Yorkie-Poo Breed Guide (Yorkshire Terrier Poodle Mix)

The Yorkie Poodle Mix, otherwise known as the Yorkie-Poo or Yorkshire Poodle, is a mixed breed dog, the result of breeding a Yorkshire Terrier with a Poodle. They are known for their loyal, loving and affectionate nature as well as their soft hypoallergenic coats that come in many colours. It’s no surprise they are highly sought after and fetch very high prices!

If you are interested in Yorkie Poos keep reading this article to find out the all the answers to your questions about this dog breed!

Cover Image Credit: Photo by benjamin lehman on Unsplash

What Is A Yorkie Poodle Mix Called?

A Yorkie Poodle Mix is most commonly called a Yorkie-Poo however they are sometimes also called Yorkipoo or Yorkshire Poodle.

Yorkie-Poo Origins

The precise origins of the Yorkie-Poo are unclear as they are a relatively new breed and don’t have a comprehensive historical record like other purebred dogs.

Nevertheless, it is believed that people starting crossing Yorkshire Terriers with Poodles in the last two decades in North America. During this time, crossing a range of different dogs with Poodles was very popular however the concept of intentionally breeding two different dogs to create a new hybrid breed emerged as early as the 1980s.

The original goal of crossing the Yorkshire Terrier with the Poodle was to create a small sized dog with the temperament and hypoallergenic characteristics of both breeds however with less hereditary health issues. They are a designer dog and have only gotten more and more popular in recent years.

Yorkie-Poo Temperament

Yorkie-Poos have a loyal, loving and affectionate temperament. They are also described as being gentle, playful, friendly and outgoing. Yorkie-Poos often form very strong bonds with their owners and families and love to spend quality time with these important people in their lives. They are also highly intelligent which makes them easy to train.

The main negative temperament trait of Yorkie-Poos is that they like to bark and can be quite vocal at times. Nevertheless, this can be managed with training.

Individual Yorkie-Poos can have different traits depending on socialization, environment and genetics. Some may be more extroverted while others may be more introverted.

Are Yorkie-Poos Smart?

Yorkie-Poos are very smart as both the Poodle and Bernese Mountain Dog are known to be quite intelligent. Poodles are ranked 2nd for working and obedience training out of 138 breeds while Yorkshire Terriers are ranked 34th. Bernedoodles are eager to please and quick learners as they are so smart which makes them relatively easy to train.

Are Yorkie-Poos Yappy?

Yorkie-Poos like lots of other small dog breeds can be quite yappy and vocal at times however how much an individual Yorkie-Poo barks depends on the individual dog. There are many factors that influence a Yorkie-Poos’s tendency to bark including genetics, socialization, separation anxiety, lack of exercise or lack of mental stimulation. They inherit this trait from their Yorkshire Terrier parent.

If barking does become an issue, it’s best to firstly try to retrain your dog out of the habit with positive reinforcement techniques. If this doesn’t work, try distracting them from their barking triggers with toys. Look for boredom-busting dogs toys such as ones you can hide treats inside. Other options include using ultra-sonic sound devices.

Do Yorkie-Poos Have Separation Anxiety?

Yorkie-Poos are prone to separation anxiety if they are left alone for long periods of time. During this time, they may bark, pace, be destructive or attempt to escape. If a Yorkie-Poo displays signs of being a ‘velcro dog’, they are more likely to suffer from separation anxiety.

Luckily, you can manage separation anxiety by gradually getting them used to being alone for longer periods of time. You can do this by starting with short periods of being alone and slowly increasing the time or you can create a comfortable and safe space for them to be left when you leave the house. This may be a den-like environment like a crate with blankets and their favorite toys.

What Does A Yorkie Poodle Mix Look Like?

Yorkie Poodle Mixes can either look more like a Yorkshire Terrier or more like a Poodle. They have curly, wavy or wiry fur that comes in many colors such as brown, cream, black and grey. Their coats can also come in many patterns such as bicolor, tricolor or sable. Yorkie-Poos have slender heads with tapering muzzles and cute triangular ears that can either be floppy or upright.

Do Yorkie Poos Have Tails?

Yorkie-Poos usually have tails as tail docking is quite controversial and is heavily regulated or illegal in many countries. Many people think that Yorkie-Poos don’t have tails because Yorkshire Terriers usually have docked tails due to breed standards however Poodles usually have long tails that are not docked. Most Yorkie-Poos do not have docked tails however it depends on location and breeding practices.

Coat Types

There are three main types of coats Yorkie-Poos’s can have depending on the percentage make-up of Poodle to Yorkshire Terrier. These are the wavy coat, curly coat and wiry coat. Their coats can range from thick to thin and can have slightly different textures depending on the individual dog.

Wavy Coat

The wavy coat is one of the most common Yorkie-Poo coat types. It features a gentle wave and is low to non-shedding. Wavy coats are quite hypoallergenic however curly coats are generally considered to be the most hypoallergenic. In terms of maintenance, wavy coats are generally easier to groom than curly coats.

Curly Coat

The curly coat is another common Yorkie-Poo coat type and is generally seen in backcross generations such as F1b Yorkie-Poos. These coats give Yorkie-Poos more of a Poodle appearance and are generally more hypoallergenic than straight and wavy coats. These coats require more effort to maintain as they are more susceptible to matting.

Wiry Coat

Yorkie-Poos can also have wiry coats if they take more after the Yorkshire Terrier. Wiry coats are typically coarse and slightly bristly, a texture that is quite distinct from the typical Poodle mix coat. Wiry coats usually have a tousled appearance as the hair on the body is usually shorter than the hair on their face and head.

Coat Colors

Black Yorkie-Poo

Black Yorkie Poos feature a solid black coat with jet black noses and almost black eyes. Yorkie-Poos inherit this coat color from the Poodle as while Yorkshire Terriers can have black in their coats, they don’t have solid black coats.

Solid black coated Yorkie-Poos are pretty rare as most black coated ones have lighter markings on their face. A Yorkie-Poo can only inherit a solid black coat from the Poodle side so you are more likely to find solid black costs in back-cross generations such as F1b or F1bb.

White Yorkie-Poo

White Yorkie Poo feature pure white coats. They have dark brown noses and brown eyes. While the coat of a pure white Yorkie Poo looks great, it can get dirty really quickly. They often get tear stains around their eyes and the fur around their mouth is also frequently off-color.

Pure white Yorkie Poos are much more more rare than off-white Yorkie Poos. This is mainly because there isn’t a high demand for pure white Yorkie Poos as they show dirt so easily so many breeders do not focus on creating this coat color.

Brown Yorkie Poo

Brown Yorkie Poodles feature a coat that can range from a light to dark brown. In most cases it is not a solid coat but rather features patterns. Brown Yorkie-Poos usually have brown noses and dark brown or hazel eyes. Brown is one of the most common Yorkie-Poo coat colors as it can be inherited from either the Poodle or Yorkshire Terrier.

Black and Tan Yorkie Poo

Black and Tan Yorkie Poodle Mixes have a mainly black coat with tan markings on their legs, muzzle, ears and above their eyes. They inherit this coat pattern from the Yorkshire Terrier. More often than not, Black and Tan Yorkie Poodle Mixes change colour as they age. Their black coats may get more of a silvery tone.

Yorkie-Poo Lifespan

On average, Yorkie-Poos live for 12 to 15 years. Their lifespan can greatly vary depending upon genetics, health conditions, lifestyle, diet etc.

You can give your Yorkie-Poo the best chance of living a long life by feeding them a healthy diet, exercising them daily and by keeping on top of vet appointments and health check ups.

Yorkie-Poo Size

How Big Do Yorkie-Poos Get?

How big a Yorkie-Poo gets depends on the size of Poodle the Yorkshire Terrier was bred with. Most Yorkie-Poos are crossed with a Miniature Poodle and are 30cm to 40cm tall and weigh between 5.5kg and 10kg. Toy Yorkie-Poos are 25cm to 35cm tall and weighs between 4.5kg and 7kg while Teacup Yorkie-Poos are up to 25cm tall and weigh between 1.5kg and 4kg.

Teacup Yorkie-Poo

A Teacup Yorkie-Poo is a cross between a Teacup Poodle and a Yorkshire Terrier. They are the smallest Yorkie-Poo size.

While many people are drawn towards animals that are cute due to their tiny size, you need to be aware that Teacup Yorkie-Poos are often unethically bred. Their small size makes Teacup Yorkie-Poos subject to debilitating health issues such as poor bone density, heart defects, heart murmurs, seizures etc.

Teacup Yorkie-Poos are up to 25cm tall and weigh between 1.5kg and 4kg.

Toy Yorkie-Poo

A Toy Yorkie-Poo is a cross between a Toy Poodle and a Yorkshire Terrier. Toy Yorkie-Poos are 25cm to 35cm tall and weighs between 4.5kg and 7kg. They have curly or wiry fur that comes in many colors such as brown, cream, black and grey. Despite their small size, they are an active and fun-loving dog. Their small size makes them highly suited to apartment living and a good companion for children as well as seniors.

Standard Yorkie-Poo

A Standard Yorkie-Poo is a cross between a Standard or Miniature Poodle and a Yorkshire Terrier. They are the largest and most common Yorkie-Poo size. A Standard Yorkie-Poo gets to 30cm to 40cm tall and weighs between 5.5kg and 10kg.

Even though the standard Yorkie-Poo is the largest size, they are still classified as a small breed. Their small size makes them highly suited to apartment living and a good companion for children as well as seniors.

When Is A Yorkie-Poo Full Grown?

The age a Yorkie-Poo is fully grown depends on their size. Micro and Teacup Yorkie-Poos stop growing around 6 months of age, Toy Yorkie-Poos finish growing between 7 and 12 months and Standard Yorkie-Poos stop growing between 9 and 12 months of age.

Teacup Yorkie-Poos are fully grown around 6 months of age.
Toy Yorkie-Poos are fully grown between 7 and 12 months of age.
Standard Yorkie-Poos are fully grown between 9 and 12 months of age.

Once your puppy is fully grown you’ll need to start investing in dog products that you’ll keep for their whole life such as:

A full size dog crate so they have their own cozy den to sleep in – consider a dog crate pad to make it that much comfier!
An adult sized dog raincoat to keep them dry during wet weather
An adult sized dog life jacket to help with swimming in lakes and oceans
An adult sized dog jacket for cold winter weather
A dog cooling vest if you live in a hot climate
High quality no-pull dog harness to reduce stress on their neck while walking
And other similar products

Yorkie Poo Price

How Much Is A Yorkie Poo?

Yorkie-Poos like other Poodle mix breeds are quite expensive. The standard size Yorkie-Poo usually sells for $3000AUD to $7000AUD+. They are the most common Yorkie-Poo size so it isn’t too difficult to find a breeder.

Smaller Yorkie-Poo sizes may sell for prices that are even higher than this as they are not as common and the breeding process is usually more involved.

Yorkie Poo Generations

F1 Yorkie-Poo

An F1 Yorkie-Poo s the first generation of the breed created by crossing a purebred Yorkshire Terrier with a purebred Poodle (either a Toy, Miniature or Standard Poodle). They are 50% Yorkshire Terrier and 50% Poodle.

F1b Yorkie-Poo

An F1b Yorkie-Poo is the first cross-back generation of the breed created by crossing an F1 Yorkie-Poo with a purebred Poodle which can be toy, miniature or standard sized. They are 25% Yorkshire Terrier and 75% Poodle.

F1bb Yorkie-Poo

An F1bb Yorkie-Poo is a cross between an F1b Yorkie-Poo (Yorkie-Poo x Poodle) and a purebred Poodle which can be toy, miniature or standard sized. They are 12.5% Yorkshire Terrier and 87.5% Poodle. F1bb Yorkie-Poos are very rare as most Yorkie-Poo breeders focus on breeding first generation Yorkie-Poos.

F2 Yorkie-Poo

An F2 Yorkie-Poo is the second generation of the breed created by breeding a F1 Yorkie-Poo with another F1 Yorkie-Poo. They are 50% Yorkshire Terrier and 50% Poodle.

Yorkie Poo Shedding

Do Yorkie-Poos Shed?

Yorkie Poos do not shed much at all. They only drop a few strands of hairs here and there throughout the year so they are classified as non to low shedders. Both the Poodle and the Yorkshire Terrier are non to light shedders so it’s no surprise that Yorkie Poos also inherit this trait.

Are Yorkie-Poos Hypoallergenic?

Yorkie Poos are considered to be a hypoallergenic dog breed as they do not produce or release much allergy inducing dander into their immediate environment.

In comparison to other Poodle mix breeds, Yorkie-Poos are very hypoallergenic as both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Poodle are hypoallergenic. Most other Poodle mixes are a cross between a non-hypoallergenic breed and a hypoallergenic Poodle.

They are also quite hypoallergenic as they are a small breed and smaller sized dogs produce less dander than large dogs.

Male vs Female Yorkie-Poos

Male Yorkie-Poos or Female Yorkie-Poos are not inherently better than one another however there are slight differences between the two.

In terms of size, Male Yorkie-Poos are generally slightly taller and heavier than Female Yorkie-Poos however as they are such as small breed, the size differences are quite negligible.

In terms of temperament, Male Yorkie-Poos are generally more easy going and laid back while Female Yorkie-Poos are more independent and strong-willed. Females are generally more assertive and dominant than males.

Nevertheless, there are many other factors that play into temperament so just because a Yorkie-Poo is a certain gender, it does not mean that they will behave in a certain way.

Exercising A Yorkie-Poo

As Yorkie-Poos are a small breed they only have moderate exercise requirements. They need about 30 minutes of exercise each day and this may include a game of fetch, a walk or playtime. This may be split over one or two exercise sessions.

As they don’t have as extensive exercise requirements like larger breeds, Yorkie-Poos can do well in apartments or houses with small yards. This makes them very suitable for city living.

Yorkie-Poos also need to partake mental exercise such as obedience training and brain games which is why many people get their Yorkie-Poos’s interactive puzzle toys or Kong chew toy which they can stuff with treats like peanut butter.

Feeding A Yorkie-Poo

How much you should feed a Yorkie-Poo depends on their size, age, metabolism, health and activity levels. An adult Yorkie-Poo should be fed two meals a day while Yorkie-Poo puppies should be given meals more frequently depending on their age.

Yorkie-Poos usually eat between 0.5 and 2.5 cups of food each day depending on their size and age. The back of dog food packets usually have recommended feeding guidelines that you should follow, along with the advice of your veterinarian and breeder.

Many people opt to use smaller puppy bowls with non-slip food mats as puppies tend to be messy eaters. The pet food mat will prevent food from being spilt everywhere and also stop the bowl from slipping around and tipping over. A lot of puppies also become overly excited about food and eat way too fast which can cause indigestion and choking so it’s not a bad idea to train them out of this habit with a slow feeder dog bowl.

Yorkie-Poos should also have access to clean water at all times so they can stay hydrated. Some people like to use dog water fountains if they have the tendency to forget to change water regularly.

Yorkie-Poo Training

Are Yorkie-Poos Easy To Train?

Yorkie-Poos are very intelligent so they respond very well to training and are generally quite easy to train. You should start teaching your Yorkie-Poo basic commands such as their name, sit, stay and come from the moment they arrive home. You can then progress to more difficult tricks and commands.

When training your dog it is important to use positive reinforcement techniques as dogs repeat good behavior when it is followed by a reward such as a treat or their favorite toy. Clicker training is another type of positive reinforcement training that is a good method for learning new tricks. You use a clicker device so your dog can associate a new behavior with a click and then a reward.

Yorkie-Poo Grooming

How Often Do Yorkie-Poos Need To Be Groomed?

Yorkie-Poos need to be groomed every 6 to 10 weeks. During this time they should get a haircut, wash and a nail trim. They should not be bathed any more frequently than this otherwise they will get dry, flaky skin as the natural oils will be stripped from their skin.

Brushing needs to be done at home at much more frequent intervals – at a minimum every week but ideally every day. As Yorkie-Poos have a single coat, they do best with slicker brushes.

Yorkie-Poo Haircuts

Yorkie-Poos need to get haircuts as they have a coat that continues to grow and can easily become matted. The length you cut a Yorkie-Poo’s hair comes down to personal preference. Some people prefer longer coats while others like shorter ones as they are better for warmer climates. You can either go to a professional groomer or learn how to cut a Yorkie-Poo’s hair from the internet and invest in a DIY dog grooming kit.

There are many different haircuts that you can give your Yorkie-Poo. Some popular ones include the:

Puppy Cut
Teddy Bear Cut
Poodle Cut
Summer Cut
Terrier Cut

Downsides Of Yorkie-Poos

While Yorkie-Poos are a lovely dog breed with many positive traits, they do have some downsides like any other dog breed.

1. Grooming Requirements

Yorkie-Poos, like all Poodle mixes, are high maintenance in terms of grooming. This is not only time consuming but can also be very expensive if you choose to go to professional groomers. Luckily, you can keep these costs down by investing in a DIY dog grooming kit.

2. Very Expensive

Yorkie-Poos are very expensive to adopt and are also expensive to own. Like lots of other Poodle Mix breeds, Yorkie-Poos cost thousands of dollars.

3. Separation Anxiety

Yorkie-Poos are known to be very loyal to their owners and can become very attached. That is why they are susceptible to separation anxiety when they are away from their owners. Yorkie-Poos do best in households where they are given constant attention and companionship.

4. Very Small & Delicate

Yorkie-Poos, especially Toy Yorkie-Poos and Teacup Yorkie-Poos, are very small and delicate. This makes them quite vulnerable to accidental injuries if they are handled incorrectly or if a larger dog plays with them too roughly. Yorkie-Poo owners have to take extra care to make sure that they are not put in these situations.

5. Barking

Yorkie-Poos like other small dogs are prone to barking. They have quite a high pitched bark which can be irritating at times however they can luckily be trained out of excessive barking.

Poodle Mix Breed Comparisons

Yorkie-Poos are quite similar to Maltipoos and Shih-Poos. Maltipoos are a cross between a Maltese and a Poodle while Shih Poos are a cross between a Shih Tzu and a Poodle. These dogs all have similar temperaments and are similar sizes.

If you are looking for a larger Poodle Mix, Cavoodles and Spoodles are medium sized while Groodles, Labradoodles, Aussiedoodles, Bernedoodles and Sheepadoodles are large dogs.