Yorkies vs Yorkie Mixes?

[SamanthaJoe]

Hiya everyone! I am new to Yorkies and have joined here to get help deciding if Id truly be compatible with a Yorkie or mix. I currently have a mystery 8lb dog, soon to have a DNA test done to see if she really is the breed I was told, she has so many quirks that don't fit her breed. I also grew up with Shih Tzus and many large breeds, mostly retrievers.

I'm ready to add a second dog to our mix and Yorkies have always caught my attention but I'm not too sure if a purebred or mix Yorkie would fit best or another breed entirely. Id love to hear all the cons to owning them.
I'm sure some of you have or have experience with some of these 'designer hybrids' and could perhaps give more insight in having a purebred vs a hybrid.

*Just to clarify, I would go to a breed specific rescue for a purebred or hybrid, but many rescues have some of these 'designer' breeds as well.

1) I've read Yorkies are notoriously hard to house train, is this true for mixes as well (Morkie, Shorkie, Yorkipoo), is house training hard due to going outside on time or using things such as pee pads or are they just that stubborn?
2) I understand Yorkies are Terriers but just how Terrier like are they? The Terriers Ive met (Jack Russells, Scotties, Westies) have been hyper, dog/animal aggressive, yappy, dervishes, are Yorkies calmer or just as intense in a tinier package?

Thank you! Any other information you think would help would be greatly appreciated!

[matese]

Welcome to YT. I do not have a yorkie mix, I have a yorkie, I LOVE the BREED and would not want to loose one of their quirky lil traits in a mix. Yorkies being terriers are high energy dogs, not high strung like a Jack Russel tho. I have had 4 female yorkies raised them from 8 weeks old,now all passed, my girls were 100% house broken at 7 months old with no accidents in the house. I believe potty training is more on HOW the person trains their dogs, consistency, patience, reward and praise are key factors in potty training. I don't believe in the cross breeding ppl are doing today, in cross breeding you now have to be concerned in generic diseases from two breeds. A yorkie mix can cost as much as a pure breed yorkie. If it's a yorkie you want buy a yorkie, if it's a mix you want, then get that. You should educate yourself on the yorkie breed to see if it will fit into your life style, also if you choose a mix read up about the breed the yorkie is mixed with. We do have members with yorkie mix, hope they will chime in with their experiences. Good luck in what ever you choose.

[Lovetodream88]

No reputable breeder will breed a mix. People call them designer breeds to make you spend way to much money on them. If you do decided to get a mix please don't go to one of those bad breeders just go to a rescue. I have not had issues potty training either of mine. Generally trouble potty train is not normally the dogs fault but the humans. Both of mine are extremely smart one has a novice trick dog title and the other who just turned a year old is close to getting his. Both of mine love other dogs especially big dogs. Mine are not overly hyper but one is about to be 10 and the other is a year old. They are hunters though so keep that in mind. I would recommend pet insurance for sure because yorkies are known to have some expensive health issues. You really can't guarantee how a mix will be because they could go either way but you can't really guarantee how a yorkie is going to be. You might want to go for an adult dog and see if they have what your looking for.

[Britster]

I wouldn't say Yorkies are equivalent to JRT's, etc. They do have that terrier fiestyness but may be a bit more 'chill' than a typical JRT in my experience. They CAN be iffy with other dogs if not socialized properly but I find most Yorkie's, if socialized from puppyhood, are fine with other dogs and enjoy the company.

My Jackson is a bigger Yorkie for example at 18lbs and he has killed small rodents and has very intense prey drive when it comes to rabbits etc. My sister has guinea pigs that he would do anything to try to kill no joke. But he's fine with other dogs and always has been -- I'm a pet sitter so he's used to dogs in and out. He is extremely intelligent. Very smart and quick to pick up on things. I also have a female cockapoo and she is an amazing dog (almost perfect, really-- she loves people, dogs, kids, she is friendly and well behaved in public etc) but she lacks some common sense that Jackson has LOL....

Try to meet as many Yorkies as you can. Watch Dogs 101 on YouTube on Yorkies and you can get a feel for them by watching clips too but nothing beats the experience in real life.

[matese]

My now passed 4 girls (yorkies) were very well socialized wthl all animals, cows, goats, dogs, cats NO lol, they loved all animals, and they were all lil hunters, they were not tiny yorkies, they ranged from 9 pounds, 2 at 13 pounds and my last girl was 17 pounds, all loved to hunt, were not yappy dogs. My adopted boy was 2 1/2 yo when I got him, he was not socialized by his previous owner and is not dog friendly. It is very important to socialize them with ppl and dogs / animals when they are young.

[SirTeddykins]

Hiya!

My yorkie is purebred so I can only go by that and my own Yorkie experience.

So, my yorkie was fully house trained at 14 weeks. We brought him home at 12 weeks. So, to say that all Yorkies are hard to train would be to generalize and is not something with which I would agree.

Regarding terrier traits, yes he is yappy, feisty, high energy and likes other dogs but does bark at them and set them to aggressive mode with his shrill bark and anxious greetings. He is also dominant/aggressive but he's not been neutered and I understand this contributes to this as well as being a terrier. However, all of the above are more of a terrier characteristics than yorkie specific so if you wouldn't prefer terrier traits perhaps consider other dog breeds e.g. shih-Tzu, pug etc.

Hope that helps?

[SamanthaJoe]

Thank you for all the replies. I'm still not sure if a Yorkie would be the right fit, but I will continue to do my research until some piece of information absolutely sells me on the breed or directs me to a different breed.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by SamanthaJoe

Thank you for all the replies. I'm still not sure if a Yorkie would be the right fit, but I will continue to do my research until some piece of information absolutely sells me on the breed or directs me to a different breed.

You need to go be round some that would be your best bet.

[Monroe-Rylee]

I have two Yorkie’s who are littermates. I chose a Yorkie because I wanted a dog that was easy going, adaptable, small enough to easily travel with, smart and eager to please. I got all of this and more with my girls… the fact that they don’t shed like other dogs was a huge plus for me.
I got Monroe as a puppy and she was fully potty-pad trained at about 18 weeks. She is now fully potty trained to go outside but will use the potty pad in her x-pen occasionally when I’m not home. I got her sister, Rylee, when she was 10 months old. She wasn’t fully potty trained but was pretty good with the pad. With consistency and patience she is now fully potty trained at home to use the potty pad or go outside. They were much easier to potty train than my Pugs but as easy as my GSD.
They are both very calm and adaptable. I bring them everywhere with me; shopping, the movies, errands, friends’ houses, trips by car and plane. They just go with the flow. They’re great with other dogs, cats and children. They also rarely bark… however I may just have gotten lucky with this! Mine are playful but I wouldn’t describe them as hyper because they’re energy is generally based on my energy (if it’s time for a walk they’re all about it but if I’m sick or wanting a lazy day at home they’re right there with me). They’re so smart and in tune with my mood that they really just tent to do what I want, when I want… much different than my Pugs who understood what I wanted them to do and gave me the, “Okay mom, maybe I’ll think about it when I’m good and ready” look. I think the one Terrier trait I don’t love is their interest in birds or squirrels (haha). So, keeping them leashed is a must.

[canana]

I think the Yorkie can be calm, but a lot of effort in training is required.
The Yorkie puppy stage can be a nightmare for someone who isn't mentally prepared for it.

If you're looking for a dog with a perky, fun-loving, loyal personality, Yorkies are a wonderful breed. If you're looking for a calmer dog, you can consider adopting a Yorkie that's older than 2 years. Usually by then, they've settled down a bit and are calmer. Check your local Yorkie rescue organization and see what they have.

[yorkiemini]

I frequently recommend to folks who think they might be interested in a Yorkie that they go to a dog show and see them in the ring, watch them interact with their handler and the other dogs.


Potty training is a consistency issue on the part of the human it seems. Like LovesToDream said.

My Yorkie was a show dog and it was decided that she would be too small to breed to get the next champion so I got her. Showing creates a pup with a lot of discipline and well socialized, so she is not happy or hyper. She is however very much in charge and sassy! And yes, she is a hunter, a 4 pound guard dog, very alert, and just about perfect

Their human people are VERY important to them!

[LunarBerry]

The one thing I love about yorkies is they can be anywhere from posh to party animals lol. They are fiesty and think they can take on things bigger than them and have very diverse personalities. I've had three in my life, including my pudgy girl now, and each one is totally different.
Our past male was like a grouchy loud mouth but tries to be a ladies man lol he acts dominant but he really wasn't ^^; Our past female was very quiet but you always see gears turning in her head, she was a trickster. She really loved to mess with you >_<
My girl now, she's a very primadonna girl who's talkative and is very demanding alot of times lol She's pretty clear on what she likes/wants and don't like and tells everyone. She's not much into bows and clothing (though she seems to do well with soft stretchy sweaters, which is really all she actually could need), but absolutely loves being pampered with massages and such spa stuff. I'm practically her chauffeur X_x and that's no joke lol
As for potty training, the key is consistency and patience. Getting them on a schedule is key too. It generally takes us about 1-2 years (that's from when we got them as puppies) to perfect the potty training to go outside if we're on it properly. Right now my girl knows to go potty as soon as she's down from the futon after a long while or from a long sleep. otherwise we do need to get on the ball to take her out every few hours ^^;; but sometimes she doesn't want to potty outside but inside X.x