As a dog lover, you must have heard about designer and crossbreed dogs. But have you ever given a thought to why breeders create designer breeds? What is the actual purpose behind it?
Well, one of the many positive aspects of creating designer breeds is that the new dogs inherit the best traits from their parent breeds. So, all the dog lovers out there can get the best of both worlds. Yorkipoo, a mix of Yorkshire Terrier and Toy or Miniature Poodle, is one such designer dog breed. As both breeds have some exquisite qualities to attract people, breeders created a mix between the two—the Yorkipoo.
Origin
As Yorkipoo is a designer breed, there is not much history about the dog to discuss. However, the major purpose behind creating the mix was to get companion dogs for people prone to pet allergies. The goal breeders had in mind was to create a healthy and small dog that wouldn’t have any health complications like its parents—the Yorkshire Terrier, and Miniature Poodles brooked many health complications due to poor or overbreeding.
Before we dig more about the Yorkipoos, let’s get a brief overview of their parents—the Yorkshire Terrier and Miniature Poodle.
The Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkshire Terriers were first seen in England in 1861—known under the breed name of the Broken Haired Scotch Terrier—and slowly paved their way to America in 1872. Eventually, in 1874, the breed got its official name, the Yorkshire Terrier, and was registered by the American Kennel Club in 1878.
The Miniature Poodle
The Poodle is also known as the “national dog of France.” However, the breed was first seen in Germany around 400 years ago and was referred to as “duck hunters.” Eventually, the Standard Poodle was bred down to the Miniature in America in the early 20th century. The breeders set a goal to create a mini version of the Standard Poodle with highly serviceable qualities. As the Standard Poodles in France were used to sniff out delicate truffles from the ground—fruits of the underground mushrooms commonly used in French cuisines—the hunters found it difficult to successfully carry out the task because of the size of the Standard Poodle. Hence, breeders from America created the Miniature Poodles.
As you now know the history of the two breeds, let’s discuss the qualities, temperament, physical appearance, and other facts about the Yorkipoo.
Physical Appearance
Size
The Yorkipoos are usually 7 – 15 inches tall at the shoulder with a weight of around 3 – 14 pounds. The size of Yarkipoos may vary—depending on the dominant genes inherited from their parents. However, a fully grown adult Yorkipoo may sometimes reach the size of a Standard Poodle.
Coat Color
As mentioned earlier, the Yorkipoos were bred to create hypoallergenic dogs for people prone to pet allergies. Yorkipoos have low-shedding, curly, or straight hair coats that are silky and luxurious when touched. Even though all dogs in the world shed, the Yorkipoo is comparatively a low-shedder and is considered a hypoallergenic dog. They can be seen in a cornucopia of colors—cream, black, white, red, sable, apricot, tan, chocolate, gray, and silver—with a variety of markings as well including black with tan points.
Grooming
Brush the Hair
Even though the Yorkipoos are hypoallergenic, they still require frequent and proper grooming to stay healthy and presentable. If you own a Yorkipoo or are considering adopting one, it is highly advised that you brush your dog’s hair to ward off tangles and maintain the fine coat. Additionally, you can trim the coat according to the length you prefer. Luckily, there is no “correct cut” for designer breeds; it pretty much depends on what cut you want your dog to have.
Similarly, it is important to bathe the Yorkipoo to keep the coat silky to touch. However, the frequency is not fixed. Bathe your dog whenever you find it necessary.
Trim the Nails
Having unnecessarily long nails does not only look grimy but is also extremely unhygienic. Nails wearing off naturally is common in dogs. But if they do not wear off naturally, it is highly advised that you keep a check on your Yorkipoo’s nails and trim them frequently—preferably twice a month—to avoid painful tears. Also, you must be very careful while using the nail clippers on your dog as their toenails have blood vessels that may cause bleeding if cut too deeply.
Brush the Teeth
Unfortunately, many pet owners only emphasize the outer hygiene of their pets and snub the other important factors needed for a dog’s healthy lifestyle. If you own a Yorkipoo and haven’t ever paid attention to the oral hygiene of your dog, it’s high time you do so. As miniature dogs are fabled for developing dental complications, it is advised that you brush the teeth of the Yorkipoo at least two to three times a week. Frequent cleaning is necessary to avoid tartar buildup and bacteria that may lurk inside the teeth of the dog.
Keep a Frequent Check on the Ears
Along with grooming your Yorkipoo’s hair, teeth, and nails, you must also keep a regular check on his ears. As ear infections are highly common in dogs, it is very important to clean the outer ear of the Yorkipoo with a cotton swab dipped in a pH-balanced ear cleaner. Repeat the process twice a month to prevent ear infections and other health complications. Be careful about the ear cleaning as inserting it into the ear canal may create problems for your dog.
Health
As mentioned earlier, breeders created the Yorkipoo so that it wouldn’t have many health complications—hence perfect for people prone to pet allergies. However, there are some diseases common among Yorkipoos. Let’s have a brief look at the most common ones. Keep in mind that Yorkipoos are generally healthy, and not all dogs of the breed would develop these diseases.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a condition caused by abnormal circuit activities in the brain. It is commonly believed that epilepsy is mostly inherited, but it’s not always the case. It may cause mild to severe seizures in dogs. If the Yorkipoo suffers from a seizure, you can easily detect it by your pet’s behavior—he may run frantically as if he is being chased, or he may stagger. In such cases, it is advised that you take your Yorkipoo to the vet for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Mitral Valve Disease
Mitral Valve is a common heart disease among dogs. The heart has four chambers—right/left atrium and right/left ventricle. Each chamber has a one-way valve that allows the blood to flow in one direction. The valve between the left atrium and left ventricle is called the Mitral Valve. When the left ventricle contracts and pumps blood out to the body, it creates high pressure—causing the Mitral Valve to leak or wear out over time. This is known as Mitral Valve Insufficiency (MVI). The earliest sign of MVI is a heart murmur, so you must take your Yorkipoo for regular checkups to ensure timely treatment of the dog—if needed.
Other Common Diseases
Other diseases that are common among Yorkipoos include Patellar Luxation, Portosystemic Shunt (PSS), Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease, Hypothyroidism, Hyperadrenocorticism, and Atopic Dermatitis.
Temperament
Yorkipoos are highly intelligent—the trait is inherited from the Yorkshire Terrier and Miniature Poodle. They are also very lovable and enjoy performance competitions like obedience and agility. Yorkipoos are a perfect fit for dog lovers living in apartments as they are relatively small and super affectionate. Additionally, they can be a good companion for adults. If you’re planning to adopt a Yorkipoo, keep in mind that they are highly active dogs and would require to exert the built-up energy, so you’d need to plan physical activities for them accordingly.
A daily walk or romp in the yard would be sufficient for the Yorkipoo.
Conclusion
As mentioned earlier, Yorkipoos can be a great companion for dog lovers prone to pet allergies. They are loving, intelligent, and extremely adorable to have as a pet. If you’re planning to adopt a hypoallergenic, small, and adorable dog, Yorkipoos should be on the list of the top five.
