6-15 lbs
4-14"
United States
The Yorkie-Poo is a mixed crossbreed, a blend of the lively and feisty Yorkshire Terrier and the fun-loving Poodle. Because of the various combinations of mix and parentage, one Yorkie-Poo can look different to another in terms of size and coat color. A small companion dog, they make a great pet.
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Ah, the Yorkie-Poo. Is there a dog breed out there with a more amusing name? If there is, we’ve not heard it. (Not everyone calls them Yorkie-Poos, actually; people who may find that name a little too silly call them Yoodles. Porkies would also be acceptable.)
As well as boasting a fantastic name, the Yorkie-Poo is an exemplary dog with great intelligence and character. A relatively young breed, this is a small dog with a brilliantly expressive face. Being a Yorkie-Poodle mix, it has two proud, hard-working breeds from which to draw its traits.
So, how did this Yorkie-Poodle come about? Yorkie-Poos are the result of two breeds – and you can probably guess which; the Yorkshire Terrier and the Poodle. The latter is one of the oldest dog breeds on the planet. Poodles, who hail from Germany originally, are what are known as water dogs – you might not know this, but the Poodle is called the Poodle thanks to the word ‘puddle’. Although Poodles weren’t very popular in the US until 1935, they are now a favorite fancy dog here and abroad.
By contrast with the Poodle, which can be very large indeed, the Yorkshire Terrier is a minuscule breed. Alleged to be Queen Victoria’s favorite dog (though the Pomeranian might have something to say about that), the Yorkshire Terrier is, unsurprisingly, from Yorkshire (in the north of England). A little more of a recent phenomenon than the Poodle, the Yorkshire Terrier is similar in that historically it has played a clear role in society: in the 19th century it proved its mettle by hunting rats that spread disease and ruined crops. It was in 1872 that the breed was introduced to North America, and since then it has proved an enduring and popular breed.
So we know where Yorkshire Terriers come from and we know where Poodles come from, but the exact history of the Yorkie-Poo is shrouded in a little bit of ambiguity. In the 1980s and 1990s breeders began to create this ‘designer dog’, making a breed that was inevitably a bundle of charisma. Unlike some breeds, there doesn’t seem to be an individual breeder bold enough to claim to have bred the first Yorkie-Poo. But the inspiration seems to have been the desire for a non-malting companion dog that would be comfortable in less expansive urban homes and environments.
Taking up a tiny amount of space, the Yorkie-Poo fits the bill perfectly and, since the turn of the century, has become increasingly popular - especially with people for whom space is something of a luxury…
One of the first things you’ll notice about a Yorkie-Poo is its, shall we say, diminutive stature. A full grown Yorkie-Poo is a tiny sight to behold. It stands at between seven and 15 inches, with precious little size difference between males and females. It is, in fact, one of the smallest dog breeds, weighing in at around seven pounds.
Yorkie-Poos have a long, curly, wiry coat that can come in a wide range of colors: apricot, red, brown, black, gray, you name it. They have an adorable little button nose and the fluffiest ears around.
From the moment you take home one of your Yorkie-Poo puppies, you’ll fall in love with the way that the dog blends into your life. In terms of maintenance, this is not a hugely complex dog. Unlike the bigger breeds who prefer multiple walks and a large house and garden in which to prowl, Yorkie-Poos are more than happy in smaller apartments, going for short walks, and staying inside for the most part.
They need fresh air, of course, and you should give them daily exercise, but at a recommended 30 minutes a day, they do not need as much as larger breeds like Huskies.
This makes them ideal for people with mobility issues and people who may be more senior in age; the Yorkie-Poo won’t necessarily be dragging you around the park or constantly scratching at the door, demanding to be walked.
A Yorkie-Poo’s majestic coat should be brushed daily to prevent tangling and matting. Because of its minimal shedding, people often ask, is a Yorkie-Poo hypoallergenic? For the most part they are indeed considered hypoallergenic and are therefore a fantastic pet for people who may have mild allergies. The breed is said to have been designed originally, in fact, with people with allergies in mind. (You should be aware that, while Yorkie-Poos are about as hypoallergenic as they come, it is always impossible to entirely eliminate any allergy risk.)
A typical Yorkie-Poo lifespan is in the 10 to 15-year range. A healthy Yorkie-Poo is a happy Yorkie-Poo and the breed isn’t any more likely to fall ill than any other dog. Small dogs can have more dental issues than larger breeds, so maintaining oral hygiene - brushing your dog’s teeth, in other words - is an absolute must with a Yorkie-Poo. It’s never a bad idea, with nails and teeth, to ask a trained professional to take care of this.
The other conditions to which the breed is more prone are hypoglycemia, patellar luxation, allergies on the skin, and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease .
Legg-Calve-Perthes, or LCP, is a hip joint disorder that is a common health issue in toy breeds like the Yorkie-Poo. It causes stiffness and pain, and often occurs when a dog is relatively young, within the first year of its life.
In order to comprehensively take care of your Yorkie-Poo – or whichever breed of dog you own – make sure you have the best possible pet insurance cover. In addition, a wellness plan can help you manage routine vet appointments.
The dog will need a protein-rich mix of meat, offal, bone, and a little plant in its diet. The food is best served in its raw state, and the dog will need around a cup, divided into two meals over the course of the day.
As well as this protein, remember that this breed requires essential omegas and fatty acids; a little carbohydrate; natural minerals and vitamins; food that is high in moisture; and plenty of drinking water, of course. Because ear infections are quite common in Yorkie-Poos, you could ask your vet about hypoallergenic foods that would stop the flaring-up of any allergy that might have caused the infection in the first place.
We’ve got good news: a Yorkie-Poo’s temperament is a joy. This is an intelligent, sociable, affectionate and kind dog, with parents who have a long history of helping human beings. So wedded to helping humans are they, in fact, that Yorkie-Poos don’t love being left alone for long periods of time. You could say this of most dogs, of course, but the ideal Yorkie-Poo pet parent would be someone who is at home a lot and able to give it regular attention.
Though it doesn’t require tons of exercise, it does need a good deal of stimulation. Children will be able to provide this stimulation but be careful: while Yorkie-Poos are excellent with children, like a lot of tiny dogs they may not tolerate excessive petting.
One thing to be aware of as the parent of a Yorkie-Poo is that it won’t take a great deal to make them bark. This can scare young children, so be sure to supervise time with any particularly small infants, and train your dog to bark as little as possible (easier said than done, we know, but the Yorkie-Poo is relatively easy to train, and we’ve got plenty of dog training advice for you).
Written by Ralph Jones
Published: 01/12/2018, edited: 01/03/2024
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