Yorkie-Poo

Characteristics

Health & Longevity

Average Life Span: 10-15 years
Also known as Yoodle or Yorkiedoodle, the Yorkie-Poo is a crossbreed between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Miniature, or Toy, Poodle. While these crossbreeds are generally healthy pups, there are a few health problems that they may inherit from their parent breeds. These canines are also prone to the usual health issues, such as heart disease and cancer, that may affect any dogs, regardless of breed.

Additionally, due to their small stature, care needs to be taken when handling a Yorkie-Poo. These pups can be wriggly and spunky, so be gentle when holding them. Inappropriate or incorrect handling could result in dire trauma and lifelong health problems for your pup.

Legg-Calve-Perthes

This condition occurs when the leg and hip bones spontaneously degenerate, causing nerve damage, cartilage deterioration, and arthritis. Symptoms, at first, are subtle, and might include a limp, awkward gait, or obvious dislocation. After a while, it will become painful for your pup. Surgery is required to correct this condition.

Addison’s Disease

This condition is caused by a lack of hormone secretion from the adrenal glands, resulting in poor metabolism and regulated body functions. Symptoms include loss of appetite, severe weight loss, excessive urination, diarrhea, uncontrollable tremors, lethargy, weakness, and violent vomiting. Treatment is usually a lifetime process that requires constant vet care and hormone supplements.

Other health issues that your Yorkie-Poo may face include patellar luxation, skin allergies, rapid dental decay, hip dysplasia, Von Willebrand’s Disease, congenital heart failure, and hypothyroidism. On average, a healthy, happy Yorkie-Poo has a lifespan of 10 to 15 years.

Temperament & Train-ability

The Yorkie-Poo is a quirky, silly, sometimes grumpy crossbreed with a clever, mostly friendly nature. However, these pups also have a stubborn streak that can be a challenge during training sessions. Use your positive, kind tone in a clear, strong voice to establish yourself as the alpha to your Yorkie-Poo. When she realizes that you are dominant, she will be less likely to challenge your authority.

Exercise-wise, the Yorkie-Poo can be great with older children that she’s grown up around. But younger children should be taught how to respect her boundaries and only pet her when she wants to be petted. These pups, especially older crossbreeds, can be snippy and intolerant, so watch her interaction. With older children, or dogs that she has been raised with, she would love to run around a fenced-in backyard with them. Her playfulness comes out full-force when she is around people and animals she trusts and knows completely.

Grooming

Yorkie-Poos are low shedders and both parent breeds are considered hypoallergenic. Great news for folks who suffer from seasonal allergies! These pups can have lengthy, silky hair like their Yorkie parent, or curly, soft hair like their Poodle parent. Either way, they need daily brushing with both a comb and a brush to keep their coat smooth, soft, and healthy. Use the comb first to untangle any knots. Then go back over with the brush to snag any loose hairs.

Other basic but vital care needs for your Yorkie-Poo include cleaning her ears once a week, clipping her toenails every 3-4 weeks, bathing her once a month, brushing her teeth every day.

Diet

Yorkie-Poos have voracious little appetites, which can turn them into hearty overeaters. Your pup needs a meal schedule to follow on a daily basis. One that leaves them satisfied and full for the entire day, because that full feeling will lead to less begging and almost no food aggression. Separate 1 cup of good-quality, dry kibble into 2-3 meals.

It is important to the overall good health of your Yorkie-Poo that you invest in high-quality kibble. Not necessarily the most expensive brand. But one that lists whole grains, lean meats, and vegetables as the top three ingredients on the label. Your pup needs plenty of protein, good fats, and complex carbs to keep her little body running on high burn.
 

Find A Yorkie-Poo Breeder

Yorkie-Poo Puppies For Sale

Adopt A Yorkie-Poo

Cost

Yorkie-Poos are one of the most popular crossbreeds, so there is no shortage of places to get this kind of pup. However, before you look for a breeder, consider searching for a Yorkie-Poo from a local animal shelter or rescue group. Yes, the Yorkie-Poos you find may be a bit older than puppy stage, but they still need a happy, healthy home. And you can offer them the second chance they need to live a better life.

Adoption fees, while varying by state and county, usually range from $75 to $250. Most shelters give you the option of vaccinations and spay or neuter services before your new pup comes home with you. This could be an additional $300 or so, which pushes the adoption fee to around $500.

If you go down the breeder route, do thorough research before you invest your time and money into the first breeder you find. Some breeders care more about the cash than they do about their pups. Before you buy, ask a breeder to see the parents so you can check them over for obvious signs of odd health issues. Reputable, reliable breeders will freely offer the honest answers to any questions you have about their practices and crossbreed pups.

On average, Yorkie-Poo puppies cost between $450 to $1,500. This excludes the long-term costs of toys, wholesome kibble, medical funds for emergencies, routine vet check-ups, and other necessities and accessories. Overall, these crossbreed pups are a big investment, so make sure you are prepared for the responsibilities and the commitment.

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-Poo ranks a 2 on the integration scale because of their stubbornness during training sessions and their intolerance of other dogs. The former can be corrected by making training sessions more engaging and positive. When Yorkie-Poos are bored, they become distracted and destructive. Make your training sessions fun and exciting to hold your pup’s attention for longer. The latter can be solved with socialization from a very young age. Yorkie-Poos who have been raised around other dogs, or even play with other dogs regularly, are less likely to be snippy towards strange pups.

 

Yorkshire Terrier

Maltese

Poodle

Havanese