The Yorkipoo is a hybrid breed of the Yorkshire Terrier and a Miniature or Toy Poodle. They are part of the Doodle craze that has struck a chord with dog lovers over the last several decades.
Adding poodle genetics into another canine lineage often has desirable results. The most sought-after traits are usually the hypoallergenic, low-shedding nature of the resulting dogs’ fur and the Poodle’s trademark intelligence.
The Yorkipoo shares with the Yorkshire Terrier in the looks department and may often be confused for a purebred Yorkie, though they can tend more towards their poodle heritage. The poodle genetics give them more of a curl to their coat and a more “big-dog” look to their facial features.
Despite their small frame, they are unique, petite dogs full of affection and confidence. Yorkipoos are likely to be slightly larger than a Yorkshire, though still in the miniature or toy ballpark, coming in at around 10 pounds well-fed.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Owning a Yorkipoo
Advantages of Yorkipoo:
- They Are Adaptable: Yorkipoos can make themselves comfortable almost anywhere. From life on a sprawling Montana ranch to a tiny studio apartment in Queens, a Yorkipoo will love it, so long as they get their daily walk.
- They Love Everyone: Yorkipoos are great companions to the old and young, children and adults. They do well with a single pet parent or with a large family. Yorkipoos are adaptable not only with their accommodations but also with the people they live with.
- They Are Less Social, In a good way. Thanks to their poodle parent, Yorkipoos don’t require as much socialization as Yorkshire terriers. They also do well in single-dog households.
- Yorkipoos Are Smart: Both parent breeds are known for their intelligence, making for a very smart crossbreed. Given the time, they respond well to routine and consistent training and can learn every trick in the book.
- They Make Great Watchdogs: They like to bark but do it for a reason. Yorkipoos can be suspicious of strangers, and they live to defend their loved ones and home. This makes them excellent watchdogs. That makes them sound alarm systems to warn their humans of danger.
- They Hardly Shed: You may have heard that they don’t shed, though it isn’t true. They shed significantly less than most breeds—good news for those who like to wear black without having to lint roll forty times a day.
- They Are Less Allergenic: Yorkipoos shed less, which makes the crossbreed a shoo-in for those who suffer from animal dander allergies. They aren’t 100% hypoallergenic, but they are much less likely to cause issues thanks to their unique coat.
- Yorkipoos Are Cuddle Bugs: We can’t speak for every dog, but these specific dogs are usually huge snuggling fans. And they are always down to play. For a Yorkipoo, the more physical attention they get, the better.
- They Aren’t Escape Artists: Yorkshire Terriers can sometimes be known for wanting to escape and run away. The poodle mixture has somewhat subdued that drive to wander and roam. So, they are less likely to leave the house, even if the door is open, than their Yorkie parents.
- They Do Alright Alone: While a Yorkshire Terrier tends to suffer from separation anxiety, the poodle-mix deals with isolation a bit better. They are more independent and, thus, do better when left alone during the day.
- They Are Good with Kids: Yorkshire Terriers can be afraid of or rude to children. Yorkipoos are usually much more easygoing with kids, likely due to their more substantial build and calm poodle temperament.
- Easy to Groom: Yorkipoos are much easier to groom than Yorkshire terriers. Their low-shedding, double-layered fur requires regular brushing and the occasional trip to the groomer. If you’re trying to avoid the groomer’s bill, the Yorkipoo will help protect your wallet.
Yorkipoo Disadvantages:
We’ve spoken of some of what makes these little dogs so great, but we would be remiss if we didn’t mention some of the downsides, too. While undoubtedly beautiful dogs, they do have some issues that may turn off prospective Yorkipoo owners:
- Yorkipoos Don’t Like Strangers: Yorkshire Terriers are already a suspicious and territorial breed, and it is as if the Yorkipoos hybrid breeding has exacerbated the issue. Yorkipoos are wary of people they don’t know and can take some coaxing to make new friends with those they find threatening.
- Yorkipoos Don’t Like Cats: A Yorkipoo and a cat will likely get along if raised alongside them. But, as with strange humans, Yorkipoos won’t usually tolerate strange cats in their home, walking, or outside the front window.
- Yorkipoos Aren’t Good with Small Animals: All terriers come from lineages bred to hunt and kill pests, vermin, and other manners of prey. These old genetics still lay deeply rooted in the Yorkipoo, so it would be best not to leave them alone with small birds or the family hamster.
- The Barking: We’ve already mentioned it a few times before this. Yorkipoos love barking. They do it to defend their home, say hello, alert everyone of squirrels, and sometimes just for fun. Luckily, it’s not a booming bark, though it could drive you up the wall if you’re not okay with a high bark level.
- Yorkipoos Are Stubborn: With many breeds of dogs, intelligence often comes paired with stubbornness. Yorkipoos are no exception. While they are very trainable, it can sometimes take some coaxing and extra work to get them to do what you want.
- They Can Be Fragile: Yorkipoos can be very small, depending on the size of their poodle parentage. Because of this, they can be more fragile than some. They are smart enough to escape harm’s way but vulnerable to children and other larger animals.
- They Are Expensive: Expect to pay upwards of $1200 for a Yorkipoo from a reputable breeder. This can be hard to swallow, considering millions of dogs are available for adoption.
- They Have A Prey Drive: This means they like to play the role of predator. The Yorkipoo has no significant prey drive but is higher than a Yorkshire Terrier. They should not be left unsupervised with unfamiliar cats and other small animals.
- Their Hypoallergenic Nature Is Not Guaranteed: A Yorkipoo is highly likely to be low-shedding, but because it is a crossbreed, there can be a lot of variance in its attributes thanks to the dual nature of its heritage.
Final Thoughts :
So, you can see that Yorkipoo has more positive than negative traits. There isn’t much in the way of unfortunate features that will scare away lovers of these little furballs. You’re good to go if you can handle high levels of small barks and good grooming and playing routines.
