightly with the dog’s age, size, and activity level. It is important to monitor your dog’s weight carefully to prevent further health issues from developing. An ideal body score (weight) is measured by the ability to feel the dog’s ribs under its coat. If your dog starts putting on weight, it may be time to cut back on calorie intake or consult your veterinarian for weight loss options.

Yorkie-poo Maintenance and Grooming

Despite the fact that the Yorkie-poo barely sheds at all, making it a good choice for a hypoallergenic dog, it still requires frequent brushing almost daily to prevent matting and tangling. It is also a good idea to trim around the eyes and mouth so hair doesn’t obscure your dog’s face. If you are looking for a stylish cut, seek out a professional groomer about once every month or two. Yorkie-poos do a good job of grooming themselves, so only bathe your dog when they become particularly dirty. It is necessary to keep your dogs nails trimmed properly which may be done by a groomer, veterinarian, or by an owner if they have the proper knowledge of nail maintenance. Teeth brushing should also become part of the daily routine in order to prevent build up of dental tartar, which may lead to gum disease and possible loss of teeth.

Yorkie-poo Training

The Yorkie-poo is an intelligent and highly trainable breed that tends to be eager to learn all kinds of commands, from basic to advanced. Like other dogs, they respond best to positive reinforcement methods in the form of praise and food reward. If you raise your voice or react harshly, this sensitive dog might be more resistant your commands or become discouraged. Puppies should be trained and socialized as early as possible.

Yorkie-poo Exercise

The Yorkie-poo is a highly energetic breed that likely needs around 30 minutes of exercise a day, preferably in the form of walking, playtime, or fetch, though these dogs do settle down and rest periodically. With their small frame, this mixed-breed might not be well-suited for particularly difficult and strenuous competitions or exercises. The good news is that the Yorkie-poo doesn’t require a lot of room in which to play. It can do well with apartment living and minimal yard space should suffice for some free play.

Yorkie-poo Puppies

As a hybrid mix, Yorkie-poo puppies can vary quite a bit in appearance and temperament even within the same litter, so it’s always a good idea to take a little extra time to get to know your chosen puppy’s personality before bringing it home. If you can, you should always check the breeder’s reputation and make sure they screen for early health problems. Even though there is no dedicated rescue network for the Yorkie-poo, you may occasionally find this breed in a rescue group or shelter. Rescue groups are very attentive to the health of their dogs and are a good choice when looking to adopt a puppy.

Yorkie-poos and Children

Yorkie-poos are very gentle, loving, and affectionate companions for children of all ages. It is important to be aware that such a small dog may not withstand a lot of rough play from younger children. It may be better to own this small breed in a household with older children who can be taught to gently care for this dog. If you do have younger children and a Yorkie-poo, closely monitor all interactions and be prepared to intervene if the situation becomes dangerous.

Dogs Similar to the Yorkie-poo

If the Yorkie Poo is a type of dog that really appeals to you, then the two most similar breeds are obviously its parents, the Yorkshire terrier and the poodle. You also might want to consider looking into the following types of dogs:

• Pugaoo – The pugaoo is a cross between a poodle and a pug. Like the Yorkie-poo, it is a very friendly and affectionate companion dog that works well in a variety of different living situations. The smooth or curly coat of fur can come in black, white, brown, and apricot.
• Boston Terrier – Originally bred in the United States to hunt vermin, the Boston terrier is a small, short-tailed pure breed dog with very big eyes and a tuxedo-like black and white coat of short hair. Like the Yorkie-poo, this breed has a rather friendly and affectionate personality.
• Australian Terrier – Developed in Australia from an older English breed, the Australian terrier is a small dog with a shaggy double coat of tan, silver, or black hair. This is an intelligent, alert breed that enjoys interacting with people. It also responds reasonably well to training.

Famous Yorkie-poos

Since this is a relatively new designer breed, there aren’t a lot of famous examples of them in pop-culture. However, its parents, the poodle and the Yorkshire terrier, have been featured prominently. Famous poodle owners include Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and Winston Churchill. A famous Yorkie named Pasha was once owned by the Nixons in the White House. Poodles and Yorkies are also very popular within the dog show circuit. For example, Cede Higgins, a Yorkshire terrier, won Best in Show at the 1978 Westminster Kennel Club dog show.

Popular Names for the Yorkie Poo

If you’re looking for a good name for your dog, then you might want to consider one of these popular Poodle or Yorkshire terrier names.

• Baxter
• Bella
• Charlie
• Coco
• Finn
• Teddy
• Buddy
• Max
• Jake
• Lucy

Last update on 2022-07-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

View all 15 animals that start with Y