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Yorkie Poo Dog Breed Introduction
Yorkie Poo ( also referred to as Yorkie Poodle or Yorkipoo) is a designer dog created by crossing a Yorkshire Terrier(Yorkie) with a Poodle( toy-sized or Miniature). It is a successful therapy dog due to its loving and gentle disposition. Yorkie Poos are vocal breeds that make excellent watchdogs. These pooches may also be independent with a high-prey drive of chasing after small creatures due to the Terrier in them. Always walk a Yorkie Poo on a leash since it is likely to dart off to challenge large-sized dogs oblivious of its size.
Yorkie Poo Origin |History
Currently, there are no precise dates of when the crossbreeding of Yorkshire Terriers with Toy-sized or Miniature Poodle began to produce Yorkie Poos. However, these designer dogs have existed since the late 1990s or early 2000s. Yorkipoos were developed with an aim of creating a toy-sized dog with a hybrid vigor and allergy friendly coat. A designer dog with a Hybrid vigor has lower susceptibility to the genetic disorders that affect the pure bred parents.
The crossing of a Yorkie with a Poodle produces F1 Yorkie Poos. If F1 Yorkie Poos is crossed with another F1 Yorkie Poo they create F2 Yorkie Poos. If an F1 Yorkie Poo is backcrossed to either parent they produce F1B Yorkie Poos. An F1B backcrossed again to either parent produces F1BB Yorkie Poos. However, most Yorkie Poos litters are F1 generation. Although, some breeders are concentrating on multigenerational crosses in an effort to see whether the Yorkie Poos produce litters that conform more consistently to the desired traits. Since Yorkie Poos are crossbreeds and not pedigrees, they are not recognized by the AKC( American Kennel Club).
Yorkie Poo Lifespan
A Yorkie Poo has a lifespan of 13 to 16 years. A study in 2006, affirmed that designer dogs tend to live longer than their pure bred parents for about one year or two. Yorkshire Terriers have a lifespan of 13 to 16 years while miniature and toy-sized poodles have a lifespan of 14 to 16 years. Therefore, Yorkie Poos may live up to the age of 17 or 18 years if they are bred properly.
Yorkie Poo Grooming
To prepare your Yorkie Poo for a successful grooming session both at home and with a professional groomer, get your pet accustomed to touch on various body parts such as feet, paws, ears, tail, back, belly, etc. Also create a routine of holding your pet in different positions. Yorkie Poos have a low shedding coat. These designer dogs may either have a straight coat, curly coat or a combination of both which is referred to as a wavy coat. A Yorkipoo with a curly coat requires daily brushing to prevent matting and tangling using a slicker and a bristle brush. This is because the curly coat traps the shed hair easily forming the mats and tangles.
Wavy-coated Yorkie Poos should have their coats brushed at least thrice a week to remove loose hair, prevent mats, and keep the coat looking at its best using a slicker brush. A Yorkie Poo with a straight coat gets it from the Yorkshire parent. The silky coat should also be brushed several times a week to avoid tangling and matting. A Yorkie Poo with a straight coat undergoes coat transition between the age of 6 to 8 months. The coat changes from fluffy to a silky straight coat. During this period, daily brushing is recommended since the coat is more prone to matting. Straight coat type grows at a rapid rate.
Pet parents should prepare for a trim every 4 to 6 weeks. Before brushing the coat spritz it with a water conditioner solution or a detangling spray to avoid hair breakage. Yorkie Poos require a bath every 4 to 8 weeks unless they roll in something stinky. Curly and wavy coated dogs will use a hypoallergenic dog shampoo while bathing. Straight coated Yorkie Poos will use a conditioner and shampoo made for drop silky coat. Always brush the coat before bathing since mats and tangles get messier when wet. After a bath, thoroughly rinse off the grooming products from the skin using lukewarm water to avoid irritation. Dry off the coat using a dry towel. Remember to brush the coat with a slicker brush to ensure the hair will not dry with mats or tangles.
Avoid washing the face with soapy water since the eyes will get irritated. Instead, wipe the face using canine friendly wipes or a clean damp washcloth. As with all toy-sized dogs, Yorkie Poos are susceptible to dental problems. Pet parents should introduce them to daily teeth brushing at the age of 12 weeks as the permanent teeth starts replacing the deciduous teeth. Owners should use a tasty canine toothpaste and finger toothbrush. Annual professional teeth cleaning is recommended to remove the calcified tartar that the daily brushing can’t get rid off. Clip the nails of Yorkie Poos every 3 to 5 weeks using nail clippers or grinders. Overly grown nails are painful for your dog as it walks or run. Clean the ears on a daily basis to remove excess wax or debris. Use cotton balls that are soaked in an ear cleanser solution.
Yorkie Poo Haircuts | Grooming Styles
For easy maintenance of the coat, Yorkie Poo parents trim the hair of their pets depending on the lifestyle of their pet and the weather that the dogs live in. Some of the haircuts or grooming styles suitable for Yorkie Poos include:
Puppy Cut – This is a haircut that pet parents can maintain at home. To achieve puppy cut grooming style, the hair on the face and tail is trimmed to about an inch while the fur on the rest of the body is trimmed close to the body to about 1/2 inch.
Teddy Bear Cut – The hair on the body is clipped to at least two inches. To achieve the teddy bear look, the fur on the face is trimmed in a circular shape.
Schnauzer Cut – This haircut trims the hair on the body short from the withers to the tail. However, long hair is left on the face, belly sides, neck, and leg. The facial hair will form a mustache while the fur on the underbelly and legs is long enough to form a skirt. This is a complex grooming style to maintain at home and requires services of a professional groomer.
Kennel Cut – This haircut has been described as a combination of both puppy cut and teddy bear cut. The fur on the body is trimmed close to the body while the hair on the ears and face is left a little longer. It is a suitable grooming style for summer months.
Yorkie Poo Shedding
Contrary to the mythological concept that Yorkie Poo are non-shedders, they shed all-year round at minimal levels.
Yorkie Poo Hair | Coat
A Yorkie Poo may have a curly coat inherited from the Poodle parent, a straight coat like the Yorkshire Parent, or a wavy coat which is a combination of the curly and straight coat. The wavy coat at times may be wiry.
Yorkie Poo Hypoallergenic
A Yorkie Poo is a nearly hypoallergenic dog suitable for people who suffer from dog allergies. However, there is no 100 % guarantee that it will not aggravate sneezing and sniffling. A Yorkie Poo may have a straight, wavy, or curly coat. The straight coat is silky, looks like human hair and produces less dander. Both the wavy and curly coat traps the shed hair and dander in the coat instead of releasing the allergens into the environment hence considered allergy friendly. Pet parents that are affected by dog allergies are urged to to spend lots of time with a particular Yorkie Poo before adopting to ensure they are not affected by the dander, saliva, and fur of the pooch.
Yorkie Poo Training | How To Train A Yorkie Poo
Yorkie Poos are highly intelligent dogs that are eager to please which makes them trainable pets. This breed also has a genuine fondness to be with its human family which is a plus when it comes to training. To raise a friendly, well-mannered, and well-adjusted Yorkie Poo, start socialization training immediately the pup comes home from the age of 8 weeks. However, this training starts from the age of 3 weeks while the Yorkie Poo is with breeder until the age of 16 weeks while the pet is in its new home. Owners should wait until the age of 8 weeks before taking their pets home to ensure their build on their social skills and reduce the severity of separation anxiety.
To socialize a Yorkie Poo, expose it to a wide range of places, animals, surfaces, situations, smell, sight, experiences, and sounds such as lawn mowers, vacuum cleaners, whistles, baby crying sounds, washing machines, and sirens. Enrolling Yorkie Poos in a puppy class will also serve as a form of socialization. These classes provide an opportunity for Yorkipoos to interact with other canines in a controlled environment. Puppy classes also enable pet parents to identify and correct bad habits such as growling due to resource guarding the food bowl and toys.
Yorkie Poos thrive on positive reinforcements methods such as petting, treats, verbal praise, playtime, and toys. However, this is also a sensitive breed that will shut down during training or have a stubborn streak if they are yelled at or corrected with harsh correction methods. A Yorkie Poo will also be stubborn if the classes are repetitive. Keep the training sessions short for a span of about 5 to 10 minutes distributed throughout the day especially for puppies. The training span may increase to a period of at least 15 minutes once the Yorkie Poos matures. An older Yorkie Poo may advance to other forms of training such as advanced obedience training to build more additional skills and reinforce proper habits.
From the age of 8 weeks, start teaching Yorkie Poos basic commands and tricks. Some of the basic commands that a Yorkie Poo may learn include come, sit, down, heel, stay, quiet, leave it etc. Teach one basic command word at a time before proceeding to the next command word. Avoid issuing a command while too frustrated or excited since they won’t sound the same for your breed. It is essential to teach a Yorkie Poo the quiet and speak command. This is because they have a tendency of being a barky breed. They don’t know when to stop.
While your dog is barking, wait for it to calm down before picking up the barking habit. The instant the dog pauses, place a tasty treat like cheese or liver snack directly above the nose of the dog and utter ‘Quiet’. A Yorkie Poo will stop barking to sniff the treat, give it the snack and it will be quiet. Repeat this on several occasions until the pet understands the quiet command. This training may incorporate clicker reward. The instant the dog goes quiet, utilize the clicking sound before giving it a reward. Genuinely, Yorkie Poos are fond of their human company. When left alone for long hours, they will suffer from separation anxiety which may lead to behavior problems.
Crate training is recommended while the pup is still young so that it may learn to stay alone for a few hours which reduces the severity of separation anxiety. This device also enables a pet to develop the confidence of staying alone for a few hours. Crate training also comes in handy while potty training since it helps the owner to monitor the pet for signs that it wants to eliminate. For effective housebreaking, creating a feeding schedule, potty training, and crate training is key. Consistency, patience, and being firm but gentle is recommended for positive outcomes.
How To Potty Train A Yorkie Poo Puppy | How To Potty Train A Yorkie Poo
Prior to bringing a Yorkie Poo pup home, choose a designated area where it will be doing its business. It is important to understand that the bowel and bladder muscles strengthens as the puppy matures. Therefore, Yorkie Poo puppies will require more frequent breaks throughout the day. Generally, an 8-week-old puppy is able to hold for a period of 2 hours before eliminating while a 12-week-old pup is able to hold for a period of 3 hours. The potty breaks will increase up to a span of 6 to 8 hours from the age of 8 months.
Owners are urged to decide whether they will teach their puppies to eliminate inside or outside especially for apartment dwellers who have a hard time accessing the street or yard. Indoor potty training utilizes puppy pads and litter boxes that are available for retail from the puppy store. Although, use of puppy pads teaches a pet it is okay to eliminate indoors. Therefore, a pet parent should not start indoor training with the aim of teaching the pup to eliminate outside later. It will take a long time before the dog understands it is no longer acceptable to eliminate inside.
As for the outdoor potty training, choose a delegated area that is far from the patio deck or BBQ spot. Take your Yorkie Poo to the elimination area immediately it wakes up, 20 minutes after meals, every 2 to 3 hours, after naptime, following an exciting activity such as playtime and car ride, and before bedtime. Once you get to the designated place, utter the command word ‘potty’ or ‘toilet’ to give your pet the cue to eliminate. Avoid interchangeably using the two command words since it will be confusing for your pet. It is recommended to remain in the toilet area for a period of 15 minutes to allow the bladder and bowel muscles to relax for a pee or poo. If the dog fails to eliminate, return it to the designated area after a period of 15 to 30 minutes.
During potty training, a crate is an indispensable tool. It enables the owner to monitor the pup for signs that it wants to eliminate such as circling, restlessness, whining, and squatting. By choice, Yorkie Poos and other breeds avoid soiling where they sleep. Before a Yorkie Poo is fully housebroken, don’t allow it roam freely in house without close supervision to reduce the chances of having accidents in the house.
If you get your pup in the act of eliminating, clap your hands to distract it and utter a firm No. Immediately carry it to the designated potty area. If it finishes its business at the delegated place, reward the dog with a treat. Remember to clean the mess using an enzymatic detergent or iodine solution to remove the odor. If the mess is cleaned using a regular detergent, the odor will be retained which will encourage the dog to eliminate in the same spot once it sniffs. Before the age of 16 weeks, set an alarm to take the dog to the designated toilet area at least once during the night.
Yorkie Poo Temperament | Traits
- Intelligent.
- Vocal.
- Lively.
- Charismatic.
- Curious.
- Affectionate.
- Kind.
- Outgoing.
- Friendly.
- Enthusiastic.
- Active.
- Loyal.
- Bold.
Yorkie Poo Exercise
These designer dogs have moderate exercise needs of about 20 to 30 minutes daily. Daily walks and some playtime indoor or outdoor will help to keep this breed happy and healthy. A Yorkie Poo may also participate in rally, barn, and agility trials.
Yorkie Poo Barking
This is an extremely vocal breed that makes an excellent watchdog. However, Pet parents are urged to teach Yorkie Poos the quiet command to avoid unnecessary barking. Excessive barking may also be due to separation anxiety and pent-up energy.
Yorkie Poo Height
Yorkie Poos have a height of 7 to 15 inches ( approx. 18 to 38 cm) depending on the size of the Poodle parent(toy-sized or Miniature).
Yorkie Poo Weight
Adult Yorkie Poos may have a weight of of 3 to 14 pounds ( approx. 1.4 to 6.4 kg).
Yorkie Poo Size
Yorkie Poos are toy-small sized dogs with a weight range of 3 to 14 pounds ( approx. 1.4 to 6.4 kg) and a height varying between 7 to 15 inches ( approx. 18 to 38 cm).
Yorkie Poo Aggressive Behavior
A Yorkie Poo is a friendly, affectionate, easygoing, loyal, and loving companion that is anything but not aggressive. However, it may manifest aggressive behavior such as biting while in fear due to poor socialization or pain. Due to the terrier in them, Yorkie Poos may also approach large-sized dogs. They should always be on leash while on walks.
Yorkie Poo Health Problems | Health Issues
Yorkie Poos are designer dogs that benefit from hybrid vigour which lowers the susceptibility of diseases and reduce the risk of inbreeding depression. However, Yorkie Poos are still prone to health problems that affect both the Poodle and Yorkshire Terriers. Some of the health issues that affect Yorkie Poos include collapsed trachea, hypoglycemia, dental problems, luxating patella, cataracts, Portosystemic shunt, bronchitis, thyroid issues, Sebaceous adenitis, etc.
Yorkie Poo Litter Size
A Yorkie Poo may give birth to a litter size of 3 to 6 puppies.
Yorkie Poo Feeding Chart
The amount of food that a Yorkie Poo feeds on depends on its age, size, body build, metabolism, and activity level. Yorkie Poo puppies tend to have a high metabolism rate as compared to adults and seniors. Therefore, they will eat 3 or 4 times a day while adults and seniors feed twice a day. From the age of 6 months, Yorkie Poos pups should feed a total of 2 meals a day for the rest of its life.
Yorkie Poo Food
For optimal health, Yorkie Poos should feed on vitamins, proteins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, and water. This designer dog may feed on dry, wet, home-made or raw food depending on the budget and time of the pet parent. For commercial food, ensure the first three listed ingredients are proteins. Avoid purchasing dog food that has fillers, additives, meat by-products, generic meat products, and chemicals. Once the Yorkie Poo comes home, chances are that the owner will want to switch to another quality food than the one it was previously feeding on.
They should gradually do this by mixing 3/4 old food with 1/4 new food during the first week. On the second week, the pooch should feed same amount of old and new food. During the third week, a Yorkipoo will feed on 3/4 new food and 1/4 old food. On the fourth week, totally switch on to new food. Feed a Yorkie Poo food formulated for toy-small sized puppies, adults, and seniors depending on the age of your pet.
Yorkie Poo Colors
A Yorkie Poo may have solid coat colors like a Poodle including black, white, beige, gray, rust, and brown. However, others may have the typical tricolor or bicolor pattern of a Yorkshire Terrier featuring tan, gold, red, gray, blue, brown, and black.
Apart from Yorkie Poos, other breeds of dogs include:
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Pug.
Yorkie Poo Allergies
A Yorkie Poo is predisposed to various forms of allergies as discussed below:
Skin Allergies – Yorkie Poos are affected by skin allergies due to food, contact, and environmental allergies. Environmental allergies cause atopic dermatitis which is an inflammatory disease that causes rashes, hives, and lesions if the dog inhales something allergic. One of the environmental allergens, fleas also cause flea allergy dermatitis that affect the skin. Food allergies manifest on the skin causing hives, hot spots, dermatitis, pruritus, and facial swelling. Commonly affected body parts by skin allergies include belly sides, paws, feet, ears, around the eyes, groin, underarms, etc.
Food allergies – Although rare, Yorkie Poos may also suffer from food allergies which cause an immune response. It is usually accompanied with a wide range of symptoms varying from skin condition signs to gastrointestinal stress. Skin condition symptoms include crusting lesions, hives, facial swelling, pruritus, hot spots, and dermatitis. On the other hand, gastrointestinal symptoms include bloating, weight loss, and acute vomiting and diarrhea.
Contact allergies – This inflammation affects the skin once it comes in contact with the allergen. Some of the environmental allergens that affect Yorkie Poos include lawn chemicals, bed linens, grooming products such as shampoos and conditioner, carpet cleaning detergents, plastics, latex, and medication. Affected body parts include around the muzzle, feet, and paws. If left unattended, contact allergies may cause secondary skin infections.
Environmental allergies – One of the environmental allergens that affect Yorkie Poos include flea. This insect causes flea allergy dermatitis that affects the back legs and beneath the tail. It causes excessive scratching and biting until the skin around the bite area is raw. Other environmental allergens include pollen, grass, trees, ragweed, mites, dust and dust mites, and house molds. Signs of environmental allergens include nasal discharge, congestion, and itchiness on various body parts including paws, around the eyes, between the toes, underarms, groin, muzzle, ears, feet, and paws.
Yorkie Poo Ears
A Yorkie Poo may have pointy ears of a Yorkshire Terrier or floppy ears of a Poodle.
Yorkie Poo Tail
The Poodle and Yorkshire Terrier that participate in conformation shows have their tails docked. Most breeders may dock the tail of a Yorkie Poo at the age of 3 to 5 days.
Yorkie Poo Teeth
At birth, Yorkie Poo puppies are whelped with no teeth. However, the deciduous teeth start growing in at the age of 2 or 3 weeks until the dog has a total of 28 teeth at the age of 6 to 8 weeks. From the age of 12 weeks, a Yorkie poo start loosing its milk teeth as the permanent teeth start erupting. At the age of 6 to 8 months, a Yorkie Poo should have a total of 42 permanent teeth.
Do Yorkie Poos Bark A Lot
Yes. A Yorkie Poo is a very vocal and alert breed that makes a great watchdog. Owners are recommended to teach the Quiet command to regulate unnecessary barking.
Do Yorkie Poos Shed
Yes. Contrary to the mythological concept, Yorkie Poos shed all-year round at minimal levels.
Are Yorkie Poos Smart
Yes. Yorkie Poos are smart dogs that are fond of human companion which makes them highly trainable.
Are Yorkie Poos Easy To Train
Yes. A Yorkie Poo is intelligent and eager to please which makes training easy.
Are Yorkie Poos Good Family Dogs
Yes. Yorkie Poos are loving, friendly, affectionate, enthusiastic, and genuinely fond of human companionship.
Yorkie Poos Quick Facts
- They are designer dogs created by crossing a Yorkshire Terrier with a Poodle( miniature or toy-sized).
- A Yorkie Poo may either have a curly, wavy, or straight coat.
- Yorkie Poos are considered allergy friendly dogs since they shed at low levels all-year round and produce less dander due to their small body size.
