Yorkie-Apso

Characteristics

Health & Longevity

Average Life Span: 12-15 years
Very small and delicate, the Yorkie Apso is a crossbreed of a Lhasa Apso and a Yorkshire Terrier. These pups, also known as a Yorkshire Apso or Yorkielhasha, are genetically predisposed to several health issues. Thanks to their parent breeds, these crossbreeds can have a number of minor and major health issues, both in and out of the puppy stage. While some dogs develop their health problems towards the end of their lives, the Yorkie Apso could develop prominent health conditions between 6-7 years of age.

Hypoglycaemia

Also known as low blood sugar, this condition could be potentially deadly. Alert your vet immediately if your Yorkie Apso exhibits unusual weakness, vomiting, severe weight loss, lethargy, exercise intolerance, or sudden loss of energy. Prompt treatment may require IVF and hospitalization.

Collapsed Trachea

This condition is caused when the windpipe cartilage begins to collapse in rings. Symptoms include a honking cough, gagging, breathing problems, blue gums, exercise intolerance, and issues with eating or drinking. While antibiotics are used to treat some of the illness-related symptoms, surgery is recommended to repair the windpipe.

Other health conditions that your Yorkie Apso might battle with are genetic dental decay, skin allergies, reverse sneezing, kidney problems, and cherry eyes. Despite their predisposition to a list of health issues, the Yorkie Apso boasts a lengthy lifespan of 12 to 15 years. Keep your crossbreed pup healthy and happy with wholesome foods, regular vet check-ups, and routine exercise.

Temperament & Train-ability

Compact and adorable, the Yorkie Apso is a calm, playful pup, but she has a sensitive side. Her feelings are easily hurt, so she prefers to have all of your attentions to herself. Call her selfish if you want, but she needs constant interaction and love to maintain her health and happiness. She would be best-suited in a home with singles or couples, but she can be shy, or even aggressive, towards children. Your Yorkie Apso could also have a yappy, growl-inducing problem with other dogs, so she should definitely be your one and only.

The Yorkie Apso, while usually bad with children and other dogs, could be taught to tolerate kids and other pups with socialization and training from a young age. She is more apt to accept and tolerate children and other canines if she has known them her entire life. If you need her to be tolerant and kind in these situations, make sure her tolerance and good behavior is returned by your kids and other pets.

Thanks to her size, the Yorkie Apso would make a great apartment pup, but she still needs plenty of room to run, play, and expend her excess energy. It usually takes two 30-minute walks per day to keep her fitness levels in tip-top shape, but she also loves to chew on and swing around toys. Keep her in a steady supply of toys. Or, let her go in your fenced-in backyard for a little while. Pay attention to her whereabouts at all times though, as she loves to dig and she can run very fast.

The Yorkie Apso may be a challenge to train, especially for first-time pet owners. She is better suited with someone who has experience training a pup so if this is your first pup, opt for a professional trainer. If you train your Yorkie Apso on your own, you may feel frustrated when she doesn’t take to the commands as quickly as you’d like. She takes longer to train than other dogs, thanks to her independent streak, short attention span, and overall stubbornness. Be consistent and firm. Never give up! Obedience comes slowly, but she will eventually get it if you stick with it.

Grooming

Shaggy, soft, and lengthy, the Yorkie Apso’s coat is commonly the same as that of the Yorkshire Terrier which means she needs to be brushed daily to maintain her silky, beautiful hair. Use a firm-bristled brush to work out knots and tangles, but be gentle. Sometimes brushing can be a bonding experience, so take the time to compliment her while you work the brush.

Bathe your Yorkie Apso once a month, unless she rolls in something especially smelly or unpleasant. Use a gentle dog shampoo to keep her natural oils intact. If you have a problem with trimming her nails or cleaning her ears, take her to a professional groomer every 6-8 weeks for a complete work-up. Groomers will bathe her, brush her, trim her nails, clean her ears, and brush her teeth, all in a matter of hours. They may even put a bow in her hair when she’s ready to go home.

Diet

The Yorkie Apso may be small, but they pack quite an appetite. These pups can be overeaters, so keep her on a good meal schedule. Offer her ½ cup of dry kibble at breakfast time, and another ½ cup of dry kibble at lunch time. Also make sure she has plenty of water throughout the day, especially in hot weather. Reward her good behavior with nutritious, bite-sized treats, particularly during training.
 

Find A Yorkie-Apso Breeder

Yorkie-Apso Puppies For Sale

Adopt A Yorkie-Apso

Cost

Most pet owners see the Yorkie Apso as an adorable companion, but then they get to know how much work goes into keeping these pups happy and healthy. If you are up for a bit of a challenge, and you have lots of love to give, check your local animal shelter first. An older Yorkie Apso’s adoption fees will be upwards of $300, but you will be giving a great crossbreed a second chance at happiness in her forever home.

If you buy from a breeder, check the breeder’s credentials to make sure they are reputable, reliable, and trustworthy. Yorkie Apso pups, from breeders, range from $700 to $1,500. Factor in the costs of toys, dog food, regular vet check-ups, and other medical or personal pup-care expenses, and you will spend around $2,000.

Paws ‘N’ Pups Ranking

Paws ‘N’ Pups ranks every breed out of 4 with 1 being easiest to integrate into your life and 4 being the toughest – The lower the ranking the better.

Ranking takes into account a few basic factors including cost, skill level needed, high vs low maintenance and how critical regular training is to success. The Yorkie Apso is a 2.5 on the ranking scale. While she is difficult to train, and she can be aggressive around other dogs and children, she would be an ideal pet for a seasoned pet owner. She presents a bit of a challenge, but she is totally worth it, especially when she bonds with you, and you become her lifelong companion, snuggle buddy, and best friend!

 

Yorkshire Terrier

Lhasa Apso

Maltese

Havanese