Yorkipoo

Overview

The Yorkipoo pours Yorkshire Terrier fire into a Toy Poodle frame - a tiny, confident, silky spark plug that has no idea it weighs three kilos. Playful, clever and devoted, it suits people who want big-dog attitude in handbag scale and can laugh at the self-importance.

A designer cross: the Yorkipoo is a Yorkshire Terrier × Toy Poodle mix, not a standardised breed - individuals vary more than purebreds, in coat, size and temperament alike. No study has measured how long this cross lives; for the parent breeds the AKC lists 11-15 years (Yorkshire Terrier) and 10-18 years (Poodle).

History & Origins

A 2000s American toy-cross; both parents are companion miniatures.

The Yorkshire Terrier parent has a working past. The AKC says the breed was developed in the mid-1800s in Yorkshire and Lancashire, where it caught rats in textile mills and coal mines, and became a fashionable lapdog after the Kennel Club recognised it in 1886; its size shrank as its popularity grew.

Appearance

2-6 kg of silk in black-and-tan, silver, apricot or cream; perky-eared or drop-eared by luck of the draw, always with terrier posture. Typical size: Toy, 2-6 kg. Coat: Silky-wavy, very low-shed (varies).

Both parents are small. The Royal Kennel Club (UK) standard sets the Yorkshire Terrier's weight at up to 3.2 kg, with a straight, glossy, silky coat "not woolly"; the Toy Poodle stands under 28 cm, and the AKC gives it 4-6 pounds and a dense, curly coat. A Yorkipoo's coat can lean toward either parent.

Temperament & Character

Bold, busy, affectionate and convinced of its own importance - terrier confidence with Poodle cleverness. Prone to yap if under-stimulated; hilarious and devoted when engaged.

Care

Indoor play plus short walks; silky coat needs regular brushing and periodic clips; dental care is critical (tiny crowded mouths), and knees deserve watching (patella luxation runs in both parents).

Health & Lifespan

For the Yorkipoo itself no lifespan has been measured; see the overview for the parent breeds.

The two parents share two of their recommended tests. On the AKC pages the Yorkshire Terrier club lists patella and eye evaluations, and the Toy Poodle club lists the same two plus a PRA-prcd DNA test. The AKC adds that Yorkie breeders screen for eye anomalies and luxating patella and that a Yorkie's jumping height should be limited, especially as a puppy; for Toy Poodles it notes that Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease and luxating patellas are more likely than in Standards. Cornell University's list of breeds commonly affected by intervertebral disc disease includes Toy and Miniature Poodles.

UK primary-care data give mixed signals for the Yorkie side. In 2019 records the Yorkshire Terrier had 1.51 times the odds of acute diarrhoea of crossbred dogs, while a 2016 study found it at lower odds of ear infection (odds ratio 0.49). No veterinary study of the Yorkipoo itself appeared in our literature search. We are not giving advice here; a vet who examines the dog can say what applies.

Feeding & Nutrition

Small frequent measured meals when young (hypoglycemia caution), quality toy food after; watch the treats.

Training & Socialisation

Smart and quick but terrier-willful; housetraining takes patient routine. Early socialisation prevents nano-Napoleon syndrome.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Big personality, tiny footprint
• Portable
• Usually very low-shedding
• Endlessly entertaining

Cons

• Yappy without stimulation
• Fragile around rough play
• Dental and knee vigilance needed
• Housetraining patience required

Best Suited For

• Apartment dwellers
• Experienced toy-dog owners
• Adults and gentle-teen households
• People wanting a confident mini companion

Sources

• AKC, Yorkshire Terrier: history, health and recommended tests: akc.org
• Royal Kennel Club, Yorkshire Terrier breed standard: weight and coat: royalkennelclub.com
• Royal Kennel Club, Poodle (Toy) breed standard: size: royalkennelclub.com
• AKC, Poodle (Toy): weight, health and recommended tests: akc.org
• Cornell Riney Canine Health Center: intervertebral disc disease, commonly affected breeds: vet.cornell.edu
• O'Neill et al., PLOS ONE 2025: acute diarrhoea in UK dogs: doi.org
• O'Neill et al., Canine Medicine and Genetics 2021: otitis externa in UK dogs: doi.org

Sources opened and checked on 16 October 2026.