What is the Difference Between a Yorkie and a Yorkie Poo? (Solved & Explained!)

Yorkies, or Yorkshire Terriers, are an extremely popular breed of dog. However, there are different kinds of Yorkies! So what’s the difference between a Yorkie and a Yorkie Poo? Well, a Yorkie is a pure Yorkshire Terrier, while a Yorkie Poo is a mix between a Yorkie and a toy Poodle. The dogs are similar, but there are distinctions as well. 

So what are the differences between a Yorkie and a Yorkie poo? Read on to find out everything you need to know about the difference between these two breeds. 

What is a Yorkie?

The term Yorkie is short for Yorkshire Terrier, an extremely popular breed of small dogs. They are high energy, playful, curious, and kind, making them great pets for families! They are highly intelligent and can be stubborn, but they are fairly easily trained. They love to stick to their human schedules, and hate to leave their side! 

What is a Yorkie Poo?

A Yorkie Poo is a mix between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Toy Poodle. This means they share some of the traits that make Yorkies such a popular breed. However, they also have some traits that are more from their Toy Poodle side. 

Shared traits and similarities

Yorkies are quite intelligent, and so are Toy Poodles. This means that both purebred Yorkies and Yorkie Poo mixes are both extremely intelligent breeds of dogs. Both Yorkies and Yorkie poos are also small, follow their owners and stick to their schedule, and are high energy and playful!

Size

Purebred Yorkies are quite a small breed. Toy Poodles are a bit larger, meaning that Yorkie Poos tend to end up being slightly larger than their purebred counterparts. Yorkies tend to be 7-8 inches tall and max out at a weight of about 7 pounds. This makes them quite a tiny breed!

On the other hand, although still small, Yorkie Poos are slightly bigger. They are generally 7-15 inches tall and weigh in at around 5-15 pounds. This wider range is because the parents of the Yorkie Poo are of far more different sizes than the purebred Yorkie. 

If you want a tiny breed, go with the purebred Yorkie. However, if you want something slightly larger, a Yorkie Poo might be the way to go. 

Breed Appearance

Yorkies are generally small, have long, silky coats. Tan and dark blue/black is the most common color combination amongst Yorkies. Yorkie puppies have floppy ears, but around the 6-month mark they’ll usually stand up. In rare cases, their ears can stay floppy for life. Most Yorkies, since they’re purebred, look fairly similar. 

On the other hand, Yorkie Poos, because they are mixed, vary more in appearance. They can have straight hair like a purebred Yorkie, or curly like a Toy Poodle. Yorkie Poos can be black, tan, and dark blue like a Yorkie, but can also have any combination of colors since Toy Poodles come in a ton of different colors themselves. 

Basically, you can assume what your Yorkie is going to look like, but a Yorkie Poo’s appearance can vary greatly from dog to dog. 

Health

Yorkies are quite a healthy breed. With a lifespan of 12-15 years, you can expect these little guys to hang around for a long time. They are high energy and love to exercise, so they rarely become too overweight or unhealthy if cared for properly. 

It’s important to make sure your Yorkie is getting the proper exercise. A couple of walks a day and 15-30 minutes of playtime should be enough for this small breed. 

Likewise, you’ll need to make sure your Yorkie’s diet is balanced. Protein, vitamins, and carbs are all necessary for making sure your Yorkie has a happy, healthy life. 

Yorkie Poos also live long lives, ranging from 10-15 years. However, they are a mixed breed, so they are exposed to health issues that come from both of their parents. They can eat a similar diet and have a similar exercise regiment to purebred Yorkies. 

Training

Yorkies and Yorkie Poos are both very intelligent breeds, making them relatively easy to train in the grand scheme of things. However, there is one trait that is present in Yorkies more so than in Yorkie poos that make them a bit more difficult to train. 

Yorkies that are purebred tend to be more stubborn than Yorkie Poos. This is because the Toy Poodle is a far less stubborn breed than the Yorkie. If you’re looking for an easier-to-train pup, go for the Yorkie Poo! 

Temperament

As mentioned above, Yorkies are more stubborn than their Yorkie Poo counterparts, which is one of the major differences in the temperaments of the two breeds. Yorkies are also harder to socialize with other dogs, while Yorkie Poos are easygoing around other breeds. 

Both breeds are loyal, high-energy, and can get separation anxiety quite easily, so there are similarities. However, generally speaking, a Yorkie Poo will be more easygoing and sociable, as well as less stubborn. 

Price

Yorkies are more expensive than Yorkie Poos due to being a purebred breed. They normally range from $1500 to $3000. Meanwhile, the mixed Yorkie Poo is generally between $400 and $1500. 

Of course, there is always the adoption route! Adoption can be much cheaper and is a great service, but you may not get a young puppy. 

Hypoallergenic

Both of these breeds are hypoallergenic, so those with dog allergies can expect to do better around these breeds than most dogs. This is because both Yorkies and Toy Poodles are hypoallergenic breeds. However, it doesn’t mean you will certainly be free of allergies just because the breeds are hypoallergenic. 

Intelligence

Both the Yorkie and the Yorkie Poo are extremely intelligent breeds. This makes them not only easy to train but easy to teach tricks and tasks as well. They may seem small and yappy on the surface, but these dogs are actually extremely sharp and make great companions for families and single dog owners alike!