The Yorkie Poo: Characteristics, Health & Grooming

The Yorkie Poo is a small designer dog that's a mix of a purebred Yorkshire terrier and a miniature or toy poodle. Also known as a Yorkadoodle, Yorkipoo, and Yorkapoo, this pup is very popular in the United States. Breeders came up with the Yorkie Poo in the 1980s and 1990s in order to create a new dog with desirable traits from two different breeds.

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The Yorkie Poo is only 7 to 10 inches tall and weighs 3 to 14 pounds. It is not officially recognized by the American Kennel Club, so it isn't part of any breeding group. This breed is hypoallergenic and it doesn't shed, and the coat will be different for every dog.

Keep in mind that breed is not a reliable indicator of your dog's personality. Every Yorkie Poo has their own unique characteristics. However, in general, they are known to love people and will want to be by their owners' side all the time. They may have some separation anxiety issues, so in general, this dog would fit in well with an owner who is home most of the day. These dogs are also lively, energetic, and intelligent. They tend to be watchdogs and may bark a lot, as is typical with terrier breeds.

Yorkie Poos should do well with training. It's important to use positive reinforcement training instead of punishing them when they do something wrong. By giving them treats and praise, you will teach them right from wrong. Start house training your Yorkie Poo as soon as you bring him home, and make sure he gets plenty of time to socialize with other dogs. If you are struggling with training, you can always find a qualified dog trainer who can come in and help you.

The coat can vary from dog to dog. Some Yorkie Poos may have straight hair, while others will have wavy or curly hair. It could also be soft and silky. The coat could be a mix of different colors like black and white, apricot, red and white, tri-colored, or tan and black.

While the Yorkie Poo doesn't shed, they still have grooming needs. Along with bathing your Yorkie Poo with dog shampoo when he needs it, you should frequently brush his coat, as it is prone to tangling and mats. You can do at-home grooming mostly and take him to a professional groomer every month or so. You'll want to make sure that the groomer trims the hair around your dog's eyes so that he can properly see.

Nail and teeth care are the same for every dog, including the Yorkie Poo. You should brush his teeth daily and trim his nails when they clack on hard surfaces.

While the Yorkie Poo is not the most active breed in the world, they still need to go outside for walks for around 30 minutes a day. Since they often love games, it's important to play fetch, tug-of-war, and other games with them daily. Your pup will be happy if he has access to lots of fun toys.

Yorkie Poos are prone to some health conditions, including epilepsy, luxating patella, portosystemic shunt, atopic dermatitis, and hypothyroidism. By taking your Yorkie Poo to the vet for checkups and going in when you notice any changes in his health, you can potentially prolong his lifespan, which is normally 12 to 15 years.

Since Yorkie Poos are crossbred dogs, their weight at eight weeks of age will vary depending on the specific mix. A small Yorkie Poo will weigh 3 to 6 pounds and be less than 10 inches tall when he's a fully-grown adult. A standard Yorkie Poo will weigh between 10 and 14 pounds and be 10 to 15 inches tall once he is an adult. These dogs are typically full-grown between six and 12 months of age.