What Is a Teacup Yorkie Poo?

Fluffy, cute and cuddly, a teacup yorkie poo is the forever-puppy that never grows up. A cross between a teacup Yorkshire terrier and a toy poodle, this new designer dog breed is a popular choice among pet owners who like purse-sized dogs that won't shed on them or their furniture.

Hair Types and Grooming

Puppies born of two different breeds will typically inherit more traits from one parent than the other. So a yorkie poo may have the more silky straight hair of a yorkie, or be more curly-haired like the poodle. Regardless of hair style, the result of this mix is fur that won't shed, and that's especially good news for people with allergies.
Yorkie Poos require weekly brushing at home to keep matting under control, but dogs should be sent to the groomer every six to eight weeks for a trim.
The hair coloring of this breed mix can be brown, white, black, or golden red.

Temperament and Personality

Yorkie poos are energetic dogs that are playful and need regular exercise. They tend to be barkers, a trait they get from their yorkie parent, and are sometimes stubborn, which is a trait inherited from their poodle side. All in all, they make agreeable family pets that are usually good with children. The breed is new and still in development.

The Teacup's Health and Longevity

The teacup variety of dog isn't an actual breed, but a marketing term for a toy dog that's undersized, often due to premature birth. An adult teacup dog weighs only 3 pounds or less. Therefore, there's no guarantee that a yorkie poo puppy will grow up to weigh less than 4 pounds, even if both its parents were teacups.
Teacup dogs are fragile, with tiny bones that can easily break. Depending on the health of its parents, a teacup yorkie poo may inherit genetic diseases and health problems often associated with teacup Yorkshire terriers. Tiny dog breeds are more likely to have poor reactions to anesthesia, which could be fatal. The smaller the dog the less chance it has of living a long and healthy life.

Mixed Breeds May be Healthier Dogs

There's a possibility that mixed breed dogs of any size may enjoy better health than a purebred because the shuffle of their genetics helps them avoid medical problems associated with inbreeding.
A healthy non-teacup yorkie poo can live up to 18 years.

Choosing a Teacup Yorkie Poo for a Pet

These perpetual puppies can be purchased from a breeder, though not all breeders of yorkie poos are agreeable to supplying the less-healthy teacup variety. Avoid puppy mills. A teacup yorkie poo can range in price from $150 to 10 times as much. The health of both the dog's parents should be considered when buying a new puppy of any breed.

Resources

• Teacup puppies