Yorkipoo: Dog breed characteristics & care

👉 Coming up with a pet name can be fun but tricky. Search no further! According to PetScreening’s 2024 database, the majority of our users name their male YorkiPoos Bentley; Milo is the 2nd most popular male name. Meanwhile, most of our users with female YorkiPoos love Bella, then Chloe.

• Multiple nicknames. While “Yorkipoo” is a popular name, you may also see the hybrid dog breed referred to as a “yorkiepoo” or “yorkie-poo.”
• Great with older adults. Due to their small size, loving temperament, and relatively low maintenance as far as exercise, Yorkipoos make great companions for seniors.
• A popular mix. While the Yorkipoo breed is not recognized by the AKC, Yorkshire terriers were ranked the 13th most popular dog breed in 2022, and poodles came in at #7 in 2018.

The Yorkipoo is a hybrid breed created by crossing the Yorkshire terrier with a toy or miniature Poodle. This “designer dog” has gained popularity in recent years due to its adorable appearance and charming personality. Since Yorkipoos are so small and compact, they make ideal pets for apartment living. This breed is known for its outgoing, friendly, and playful nature – they get along well with people of all ages, including kids.

This breed does not do well being left alone for long periods; they thrive best when surrounded by their loving family members and other pets in the household. A Yorkipoo will typically enjoy the company of other dogs, cats, or animals. They tend to bark more than average, but this behavior can be managed with consistent obedience training when they are puppies.

The Yorkipoo is a small, lively hybrid breed with a coat typically wavy to curly fur. It usually stands at 10-15 inches tall and weighs 5-15 pounds. The color varies from black, black and white, black and tan, red and white, apricot and tri-colored. Its overall coat is silky and soft to the touch. We teamed up with FidoTabby Alert, and according to their database, the common coat color for the Yorkipoo is (62%) black.

The Yorkipoo is a hybrid breed, so its health concerns will depend on the parents. However, some common health issues seen in the Yorkipoo include

• Luxating patella Trusted Source VCA Hospitals Community of veterinarians with up-to-date veterinary information. Go to source . Patellar luxation (or slipped kneecap) is a relatively common condition in small dogs that can cause lameness or discomfort.
• Portosystemic shunt Trusted Source VCA Hospitals Community of veterinarians with up-to-date veterinary information. Go to source . A portosystemic shunt is an abnormal blood vessel in the liver that prevents nutrients and toxins from properly filtering, leading to poor health and other complications.
• Hypoglycemia Trusted Source VCA Hospitals Community of veterinarians with up-to-date veterinary information. Go to source . Low blood sugar can occur in smaller-breed puppies if they’re not provided with meals at frequent intervals. Hypoglycemia can cause lethargy and disorientation, so monitoring your Yorkipoo puppy’s eating habits is important.
• Legg-Calve-Perthes disease Trusted Source VCA Hospitals Community of veterinarians with up-to-date veterinary information. Go to source . This condition is when the head of the rear thigh bone at the hip shrinks due to a  reduced blood supply to the area. It can sometimes be first identified by limping and can be treated with surgery.
• Tracheal collapse Trusted Source VCA Hospitals Community of veterinarians with up-to-date veterinary information. Go to source . Tracheal collapse occurs when the cartilage rings that support the windpipe weaken, making it difficult for affected dogs to breathe. The first signs are an abrupt cough when your dog is excited or when slight pressure is applied to the trachea.

Cost of caring for Yorkipoo

Certain health problems that Yorkipoos can have will need to be treated by surgery, while others may not. For example, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease can range from $1,000 to $3,000, and patellar luxation surgery could cost $300 to $2,000. Costs can vary based on location, veterinarian, and severity of the condition.

Being prepared with health insurance may help ease some out-of-pocket expenses. Opening a pet savings account for a rainy day is also never bad for pet parents!

The Yorkipoo is a relatively new designer breed. While the exact date isn’t known, the breed has been around for at least the last decade. This hybrid dog is the result of crossing a Yorkshire terrier and a toy poodle, producing a small, hypoallergenic dog that is easy to care for. The history of both parent breeds is well known; Yorkshire Terriers originated in England and Scotland, while Poodles have been around since at least the 15th century in Germany.

Your Yorkipoo will require lots of love and care when you get them home. It is a good idea to prep your home for their arrival by puppy-proofing all areas where your dog will be. Next, have some questions ready for your first trip to the vet. As you know, vaccinations are necessary for the overall health of your new small companion dog. Other considerations might be products like collars, tags, and FidoAlert that help identify your pup in case they get lost.

Here are some other basics specific to Yorkipoo.

Exercise

All dogs need exercise, but the tiny Yorkipoo doesn’t require much. You can provide plenty of indoor activities with your pup, like puzzles and fetch to burn off excess energy. Outside, take your Yorkipoo to the dog park or a quick 15-minute walk around the neighborhood. With small dogs, try not to exceed 20-minute intervals with walks.

👉 Due to their small size and risk of tracheal collapse, we recommend using a harness instead of a standard collar for your Yorkipoo.

Grooming

A Yorkipoo’s coat can be more like a Yorkie, more like a poodle, or somewhere in between. It depends on lineage, which you can discuss more with breeders. You might get a pup with a straight, long, silky texture, in which case you’ll want to use a pin brush or metal slicker a few times a week. If your Yorkipoo has hair like a poodle, you’ll want to brush them daily to avoid matting.  Coat somewhere between the two?

Just assess and find a good routine that works. Asking a vet or groomer for the best at-home grooming routine can be helpful. They’ll likely also mention the importance of regular nail trimming, ear cleaning, and teeth brushing.

Diet and nutrition

A Yorkipoo’s diet should be tailored to their individual needs, but there are a few key points to keep in mind to avoid hypoglycemia. First, feeding your Yorkipoo multiple small meals throughout the day is important instead of one large meal. This helps keep their blood sugar levels stable and prevents them from becoming too hungry and overeating.

Additionally, make sure that their diet consists of high-quality proteins and healthy fats such as fish or flaxseed oil. You can also add supplements to their diet that provide essential minerals and vitamins they may not get from other sources. Talk to your vet about the best practices for feeding your Yorkipoo.

The good news is that poodles are known to be highly intelligent, and Yorkshire terriers are smart as well. However, Yorkies can be stubborn, so that’s something to keep in mind with training your Yorkiepoo.

Start while they are young, and keep early sessions short and distraction-free but consistent. This will ensure that you keep their attention while being effective with repetition. As your pup gets better at following commands, increase the difficulty by adding slight distractions. Positive reinforcement also goes a long way.

Not quite sure that a Yorkipoo is the right puppy for you? Even if you are, it’s worth taking the time to research and consider other similar breeds. Here are a few to get you started:

• Yorkshire terrier. Yorkies are known for their signature silky texture and black and tan coats. Yorkie’s are also energic and very affectionate.
• Toy poodle. The other half of a Yorkipoo’s DNA, toy Poodles are smart, people-pleasing pups. They can be a bit more high-maintenance with grooming, though.
• Papillon. Papillons are about the same size as Yorkipoos, ranging from 5-10 pounds. They also have distinct ears and coats that are long and flowy.