If there was ever a prize for the littlest Poodle cross, the Yorkie Poo Pug would most definitely be a front runner.
What this little dog lacks in size, is more than made up with oodles of sass. But is mixing two very small breeds including the short, muzzled Pug the best idea?
In this article, we can delve into what to expect from this petite pooch. We look at everything from the history of the parent breeds to temperament and coat type. We present to you a short study of this rather short doggo!
Table of Contents
Yorkie Poo History
The Yorkie Poo is a hybrid dog created by crossing a Yorkshire Terrier with a Poodle.
The definitive routes of the cross are not widely known. However, he likely first occurred as an accidental pairing. The Yorkie Poo really began to come into its own from 2010 onwards when the explosion of the internet and social media saw the rise of adorable pictures and increased information on the potential hypoallergenic benefits of Poodle crosses.
While the Yorkshire Terrier itself is relatively low-shedding, breeders discovered adding Poodle genetics offered the chance to reduce this even further making the Yorkie Poo a great option for those with pet hair or dander allergies.
A Yorkie Poo is a smaller-sized dog which means it appeals to a broad cross-section of potential owners, from city dwellers with smaller homes to older adults who may be less physically active.
Most Yorkie Poo lovers prize the breed’s friendly, playful disposition, their adorable appearance, and their flair for the mischievous.
Pug History
The Pug is thought to have originated in China and dates back as far as 400 B.C. This slightly comical-looking petite breed has always been first and foremost a companion dog. In fact, these affable little characters were so good at endearing themselves to their humans that they often were highly prized by the richest members of Chinese society including emperors.
The modern-day Pug has gained renewed popularity with the explosion of social media where owners and aficionados of the breed share all manner of pictures and merchandise adorned with the Pug’s instantly recognizable face.
What do you Call a Yorkie Poo Pug Mix?
The Yorkshire Terrier and Pug mix, without a smidge of Poodle, is referred to as a Pugshire, while the Pug and Poodle mix is a Pugapoo. We then need something different to denote a Yorkie Poo Pug mix. A trawl of the internet shows no pre-existing title for this mix so we have taken it on ourselves.
A suggested title for this mix could therefore be the “Pug-a-Yorkiepoo” or the “Yorkiepugoodle”. Both are a bit of a mouthful and still are likely to yield queries about the make-up. With that in mind, the Yorkie Poo Pug mix seems as good a working title as any!
Why is the Yorkie Poo Pug Cross Being Bred?
We could not find any listings for active professional breeders of the Yorkie Poo Pug mix, but as we know over the last 5 to 10 years there has been an explosion of Poodle crosses as domestic pets which often leads to some interesting “accidental” litters.
This appears to be the case with the Yorkie Poo Pug mix, as the general consensus among professional breeders is that the health problems associated with the Pug’s short muzzle and the Yorkie Poo’s small stature do not make them a great intentional match.
Is the Yorkie Poo Pug Mix Ethical?
As alluded to above, there is not a lot known about the potential health complications of crossing a Pug and a Yorkie Poo. While there is an argument that adding another breed to the Pug is ethical for the potential to lengthen its muzzle, many will argue using the Pug at all in cross-breeding is controversial.
This is likely the reason that we could not source any professional breeders and very few amateur breeder accounts of a Yorkie Poo Pug mix.
The Benefits of a Yorkie Poo Pug Mix
What may drive someone to consider intentionally crossing a Yorkie Poo and Pug is the desire to mold together the impossibly cute Yorkie Poo with the cult favorite Pug. This cross in theory has the potential to have the teddy bear like, low-shedding coat of a Yorkie Poo combined with the big round eyes of a Pug.
Many also speculate that the addition of the more laid back (bordering on lazy Pug) would temper some of the “yappyness” sometimes associated with the Yorkie Poo.
The Cons of a Yorkie Poo Pug Mix
If you do manage to source a Yorkie Poo Pug puppy, you are taking a bit of a gamble on the unknown. As there are very few instances of this cross to date, that means less information to draw on regarding their potential health, adult size/weight, and temperament.
While Doodle crosses are generally considered fairly healthy if your Yorkie Poo Pug particularly takes after its Pug parent there is potentially costly surgery in relation to breathing issues that may befall it.
What to Expect from the Yorkie Poo Pug Mix
Size and Weight
We don’t have a lot of detail on any existing Yorkie Poo Pug mix so we will offer up an educated guess based on the parent sizes. Of course, this is only an estimate and in early generations of hybrids, it is common to get a variety of size presentations.
Firstly, the Pug, this toy breed only comes in one size. An adult Pug can be expected to stand between 9″ and 15″ in height and could weigh as much as 20lbs.
Likewise, the Yorkie Poo sits firmly in the toy dog category. The Yorkshire Terrier is crossed with either a Toy or smaller Miniature Poodle to create a hybrid that comes in at between 7″ and 15″ in height and weighs as little as 5lbs or up to 15lbs.
As you can see this puts the Yorkie Poo and Pug as well matched in height. However, the Pug is normally stockier. We would suggest then that a Yorkie Poo Pug will be between 8″ and 15″ in height and likely around 10lbs to 20lbs.
Color and Coat Types
Again, given the limited examples of this cross to date, we will give you our best estimation of what you might expect from a Yorkie Poo Pug cross in terms of color and coat type.
The Yorkie Poo is often highlighted as having one of the cutest Poodle cross coat types. A well-bred Yorkie Poo often displays a longer softly curled to wavy hair-like coat that can come in rich shades of tan, gold, apricot, black, white, and brown.
The Pug on the other hand brings very recognizable coloring of fawn/tan body and typically black marking around the face and muzzle. In terms of coat type, a Pug is short and smooth and would be considered a moderate shedder.
These are two quite distinctly different coat types to mix which makes the result even harder to call. In theory, a Yorkie Poo Pug mix could retain the low shedding waved coat of a Yorkie Poo. However, it may be shorter and take more traditional Pug coloring.
Equally the mix could very much take after their Pug parentage and have a longer coat that still sheds. There is no guarantee this mix will be low shedding.
Health
Crossing two dogs is an opportunity to dilute problematic genetic conditions that either parent breed may be prone to. The trick is to pick two types of dogs that have very few overlapping conditions. Unfortunately owing to the small size of both the Yorkie Poo and Pug there are conditions common to small dogs that overlap and therefore remain a health concern in the Yorkie Poo Pug mix. These include:
- Skeletal problems – due to their small size, they may be susceptible to issues with their kneecaps (patellar luxation) and their hips (Legg-Calves-Perthes Disease)
- Epilepsy – seizures.
In addition, both the Yorkie Poo and Pug have a history of skin sensitivities meaning this is a concern for any offspring.
As mentioned before, the Pug has a very distinct flat face that can impact its breathing and could need surgery. While it is hoped the introduction of the Yorkie Poo could reduce this, it is not a guarantee.
Temperament
It is understandable why even with the potential health issues, that some people may want to take the best temperament traits of the Yorkie Poo and Pug and put them together. They are both companion dogs for a start so would be incredibly people orientated and loyal.
The Yorkie Poo’s working dog history can make it a little high maintenance in terms of exercise which may put some people off. Likewise, some may find the Pug a little too sedentary. It could be predicted that a mix of the two may be just perfect. Playful but not exhausting, lively but enjoying a cuddle.
Exercise Needs
A Yorkie Poo Pug mix would be estimated to be a low to mid-exercise need dog. This is largely owing to its small size and relatively low weight. Considerations for exercising this mix would include avoiding any extremes of heat or cold as their smaller bodies may struggle to regulate themselves.
A Yorkie Poo Pug mix would be amenable to apartment living as much as they would enjoy a home with a yard. In puppyhood, they are likely to be inquisitive and playful and will need mental stimulation in addition to physical exercises.
Feeding Requirements
Feeding advice is always based on a number of factors including overall size, activity level, gender, and any dietary requirements. It is always best to seek vet advice and ensure your pup is weighed regularly.
That aside, a Yorkie Poo Pug mix is unlikely to break the bank on feeding requirements owing to its smaller size. Balancing the feeding of a smaller dog can be tricky though as with a smaller overall size they can gain weight quickly.
While the perception is that you are being kind by giving treats, it is best to be sparing for the Yorkie Poo Pug mix, lest they become too chunky!